English
Thedayafterthemeetingattheplay-table,Joshadhimselfarrayedwithunusualcareandsplendour,andwithoutthinkingitnecessarytosayawordtoanymemberofhisfamilyregardingtheoccurrencesofthepreviousnight,oraskingfortheircompanyinhiswalk,hesalliedforthatanearlyhour,andwaspresentlyseenmakinginquiriesatthedooroftheElephantHotel.
Inconsequenceofthefetesthehousewasfullofcompany,thetablesinthestreetwerealreadysurroundedbypersonssmokinganddrinkingthenationalsmall-beer,thepublicroomswereinacloudofsmoke,andMr.Joshaving,inhispompousway,andwithhisclumsyGerman,madeinquiriesforthepersonofwhomhewasinsearch,wasdirectedtotheverytopofthehouse,abovethefirst-floorroomswheresometravellingpedlarshadlived,andwereexhibitingtheirjewelleryandbrocades;abovethesecond-floorapartmentsoccupiedbytheetatmajorofthegamblingfirm;abovethethird-floorrooms,tenantedbythebandofrenownedBohemianvaultersandtumblers;andsoontothelittlecabinsoftheroof,where,amongstudents,bagmen,smalltradesmen,andcountry-folkscomeinforthefestival,Beckyhadfoundalittlenest—asdirtyalittlerefugeaseverbeautylayhidin.
Beckylikedthelife.Shewasathomewitheverybodyintheplace,pedlars,punters,tumblers,studentsandall.
Shewasofawild,rovingnature,inheritedfromfatherandmother,whowerebothBohemians,bytasteandcircumstance;ifalordwasnotby,shewouldtalktohiscourierwiththegreatestpleasure;thedin,thestir,thedrink,thesmoke,thetattleoftheHebrewpedlars,thesolemn,braggartwaysofthepoortumblers,thesournoistalkofthegambling-tableofficials,thesongsandswaggerofthestudents,andthegeneralbuzzandhumoftheplacehadpleasedandtickledthelittlewoman,evenwhenherluckwasdownandshehadnotwherewithaltopayherbill.
HowpleasantwasallthebustletohernowthatherpursewasfullofthemoneywhichlittleGeorgyhadwonforherthenightbefore!
AsJoscamecreakingandpuffingupthefinalstairs,andwasspeechlesswhenhegottothelanding,andbegantowipehisfaceandthentolookforNo.92,theroomwherehewasdirectedtoseekforthepersonhewanted,thedooroftheoppositechamber,No.90,wasopen,andastudent,injack-bootsandadirtyschlafrock,waslyingonthebedsmokingalongpipe;whilstanotherstudentinlongyellowhairandabraidedcoat,exceedingsmartanddirtytoo,wasactuallyonhiskneesatNo.92,bawlingthroughthekeyholesupplicationstothepersonwithin.
“Goaway,”saidawell-knownvoice,whichmadeJosthrill,“Iexpectsomebody;Iexpectmygrandpapa.Hemustn’tseeyouthere.”
“AngelEnglanderinn!”bellowedthekneelingstudentwiththewhity-brownringletsandthelargefinger-ring,“dotakecompassionuponus.Makeanappointment.
DinewithmeandFritzattheinninthepark.
Wewillhaveroastpheasantsandporter,plum-puddingandFrenchwine.Weshalldieifyoudon’t.”
“Thatwewill,”saidtheyoungnoblemanonthebed;andthiscolloquyJosoverheard,thoughhedidnotcomprehendit,forthereasonthathehadneverstudiedthelanguageinwhichitwascarriedon.
“Newmerokattervangdooze,sivousplait,”Jossaidinhisgrandestmanner,whenhewasabletospeak.
“Quaterfangtooce!”saidthestudent,startingup,andhebouncedintohisownroom,wherehelockedthedoor,andwhereJosheardhimlaughingwithhiscomradeonthebed.
ThegentlemanfromBengalwasstanding,disconcertedbythisincident,whenthedoorofthe92openedofitselfandBecky’slittleheadpeepedoutfullofarchnessandmischief.
