vanity fair(名利场)-第194章

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with　starched　neckcloths　and　neat…brushed　hats；　such　as
have　invaded　Europe　any　time　since　the　conclusion　of　the
war；　and　carry　the　national　Goddem　into　every　city　of
the　Continent。　　The　congregation　of　hat…boxes；　and
Bramah　desks；　and　dressing…cases　was　prodigious。　　There
were　jaunty　young　Cambridge…men　travelling　with　their
tutor；　and　going　for　a　reading　excursion　to　Nonnenwerth
or　Konigswinter；　there　were　Irish　gentlemen；　with　the
most　dashing　whiskers　and　jewellery；　talking　about
horses　incessantly；　and　prodigiously　polite　to　the　young
ladies　on　board；　whom；　on　the　contrary；　the　Cambridge
lads　and　their　pale…faced　tutor　avoided　with　maiden
coyness；　there　were　old　Pall　Mall　loungers　bound　for　Ems
and　Wiesbaden　and　a　course　of　waters　to　clear　off　the
dinners　of　the　season；　and　a　little　roulette　and　trente…
et…quarante　to　keep　the　excitement　going；　there　was　old
Methuselah；　who　had　married　his　young　wife；　with　Captain
Papillon　of　the　Guards　holding　her　parasol　and
guide…books；　there　was　young　May　who　was　carrying　off
his　bride　on　a　pleasure　tour　（Mrs。　Winter　that　was；　and
who　had　been　at　school　with　May's　grandmother）；　there
was　Sir　John　and　my　Lady　with　a　dozen　children；　and
corresponding　nursemaids；　and　the　great　grandee
Bareacres　family　that　sat　by　themselves　near　the　wheel；
stared　at　everybody；　and　spoke　to　no　one。　　Their
carriages；　emblazoned　with　coronets　and　heaped　with
shining　imperials；　were　on　the　foredeck；　locked　in　with　a
dozen　more　such　vehicles：　　it　was　difficult　to　pass　in　and
out　amongst　them；　and　the　poor　inmates　of　the
fore…cabin　had　scarcely　any　space　for　locomotion。　　These
consisted　of　a　few　magnificently　attired　gentlemen　from
Houndsditch；　who　brought　their　own　provisions；　and
could　have　bought　half　the　gay　people　in　the　grand
saloon；　a　few　honest　fellows　with　mustachios　and　portfolios；
who　set　to　sketching　before　they　had　been　half　an　hour
on　board；　one　or　two　French　femmes　de　chambre　who
began　to　be　dreadfully　ill　by　the　time　the　boat　had
passed　Greenwich；　a　groom　or　two　who　lounged　in　the
neighbourhood　of　the　horse…boxes　under　their　charge；　or
leaned　over　the　side　by　the　paddle…wheels；　and　talked
about　who　was　good　for　the　Leger；　and　what　they　stood
to　win　or　lose　for　the　Goodwood　cup。
All　the　couriers；　when　they　had　done　plunging　about
the　ship　and　had　settled　their　various　masters　in　the
cabins　or　on　the　deck；　congregated　together　and　began　to
chatter　and　smoke；　the　Hebrew　gentlemen　joining　them
and　looking　at　the　carriages。　　There　was　Sir　John's　great
carriage　that　would　hold　thirteen　people；　my　Lord
Methuselah's　carriage；　my　Lord　Bareacres'　chariot；
britzska；　and　fourgon；　that　anybody　might　pay　for　who　liked。
It　was　a　wonder　how　my　Lord　got　the　ready　money　to
pay　for　the　expenses　of　the　journey。　　The　Hebrew　gentlemen
knew　how　he　got　it。　　They　knew　what　money　his
Lordship　had　in　his　pocket　at　that　instant；　and　what
interest　he　paid　for　it；　and　who　gave　it　him。　　Finally　there
was　a　very　neat；　handsome　travelling　carriage；　about
which　the　gentlemen　speculated。
〃A　qui　cette　voiture　la？〃　said　one　gentleman…courier
with　a　large　morocco　money…bag　and　ear…rings　to　another
with　ear…rings　and　a　large　morocco　money…bag。
〃C'est　a　Kirsch　je　benseje　l'ai　vu　toute　a　l'heure
qui　brenoit　des　sangviches　dans　la　voiture；〃　said　the
courier　in　a　fine　German　French。
Kirsch　emerging　presently　from　the　neighbourhood　of
the　hold；　where　he　had　been　bellowing　instructions
intermingled　with　polyglot　oaths　to　the　ship's　men　engaged
in　secreting　the　passengers'　luggage；　came　to　give　an
account　of　himself　to　his　brother　interpreters。　　He
informed　them　that　the　carriage　belonged　to　a　Nabob　from
Calcutta　and　Jamaica　enormously　rich；　and　with　whom
he　was　engaged　to　travel；　and　at　this　moment　a　young
gentleman　who　had　been　warned　off　the　bridge　between
the　paddle…boxes；　and　who　had　dropped　thence　on　to　the
roof　of　Lord　Methuselah's　carriage；　from　which　he　made
his　way　over　other　carriages　and　imperials　until　he　had
clambered　on　to　his　own；　descended　thence　and　through
