gentleman。 It never entered into the head of Mrs。
Crawley's patron that the little lady might be making a
purse for herself； and； perhaps； if the truth must be told；
he judged of Colonel Crawley by his experience of other
husbands； whom he had known in the course of the long
and well…spent life which had made him acquainted with
a great deal of the weakness of mankind。 My lord had
bought so many men during his life that he was surely
to be pardoned for supposing that he had found the price
of this one。
He taxed Becky upon the point on the very first occasion
when he met her alone； and he complimented her；
good…humouredly； on her cleverness in getting more than
the money which she required。 Becky was only a little
taken aback。 It was not the habit of this dear creature
to tell falsehoods； except when necessity compelled； but
in these great emergencies it was her practice to lie very
freely； and in an instant she was ready with another neat
plausible circumstantial story which she administered to
her patron。 The previous statement which she had made
to him was a falsehooda wicked falsehoodshe
owned it。 But who had made her tell it？ 〃Ah； my Lord；〃
she said； 〃you don't know all I have to suffer and bear
in silence； you see me gay and happy before youyou
little know what I have to endure when there is no
protector near me。 It was my husband； by threats and
the most savage treatment； forced me to ask for that
sum about which I deceived you。 It was he who；
foreseeing that questions might be asked regarding the
disposal of the money； forced me to account for it as I
did。 He took the money。 He told me he had paid Miss
Briggs； I did not want； I did not dare to doubt him。
Pardon the wrong which a desperate man is forced to
commit； and pity a miserable； miserable woman。〃 She
burst into tears as she spoke。 Persecuted virtue never
looked more bewitchingly wretched。
They had a long conversation； driving round and round
the Regent's Park in Mrs。 Crawley's carriage together；
a conversation of which it is not necessary to repeat
the details； but the upshot of it was that； when Becky
came home； she flew to her dear Briggs with a smiling
face and announced that she had some very good news
for her。 Lord Steyne had acted in the noblest and most
generous manner。 He was always thinking how and when
he could do good。 Now that little Rawdon was gone to
school； a dear companion and friend was no longer
necessary to her。 She was grieved beyond measure to part
with Briggs； but her means required that she should
practise every retrenchment； and her sorrow was
mitigated by the idea that her dear Briggs would be far
better provided for by her generous patron than in her
humble home。 Mrs。 Pilkington； the housekeeper at Gauntly
Hall； was growing exceedingly old； feeble； and rheumatic：
she was not equal to the work of superintending
that vast mansion； and must be on the look out for a
successor。 It was a splendid position。 The family did not
go to Gauntly once in two years。 At other times the
housekeeper was the mistress of the magnificent
mansionhad four covers daily for her table； was visited by
the clergy and the most respectable people of the county
was the lady of Gauntly； in fact； and the two last
housekeepers before Mrs。 Pilkington had married rectors
of Gauntlybut Mrs。 P。 could not； being the aunt of
the present Rector。 The place was not to be hers yet；
but she might go down on a visit to Mrs。 Pilkington and
see whether she would like to succeed her。
What words can paint the ecstatic gratitude of Briggs！
All she stipulated for was that little Rawdon should be
allowed to come down and see her at the Hall。 Becky
promised thisanything。 She ran up to her husband when
he came home and told him the joyful news。 Rawdon
was glad； deuced glad； the weight was off his conscience
about poor Briggs's money。 She was provided for； at any
rate； butbut his mind was disquiet。 He did not seem
to be all right； somehow。 He told little Southdown what
Lord Steyne had done； and the young man eyed Crawley
with an air which surprised the latter。
He told Lady Jane of this second proof of Steyne's
bounty； and she； too； looked odd and alarmed； so did
Sir Pitt。 〃She is too clever andand gay to be allowed
to go from party to party without a companion；〃 both
said。 〃You must go with her； Rawdon； wherever she
goes； and you must have somebody with herone of the
girls from Queen's Crawley； perhaps； though they were
rather giddy guardians for her。〃
Somebody Becky should have。 But in the meantime
it was clear that honest Briggs must not lose her chance
of settlement for life； and so she and her bags were
packed； and she set off on her journey。 And so two of
Rawdon's out…sentinels were in the hands of the enemy。
Sir Pitt went and expostulated with his sister…in…law
upon the subject of the dismissal of Briggs and other
matters of delicate family interest。 In vain she pointed
out to him how necessary was the protection of Lord
Steyne for her poor husband； how cruel it would be on
their part to deprive Briggs of the position offered to her。
