listof
1814
,
with
his
name
written
on
the
cover
;
a
little
dictionary
he
was
wont
to
use
in
writing
;
and
the
Bible
his
mother
had
given
him
,
were
on
the
mantel-piece
;
with
a
pair
of
spurs
,
and
a
dried
inkstand
covered
with
the
dust
of
ten
years
.
Ah
!
since
that
ink
was
wet
,
what
days
and
people
had
passed
away
!
The
writing-book
still
on
the
table
,
was
blotted
with
his
hand
.
Miss
Osborne
was
much
affected
when
she
first
entered
this
room
with
the
servants
under
her
.
She
sank
quite
pale
on
the
little
bed
.
“
This
is
blessed
news
,
mam
—
indeed
,
mam
,
”
the
housekeeper
said
;
“
and
the
good
old
times
is
returning
,
mam
.
The
dear
little
feller
,
to
be
sure
,
mam
;
how
happy
he
will
be
!
But
some
folks
in
May
Fair
,
mam
,
will
owe
him
a
grudge
,
mam
;
”
and
she
clicked
back
the
bolt
which
held
the
window-sash
,
and
let
the
air
into
the
chamber
.
“
You
had
better
send
that
woman
some
money
,
”
Mr.
Osborne
said
,
before
he
went
out
.
“
She
shan’t
want
for
nothing
.
Send
her
a
hundred
pound
.
”
“
And
I’ll
go
and
see
her
to-morrow
?
”
Miss
Osborne
asked
.
“
That’s
your
look
out
.
She
don’t
come
in
here
,
mind
.
No
,
by
—
,
not
for
all
the
money
in
London
.
But
she
mustn’t
want
now
.
So
look
out
,
and
get
things
right
.
”
With
which
brief
speeches
Mr.
Osborne
took
leave
of
his
daughter
,
and
went
on
his
accustomed
way
into
the
City
.
“
Here
,
Papa
,
is
some
money
,
”
Amelia
said
that
night
,
kissing
the
old
man
,
her
father
,
and
putting
a
bill
for
a
hundred
pounds
into
his
hands
.
“
And
—
and
—
Mamma
,
don’t
be
harsh
with
Georgy
.
He
—
he
is
not
going
to
stop
with
us
long
.
”
She
could
say
nothing
more
,
and
walked
away
silently
to
her
room
.
Let
us
close
it
upon
her
prayers
and
her
sorrow
.
I
think
we
had
best
speak
little
about
so
much
love
and
grief
.
Miss
Osborne
came
the
next
day
,
according
to
the
promise
contained
in
her
note
,
and
saw
Amelia
.
The
meeting
between
them
was
friendly
.
A
look
and
a
few
words
from
Miss
Osborne
showed
the
poor
widow
that
,
with
regard
to
this
woman
at
least
,
there
need
be
no
fear
lest
she
should
take
the
first
place
in
her
son’s
affections
.
She
was
cold
,
sensible
,
not
unkind
.
The
mother
had
not
been
so
well
pleased
,
perhaps
,
had
the
rival
been
better
looking
,
younger
,
more
affectionate
,
warmer-hearted
.
Miss
Osborne
,
on
the
other
hand
,
thought
of
old
times
and
memories
,
and
could
not
but
be
touched
with
the
poor
mother’s
pitiful
situation
.
She
was
conquered
,
and
laying
down
her
arms
,
as
it
were
,
she
humbly
submitted
.
That
day
they
arranged
together
the
preliminaries
of
the
treaty
of
capitulation
.
George
was
kept
from
school
the
next
day
,
and
saw
his
aunt
.
Amelia
left
them
alone
together
,
and
went
to
her
room
.
She
was
trying
the
separation
:
—
as
that
poor
gentle
Lady
Jane
Grey
felt
the
edge
of
the
axe
that
was
to
come
down
and
sever
her
slender
life
.
Days
were
passed
in
parleys
,
visits
,
preparations
.
The
widow
broke
the
matter
to
Georgy
with
great
caution
;
she
looked
to
see
him
very
much
affected
by
the
intelligence
.
He
was
rather
elated
than
otherwise
,
and
the
poor
woman
turned
sadly
away
.
He
bragged
about
the
news
that
day
to
the
boys
at
school
;
told
them
how
he
was
going
to
live
with
his
grandpapa
,
his
father’s
father
,
not
the
one
who
comes
here
sometimes
;
and
that
he
would
be
very
rich
,
and
have
a
carriage
,
and
a
pony
,
and
go
to
a
much
finer
school
,
and
when
he
was
rich
he
would
buy
Leader’s
pencil-case
,
and
pay
the
tart-woman
.
The
boy
was
the
image
of
his
father
,
as
his
fond
mother
thought
.
Indeed
I
have
no
heart
,
on
account
of
our
dear
Amelia’s
sake
,
to
go
through
the
story
of
George’s
last
days
at
home
.
At
last
the
day
came
,
the
carriage
drove
up
,
the
little
humble
packets
containing
tokens
of
love
and
remembrance
were
ready
and
disposed
in
the
hall
long
since
—
George
was
in
his
new
suit
,
for
which
the
tailor
had
come
previously
to
measure
him
.
He
had
sprung
up
with
the
sun
and
put
on
the
new
clothes
;
his
mother
hearing
him
from
the
room
close
by
,
in
which
she
had
been
lying
,
in
speechless
grief
and
watching
.
Days
before
she
had
been
making
preparations
for
the
end
;
purchasing
little
stores
for
the
boy’s
use
;
marking
his
books
and
linen
;
talking
with
him
and
preparing
him
for
the
change
—
fondly
fancying
that
he
needed
preparation
.
So
that
he
had
change
,
what
cared
he
?
He
was
longing
for
it
.
By
a
thousand
eager
declarations
as
to
what
he
would
do
,
when
he
went
to
live
with
his
grandfather
,
he
had
shown
the
poor
widow
how
little
the
idea
of
parting
had
cast
him
down
.
“
He
would
come
and
see
his
mamma
often
on
the
pony
,
”
he
said
:
“
he
would
come
and
fetch
her
in
the
carriage
;
they
would
drive
in
the
Park
,
and
she
should
have
everything
she
wanted
.
”
The
poor
mother
was
fain
to
content
herself
with
these
selfish
demonstrations
of
attachment
,
and
tried
to
convince
herself
how
sincerely
her
son
loved
her
.
He
must
love
her
.
All
children
were
so
:
a
little
anxious
for
novelty
,
and
—
no
,
not
selfish
,
but
self-willed
.
Her
child
must
have
his
enjoyments
and
ambition
in
the
world
.
She
herself
,
by
her
own
selfishness
and
imprudent
love
for
him
,
had
denied
him
his
just
rights
and
pleasures
hitherto
.
I
know
few
things
more
affecting
than
that
timorous
debasement
and
self-humiliation
of
a
woman
.
How
she
owns
that
it
is
she
and
not
the
man
who
is
guilty
:
how
she
takes
all
the
faults
on
her
side
:
how
she
courts
in
a
manner
punishment
for
the
wrongs
which
she
has
not
committed
,
and
persists
in
shielding
the
real
culprit
!
It
is
those
who
injure
women
who
get
the
most
kindness
from
them
—
they
are
born
timid
and
tyrants
,
and
maltreat
those
who
are
humblest
before
them
.
So
poor
Amelia
had
been
getting
ready
in
silent
misery
for
her
son’s
departure
,
and
had
passed
many
and
many
a
long
solitary
hour
in
making
preparations
for
the
end
.
George
stood
by
his
mother
,
watching
her
arrangements
without
the
least
concern
.
Tears
had
fallen
into
his
boxes
;
passages
had
been
scored
in
his
favourite
books
;
old
toys
,
relics
,
treasures
had
been
hoarded
away
for
him
,
and
packed
with
strange
neatness
and
care
,
—
and
of
all
these
things
the
boy
took
no
note
.
The
child
goes
away
smiling
as
the
mother
breaks
her
heart
.
By
heavens
it
is
pitiful
,
the
bootless
love
of
women
for
children
in
Vanity
Fair
.
A
few
days
are
past
:
and
the
great
event
of
Amelia’s
life
is
consummated
.
No
angel
has
intervened
.
