tohave
Briggs
in
a
good
deal
soon
.
Rebecca
used
to
mimic
her
to
her
face
with
the
most
admirable
gravity
,
thereby
rendering
the
imitation
doubly
piquant
to
her
worthy
patroness
.
The
causes
which
had
led
to
the
deplorable
illness
of
Miss
Crawley
,
and
her
departure
from
her
brother’s
house
in
the
country
,
were
of
such
an
unromantic
nature
that
they
are
hardly
fit
to
be
explained
in
this
genteel
and
sentimental
novel
.
For
how
is
it
possible
to
hint
of
a
delicate
female
,
living
in
good
society
,
that
she
ate
and
drank
too
much
,
and
that
a
hot
supper
of
lobsters
profusely
enjoyed
at
the
Rectory
was
the
reason
of
an
indisposition
which
Miss
Crawley
herself
persisted
was
solely
attributable
to
the
dampness
of
the
weather
?
The
attack
was
so
sharp
that
Matilda
—
as
his
Reverence
expressed
it
—
was
very
nearly
“
off
the
hooks
;
”
all
the
family
were
in
a
fever
of
expectation
regarding
the
will
,
and
Rawdon
Crawley
was
making
sure
of
at
least
forty
thousand
pounds
before
the
commencement
of
the
London
season
.
Mr.
Crawley
sent
over
a
choice
parcel
of
tracts
,
to
prepare
her
for
the
change
from
Vanity
Fair
and
Park
Lane
for
another
world
;
but
a
good
doctor
from
Southampton
being
called
in
in
time
,
vanquished
the
lobster
which
was
no
nearly
fatal
to
her
,
and
gave
her
sufficient
strength
to
enable
her
to
return
to
London
.
The
Baronet
did
not
disguise
his
exceeding
mortification
at
the
turn
which
affairs
took
.
While
everybody
was
attending
on
Miss
Crawley
,
and
messengers
every
hour
from
the
Rectory
were
carrying
news
of
her
health
to
the
affectionate
folks
there
,
there
was
a
lady
in
another
part
of
the
house
,
being
exceedingly
ill
,
of
whom
no
one
took
any
notice
at
all
;
and
this
was
the
lady
of
Crawley
herself
.
The
good
doctor
shook
his
head
after
seeing
her
;
to
which
visit
Sir
Pitt
consented
,
as
it
could
be
paid
without
a
fee
;
and
she
was
left
fading
away
in
her
lonely
chamber
,
with
no
more
heed
paid
to
her
than
to
a
weed
in
the
park
.
The
young
ladies
,
too
,
lost
much
of
the
inestimable
benefit
of
their
governess’s
instruction
.
So
affectionate
a
nurse
was
Miss
Sharp
,
that
Miss
Crawley
would
take
her
medicines
from
no
other
hand
.
Firkin
had
been
deposed
long
before
her
mistress’s
departure
from
the
country
.
That
faithful
attendant
found
a
gloomy
consolation
on
returning
to
London
,
in
seeing
Miss
Briggs
suffer
the
same
pangs
of
jealousy
and
undergo
the
same
faithless
treatment
to
which
she
herself
had
been
subject
.
Captain
Rawdon
got
an
extension
of
leave
on
his
aunt’s
illness
,
and
remained
dutifully
at
home
.
He
was
always
in
her
antechamber
.
(
She
lay
sick
in
the
state
bed-room
,
into
which
you
entered
by
the
little
blue
saloon
.
)
His
father
was
always
meeting
him
there
;
or
if
he
came
down
the
corridor
ever
so
quietly
his
father’s
door
was
sure
to
open
,
and
the
hyæna
face
of
the
old
gentleman
to
glare
out
.
What
was
it
set
one
to
watch
the
other
so
?
A
generous
rivalry
,
no
doubt
,
as
to
which
should
be
most
attentive
to
the
dear
sufferer
in
the
state
bed-room
.
Rebecca
used
to
come
out
and
comfort
both
of
them
;
or
one
or
the
other
of
them
rather
.
Both
of
these
worthy
gentlemen
were
most
anxious
to
have
news
of
the
invalid
from
her
little
confidential
messenger
.
At
dinner
—
to
which
meal
she
descended
for
half
an
hour
—
she
kept
the
peace
between
them
:
after
which
she
disappeared
for
the
night
;
when
Rawdon
would
ride
over
to
the
depôt
of
the
150th
at
Mudbury
,
leaving
his
Papa
to
the
society
of
Mr.
Horrocks
and
his
rum
and
water
.
She
passed
as
weary
a
fortnight
as
ever
mortal
spent
in
Miss
Crawley’s
sick-room
;
but
her
little
nerves
seemed
to
be
of
iron
,
as
she
was
quite
unshaken
by
the
duty
and
the
tedium
of
the
sick-chamber
.
She
never
told
until
long
afterwards
how
painful
that
duty
was
;
how
peevish
a
patient
was
the
jovial
old
lady
;
how
angry
;
how
sleepless
;
in
what
horrors
of
death
;
during
what
long
nights
she
lay
moaning
,
and
in
almost
delirious
agonies
respecting
that
future
world
which
she
quite
ignored
when
she
was
in
good
health
.
—
Picture
to
yourself
,
oh
fair
young
reader
,
a
worldly
,
selfish
,
graceless
,
thankless
,
religionless
old
woman
,
writhing
in
pain
and
fear
,
and
without
her
wig
.
Picture
her
to
yourself
,
and
ere
you
be
old
,
learn
to
love
and
pray
!
Sharp
watched
this
graceless
bedside
with
indomitable
patience
.
Nothing
escaped
her
;
and
,
like
a
prudent
steward
,
she
found
a
use
for
everything
.
She
told
many
a
good
story
about
Miss
Crawley’s
illness
in
after
days
,
—
stories
which
made
the
lady
blush
through
her
artificial
carnations
.
During
the
illness
she
was
never
out
of
temper
;
always
alert
;
she
slept
light
,
having
a
perfectly
clear
conscience
;
and
could
take
that
refreshment
at
almost
any
minute’s
warning
.
And
so
you
saw
very
few
traces
of
fatigue
in
her
appearance
.
Her
face
might
be
a
trifle
paler
,
and
the
circles
round
her
eyes
a
little
blacker
than
usual
;
but
whenever
she
came
out
from
the
sick-room
she
was
always
smiling
,
fresh
,
and
neat
,
and
looked
as
trim
in
her
little
dressing-gown
and
cap
,
as
in
her
smartest
evening
suit
.
The
Captain
thought
so
,
and
raved
about
her
in
uncouth
convulsions
.
The
barbed
shaft
of
love
had
penetrated
his
dull
hide
.
Six
weeks
—
appropinquity
—
opportunity
—
had
victimised
him
completely
.
He
made
a
confidante
of
his
aunt
at
the
Rectory
,
of
all
persons
in
the
world
.
She
rallied
him
about
it
;
she
had
perceived
his
folly
;
she
warned
him
;
she
finished
by
owning
that
little
Sharp
was
the
most
clever
,
droll
,
odd
,
good-natured
,
simple
,
kindly
creature
in
England
.
Rawdon
must
not
trifle
with
her
affections
,
though
—
dear
Miss
Crawley
would
never
pardon
him
for
that
;
for
she
,
too
,
was
quite
overcome
by
the
little
governess
,
and
loved
Sharp
like
a
daughter
.
Rawdon
must
go
away
—
go
back
to
his
regiment
and
naughty
London
and
not
play
with
a
poor
artless
girl’s
feelings
.
Many
and
many
a
time
this
good-natured
lady
,
compassionating
the
forlorn
life-guardsman’s
condition
,
gave
him
an
opportunity
of
seeing
Miss
Sharp
at
the
Rectory
,
and
of
walking
home
with
her
,
as
we
have
seen
.
When
men
of
a
certain
sort
,
ladies
,
are
in
love
,
though
they
see
the
hook
and
the
string
,
and
the
whole
apparatus
with
which
they
are
to
be
taken
,
they
gorge
the
bait
nevertheless
—
they
must
come
to
it
—
they
must
swallow
it
—
and
are
presently
struck
and
landed
gasping
.
Rawdon
saw
there
was
a
manifest
intention
on
Mrs.