the　window　into　the　body　of　the　carriage；　to　the　applause
of　the　couriers　looking　on。
〃Nous　allons　avoir　une　belle　traversee；　Monsieur
George；〃　said　the　courier　with　a　grin；　as　he　lifted　his
gold…laced　cap。
〃D　your　French；〃　said　the　young　gentleman；　〃where's
the　biscuits；　ay？〃　Whereupon　Kirsch　answered　him　in　the
English　language　or　in　such　an　imitation　of　it　as　he　could
commandfor　though　he　was　familiar　with　all　languages；
Mr。　Kirsch　was　not　acquainted　with　a　single　one；　and
spoke　all　with　indifferent　volubility　and　incorrectness。
The　imperious　young　gentleman　who　gobbled　the
biscuits　（and　indeed　it　was　time　to　refresh　himself；　for　he
had　breakfasted　at　Richmond　full　three　hours　before）
was　our　young　friend　George　Osborne。　　Uncle　Jos　and　his
mamma　were　on　the　quarter…deck　with　a　gentleman　of
whom　they　used　to　see　a　good　deal；　and　the　four　were
about　to　make　a　summer　tour。
Jos　was　seated　at　that　moment　on　deck　under　the
awning；　and　pretty　nearly　opposite　to　the　Earl　of
Bareacres　and　his　family；　whose　proceedings　absorbed
the　Bengalee　almost　entirely。　　Both　the　noble　couple
looked　rather　younger　than　in　the　eventful　year　'15；　when
Jos　remembered　to　have　seen　them　at　Brussels　（indeed；
he　always　gave　out　in　India　that　he　was　intimately
acquainted　with　them）。　　Lady　Bareacres'　hair；　which　was
then　dark；　was　now　a　beautiful　golden　auburn；　whereas
Lord　Bareacres'　whiskers；　formerly　red；　were　at　present
of　a　rich　black　with　purple　and　green　reflections　in　the
light。　　But　changed　as　they　were；　the　movements　of　the
noble　pair　occupied　Jos's　mind　entirely。　　The　presence　of
a　Lord　fascinated　him；　and　he　could　look　at　nothing　else。
〃Those　people　seem　to　interest　you　a　good　deal；〃　said
Dobbin；　laughing　and　watching　him。　　Amelia　too　laughed。
She　was　in　a　straw　bonnet　with　black　ribbons；　and
otherwise　dressed　in　mourning；　but　the　little　bustle　and
holiday　of　the　journey　pleased　and　excited　her；　and　she
looked　particularly　happy。
〃What　a　heavenly　day！〃　Emmy　said　and　added；　with
great　originality；　〃I　hope　we　shall　have　a　calm　passage。〃
Jos　waved　his　hand；　scornfully　glancing　at　the　same
time　under　his　eyelids　at　the　great　folks　opposite。　　〃If　you
had　made　the　voyages　we　have；〃　he　said；　〃you　wouldn't
much　care　about　the　weather。〃　But　nevertheless；　traveller
as　he　was；　he　passed　the　night　direfully　sick　in　his
carriage；　where　his　courier　tended　him　with　brandy…and…
water　and　every　luxury。
In　due　time　this　happy　party　landed　at　the　quays　of
Rotterdam；　whence　they　were　transported　by　another
steamer　to　the　city　of　Cologne。　　Here　the　carriage　and
the　family　took　to　the　shore；　and　Jos　was　not　a　little
gratified　to　see　his　arrival　announced　in　the　Cologne
newspapers　as　〃Herr　Graf　Lord　von　Sedley　nebst
Begleitung　aus　London。〃　He　had　his　court　dress　with　him；
he　had　insisted　that　Dobbin　should　bring　his　regimental
paraphernalia；　he　announced　that　it　was　his　intention　to
be　presented　at　some　foreign　courts；　and　pay　his　respects
to　the　Sovereigns　of　the　countries　which　he　honoured
with　a　visit。
Wherever　the　party　stopped；　and　an　opportunity　was
offered；　Mr。　Jos　left　his　own　card　and　the　Major's　upon
〃Our　Minister。〃　It　was　with　great　difficulty　that　he　could
be　restrained　from　putting　on　his　cocked　hat　and　tights
to　wait　upon　the　English　consul　at　the　Free　City　of
Judenstadt；　when　that　hospitable　functionary　asked　our
travellers　to　dinner。　　He　kept　a　journal　of　his　voyage　and
noted　elaborately　the　defects　or　excellences　of　the　various
inns　at　which　he　put　up；　and　of　the　wines　and　dishes　of
which　he　partook。
As　for　Emmy；　she　was　very　happy　and　pleased。　　Dobbin
used　to　carry　about　for　her　her　stool　and　sketch…book；
and　admired　the　drawings　of　the　good…natured　little　artist
as　they　never　had　been　admired　before。　　She　sat　upon
steamers'　decks　and　drew　crags　and　castles；　or　she
mounted　upon　donkeys　and　ascended　to　ancient　robber…
towers；　attended　by　her　two　aides…de…camp；　Georgy　and
Dobbin。　　She　laughed；　and　the　Major　did　too；　at　his　droll
figure　on　donkey…back；　with　his　long　legs　touching　the
ground。　　He　was　the　interpreter　for　the　party；　having　a
good　milit