vanity fair(名利场)-第97部分

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a　large　house；　would　have　taken　in　boarders。　　The　broken
Sedley　would　have　acted　well　as　the　boarding…house
landlady's　husband；　the　Munoz　of　private　life；　the　titular　lord
and　master：　　the　carver；　house…steward；　and　humble
husband　of　the　occupier　of　the　dingy　throne。　　I　have　seen
men　of　good　brains　and　breeding；　and　of　good　hopes　and
vigour　once；　who　feasted　squires　and　kept　hunters　in
their　youth；　meekly　cutting　up　legs　of　mutton　for
rancorous　old　harridans　and　pretending　to　preside　over　their
dreary　tablesbut　Mrs。　Sedley；　we　say；　had　not　spirit
enough　to　bustle　about　for　〃a　few　select　inmates　to　join
a　cheerful　musical　family；〃　such　as　one　reads　of　in　the
Times。　　She　was　content　to　lie　on　the　shore　where
fortune　had　stranded　herand　you　could　see　that　the
career　of　this　old　couple　was　over。
I　don't　think　they　were　unhappy。　　Perhaps　they　were
a　little　prouder　in　their　downfall　than　in　their　prosperity。
Mrs。　Sedley　was　always　a　great　person　for　her　landlady；
Mrs。　Clapp；　when　she　descended　and　passed　many　hours
with　her　in　the　basement　or　ornamented　kitchen。　　The
Irish　maid　Betty　Flanagan's　bonnets　and　ribbons；　her
sauciness；　her　idleness；　her　reckless　prodigality　of　kitchen
candles；　her　consumption　of　tea　and　sugar；　and　so　forth
occupied　and　amused　the　old　lady　almost　as　much　as　the
doings　of　her　former　household；　when　she　had　Sambo　and
the　coachman；　and　a　groom；　and　a　footboy；　and　a
housekeeper　with　a　regiment　of　female　domesticsher　former
household；　about　which　the　good　lady　talked　a　hundred
times　a　day。　　And　besides　Betty　Flanagan；　Mrs。　Sedley
had　all　the　maids…of…all…work　in　the　street　to　superintend。
She　knew　how　each　tenant　of　the　cottages　paid　or
owed　his　little　rent。　　She　stepped　aside　when　Mrs。
Rougemont　the　actress　passed　with　her　dubious　family。　　She
flung　up　her　head　when　Mrs。　Pestler；　the　apothecary's
lady；　drove　by　in　her　husband's　professional　one…horse
chaise。　　She　had　colloquies　with　the　greengrocer　about
the　pennorth　of　turnips　which　Mr。　Sedley　loved；　she　kept
an　eye　upon　the　milkman　and　the　baker's　boy；　and
made　visitations　to　the　butcher；　who　sold　hundreds　of
oxen　very　likely　with　less　ado　than　was　made　about
Mrs。　Sedley's　loin　of　mutton：　　and　she　counted　the
potatoes　under　the　joint　on　Sundays；　on　which　days；　dressed
in　her　best；　she　went　to　church　twice　and　read　Blair's
Sermons　in　the　evening。
On　that　day；　for　〃business〃　prevented　him　on　weekdays
from　taking　such　a　pleasure；　it　was　old　Sedley's
delight　to　take　out　his　little　grandson　Georgy　to　the
neighbouring　parks　or　Kensington　Gardens；　to　see　the　soldiers
or　to　feed　the　ducks。　　Georgy　loved　the　redcoats；　and　his
grandpapa　told　him　how　his　father　had　been　a　famous
soldier；　and　introduced　him　to　many　sergeants　and　others
with　Waterloo　medals　on　their　breasts；　to　whom　the
old　grandfather　pompously　presented　the　child　as　the
son　of　Captain　Osborne　of　the　th；　who　died　gloriously
on　the　glorious　eighteenth。　　He　has　been　known　to　treat
some　of　these　non…commissioned　gentlemen　to　a　glass　of
porter；　and；　indeed；　in　their　first　Sunday　walks　was
disposed　to　spoil　little　Georgy；　sadly　gorging　the　boy　with
apples　and　parliament；　to　the　detriment　of　his　health
until　Amelia　declared　that　George　should　never　go　out
with　his　grandpapa　unless　the　latter　promised　solemnly；
and　on　his　honour；　not　to　give　the　child　any　cakes；