Bute’s
part
to
captivate
him
with
Rebecca
.
He
was
not
very
wise
;
but
he
was
a
man
about
town
,
and
had
seen
several
seasons
.
A
light
dawned
upon
his
dusky
soul
,
as
he
thought
,
through
a
speech
of
Mrs.
Bute’s
.
“
Mark
my
words
,
Rawdon
,
”
she
said
.
“
You
will
have
Miss
Sharp
one
day
for
your
relation
.
”
“
What
relation
,
—
my
cousin
,
hey
Mrs.
Bute
?
James
sweet
on
her
,
hey
?
”
inquired
the
waggish
officer
.
“
More
than
that
,
”
Mrs.
Bute
said
,
with
a
flash
from
her
black
eyes
.
“
Not
Pitt
?
—
He
shan’t
have
her
.
The
sneak
a’n’t
worthy
of
her
.
He’s
booked
to
Lady
Jane
Sheepshanks
.
”
“
You
men
perceive
nothing
.
You
silly
,
blind
creature
—
if
anything
happens
to
Lady
Crawley
,
Miss
Sharp
will
be
your
mother-in-law
;
and
that’s
what
will
happen
.
”
Rawdon
Crawley
,
Esquire
,
gave
vent
to
a
prodigious
whistle
,
in
token
of
astonishment
at
this
announcement
.
He
couldn’t
deny
it
.
His
father’s
evident
liking
for
Miss
Sharp
had
not
escaped
him
.
He
knew
the
old
gentleman’s
character
well
;
and
a
more
unscrupulous
old
—
whyou
—
he
did
not
conclude
the
sentence
,
but
walked
home
,
curling
his
mustachios
,
and
convinced
he
had
found
a
clue
to
Mrs.
Bute’s
mystery
.
“
By
Jove
,
it’s
too
bad
,
”
thought
Rawdon
,
“
too
bad
,
by
Jove
!
I
do
believe
the
woman
wants
the
poor
girl
to
be
ruined
,
in
order
that
she
shouldn’t
come
into
the
family
as
Lady
Crawley
.
”
When
he
saw
Rebecca
alone
,
he
rallied
her
about
his
father’s
attachment
in
his
graceful
way
.
She
flung
up
her
head
scornfully
,
looked
him
full
in
the
face
,
and
said
,
—
“
Well
,
suppose
he
is
fond
of
me
.
I
know
he
is
,
and
others
too
.
You
don’t
think
I’m
afraid
of
him
,
Captain
Crawley
?
You
don’t
suppose
I
can’t
defend
my
own
honour
,
”
said
the
little
woman
,
looking
as
stately
as
a
queen
.
“
O
,
ah
,
why
—
give
you
fair
warning
—
look
out
,
you
know
—
that’s
all
,
”
said
the
mustachio-twiddler
.
“
You
hint
at
something
not
honourable
,
then
?
”
said
she
,
flashing
out
.
“
O
—
Gad
—
really
—
Miss
Rebecca
,
”
the
heavy
dragoon
interposed
.
“
Do
you
suppose
I
have
no
feeling
of
self-respect
,
because
I
am
poor
and
friendless
,
and
because
rich
people
have
none
?
Do
you
think
,
because
I
am
a
governess
,
I
have
not
as
much
sense
,
and
feeling
,
and
good
breeding
as
you
gentlefolks
in
Hampshire
?
I’m
a
Montmorency
.
Do
you
suppose
a
Montmorency
is
not
as
good
as
a
Crawley
?
”
When
Miss
Sharp
was
agitated
,
and
alluded
to
her
maternal
relatives
,
she
spoke
with
ever
so
slight
a
foreign
accent
,
which
gave
a
great
charm
to
her
clear
ringing
voice
.
“
No
,
”
she
continued
,
kindling
as
she
spoke
to
the
Captain
;
“
I
can
endure
poverty
,
but
not
shame
—
neglect
,
but
not
insult
;
and
insult
from
—
from
you
.
”
Her
feelings
gave
way
,
and
she
burst
into
tears
.
“
Hang
it
,
Miss
Sharp
—
Rebecca
—
by
Jove
—
upon
my
soul
,
I
wouldn’t
for
a
thousand
pounds
.
Stop
,
Rebecca
!
”
She
was
gone
.
She
drove
out
with
Miss
Crawley
that
day
.
It
was
before
the
latter’s
illness
.
At
dinner
she
was
unusually
brilliant
and
lively
;
but
she
would
take
no
notice
of
the
hints
,
or
the
nods
,
or
the
clumsy
expostulations
of
the
humiliated
,
infatuated
guardsman
.
Skirmishes
of
this
sort
passed
perpetually
during
the
little
campaign
—
tedious
to
relate
,
and
similar
in
result
.
The
Crawley
heavy
cavalry
was
maddened
by
defeat
,
and
routed
every
day
.
If
the
Baronet
of
Queen’s
Crawley
had
not
had
the
fear
of
losing
his
sister’s
legacy
before
his
eyes
,
he
never
would
have
permitted
his
dear
girls
to
lose
the
educational
blessings
which
their
invaluable
governess
was
conferring
upon
them
.
The
old
house
at
home
seemed
a
desert
without
her
,
so
useful
and
pleasant
had
Rebecca
made
herself
there
.
Sir
Pitt’s
letters
were
not
copied
and
corrected
;
his
books
not
made
up
;
his
household
business
and
manifold
schemes
neglected
,
now
that
his
little
secretary
was
away
.
And
it
was
easy
to
see
how
necessary
such
an
amanuensis
was
to
him
,
by
the
tenor
and
spelling
of
the
numerous
letters
which
he
sent
to
her
,
entreating
her
and
commanding
her
to
return
.
Almost
every
day
brought
a
frank
from
the
Baronet
,
enclosing
the
most
urgent
prayers
to
Becky
for
her
return
,
or
conveying
pathetic
statements
to
Miss
Crawley
,
regarding
the
neglected
state
of
his
daughters’
education
;
of
which
documents
Miss
Crawley
took
very
little
heed
.
Miss
Briggs
was
not
formally
dismissed
,
but
her
place
as
companion
was
a
sinecure
and
a
derision
;
and
her
company
was
the
fat
spaniel
in
the
drawing-room
,
or
occasionally
the
discontended
Firkin
in
the
housekeeper’s
closet
.
Nor
though
the
old
lady
would
by
no
means
hear
of
Rebecca’s
departure
,
was
the
latter
regularly
installed
in
office
in
Park
Lane
.
Like
many
wealthy
people
,
it
was
Miss
Crawley’s
habit
to
accept
as
much
service
as
she
could
get
from
her
inferiors
;
and
good-naturedly
to
take
leave
of
them
when
she
no
longer
found
them
useful
.
Gratitude
among
certain
rich
folks
is
scarcely
natural
or
to
be
thought
of
.
They
take
needy
people’s
services
as
their
due
.
Nor
have
you
,
O
poor
parasite
and
humble
hanger-on
,
much
reason
to
complain
!
Your
friendship
for
Dives
is
about
as
sincere
as
the
return
which
it
usually
gets
.
It
is
money
you
love
,
and
not
the
man
;
and
were
Crœsus
and
his
footman
to
change
places
you
know
,
you
poor
rogue
,
who
would
have
the
benefit
of
your
allegiance
.
And
I
am
not
sure
,
that
,
in
spite
of
Rebecca’s
simplicity
and
activity
,
and
gentleness
and
untiring
good
humour
,
the
shrewd
old
London
lady
,
upon
whom
these
treasures
of
friendship
were
lavished
,
had
not
a
lurking
suspicion
all
the
while
of
her
affectionate
nurse
and
friend
.
It
must
have
often
crossed
Miss
Crawley’s
mind
that
nobody
does
anything
for
nothing
.
If
she
measured
her
own
feeling
towards
the
world
,
she
must
have
been
pretty
well
able
to
gauge
those
of
the
world
,
towards
herself
;
and
perhaps
she
reflected
,
that
it
is
the
ordinary
lot
of
people
to
have
no
friends
if
they
themselves
care
for
nobody
.
