“Areyouallheretoinsultme？”criedBeckyinafury；
　　“whenColonelCrawleycomeshomeI’ll——“
　　Atthistheservantsburstintoahorsehaw-haw，inwhich，however，Raggles，whostillkeptamostmelancholycountenance，didnotjoin。”Heain’tacomingback。”
　　Mr。Trotterresumed。”Hesentforhisthings，andI
　　wouldn’tlet’emgo，althoughMr。Raggleswould；andI
　　don’tb’lievehe’snomoreaColonelthanIam。He’shoff，andIsupposeyou’reagoin’afterhim。You’renobetterthanswindlers，bothonyou。Don’tbeabullyin’
　　ME。Iwon’tstandit。Payusourselleries，Isay。Payusourselleries。”Itwasevident，fromMr。Trotter’sflushedcountenanceanddefectiveintonation，thathe，too，hadhadrecoursetovinousstimulus。
　　“Mr。Raggles。”saidBeckyinapassionofvexation。”youwillnotsurelyletmebeinsultedbythatdrunkenman？”“Holdyournoise，Trotter；donow。”saidSimpsonthepage。Hewasaffectedbyhismistress’sdeplorablesituation，andsucceededinpreventinganoutrageousdenialoftheepithet“drunken“onthefootman’spart。
　　“Oh，M’am。”saidRaggles，“Ineverthoughttolivetoseethisyearday：I’veknowntheCrawleyfamilyeversinceIwasborn。IlivedbutlerwithMissCrawleyforthirtyyears；andIlittlethoughtoneofthatfamilywasagoin’toruingme——yes，ruingme“——saidthepoorfellowwithtearsinhiseyes。”Haryouagoin’topayme？You’velivedinthis’ousefouryear。You’ve’admysubstance：
　　myplateandlinning。Youhomeamilkandbutterbilloftwo’undredpound，youmust’avenoolaidheggsforyourhomlets，andcreamforyourspanildog。”
　　“Shedidn’tcarewhatherownfleshandbloodhad。”
　　interposedthecook。”Many’sthetime，he’dhavestarvedbutforme。”
　　“He’sacharaty-boynow，Cooky。”saidMr。Trotter，withadrunken“ha！ha！”——andhonestRagglescontinued，inalamentabletone，anenumerationofhisgriefs。Allhesaidwastrue。Beckyandherhusbandhadruinedhim。
　　Hehadbillscomingduenextweekandnomeanstomeetthem。Hewouldbesoldupandturnedoutofhisshopandhishouse，becausehehadtrustedtotheCrawleyfamily。HistearsandlamentationsmadeBeckymorepeevishthanever。
　　“Youallseemtobeagainstme。”shesaidbitterly。
　　“Whatdoyouwant？Ican’tpayyouonSunday。Comebackto-morrowandI’llpayyoueverything。IthoughtColonelCrawleyhadsettledwithyou。Hewillto-morrow。
　　Ideclaretoyouuponmyhonourthathelefthomethismorningwithfifteenhundredpoundsinhispocket-book。
　　Hehasleftmenothing。Applytohim。Givemeabonnetandshawlandletmegooutandfindhim。Therewasadifferencebetweenusthismorning。Youallseemtoknowit。Ipromiseyouuponmywordthatyoushallallbepaid。Hehasgotagoodappointment。Letmegooutandfindhim。’’
　　ThisaudaciousstatementcausedRagglesandtheotherpersonagespresenttolookatoneanotherwithawildsurprise，andwithitRebeccaleftthem。ShewentupstairsanddressedherselfthistimewithouttheaidofherFrenchmaid。ShewentintoRawdon’sroom，andtheresawthatatrunkandbagwerepackedreadyforremoval，withapencildirectionthattheyshouldbegivenwhencalledfor；thenshewentintotheFrenchwoman’sgarret；
　　everythingwasclean，andallthedrawersemptiedthere。
　　Shebethoughtherselfofthetrinketswhichhadbeenleftonthegroundandfeltcertainthatthewomanhadfled。
　　“GoodHeavens！waseversuchillluckasmine？”shesaid；“tobesonear，andtoloseall。Isitalltoolate？”
　　No；therewasonechancemore。