The
child
is
sacrificed
and
offered
up
to
fate
;
and
the
widow
is
quite
alone
.
The
boy
comes
to
see
her
often
,
to
be
sure
.
He
rides
on
a
pony
with
a
coachman
behind
him
,
to
the
delight
of
his
old
grandfather
,
Sedley
,
who
walks
proudly
down
the
lane
by
his
side
.
She
sees
him
,
but
he
is
not
her
boy
any
more
.
Why
,
he
rides
to
see
the
boys
at
the
little
school
,
too
,
and
to
show
off
before
them
his
new
wealth
and
splendour
.
In
two
days
he
has
adopted
a
slightly
imperious
air
and
patronising
manner
.
He
was
born
to
command
,
his
mother
thinks
,
as
his
father
was
before
him
.
It
is
fine
weather
now
.
Of
evenings
on
the
days
when
he
does
not
come
,
she
takes
a
long
walk
into
London
,
—
yes
,
as
far
as
Russell
Square
,
and
rests
on
the
stone
by
the
railing
of
the
garden
opposite
Mr.
Osborne’s
house
.
It
is
so
pleasant
and
cool
.
She
can
look
up
and
see
the
drawing-room
windows
illuminated
,
and
,
at
about
nine
o’clock
,
the
chamber
in
the
upper
story
where
Georgy
sleeps
.
She
knows
—
He
has
told
her
.
She
prays
there
as
the
light
goes
out
,
prays
with
an
humble
humble
heart
,
and
walks
home
shrinking
and
silent
.
She
is
very
tired
when
she
comes
home
.
Perhaps
she
will
sleep
the
better
for
that
long
weary
walk
;
and
she
may
dream
about
Georgy
.
One
Sunday
she
happened
to
be
walking
in
Russell
Square
,
at
some
distance
from
Mr.
Osborne’s
house
(
she
could
see
it
from
a
distance
though
)
when
all
the
bells
of
Sabbath
were
ringing
,
and
George
and
his
aunt
came
out
to
go
to
church
;
a
little
sweep
asked
for
charity
,
and
the
footman
,
who
carried
the
books
,
tried
to
drive
him
away
;
but
Georgy
stopped
and
gave
him
money
.
May
God’s
blessing
be
on
the
boy
!
Emmy
ran
round
the
square
,
and
coming
up
to
the
sweep
,
gave
him
her
mite
too
.
All
the
bells
of
Sabbath
were
ringing
,
and
she
followed
them
until
she
came
to
the
Foundling
Church
,
into
which
she
went
.
There
she
sat
in
a
place
whence
she
could
see
the
head
of
the
boy
under
his
father’s
tombstone
.
Many
hundred
fresh
children’s
voices
rose
up
there
and
sang
hymns
to
the
Father
Beneficent
;
and
little
George’s
soul
thrilled
with
delight
at
the
burst
of
glorious
psalmody
.
His
mother
could
not
see
him
for
awhile
,
through
the
mist
that
dimmed
her
eyes
.
XVI
.
In
Which
a
Charade
Is
Acted
Which
May
or
May
Not
Puzzle
the
Reader
AFTER
Becky’s
appearance
at
my
Lord
Steyne’s
private
and
select
parties
,
the
claims
of
that
estimable
woman
as
regards
fashion
were
settled
;
and
some
of
the
very
greatest
and
tallest
doors
in
the
metropolis
were
speedily
opened
to
her
—
doors
so
great
and
tall
that
the
beloved
reader
and
writer
hereof
may
hope
in
vain
to
enter
at
them
.
Dear
brethren
,
let
us
tremble
before
those
august
portals
.
I
fancy
them
guarded
by
grooms
of
the
chamber
with
flaming
silver
forks
with
which
they
prong
all
those
who
have
not
the
right
of
the
entrée
.
They
say
the
honest
newspaper-fellow
who
sits
in
the
hall
,
and
takes
down
the
names
of
the
great
ones
who
are
admitted
to
the
feasts
,
dies
after
a
little
time
.
He
can’t
survive
the
glare
of
fashion
long
.
It
scorches
him
up
,
as
the
presence
of
Jupiter
in
full
dress
wasted
that
poor
imprudent
Semele
—
a
giddy
moth
of
a
creature
who
ruined
herself
by
venturing
out
of
her
natural
atmosphere
.
Her
myth
ought
to
be
taken
to
heart
amongst
the
Tyburnians
,
the
Belgravians
,
—
her
story
,
and
perhaps
Becky’s
too
.
Ah
,
ladies
!
—
ask
the
Reverend
Mr.
Thurifer
if
Belgravia
is
not
a
sounding
brass
,
and
Tyburnia
a
tinkling
cymbal
.
These
are
vanities
.
Even
these
will
pass
away
.
And
some
day
or
other
(
but
it
will
be
after
our
time
,
thank
goodness
)
,
Hyde
Park
Gardens
will
be
no
better
known
than
the
celebrated
horticultural
outskirts
of
Babylon
;
and
Belgrave
Square
will
be
as
desolate
as
Baker
Street
,
or
Tadmor
in
the
wilderness
.
Ladies
,
are
you
aware
that
the
great
Pitt
lived
in
Baker
Street
?
What
would
not
your
grandmothers
have
given
to
be
asked
to
Lady
Hester’s
parties
in
that
now
decayed
mansion
?
I
have
dined
in
it
—
moi
qui
vous
parle
.
I
peopled
the
chamber
with
ghosts
of
the
mighty
dead
.
As
we
sate
soberly
drinking
claret
there
with
men
of
to-day
,
the
spirits
of
the
departed
came
in
and
took
their
places
round
the
darksome
board
.
The
pilot
who
weathered
the
storm
tossed
off
great
bumpers
of
spiritual
port
:
the
shade
of
Dundas
did
not
leave
the
ghost
of
a
heeltap
.
—
Addington
sate
bowing
and
smirking
in
a
ghastly
manner
,
and
would
not
be
behindhand
when
the
noiseless
bottle
went
round
;
Scott
,
from
under
bushy
eyebrows
,
winked
at
the
apparition
of
a
beeswing
;
Wilberforce’s
eyes
went
up
to
the
ceiling
,
so
that
he
did
not
seem
to
know
how
his
glass
went
up
full
to
his
mouth
and
came
down
empty
;
—
up
to
the
ceiling
which
was
above
us
only
yesterday
,
and
which
the
great
of
the
past
days
have
all
looked
at
.
They
let
the
house
as
a
furnished
lodging
now
.
Yes
,
Lady
Hester
once
lived
in
Baker
Street
,
and
lies
asleep
in
the
wilderness
.
Eothen
saw
her
there
—
not
in
Baker
Street
:
but
in
the
other
solitude
.
It
is
all
vanity
to
be
sure
:
but
who
will
not
own
to
liking
a
little
of
it
?
I
should
like
to
know
what
well-constituted
mind
,
merely
because
it
is
transitory
,
dislikes
roast
beef
?
That
is
a
vanity
;
but
may
every
man
who
reads
this
,
have
a
wholesome
portion
of
it
through
life
,
I
be
aye
,
though
my
readers
were
five
hundred
thousand
.
Sit
down
,
gentlemen
,
and
fall
to
,
with
a
good
hearty
appetite
;
the
fat
,
the
lean
,
the
gravy
,
the
horse-radish
as
you
like
it
—
don’t
spare
it
.
Another
glass
of
wine
,
Jones
,
my
boy
—
a
little
bit
of
the
Sunday
side
.
Yes
,
let
us
eat
our
fill
of
the
vain
thing
,
and
be
thankful
therefor
.
And
let
us
make
the
best
of
Becky’s
aristocratic
pleasures
likewise
—
for
these
too
,
like
all
other
mortal
delights
,
were
but
transitory
.
The
upshot
of
her
visit
to
Lord
Steyne
was
,
that
His
Highness
the
Prince
of
Peterwaradin
took
occasion
to
renew
his
acquaintance
with
Colonel
Crawley
,
when
they
met
on
the
next
day
at
the
Club
,
and
to
compliment
Mrs.
Crawley
in
the
Ring
of
Hyde
Park
with
a
profound
salute
of
the
hat
.