Well
,
meanwhile
Becky
was
the
greatest
comfort
and
convenience
to
her
,
and
she
gave
her
a
couple
of
new
gowns
,
and
an
old
necklace
and
shawl
,
and
showed
her
friendship
by
abusing
all
her
intimate
acquaintances
to
her
new
confidante
(
than
which
there
can’t
be
a
more
touching
proof
of
regard
)
,
and
meditated
vaguely
some
great
future
benefit
—
to
marry
her
perhaps
to
Clump
,
the
apothecary
,
or
to
settle
her
in
some
advantageous
way
of
life
;
or
at
any
rate
,
to
send
her
back
to
Queen’s
Crawley
when
she
had
done
with
her
,
and
the
full
London
season
had
begun
.
When
Miss
Crawley
was
convalescent
and
descended
to
the
drawing-room
,
Becky
sang
to
her
,
and
otherwise
amused
her
;
when
she
was
well
enough
to
drive
out
,
Becky
accompanied
her
.
And
amongst
the
drives
which
they
took
,
whither
,
of
all
places
in
the
world
,
did
Miss
Crawley’s
admirable
good-nature
and
friendship
actually
induce
her
to
penetrate
,
but
to
Russell
Square
,
Bloomsbury
,
and
the
house
of
John
Sedley
,
Esquire
.
Ere
that
event
,
many
notes
had
passed
,
as
may
be
imagined
,
between
the
two
dear
friends
.
During
the
months
of
Rebecca’s
stay
in
Hampshire
,
the
eternal
friendship
had
(
must
it
be
owned
?
)
suffered
considerable
diminution
,
and
grown
so
decrepit
and
feeble
with
old
age
as
to
threaten
demise
altogether
.
The
fact
is
,
both
girls
had
their
own
real
affairs
to
think
of
:
Rebecca
her
advance
with
her
employers
—
Amelia
her
own
absorbing
topic
.
When
the
two
girls
met
,
and
flew
into
each
other’s
arms
with
that
impetuosity
which
distinguishes
the
behaviour
of
young
ladies
towards
each
other
,
Rebecca
performed
her
part
of
the
embrace
with
the
most
perfect
briskness
and
energy
.
Poor
little
Amelia
blushed
as
she
kissed
her
friend
,
and
thought
she
had
been
guilty
of
something
very
like
coldness
towards
her
.
Their
first
interview
was
but
a
very
short
one
.
Amelia
was
just
ready
to
go
out
for
a
walk
.
Miss
Crawley
was
waiting
in
her
carriage
below
,
her
people
wondering
at
the
locality
in
which
they
found
themselves
,
and
gazing
upon
honest
Sambo
,
the
black
footman
of
Bloomsbury
,
as
one
of
the
queer
natives
of
the
place
.
But
when
Amelia
came
down
with
her
kind
smiling
looks
(
Rebecca
must
introduce
her
to
her
friend
,
Miss
Crawley
was
longing
to
see
her
,
and
was
too
ill
to
leave
her
carriage
)
—
when
,
I
say
,
Amelia
came
down
,
the
Park
Lane
shoulder-knot
aristocracy
wondered
more
and
more
that
such
a
thing
could
come
out
of
Bloomsbury
;
and
Miss
Crawley
was
fairly
captivated
by
the
sweet
blushing
face
of
the
young
lady
who
came
forward
so
timidly
and
so
gracefully
to
pay
her
respects
to
the
protector
of
her
friend
.
“
What
a
complexion
,
my
dear
!
What
a
sweet
voice
!
”
Miss
Crawley
said
,
as
they
drove
away
westward
after
the
little
interview
.
“
My
dear
Sharp
,
your
young
friend
is
charming
.
Send
for
her
to
Park
Lane
,
do
you
hear
?
”
Miss
Crawley
had
a
good
taste
.
She
liked
natural
manners
—
a
little
timidity
only
set
them
off
.
She
liked
pretty
faces
near
her
;
as
she
liked
pretty
pictures
and
nice
china
.
She
talked
of
Amelia
with
rapture
half-a-dozen
times
that
day
.
She
mentioned
her
to
Rawdon
Crawley
,
who
came
dutifully
to
partake
of
his
aunt’s
chicken
.
Of
course
,
on
this
Rebecca
instantly
stated
,
that
Amelia
was
engaged
to
be
married
—
to
a
Lieutenant
Osborne
—
a
very
old
flame
.
“
Is
he
a
man
in
a
line-regiment
?
”
Captain
Crawley
asked
,
remembering
after
an
effort
,
as
became
a
guardsman
,
the
number
of
the
regiment
,
the
—
th
.
Rebecca
thought
that
was
the
regiment
.
“
The
Captain’s
name
,
”
she
said
,
“
was
Captain
Dobbin
.
”
“
A
lanky
gawky
fellow
,
”
said
Crawley
,
“
tumbles
over
everybody
.
I
know
him
;
and
Osborne’s
a
goodish-looking
fellow
,
with
large
black
whiskers
?
”
“
Enormous
,
”
Miss
Rebecca
Sharp
said
,
“
and
enormously
proud
of
them
,
I
assure
you
.
”
Captain
Rawdon
Crawley
burst
into
a
horse-laugh
by
way
of
reply
;
and
being
pressed
by
the
ladies
to
explain
,
did
so
when
the
explosion
of
hilarity
was
over
.
“
He
fancies
he
can
play
at
billiards
,
”
said
he
.
“
I
won
two
hundred
of
him
at
the
Cocoa-Tree
.
He
play
,
the
young
flat
!
He’d
have
played
for
anything
that
day
,
but
his
friend
Captain
Dobbin
carried
him
off
,
hang
him
!
”
“
Rawdon
,
Rawdon
,
don’t
be
so
wicked
,
”
Miss
Crawley
remarked
,
highly
pleased
.
“
Why
,
ma’am
,
of
all
the
young
fellows
I’ve
seen
out
of
the
line
,
I
think
this
fellow’s
the
greenest
.
Tarquin
and
Deuceace
get
what
money
they
like
out
of
him
.
He’d
go
to
the
deuce
to
be
seen
with
a
lord
.
He
pays
their
dinners
at
Greenwich
,
and
they
invite
the
company
.
”
“
And
very
pretty
company
too
,
I
dare
say
.
”
“
Quite
right
,
Miss
Sharp
.
Right
,
as
usual
,
Miss
Sharp
.
Uncommon
pretty
company
,
—
haw
,
haw
!
”
and
the
Captain
laughed
more
and
more
,
thinking
he
had
made
a
good
joke
.
“
Rawdon
,
don’t
be
naughty
!
”
his
aunt
exclaimed
.
“
Well
,
his
father’s
a
City
man
—
immensely
rich
,
they
say
.
Hang
those
City
fellows
,
they
must
bleed
;
and
I’ve
not
done
with
him
yet
,
I
can
tell
you
.
Haw
,
haw
!
”
“
Fie
,
Captain
Crawley
;
I
shall
warn
Amelia
.
A
gambling
husband
!
”
“
Horrid
,
ain’t
he
,
hey
?
”
the
Captain
said
with
great
solemnity
;
and
then
added
,
a
sudden
thought
having
struck
him
:
—
“
Gad
,
I
say
,
ma’am
,
we’ll
have
him
here
.
”
“
Is
he
a
presentable
sort
of
person
?
”
the
aunt
inquired
.
“
Presentable
?
—
oh
,
very
well
.
You
wouldn’t
see
any
difference
,
”
Captain
Crawley
answered
.
“
Do
let’s
have
him
when
you
begin
to
see
a
few
people
;
and
his
whatyecallem
—
his
—
inamorata
—
eh
,
Miss
Sharp
;
that’s
what
you
call
it
—
comes
.
Gad
,
I’ll
write
him
a
note
,
and
have
him
;
and
I’ll
try
if
he
can
play
piquet
as
well
as
billiards
.
Where
does
he
live
,
Miss
Sharp
?
”
Miss
Sharp
told
Crawley
the
Lieutenant’s
town
address
;
and
a
few
days
after
this
conversation
,
Lieutenant
Osborne
received
a
letter
,
in
Captain
Rawdon’s
school-boy
hand
,
and
enclosing
a
note
of
invitation
from
Miss
Crawley
.
Rebecca
despatched
also
an
invitation
to
her
darling
Amelia
,
who
,
you
may
be
sure
,
was
ready
enough
to
accept
it
when
she
heard
that
George
was
to
be
of
the
party
.
