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made him. All former delights of turf, mess, hunting-field, and gambling-table; all previous loves and courtships of milliners, opera-dancers, and the like easy triumphs of the clumsy military Adonis, were quite insipid when compared to the lawful matrimonial pleasures which of late he had enjoyed. She had known perpetually how to divert him; and he had found his house and her society a thousand times more pleasant than any place or company which he had ever frequented from his childhood until now. And he cursed his past follies and extravagances, and bemoaned his vast outlying debts above all, which must remain for ever as obstacles to prevent his wifes advancement in the world. He had often groaned over these in midnight conversations with Rebecca, although as a bachelor they had never given him any disquiet. He himself was struck with this phenomenon. Hang it, he would say (or perhaps use a still stronger expression out of his simple vocabulary), before I was married I didnt care what bills I put my name to, and so long as Moses would wait or Levy would renew for three months, I kept on never minding. But since Im married, except renewing, of course, I give you my honour Ive not touched a bit of stamped paper. Rebecca always knew how to conjure away these moods of melancholy. Why, my stupid love, she would say, we have not done with your aunt yet. If she fails us, isnt there what you call the Gazette? or, stop, when your uncle Butes life drops, I have another scheme. The living has always belonged to the younger brother, and why shouldnt you sell out and go into the Church? The idea of this conversion set Rawdon into roars of laughter: you might have heard the explosion through the hotel at midnight, and the haw-haws of the great dragoons voice. General Tufto heard him from his quarters on the first floor above them; and Rebecca acted the scene with great spirit, and preached Rawdons first sermon, to the immense delight of the General at breakfast. But these were mere by-gone days and talk. When the final news arrived that the campaign was opened, and the troops were to march, Rawdons gravity became such that Becky rallied him about it in a manner which rather hurt the feelings of the Guardsman. You dont suppose Im afraid, Becky, I should think, he said, with a tremor in his voice. But Im a pretty good mark for a shot, and you see if it brings me down, why I leave one and perhaps two behind me whom I should wish to provide for, as I brought em into the scrape. It is no laughing matter that, Mrs. C., anyways. Rebecca by a hundred caresses and kind words tried to soothe the feelings of the wounded lover. It was only when her vivacity and sense of humour got the better of this sprightly creature (as they would do under most circumstances of life indeed) that she would break out with her satire, but she could soon put on a demure face. Dearest love, she said, do you suppose I feel nothing? and hastily dashing something from her eyes, she looked up in her husbands face with a smile. Look here, said he. If I drop, let us see what there is for you. I have had a pretty good run of luck here, and heres two hundred and thirty pounds. I have got ten Napoleons in my pocket. That is as much as I shall want; for the General pays everything like a prince; and if Im hit, why you know I cost nothing. Dont cry, little woman; I may live to vex you yet. Well, I shant take either of my horses, but shall ride the Generals grey charger: its cheaper, and I told him mine was lame. If Im done, those two ought to fetch you something. Grigg offered ninety for the mare yesterday, before this confounded news came, and like a fool I wouldnt let her go under the two os. Bullfinch will fetch his price any day, only youd better sell him in this country, because the dealers have so many bills of mine, and so Id rather he shouldnt go back to England. Your little mare the General gave you will fetch something, and theres no dd livery stable bills here as there are in London, Rawdon added, with a laugh. Theres that dressing- case cost me two hundred that is, I owe two for it; and the gold tops and bottles must be worth thirty or forty. Please to put that up the spout, maam, with my pins, and rings, and watch and chain, and things. They cost a precious lot of money. Miss Crawley, I know, paid a hundred down for the chain and ticker. Gold tops and bottles, indeed! dammy, Im sorry I didnt take more now. Edwards pressed on me a silver- gilt boot-jack, and I might have had a dressing-case fitted up with a silver warming-pan, and a service of plate. But we must make the best of what weve got, Becky, you know. |
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