Vanity Fair - Page 243/573

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, Rawdon's

gravity became such that Becky rallied him about it in a manner which

rather hurt the feelings of the Guardsman. "You don't suppose I'm

afraid, Becky, I should think," he said, with a tremor in his voice.

"But I'm 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 husband's 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 here's 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

I'm hit, why you know I cost nothing. Don't cry, little woman; I may

live to vex you yet. Well, I shan't take either of my horses, but

shall ride the General's grey charger: it's cheaper, and I told him

mine was lame. If I'm 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 wouldn't let her go under the two o's.

Bullfinch will fetch his price any day, only you'd better sell him in

this country, because the dealers have so many bills of mine, and so

I'd rather he shouldn't go back to England. Your little mare the

General gave you will fetch something, and there's no d--d livery

stable bills here as there are in London," Rawdon added, with a laugh.

"There's 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, ma'am, 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, I'm sorry I didn't 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 we've got, Becky, you know."