　　Shedressedherselfandwentawayunmolestedthistime，butalone。Itwasfouro’clock。Shewentswiftlydownthestreetsshehadnomoneytopayforacarriage，andneverstoppeduntilshecametoSirPittCrawley’sdoor，inGreatGauntStreet。WherewasLadyJaneCrawley？Shewasatchurch。Beckywasnotsorry。
　　SirPittwasinhisstudy，andhadgivenordersnottobedisturbed——shemustseehim——sheslippedbythesentinelinliveryatonce，andwasinSirPitt’sroombeforetheastonishedBaronethadevenlaiddownthepaper。
　　Heturnedredandstartedbackfromherwithalookofgreatalarmandhorror。
　　“Donotlookso。”shesaid。”Iamnotguilty，Pitt，dearPitt；youweremyfriendonce。BeforeGod，Iamnotguilty。Iseemso。Everythingisagainstme。Andoh！atsuchamoment！justwhenallmyhopeswereabouttoberealized：justwhenhappinesswasinstoreforus。”
　　“Isthistrue，whatIseeinthepaperthen？”SirPittsaid——aparagraphinwhichhadgreatlysurprisedhim。
　　“Itistrue。LordSteynetoldmeonFridaynight，thenightofthatfatalball。Hehasbeenpromisedanappointmentanytimethesesixmonths。Mr。Martyr，theColonialSecretary，toldhimyesterdaythatitwasmadeout。
　　Thatunluckyarrestensued；thathorriblemeeting。IwasonlyguiltyoftoomuchdevotednesstoRawdon’sservice。I
　　havereceivedLordSteynealoneahundredtimesbefore。
　　IconfessIhadmoneyofwhichRawdonknewnothing。
　　Don’tyouknowhowcarelessheisofit，andcouldIdaretoconfideittohim？”Andsoshewentonwithaperfectlyconnectedstory，whichshepouredintotheearsofherperplexedkinsman。
　　Itwastothefollowingeffect。Beckyowned，andwithprefectfrankness，butdeepcontrition，thathavingremarkedLordSteyne’spartialityforheratthementionofwhichPittblushed，andbeingsecureofherownvirtue，shehaddeterminedtoturnthegreatpeer’sattachmenttotheadvantageofherselfandherfamily。”I
　　lookedforapeerageforyou，Pitt。”shesaidthebrother-
　　in-lawagainturnedred。”Wehavetalkedaboutit。YourgeniusandLordSteyne’sinterestmadeitmorethanprobable，hadnotthisdreadfulcalamitycometoputanendtoallourhopes。But，first，Iownthatitwasmyobjecttorescuemydearhusband——himwhomIloveinspiteofallhisillusageandsuspicionsofme——toremovehimfromthepovertyandruinwhichwasimpendingoverus。IsawLordSteyne’spartialityforme。”shesaid，castingdownhereyes。”IownthatIdideverythinginmypowertomakemyselfpleasingtohim，andasfarasanhonestwomanmay，tosecurehis——hisesteem。ItwasonlyonFridaymorningthatthenewsarrivedofthedeathoftheGovernorofCoventryIsland，andmyLordinstantlysecuredtheappointmentformydearhusband。
　　Itwasintendedasasurpriseforhim——hewastoseeitinthepapersto-day。EvenafterthathorridarresttookplacetheexpensesofwhichLordSteynegenerouslysaidhewouldsettle，sothatIwasinamannerpreventedfromcomingtomyhusband’sassistance，myLordwaslaughingwithme，andsayingthatmydearestRawdonwouldbeconsoledwhenhereadofhisappointmentinthepaper，inthatshockingspun——bailiff’shouse。Andthen——thenhecamehome。Hissuspicionswereexcited，——thedreadfulscenetookplacebetweenmyLordandmycruel，cruelRawdon——and，OmyGod，whatwillhappennext？Pitt，dearPitt！pityme，andreconcileus！”
　　Andasshespokesheflungherselfdownonherknees，andburstingintotears，seizedholdofPitt’shand，whichshekissedpassionately。
　　ItwasinthisveryattitudethatLadyJane，who，returningfromchurch，rantoherhusband’sroomdirectlysheheardMrs。RawdonCrawleywasclosetedthere，foundtheBaronetandhissister-in-law。