It
was
arranged
that
Amelia
was
to
spend
the
morning
with
the
ladies
of
Park
Lane
,
where
all
were
very
kind
to
her
.
Rebecca
patronised
her
with
calm
superiority
:
she
was
so
much
the
cleverer
of
the
two
,
and
her
friend
so
gentle
and
unassuming
,
that
she
always
yielded
,
when
anybody
chose
to
command
,
and
so
took
Rebecca’s
orders
with
perfect
meekness
and
good
humour
.
Miss
Crawley’s
graciousness
was
also
remarkable
.
She
continued
her
raptures
about
little
Amelia
,
talked
about
her
before
her
face
as
if
she
were
a
doll
,
or
a
servant
,
or
a
picture
,
and
admired
her
with
the
most
benevolent
wonder
possible
.
I
admire
that
admiration
which
the
genteel
world
sometimes
extends
to
the
commonalty
.
There
is
no
more
agreeable
object
in
life
than
to
see
May
Fair
folks
condescending
.
Miss
Crawley’s
prodigious
benevolence
rather
fatigued
poor
little
Amelia
and
I
am
not
sure
that
of
the
three
ladies
in
Park
Lane
she
did
not
find
honest
Miss
Briggs
the
most
agreeable
.
She
sympathised
with
Briggs
as
with
all
neglected
or
gentle
people
:
she
wasn’t
what
you
call
a
woman
of
spirit
.
George
came
to
dinner
—
a
repast
en
garçon
with
Captain
Crawley
.
The
great
family
coach
of
the
Osbornes
transported
him
to
Park
Lane
from
Russell
Square
;
where
the
young
ladies
,
who
were
not
themselves
invited
,
and
professed
the
greatest
indifference
at
that
slight
,
nevertheless
looked
at
Sir
Pitt
Crawley’s
name
in
the
baronetage
;
and
learned
everything
which
that
work
had
to
teach
about
the
Crawley
family
and
their
pedigree
,
and
the
Binkies
,
their
relatives
,
etc.
,
etc.
Rawdon
Crawley
received
George
Osborne
with
great
frankness
and
graciousness
:
praised
his
play
at
billiards
:
asked
him
when
he
would
have
his
revenge
:
was
interested
about
Osborne’s
regiment
:
and
would
have
proposed
piquet
to
him
that
very
evening
,
but
Miss
Crawley
absolutely
forbade
any
gambling
in
her
house
;
so
that
the
young
Lieutenant’s
purse
was
not
lightened
by
his
gallant
patron
,
for
that
day
at
least
.
However
,
they
made
an
engagement
for
the
next
,
somewhere
:
to
look
at
a
horse
that
Crawley
had
to
sell
,
and
to
try
him
in
the
Park
;
and
to
dine
together
,
and
to
pass
the
evening
with
some
jolly
fellows
.
“
That
is
,
if
you’re
not
on
duty
to
that
pretty
Miss
Sedley
,
”
Crawley
said
,
with
a
knowing
wink
.
“
Monstrous
nice
girl
,
’pon
my
honour
,
though
,
Osborne
,
”
he
was
good
enough
to
add
,
“
Lots
of
tin
,
I
suppose
,
eh
?
”
Osborne
wasn’t
on
duty
;
he
would
join
Crawley
with
pleasure
:
and
the
latter
,
when
they
met
the
next
day
,
praised
his
new
friend’s
horsemanship
—
as
he
might
with
perfect
honesty
—
and
introduced
him
to
three
or
four
young
men
of
the
first
fashion
,
whose
acquaintance
immensely
elated
the
simple
young
officer
.
“
How’s
little
Miss
Sharp
,
by-the-bye
?
”
Osborne
inquired
of
his
friend
over
their
wine
,
with
a
dandified
air
.
“
Good-natured
little
girl
that
.
Does
she
suit
you
well
at
Queen’s
Crawley
?
Miss
Sedley
liked
her
a
good
deal
last
year
.
”
Captain
Crawley
looked
savagely
at
the
Lieutenant
out
of
his
little
blue
eyes
,
and
watched
him
when
he
went
up
to
resume
his
acquaintanceship
with
the
fair
governess
.
Her
conduct
must
have
relieved
Crawley
if
there
was
any
jealousy
in
the
bosom
of
that
life-guardsman
.
When
the
young
men
went
upstairs
,
and
after
Osborne’s
introduction
to
Miss
Crawley
,
he
walked
up
to
Rebecca
with
a
patronising
,
easy
swagger
.
He
was
going
to
be
kind
to
her
and
protect
her
.
He
would
even
shake
hands
with
her
,
as
a
friend
of
Amelia’s
;
and
saying
,
“
Ah
,
Miss
Sharp
!
how-dy-doo
?
”
held
out
his
left
hand
towards
her
,
expecting
that
she
would
be
quite
confounded
at
the
honour
.
Miss
Sharp
put
out
her
right
fore-finger
,
and
gave
him
a
little
nod
,
so
cool
and
killing
,
that
Rawdon
Crawley
,
watching
the
operations
from
the
other
room
,
could
hardly
restrain
his
laughter
as
he
saw
the
Lieutenant’s
entire
discomfiture
;
the
start
he
gave
,
the
pause
,
and
the
perfect
clumsiness
with
which
he
at
length
condescended
to
take
the
finger
which
was
offered
for
his
embrace
.
“
She’d
beat
the
devil
,
by
Jove
!
”
the
Captain
said
,
in
a
rapture
;
and
the
Lieutenant
,
by
way
of
beginning
the
conversation
,
agreeably
asked
Rebecca
how
she
liked
her
new
place
.
“
My
place
?
”
said
Miss
Sharp
,
coolly
,
“
how
kind
of
you
to
remind
me
of
it
!
It’s
a
tolerably
good
place
:
the
wages
are
pretty
good
—
not
so
good
as
Miss
Wirt’s
,
I
believe
,
with
your
sisters
in
Russell
Square
.
How
are
those
young
ladies
?
—
not
that
I
ought
to
ask
.
”
“
Why
not
?
”
Mr.
Osborne
said
,
amazed
.
“
Why
,
they
never
condescended
to
speak
to
me
,
or
to
ask
me
into
their
house
,
whilst
I
was
staying
with
Amelia
;
but
we
poor
governesses
,
you
know
,
are
used
to
slights
of
this
sort
.
”
“
My
dear
Miss
Sharp
!
”
Osborne
ejaculated
.
“
At
least
in
some
families
,
”
Rebecca
continued
.
“
You
can’t
think
what
a
difference
there
is
though
,
We
are
not
so
wealthy
in
Hampshire
as
you
lucky
folks
of
the
City
.
But
then
I
am
in
a
gentleman’s
family
—
good
old
English
stock
.
I
suppose
you
know
Sir
Pitt’s
father
refused
a
peerage
.
And
you
see
how
I
am
treated
.
I
am
pretty
comfortable
.
Indeed
it
is
rather
a
good
place
.
But
how
very
good
of
you
to
inquire
!
”
Osborne
was
quite
savage
.
The
little
governess
patronised
him
and
persiffléd
him
until
this
young
British
Lion
felt
quite
uneasy
;
nor
could
he
muster
sufficient
presence
of
mind
to
find
a
pretext
for
backing
out
of
this
most
delectable
conversation
.
“
I
thought
you
liked
the
City
families
pretty
well
,
”
he
said
,
haughtily
.
“
Last
year
you
mean
,
when
I
was
fresh
from
that
horrid
vulgar
school
?
Of
course
I
did
.
Doesn’t
every
girl
like
to
come
home
for
the
holidays
?
And
how
was
I
to
know
any
better
?
But
oh
,
Mr.
Osborne
,
what
a
difference
eighteen
months’
experience
makes
!
—
eighteen
months
spent
,
pardon
me
for
saying
so
,
with
gentlemen
.
As
for
dear
Amelia
,
she
I
grant
you
,
is
a
pearl
,
and
would
be
charming
anywhere
.
There
now
,
I
see
you
are
beginning
to
be
in
a
good
humour
;
but
oh
these
queer
odd
City
people
!
And
Mr.
Jos
—
how
is
that
wonderful
Mr.
Joseph
?
”
“
It
seems
to
me
you
didn’t
dislike
that
wonderful
Mr.
