〃That's George's present to you； Rebecca； dear；〃 said
Amelia； quite proud of the bandbox conveying these
gifts。 〃What a taste he has！ There's nobody like him。〃
〃Nobody；〃 Rebecca answered。 〃How thankful I am to
him！〃 She was thinking in her heart； 〃It was George
Osborne who prevented my marriage。〃And she loved
George Osborne accordingly。
She made her preparations for departure with great
equanimity； and accepted all the kind little Amelia's
presents； after just the proper degree of hesitation and
reluctance。 She vowed eternal gratitude to Mrs。 Sedley；
of course； but did not intrude herself upon that good
lady too much； who was embarrassed； and evidently
wishing to avoid her。 She kissed Mr。 Sedley's hand； when
he presented her with the purse； and asked permission to
consider him for the future as her kind； kind friend and
protector。 Her behaviour was so affecting that he was
going to write her a cheque for twenty pounds more；
but he restrained his feelings： the carriage was in waiting
to take him to dinner； so he tripped away with a 〃God
bless you； my dear； always come here when you come to
town； you know。Drive to the Mansion House； James。〃
Finally came the parting with Miss Amelia； over which
picture I intend to throw a veil。 But after a scene in
which one person was in earnest and the other a perfect
performerafter the tenderest caresses； the most pathetic
tears； the smelling…bottle； and some of the very best
feelings of the heart； had been called into requisition
Rebecca and Amelia parted； the former vowing to love
her friend for ever and ever and ever。
CHAPTER VII
Crawley of Queen's Crawley
Among the most respected of the names beginning in C
which the Court…Guide contained； in the year 18； was
that of Crawley； Sir Pitt； Baronet； Great Gaunt Street；
and Queen's Crawley； Hants。 This honourable name had
figured constantly also in the Parliamentary list for many
years； in conjunction with that of a number of other
worthy gentlemen who sat in turns for the borough。
It is related； with regard to the borough of Queen's
Crawley； that Queen Elizabeth in one of her progresses；
stopping at Crawley to breakfast； was so delighted with
some remarkably fine Hampshire beer which was then
presented to her by the Crawley of the day （a handsome
gentleman with a trim beard and a good leg）； that she
forthwith erected Crawley into a borough to send two
members to Parliament； and the place； from the day of
that illustrious visit； took the name of Queen's Crawley；
which it holds up to the present moment。 And though； by
the lapse of time； and those mutations which age produces
in empires； cities； and boroughs； Queen's Crawley was no
longer so populous a place as it had been in Queen Bess's
timenay； was come down to that condition of borough
which used to be denominated rottenyet； as Sir Pitt
Crawley would say with perfect justice in his elegant
way； 〃Rotten！ be hangedit produces me a good fifteen
hundred a year。〃
Sir Pitt Crawley （named after the great Commoner）
was the son of Walpole Crawley； first Baronet； of the
Tape and Sealing…Wax Office in the reign of George II。；
when he was impeached for peculation； as were a great
number of other honest gentlemen of those days； and
Walpole Crawley was； as need scarcely be said； son of
John Churchill Crawley； named after the celebrated
military commander of the reign of Queen Anne。 The family
tree （which hangs up at Queen's Crawley） furthermore
mentions Charles Stuart； afterwards called Barebones
Crawley； son of the Crawley of James the First's time；
and finally； Queen Elizabeth's Crawley； who is represented
as the foreground of the picture in his forked beard and
armour。 Out of his waistcoat； as usual； grows a tree； on
the main branches of which the above illustrious names
are inscribed。 Close by the name of Sir Pitt Crawley；
Baronet （the subject of the present memoir）； are written
that of his brother； the Reverend Bute Crawley （the great
Commoner was in disgrace when the reverend gentleman
was born）； rector of Crawley…cum…Snailby； and of various
other male and female members of the Crawley family。
Sir Pitt was first married to Grizzel； sixth daughter of
Mungo Binkie； Lord Binkie； and cousin； in consequence；
of Mr。 Dundas。 She brought him two sons： Pitt； named
not so much after his father as after the heaven…born
minister； and Rawdon Crawley； from the Prince of
Wales's friend； whom his Majesty George IV forgot so
completely。 Many years after her ladyship's demise； Sir
Pitt led to the altar Rosa； daughter of Mr。 G。 Dawson；
of Mudbury； by whom he had two daughters； for whose
benefit Miss Rebecca Sharp was now engaged as
governess。 It will be seen that the young lady was come into a
family of very genteel connexions； and was about to move
in a much more distinguished circle than that humble one
which she had just quitted in Russell Square。
She had received her orders to join her pupils； in a
note which was written upon an old envelope； and which
contained the following words：
Sir Pitt Crawley begs Miss Sharp and baggidge may be