　　“Iamsurprisedthatwomanhastheaudacitytoenterthishouse。”LadyJanesaid，tremblingineverylimbandturningquitepale。HerLadyshiphadsentouthermaiddirectlyafterbreakfast，whohadcommunicatedwithRagglesandRawdonCrawley’shousehold，whohadtoldherall，andagreatdealmorethantheyknew，ofthatstory，andmanyothersbesides。”HowdareMrs。
　　Crawleytoenterthehouseof——ofanhonestfamily？”
　　SirPittstartedback，amazedathiswife’sdisplayofvigour。BeckystillkeptherkneelingpostureandclungtoSirPitt’shand。
　　“Tellherthatshedoesnotknowall：TellherthatI
　　aminnocent，dearPitt。”shewhimperedout。
　　“Upon-myword，mylove，IthinkyoudoMrs。Crawleyinjustice。”SirPittsaid；atwhichspeechRebeccawasvastlyrelieved。”IndeedIbelievehertobe——“
　　“Tobewhat？”criedoutLadyJane，herclearvoicethrillingand，herheartbeatingviolentlyasshespoke。
　　“Tobeawickedwoman——aheartlessmother，afalsewife？Sheneverlovedherdearlittleboy，whousedtoflyhereandtellmeofhercrueltytohim。Shenevercameintoafamilybutshestrovetobringmiserywithherandtoweakenthemostsacredaffectionswithherwickedflatteryandfalsehoods。Shehasdeceivedherhusband，asshehasdeceivedeverybody；hersoulisblackwithvanity，worldliness，andallsortsofcrime。ItremblewhenItouchher。Ikeepmychildrenoutofhersight。
　　“LadyJane！”criedSirPitt，startingup，“thisisreallylanguage——“
　　“Ihavebeenatrueandfaithfulwifetoyou，SirPitt。”LadyJanecontinued，intrepidly；“IhavekeptmymarriagevowasImadeittoGodandhavebeenobedientandgentleasawifeshould。Butrighteousobediencehasitslimits，andIdeclarethatIwillnotbearthat——thatwomanagainundermyroof；ifsheentersit，Iandmychildrenwillleaveit。SheisnotworthytositdownwithChristianpeople。You——youmustchoose，sir，betweenherandme“；andwiththismyLadysweptoutoftheroom，flutteringwithherownaudacity，andleavingRebeccaandSirPittnotalittleastonishedatit。
　　AsforBecky，shewasnothurt；nay，shewaspleased。
　　“Itwasthediamond-claspyougaveme。”shesaidtoSirPitt，reachinghimoutherhand；andbeforeshelefthimforwhicheventyoumaybesuremyLadyJanewaslookingoutfromherdressing-roomwindowintheupperstorytheBaronethadpromisedtogoandseekouthisbrother，andendeavourtobringaboutareconciliation。
　　Rawdonfoundsomeoftheyoungfellowsoftheregimentseatedinthemess-roomatbreakfast，andwasinducedwithoutmuchdifficultytopartakeofthatmeal，andofthedevilledlegsoffowlsandsoda-waterwithwhichtheseyounggentlemenfortifiedthemselves。Thentheyhadaconversationbefittingthedayandtheirtimeoflife：aboutthenextpigeon-matchatBattersea，withrelativebetsuponRossandOsbaldiston；aboutMademoiselleArianeoftheFrenchOpera，andwhohadlefther，andhowshewasconsoledbyPantherCarr；andaboutthefightbetweentheButcherandthePet，andtheprobabilitiesthatitwasacross。YoungTandyman，aheroofseventeen，laboriouslyendeavouringtogetupapairofmustachios，hadseenthefight，andspokeinthemostscientificmanneraboutthebattleandtheconditionofthemen。ItwashewhohaddriventheButcherontothegroundinhisdragandpassedthewholeofthepreviousnightwithhim。Hadtherenotbeenfoulplayhemusthavewonit。AlltheoldfilesoftheRingwereinit；andTandymanwouldn’tpay；no，dammy，hewouldn’tpay。ItwasbutayearsincetheyoungCornet，nowsoknowingahandinCribb’sparlour，hadastilllingeringlikingfortoffy，andusedtobebirchedatEton。
