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 capitalized 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
anybodypeople 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 payif 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 civilization 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 horsesall 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 unhangedbut 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 flourishescivilization 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 dramasand we must take
leave to introduce the reader to this brilliant reunion；
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 ornamentgaunt；
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； whenwhen 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 outa 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 oneand； 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 andron
is asleep in his chamber at Argos。 A lamp casts the
broad shadow of the