Joseph
last
year
,
”
Osborne
said
kindly
.
“
How
severe
of
you
!
Well
,
entre
nous
,
I
didn’t
break
my
heart
about
him
;
yet
if
he
had
asked
me
to
do
what
you
mean
by
your
looks
(
and
very
expressive
and
kind
they
are
,
too
)
,
I
wouldn’t
have
said
no.
”
Mr.
Osborne
gave
a
look
as
much
as
to
say
,
“
Indeed
,
how
very
obliging
!
”
“
What
an
honour
to
have
had
you
for
a
brother-in-law
,
you
are
thinking
?
To
be
sister-in-law
to
George
Osborne
,
Esquire
,
son
of
John
Osborne
,
Esquire
,
son
of
—
what
was
your
grandpapa
,
Mr.
Osborne
?
Well
,
don’t
be
angry
.
You
can’t
help
your
pedigree
,
and
I
quite
agree
with
you
that
I
would
have
married
Mr.
Joe
Sedley
;
for
could
a
poor
penniless
girl
do
better
?
Now
you
know
the
whole
secret
.
I’m
frank
and
open
;
considering
all
things
,
it
was
very
kind
of
you
to
allude
to
the
circumstance
—
very
kind
and
polite
.
Amelia
,
dear
,
Mr.
Osborne
and
I
were
talking
about
your
brother
Joseph
.
How
is
he
?
”
Thus
was
George
utterly
routed
.
Not
that
Rebecca
was
in
the
right
;
but
she
had
managed
most
successfully
to
put
him
in
the
wrong
.
And
he
now
shamefully
fled
,
feeling
,
if
he
stayed
another
minute
,
that
he
would
have
been
made
to
look
foolish
in
the
presence
of
Amelia
.
Though
Rebecca
had
had
the
better
of
him
,
George
was
above
the
meanness
of
tale-bearing
or
revenge
upon
a
lady
,
—
only
he
could
not
help
cleverly
confiding
to
Captain
Crawley
,
next
day
,
some
notions
of
his
regarding
Miss
Rebecca
—
that
she
was
a
sharp
one
,
a
dangerous
one
,
a
desperate
flirt
,
etc.
;
in
all
of
which
opinions
Crawley
agreed
laughingly
,
and
with
every
one
of
which
Miss
Rebecca
was
made
acquainted
before
twenty-four
hours
were
over
.
They
added
to
her
original
regard
for
Mr.
Osborne
.
Her
woman’s
instinct
had
told
her
,
that
it
was
George
who
had
interrupted
the
success
of
her
first
love-passage
,
and
she
esteemed
him
accordingly
.
“
I
only
just
warn
you
,
”
he
said
to
Rawdon
Crawley
,
with
a
knowing
look
—
he
had
bought
the
horse
,
and
lost
some
score
of
guineas
after
dinner
,
“
I
just
warn
you
—
I
know
women
,
and
counsel
you
to
be
on
the
look-out
.
”
“
Thank
you
,
my
boy
,
”
said
Crawley
,
with
a
look
of
peculiar
gratitude
.
“
You’re
wide
awake
,
I
see
.
”
And
George
went
off
,
thinking
Crawley
was
quite
right
.
He
told
Amelia
of
what
he
had
done
,
and
how
he
had
counselled
Rawdon
Crawley
—
a
devilish
good
,
straight-for-ward
fellow
—
to
be
on
his
guard
against
that
little
sly
,
scheming
Rebecca
.
“
Against
whom
?
”
Amelia
cried
.
“
Your
friend
the
governess
.
—
Don’t
look
so
astonished
.
”
“
O
George
,
what
have
you
done
?
”
Amelia
said
.
For
her
woman’s
eyes
,
which
Love
had
made
sharp-sighted
,
had
in
one
instant
discovered
a
secret
which
was
invisible
to
Miss
Crawley
,
to
poor
virgin
Briggs
,
and
above
all
,
to
the
stupid
peepers
of
that
young
whiskered
prig
,
Lieutenant
Osborne
.
For
as
Rebecca
was
shawling
her
in
an
upper
apartment
,
where
these
two
friends
had
an
opportunity
for
a
little
of
that
secret
talking
and
conspiring
which
forms
the
delight
of
female
life
,
Amelia
,
coming
up
to
Rebecca
,
and
taking
her
two
little
hands
in
hers
,
said
,
“
Rebecca
,
I
see
it
all
.
”
Rebecca
kissed
her
.
And
regarding
this
delightful
secret
,
not
one
syllable
more
was
said
by
either
of
the
young
women
.
But
it
was
destined
to
come
out
before
long
.
Some
short
period
after
the
above
events
,
and
Miss
Rebecca
Sharp
still
remaining
at
her
patroness’s
house
in
Park
Lane
,
one
more
hatchment
might
have
been
seen
in
Great
Gaunt
Street
,
figuring
amongst
the
many
which
usually
ornament
that
dismal
quarter
.
It
was
over
Sir
Pitt
Crawley’s
house
;
but
it
did
not
indicate
the
worthy
baronet’s
demise
.
It
was
a
feminine
hatchment
,
and
indeed
a
few
years
back
had
served
as
a
funeral
compliment
to
Sir
Pitt’s
old
mother
,
the
late
dowager
Lady
Crawley
.
Its
period
of
service
over
,
the
hatchment
had
come
down
from
the
front
of
the
house
,
and
lived
in
retirement
somewhere
in
the
back
premises
of
Sir
Pitt’s
mansion
.
It
re
appeared
now
for
poor
Rose
Dawson
.
Sir
Pitt
was
a
widower
again
.
The
arms
quartered
on
the
shield
along
with
his
own
were
not
,
to
be
sure
,
poor
Rose’s
.
She
had
no
arms
.
But
the
cherubs
painted
on
the
scutcheon
answered
as
well
for
her
as
for
Sir
Pitt’s
mother
,
and
Resurgam
was
written
under
the
coat
,
flanked
by
the
Crawley
Dove
and
Serpent
.
Arms
and
Hatchments
,
Resurgam
.
—
Here
is
an
opportunity
for
moralising
!
Mr.
Crawley
had
tended
that
otherwise
friendless
bedside
.
She
went
out
of
the
world
strengthened
by
such
words
and
comfort
as
he
could
give
her
.
For
many
years
his
was
the
only
kindness
she
ever
knew
;
the
only
friendship
that
solaced
in
any
way
that
feeble
,
lonely
soul
.
Her
heart
was
dead
long
before
her
body
.
She
had
sold
it
to
become
Sir
Pitt
Crawley’s
wife
.
Mothers
and
daughters
are
making
the
same
bargain
every
day
in
Vanity
Fair
.
When
the
demise
took
place
,
her
husband
was
in
London
attending
to
some
of
his
innumerable
schemes
,
and
busy
with
his
endless
lawyers
.
He
had
found
time
,
nevertheless
,
to
call
often
in
Park
Lane
,
and
to
despatch
many
notes
to
Rebecca
,
entreating
her
,
enjoining
her
,
commanding
her
to
return
to
her
young
pupils
in
the
country
,
who
were
now
utterly
without
companionship
during
their
mother’s
illness
.
But
Miss
Crawley
would
not
hear
of
her
departure
;
for
though
there
was
no
lady
of
fashion
in
London
who
would
desert
her
friends
more
complacently
as
soon
as
she
was
tired
of
their
society
,
and
though
few
tired
of
them
sooner
,
yet
as
long
as
her
engoûment
lasted
her
attachment
was
prodigious
,
and
she
clung
still
with
the
greatest
energy
to
Rebecca
.
The
news
of
Lady
Crawley’s
death
provoked
no
more
grief
or
comment
than
might
have
been
expected
in
Miss
Crawley’s
family
circle
.
“
I
suppose
I
must
put
off
my
party
for
the
3rd
,
”
Miss
Crawley
said
;
and
added
,
after
a
pause
,
“
I
hope
my
brother
will
have
the
decency
not
to
marry
again
.
”
“
What
a
confounded
rage
Pitt
will
be
in
if
he
does
,
”
Rawdon
remarked
,
with
his
usual
regard
for
his
elder
brother
.
Rebecca
said
nothing
.
