vanity fair(名利场)-第183章

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with　his　grandfather　Osborne；　of　the　way　in　which
the　widow　took　on　at　leaving　him；　and　of　other　particulars
of　her　life。　　Twice　or　thrice　he　was　going　to　ask
about　the　marriage　question；　but　his　heart　failed　him。
He　did　not　care　to　lay　it　bare　to　these　people。　　Finally；
he　was　informed　that　Mrs。　O。　　was　gone　to　walk　with　her
pa　in　Kensington　Gardens；　whither　she　always　went　with
the　old　gentleman　（who　was　very　weak　and　peevish　now；
and　led　her　a　sad　life；　though　she　behaved　to　him　like　an
angel；　to　be　sure）；　of　a　fine　afternoon；　after　dinner。
〃I'm　very　much　pressed　for　time；〃　the　Major　said；
〃and　have　business　to…night　of　importance。　　I　should　like
to　see　Mrs。　Osborne　tho'。　　Suppose　Miss　Polly　would
come　with　me　and　show　me　the　way？〃
Miss　Polly　was　charmed　and　astonished　at　this
proposal。　　She　knew　the　way。　　She　would　show　Major
Dobbin。　　She　had　often　been　with　Mr。　Sedley　when　Mrs。　O。
was　gonewas　gone　Russell　Square　wayand　knew　the
bench　where　he　liked　to　sit。　　She　bounced　away　to　her
apartment　and　appeared　presently　in　her　best　bonnet
and　her　mamma's　yellow　shawl　and　large　pebble　brooch；
of　which　she　assumed　the　loan　in　order　to　make　herself
a　worthy　companion　for　the　Major。
That　officer；　then；　in　his　blue　frock…coat　and　buckskin
gloves；　gave　the　young　lady　his　arm；　and　they　walked
away　very　gaily。　　He　was　glad　to　have　a　friend　at　hand
for　the　scene　which　he　dreaded　somehow。　　He　asked　a
thousand　more　questions　from　his　companion　about
Amelia：　　his　kind　heart　grieved　to　think　that　she　should
have　had　to　part　with　her　son。　　How　did　she　bear　it？　Did
she　see　him　often？　Was　Mr。　Sedley　pretty　comfortable
now　in　a　worldly　point　of　view？　Polly　answered　all　these
questions　of　Major　Sugarplums　to　the　very　best　of　her
power。
And　in　the　midst　of　their　walk　an　incident　occurred
which；　though　very　simple　in　its　nature；　was　productive
of　the　greatest　delight　to　Major　Dobbin。　　A　pale　young
man　with　feeble　whiskers　and　a　stiff　white　neckcloth　came
walking　down　the　lane；　en　sandwichhaving　a　lady；　that
is；　on　each　arm。　　One　was　a　tall　and　commanding　middle…
aged　female；　with　features　and　a　complexion　similar　to
those　of　the　clergyman　of　the　Church　of　England　by
whose　side　she　marched；　and　the　other　a　stunted　little
woman　with　a　dark　face；　ornamented　by　a　fine　new　bonnet
and　white　ribbons；　and　in　a　smart　pelisse；　with　a　rich
gold　watch　in　the　midst　of　her　person。　　The　gentleman；
pinioned　as　he　was　by　these　two　ladies；　carried　further　a
parasol；　shawl；　and　basket；　so　that　his　arms　were　entirely
engaged；　and　of　course　he　was　unable　to　touch　his　hat　in
acknowledgement　of　the　curtsey　with　which　Miss　Mary
Clapp　greeted　him。
He　merely　bowed　his　head　in　reply　to　her　salutation；
which　the　two　ladies　returned　with　a　patronizing　air；　and
at　the　same　time　looking　severely　at　the　individual　in　the
blue　coat　and　bamboo　cane　who　accompanied　Miss　Polly。
〃Who's　that？〃　asked　the　Major；　amused　by　the　group；
and　after　he　had　made　way　for　the　three　to　pass　up　the
lane。　　Mary　looked　at　him　rather　roguishly。
〃That　is　our　curate；　the　Reverend　Mr。　Binny　（a　twitch
from　Major　Dobbin）；　and　his　sister　Miss　B。　　Lord　bless　us；
how　she　did　use　to　worret　us　at　Sunday…school；　and　the
other　lady；　the　little　one　with　a　cast　in　her　eye　and　the
handsome　watch；　is　Mrs。　BinnyMiss　Grits　that　was；
her　pa　was　a　grocer；　and　kept　the　Little　Original　Gold
Tea　Pot　in　Kensington　Gravel　Pits。　　They　were　married　last
month；　and　are　just　come　back　from　Margate。　　She's　five
thousand　pound　to　her　fortune；　but　her　and　Miss　B。；　who
made　the　match；　have　quarrelled　already。〃
If　the　Major　had　twitched　before；　he　started　now；　and
slapped　the　bamboo　on　the　ground　with　an　emphasis
which　made　Miss　Clapp　cry；　〃Law；〃　and　laugh　too。　　He
stood　for　a　moment；　silent；　with　open　mouth；　looking
after　the　retreating　young　couple；　while　Miss　Mary　told
their　history；　but　he　did　not　hear　beyond　the　announcement
of　the　reverend　gentleman's　marriage；　his　head　was
swimming　with　felicity。　　After　this　rencontre　he　began　to
walk　double　quick　towards　the　place　of　his　destination