She
and
her
husband
were
invited
immediately
to
one
of
the
Prince’s
small
parties
at
Levant
House
,
then
occupied
by
His
Highness
during
the
temporary
absence
from
England
of
its
noble
proprietor
.
She
sank
after
dinner
to
a
very
little
comité
.
The
Marquis
of
Steyne
was
present
,
paternally
superintending
the
progress
of
his
pupil
.
At
Levant
House
Becky
met
one
of
the
finest
gentlemen
and
greatest
ministers
that
Europe
has
produced
—
the
Duc
de
la
Jabotière
,
then
Ambassador
from
the
Most
Christian
King
,
and
subsequently
Minister
to
that
monarch
.
I
declare
I
swell
with
pride
as
these
august
names
are
transcribed
by
my
pen
;
and
I
think
in
what
brilliant
company
my
dear
Becky
is
moving
.
She
became
a
constant
guest
at
the
French
Embassy
,
where
no
party
was
considered
to
be
complete
without
the
presence
of
the
charming
Madame
Ravdonn
Cravley
.
Messieurs
de
Truffigny
(
of
the
Périgord
family
)
and
Champignac
,
both
attachés
of
the
Embassy
,
were
straightway
smitten
by
the
charms
of
the
fair
Colonel’s
wife
:
and
both
declared
,
according
to
the
wont
of
their
nation
,
(
for
who
ever
yet
met
a
Frenchman
,
come
out
of
England
,
that
has
not
left
half
a
dozen
families
miserable
,
and
brought
away
as
many
hearts
in
his
pocket-book
?
)
both
,
I
say
,
declared
that
they
were
au
mieux
with
the
charming
Madame
Ravdonn
.
But
I
doubt
the
correctness
of
the
assertion
.
Champignac
was
very
fond
of
écarté
,
and
made
many
parties
with
the
Colonel
of
evenings
,
while
Becky
was
singing
to
Lord
Steyne
in
the
other
room
;
and
as
for
Truffigny
,
it
is
a
well-known
fact
that
he
dared
not
go
to
the
Travellers’
,
where
he
owed
money
to
the
waiters
,
and
if
he
had
not
had
the
Embassy
as
a
dining-place
,
the
worthy
young
gentleman
must
have
starved
.
I
doubt
,
I
say
,
that
Becky
would
have
selected
either
of
these
young
men
as
a
person
on
whom
she
would
bestow
her
special
regard
.
They
ran
of
her
messages
,
purchased
her
gloves
and
flowers
,
went
in
debt
for
opera-boxes
for
her
,
and
made
themselves
amiable
in
a
thousand
ways
.
And
they
talked
English
with
adorable
simplicity
,
and
to
the
constant
amusement
of
Becky
and
my
Lord
Steyne
,
she
would
mimic
one
or
other
to
his
face
,
and
compliment
him
on
his
advance
in
the
English
language
with
a
gravity
which
never
failed
to
tickle
the
Marquis
,
her
sardonic
old
patron
.
Truffigny
gave
Briggs
a
shawl
by
way
of
winning
over
Becky’s
confidante
,
and
asked
her
to
take
charge
of
a
letter
which
the
simple
spinster
handed
over
in
public
to
the
person
to
whom
it
was
addressed
;
and
the
composition
of
which
amused
everybody
who
read
it
greatly
.
Lord
Steyne
read
it
:
everybody
but
honest
Rawdon
;
to
whom
it
was
not
necessary
to
tell
everything
that
passed
in
the
little
house
in
May
Fair
.
Here
,
before
long
,
Becky
received
not
only
“
the
best
”
foreigners
(
as
the
phrase
is
in
our
noble
and
admirable
society
slang
)
,
but
some
of
the
best
English
people
too
.
I
don’t
mean
the
most
virtuous
,
or
indeed
the
least
virtuous
,
or
the
cleverest
,
or
the
stupidest
,
or
the
richest
,
or
the
best
born
,
but
“
the
best
,
”
—
in
a
word
,
people
about
whom
there
is
no
question
—
such
as
the
great
Lady
Fitz-Willis
,
that
Patron
Saint
of
Almack’s
,
the
great
Lady
Slowbore
,
the
great
Lady
Grizzel
Macbeth
(
she
was
Lady
G
.
Glowry
,
daughter
of
Lord
Grey
of
Glowry
)
,
and
the
like
.
When
the
Countess
of
Fitz-Willis
(
her
ladyship
is
of
the
Kingstreet
family
,
see
Debrett
and
Burke
)
takes
up
a
person
,
he
or
she
is
safe
.
There
is
no
question
about
them
any
more
.
Not
that
my
Lady
Fitz-Willis
is
any
better
than
anybody
else
,
being
,
on
the
contrary
,
a
faded
person
,
fifty-seven
years
of
age
,
and
neither
handsome
,
nor
wealthy
,
nor
entertaining
;
but
it
is
agreed
on
all
sides
that
she
is
of
the
“
best
people
.
”
Those
who
go
to
her
are
of
the
best
:
and
from
an
old
grudge
probably
to
Lady
Steyne
(
for
whose
coronet
her
ladyship
,
then
the
youthful
Georgina
Frederica
,
daughter
of
the
Prince
of
Wales’s
favourite
,
the
Earl
of
Portansherry
,
had
once
tried
)
,
this
great
and
famous
leader
of
the
fashion
chose
to
acknowledge
Mrs.
Rawdon
Crawley
:
made
her
a
most
marked
curtsey
at
the
assembly
over
which
she
presided
:
and
not
only
encouraged
her
son
,
St.
Kitts
(
his
lordship
got
his
place
through
Lord
Steyne’s
interest
)
,
to
frequent
Mrs.
Crawley’s
house
,
but
asked
her
to
her
own
mansion
,
and
spoke
to
her
twice
in
the
most
public
and
condescending
manner
during
dinner
.
The
important
fact
was
known
all
over
London
that
night
.
People
who
had
been
crying
fie
about
Mrs.
Crawley
were
silent
.
Wenham
,
the
wit
and
lawyer
,
Lord
Steyne’s
right-hand
man
,
went
about
everywhere
praising
her
:
some
who
had
hesitated
,
came
forward
at
once
and
welcomed
her
:
little
Tom
Toady
,
who
had
warned
Southdown
about
visiting
such
an
abandoned
woman
,
now
besought
to
be
introduced
to
her
.
In
a
word
,
she
was
admitted
to
be
among
the
“
best
”
people
.
Ah
,
my
beloved
readers
and
brethren
,
do
not
envy
poor
Becky
prematurely
—
glory
like
this
is
said
to
be
fugitive
.
It
is
currently
reported
that
even
in
the
very
inmost
circles
,
they
are
no
happier
than
the
poor
wanderers
outside
the
zone
;
and
Becky
,
who
penetrated
into
the
very
centre
of
fashion
,
and
saw
the
great
George
IV
.
face
to
face
,
has
owned
since
that
there
too
was
Vanity
.
We
must
be
brief
in
descanting
upon
this
part
of
her
career
.
As
I
cannot
describe
the
mysteries
of
freemasonry
,
although
I
have
a
shrewd
idea
that
it
is
a
humbu
so
an
uninitiated
man
cannot
take
upon
himself
to
pourtray
the
great
world
accurately
,
and
had
best
keep
his
opinions
to
himself
whatever
they
are
.
Becky
has
often
spoken
in
subsequent
years
of
this
season
of
her
life
,
when
she
moved
among
the
very
greatest
circles
of
the
London
fashion
.
Her
success
excited
,
elated
,
and
then
bored
her
.
At
first
no
occupation
was
more
pleasant
than
to
invent
and
procure
(
the
latter
a
work
of
no
small
trouble
and
ingenuity
,
by
the
way
,
in
a
person
of
Mrs.
Rawdon
Crawley’s
very
narrow
means
)
—
to
procure
,
we
say
,
the
prettiest
new
dresses
and
ornaments
;
to
drive
to
fine
dinner
parties
,
where
she
was
welcomed
by
great
people
;
and
from
the
fine
dinner
parties
to
fine
assemblies
,
whither
the
same
people
came
with
whom
she
had
been
dining
,
whom
she
had
met
the
night
before
,
and
would
see
on
the
morrow
—
the
young
men
faultlessly
appointed
,
handsomely
cravatted
,
with
the
neatest
glossy
boots
and
white
gloves
—
the
elders
portly
,
brass-buttoned
,
noble-looking
,
polite
,
and
prosy
—
the
young
ladies
blonde
,
timid
,
and
in
pink
—
the
mothers
grand
,
beautiful
,
sumptuous
,
solemn
,
and
in
diamonds
.
