第111章
加入书架 A- A+

  fourhours,andwouldfindsomeexcusefordelaying,yetDobbinhadnotwrittentoJostoinformhimofthecalamitywhichhadbefallentheSedleyfamily,beingoccupiedintalkingwithAmeliauntillongafterpost-hour。

  Therearesomesplendidtailors’shopsintheHighStreetofSouthampton,inthefineplate-glasswindowsofwhichhanggorgeouswaistcoatsofallsorts,ofsilkandvelvet,andgoldandcrimson,andpicturesofthelastnewfashions,inwhichthosewonderfulgentlemenwithquizzingglasses,andholdingontolittleboyswiththeexceedinglargeeyesandcurlyhair,ogleladiesinridinghabitsprancingbytheStatueofAchillesatApsleyHouse。Jos,althoughprovidedwithsomeofthemostsplendidveststhatCalcuttacouldfurnish,thoughthecouldnotgototownuntilhewassuppliedwithoneortwoofthesegarments,andselectedacrimsonsatin,embroideredwithgoldbutterflies,andablackandredvelvettartanwithwhitestripesandarollingcollar,withwhich,andarichbluesatinstockandagoldpin,consistingofafive-barredgatewithahorsemaninpinkenameljumpingoverit,hethoughthemightmakehisentryintoLondonwithsomedignity。ForJos’sformershynessandblunderingblushingtimidityhadgivenwaytoamorecandidandcourageousself-assertionofhisworth。”Idon’tcareaboutowningit。”WaterlooSedleywouldsaytohisfriends,“Iamadressyman“;andthoughratheruneasyiftheladieslookedathimattheGovernmentHouseballs,andthoughheblushedandturnedawayalarmedundertheirglances,itwaschieflyfromadreadlesttheyshouldmakelovetohimthatheavoidedthem,beingaversetomarriagealtogether。ButtherewasnosuchswellinCalcuttaasWaterlooSedley,Ihaveheardsay,andhehadthehandsomestturn-out,gavethebestbachelordinners,andhadthefinestplateinthewholeplace。

  Tomakethesewaistcoatsforamanofhissizeanddignitytookatleastaday,partofwhichheemployedinhiringaservanttowaituponhimandhisnativeandininstructingtheagentwhoclearedhisbaggage,hisboxes,hisbooks,whichheneverread,hischestsofmangoes,chutney,andcurry-powders,hisshawlsforpresentstopeoplewhomhedidn’tknowasyet,andtherestofhisPersicosapparatus。

  Atlength,hedroveleisurelytoLondononthethirddayandinthenewwaistcoat,thenative,withchatteringteeth,shudderinginashawlontheboxbythesideofthenewEuropeanservant;JospuffinghispipeatintervalswithinandlookingsomajesticthatthelittleboyscriedHooray,andmanypeoplethoughthemustbeaGovernor-General。HE,Ipromise,didnotdeclinetheobsequiousinvitationofthelandlordstoalightandrefreshhimselfintheneatcountrytowns。Havingpartakenofacopiousbreakfast,withfish,andrice,andhardeggs,atSouthampton,hehadsofarralliedatWinchesterastothinkaglassofsherrynecessary。AtAltonhesteppedoutofthecarriageathisservant’srequestandimbibedsomeofthealeforwhichtheplaceisfamous。AtFarnhamhestoppedtoviewtheBishop’sCastleandtopartakeofalightdinnerofstewedeels,vealcutlets,andFrenchbeans,withabottleofclaret。HewascoldoverBagshotHeath,wherethenativechatteredmoreandmore,andJosSahibtooksomebrandy-and-water;infact,whenhedroveintotownhewasasfullofwine,beer,meat,pickles,cherry-brandy,andtobaccoasthesteward’scabinofasteam-packet。ItwaseveningwhenhiscarriagethundereduptothelittledoorinBrompton,whithertheaffectionatefellowdrovefirst,andbeforehieingtotheapartmentssecuredforhimbyMr。DobbinattheSlaughters’。

  Allthefacesinthestreetwereinthewindows;thelittlemaidservantflewtothewicket-gate;theMesdamesClapplookedoutfromthecasementoftheornamentedkitchen;Emmy,inagreatflutter,wasinthepassageamongthehatsandcoats;andoldSedleyintheparlourinside,shakingallover。Josdescendedfromthepost-

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