Blue Books； to the alarm and wonder of Lady Jane； who
thought he was killing himself by late hours and intense
application。 And he made acquaintance with the ministers；
and the chiefs of his party； determining to rank as
one of them before many years were over。
Lady Jane's sweetness and kindness had inspired
Rebecca with such a contempt for her ladyship as the little
woman found no small difficulty in concealing。 That sort
of goodness and simplicity which Lady Jane possessed
annoyed our friend Becky； and it was impossible for her at
times not to show； or to let the other divine； her scorn。
Her presence； too； rendered Lady Jane uneasy。 Her
husband talked constantly with Becky。 Signs of intelligence
seemed to pass between them； and Pitt spoke with her on
subjects on which he never thought of discoursing with
Lady Jane。 The latter did not understand them； to be sure；
but it was mortifying to remain silent； still more
mortifying to know that you had nothing to say； and hear that
little audacious Mrs。 Rawdon dashing on from subject to
subject； with a word for every man； and a joke always pat；
and to sit in one's own house alone； by the fireside； and
watching all the men round your rival。
In the country； when Lady Jane was telling stories to
the children； who clustered about her knees （little
Rawdon into the bargain； who was very fond of her）； and
Becky came into the room； sneering with green scornful
eyes； poor Lady Jane grew silent under those baleful
glances。 Her simple little fancies shrank away tremulously；
as fairies in the story…books； before a superior bad
angel。 She could not go on； although Rebecca； with the
smallest inflection of sarcasm in her voice； besought her
to continue that charming story。 And on her side gentle
thoughts and simple pleasures were odious to Mrs。 Becky；
they discorded with her； she hated people for liking them；
she spurned children and children…lovers。 〃I have no
taste for bread and butter；〃 she would say； when
caricaturing Lady Jane and her ways to my Lord Steyne。
〃No more has a certain person for holy water；〃 his
lordship replied with a bow and a grin and a great jarring
laugh afterwards。
So these two ladies did not see much of each other
except upon those occasions when the younger brother's
wife； having an object to gain from the other； frequented
her。 They my…loved and my…deared each other assiduously；
but kept apart generally； whereas Sir Pitt； in the
midst of his multiplied avocations； found daily time to
see his sister…in…law。
On the occasion of his first Speaker's dinner； Sir Pitt
took the opportunity of appearing before his sister…in…law
in his uniformthat old diplomatic suit which he had
worn when attache to the Pumpernickel legation。
Becky complimented him upon that dress and admired
him almost as much as his own wife and children； to
whom he displayed himself before he set out。 She said
that it was only the thoroughbred gentleman who could
wear the Court suit with advantage： it was only your men
of ancient race whom the culotte courte became。 Pitt
looked down with complacency at his legs； which had not；
in truth； much more symmetry or swell than the lean
Court sword which dangled by his sidelooked down
at his legs； and thought in his heart that he was killing。
When he was gone； Mrs。 Becky made a caricature
of his figure； which she showed to Lord Steyne when he
arrived。 His lordship carried off the sketch； delighted
with the accuracy of the resemblance。 He had done Sir
Pitt Crawley the honour to meet him at Mrs。 Becky's
house and had been most gracious to the new Baronet
and member。 Pitt was struck too by the deference with
which the great Peer treated his sister…in…law； by her ease
and sprightliness in the conversation； and by the delight
with which the other men of the party listened to her talk。
Lord Steyne made no doubt but that the Baronet had
only commenced his career in public life； and expected
rather anxiously to hear him as an orator； as they were
neighbours （for Great Gaunt Street leads into Gaunt
Square； whereof Gaunt House； as everybody knows； forms
one side） my lord hoped that as soon as Lady Steyne
arrived in London she would have the honour of making
the acquaintance of Lady Crawley。 He left a card upon
his neighbour in the course of a day or two； having never
thought fit to notice his predecessor； though they had
lived near each other for near a century past。
In the midst of these intrigues and fine parties and
wise and brilliant personages Rawdon felt himself more
and more isolated every day。 He was allowed to go to
the club more； to dine abroad with bachelor friends；
to come and go when he liked； without any questions
being asked。 And he and Rawdon the younger many a
time would walk to Gaunt Street and sit with the lady
and the children there while Sir Pitt was closeted with
Rebecca； on his way to the House； or on his return
from it。
The ex…Colonel would sit for hours in his brother's
house very silent； and thinking and doing as little as
possible。 He was glad to be employed of an errand； to
