vanity fair(名利场)-第32章
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an insignificant chit； and Mrs。 White has nothing but her
petit minois chiffonne； and Mrs。 Black has not a word to
say for herself； yet I know that I have had the most
delightful conversations with Mrs。 Black （of course； my
dear Madam； they are inviolable）： I see all the men in a
cluster round Mrs。 White's chair： all the young fellows
battling to dance with Miss Brown； and so I am tempted
to think that to be despised by her sex is a very great
compliment to a woman。
The young ladies in Amelia's society did this for her
very satisfactorily。 For instance； there was scarcely any
point upon which the Misses Osborne； George's sisters；
and the Mesdemoiselles Dobbin agreed so well as in their
estimate of her very trifling merits： and their wonder that
their brothers could find any charms in her。 〃We are kind
to her；〃 the Misses Osborne said； a pair of fine black…
browed young ladies who had had the best of governesses；
masters； and milliners； and they treated her with
such extreme kindness and condescension； and patronised
her so insufferably； that the poor little thing was in fact
perfectly dumb in their presence； and to all outward
appearance as stupid as they thought her。 She made efforts
to like them； as in duty bound； and as sisters of her
future husband。 She passed 〃long mornings〃 with them
the most dreary and serious of forenoons。 She drove
out solemnly in their great family coach with them； and
Miss Wirt their governess； that raw…boned Vestal。 They
took her to the ancient concerts by way of a treat； and
to the oratorio； and to St。 Paul's to see the charity
children； where in such terror was she of her friends； she
almost did not dare be affected by the hymn the children
sang。 Their house was comfortable； their papa's table
rich and handsome； their society solemn and genteel；
their self…respect prodigious； they had the best pew at
the Foundling： all their habits were pompous and orderly；
and all their amusements intolerably dull and decorous。
After every one of her visits （and oh how glad she was
when they were over！） Miss Osborne and Miss Maria
Osborne； and Miss Wirt； the vestal governess； asked each
other with increased wonder； 〃What could George find in
that creature？〃
How is this？ some carping reader exclaims。 How is it
that Amelia； who had such a number of friends at
school； and was so beloved there； comes out into the
world and is spurned by her discriminating sex？ My dear
sir； there were no men at Miss Pinkerton's establishment
except the old dancing…master； and you would not have
had the girls fall out about HIM？ When George； their
handsome brother； ran off directly after breakfast； and
dined from home half…a…dozen times a week； no wonder
the neglected sisters felt a little vexation。 When young
Bullock （of the firm of Hulker； Bullock & Co。； Bankers；
Lombard Street）； who had been making up to Miss Maria
the last two seasons； actually asked Amelia to dance the
cotillon； could you expect that the former young lady
should be pleased？ And yet she said she was； like an
artless forgiving creature。 〃I'm so delighted you like dear
Amelia；〃 she said quite eagerly to Mr。 Bullock after the
dance。 〃She's engaged to my brother George； there's not
much in her； but she's the best…natured and most
unaffected young creature： at home we're all so fond of her。〃
Dear girl！ who can calculate the depth of affection
expressed in that enthusiastic SO？
Miss Wirt and these two affectionate young women so
earnestly and frequently impressed upon George
Osborne's mind the enormity of the sacrifice he was making；
and his romantic generosity in throwing himself away
upon Amelia； that I'm not sure but that he really thought
he was one of the most deserving characters in the British
army； and gave himself up to be loved with a good deal
of easy resignation。
Somehow； although he left home every morning； as was
stated； and dined abroad six days in the week； when his
sisters believed the infatuated youth to be at Miss Sedley's
apron…strings： he was NOT always with Amelia； whilst the
world supposed him at her feet。 Certain it is that on more
occasions than one； when Captain Dobbin called to look
for his friend； Miss Osborne （who was very attentive to
the Captain； and anxious to hear his military stories； and
to know about the health of his dear Mamma）； would
laughingly point to the opposite side of the square； and
say； 〃Oh； you must go to the Sedleys' to ask for George；
WE never see him from morning till night。〃 At which kind
of speech the Captain would laugh in rather an absurd
constrained manner； and turn off the conversation； like
a consummate man of the world； to some topic of general
interest； such as the Opera； the Prince's last ball at
Carlton House； or the weatherthat blessing to society。
〃What an innocent it is； that pet of yours；〃 Miss Maria
would then say to Miss Jane； upon the Captain's
departure。 〃Did you see how he blushed at the mention of
poor George on duty？〃
〃It's a pity Frederick Bullock hadn't some of his
modesty； Maria；〃 replies the elder sister； with a toss of he
head。
〃Modesty！ Awkwardness you mean； Jane。 I don't want
Frederick to trample a hole in my muslin frock； as
Captain Dobbin did in yours at Mrs。 Perkins'。〃
〃In YOUR frock； he； he！ How could he？ Wasn't he
dancing with Amelia？〃
The fact is； when Captain Dobbin blushed so； and
looked so awkward； he remembered a circumstance of
which he did not think it was necessary to inform the
young ladies； viz。； that he had been calling at Mr。 Sedley's
house already； on the pretence of seeing George； of
course； and George wasn't there； only poor little Amelia；
with rather a sad wistful face； seated near the drawing…
room window； who； after some very trifling stupid talk；
ventured to ask； was there any truth in the report that
the regiment was soon to be ordered abroad； and had
Captain Dobbin seen Mr。 Osborne that day？
The regiment was not ordered abroad as yet； and
Captain Dobbin had not seen George。 〃He was with his
sister； most likely；〃 the Captain said。 〃Should he go and
fetch the truant？〃 So she gave him her hand kindly and
gratefully： and he crossed the square； and she waited
and waited； but George never came。
Poor little tender heart！ and so it goes on hoping and
beating； and longing and trusting。 You see it is not much
of a life to describe。 There is not much of what you call
incident in it。 Only one feeling all daywhen will he
come？ only one thought to sleep and wake upon。 I
believe George was playing billiards with Captain Cannon
in Swallow Street at the time when Amelia was asking
Captain Dobbin about him； for George was a jolly
sociable fellow； and excellent in all games of skill。
Once； after three days of absence； Miss Amelia put on
her bonnet； and actually invaded the Osborne house。
〃What！ leave our brother to come to us？〃 said the young
ladies。 〃Have you had a quarrel； Amelia？ Do tell us！〃
No； indeed； there had been no quarrel。 〃Who could
quarrel with him？〃 says she； with her eyes filled with tears。
She only came over toto see her dear friends； they had
not met for so long。 And this day she was so perfectly
stupid and awkward； that the Misses Osborne and their
governess； who stared after her as she went sadly away；
wondered more than ever what George could see in poor
little Amelia。
Of course they did。 How was she to bare that timid
little heart for the inspection of those young ladies with
their bold black eyes？ It was best that it should shrink
and hide itself。 I know the Misses Osborne were excellent
critics of a Cashmere shawl； or a pink satin slip； and
when Miss Turner had hers dyed purple； and made into
a spencer； and when Miss Pickford had her ermine
tippet twisted into a muff and trimmings； I warrant you the
changes did not escape the two intelligent young women
before mentioned。 But there are things； look you； of a
finer texture than fur or satin； and all Solomon's glories；
and all the wardrobe of the Queen of Shebathings
whereof the beauty escapes the eyes of many
connoisseurs。 And there are sweet modest little souls on
which you light； fragrant
