第122章

SoBecky，whohadarrivedinthediligencefromFlorence，andwaslodgedataninninaverymodestway，gotacardforPrincePolonia’sentertainment，andhermaiddressedherwithunusualcare，andshewenttothisfineballleaningonthearmofMajorLoder，withwhomshehappenedtobetravellingatthetime——(thesamemanwhoshotPrinceRavoliatNaplesthenextyear，andwascanedbySirJohnBuckskinforcarryingfourkingsinhishatbesidesthosewhichheusedinplayingatecarte)——andthispairwentintotheroomstogether，andBeckysawanumberofoldfaceswhichsherememberedinhappierdays，whenshewasnotinnocent，butnotfoundout。MajorLoderknewagreatnumberofforeigners，keen-lookingwhiskeredmenwithdirtystripedribbonsintheirbuttonholes，andaverysmalldisplayoflinen；buthisowncountrymen，itmightberemarked，eschewedtheMajor。Becky，too，knewsomeladieshereandthere——Frenchwidows，dubiousItaliancountesses，whosehusbandshadtreatedthemill——faugh——whatshallwesay，wewhohavemovedamongsomeofthefinestcompanyofVanityFair，ofthisrefuseandsedimentofrascals？Ifweplay，letitbewithcleancards，andnotwiththisdirtypack。Buteverymanwhohasformedoneoftheinnumerablearmyoftravellershasseenthesemaraudingirregularshangingon，likeNymandPistol，tothemainforce，wearingtheking’scoloursandboastingofhiscommission，butpillagingforthemselves，andoccasionallygibbetedbytheroadside。

Well，shewashangingonthearmofMajorLoder，andtheywentthroughtheroomstogether，anddrankagreatquantityofchampagneatthebuffet，wherethepeople，andespeciallytheMajor’sirregularcorps，struggledfuriouslyforrefreshments，ofwhichwhenthepairhadhadenough，theypushedonuntiltheyreachedtheDuchess’sownpinkvelvetsaloon，attheendofthesuiteofapartments(wherethestatueoftheVenusis，andthegreatVenicelooking-glasses，framedinsilver)，andwheretheprincelyfamilywereentertainingtheirmostdistinguishedguestsataroundtableatsupper。ItwasjustsuchalittleselectbanquetasthatofwhichBeckyrecollectedthatshehadpartakenatLordSteyne’s——andtherehesatatPolonia’stable，andshesawhim。

Thescarcutbythediamondonhiswhite，bald，shiningforeheadmadeaburningredmark；hisredwhiskersweredyedofapurplehue，whichmadehispalefacelookstillpaler。Heworehiscollarandorders，hisblueribbonandgarter。HewasagreaterPrincethananythere，thoughtherewasareigningDukeandaRoyalHighness，withtheirprincesses，andnearhisLordshipwasseatedthebeautifulCountessofBelladonna，needeGlandier，whosehusband(theCountPaolodellaBelladonna)，sowellknownforhisbrilliantentomologicalcollections，hadbeenlongabsentonamissiontotheEmperorofMorocco。

WhenBeckybeheldthatfamiliarandillustriousface，howvulgarallofasuddendidMajorLoderappeartoher，andhowthatodiousCaptainRookdidsmelloftobacco！Inoneinstantshereassumedherfine-ladyshipandtriedtolookandfeelasifshewereinMayFaironcemore。”Thatwomanlooksstupidandill-humoured。”

shethought；“Iamsureshecan’tamusehim。No，hemustbeboredbyher——heneverwasbyme。”Ahundredsuchtouchinghopes，fears，andmemoriespalpitatedinherlittleheart，asshelookedwithherbrightesteyes(therougewhichsheworeuptohereyelidsmadethemtwinkle)towardsthegreatnobleman。OfaStarandGarternightLordSteyneusedalsotoputonhisgrandestmannerandtolookandspeaklikeagreatprince，ashewas。

Beckyadmiredhimsmilingsumptuously，easy，lofty，andstately。Ah，bonDieu，whatapleasantcompanionhewas，whatabrilliantwit，whatarichfundoftalk，whatagrandmanner！——andshehadexchangedthisforMajorLoder，reekingofcigarsandbrandy-and-water，andCaptainRookwithhishorsejockeyjokesandprize-ringslang，andtheirlike。”Iwonderwhetherhewillknowme。”shethought。LordSteynewastalkingandlaughingwithagreatandillustriousladyathisside，whenhelookedupandsawBecky。

Shewasalloverinaflutterastheireyesmet，andsheputontheverybestsmileshecouldmuster，anddroppedhimalittle，timid，imploringcurtsey。Hestaredaghastatherforaminute，asMacbethmightonbeholdingBanquo’ssuddenappearanceathisball-supper，andremainedlookingatherwithopenmouth，whenthathorridMajorLoderpulledheraway。

“Comeawayintothesupper-room，Mrs。R……”wasthatgentleman’sremark：“seeingthesenobsgrubbingawayhasmademepeckishtoo。Let’sgoandtrytheoldgovernor’schampagne。”BeckythoughttheMajorhadhadagreatdealtoomuchalready。

ThedayaftershewenttowalkonthePincianHill——

the