ShelightedonJos.“It’syou,”shesaid,comingout.“HowIhavebeenwaitingforyou!Stop!
notyet—inoneminuteyoushallcomein.”
Inthatinstantsheputarouge-pot,abrandybottle,andaplateofbrokenmeatintothebed,gaveonesmoothtoherhair,andfinallyletinhervisitor.
Shehad,bywayofmorningrobe,apinkdomino,atriflefadedandsoiled,andmarkedhereandtherewithpomaturn;butherarmsshoneoutfromtheloosesleevesofthedressverywhiteandfair,anditwastiedroundherlittlewaistsoasnotilltosetoffthetrimlittlefigureofthewearer.
SheledJosbythehandintohergarret.“Comein,”shesaid.“Comeandtalktome.
Sityonderonthechair”;andshegavethecivilian’shandalittlesqueezeandlaughinglyplacedhimuponit.
Asforherself,sheplacedherselfonthebed—notonthebottleandplate,youmaybesure—onwhichJosmighthavereposed,hadhechosenthatseat;andsothereshesatandtalkedwithheroldadmirer.
“Howlittleyearshavechangedyou,”shesaidwithalookoftenderinterest.“Ishouldhaveknownyouanywhere.
Whatacomfortitisamongststrangerstoseeoncemorethefrankhonestfaceofanoldfriend!”
Thefrankhonestface,totellthetruth,atthismomentboreanyexpressionbutoneofopennessandhonesty:itwas,onthecontrary,muchperturbedandpuzzledinlook.
Joswassurveyingthequeerlittleapartmentinwhichhefoundhisoldflame.
Oneofhergownshungoverthebed,anotherdependingfromahookofthedoor;herbonnetobscuredhalfthelooking-glass,onwhich,too,laytheprettiestlittlepairofbronzeboots;aFrenchnovelwasonthetablebythebedside,withacandle,notofwax.
Beckythoughtofpoppingthatintothebedtoo,butsheonlyputinthelittlepapernight-capwithwhichshehadputthecandleoutongoingtosleep.
“Ishouldhaveknownyouanywhere,”shecontinued;“awomanneverforgetssomethings.AndyouwerethefirstmanIever—Ieversaw.”
“WasIreally?”saidJos.“Godblessmysoul,you—youdon’tsayso.”
“WhenIcamewithyoursisterfromChiswick,Iwasscarcelymorethanachild,”Beckysaid.“Howisthat,dearlove?
Oh,herhusbandwasasadwickedman,andofcourseitwasofmethatthepoordearwasjealous.AsifIcaredabouthim,heigho!
whentherewassomebody—butno—don’tletustalkofoldtimes”;andshepassedherhandkerchiefwiththetatteredlaceacrosshereyelids.
“Isnotthisastrangeplace,”shecontinued,“forawoman,whohaslivedinaverydifferentworldtoo,tobefoundin?
Ihavehadsomanygriefsandwrongs,JosephSedley;IhavebeenmadetosuffersocruellythatIamalmostmademadsometimes.
Ican’tstaystillinanyplace,butwanderaboutalwaysrestlessandunhappy.
Allmyfriendshavebeenfalsetome—all.
Thereisnosuchthingasanhonestmanintheworld.
Iwasthetruestwifethateverlived,thoughImarriedmyhusbandoutofpique,becausesomebodyelse—butnevermindthat.
Iwastrue,andhetrampleduponmeanddesertedme.Iwasthefondestmother.
Ihadbutonechild,onedarling,onehope,onejoy,whichIheldtomyheartwithamother’saffection,whichwasmylife,myprayer,my—myblessing;andthey—theytoreitfromme—toreitfromme”;andsheputherhandtoherheartwithapassionategestureofdespair,buryingherfaceforamomentonthebed.
Thebrandy-bottleinsideclinkedupagainsttheplatewhichheldthecoldsausage.
Bothweremoved,nodoubt,bytheexhibitionofsomuchgrief.
MaxandFritzwereatthedoor,listeningwithwondertoMrs.Becky’ssobsandcries.
Jos,too,wasagooddealfrightenedandaffectedatseeinghisoldflameinthiscondition.