go and make inquiries about a horse or a servant； or to
carve the roast mutton for the dinner of the children。
He was beat and cowed into laziness and submission。
Delilah had imprisoned him and cut his hair off； too。 The
bold and reckless young blood of ten…years back was
subjugated and was turned into a torpid； submissive；
middle…aged； stout gentleman。
And poor Lady Jane was aware that Rebecca had
captivated her husband； although she and Mrs。 Rawdon
my…deared and my…loved each other every day they met。
CHAPTER XLVI
Struggles and Trials
Our friends at Brompton were meanwhile passing their
Christmas after their fashion and in a manner by no
means too cheerful。
Out of the hundred pounds a year； which was about
the amount of her income； the Widow Osborne had been
in the habit of giving up nearly three…fourths to her
father and mother； for the expenses of herself and her
little boy。 With #120 more； supplied by Jos； this family
of four people； attended by a single Irish servant who
also did for Clapp and his wife； might manage to live
in decent comfort through the year； and hold up their
heads yet； and be able to give a friend a dish of tea still；
after the storms and disappointments of their early life。
Sedley still maintained his ascendency over the family of
Mr。 Clapp； his ex…clerk。 Clapp remembered the time
when； sitting on the edge of the chair； he tossed off a
bumper to the health of 〃Mrs。 S； Miss Emmy； and
Mr。 Joseph in India；〃 at the merchant's rich table in
Russell Square。 Time magnified the splendour of those
recollections in the honest clerk's bosom。 Whenever he came
up from the kitchen…parlour to the drawing…room and
partook of tea or gin…and…water with Mr。 Sedley； he
would say； 〃This was not what you was accustomed to
once； sir；〃 and as gravely and reverentially drink the
health of the ladies as he had done in the days of their
utmost prosperity。 He thought Miss 'Melia's playing the
divinest music ever performed； and her the finest lady。
He never would sit down before Sedley at the club even；
nor would he have that gentleman's character abused by
any member of the society。 He had seen the first men in
London shaking hands with Mr。 S； he said； 〃He'd
known him in times when Rothschild might be seen on
'Change with him any day； and he owed him personally
everythink。〃
Clapp； with the best of characters and handwritings；
had been able very soon after his master's disaster to find
other employment for himself。 〃Such a little fish as me
can swim in any bucket；〃 he used to remark； and a
member of the house from which old Sedley had seceded was
very glad to make use of Mr。 Clapp's services and to
reward them with a comfortable salary。 In fine； all Sedley's
wealthy friends had dropped off one by one； and this
poor ex…dependent still remained faithfully attached to
him。
Out of the small residue of her income which Amelia
kept back for herself； the widow had need of all the
thrift and care possible in order to enable her to keep
her darling boy dressed in such a manner as became
George Osborne's son； and to defray the expenses of the
little school to which； after much misgiving and
reluctance and many secret pangs and fears on her own
part； she had been induced to send the lad。 She had sat up
of nights conning lessons and spelling over crabbed
grammars and geography books in order to teach them to
Georgy。 She had worked even at the Latin accidence；
fondly hoping that she might be capable of instructing
him in that language。 To part with him all day； to send
him out to the mercy of a schoolmaster's cane and his
schoolfellows' roughness； was almost like weaning him
over again to that weak mother； so tremulous and full of
sensibility。 He； for his part； rushed off to the school with
the utmost happiness。 He was longing for the change。
That childish gladness wounded his mother； who was
herself so grieved to part with him。 She would rather have
had him more sorry； she thought； and then was deeply
repentant within herself for daring to be so selfish as to
wish her own son to be unhappy。
Georgy made great progress in the school； which was
kept by a friend of his mother's constant admirer； the
Rev。 Mr。 Binny。 He brought home numberless prizes and
testimonials of ability。 He told his mother countless stories
every night about his school…companions： and what a
fine fellow Lyons was； and what a sneak Sniffin was； and
how Steel's father actually supplied the meat for the
establishment； whereas Golding's mother came in a
carriage to fetch him every Saturday； and how Neat had
straps to his trowsersmight he have straps？and how
Bull Major was so strong （though only in Eutropius） that
it was believed he could lick the Usher； Mr。 Ward；
himself。 So Amelia learned to know every one of the boys
in that school as well as Georgy himself； and of nights
she used to help him in his exercises and puzzle her little
head over his lessons as eagerly as if she was herself
going in the morning into the presence of the master。
Once； after a certain combat with Master Smith； George
came home t