They
talked
in
English
,
not
in
bad
French
,
as
they
do
in
the
novels
.
They
talked
about
each
others’
houses
,
and
characters
,
and
families
:
just
as
the
Joneses
do
about
the
Smiths
.
Becky’s
former
acquaintances
hated
and
envied
her
:
the
poor
woman
herself
was
yawning
in
spirit
.
“
I
wish
I
were
out
of
it
,
”
she
said
to
herself
.
“
I
would
rather
be
a
parson’s
wife
,
and
teach
a
Sunday
School
than
this
;
or
a
sergeant’s
lady
and
ride
in
the
regimental
waggon
;
or
,
O
how
much
gayer
it
would
be
to
wear
spangles
and
trowsers
,
and
dance
before
a
booth
at
a
fair
.
”
“
You
would
do
it
very
well
,
”
said
Lord
Steyne
,
laughing
.
She
used
to
tell
the
great
man
her
ennuis
and
perplexities
in
her
artless
way
—
they
amused
him
.
“
Rawdon
would
make
a
very
good
Ecuyer
—
Master
of
the
Ceremonies
—
what
do
you
call
him
—
the
man
in
the
large
boots
and
the
uniform
,
who
goes
round
the
ring
cracking
the
whip
?
He
is
large
,
heavy
,
and
of
a
military
figure
.
I
recollect
,
”
Becky
continued
,
pensively
,
“
my
father
took
me
to
see
a
show
at
Brookgreen
Fair
when
I
was
a
child
;
and
when
we
came
home
I
made
myself
a
pair
of
stilts
,
and
danced
in
the
studio
to
the
wonder
of
all
the
pupils
.
”
“
I
should
have
liked
to
see
it
,
”
said
Lord
Steyne
.
“
I
should
like
to
do
it
now
,
”
Becky
continued
.
“
How
Lady
Blinkey
would
open
her
eyes
,
and
Lady
Grizzel
Macbeth
would
stare
!
Hush
!
silence
!
there
is
Pasta
beginning
to
sing
.
”
Becky
always
made
a
point
of
being
conspicuously
polite
to
the
professional
ladies
and
gentlemen
who
attended
at
these
aristocratic
parties
—
of
following
them
into
the
corners
where
they
sat
in
silence
,
and
shaking
hands
with
them
,
and
smiling
in
the
view
of
all
persons
.
She
was
an
artist
herself
,
as
she
said
very
truly
:
there
was
a
frankness
and
humility
in
the
manner
in
which
she
acknowledged
her
origin
,
which
provoked
,
or
disarmed
,
or
amused
lookers-on
,
as
the
case
might
be
.
“
How
cool
that
woman
is
,
”
said
one
;
“
what
airs
of
independence
she
assumes
,
where
she
ought
to
sit
still
and
be
thankful
if
anybody
speaks
to
her
!
”
“
What
an
honest
and
good-natured
soul
she
is
!
”
said
another
.
“
What
an
artful
little
minx
!
”
said
a
third
.
They
were
all
right
very
likely
;
but
Becky
went
her
own
way
,
and
so
fascinated
the
professional
personages
,
that
they
would
leave
off
their
sore
throats
in
order
to
sing
at
her
parties
,
and
give
her
lessons
for
nothing
.
Yes
,
she
gave
parties
in
the
little
house
in
Curzon
Street
.
Many
scores
of
carriages
,
with
blazing
lamps
,
blocked
up
the
street
,
to
the
disgust
of
No.
100
,
who
could
not
rest
for
the
thunder
of
the
knocking
,
and
of
102
,
who
could
not
sleep
for
envy
.
The
gigantic
footmen
who
accompanied
the
vehicles
were
too
big
to
be
contained
in
Becky’s
little
hall
,
and
were
billeted
off
in
the
neighbouring
publichouses
,
whence
,
when
they
were
wanted
,
call-boys
summoned
them
from
their
beer
.
Scores
of
the
great
dandies
of
London
squeezed
and
trod
on
each
other
on
the
little
stairs
,
laughing
to
find
themselves
there
;
and
many
spotless
and
severe
ladies
of
ton
were
seated
in
the
little
drawingroom
,
listening
to
the
professional
singers
,
who
were
singing
according
to
their
wont
,
and
as
if
they
wished
to
blow
the
windows
down
.
And
the
day
after
,
there
appeared
among
the
fashionable
réunions
in
the
Morning
Post
a
paragraph
to
the
following
effect
:
“
Yesterday
,
Colonel
and
Mrs.
Crawley
entertained
a
select
party
at
dinner
at
their
house
in
May
Fair
.
Their
Excellencies
the
Prince
and
Princess
of
Peterwaradin
,
H
.
E
.
Papoosh
Pasha
,
the
Turkish
Ambassador
(
attended
by
Kibob
Bey
,
dragoman
of
the
mission
)
,
the
Marquess
of
Steyne
,
Earl
of
Southdown
,
Sir
Pitt
and
Lady
Jane
Crawley
,
Mr.
Wagg
,
etc.
After
dinner
Mrs.
Crawley
had
an
assembly
which
was
attended
by
the
Duchess
(
Dowager
)
of
Stilton
,
Duc
de
la
Gruyère
,
Marchioness
of
Cheshire
,
Marchese
Alessandro
Strachino
,
Comte
de
Brie
,
Baron
Schapzuger
,
Chevalier
Tosti
,
Countess
of
Slingstone
,
and
Lady
F
.
Macadam
,
Major-General
and
Lady
G
.
Macbeth
,
and
(
2
)
Miss
Macbeths
;
Viscount
Paddington
,
Sir
Horace
Fogey
,
Hon.
Bedwin
Sands
,
Bobbachy
Bahawder
,
”
and
an
etc.
,
which
the
reader
may
fill
at
his
pleasure
through
a
dozen
close
lines
of
small
type
.
And
in
her
commerce
with
the
great
our
dear
friend
showed
the
same
frankness
which
distinguished
her
transactions
with
the
lowly
in
station
.
On
one
occasion
,
when
out
at
a
very
fine
house
,
Rebecca
was
(
perhaps
rather
ostentatiously
)
holding
a
conversation
in
the
French
language
with
a
celebrated
tenor
singer
of
that
nation
,
while
the
Lady
Grizzel
Macbeth
looked
over
her
shoulder
scowling
at
the
pair
.
“
How
very
well
you
speak
French
,
”
Lady
Grizzel
said
,
who
herself
spoke
the
tongue
in
an
Edinburgh
accent
most
remarkable
to
hear
.
“
I
ought
to
know
it
,
”
Becky
modestly
said
,
casting
down
her
eyes
.
“
I
taught
it
in
a
school
,
and
my
mother
was
a
Frenchwoman
.
”
Lady
Grizzel
was
won
by
her
humility
,
and
was
mollified
towards
the
little
woman
.
She
deplored
the
fatal
levelling
tendencies
of
the
age
,
which
admitted
persons
of
all
classes
into
the
society
of
their
superiors
;
but
her
ladyship
owned
,
that
this
one
at
least
was
well
behaved
and
never
forgot
her
place
in
life
.
She
was
a
very
good
woman
:
good
to
the
poor
:
stupid
,
blameless
,
unsuspicious
.
—
It
is
not
her
ladyship’s
fault
that
she
fancies
herself
better
than
you
and
me
.
The
skirts
of
her
ancestors’
garments
have
been
kissed
for
centuries
:
it
is
a
thousand
years
,
they
say
,
since
the
tartans
of
the
head
of
the
family
were
embraced
by
the
defunct
Duncan’s
lords
and
councillors
,
when
the
great
ancestor
of
the
House
became
King
of
Scotland
.
Lady
Steyne
,
after
the
music
scene
,
succumbed
before
Becky
,
and
perhaps
was
not
disinclined
to
her
.
