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。
CHAPTER LI
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 herdoors 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 entree。
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 Semelea 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 Belgraviansher 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 itmoi qui vous parle；
I peopled the chamber with ghosts of the mighty dead。
As we sat 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 sat 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 beg： 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 itdon't spare it。 Another glass of wine；
Jones； my boya 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 likewisefor 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 sang after dinner to a very little comite。
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 Jabotiere； 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 Perigord family） and
Champignac； both attaches 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 ecarte； 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 questionsuch 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
prematurelyglory 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 humbug；
so an uninitiated man cannot take upon himself to
portray the gre