She
seemed
by
far
the
gravest
and
most
impressed
of
the
family
.
She
left
the
room
before
Rawdon
went
away
that
day
;
but
they
met
by
chance
below
,
as
he
was
going
away
after
taking
leave
,
and
had
a
parley
together
.
On
the
morrow
,
as
Rebecca
was
gazing
from
the
window
,
she
startled
Miss
Crawley
,
who
was
placidly
occupied
with
a
French
novel
,
by
crying
out
in
an
alarmed
tone
,
“
Here’s
Sir
Pitt
,
Ma’am
!
”
and
the
Baronet’s
knock
followed
this
announcement
.
“
My
dear
,
I
can’t
see
him
.
I
won’t
see
him
.
Tell
Bowls
not
at
home
,
or
go
downstairs
and
say
I’m
too
ill
to
receive
any
one
.
My
nerves
really
won’t
bear
my
brother
at
this
moment
;
”
cried
out
Miss
Crawley
,
and
resumed
the
novel
.
“
She’s
too
ill
to
see
you
,
sir
,
”
Rebecca
said
,
tripping
down
to
Sir
Pitt
,
who
was
preparing
to
ascend
.
“
So
much
the
better
,
”
Sir
Pitt
answered
.
“
I
want
to
see
you
,
Miss
Becky
.
Come
along
a
me
into
the
parlour
,
”
and
they
entered
that
apartment
together
.
“
I
wawnt
you
back
at
Queen’s
Crawley
,
Miss
,
”
the
baronet
said
,
fixing
his
eyes
upon
her
,
and
taking
off
his
black
gloves
and
his
hat
with
its
great
crape
hat-band
.
His
eyes
had
such
a
strange
look
,
and
fixed
upon
her
so
steadfastly
,
that
Rebecca
Sharp
began
almost
to
tremble
.
“
I
hope
to
come
soon
,
”
she
said
in
a
low
voice
,
“
as
soon
as
Miss
Crawley
is
better
—
and
return
to
—
to
the
dear
children
.
”
“
You’ve
said
so
these
three
months
,
Becky
,
”
replied
Sir
Pitt
,
“
and
still
you
go
hanging
on
to
my
sister
,
who’ll
fling
you
off
like
an
old
shoe
,
when
she’s
wore
you
out
.
I
tell
you
I
want
you
.
I’m
going
back
to
the
Vuneral
.
Will
you
come
back
?
Yes
or
no
?
”
“
I
daren’t
—
I
don’t
think
—
it
would
be
right
—
to
be
alone
—
with
you
,
sir
,
”
Becky
said
,
seemingly
in
great
agitation
.
“
I
say
agin
,
I
want
you
,
”
Sir
Pitt
said
,
thumping
the
table
.
“
I
can’t
git
on
without
you
.
I
didn’t
see
what
it
was
till
you
went
away
.
The
house
all
goes
wrong
.
It’s
not
the
same
place
.
All
my
accounts
has
got
muddled
agin
.
You
must
come
back
.
Do
come
back
.
Dear
Becky
,
do
come
back
.
”
“
Come
—
as
what
,
sir
?
”
Rebecca
gasped
out
.
“
Come
as
Lady
Crawley
,
if
you
like
,
”
the
Baronet
said
,
grasping
his
crape
hat
.
“
There
!
will
that
zatusfy
you
?
Come
back
and
be
my
wife
.
You’re
vit
vor’t
.
Birth
be
hanged
.
You’re
as
good
a
lady
as
ever
I
see
.
You’ve
got
more
brains
in
your
little
vinger
than
any
baronet’s
wife
in
the
county
.
Will
you
come
?
Yes
or
no
?
”
“
Oh
,
Sir
Pitt
!
”
Rebecca
said
,
very
much
moved
.
“
Say
yes
,
Becky
,
”
Sir
Pitt
continued
.
“
I’m
an
old
man
,
but
a
good’n
.
I’m
good
for
twenty
years
.
I’ll
make
you
happy
,
zee
if
I
don’t
.
You
shall
do
what
you
like
;
spend
what
you
like
;
and
’av
it
all
your
own
way
.
I’ll
make
you
a
zettlement
.
I’ll
do
everything
reglar
.
Look
year
!
”
and
the
old
man
fell
down
on
his
knees
and
leered
at
her
like
a
satyr
.
Rebecca
started
back
a
picture
of
consternation
.
In
the
course
of
this
history
we
have
never
seen
her
lose
her
presence
of
mind
;
but
she
did
now
,
and
wept
some
of
the
most
genuine
tears
that
ever
fell
from
her
eyes
.
“
Oh
,
Sir
Pitt
!
”
she
said
.
“
Oh
,
sir
—
I
—
I’m
married
already
.
”
XV
.
In
Which
Rebecca’s
Husband
Appears
for
a
Short
Time
EVERY
reader
of
a
sentimental
turn
(
and
we
desire
no
other
)
must
have
been
pleased
with
the
tableau
with
which
the
last
act
of
our
little
drama
concluded
;
for
what
can
be
prettier
than
an
image
of
Love
on
his
knees
before
Beauty
?
But
when
Love
heard
that
awful
confession
from
Beauty
that
she
was
married
already
,
he
bounced
up
from
his
attitude
of
humility
on
the
carpet
,
uttering
exclamations
which
caused
poor
little
Beauty
to
be
more
frightened
than
she
was
when
she
made
her
avowal
.
“
Married
;
you’re
joking
”
the
Baronet
cried
,
after
the
first
explosion
of
rage
and
wonder
.
“
You’re
making
vun
of
me
,
Becky
.
Who’d
ever
go
to
marry
you
without
a
shilling
to
your
vortune
?
”
“
Married
!
married
!
”
Rebecca
said
,
in
an
agony
of
tears
—
her
voice
choking
with
emotion
,
her
handkerchief
up
to
her
ready
eyes
,
fainting
against
the
mantel-piece
—
a
figure
of
woe
fit
to
melt
the
most
obdurate
heart
.
“
O
Sir
Pitt
,
dear
Sir
Pitt
,
do
not
think
me
ungrateful
for
all
your
goodness
to
me
.
It
is
only
your
generosity
that
has
extorted
my
secret
.
”
“
Generosity
be
hanged
!
”
Sir
Pitt
roared
out
.
“
Who
is
it
tu
,
then
,
you’re
married
?
Where
was
it
?
”
“
Let
me
come
back
with
you
to
the
country
,
sir
!
Let
me
watch
over
you
as
faithfully
as
ever
!
Don’t
,
don’t
separate
me
from
dear
Queen’s
Crawley
!
”
“
The
feller
has
left
you
,
has
he
?
”
the
Baronet
said
,
beginning
,
as
he
fancied
,
to
comprehend
.
“
Well
,
Becky
—
come
back
if
you
like
.
You
can’t
eat
your
cake
and
have
it
.
Any
ways
I
made
you
a
vair
offer
.
Coom
back
as
governess
—
you
shall
have
it
all
your
own
way
.
”
She
held
out
one
hand
.
She
cried
fit
to
break
her
heart
;
her
ringlets
fell
over
her
face
,
and
over
the
marble
mantel-piece
where
she
laid
it
.
“
So
the
rascal
ran
off
,
eh
?
”
Sir
Pitt
said
,
with
a
hideous
attempt
at
consolation
.
“
Never
mind
,
Becky
,
I’ll
take
care
of
’ee
.
”
“
O
sir
!
it
would
be
the
pride
of
my
life
to
go
back
to
Queen’s
Crawley
and
take
care
of
the
children
,
and
of
you
as
formerly
,
when
you
said
you
were
pleased
with
the
services
of
your
little
Rebecca
.
When
I
think
of
what
you
have
just
offered
me
,
my
heart
fills
with
gratitude
—
indeed
it
does
.
I
can’t
be
your
wife
,
sir
;
let
me
—
let
me
be
your
daughter
!
”
Saying
which
,
Rebecca
went
down
on
her
knees
in
a
most
tragical
way
,
and
,
taking
Sir
Pitt’s
horny
black
hand
between
her
own
two
(
which
were
very
pretty
and
white
,
and
as
soft
as
satin
)
,
looked
up
in
his
face
with
an
expression
of
exquisite
pathos
and
confidence
,
when
—
when
the
door
opened
,
and
Miss
Crawley
sailed
in
.