Andshebegan,forthwith,totellherstory—atalesoneat,simple,andartlessthatitwasquiteevidentfromhearingherthatifevertherewasawhite-robedangelescapedfromheaventobesubjecttotheinfernalmachinationsandvillainyoffiendsherebelow,thatspotlessbeing—thatmiserableunsulliedmartyr,waspresentonthebedbeforeJos—onthebed,sittingonthebrandy-bottle.
Theyhadaverylong,amicable,andconfidentialtalkthere,inthecourseofwhichJosSedleywassomehowmadeaware(butinamannerthatdidnotintheleastscareoroffendhim)thatBecky’shearthadfirstlearnedtobeatathisenchantingpresence;thatGeorgeOsbornehadcertainlypaidanunjustifiablecourttoHER,whichmightaccountforAmelia’sjealousyandtheirlittlerupture;butthatBeckynevergavetheleastencouragementtotheunfortunateofficer,andthatshehadneverceasedtothinkaboutJosfromtheveryfirstdayshehadseenhim,though,ofcourse,herdutiesasamarriedwomanwereparamount—dutieswhichshehadalwayspreserved,andwould,toherdyingday,oruntiltheproverbiallybadclimateinwhichColonelCrawleywaslivingshouldreleaseherfromayokewhichhiscrueltyhadrenderedodioustoher.
Joswentaway,convincedthatshewasthemostvirtuous,asshewasoneofthemostfascinatingofwomen,andrevolvinginhismindallsortsofbenevolentschemesforherwelfare.
Herpersecutionsoughttobeended:sheoughttoreturntothesocietyofwhichshewasanornament.Hewouldseewhatoughttobedone.
Shemustquitthatplaceandtakeaquietlodging.
Ameliamustcomeandseeherandbefriendher.
Hewouldgoandsettleaboutit,andconsultwiththeMajor.
Shewepttearsofheart-feltgratitudeasshepartedfromhim,andpressedhishandasthegallantstoutgentlemanstoopeddowntokisshers.
SoBeckybowedJosoutofherlittlegarretwithasmuchgraceasifitwasapalaceofwhichshedidthehonours;andthatheavygentlemanhavingdisappeareddownthestairs,MaxandFritzcameoutoftheirhole,pipeinmouth,andsheamusedherselfbymimickingJostothemasshemunchedhercoldbreadandsausageandtookdraughtsofherfavouritebrandy-and-water.
JoswalkedovertoDobbin’slodgingswithgreatsolemnityandthereimpartedtohimtheaffectinghistorywithwhichhehadjustbeenmadeacquainted,without,however,mentioningtheplaybusinessofthenightbefore.
AndthetwogentlemenwerelayingtheirheadstogetherandconsultingastothebestmeansofbeingusefultoMrs.Becky,whileshewasfinishingherinterrupteddejeuneralafourchette.
Howwasitthatshehadcometothatlittletown?
Howwasitthatshehadnofriendsandwaswanderingaboutalone?
LittleboysatschoolaretaughtintheirearliestLatinbookthatthepathofAvernusisveryeasyofdescent.
Letusskipovertheintervalinthehistoryofherdownwardprogress.
Shewasnotworsenowthanshehadbeeninthedaysofherprosperity—onlyalittledownonherluck.
AsforMrs.Amelia,shewasawomanofsuchasoftandfoolishdispositionthatwhensheheardofanybodyunhappy,herheartstraightwaymeltedtowardsthesufferer;andasshehadneverthoughtordoneanythingmortallyguiltyherself,shehadnotthatabhorrenceforwickednesswhichdistinguishesmoralistsmuchmoreknowing.
Ifshespoiledeverybodywhocamenearherwithkindnessandcompliments—ifshebeggedpardonofallherservantsfortroublingthemtoanswerthebell—ifsheapologizedtoashopboywhoshowedherapieceofsilk,ormadeacurtseytoastreet-sweeperwithacomplimentaryremarkupontheelegantstateofhiscrossing—andshewasalmostcapableofeveryoneofthesefollies—thenotionthatanoldacquaintancewasmiserablewassuretosoftenherheart;norwouldshehearofanybody’sbeingdeservedlyunhappy.
