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vanity fair(名利场)-第116章

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laughing in his bed; and even made Amelia smile。  〃I
don't ask her;〃 Jos shouted out〃I don't ask thatthat
Irishwoman; but you Amelia; once for all; will you
come?〃
〃Without my husband; Joseph?〃 Amelia said; with a
look of wonder; and gave her hand to the Major's wife。
Jos's patience was exhausted。
〃Good…bye; then;〃 he said; shaking his fist in a rage;
and slamming the door by which he retreated。  And this
time he really gave his order for march:  and mounted in
the court…yard。  Mrs。 O'Dowd heard the clattering hoofs
of the horses as they issued from the gate; and looking
on; made many scornful remarks on poor Joseph as he
rode down the street with Isidor after him in the laced
cap。  The horses; which had not been exercised for some
days; were lively; and sprang about the street。  Jos; a
clumsy and timid horseman; did not look to advantage in
the saddle。  〃Look at him; Amelia dear; driving into the
parlour window。  Such a bull in a china…shop I never
saw。〃 And presently the pair of riders disappeared at a
canter down the street leading in the direction of the
Ghent road; Mrs。 O'Dowd pursuing them with a fire of
sarcasm so long as they were in sight。
All that day from morning until past sunset; the
cannon never ceased to roar。  It was dark when the
cannonading stopped all of a sudden。
All of us have read of what occurred during that
interval。  The tale is in every Englishman's mouth; and
you and I; who were children when the great battle was
won and lost; are never tired of hearing and recounting
the history of that famous action。  Its remembrance
rankles still in the bosoms of millions of the countrymen of
those brave men who lost the day。  They pant for an
opportunity of revenging that humiliation; and if a contest;
ending in a victory on their part; should ensue; elating
them in their turn; and leaving its cursed legacy of hatred
and rage behind to us; there is no end to the so…called
glory and shame; and to the alternations of successful
and unsuccessful murder; in which two high…spirited
nations might engage。  Centuries hence; we Frenchmen and
Englishmen might be boasting and killing each other still;
carrying out bravely the Devil's code of honour。
All our friends took their share and fought like men in
the great field。  All day long; whilst the women were
praying ten miles away; the lines of the dauntless English
infantry were receiving and repelling the furious charges of
the French horsemen。  Guns which were heard at Brussels
were ploughing up their ranks; and comrades falling; and
the resolute survivors closing in。  Towards evening; the
attack of the French; repeated and resisted so bravely;
slackened in its fury。  They had other foes besides the
British to engage; or were preparing for a final onset。  It
came at last:  the columns of the Imperial Guard marched
up the hill of Saint Jean; at length and at once to sweep
the English from the height which they had maintained
all day; and spite of all:  unscared by the thunder of the
artillery; which hurled death from the English linethe
dark rolling column pressed on and up the hill。  It seemed
almost to crest the eminence; when it began to wave and
falter。  Then it stopped; still facing the shot。  Then at last
the English troops rushed from the post from which no
enemy had been able to dislodge them; and the Guard
turned and fled。
No more firing was heard at Brusselsthe pursuit
rolled miles away。  Darkness came down on the field and
city:  and Amelia was praying for George; who was lying
on his face; dead; with a bullet through his heart。

CHAPTER XXXIII
In Which Miss Crawley's Relations Are Very Anxious About Her
The kind reader must please to rememberwhile the
army is marching from Flanders; and; after its heroic
actions there; is advancing to take the fortifications on the
frontiers of France; previous to an occupation of that
countrythat there are a number of persons living
peaceably in England who have to do with the history at
present in hand; and must come in for their share of the
chronicle。  During the time of these battles and dangers;
old Miss Crawley was living at Brighton; very moderately
moved by the great events that were going on。  The great
events rendered the newspapers rather interesting; to be
sure; and Briggs read out the Gazette; in which Rawdon
Crawley's gallantry was mentioned with honour; and his
promotion was presently recorded。
〃What a pity that young man has taken such an
irretrievable step in the world!〃 his aunt said; 〃with his rank
and distinction he might have married a brewer's
daughter with a quarter of a millionlike Miss Grains; or have
looked to ally himself with the best families in England。
He would have had my money some day or other; or his
children wouldfor I'm not in a hurry to go; Miss Briggs;
although you may be in a hurry to be rid of me; and
instead of that; he is a doomed pauper; with a dancing…girl
for a wife。〃
〃Will my dear Miss Crawley not cast an eye of
compassion upon the heroic soldier; whose name is inscribed
in the annals of his country's glory?〃 said Miss Briggs;
who was greatly excited by the Waterloo proceedings;
and loved speaking romantically when there was an
occasion。  〃Has not the Captainor the Colonel as I may
now style himdone deeds which make the name of
Crawley illustrious?〃
〃Briggs; you are a fool;〃 said Miss Crawley: 〃Colonel
Crawley has dragged the name of Crawley through the
mud; Miss Briggs。  Marry a drawing…master's daughter;
indeed!marry a dame de compagniefor she was no
better; Briggs; no; she was just what you areonly younger;
and a great deal prettier and cleverer。  Were you an
accomplice of that abandoned wretch; I wonder; of whose
vile arts he became a victim; and of whom you used to
be such an admirer?  Yes; I daresay you were an accomplice。
But you will find yourself disappointed in my will;
I can tell you:  and you will have the goodness to write to
Mr。 Waxy; and say that I desire to see him immediately。〃
Miss Crawley was now in the habit of writing to Mr。
Waxy her solicitor almost every day in the week; for her
arrangements respecting her property were all revoked;
and her perplexity was great as to the future disposition
of her money。
The spinster had; however; rallied considerably; as
was proved by the increased vigour and frequency of her
sarcasms upon Miss Briggs; all which attacks the poor
companion bore with meekness; with cowardice; with a
resignation that was half generous and half hypocritical
with the slavish submission; in a word; that women of
her disposition and station are compelled to show。  Who
has not seen how women bully women?  What tortures
have men to endure; comparable to those daily repeated
shafts of scorn and cruelty with which poor women are
riddled by the tyrants of their sex?  Poor victims!  But we
are starting from our proposition; which is; that Miss
Crawley was always particularly annoying and savage
when she was rallying from illnessas they say wounds
tingle most when they are about to heal。
While thus approaching; as all hoped; to convalescence;
Miss Briggs was the only victim admitted into the
presence of the invalid; yet Miss 
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