第52章

Rawdon，finally，wereofcourseinvited；asbecamethefriendsofaGeneralcommandingacavalrybrigade。

Ontheappointednight，George，havingcommandednewdressesandornamentsofallsortsforAmelia，drovetothefamousball，wherehiswifedidnotknowasinglesoul。AfterlookingaboutforLadyBareacres，whocuthim，thinkingthecardwasquiteenough——andafterplacingAmeliaonabench，helefthertoherowncogitationsthere，thinking，onhisownpart，thathehadbehavedveryhandsomelyingettinghernewclothes，andbringinghertotheball，whereshewasfreetoamuseherselfassheliked。Herthoughtswerenotofthepleasantest，andnobodyexcepthonestDobbincametodisturbthem。

Whilstherappearancewasanutterfailure(asherhusbandfeltwithasortofrage)，Mrs。RawdonCrawley’sdebutwas，onthecontrary，verybrilliant。Shearrivedverylate。Herfacewasradiant；herdressperfection。Inthemidstofthegreatpersonsassembled，andtheeye-

glassesdirectedtoher，RebeccaseemedtobeascoolandcollectedaswhensheusedtomarshalMissPinkerton’slittlegirlstochurch。Numbersofthemensheknewalready，andthedandiesthrongedroundher。Asfortheladies，itwaswhisperedamongthemthatRawdonhadrunawaywithherfromoutofaconvent，andthatshewasarelationoftheMontmorencyfamily。ShespokeFrenchsoperfectlythattheremightbesometruthinthisreport，anditwasagreedthathermannerswerefine，andherairdistingue。Fiftywould-bepartnersthrongedroundheratonce，andpressedtohavethehonourtodancewithher。Butshesaidshewasengaged，andonlygoingtodanceverylittle；andmadeherwayatoncetotheplacewhereEmmysatequiteunnoticed，anddismallyunhappy。Andso，tofinishthepoorchildatonce，Mrs。RawdonranandgreetedaffectionatelyherdearestAmelia，andbeganforthwithtopatroniseher。

Shefoundfaultwithherfriend’sdress，andherhairdresser，andwonderedhowshecouldbesochaussee，andvowedthatshemustsendhercorsetierethenextmorning。Shevowedthatitwasadelightfulball；thattherewaseverybodythateveryoneknew，andonlyaVERYfewnobodiesinthewholeroom。Itisafact，thatinafortnight，andafterthreedinnersingeneralsociety，thisyoungwomanhadgotupthegenteeljargonsowell，thatanativecouldnotspeakitbetter；anditwasonlyfromherFrenchbeingsogood，thatyoucouldknowshewasnotabornwomanoffashion。

George，whohadleftEmmyonherbenchonenteringtheball-room，verysoonfoundhiswaybackwhenRebeccawasbyherdearfriend’sside。BeckywasjustlecturingMrs。Osborneuponthefollieswhichherhusbandwascommitting。”ForGod’ssake，stophimfromgambling，mydear。”shesaid，“orhewillruinhimself。

HeandRawdonareplayingatcardseverynight，andyouknowheisverypoor，andRawdonwillwineveryshillingfromhimifhedoesnottakecare。Whydon’tyoupreventhim，youlittlecarelesscreature？Whydon’tyoucometousofanevening，insteadofmopingathomewiththatCaptainDobbin？Idaresayheistresaimable；

buthowcouldoneloveamanwithfeetofsuchsize？

Yourhusband’sfeetaredarlings——Herehecomes。Wherehaveyoubeen，wretch？HereisEmmycryinghereyesoutforyou。Areyoucomingtofetchmeforthequadrille？”

AndsheleftherbouquetandshawlbyAmelia’sside，andtrippedoffwithGeorgetodance。Womenonlyknowhowtowoundso。Thereisapoisononthetipsoftheirlittleshafts，whichstingsathousandtimesmorethanaman’sblunterweapon。OurpoorEmmy，whohadneverhated，neversneeredallherlife，waspowerlessinthehandsofherremorselesslittleenemy。

GeorgedancedwithRebeccatwiceorthrice——howmanytimesAmeliascarcelyknew。Shesatquiteunnoticedinhercorner，exceptwhenRawdoncameupwithsomewordsofclumsyconversation：andlaterintheevening，whenCaptainDobbinmadesoboldastobringherrefreshmentsandsitbesideher。Hedidnotliketoaskherwhyshewassosad；butasapretextforthetearswhichwerefillinginhereyes，shetoldhimthatMrs。CrawleyhadalarmedherbytellingherthatGeorgewouldgoonplaying。

“Itiscurious，whenamanisbentuponplay，bywhatclumsyrogueshewillallowhimselftobecheated。”

Dobbinsaid；andEmmysaid，“Indeed。”Shewasthinkingofsomethingelse。Itwasnotthelossofthemoneythatgrievedher。

AtlastGeorgecamebackforRebecca’