The
younger
ladies
of
the
house
of
Gaunt
were
also
compelled
into
submission
.
Once
or
twice
they
set
people
at
her
,
but
they
failed
.
The
brilliant
Lady
Stunnington
tried
a
passage
of
arms
with
her
,
but
was
routed
with
great
slaughter
by
the
intrepid
little
Becky
.
When
attacked
sometimes
,
Becky
had
a
knack
of
adopting
a
demure
ingénue
air
,
under
which
she
was
most
dangerous
.
She
said
the
wickedest
things
with
the
most
simple
unaffected
air
when
in
this
mood
,
and
would
take
care
artlessly
to
apologise
for
her
blunders
,
so
that
all
the
world
should
know
that
she
had
made
them
.
Mr.
Wagg
,
the
celebrated
wit
,
and
a
led
captain
and
trencher-man
of
my
Lord
Steyne
,
was
caused
by
the
ladies
to
charge
her
;
and
the
worthy
fellow
,
leering
at
his
patronesses
,
and
giving
them
a
wink
,
as
much
as
to
say
,
“
Now
look
out
for
sport
,
”
—
one
evening
began
an
assault
upon
Becky
,
who
was
unsuspiciously
eating
her
dinner
.
The
little
woman
,
attacked
on
a
sudden
,
but
never
without
arms
,
lighted
up
in
an
instant
,
parried
and
riposted
with
a
home-thrust
,
which
made
Wagg’s
face
tingle
with
shame
;
then
she
returned
to
her
soup
with
the
most
perfect
calm
and
a
quiet
smile
on
her
face
.
Wagg’s
great
patron
,
who
gave
him
dinners
and
lent
him
a
little
money
sometimes
,
and
whose
election
,
newspaper
,
and
other
jobs
Wagg
did
,
gave
the
luckless
fellow
such
a
savage
glance
with
the
eyes
as
almost
made
him
sink
under
the
table
and
burst
into
tears
.
He
looked
piteously
at
my
lord
,
who
never
spoke
to
him
during
dinner
,
and
at
the
ladies
,
who
disowned
him
.
At
last
Becky
herself
took
compassion
upon
him
,
and
tried
to
engage
him
in
talk
.
He
was
not
asked
to
dinner
again
for
six
weeks
;
and
Fiche
,
my
lord’s
confidential
man
,
to
whom
Wagg
naturally
paid
a
good
deal
of
court
,
was
instructed
to
tell
him
that
if
he
ever
dared
to
say
a
rude
thing
to
Mrs.
Crawley
again
,
or
make
her
the
butt
of
his
stupid
jokes
,
Milor
would
put
every
one
of
his
notes
of
hand
into
his
lawyer’s
hands
,
and
sell
him
up
without
mercy
.
Wagg
wept
before
Fiche
,
and
implored
his
dear
friend
to
intercede
for
him
.
He
wrote
a
poem
in
favour
of
Mrs.
R
.
C
.
,
which
appeared
in
the
very
next
number
of
the
“
Harumscarum
Magazine
,
”
which
he
conducted
.
He
implored
her
good
will
at
parties
where
he
met
her
.
He
cringed
and
coaxed
Rawdon
at
the
club
.
He
was
allowed
to
come
back
to
Gaunt
House
after
a
while
.
Becky
was
always
good
to
him
,
always
amused
,
never
angry
.
His
lordship’s
vizier
and
chief
confidential
servant
(
with
a
seat
in
parliament
and
at
the
dinner
table
)
,
Mr.
Wenham
,
was
much
more
prudent
in
his
behaviour
and
opinions
than
Mr.
Wagg
.
However
much
he
might
be
disposed
to
hate
all
parvenus
(
Mr.
Wenham
himself
was
a
staunch
old
True
Blue
Tory
,
and
his
father
a
small
coal-merchant
in
the
north
of
England
)
,
this
aide-de-camp
of
the
Marquis
never
showed
any
sort
of
hostility
to
the
new
favourite
:
but
pursued
her
with
stealthy
kindnesses
,
and
a
sly
and
deferential
politeness
,
which
somehow
made
Becky
more
uneasy
than
other
people’s
overt
hostilities
.
How
the
Crawley’s
got
the
money
which
was
spent
upon
the
entertainments
with
which
they
treated
the
polite
world
,
was
a
mystery
which
gave
rise
to
some
conversation
at
the
time
,
and
probably
added
zest
to
these
little
festivities
.
Some
persons
averred
that
Sir
Pitt
Crawley
gave
his
brother
a
handsome
allowance
:
if
he
did
,
Becky’s
power
over
the
Baronet
must
have
been
extraordinary
indeed
,
and
his
character
greatly
changed
in
his
advanced
age
.
Other
parties
hinted
that
it
was
Becky’s
habit
to
levy
contributions
on
all
her
husband’s
friends
:
going
to
this
one
in
tears
with
an
account
that
there
was
an
execution
in
the
house
;
falling
on
her
knees
to
that
one
,
and
declaring
that
the
whole
family
must
go
to
gaol
or
commit
suicide
unless
such
and
such
a
bill
could
be
paid
.
Lord
Southdown
,
it
was
said
,
had
been
induced
to
give
many
hundreds
through
these
pathetic
representations
.
Young
Feltham
,
of
the
—
th
Dragoons
(
and
son
of
the
firm
of
Tiler
and
Feltham
,
hatters
and
army
accoutrement
makers
)
,
and
whom
the
Crawleys
introduced
into
fashionable
life
,
was
also
cited
as
one
of
Becky’s
victims
in
the
pecuniary
way
.
People
declared
that
she
got
money
from
various
simply
disposed
persons
under
pretence
of
getting
them
confidential
appointments
under
Government
.
Who
knows
what
stories
were
or
were
not
told
of
our
dear
and
innocent
friend
?
Certain
it
is
,
that
if
she
had
had
all
the
money
which
she
was
said
to
have
begged
or
borrowed
or
stolen
,
she
might
have
capitalised
and
been
honest
for
life
,
whereas
,
—
but
this
is
advancing
matters
.
The
truth
is
,
that
by
economy
and
good
management
—
by
a
sparing
use
of
ready
money
and
by
paying
scarcely
anybody
,
—
people
can
manage
,
for
a
time
at
least
,
to
make
a
great
show
with
very
little
means
:
and
it
is
our
belief
that
Becky’s
much-talked-of
parties
,
which
were
not
,
after
all
was
said
,
very
numerous
,
cost
this
lady
very
little
more
than
the
wax
candles
which
lighted
the
walls
.
Stillbrook
and
Queen’s
Crawley
supplied
her
with
game
and
fruit
in
abundance
.
Lord
Steyne’s
cellars
were
at
her
disposal
,
and
that
excellent
nobleman’s
famous
cooks
presided
over
her
little
kitchen
,
or
sent
by
my
lord’s
order
the
rarest
delicacies
from
their
own
.
I
protest
it
is
quite
shameful
in
the
world
to
abuse
a
simple
creature
,
as
people
of
her
time
abuse
Becky
,
and
I
warn
the
public
against
believing
one-tenth
of
the
stories
against
her
.
If
every
person
is
to
be
banished
from
society
who
runs
into
debt
and
cannot
pay
—
if
we
are
to
be
peering
into
everybody’s
private
life
,
speculating
upon
their
income
,
and
cutting
them
if
we
don’t
approve
of
their
expenditure
—
why
,
what
a
howling
wilderness
and
intolerable
dwelling
Vanity
Fair
would
be
!
Every
man’s
hand
would
be
against
his
neighbour
in
this
case
,
my
dear
sir
,
and
the
benefits
of
civilisation
would
be
done
away
with
.
We
should
be
quarrelling
,
abusing
,
avoiding
one
another
.
Our
houses
would
become
caverns
:
and
we
should
go
in
rags
because
we
cared
for
nobody
.
Rents
would
go
down
.
Parties
wouldn’t
be
given
any
more
.
All
the
tradesmen
of
the
town
would
be
bankrupt
.
Wine
,
wax-lights
,
comestibles
,
rouge
,
crinoline-petticoats
,
diamonds
,
wigs
,
Louis-Quatorze
gimcracks
,
and
old
china
,
park
hacks
,
and
splendid
high-stepping
carriage
horses
—
all
the
delights
of
life
,
I
say
,
—
would
go
to
the
deuce
,
if
people
did
but
act
upon
their
silly
principles
,
and
avoid
those
whom
they
dislike
and
abuse
.