Aworldundersuchlegislationasherswouldnotbeaveryorderlyplaceofabode;buttherearenotmanywomen,atleastnotoftherulers,whoareofhersort.
Thislady,Ibelieve,wouldhaveabolishedallgaols,punishments,handcuffs,whippings,poverty,sickness,hunger,intheworld,andwassuchamean-spiritedcreaturethat—weareobligedtoconfessit—shecouldevenforgetamortalinjury.
WhentheMajorheardfromJosofthesentimentaladventurewhichhadjustbefallenthelatter,hewasnot,itmustbeowned,nearlyasmuchinterestedasthegentlemanfromBengal.
Onthecontrary,hisexcitementwasquitethereversefromapleasurableone;hemadeuseofabriefbutimproperexpressionregardingapoorwomanindistress,saying,infact,“Thelittleminx,hasshecometolightagain?”
Heneverhadhadtheslightestlikingforher,buthadheartilymistrustedherfromtheveryfirstmomentwhenhergreeneyeshadlookedat,andturnedawayfrom,hisown.
“Thatlittledevilbringsmischiefwherevershegoes,”theMajorsaiddisrespectfully.
“Whoknowswhatsortoflifeshehasbeenleading?
Andwhatbusinesshasshehereabroadandalone?
Don’ttellmeaboutpersecutorsandenemies;anhonestwomanalwayshasfriendsandneverisseparatedfromherfamily.Whyhassheleftherhusband?
Hemayhavebeendisreputableandwicked,asyousay.Healwayswas.
IremembertheconfoundedblacklegandthewayinwhichheusedtocheatandhoodwinkpoorGeorge.
Wasn’tthereascandalabouttheirseparation?
IthinkIheardsomething,”criedoutMajorDobbin,whodidnotcaremuchaboutgossip,andwhomJostriedinvaintoconvincethatMrs.Beckywasinallrespectsamostinjuredandvirtuousfemale.
“Well,well;let’saskMrs.George,”saidthatarch-diplomatistofaMajor.“Onlyletusgoandconsulther.
Isupposeyouwillallowthatsheisagoodjudgeatanyrate,andknowswhatisrightinsuchmatters.”
“Hm!Emmyisverywell,”saidJos,whodidnothappentobeinlovewithhissister.
“Verywell?ByGad,sir,she’sthefinestladyIevermetinmylife,”bouncedouttheMajor.
“Isayatonce,letusgoandaskherifthiswomanoughttobevisitedornot—Iwillbecontentwithherverdict.”
Nowthisodious,artfulrogueofaMajorwasthinkinginhisownmindthathewassureofhiscase.
Emmy,heremembered,wasatonetimecruellyanddeservedlyjealousofRebecca,nevermentionedhernamebutwithashrinkingandterror—ajealouswomanneverforgives,thoughtDobbin:andsothepairwentacrossthestreettoMrs.George’shouse,whereshewascontentedlywarblingatamusiclessonwithMadameStrumpff.
Whenthatladytookherleave,Josopenedthebusinesswithhisusualpompofwords.
“Amelia,mydear,”saidhe,“Ihavejusthadthemostextraordinary—yes—Godblessmysoul!
themostextraordinaryadventure—anoldfriend—yes,amostinterestingoldfriendofyours,andImaysayinoldtimes,hasjustarrivedhere,andIshouldlikeyoutoseeher.”
“Her!”saidAmelia,“whoisit?
MajorDobbin,ifyoupleasenottobreakmyscissors.”
TheMajorwastwirlingthemroundbythelittlechainfromwhichtheysometimeshungtotheirlady’swaist,andwastherebyendangeringhisowneye.
ItisawomanwhomIdislikeverymuch,”saidtheMajor,doggedly,“andwhomyouhavenocausetolove.”
“ItisRebecca,I’msureitisRebecca,”Ameliasaid,blushingandbeingverymuchagitated.