lollipops；　or　stall　produce　whatever。
Between　Mrs。　Sedley　and　her　daughter　there　was　a　sort
of　coolness　about　this　boy；　and　a　secret　jealousyfor
one　evening　in　George's　very　early　days；　Amelia；　who
had　been　seated　at　work　in　their　little　parlour　scarcely
remarking　that　the　old　lady　had　quitted　the　room；　ran
upstairs　instinctively　to　the　nursery　at　the　cries　of　the
child；　who　had　been　asleep　until　that　momentand
there　found　Mrs。　Sedley　in　the　act　of　surreptitiously
administering　Daffy's　Elixir　to　the　infant。　　Amelia；　the
gentlest　and　sweetest　of　everyday　mortals；　when　she
found　this　meddling　with　her　maternal　authority；　thrilled
and　trembled　all　over　with　anger。　　Her　cheeks；　ordinarily
pale；　now　flushed　up；　until　they　were　as　red　as　they　used
to　be　when　she　was　a　child　of　twelve　years　old。　　She
seized　the　baby　out　of　her　mother's　arms　and　then
grasped　at　the　bottle；　leaving　the　old　lady　gaping　at　her；
furious；　and　holding　the　guilty　tea…spoon。
Amelia　flung　the　bottle　crashing　into　the　fire…place。
〃I　will　NOT　have　baby　poisoned；　Mamma；〃　cried　Emmy；
rocking　the　infant　about　violently　with　both　her　arms
round　him　and　turning　with　flashing　eyes　at　her　mother。
〃Poisoned；　Amelia！〃　said　the　old　lady；　〃this　language
to　me？〃
〃He　shall　not　have　any　medicine　but　that　which　Mr。
Pestler　sends　for　hi　n。　　He　told　me　that　Daffy's　Elixir　was
poison。〃
〃Very　good：　　you　think　I'm　a　murderess　then；〃　replied
Mrs。　Sedley。　　〃This　is　the　language　you　use　to　your　mother。
I　have　met　with　misfortunes：　　I　have　sunk　low　in　life：　　I
have　kept　my　carriage；　and　now　walk　on　foot：　　but　I　did
not　know　I　was　a　murderess　before；　and　thank　you　for　the
NEWS。〃
〃Mamma；〃　said　the　poor　girl；　who　was　always　ready　for
tears〃you　shouldn't　be　hard　upon　me。　　II　didn't　mean
I　mean；　I　did　not　wish　to　say　you　would　to　any
wrong　to　this　dear　child；　only〃
〃Oh；　no；　my　love；only　that　I　was　a　murderess；　in
which　case　I　had　better　go　to　the　Old　Bailey。　　Though　I
didn't　poison　YOU；　when　you　were　a　child；　but　gave　you
the　best　of　education　and　the　most　expensive　masters
money　could　procure。　　Yes；　I've　nursed　five　children　and
buried　three；　and　the　one　I　loved　the　best　of　all；　and
tended　through　croup；　and　teething；　and　measles；　and
hooping…cough；　and　brought　up　with　foreign　masters；
regardless　of　expense；　and　with　accomplishments　at　Minerva
Housewhich　I　never　had　when　I　was　a　girlwhen　I　was
too　glad　to　honour　my　father　and　mother；　that　I　might
live　long　in　the　land；　and　to　be　useful；　and　not　to　mope
all　day　in　my　room　and　act　the　fine　ladysays　I'm　a
murderess。　　Ah；　Mrs。　Osborne！　may　YOU　never　nourish　a
viper　in　your　bosom；　that's　MY　prayer。〃
〃Mamma；　Mamma！〃　cried　the　bewildered　girl；　and　the
child　in　her　arms　set　up　a　frantic　chorus　of　shouts。
〃A　murderess；　indeed！　　Go　down　on　your　knees　and
pray　to　God　to　cleanse　your　wicked　ungrateful　heart；
Amelia；　and　may　He　forgive　you　as　I　do。〃　And　Mrs。
Sedley　tossed　out　of　the　room；　hissing　out　the　word
poison　once　more；　and　so　ending　her　charitable
benediction。
Till　the　termination　of　her　natural　life；　this　breach
between　Mrs。　Sedley　and　her　daughter　was　never　thoroughly
　mended。　　The　quarrel　gave　the　elder　lady　numberless
advantages　which　she　did　not　fail　to　turn　to　account　with
female　ingenuity　and　perseverance。　　For　instance；　she
scarcely　spoke　to　Amelia　for　many　weeks　afterwards。
She　warned　the　domestics　not　to　touch　the　child；　as　Mrs。