Whereas
,
by
a
little
charity
and
mutual
forbearance
,
things
are
made
to
go
on
pleasantly
enough
:
we
may
abuse
a
man
as
much
as
we
like
,
and
call
him
the
greatest
rascal
unhanged
—
but
do
we
wish
to
hang
him
therefore
?
No.
We
shake
hands
when
we
meet
.
If
his
cook
is
good
we
forgive
him
,
and
go
and
dine
with
him
;
and
we
expect
he
will
do
the
same
by
us
.
Thus
trade
flourishes
—
civilisation
advances
:
peace
is
kept
;
new
dresses
are
wanted
for
new
assemblies
every
week
;
and
the
last
year’s
vintage
of
Lafitte
will
remunerate
the
honest
proprietor
who
reared
it
.
At
the
time
whereof
we
are
writing
,
though
the
Great
George
was
on
the
throne
and
ladies
wore
gigots
and
large
combs
like
tortoise-shell
shovels
in
their
hair
,
instead
of
the
simple
sleeves
and
lovely
wreaths
which
are
actually
in
fashion
,
the
manners
of
the
very
polite
world
were
not
,
I
take
it
,
essentially
different
from
those
of
the
present
day
:
and
their
amusements
pretty
similar
.
To
us
,
from
the
outside
,
gazing
over
the
policeman’s
shoulders
at
the
bewildering
beauties
as
they
pass
into
Court
or
ball
,
they
may
seem
beings
of
unearthly
splendour
,
and
in
the
enjoyment
of
an
exquisite
happiness
by
us
unattainable
.
It
is
to
console
some
of
these
dissatisfied
beings
,
that
we
are
narrating
our
dear
Becky’s
struggles
,
and
triumphs
,
and
disappointments
,
of
all
of
which
,
indeed
,
as
is
the
case
with
all
persons
of
merit
,
she
had
her
share
.
At
this
time
the
amiable
amusement
of
acting
charades
had
come
among
us
from
France
:
and
was
considerably
in
vogue
in
this
country
,
enabling
the
many
ladies
amongst
us
who
had
beauty
to
display
their
charms
,
and
the
fewer
number
who
had
cleverness
,
to
exhibit
their
wit
.
My
Lord
Steyne
was
incited
by
Becky
,
who
perhaps
believed
herself
endowed
with
both
the
above
qualifications
,
to
give
an
entertainment
at
Gaunt
House
,
which
should
include
some
of
these
little
dramas
—
and
we
must
take
leave
to
introduce
the
reader
to
this
brilliant
réunion
,
and
,
with
a
melancholy
welcome
too
,
for
it
will
be
among
the
very
last
of
the
fashionable
entertainments
to
which
it
will
be
our
fortune
to
conduct
him
.
A
portion
of
that
splendid
room
,
the
picture
gallery
of
Gaunt
House
,
was
arranged
as
the
charade
theatre
.
It
had
been
so
used
when
George
III
.
was
king
;
and
a
picture
of
the
Marquis
of
Gaunt
is
still
extant
,
with
his
hair
in
powder
and
a
pink
ribbon
,
in
a
Roman
shape
,
as
it
was
called
,
enacting
the
part
of
Cato
in
Mr.
Addison’s
tragedy
of
that
name
,
performed
before
their
Royal
Highnesses
the
Prince
of
Wales
,
the
Bishop
of
Osnaburgh
,
and
Prince
William
Henry
,
then
children
like
the
actor
.
One
or
two
of
the
old
properties
were
drawn
out
of
the
garrets
,
where
they
had
lain
ever
since
,
and
furbished
up
anew
for
the
present
festivities
.
Young
Bedwin
Sands
,
then
an
elegant
dandy
and
Eastern
traveller
,
was
manager
of
the
revels
.
An
Eastern
traveller
was
somebody
in
those
days
,
and
the
adventurous
Bedwin
,
who
had
published
his
quarto
,
and
passed
some
months
under
the
tents
in
the
desert
,
was
a
personage
of
no
small
importance
.
—
In
his
volume
there
were
several
pictures
of
Sands
in
various
oriental
costumes
;
and
he
travelled
about
with
a
black
attendant
of
most
unprepossessing
appearance
,
just
like
another
Brian
de
Bois
Guilbert
.
Bedwin
,
his
costumes
,
and
black
man
,
were
hailed
at
Gaunt
House
as
very
valuable
acquisitions
.
He
led
off
the
first
charade
.
A
Turkish
officer
with
an
immense
plume
of
feathers
(
the
Janizaries
were
supposed
to
be
still
in
existence
,
and
the
tarboosh
had
not
as
yet
displaced
the
ancient
and
majestic
head-dress
of
the
true
believers
)
,
was
seen
couched
on
a
divan
,
and
making
believe
to
puff
at
a
narghile
,
in
which
,
however
,
for
the
sake
of
the
ladies
,
only
a
fragrant
pastille
was
allowed
to
smoke
.
The
Turkish
dignitary
yawns
and
expresses
signs
of
weariness
and
idleness
.
He
claps
his
hands
and
Mesrour
the
Nubian
appears
,
with
bare
arms
,
bangles
,
yataghans
,
and
every
Eastern
ornament
—
gaunt
,
tall
,
and
hideous
.
He
makes
a
salaam
before
my
lord
the
Aga
.
A
thrill
of
terror
and
delight
runs
through
the
assembly
.
The
ladies
whisper
to
one
another
.
The
black
slave
was
given
to
Bedwin
Sands
by
an
Egyptian
Pasha
in
exchange
for
three
dozen
of
Maraschino
.
He
has
sewn
up
ever
so
many
odalisques
in
sacks
and
tilted
them
into
the
Nile
.
“
Bid
the
slave-merchant
enter
,
”
says
the
Turkish
voluptuary
with
a
wave
of
his
hand
.
Mesrour
conducts
the
slave-merchant
into
my
lord’s
presence
:
he
brings
a
veiled
female
with
him
.
He
removes
the
veil
.
A
thrill
of
applause
bursts
through
the
house
.
It
is
Mrs.
Winkworth
(
she
was
a
Miss
Absolom
)
with
the
beautiful
eyes
and
hair
.
She
is
in
a
gorgeous
oriental
costume
;
the
black
braided
locks
are
twined
with
innumerable
jewels
;
her
dress
is
covered
over
with
gold
piastres
.
The
odious
Mahometan
expresses
himself
charmed
by
her
beauty
.
She
falls
down
on
her
knees
,
and
entreats
him
to
restore
her
to
the
mountains
where
she
was
born
,
and
where
her
Circassian
lover
is
still
deploring
the
absence
of
his
Zuleikah
.
No
entreaties
will
move
the
obdurate
Hassan
.
He
laughs
at
the
notion
of
the
Circassian
bridegroom
.
Zuleikah
covers
her
face
with
her
hands
,
and
drops
down
in
an
attitude
of
the
most
beautiful
despair
.
There
seems
to
be
no
hope
for
her
,
when
—
when
the
Kislar
Aga
appears
.
The
Kislar
Aga
brings
a
letter
from
the
Sultan
.
Hassan
receives
and
places
on
his
head
the
dread
firman
.
A
ghastly
terror
seizes
him
,
while
on
the
negro’s
face
(
it
is
Mesrour
again
in
another
costume
)
appears
a
ghastly
joy
.
“
Mercy
!
mercy
!
”
cries
the
Pasha
:
while
the
Kislar
Aga
,
grinning
horribly
,
pulls
out
—
a
bow-string
.
The
curtain
draws
just
as
he
is
going
to
use
that
awful
weapon
.
Hassan
from
within
bawls
out
,
“
First
two
syllables
”
—
and
Mrs.
Rawdon
Crawley
,
who
is
going
to
act
in
the
charade
,
comes
forward
and
compliments
Mrs.
Winkworth
on
the
admirable
taste
and
beauty
of
her
costume
.
The
second
part
of
the
charade
takes
place
.
It
is
still
an
Eastern
scene
.