hear on Tuesday； as I leaf for Queen's Crawley to…morrow
morning ERLY。
Great Gaunt Street。
Rebecca had never seen a Baronet； as far as she knew；
and as soon as she had taken leave of Amelia； and
counted the guineas which good…natured Mr。 Sedley had
put into a purse for her； and as soon as she had done
wiping her eyes with her handkerchief （which operation
she concluded the very moment the carriage had turned
the corner of the street）； she began to depict in her own
mind what a Baronet must be。 〃I wonder； does he wear
a star？〃 thought she； 〃or is it only lords that wear stars？
But he will be very handsomely dressed in a court suit；
with ruffles； and his hair a little powdered； like Mr。
Wroughton at Covent Garden。 I suppose he will be
awfully proud； and that I shall be treated most
contemptuously。 Still I must bear my hard lot as well
as I canat least； I shall be amongst GENTLEFOLKS； and
not with vulgar city people〃： and she fell to thinking of
her Russell Square friends with that very same philosophical
bitterness with which； in a certain apologue； the fox is
represented as speaking of the grapes。
Having passed through Gaunt Square into Great Gaunt
Street； the carriage at length stopped at a tall gloomy
house between two other tall gloomy houses； each with a
hatchment over the middle drawing…room window； as is
the custom of houses in Great Gaunt Street； in which
gloomy locality death seems to reign perpetual。 The
shutters of the first…floor windows of Sir Pitt's mansion
were closedthose of the dining…room were partially open；
and the blinds neatly covered up in old newspapers。
John； the groom； who had driven the carriage alone；
did not care to descend to ring the bell； and so prayed a
passing milk…boy to perform that office for him。 When the
bell was rung； a head appeared between the interstices of
the dining…room shutters； and the door was opened by a
man in drab breeches and gaiters； with a dirty old coat；
a foul old neckcloth lashed round his bristly neck； a
shining bald head； a leering red face； a pair of twinkling grey
eyes； and a mouth perpetually on the grin
〃This Sir Pitt Crawley's？〃 says John； from the box。
〃Ees；〃 says the man at the door； with a nod。
〃Hand down these 'ere trunks then；〃 said John。
〃Hand 'n down yourself；〃 said the porter。
〃Don't you see I can't leave my hosses？ Come； bear a
hand； my fine feller； and Miss will give you some beer；〃
said John； with a horse…laugh； for he was no longer
respectful to Miss Sharp； as her connexion with the family
was broken off； and as she had given nothing to the
servants on coming away。
The bald…headed man； taking his hands out of his
breeches pockets； advanced on this summons； and
throwing Miss Sharp's trunk over his shoulder； carried it into
the house。
〃Take this basket and shawl； if you please； and open
the door；〃 said Miss Sharp； and descended from the
carriage in much indignation。 〃I shall write to Mr。 Sedley
and inform him of your conduct；〃 said she to the groom。
〃Don't；〃 replied that functionary。 〃I hope you've forgot
nothink？ Miss 'Melia's gowndshave you got themas
the lady's maid was to have 'ad？ I hope they'll fit you。
Shut the door； Jim； you'll get no good out of 'ER；〃
continued John； pointing with his thumb towards Miss Sharp：
〃a bad lot； I tell you； a bad lot；〃 and so saying； Mr。
Sedley's groom drove away。 The truth is； he was attached
to the lady's maid in question； and indignant that she
should have been robbed of her perquisites。
On entering the dining…room； by the orders of the
individual in gaiters； Rebecca found that apartment not
more cheerful than such rooms usually are； when genteel
families are out of town。 The faithful chambers seem； as
it were； to mourn the absence of their masters。 The turkey
carpet has rolled itself up； and retired sulkily under the
sideboard： the pictures have hidden their faces behind old
sheets of brown paper： the ceiling lamp is muffled up in a
dismal sack of brown holland： the window…curtains have
disappeared under all sorts of shabby envelopes： the
marble bust of Sir Walpole Crawley is looking from its
black corner at the bare boards and the oiled fire…irons；
and the empty card…racks over the mantelpiece： the
cellaret has lurked away behind the carpet： the chairs are
turned up heads and tails along the walls： and in the
dark corner opposite the statue； is an old…fashioned
crabbed knife…box； locked and sitting on a dumb waiter。
Two kitchen chairs； and a round table； and an
attenuated old poker and tongs were； however； gathered
round the fire…place； as was a saucepan over a feeble
sputtering fire。 There was a bit of cheese and bread； and
a tin candlestick on the table； and a little black porter
in a pint…pot。
〃Had your dinner； I suppose？ It is not too warm for
you？ Like a drop of beer？〃
〃Where is Sir Pitt Crawley？〃 said Miss Sharp
majestically。
〃He； he！ I'm Sir Pitt Crawley。 Reklect you owe me a
pint for bringing down your luggage。 He； he！ Ask
Tinker if I aynt。 Mrs。 Tinker； Miss Sharp； Miss
Governess； Mrs。 Charwoman。 Ho； ho！〃
The lady addressed as Mrs。 Tinker at this moment
made h