Mrs.
Firkin
and
Miss
Briggs
,
who
happened
by
chance
to
be
at
the
parlour
door
soon
after
the
Baronet
and
Rebecca
entered
the
apartment
,
had
also
seen
accidentally
,
through
the
key-hole
,
the
old
gentleman
prostrate
before
the
governess
,
and
had
heard
the
generous
proposal
which
he
made
her
.
It
was
scarcely
out
of
his
mouth
when
Mrs.
Firkin
and
Miss
Briggs
had
streamed
up
the
stairs
,
had
rushed
into
the
drawing-room
where
Miss
Crawley
was
reading
the
French
novel
,
and
had
given
that
old
lady
the
astounding
intelligence
that
Sir
Pitt
was
on
his
knees
,
proposing
to
Miss
Sharp
.
And
if
you
calculate
the
time
for
the
above
dialogue
to
take
place
—
the
time
for
Briggs
and
Firkin
to
fly
to
the
drawing-room
—
the
time
for
Miss
Crawley
to
be
astonished
,
and
to
drop
her
volume
of
Pigault
le
Brun
—
and
the
time
for
her
to
come
downstairs
—
you
will
see
how
exactly
accurate
this
history
is
,
and
how
Miss
Crawley
must
have
appeared
at
the
very
instant
when
Rebecca
had
assumed
the
attitude
of
humility
.
“
It
is
the
lady
on
the
ground
,
and
not
the
gentleman
,
”
Miss
Crawley
said
,
with
a
look
and
voice
of
great
scorn
.
“
They
told
me
that
you
were
on
your
knees
,
Sir
Pitt
:
do
kneel
once
more
,
and
let
me
see
this
pretty
couple
!
”
“
I
have
thanked
Sir
Pitt
Crawley
Ma’am
,
”
Rebecca
said
,
rising
,
“
and
have
told
him
that
—
that
I
never
can
become
Lady
Crawley
.
”
“
Refused
him
!
”
Miss
Crawley
said
more
bewildered
than
ever
.
Briggs
and
Firkin
at
the
door
opened
the
eyes
of
astonishment
and
the
lips
of
wonder
.
“
Yes
—
refused
,
”
Rebecca
continued
,
with
a
sad
,
tearful
voice
.
“
And
am
I
to
credit
my
ears
that
you
absolutely
proposed
to
her
,
Sir
Pitt
?
”
the
old
lady
asked
.
“
Ees
,
”
said
the
Baronet
,
“
I
did
.
”
“
And
she
refused
you
as
she
says
?
”
“
Ees
,
”
Sir
Pitt
said
,
his
features
on
a
broad
grin
.
“
It
does
not
seem
to
break
your
heart
at
any
rate
,
”
Miss
Crawley
remarked
.
“
Nawt
a
bit
,
”
answered
Sir
Pitt
,
with
a
coolness
and
good-humour
which
set
Miss
Crawley
almost
mad
with
bewilderment
.
That
an
old
gentleman
of
station
should
fall
on
his
knees
to
a
penniless
governess
,
and
burst
out
laughing
because
should
refuse
a
Baronet
with
four
thousand
a
year
,
—
these
were
mysteries
which
Miss
Crawley
could
never
comprehend
.
It
surpassed
any
complications
of
intrigue
in
her
favourite
Pigault
le
Brun
.
“
I’m
glad
you
think
it
good
sport
,
brother
,
”
she
continued
,
groping
wildly
through
this
amazement
.
“
Vamous
,
”
said
Sir
Pitt
.
“
Who’d
ha’
thought
it
!
what
a
sly
little
devil
!
what
a
little
fox
it
was
!
”
he
muttered
to
himself
,
chuckling
with
pleasure
.
“
Who’d
have
thought
what
?
”
cries
Miss
Crawley
,
stamping
her
foot
.
“
Pray
,
Miss
Sharp
,
are
you
waiting
for
the
Prince
Regent’s
divorce
,
that
you
don’t
think
our
family
good
enough
for
you
?
”
“
My
attitude
,
”
Rebecca
said
,
“
when
you
came
in
Ma’am
,
did
not
look
as
if
I
despised
such
an
honour
as
this
good
—
this
noble
man
has
deigned
to
offer
me
.
Do
you
think
I
have
no
heart
?
Have
you
all
loved
me
,
and
been
so
kind
to
the
poor
orphan
—
deserted
—
girl
,
and
am
I
to
feel
nothing
?
O
my
friends
!
O
my
benefactors
may
not
love
,
my
life
my
duty
,
try
to
repay
the
confidence
you
have
shown
me
?
Do
you
grudge
me
even
gratitude
,
Miss
Crawley
?
It
is
too
much
—
my
heart
is
too
full
;
”
and
she
sank
down
in
a
chair
so
pathetically
,
that
most
of
the
audience
present
were
perfectly
melted
with
her
sadness
.
“
Whether
you
marry
me
or
not
,
you’re
a
good
little
girl
,
Becky
,
and
I’m
your
vriend
,
mind
,
”
said
Sir
Pitt
,
and
putting
on
his
crape-bound
hat
,
he
walked
away
—
greatly
to
Rebecca’s
relief
;
for
it
was
evident
that
her
secret
was
unrevealed
to
Miss
Crawley
,
and
she
had
the
advantage
of
a
brief
reprieve
.
Putting
her
handkerchief
to
her
eyes
,
and
nodding
away
honest
Briggs
,
who
would
have
followed
her
upstairs
,
she
went
up
to
her
apartment
;
while
Briggs
and
Miss
Crawley
,
in
a
high
state
of
excitement
,
remained
to
discuss
the
strange
event
,
and
Firkin
,
no
less
moved
,
dived
down
into
the
kitchen
regions
,
and
talked
of
it
with
all
the
male
and
female
company
there
.
And
so
impressed
was
Mrs.
Firkin
with
the
news
,
that
she
thought
proper
to
write
off
by
that
very
night’s
post
,
“
with
her
humble
duty
to
Mrs.
Bute
Crawley
and
the
family
at
the
Rectory
,
and
Sir
Pitt
has
been
and
proposed
for
to
marry
Miss
Sharp
,
wherein
she
has
refused
him
,
to
the
wonder
of
all
.
”
The
two
ladies
in
the
dining-room
(
where
worthy
Miss
Briggs
was
delighted
to
be
admitted
once
more
to
a
confidential
conversation
with
her
patroness
)
wondered
to
their
hearts’
content
at
Sir
Pitt’s
offer
,
and
Rebecca’s
refusal
;
Briggs
very
acutely
suggesting
that
there
must
have
been
some
obstacle
in
the
shape
of
a
previous
attachment
,
otherwise
no
young
woman
in
her
senses
would
ever
have
refused
so
advantageous
a
proposal
.
“
You
would
have
accepted
it
yourself
,
wouldn’t
you
,
Briggs
?
”
Miss
Crawley
said
,
kindly
.
“
Would
it
not
be
a
privilege
to
be
Miss
Crawley’s
sister
?
”
Briggs
replied
,
with
meek
evasion
.
“
Well
,
Becky
would
have
made
a
good
Lady
Crawley
,
after
all
,
”
Miss
Crawley
remarked
(
who
was
mollified
by
the
girl’s
refusal
,
and
very
liberal
and
generous
now
there
was
no
call
for
her
sacrifices
)
.
“
She
has
brains
in
plenty
(
much
more
wit
in
her
little
finger
than
you
have
,
my
poor
dear
Briggs
,
in
all
your
head
)
.
Her
manners
are
excellent
,
now
I
have
formed
her
.
She
is
a
Montmorency
,
Briggs
,
and
blood
is
something
,
though
I
despise
it
for
my
part
;
and
she
would
have
held
her
own
amongst
those
pompous
stupid
Hampshire
people
much
better
than
that
unfortunate
ironmonger’s
daughter
.
”
Briggs
coincided
as
usual
,
and
the
“
previous
attachment
”
was
then
discussed
in
conjectures
.
“
You
poor
friendless
creatures
are
always
having
some
foolish
tendre
,
”
Miss
Crawley
said
.
