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！
slaughter by the intrepid little Becky。 When attacked
sometimes； Becky had a knack of adopting a demure
ingenue air； under which she was most dangerous。 She
said the wickedest things with the most simple unaffected
air when in this mood； and would take care artlessly to
apologize for her blunders； so that all the world should
know that she had made them。
Mr。 Wagg； the celebrated wit； and a led captain and
trencher…man of my Lord Steyne； was caused by the
ladies to charge her； and the worthy fellow； leering at his
patronesses and giving them a wink； as much as to say；
〃Now look out for sport；〃 one evening began an assault
upon Becky； who was unsuspiciously eating her dinner。
The little woman； attacked on a sudden； but never
without arms； lighted up in an instant； parried and riposted
with a home…thrust； which made Wagg's face tingle with
shame； then she returned to her soup with the most
perfect calm and a quiet smile on her face。 Wagg's great
patron； who gave him dinners and lent him a little money
sometimes； and whose election； newspaper； and other
jobs Wagg did； gave the luckless fellow such a savage
glance with the eyes as almost made him sink under the
table and burst into tears。 He looked piteously at my
lord； who never spoke to him during dinner； and at the
ladies； who disowned him。 At last Becky herself took
compassion upon him and tried to engage him in talk。
He was not asked to dinner again for six weeks； and
Fiche； my lord's confidential man； to whom Wagg
naturally paid a good deal of court； was instructed to tell
him that if he ever dared to say a rude thing to Mrs。
Crawley again； or make her the butt of his stupid jokes；
Milor would put every one of his notes of hand into his
lawyer's hands and sell him up without mercy。 Wagg
wept before Fiche and implored his dear friend to intercede
for him。 He wrote a poem in favour of Mrs。 R。 C。；
which appeared in the very next number of the Harum…
scarum Magazine； which he conducted。 He implored her
good…will at parties where he met her。 He cringed and
coaxed Rawdon at the club。 He was allowed to come back
to Gaunt House after a while。 Becky was always good to
him； always amused； never angry。
His lordship's vizier and chief confidential servant
（with a seat in parliament and at the dinner table）； Mr。
Wenham； was much more prudent in his behaviour and
opinions than Mr。 Wagg。 However much he might be
disposed to hate all parvenus （Mr。 Wenham himself was a
staunch old True Blue Tory； and his father a small coal…
merchant in the north of England）； this aide…de…camp of
the Marquis never showed any sort of hostility to the
new favourite； but pursued her with stealthy kindnesses
and a sly and deferential politeness which somehow
made Becky more uneasy than other people's overt
hostilities。
How the Crawleys got the money which was spent
upon the entertainments with which they treated the
polite world was a mystery which gave rise to some
conversation at the time； and probably added zest to these
little festivities。 Some persons averred that Sir Pitt Crawley
gave his brother a handsome allowance； if he did；
Becky's power over the Baronet must have been
extraordinary indeed； and his character greatly changed in his
advanced age。 Other parties hinted that it was Becky's
habit to levy contributions on all her husband's friends：
going to this one in tears with an account that there was
an execution in the house； falling on her knees to that
one and declaring that the whole family must go to gaol
or commit suicide unless such and such a bill could be
paid。 Lord Southdown； it was said； had been induced to
give many hundreds through these pathetic representations。
Young Feltham； of the th Dragoons （and son of the firm of
Tiler and Feltham； hatters and army accoutrement makers）；
and whom the Crawleys introduced into fashionable
life； was also cited as one of Becky's victims in the
pecuniary way。 People declared that she got money
from various simply disposed persons； under pretence of
getting them confidential appointments under Government。
Who knows what stories were or were not told of
our dear and innocent friend？ Certain it is that if she had
had all the money which she was said to have begged or
borrowed or stolen； she might have capitalized and been
honest for life； whereas；but this is advancing matters。
The truth is； that by economy and good management
by a sparing use of ready money and by paying scarcely
anybodypeople can manage； for a time at least； to
make a great show with very little means： and it is our
belief that Becky's much…talked…of parties； which were
not； after all was said； very numerous； cost this lady very
little more than the wax candles which lighted the walls。
Stillbrook and Queen's Crawley supplied her with game
and fruit in abundance。 Lord Steyne's cellars were at her
disposal； and that excellent nobleman's famous cooks
presided over her little kitchen； or sent by my lord's
order the rarest delicacies from their own。 I protest it is
quite shameful in the world to abuse a simple creature；
as people of her time abuse Becky； and I warn the
public against believing one…tenth of the stories against her。
If every person is to be banished from society who runs
into debt and cannot payif we are to be peering into
everybody's private life； speculating upon their income；
and cutting them if we don't approve of their expenditure
why； what a howling wilderness and intolerable dwelling
Vanity Fair would be！ Every man's hand would be
against his neighbour in this case； my dear sir； and the
benefits of civilization would be done away with。 We
should be quarrelling； abusing； avoiding one another。 Our
houses would become caverns； and we should go in rags
because we cared for nobody。 Rents would go down。
Parties wouldn't be given any more。 All the tradesmen
of the town would be bankrupt。 Wine； wax…lights；
comestibles； rouge； crinoline…petticoats； diamonds； wigs；
Louis…Quatorze gimcracks； and old china； park hacks； and
splendid high…stepping carriage horsesall the delights
of life； I say；would go to the deuce； if people did but
act upon their silly principles and avoid those whom they
dislike and abuse。 Whereas； by a little charity and mutual
forbearance； things are made to go on pleasantly
enough： we may abuse a man as much as we like； and
call him the greatest rascal unhangedbut do we wish
to hang him therefore？ No。 We shake hands when we
meet。 If his cook is good we forgive him and go and dine
with him； and we expect he will do the same by us。 Thus
trade flourishescivilization advances； peace is kept；
new dresses are wanted for new assemblies every week；
and the last year's vintage of Lafitte will remunerate the
honest proprietor who reared it。
At the time whereof we are writing； though the Great
George was on the throne and ladies wore gigots and
large combs like tortoise…shell shovels in their hair；
instead of the simple sleeves and lovely wreaths which are
actually in fashion； the manners of the very polite world
were not； I take it； essentially different from those of the
present day： and their amusements pretty similar。