Cajolements； coaxings； smiles； tears could not satisfy Sir
Pitt； and he had something very like a quarrel with his
once admired Becky。 He spoke of the honour of the
family； the unsullied reputation of the Crawleys；
expressed himself in indignant tones about her receiving
those young Frenchmenthose wild young men of fashion；
my Lord Steyne himself； whose carriage was always
at her door； who passed hours daily in her company；
and whose constant presence made the world talk about
her。 As the head of the house he implored her to be
more prudent。 Society was already speaking lightly of
her。 Lord Steyne； though a nobleman of the greatest
station and talents； was a man whose attentions would
compromise any woman； he besought； he implored； he
commanded his sister…in…law to be watchful in her
intercourse with that nobleman。
Becky promised anything and everything Pitt wanted；
but Lord Steyne came to her house as often as ever；
and Sir Pitt's anger increased。 I wonder was Lady Jane
angry or pleased that her husband at last found fault
with his favourite Rebecca？ Lord Steyne's visits
continuing； his own ceased； and his wife was for refusing
all further intercourse with that nobleman and declining
the invitation to the charade…night which the marchioness
sent to her； but Sir Pitt thought it was necessary to
accept it； as his Royal Highness would be there。
Although he went to the party in question； Sir Pitt
quitted it very early； and his wife； too； was very glad
to come away。 Becky hardly so much as spoke to him or
noticed her sister…in…law。 Pitt Crawley declared her
behaviour was monstrously indecorous； reprobated in
strong terms the habit of play…acting and fancy dressing
as highly unbecoming a British female； and after the
charades were over； took his brother Rawdon severely
to task for appearing himself and allowing his wife to
join in such improper exhibitions。
Rawdon said she should not join in any more such
amusementsbut indeed； and perhaps from hints from
his elder brother and sister； he had already become a
very watchful and exemplary domestic character。 He left
off his clubs and billiards。 He never left home。 He took
Becky out to drive； he went laboriously with her to all
her parties。 Whenever my Lord Steyne called； he was
sure to find the Colonel。 And when Becky proposed to
go out without her husband； or received invitations for
herself； he peremptorily ordered her to refuse them： and
there was that in the gentleman's manner which enforced
obedience。 Little Becky； to do her justice； was charmed
with Rawdon's gallantry。 If he was surly； she never was。
Whether friends were present or absent； she had always
a kind smile for him and was attentive to his pleasure
and comfort。 It was the early days of their marriage over
again： the same good humour； prevenances； merriment；
and artless confidence and regard。 〃How much pleasanter
it is；〃 she would say； 〃to have you by my side in the
carriage than that foolish old Briggs！ Let us always go on
so； dear Rawdon。 How nice it would be； and how happy
we should always be； if we had but the money！〃 He
fell asleep after dinner in his chair； he did not see the
face opposite to him； haggard； weary； and terrible； it
lighted up with fresh candid smiles when he woke。 It
kissed him gaily。 He wondered that he had ever had
suspicions。 No； he never had suspicions； all those dumb
doubts and surly misgivings which had been gathering on
his mind were mere idle jealousies。 She was fond of him；
she always had been。 As for her shining in society； it
was no fault of hers； she was formed to shine there。
Was there any woman who could talk； or sing； or do
anything like her？ If she would but like the boy！
Rawdon thought。 But the mother and son never could be
brought together。
And it was while Rawdon's mind was agitated with
these doubts and perplexities that the incident occurred
which was mentioned in the last chapter； and the
unfortunate Colonel found himself a prisoner away from
home。
CHAPTER LIII
Friend Rawdon drove on then to Mr。 Moss's mansion
in Cursitor Street； and was duly inducted into that
dismal place of hospitality。 Morning was breaking
over the cheerful house…tops of Chancery Lane as the
rattling cab woke up the echoes there。 A little
pink…eyed Jew…boy； with a head as ruddy as the rising
morn； let the party into the house； and Rawdon was
welcomed to the ground…floor apartments by Mr。 Moss； his
travelling companion and host； who cheerfully asked him
if he would like a glass of something warm after his drive。
The Colonel was not so depressed as some mortals
would be； who； quitting a palace and a placens uxor；
find themselves barred into a spunging…house； for； if the
truth must be told； he had been a lodger at Mr。 Moss's
establishment once or twice before。 We have not thought
it necessary in the previous course of this narrative to
mention these trivial little domestic incidents： but the
reader may be assured that they can't unfrequently occur
in the life of a man who lives on nothing a year。
Upon his