　　Sotheywentontalkingaboutdancers，fights，drinking，demireps，untilMacmurdocamedownandjoinedtheboysandtheconversation。Hedidnotappeartothinkthatanyespecialreverencewasduetotheirboyhood；
　　theoldfellowcutinwithstories，tothefullaschoiceasanytheyoungestrakepresenthadtotell——nordidhisowngreyhairsnortheirsmoothfacesdetainhim。OldMacwasfamousforhisgoodstories。Hewasnotexactlyalady’sman；thatis，menaskedhimtodineratheratthehousesoftheirmistressesthanoftheirmothers。
　　Therecanscarcelybealifelower，perhaps，thanhis，buthewasquitecontentedwithit，suchasitwas，andleditinperfectgoodnature，simplicity，andmodestyofdemeanour。
　　BythetimeMachadfinishedacopiousbreakfast，mostoftheothershadconcludedtheirmeal。YoungLordVarinaswassmokinganimmenseMeerschaumpipe，whileCaptainHugueswasemployedwithacigar：thatviolentlittledevilTandyman，withhislittlebull-terrierbetweenhislegs，wastossingforshillingswithallhismightthatfellowwasalwaysatsomegameorother
　　againstCaptainDeuceace；andMacandRawdonwalkedofftotheClub，neither，ofcourse，havinggivenanyhintofthebusinesswhichwasoccupyingtheirminds。Both，ontheotherhand，hadjoinedprettygailyintheconversation，forwhyshouldtheyinterruptit？Feasting，drinking，ribaldry，laughter，goonalongsideofallsortsofotheroccupationsinVanityFair——thecrowdswerepouringoutofchurchasRawdonandhisfriendpasseddownSt。James’sStreetandenteredintotheirClub。
　　Theoldbucksandhabitues，whoordinarilystandgapingandgrinningoutofthegreatfrontwindowoftheClub，hadnotarrivedattheirpostsasyet——thenewspaper-roomwasalmostempty。OnemanwaspresentwhomRawdondidnotknow；anothertowhomheowedalittlescoreforwhist，andwhom，inconsequence，hedidnotcaretomeet；athirdwasreadingtheRoyalistaperiodicalfamousforitsscandalanditsattachmenttoChurchandKingSundaypaperatthetable，andlookingupatCrawleywithsomeinterest，said，“Crawley，Icongratulateyou。”
　　“Whatdoyoumean？”saidtheColonel。
　　“It’sintheObserverandtheRoyalisttoo。”saidMr。
　　Smith。
　　“What？”Rawdoncried，turningveryred。HethoughtthattheaffairwithLordSteynewasalreadyinthepublicprints。SmithlookedupwonderingandsmilingattheagitationwhichtheColonelexhibitedashetookupthepaperand，trembling，begantoread。
　　Mr。SmithandMr。Brownthegentlemanwith。whomRawdonhadtheoutstandingwhistaccounthadbeentalkingabouttheColoneljustbeforehecamein。
　　“Itiscomejustinthenickoftime。”saidSmith。”I
　　supposeCrawleyhadnotashillingintheworld。”
　　“It’sawindthatblowseverybodygood。”Mr。Brownsaid。”Hecan’tgoawaywithoutpayingmeaponyheowesme。”
　　“What’sthesalary？”askedSmith。
　　“Twoorthreethousand。”answeredtheother。”Buttheclimate’ssoinfernal，theydon’tenjoyitlong。
　　Liverseegediedaftereighteenmonthsofit，andthemanbeforewentoffinsixweeks，Ihear。”
　　“Somepeoplesayhisbrotherisaverycleverman。I
　　alwaysfoundhimad——bore。”Smithejaculated。”Hemusthavegoodinterest，though。HemusthavegottheColoneltheplace。”
　　“He！”saidBrown。withasneer。”Pooh。ItwasLordSteynegotit。
　　“Howdoyoumean？”
　　“Avirtuouswomanisacrowntoherhusband。”
　　answeredtheotherenigmatically，andwenttoreadhispapers。
　　Rawdon，forhispart，readintheRoyalistthefollowingastonishingparagraph：