vanity fair(名利场)-第142章

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Baronetyou　consent　to　be　a　mere　country　gentleman；〃
she　said　to　him；　while　he　had　been　her　guest　in　London。
〃No；　Sir　Pitt　Crawley；　I　know　you　better。　　I　know　your
talents　and　your　ambition。　　You　fancy　you　hide　them
both；　but　you　can　conceal　neither　from　me。　　I　showed
Lord　Steyne　your　pamphlet　on　malt。　　He　was　familiar
with　it；　and　said　it　was　in　the　opinion　of　the　whole　Cabinet
the　most　masterly　thing　that　had　appeared　on　the　subject。
The　Ministry　has　its　eye　upon　you；　and　I　know　what　you
want。　　You　want　to　distinguish　yourself　in　Parliament；
every　one　says　you　are　the　finest　speaker　in　England
（for　your　speeches　at　Oxford　are　still　remembered）。　　You
want　to　be　Member　for　the　County；　where；　with　your　own
vote　and　your　borough　at　your　back；　you　can　command
anything。　　And　you　want　to　be　Baron　Crawley　of　Queen's
Crawley；　and　will　be　before　you　die。　　I　saw　it　all。　　I　could
read　your　heart；　Sir　Pitt。　　If　I　had　a　husband　who
possessed　your　intellect　as　he　does　your　name；　I　sometimes
think　I　should　not　be　unworthy　of　himbutbut　I　am
your　kinswoman　now；〃　she　added　with　a　laugh。　　〃Poor
little　penniless；　I　have　got　a　little　interestand　who
knows；　perhaps　the　mouse　may　be　able　to　aid　the　lion。〃
Pitt　Crawley　was　amazed　and　enraptured　with　her
speech。　　〃How　that　woman　comprehends　me！〃　he　said。
〃I　never　could　get　Jane　to　read　three　pages　of　the　malt
pamphlet。　　She　has　no　idea　that　I　have　commanding
talents　or　secret　ambition。　　So　they　remember　my　speaking
at　Oxford；　do　they？　The　rascals！　　Now　that　I　represent
my　borough　and　may　sit　for　the　county；　they　begin　to
recollect　me！　　Why；　Lord　Steyne　cut　me　at　the　levee　last
year；　they　are　beginning　to　find　out　that　Pitt　Crawley　is
some　one　at　last。　　Yes；　the　man　was　always　the　same
whom　these　people　neglected：　　it　was　only　the　opportunity
that　was　wanting；　and　I　will　show　them　now　that　I　can
speak　and　act　as　well　as　write。　　Achilles　did　not　declare
himself　until　they　gave　him　the　sword。　　I　hold　it　now；　and
the　world　shall　yet　hear　of　Pitt　Crawley。〃
Therefore　it　was　that　this　roguish　diplomatist　has　grown
so　hospitable；　that　he　was　so　civil　to　oratorios　and
hospitals；　so　kind　to　Deans　and　Chapters；　so　generous　in
giving　and　accepting　dinners；　so　uncommonly　gracious　to
farmers　on　market…days；　and　so　much　interested　about
county　business；　and　that　the　Christmas　at　the　Hall　was　the
gayest　which　had　been　known　there　for　many　a　long　day。
On　Christmas　Day　a　great　family　gathering　took　place。
All　the　Crawleys　from　the　Rectory　came　to　dine。　　Rebecca
was　as　frank　and　fond　of　Mrs。　Bute　as　if　the　other　had
never　been　her　enemy；　she　was　affectionately　interested
in　the　dear　girls；　and　surprised　at　the　progress　which　they
had　made　in　music　since　her　time；　and　insisted　upon
encoring　one　of　the　duets　out　of　the　great　song…books
which　Jim；　grumbling；　had　been　forced　to　bring　under　his
arm　from　the　Rectory。　　Mrs。　Bute；　perforce；　was　obliged
to　adopt　a　decent　demeanour　towards　the　little　adventuress
of　course　being　free　to　discourse　with　her　daughters
afterwards　about　the　absurd　respect　with　which　Sir　Pitt
treated　his　sister…in…law。　　But　Jim；　who　had　sat　next　to
her　at　dinner；　declared　she　was　a　trump；　and　one　and　all
of　the　Rector's　family　agreed　that　the　little　Rawdon　was　a
fine　boy。　　They　respected　a　possible　baronet　in　the　boy；
between　whom　and　the　title　there　was　only　the　little
sickly　pale　Pitt　Binkie。
The　children　were　very　good　friends。　　Pitt　Binkie　was　too
little　a　dog　for　such　a　big　dog　as　Rawdon　to　play　with；　and
Matilda　being　only　a　girl；　of　course　not　fit　companion
for　a　young　gentleman　who　was　near　eight　years　old；　and
going　into　jackets　very　soon。　　He　took　the　command　of
this　small　party　at　oncethe　little　girl　and　the　little　boy
following　him　about　with　great　reverence　at　such　times
as　he　condescended　to　sport　with　them。　　His　happiness
and　pleasure　in　the　country　were　extreme。　　The　kitchen
garden　pleased　him　hugely；　the　flowers　moderately；　but
the　pigeons　and　the　poultry；　and　the　stables　when　he
was　allowed　to　visit　them；　were　delightful　objects　to