“Youareright;youalwaysare,”Dobbinanswered.Brussels,Waterloo,old,oldtimes,griefs,pangs,remembrances,rushedbackintoAmelia’sgentleheartandcausedacruelagitationthere.
“Don’tletmeseeher,”Emmycontinued.“Icouldn’tseeher.”
“Itoldyouso,”DobbinsaidtoJos.
“Sheisveryunhappy,and—andthatsortofthing,”Josurged.“Sheisverypoorandunprotected,andhasbeenill—exceedinglyill—andthatscoundrelofahusbandhasdesertedher.”
“Ah!”saidAmelia
“Shehasn’tafriendintheworld,”Joswenton,notundexterously,“andshesaidshethoughtshemighttrustinyou.She’ssomiserable,Emmy.Shehasbeenalmostmadwithgrief.
Herstoryquiteaffectedme—’ponmywordandhonour,itdid—neverwassuchacruelpersecutionbornesoangelically,Imaysay.Herfamilyhasbeenmostcrueltoher.”
“Poorcreature!”Ameliasaid.
“Andifshecangetnofriend,shesaysshethinksshe’lldie,”Josproceededinalowtremulousvoice.“Godblessmysoul!
doyouknowthatshetriedtokillherself?
Shecarrieslaudanumwithher—Isawthebottleinherroom—suchamiserablelittleroom—atathird-ratehouse,theElephant,upintheroofatthetopofall.Iwentthere.”
ThisdidnotseemtoaffectEmmy.Sheevensmiledalittle.PerhapsshefiguredJostoherselfpantingupthestair.
“She’sbesideherselfwithgrief,”heresumed.“Theagoniesthatwomanhasenduredarequitefrightfultohearof.Shehadalittleboy,ofthesameageasGeorgy.”
“Yes,yes,IthinkIremember,”Emmyremarked.“Well?”
“Themostbeautifulchildeverseen,”Jossaid,whowasveryfat,andeasilymoved,andhadbeentouchedbythestoryBeckytold;“aperfectangel,whoadoredhismother.
Theruffianstorehimshriekingoutofherarms,andhaveneverallowedhimtoseeher.”
“DearJoseph,”Emmycriedout,startingupatonce,“letusgoandseeherthisminute.”
Andsheranintoheradjoiningbedchamber,tiedonherbonnetinaflutter,cameoutwithhershawlonherarm,andorderedDobbintofollow.
Hewentandputhershawl—itwasawhitecashmere,consignedtoherbytheMajorhimselffromIndia—overhershoulders.
Hesawtherewasnothingforitbuttoobey,andsheputherhandintohisarm,andtheywentaway.
“Itisnumber92,upfourpairofstairs,”Jossaid,perhapsnotverywillingtoascendthestepsagain;butheplacedhimselfinthewindowofhisdrawing-room,whichcommandstheplaceonwhichtheElephantstands,andsawthepairmarchingthroughthemarket.
ItwasaswellthatBeckysawthemtoofromhergarret,forsheandthetwostudentswerechatteringandlaughingthere;theyhadbeenjokingabouttheappearanceofBecky’sgrandpapa—whosearrivalanddeparturetheyhadwitnessed—butshehadtimetodismissthem,andhaveherlittleroomclearbeforethelandlordoftheElephant,whoknewthatMrs.OsbornewasagreatfavouriteattheSereneCourt,andrespectedheraccordingly,ledthewayupthestairstotheroofstory,encouragingMiladiandtheHerrMajorastheyachievedtheascent.
“Graciouslady,graciouslady!”saidthelandlord,knockingatBecky’sdoor;hehadcalledherMadamethedaybefore,andwasbynomeanscourteoustoher.
“Whoisit?”Beckysaid,puttingoutherhead,andshegavealittlescream.TherestoodEmmyinatremble,andDobbin,thetallMajor,withhiscane.
Hestoodstillwatching,andverymuchinterestedatthescene;butEmmysprangforwardwithopenarmstowardsRebecca,andforgaveheratthatmoment,andembracedherandkissedherwithallherheart.
Ah,poorwretch,whenwasyourlippressedbeforebysuchpurekisses?
Share this article to
FINISH