Osborne　might　be　offended。　　She　asked　her　daughter　to
see　and　satisfy　herself　that　there　was　no　poison　prepared
in　the　little　daily　messes　that　were　concocted　for　Georgy。
When　neighbours　asked　after　the　boy's　health；　she
referred　them　pointedly　to　Mrs。　Osborne。　　SHE　never
ventured　to　ask　whether　the　baby　was　well　or　not。　　SHE
would　not　touch　the　child　although　he　was　her　grandson；
and　own　precious　darling；　for　she　was　not　USED　to
children；　and　might　kill　it。　　And　whenever　Mr。　Pestler　came
upon　his　healing　inquisition；　she　received　the　doctor　with
such　a　sarcastic　and　scornful　demeanour；　as　made　the
surgeon　declare　that　not　Lady　Thistlewood　herself；　whom
he　had　the　honour　of　attending　professionally；　could
give　herself　greater　airs　than　old　Mrs。　Sedley；　from　whom
he　never　took　a　fee。　　And　very　likely　Emmy　was　jealous
too；　upon　her　own　part；　as　what　mother　is　not；　of　those
who　would　manage　her　children　for　her；　or　become
candidates　for　the　first　place　in　their　affections。　　It　is　certain
that　when　anybody　nursed　the　child；　she　was　uneasy；　and
that　she　would　no　more　allow　Mrs。　Clapp　or　the
domestic　to　dress　or　tend　him　than　she　would　have　let　them
wash　her　husband's　miniature　which　hung　up　over　her
little　bedthe　same　little　bed　from　which　the　poor　girl
had　gone　to　his；　and　to　which　she　retired　now　for　many
long；　silent；　tearful；　but　happy　years。
In　this　room　was　all　Amelia's　heart　and　treasure。　　Here
it　was　that　she　tended　her　boy　and　watched　him　through
the　many　ills　of　childhood；　with　a　constant　passion　of
love。　　The　elder　George　returned　in　him　somehow；　only
improved；　and　as　if　come　back　from　heaven。　　In　a
hundred　little　tones；　looks；　and　movements；　the　child　was
so　like　his　father　that　the　widow's　heart　thrilled　as　she
held　him　to　it；　and　he　would　often　ask　the　cause　of　her
tears。　　It　was　because　of　his　likeness　to　his　father；　she
did　not　scruple　to　tell　him。　　She　talked　constantly　to　him
about　this　dead　father；　and　spoke　of　her　love　for　George
to　the　innocent　and　wondering　child；　much　more　than　she
ever　had　done　to　George　himself；　or　to　any　confidante　of
her　youth。　　To　her　parents　she　never　talked　about　this
matter；　shrinking　from　baring　her　heart　to　them。　　Little
George　very　likely　could　understand　no　better　than　they；
but　into　his　ears　she　poured　her　sentimental　secrets
unreservedly；　and　into　his　only。　　The　very　joy　of　this
woman　was　a　sort　of　grief；　or　so　tender；　at　least；　that
its　expression　was　tears。　　Her　sensibilities　were　so　weak
and　tremulous　that　perhaps　they　ought　not　to　be　talked
about　in　a　book。　　I　was　told　by　Dr。　Pestler　（now　a　most
flourishing　lady's　physician；　with　a　sumptuous　dark　green
carriage；　a　prospect　of　speedy　knighthood；　and　a　house
in　Manchester　Square）　that　her　grief　at　weaning　the　child
was　a　sight　that　would　have　unmanned　a　Herod。　　He　was
very　soft…hearted　many　years　ago；　and　his　wife　was
mortally　jealous　of　Mrs。　Amelia；　then　and　long　afterwards。
Perhaps　the　doctor's　lady　had　good　reason　for　her
jealousy：　　most　women　shared　it；　of　those　who　formed　the
small　circle　of　Amelia's　acquaintance；　and　were　quite
angry　at　the　enthusiasm　with　which　the　other　sex　regarded
her。　　For　almost　all　men　who　came　near　her　loved
her；　though　no　doubt　they　would　be　at　a　loss　to　tell　you
why。　　She　was　not　brilliant；　nor　witty；　nor　wise　over
much；　nor　extraordinarily　handsome。　　But　wherever　she
went　she　touched　and　charmed　every　one　of　the　male
sex；　as　invar