and　yet　they　were　too　soon　（for　he　was　in　a　great
tremor　at　the　idea　of　a　meeting　for　which　he　had　been
longing　any　time　these　ten　years）through　the　Brompton
lanes；　and　entering　at　the　little　old　portal　in　Kensington
Garden　wall。
〃There　they　are；〃　said　Miss　Polly；　and　she　felt　him
again　start　back　on　her　arm。　　She　was　a　confidante　at　once
of　the　whole　business。　　She　knew　the　story　as　well　as　if
she　had　read　it　in　one　of　her　favourite　novel…books
Fatherless　Fanny；　or　the　Scottish　Chiefs。
〃Suppose　you　were　to　run　on　and　tell　her；〃　the　Major
said。　　Polly　ran　forward；　her　yellow　shawl　streaming　in　the
breeze。
Old　Sedley　was　seated　on　a　bench；　his　handkerchief
placed　over　his　knees；　prattling　away；　according　to　his
wont；　with　some　old　story　about　old　times　to　which
Amelia　had　listened　and　awarded　a　patient　smile　many
a　time　before。　　She　could　of　late　think　of　her　own　affairs；
and　smile　or　make　other　marks　of　recognition　of　her
father's　stories；　scarcely　hearing　a　word　of　the　old　man's
tales。　　As　Mary　came　bouncing　along；　and　Amelia　caught
sight　of　her；　she　started　up　from　her　bench。　　Her　first
thought　was　that　something　had　happened　to　Georgy；
but　the　sight　of　the　messenger's　eager　and　happy　face
dissipated　that　fear　in　the　timorous　mother's　bosom。
〃News！　　News！〃　cried　the　emissary　of　Major　Dobbin。
〃He's　come！　　He's　come！〃
〃Who　is　come？〃　said　Emmy；　still　thinking　of　her　son。
〃Look　there；〃　answered　Miss　Clapp；　turning　round　and
pointing；　in　which　direction　Amelia　looking；　saw
Dobbin's　lean　figure　and　long　shadow　stalking　across　the
grass。　　Amelia　started　in　her　turn；　blushed　up；　and；　of
course；　began　to　cry。　　At　all　this　simple　little　creature's
fetes；　the　grandes　eaux　were　accustomed　to　play。
He　looked　at　heroh；　how　fondlyas　she　came
running　towards　him；　her　hands　before　her；　ready　to　give
them　to　him。　　She　wasn't　changed。　　She　was　a　little　pale；
a　little　stouter　in　figure。　　Her　eyes　were　the　same；　the
kind　trustful　eyes。　　There　were　scarce　three　lines　of　silver
in　her　soft　brown　hair。　　She　gave　him　both　her　hands　as
she　looked　up　flushing　and　smiling　through　her　tears　into
his　honest　homely　face。　　He　took　the　two　little　hands
between　his　two　and　held　them　there。　　He　was　speechless
for　a　moment。　　Why　did　he　not　take　her　in　his　arms　and
swear　that　he　would　never　leave　her？　She　must　have
yielded：　　she　could　not　but　have　obeyed　him。
〃II've　another　arrival　to　announce；〃　he　said　after　a
pause。
〃Mrs。　Dobbin？〃　Amelia　said；　making　a　movement
backwhy　didn't　he　speak？
〃No；〃　he　said；　letting　her　hands　go：　　〃Who　has　told
you　those　lies？　I　mean；　your　brother　Jos　came　in　the
same　ship　with　me；　and　is　come　home　to　make　you　all
happy。〃
〃Papa；　Papa！〃　Emmy　cried　out；　〃here　are　news！　　My
brother　is　in　England。　　He　is　come　to　take　care　of　you。
Here　is　Major　Dobbin。〃
Mr。　Sedley　started　up；　shaking　a　great　deal　and　gathering
up　his　thoughts。　　Then　he　stepped　forward　and　made　an
old…fashioned　bow　to　the　Major；　whom　he　called　Mr。
Dobbin；　and　hoped　his　worthy　father；　Sir　William；　was
quite　well。　　He　proposed　to　call　upon　Sir　William；　who　had
done　him　the　honour　of　a　visit　a　short　time　ago。　　Sir
William　had　not　called　upon　the　old　gentleman　for　eight
yearsit　was　that　visit　he　was　thinking　of　returning。
〃He　is　very　much　shaken；〃　Emmy　whispered　as　Dobbin
went　up　and　cordially　shook　hands　with　the　old　man。
Although　he　had　such　particular　business　in　London
that　evening；　the　Major　consented　to　forego　it　upon　Mr。
Sedley's　invitation　to　him　to　come　home　and　partake　of
tea。　　Amelia　put　her　arm　under　that　of　her　young　friend
with　the　yellow　shawl　and　headed　the　party　on　their
return　homewards；　so　that　Mr。　Sedley　fell　to　Dobbin's　share。
The　old　man　walked　very　slowly　and　told　a　number　of
ancient　histories　about　himself　and　his　poor　Bessy；　his
former　prosperity；　and　his　bankruptcy。　　His　thoughts；　as　is
usual　with　failing　old　men；　were　quite　in　former　times。
The　present；　with　the　exception　of　the　one　catastrophe
which　he　felt；　he　knew　little　about。　　The　Major　was　glad　to
let　him　talk　on。　　His　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　figure　in
front　of　himthe　d