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！
you ever see a dun； my dear； or a bailiff and his man？
Two of the abominable wretches watched all last week
at the greengrocer's opposite； and we could not get away
until Sunday。 If Aunty does not relent； what shall we
do？〃
Rawdon； with roars of laughter； related a dozen amusing
anecdotes of his duns； and Rebecca's adroit treatment
of them。 He vowed with a great oath that there was
no woman in Europe who could talk a creditor over as
she could。 Almost immediately after their marriage； her
practice had begun； and her husband found the immense
value of such a wife。 They had credit in plenty； but they
had bills also in abundance； and laboured under a scarcity
of ready money。 Did these debt…difficulties affect Rawdon's
good spirits？ No。 Everybody in Vanity Fair must
have remarked how well those live who are comfortably
and thoroughly in debt： how they deny themselves nothing；
how jolly and easy they are in their minds。 Rawdon
and his wife had the very best apartments at the inn at
Brighton； the landlord； as he brought in the first dish；
bowed before them as to his greatest customers： and
Rawdon abused the dinners and wine with an audacity
which no grandee in the land could surpass。 Long custom；
a manly appearance； faultless boots and clothes；
and a happy fierceness of manner； will often help a man
as much as a great balance at the banker's。
The two wedding parties met constantly in each other's
apartments。 After two or three nights the gentlemen of an
evening had a little piquet； as their wives sate and chatted
apart。 This pastime； and the arrival of Jos Sedley； who
made his appearance in his grand open carriage； and who
played a few games at billiards with Captain Crawley；
replenished Rawdon's purse somewhat； and gave him the
benefit of that ready money for which the greatest spirits
are sometimes at a stand…still。
So the three gentlemen walked down to see the Lightning
coach come in。 Punctual to the minute； the coach
crowded inside and out； the guard blowing his accustomed
tune on the hornthe Lightning came tearing
down the street； and pulled up at the coach…office。
〃Hullo！ there's old Dobbin；〃 George cried； quite delighted
to see his old friend perched on the roof； and
whose promised visit to Brighton had been delayed until
now。 〃How are you； old fellow？ Glad you're come down。
Emmy'll be delighted to see you；〃 Osborne said； shaking
his comrade warmly by the hand as soon as his descent
from the vehicle was effectedand then he added； in a
lower and agitated voice； 〃What's the news？ Have you
been in Russell Square？ What does the governor say？
Tell me everything。〃
Dobbin looked very pale and grave。 〃I've seen your
father；〃 said he。 〃How's AmeliaMrs。 George？ I'll tell
you all the news presently： but I've brought the great
news of all： and that is〃
〃Out with it； old fellow；〃 George said。
〃We're ordered to Belgium。 All the army goesguards
and all。 Heavytop's got the gout； and is mad at not being
able to move。 O'Dowd goes in command； and we embark
from Chatham next week。〃 This news of war could
not but come with a shock upon our lovers； and caused
all these gentlemen to look very serious。
CHAPTER XXIII
Captain Dobbin Proceeds on His Canvass
What is the secret mesmerism which friendship
possesses； and under the operation of which a person
ordinarily sluggish； or cold； or timid； becomes wise；
active； and resolute； in another's behalf？ As Alexis；
after a few passes from Dr。 Elliotson； despises pain；
reads with the back of his head； sees miles off；
looks into next week； and performs other wonders；
of which； in his own private normal condition； he is
quite incapable； so you see； in the affairs of the world
and under the magnetism of friendships； the modest
man becomes bold； the shy confident； the lazy active； or
the impetuous prudent and peaceful。 What is it； on the
other hand； that makes the lawyer eschew his own cause；
and call in his learned brother as an adviser？ And what causes
the doctor； when ailing； to send for his rival； and not sit
down and examine his own tongue in the chimney Bass；
or write his own prescription at his study…table？ I throw
out these queries for intelligent readers to answer； who
know； at once； how credulous we are； and how sceptical；
how soft and how obstinate； how firm for others and how
diffident about ourselves： meanwhile； it is certain that
our friend William Dobbin； who was personally of so
complying a disposition that if his parents had pressed
him much； it is probable he would have stepped down
into the kitchen and married the cook； and who； to further
his own interests； would have found the most insuperable
difficulty in walking across the street； found himself as
busy and eager in the conduct of George Osborne's
affairs； as the most selfish tactician could be in the pursuit
of his own。
Whilst our friend George and his young wife were
enjoying the first blushing days of the honeymoon at
Brighton； honest William was left as George's plenipotentiary
in London； to transact all the business part of the marriage。
His duty it was to call upon old Sedley and his
wife； and to keep the former in good humour： to draw Jos
and his brother…in…law nearer together； so that Jos's position
and dignity； as collector of Boggley Wollah； might
compensate for his father's loss of station； and tend to
reconcile old Osborne to the alliance： and finally； to
communicate it to the latter in such a way as should least
irritate the old gentleman。
Now； before he faced the head of the Osborne house
with the news which it was his duty to tell； Dobbin bethought
him that it would be politic to make friends of the
rest of the family； and； if possible； have the ladies on his
side。 They can't be angry in their hearts； thought he。 No
woman ever was really angry at a romantic marriage。 A
little crying out； and they must come round to their
brother； when the three of us will lay siege to old Mr。
Osborne。 So this Machiavellian captain of infantry cast
about him for some happy means or stratagem by which
he could gently and gradually bring the Misses Osborne
to a knowledge of their brother's secret。
By a little inquiry regarding his mother's engagements；
he was pretty soon able to find out by whom of her ladyship's
friends parties were given at that season； where
he would be likely to meet Osborne's sisters； and； though
he had that abhorrence of routs and evening parties
which many sensible men； alas！ entertain； he soon found
one where the Misses Osborne were to be present。
Making his appearance at the ball； where he danced a couple
of sets with both of them； and was prodigiously polite； he
actually had the courage to ask Miss Osborne for a few
minutes' conversation at an early hour the next day； when
he had； he said； to communicate to her news of the
very greatest interest。
What was it that made her start back； and gaze upon
him for a moment； and then on the ground at her feet；
and make as if she would faint on his arm； had he not by
opportunely treading on her toes； brought the young lady
back to self…control？ Why was she so violently agitated
at Dobbin's request？ This can never