Hassan
,
in
another
dress
,
is
in
an
attitude
by
Zuleikah
,
who
is
perfectly
reconciled
to
him
.
The
Kislar
Aga
has
become
a
peaceful
black
slave
.
It
is
sunrise
on
the
desert
,
and
the
Turks
turn
their
heads
eastwards
and
bow
to
the
sand
.
As
there
are
no
dromedaries
at
hand
,
the
band
facetiously
plays
“
The
Camels
are
coming
.
”
An
enormous
Egyptian
head
figures
in
the
scene
.
It
is
a
musical
one
,
—
and
,
to
the
surprise
of
the
oriental
travellers
,
sings
a
comic
song
,
composed
by
Mr.
Wagg
.
The
Eastern
voyagers
go
off
dancing
,
like
Papageno
and
the
Moorish
King
,
in
the
“
Magic
Flute
.
”
“
Last
two
syllables
”
roars
the
head
.
The
last
act
opens
.
It
is
a
Grecian
tent
this
time
.
A
tall
and
stalwart
man
reposes
on
a
couch
there
.
Above
him
hang
his
helmet
and
shield
.
There
is
no
need
for
them
now
.
Ilium
is
down
.
Iphigenia
is
slain
.
Cassandra
is
a
prisoner
in
his
outer
halls
.
The
king
of
men
(
it
is
Colonel
Crawley
,
who
,
indeed
,
has
no
notion
about
the
sack
of
Ilium
or
the
conquest
of
Cassandra
)
,
the
anax
andrôn
is
asleep
in
his
chamber
at
Argos
.
A
lamp
casts
the
broad
shadow
of
the
sleeping
warrior
flickering
on
the
wall
—
the
sword
and
shield
of
Troy
glitter
in
its
light
.
The
band
plays
the
awful
music
of
“
Don
Juan
,
”
before
the
statue
enters
.
Ægisthus
steals
in
pale
and
on
tiptoe
.
What
is
that
ghastly
face
looking
out
balefully
after
him
from
behind
the
arras
?
He
raises
his
dagger
to
strike
the
sleeper
,
who
turns
in
his
bed
,
and
opens
his
broad
chest
as
if
for
the
blow
.
He
cannot
strike
the
noble
slumbering
chieftain
.
Clytemnestra
glides
swiftly
into
the
room
like
an
apparition
—
her
arms
are
bare
and
white
,
—
her
tawny
hair
floats
down
her
shoulders
,
—
her
face
is
deadly
pale
,
—
and
her
eyes
are
lighted
up
with
a
smile
so
ghastly
,
that
people
quake
as
they
look
at
her
.
A
tremor
ran
through
the
room
.
“
Good
God
!
”
somebody
said
,
“
it’s
Mrs.
Rawdon
Crawley
.
”
Scornfully
she
snatches
the
dagger
out
of
Ægisthus’s
hand
,
and
advances
to
the
bed
.
You
see
it
shining
over
her
head
in
the
glimmer
of
the
lamp
,
and
—
and
the
lamp
goes
out
,
with
a
groan
,
and
all
is
dark
.
The
darkness
and
the
scene
frightened
people
.
Rebecca
performed
her
part
so
well
,
and
with
such
ghastly
truth
,
that
the
spectators
were
all
dumb
,
until
,
with
a
burst
,
all
the
lamps
of
the
hall
blazed
out
again
,
when
everybody
began
to
shout
applause
.
“
Brava
!
brava
!
”
old
Steyne’s
strident
voice
was
heard
roaring
over
all
the
rest
.
“
By
—
,
she’d
do
it
too
,
”
he
said
between
his
teeth
.
The
performers
were
called
by
the
whole
house
,
which
sounded
with
cries
of
“
Manager
!
Clytemnestra
!
”
AGAMEMNON
could
not
be
got
to
show
in
his
classical
tunic
,
but
stood
in
the
background
with
Ægisthus
and
others
of
the
performers
of
the
little
play
.
Mr.
Bedwin
Sands
led
on
Zuleikah
and
Clytemnestra
.
A
great
personage
insisted
on
being
presented
to
the
charming
Clytemnestra
.
“
Heigh
ha
?
Run
him
through
the
body
.
Marry
somebody
else
,
hay
?
”
was
the
apposite
remark
made
by
His
Royal
Highness
.
“
Mrs.
Rawdon
Crawley
was
quite
killing
in
the
part
,
”
said
Lord
Steyne
.
Becky
laughed
;
gay
,
and
saucy
looking
,
and
swept
the
prettiest
little
curtsey
ever
seen
.
Servants
brought
in
salvers
covered
with
numerous
cool
dainties
,
and
the
performers
disappeared
to
get
ready
for
the
second
charade-tableau
.
The
three
syllables
of
this
charade
were
to
be
depicted
in
pantomime
,
and
the
performance
took
place
in
the
following
wise
:
—
First
syllable
.
Colonel
Rawdon
Crawley
,
C.B.
,
with
a
slouched
hat
and
a
staff
,
a
great
coat
,
and
a
lantern
borrowed
from
the
stables
,
passed
across
the
stage
bawling
out
,
as
if
warning
the
inhabitants
of
the
hour
.
In
the
lower
window
are
seen
two
bagmen
playing
apparently
at
the
game
of
cribbage
,
over
which
they
yawn
much
.
To
them
enters
one
looking
like
Boots
,
(
the
Honourable
G
.
Ringwood
)
which
character
the
young
gentleman
performed
to
perfection
,
and
divests
them
of
their
lower
coverings
;
and
presently
Chambermaid
(
the
Right
Honourable
Lord
Southdown
)
with
two
candlesticks
,
and
a
warming-pan
.
She
ascends
to
the
upper
apartment
,
and
warms
the
bed
.
She
uses
the
warming-pan
as
a
weapon
wherewith
she
wards
off
the
attention
of
the
bagmen
.
She
exits
.
They
put
on
their
night-caps
,
and
pull
down
the
blinds
.
Boots
comes
out
and
closes
the
shutters
of
the
ground-floor
chamber
.
You
hear
him
bolting
and
chaining
the
door
within
.
All
the
lights
go
out
.
The
music
plays
Dormez
,
dormez
,
chers
Amours
.
A
voice
from
behind
the
curtain
says
,
“
First
syllable
.
”
Second
syllable
.
The
lamps
are
lighted
up
all
of
a
sudden
.
The
music
plays
the
old
air
from
John
of
Paris
,
Ah
quel
plaisir
d’être
en
voyage
.
It
is
the
same
scene
.
Between
the
first
and
second
floors
of
the
house
represented
,
you
behold
a
sign
on
which
the
Steyne
arms
are
painted
.
All
the
bells
are
ringing
all
over
the
house
.
In
the
lower
apartment
you
see
a
man
with
a
long
slip
of
paper
presenting
it
to
another
,
who
shakes
his
fists
,
threatens
and
vows
that
it
is
monstrous
.
“
Ostler
,
bring
round
my
gig
,
”
cries
another
at
the
door
.
He
chucks
Chambermaid
(
the
Right
Honourable
Lord
Southdown
)
under
the
chin
;
she
seems
to
deplore
his
absence
,
as
Calypso
did
that
of
that
other
eminent
traveller
Ulysses
.
Boots
(
the
Honourable
G
.
Ringwood
)
passes
with
a
wooden
box
,
containing
silver
flagons
,
and
cries
“
Pots
”
with
such
exquisite
humour
and
naturalness
,
that
the
whole
house
rings
with
applause
,
and
a
bouquet
is
thrown
to
him
.
Crack
,
crack
,
crack
,
go
the
whips
.
Landlord
,
chambermaid
,
waiter
rush
to
the
door
;
but
just
as
some
distinguished
guest
is
arriving
,
the
curtains
close
,
and
the
invisible
theatrical
manager
cries
out
“
Second
syllable
.
”
“
I
think
it
must
be
‘Hotel’
,
”
says
Captain
Grigg
of
the
Life
Guards
;
there
is
a
general
laugh
at
the
Captain’s
cleverness
.
He
is
not
very
far
from
the
mark
.
While
the
third
syllable
is
in
preparation
,
the
band
begins
a
nautical
medley
—
“
All
in
the
Downs
,
”
“
Cease
Rude
Boreas
,
”
“
Rule
Britannia
,
”
“
In
the
Bay
of
Biscay
O
!