him。　　He　resisted　being　kissed　by　the　Misses　Crawley；
but　he　allowed　Lady　Jane　sometimes　to　embrace　him；　and
it　was　by　her　side　that　he　liked　to　sit　when；　the　signal
to　retire　to　the　drawing…room　being　given；　the　ladies
left　the　gentlemen　to　their　claretby　her　side　rather
than　by　his　mother。　　For　Rebecca；　seeing　that　tenderness
was　the　fashion；　called　Rawdon　to　her　one　evening　and
stooped　down　and　kissed　him　in　the　presence　of　all　the
ladies。
He　looked　her　full　in　the　face　after　the　operation；
trembling　and　turning　very　red；　as　his　wont　was　when
moved。　　〃You　never　kiss　me　at　home；　Mamma；〃　he　said；
at　which　there　was　a　general　silence　and　consternation　and
a　by　no　means　pleasant　look　in　Becky's　eyes。
Rawdon　was　fond　of　his　sister…in…law；　for　her　regard
for　his　son。　　Lady　Jane　and　Becky　did　not　get　on　quite　so
well　at　this　visit　as　on　occasion　of　the　former　one；　when
the　Colonel's　wife　was　bent　upon　pleasing。　　Those　two
speeches　of　the　child　struck　rather　a　chill。　　Perhaps　Sir
Pitt　was　rather　too　attentive　to　her。
But　Rawdon；　as　became　his　age　and　size；　was　fonder
of　the　society　of　the　men　than　of　the　women；　and　never
wearied　of　accompanying　his　sire　to　the　stables；　whither
the　Colonel　retired　to　smoke　his　cigarJim；　the　Rector's
son；　sometimes　joining　his　cousin　in　that　and　other　amusements。
He　and　the　Baronet's　keeper　were　very　close
friends；　their　mutual　taste　for　〃dawgs〃　bringing　them
much　together。　　On　one　day；　Mr。　James；　the　Colonel；　and
Horn；　the　keeper；　went　and　shot　pheasants；　taking　little
Rawdon　with　them。　　On　another　most　blissful　morning；
these　four　gentlemen　partook　of　the　amusement　of
rat…hunting　in　a　barn；　than　which　sport　Rawdon　as　yet　had
never　seen　anything　more　noble。　　They　stopped　up　the
ends　of　certain　drains　in　the　barn；　into　the　other　openings
of　which　ferrets　were　inserted；　and　then　stood　silently
aloof；　with　uplifted　stakes　in　their　hands；　and　an　anxious
little　terrier　（Mr。　James's　celebrated　〃dawg〃　Forceps；
indeed）　scarcely　breathing　from　excitement；　listening
motionless　on　three　legs；　to　the　faint　squeaking　of　the
rats　below。　　Desperately　bold　at　last；　the　persecuted
animals　bolted　above…groundthe　terrier　accounted　for　one；
the　keeper　for　another；　Rawdon；　from　flurry　and
excitement；　missed　his　rat；　but　on　the　other　hand　he
half…murdered　a　ferret。
But　the　greatest　day　of　all　was　that　on　which　Sir
Huddlestone　Fuddlestone's　hounds　met　upon　the　lawn
at　Queen's　Crawley。
That　was　a　famous　sight　for　little　Rawdon。　　At　half…past
ten；　Tom　Moody；　Sir　Huddlestone　Fuddlestone's
huntsman；　was　seen　trotting　up　the　avenue；　followed　by　the
noble　pack　of　hounds　in　a　compact　bodythe　rear　being
brought　up　by　the　two　whips　clad　in　stained　scarlet
frockslight　hard…featured　lads　on　well…bred　lean　horses；
possessing　marvellous　dexterity　in　casting　the　points　of
their　long　heavy　whips　at　the　thinnest　part　of　any　dog's
skin　who　dares　to　straggle　from　the　main　body；　or　to
take　the　slightest　notice；　or　even　so　much　as　wink；　at　the
hares　and　rabbits　starting　under　their　noses。
Next　comes　boy　Jack；　Tom　Moody's　son；　who　weighs
five　stone；　measures　eight…and…forty　inches；　and　will　never
be　any　bigger。　　He　is　perched　on　a　large　raw…boned　hunter；
half…covered　by　a　capacious　saddle。　　This　animal　is　Sir
Huddlestone　Fuddlestone's　favourite　horse　the　Nob。
Other　horses；　ridden　by　other　small　boys；　arrive　from
time　to　time；　awaiting　their　masters；　who　will　come
cantering　on　anon。
Tom　Moody　rides　up　to　the　door　of　the　Hall；　where　he
is　welcomed　by　the　butler；　who　offers　him　drink；　which　he
declines。　　He　and　his　pack　then　draw　off　into　a　sheltered
corner　of　the　lawn；　where　the　dogs　roll　on　the　grass；　and
play　or　growl　angrily　at　one　another；　ever　and　anon
breaking　out　into　furious　fight　speedily　to　be　quelled　by
Tom's　voice；　unmatched　at　rating；　or　the　snaky　thongs
of　the　whips。
Many　young　gentlemen　canter　up　on　thoroughbred
hacks；　spatter…dashed　to　the　knee；　and　enter　the　house　to
drink　cherry…brandy　and　pay　their　respects　to　the　ladies；
or；　more　modest　and　sportsmanlike；　divest　themselves
of　their　mud…boots；　exchange　their　hacks　f