“
You
yourself
,
you
know
,
were
in
love
with
a
writing-master
(
don’t
cry
,
Briggs
—
you’re
always
crying
,
and
it
won’t
bring
him
to
life
again
)
,
and
I
suppose
this
unfortunate
Becky
has
been
silly
and
sentimental
too
—
some
apothecary
,
or
house-steward
,
or
painter
,
or
young
curate
,
or
something
of
that
sort
.
”
“
Poor
thing
,
poor
thing
!
”
says
Briggs
(
who
was
thinking
of
twenty-four
years
back
,
and
that
hectic
young
writing-master
whose
lock
of
yellow
hair
,
and
whose
letters
,
beautiful
in
their
illegibility
,
she
cherished
in
her
old
desk
upstairs
)
.
“
Poor
thing
,
poor
thing
!
”
says
Briggs
.
Once
more
she
was
a
fresh-cheeked
lass
of
eighteen
;
she
was
at
evening
church
,
and
the
hectic
writing-master
and
she
were
quavering
out
of
the
same
psalm-book
.
“
After
such
conduct
on
Rebecca’s
part
,
”
Miss
Crawley
said
enthusiastically
,
“
our
family
should
do
something
.
Find
out
who
is
the
objet
,
Briggs
.
I’ll
set
him
up
in
a
shop
;
or
order
my
portrait
of
him
,
you
know
;
or
speak
to
my
cousin
,
the
Bishop
—
and
I’ll
doter
Becky
,
and
we’ll
have
a
wedding
,
Briggs
,
and
you
shall
make
the
breakfast
,
and
be
a
bridesmaid
.
”
Briggs
declared
that
it
would
be
delightful
,
and
vowed
that
her
dear
Miss
Crawley
was
always
kind
and
generous
,
and
went
up
to
Rebecca’s
bed-room
to
console
her
and
prattle
about
the
offer
,
and
the
refusal
,
and
the
cause
thereof
;
and
to
hint
at
the
generous
intentions
of
Miss
Crawley
,
and
to
find
out
who
was
the
gentleman
that
had
the
mastery
of
Miss
Sharp’s
heart
.
Rebecca
was
very
kind
,
very
affectionate
and
affected
—
responded
to
Brigg’s
offer
of
tenderness
with
grateful
fervour
—
owned
there
was
a
secret
attachment
—
a
delicious
mystery
—
what
a
pity
Miss
Briggs
had
not
remained
half
a
minute
longer
at
the
key-hole
!
Rebecca
might
,
perhaps
,
have
told
more
:
but
five
minutes
after
Miss
Briggs’s
arrival
in
Rebecca’s
apartment
,
Miss
Crawley
actually
made
her
appearance
there
—
an
unheard-of
honour
;
—
her
impatience
had
overcome
her
;
she
could
not
wait
for
the
tardy
operations
of
her
ambassadress
:
so
she
came
in
person
,
and
ordered
Briggs
out
of
the
room
.
And
expressing
her
approval
of
Rebecca’s
conduct
,
she
asked
particulars
of
the
interview
,
and
the
previous
transactions
which
had
brought
about
the
astonishing
offer
of
Sir
Pitt
.
Rebecca
said
she
had
long
had
some
notion
of
the
partiality
with
which
Sir
Pitt
honoured
her
,
(
for
he
was
in
the
habit
of
making
his
feelings
known
in
a
very
frank
and
unreserved
manner
,
)
but
,
not
to
mention
private
reasons
with
which
she
would
not
for
the
present
trouble
Miss
Crawley
,
Sir
Pitt’s
age
,
station
,
and
habits
were
such
as
to
render
a
marriage
quite
impossible
;
and
could
a
woman
with
any
feeling
of
self-respect
and
any
decency
listen
to
proposals
at
such
a
moment
,
when
the
funeral
of
the
lover’s
deceased
wife
had
not
actually
taken
place
?
“
Nonsense
,
my
dear
,
you
would
never
have
refused
him
had
there
not
been
some
one
else
in
the
case
,
”
Miss
Crawley
said
,
coming
to
her
point
at
once
.
“
Tell
me
the
private
reasons
;
what
are
the
private
reasons
?
There
is
some
one
;
who
is
it
that
has
touched
your
heart
?
”
Rebecca
cast
down
her
eyes
,
and
owned
there
was
.
“
You
have
guessed
right
,
dear
lady
,
”
she
said
,
with
a
sweet
simple
faltering
voice
.
“
You
wonder
at
one
so
poor
and
friendless
having
an
attachment
,
don’t
you
?
I
have
never
heard
that
poverty
was
any
safeguard
against
it
.
I
wish
it
were
.
”
“
My
poor
dear
child
,
”
cried
Miss
Crawley
,
who
was
always
quite
ready
to
be
sentimental
,
“
is
our
passion
unrequited
,
then
?
Are
we
pining
in
secret
?
Tell
me
all
,
and
let
me
console
you
.
”
“
I
wish
you
could
,
dear
Madam
,
”
Rebecca
said
in
the
same
tearful
tone
.
“
Indeed
,
indeed
,
I
need
it
.
”
And
she
laid
her
head
upon
Miss
Crawley’s
shoulder
and
wept
there
so
naturally
that
the
old
lady
,
surprised
into
sympathy
,
embraced
her
with
an
almost
maternal
kindness
,
uttered
many
soothing
protests
of
regard
and
affection
for
her
,
vowed
that
she
loved
her
as
a
daughter
,
and
would
do
everything
in
her
power
to
serve
her
.
“
And
now
,
who
is
it
,
my
dear
?
Is
it
that
pretty
Miss
Sedley’s
brother
?
You
said
something
about
an
affair
with
him
.
I’ll
ask
him
here
,
my
dear
.
And
you
shall
have
him
:
indeed
you
shall
.
”
“
Don’t
ask
me
now
,
”
Rebecca
said
.
“
You
shall
know
all
soon
.
Indeed
you
shall
.
Dear
kind
Miss
Crawley
—
Dear
friend
,
may
I
say
so
?
”
“
That
you
may
,
my
child
,
”
the
old
lady
replied
,
kissing
her
.
“
I
can’t
tell
you
now
,
”
sobbed
out
Rebecca
,
“
I
am
very
miserable
.
But
O
!
love
me
always
—
promise
you
will
love
me
always
.
”
And
in
the
midst
of
mutual
tears
—
for
the
emotions
of
the
younger
woman
had
awakened
the
sympathies
of
the
elder
—
this
promise
was
solemnly
given
by
Miss
Crawley
,
who
left
her
little
protégée
,
blessing
and
admiring
her
as
a
dear
,
artless
,
tender-hearted
,
affectionate
,
incomprehensible
creature
.
And
now
she
was
left
alone
to
think
over
the
sudden
and
wonderful
events
of
the
day
,
and
of
what
had
been
and
what
might
have
been
.
What
think
you
were
the
private
feelings
of
Miss
,
no
(
begging
her
pardon
)
of
Mrs.
Rebecca
?
If
,
a
few
pages
back
,
the
present
writer
claimed
the
privilege
of
peeping
into
Miss
Amelia
Sedley’s
bedroom
,
and
understanding
with
the
omniscience
of
the
novelist
all
the
gentle
pains
and
passions
which
were
tossing
upon
that
innocent
pillow
,
why
should
he
not
declare
himself
to
be
Rebecca’s
confidante
too
,
master
of
her
secrets
,
and
seal-keeper
of
that
young
woman’s
conscience
?
Well
,
then
,
in
the
first
place
,
Rebecca
gave
way
to
some
very
sincere
and
touching
regrets
that
a
piece
of
marvellous
good
fortune
should
have
been
so
near
her
,
and
she
actually
obliged
to
decline
it
.
In
this
natural
emotion
every
properly
regulated
mind
will
certainly
share
.
What
good
mother
is
there
that
would
not
commiserate
a
penniless
spinster
,
who
might
have
been
my
lady
,
and
have
shared
four
thousand
a
year
?
What
well-bred
young
person
is
there
in
all
Vanity
Fair
,
who
will
not
feel
for
a
hard
working
,
ingenious
,
meritorious
girl
,
who
gets
such
an
honourable
,
advantageous
,
provoking
offer
,
just
at
the
very
moment
when
it
is
out
of
her
power
to
accept
it
?
I
am
sure
our
friend
Becky’s
disappointment
deserves
and
will
command