”
—
some
maritime
event
is
about
to
take
place
.
A
bell
is
heard
ringing
as
the
curtain
draws
aside
.
“
Now
,
gents
,
for
the
shore
!
”
a
voice
exclaims
.
People
take
leave
of
each
other
.
They
point
anxiously
as
if
towards
the
clouds
,
which
are
represented
by
a
dark
curtain
,
and
they
nod
their
heads
in
fear
.
Lady
Squeams
(
the
Right
Honourable
Lord
Southdown
)
,
her
lap-dog
,
her
bags
,
reticules
,
and
husband
sit
down
,
and
cling
hold
of
some
ropes
.
It
is
evidently
a
ship
.
The
Captain
(
Colonel
Crawley
,
C.B.
)
,
with
a
cocked
hat
and
a
telescope
,
comes
in
,
holding
his
hat
on
his
head
,
and
looks
out
;
his
coat
tails
fly
about
as
if
in
the
wind
.
When
he
leaves
go
of
his
hat
to
use
his
telescope
,
his
hat
flies
off
,
with
immense
applause
.
It
is
blowing
fresh
.
The
music
rises
and
whistles
louder
and
louder
;
the
mariners
go
across
the
stage
staggering
,
as
if
the
ship
was
in
severe
motion
.
The
Steward
(
the
Honourable
G
.
Ringwood
)
passes
reeling
by
,
holding
six
basins
.
He
puts
one
rapidly
by
Lord
Squeams
—
Lady
Squeams
,
giving
a
pinch
to
her
dog
,
which
begins
to
howl
piteously
,
puts
her
pocket-handkerchief
to
her
face
,
and
rushes
away
as
for
the
cabin
.
The
music
rises
up
to
the
wildest
pitch
of
stormy
excitement
,
and
the
third
syllable
is
concluded
.
There
was
a
little
ballet
,
“
Le
Rossignol
,
”
in
which
Montessu
and
Noblet
used
to
be
famous
in
those
days
,
and
which
Mr.
Wagg
transferred
to
the
English
stage
as
an
opera
,
putting
his
verse
,
of
which
he
was
a
skilful
writer
,
to
the
pretty
airs
of
the
ballet
.
It
was
dressed
in
old
French
costume
,
and
little
Lord
Southdown
now
appeared
admirably
attired
in
the
disguise
of
an
old
woman
hobbling
about
the
stage
with
a
faultless
crooked
stick
.
Trills
of
melody
were
heard
behind
the
scenes
,
and
gurgling
from
a
sweet
pasteboard
cottage
covered
with
roses
and
trellis
work
.
“
Philomèle
,
Philomèle
,
”
cries
the
old
woman
,
and
Philomèle
comes
out
.
More
applause
—
it
is
Mrs.
Rawdon
Crawley
in
powder
and
patches
,
the
most
ravissante
little
Marquise
in
the
world
.
She
comes
in
laughing
,
humming
,
and
frisks
about
the
stage
with
all
the
innocence
of
theatrical
youth
—
she
makes
a
curtsey
.
Mamma
says
“
Why
,
child
,
you
are
always
laughing
and
singing
,
”
and
away
she
goes
,
with
—
The
rose
upon
my
balcony
the
morning
air
perfuming
,
Was
leafless
all
the
winter
time
and
pining
for
the
spring
;
You
ask
me
why
her
breath
is
sweet
and
why
her
cheek
is
blooming
,
It
is
because
the
sun
is
out
and
birds
begin
to
sing
,
The
nightingale
,
whose
melody
is
through
the
greenwood
ringing
,
Was
silent
when
the
boughs
were
bare
and
winds
were
blowing
keen
:
And
if
,
Mamma
,
you
ask
of
me
the
reason
of
his
singing
,
It
is
because
the
sun
is
out
and
all
the
leaves
are
green
.
Thus
each
performs
his
part
,
Mamma
,
the
birds
have
found
their
voices
.
The
blowing
rose
a
flush
,
Mamma
,
her
bonny
cheek
to
dye
;
And
there’s
sunshine
in
my
heart
,
Mamma
,
which
wakens
and
rejoices
,
And
so
I
sing
and
blush
,
Mamma
,
and
that’s
the
reason
why
.
During
the
intervals
of
the
stanzas
of
this
ditty
,
the
good-natured
personage
addressed
as
mamma
by
the
singer
,
and
whose
large
whiskers
appeared
under
her
cap
,
seemed
very
anxious
to
exhibit
her
maternal
affection
by
embracing
the
innocent
creature
who
performed
the
daughter’s
part
.
Every
caress
was
received
with
loud
acclamations
of
laughter
by
the
sympathising
audience
.
At
its
conclusion
(
while
the
music
was
performing
a
symphony
as
if
ever
so
many
birds
were
warbling
)
the
whole
house
was
unanimous
for
an
encore
:
and
applause
and
bouquets
without
end
were
showered
upon
the
NIGHTINGALE
of
the
evening
.
Lord
Steyne’s
voice
of
applause
was
loudest
of
all
.
Becky
,
the
nightingale
,
took
the
flowers
which
he
threw
to
her
,
and
pressed
them
to
her
heart
with
the
air
of
a
consummate
comedian
.
Lord
Steyne
was
frantic
with
delight
.
His
guests’
enthusiasm
harmonised
with
his
own
.
Where
was
the
beautiful
black-eyed
Houri
whose
appearance
in
the
first
charade
had
caused
such
delight
?
She
was
twice
as
handsome
as
Becky
,
but
the
brilliancy
of
the
latter
had
quite
eclipsed
her
.
All
voices
were
for
her
.
Stephens
,
Caradori
,
Ronzi
de
Begnis
,
people
compared
her
to
one
or
the
other
,
and
agreed
with
good
reason
,
very
likely
,
that
had
she
been
an
actress
none
on
the
stage
could
have
surpassed
her
.
She
had
reached
her
culmination
:
her
voice
rose
trilling
and
bright
over
the
storm
of
applause
:
and
soared
as
high
and
joyful
as
her
triumph
.
There
was
a
ball
after
the
dramatic
entertainments
,
and
everybody
pressed
round
Becky
as
the
great
point
of
attraction
of
the
evening
.
The
Royal
Personage
declared
with
an
oath
,
that
she
was
perfection
,
and
engaged
her
again
and
again
in
conversation
.
Little
Becky’s
soul
swelled
with
pride
and
delight
at
these
honours
;
she
saw
fortune
,
fame
,
fashion
before
her
.
Lord
Steyne
was
her
slave
;
followed
her
everywhere
,
and
scarcely
spoke
to
any
one
in
the
room
beside
;
and
paid
her
the
most
marked
compliments
and
attention
.
She
still
appeared
in
her
Marquise
costume
,
and
danced
a
minuet
with
Monsieur
de
Truffigny
,
Monsieur
Le
Duc
de
la
Jabotière’s
attaché
;
and
the
Duke
,
who
had
all
the
traditions
of
the
ancient
court
,
pronounced
that
Madame
Crawley
was
worthy
to
have
been
a
pupil
of
Vestris
,
or
to
have
figured
at
Versailles
.
Only
a
feeling
of
dignity
,
the
gout
,
and
the
strongest
sense
of
duty
and
personal
sacrifice
,
prevented
his
Excellency
from
dancing
with
her
himself
;
and
he
declared
in
public
,
that
a
lady
who
could
talk
and
dance
like
Mrs.
Rawdon
,
was
fit
to
be
ambassadress
at
any
court
in
Europe
.
He
was
only
consoled
when
he
heard
that
she
was
half
a
French
woman
by
birth
.
“
None
but
a
compatriot
,
”
his
Excellency
declared
,
“
could
have
performed
that
majestic
dance
in
such
a
way
.
”
Then
she
figured
in
a
waltz
with
Monsieur
de
Klingenspohr
,
the
Prince
of
Peterwaradin’s
cousin
and
attaché
.
The
delighted
Prince
,
having
less
retenue
than
his
French
diplomatic
colleague
,
insisted
upon
taking
a
turn
with
the
charming
creature
,
and
twirled
round
the
ball-room
with
her
