按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
natured soul with anguish。 And he broke out into an
emotion； which anybody who likes may consider unmanly。
He swore that Amelia was an angel； to which Osborne
said aye with all his heart。 He； too； had been reviewing
the history of their livesand had seen her from her
childhood to her present age； so sweet； so innocent；
so charmingly simple； and artlessly fond and tender。
What a pang it was to lose all that： to have had it and
not prized it！ A thousand homely scenes and recollections
crowded on himin which he always saw her good
and beautiful。 And for himself； he blushed with remorse
and shame； as the remembrance of his own selfishness
and indifference contrasted with that perfect purity。 For
a while； glory； war； everything was forgotten； and the
pair of friends talked about her only。
〃Where are they？〃 Osborne asked； after a long talk；
and a long pauseand； in truth； with no little shame at
thinking that he had taken no steps to follow her。 〃Where
are they？ There's no address to the note。〃
Dobbin knew。 He had not merely sent the piano； but
had written a note to Mrs。 Sedley； and asked permission
to come and see herand he had seen her； and Amelia
too； yesterday； before he came down to Chatham； and；
what is more； he had brought that farewell letter and
packet which had so moved them。
The good…natured fellow had found Mrs。 Sedley only
too willing to receive him； and greatly agitated by the
arrival of the piano； which； as she conjectured； MUST have
come from George； and was a signal of amity on his
part。 Captain Dobbin did not correct this error of the
worthy lady； but listened to all her story of complaints
and misfortunes with great sympathycondoled with
her losses and privations； and agreed in reprehending the
cruel conduct of Mr。 Osborne towards his first benefactor。
When she had eased her overflowing bosom somewhat；
and poured forth many of her sorrows； he had the
courage to ask actually to see Amelia； who was above in
her room as usual； and whom her mother led trembling
downstairs。
Her appearance was so ghastly； and her look of despair
so pathetic； that honest William Dobbin was frightened
as he beheld it； and read the most fatal forebodings in
that pale fixed face。 After sitting in his company a minute
or two； she put the packet into his hand； and said；
〃Take this to Captain Osborne； if you please； andand I
hope he's quite welland it was very kind of you to
come and see usand we like our new house very much。
And II think I'll go upstairs； Mamma； for I'm not very
strong。〃 And with this； and a curtsey and a smile； the
poor child went her way。 The mother； as she led her up；
cast back looks of anguish towards Dobbin。 The good
fellow wanted no such appeal。 He loved her himself too
fondly for that。 Inexpressible grief； and pity； and terror
pursued him； and he came away as if he was a criminal
after seeing her。
When Osborne heard that his friend had found her；
he made hot and anxious inquiries regarding the poor
child。 How was she？ How did she look？ What did she
say？ His comrade took his hand； and looked him in the
face。
〃George； she's dying；〃 William Dobbin saidand could
speak no more。
There was a buxom Irish servant…girl； who performed
all the duties of the little house where the Sedley family
had found refuge： and this girl had in vain； on many
previous days； striven to give Amelia aid or consolation。
Emmy was much too sad to answer； or even to be aware
of the attempts the other was making in her favour。
Four hours after the talk between Dobbin and Osborne；
this servant…maid came into Amelia's room； where she
sate as usual； brooding silently over her lettersher
little treasures。 The girl； smiling； and looking arch and
happy； made many trials to attract poor Emmy's
attention； who； however； took no heed of her。
〃Miss Emmy；〃 said the girl。
〃I'm coming；〃 Emmy said； not looking round。
〃There's a message；〃 the maid went on。 〃There's
somethingsomebodysure； here's a new letter for you
don't be reading them old ones any more。〃 And she gave
her a letter； which Emmy took； and read。
〃I must see you；〃 the letter said。 〃Dearest Emmy
dearest lovedearest wife； come to me。〃
George and her mother were outside； waiting until she
had read the letter。
CHAPTER XIX
Miss Crawley at Nurse
We have seen how Mrs。 Firkin； the lady's maid； as soon
as any event of importance to the Crawley family came
to her knowledge； felt bound to communicate it to Mrs。
Bute Crawley； at the Rectory； and have before
mentioned how particularly kind and attentive that good…
natured lady was to Miss Crawley's confidential servant。
She had been a gracious friend to Miss Briggs； the
companion； also； and had secured the latter's good…will by a
number of those attentions and promises； which cost so
little in the making； and are yet so valuable and agreeable to
the recipient。 Indeed every good economist and
manager of a household must know how cheap and yet
how amiable these professions are； and what a flavour
they give to the most homely dish in life。 Who was the
blundering idiot who said that 〃fine words butter no
parsnips〃？ Half the parsnips of society are served and
rendered palatable with no other sauce。 As the immortal
Alexis Soyer can make more delicious soup for a half…
penny than an ignorant cook can concoct with pounds of
vegetables and meat； so a skilful artist will make a few
simple and pleasing phrases go farther than ever so much
substantial benefit…stock in the hands of a mere bungler。
Nay； we know that substantial benefits often sicken some
stomachs； whereas； most will digest any amount of fine
words； and be always eager for more of the same food。
Mrs。 Bute had told Briggs and Firkin so often of the
depth of her affection for them； and what she would do；
if she had Miss Crawley's fortune； for friends so excellent
and attached； that the ladies in question had the deepest
regard for her； and felt as much gratitude and
confidence as if Mrs。 Bute had loaded them with the most
expensive favours。
Rawdon Crawley； on the other hand； like a selfish
heavy dragoon as he was； never took the least trouble to
conciliate his aunt's aides…de…camp； showed his contempt
for the pair with entire franknessmade Firkin pull off
his boots on one occasionsent her out in the rain on
ignominious messagesand if he gave her a guinea； flung
it to her as if it were a box on the ear。 As his aunt； too；
made a butt of Briggs； the Captain followed the
example； and levelled his jokes at herjokes about as
delicate as a kick from his charger。 Whereas； Mrs。 Bute
consulted her in matters of taste or difficulty； admired
her poetry； and by a thousand acts of kindness and
politeness； showed her appreciation of Briggs； and if she
made Firkin a twopenny…halfpenny present； accompanied
it with so many compliments； that the twopence…half…
penny was transmuted into gold in the heart of the grateful
waiting…maid； who； besides； was looking forwards
quite contentedly to some prodigious benefit which must
happen to her on the day when Mrs。 Bute came into her
fortune。
The different conduct of these two people is pointed
out respectfully to the attention of pers