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the Vanity of human affairs； and it was in those securities
that she would have liked to cast anchor。
It may； perhaps； have struck her that to have been
honest and humble； to have done her duty； and to have
marched straightforward on her way； would have brought
her as near happiness as that path by which she was
striving to attain it。 Butjust as the children at Queen's
Crawley went round the room where the body of their
father layif ever Becky had these thoughts； she was
accustomed to walk round them and not look in。 She
eluded them and despised themor at least she was
committed to the other path from which retreat was now
impossible。 And for my part I believe that remorse is the
least active of all a man's moral sensesthe very easiest to
be deadened when wakened； and in some never wakened
at all。 We grieve at being found out and at the idea of
shame or punishment； but the mere sense of wrong makes
very few people unhappy in Vanity Fair。
So Rebecca； during her stay at Queen's Crawley； made as
many friends of the Mammon of Unrighteousness as she
could possibly bring under control。 Lady Jane and her
husband bade her farewell with the warmest
demonstrations of good…will。 They looked forward with
pleasure to the time when； the family house in Gaunt
Street being repaired and beautified； they were to meet
again in London。 Lady Southdown made her up a packet of
medicine and sent a letter by her to the Rev。 Lawrence
Grills； exhorting that gentleman to save the brand who
〃honoured〃 the letter from the burning。 Pitt accompanied
them with four horses in the carriage to Mudbury； having
sent on their baggage in a cart previously； accompanied
with loads of game。
〃How happy you will be to see your darling little boy
again！〃 Lady Crawley said； taking leave of her kinswoman。
〃Oh so happy！〃 said Rebecca； throwing up the green eyes。
She was immensely happy to be free of the place； and yet
loath to go。 Queen's Crawley was abominably stupid； and
yet the air there was somehow purer than that which she
had been accustomed to breathe。 Everybody had been dull；
but had been kind in their way。 〃It is all the influence of a
long course of Three Per Cents；〃 Becky said to herself； and
was right very likely。
However； the London lamps flashed joyfully as the stage
rolled into Piccadilly； and Briggs had made a beautiful fire
in Curzon Street； and little Rawdon was up to welcome
back his papa and mamma。
CHAPTER XLII
Which Treats of the Osborne Family
Considerable time has elapsed since we have seen our
respectable friend； old Mr。 Osborne of Russell Square。 He
has not been the happiest of mortals since last we met him。
Events have occurred which have not improved his
temper； and in more in stances than one he has not been
allowed to have his own way。 To be thwarted in this
reasonable desire was always very injurious to the old
gentleman； and resistance became doubly exasperating
when gout； age； loneliness； and the force of many
disappointments combined to weigh him down。 His stiff
black hair began to grow quite white soon after his son's
death； his…face grew redder； his hands trembled more and
more as he poured out his glass of port wine。 He led his
clerks a dire life in the City： his family at home were not
much happier。 I doubt if Rebecca； whom we have seen
piously praying for Consols； would have exchanged her
poverty and the dare…devil excitement and chances of her
life for Osborne's money and the humdrum gloom which
enveloped him。 He had proposed for Miss Swartz； but had
been rejected scornfully by the partisans of that lady； who
married her to a young sprig of Scotch nobility。 He was a
man to have married a woman out of low life and bullied
her dreadfully afterwards； but no person presented herself
suitable to his taste； and； instead； he tyrannized over his
unmarried daughter； at home。 She had a fine carriage and
fine horses and sat at the head of a table loaded with the
grandest plate。 She had a cheque…book； a prize footman to
follow her when she walked； unlimited credit； and bows
and compliments from all the tradesmen； and all the
appurtenances of an heiress； but she spent a woeful time。
The little charity…girls at the Foundling； the sweeperess at
the crossing； the poorest under…kitchen…maid in the
servants' hall； was happy compared to that unfortunate
and now middle…aged young lady。
Frederick Bullock； Esq。； of the house of Bullock； Hulker； and
Bullock； had married Maria Osborne； not without a great
deal of difficulty and grumbling on Mr。 Bullock's part。
George being dead and cut out of his father's will；
Frederick insisted that the half of the old gentleman's
property should be settled upon his Maria； and indeed； for
a long time； refused； 〃to come to the scratch〃 （it was Mr。
Frederick's own expression） on any other terms。 Osborne
said Fred had agreed to take his daughter with twenty
thousand； and he should bind himself to no more。 〃Fred
might take it； and welcome； or leave it； and go and be
hanged。〃 Fred； whose hopes had been raised when George
had been disinherited； thought himself infamously
swindled by the old merchant； and for some time made as
if he would break off the match altogether。 Osborne
withdrew his account from Bullock and Hulker's； went on
'Change with a horsewhip which he swore he would lay
across the back of a certain scoundrel that should be
nameless； and demeaned himself in his usual violent
manner。 Jane Osborne condoled with her sister Maria
during this family feud。 〃I always told you； Maria； that it
was your money he loved and not you；〃 she said；
soothingly。
〃He selected me and my money at any rate； he didn't
choose you and yours；〃 replied Maria； tossing up her head。
The rapture was； however； only temporary。 Fred's father
and senior partners counselled him to take Maria； even
with the twenty thousand settled； half down； and half at
the death of Mr。 Osborne； with the chances of the further
division of the property。 So he 〃knuckled down；〃 again to
use his own phrase； and sent old Hulker with peaceable
overtures to Osborne。 It was his father； he said； who would
not hear of the match； and had made the difficulties； he
was most anxious to keep the engagement。 The excuse was
sulkily accepted by Mr。 Osborne。 Hulker and Bullock were
a high family of the City aristocracy； and connected with
the 〃nobs〃 at the West End。 It was something for the old
man to be able to say； 〃My son； sir； of the house of Hulker；
Bullock； and Co。； sir； my daughter's cousin； Lady Mary
Mango； sir； daughter of the Right Hon。 The Earl of
Castlemouldy。〃 In his imagination he saw his house
peopled by the 〃nobs。〃 So he forgave young Bullock and
consented that the marriage should take place。
It was a grand affairthe bridegroom's relatives giving the
breakfast； their habitations being near St。 George's；
Hanover Square； where the business took place。 The 〃nobs
of the West End〃 were invited； and many of them signed
the book。 Mr。 Mango and Lady Mary Mango were there；
with the dear young Gwendoline and Guinever Mango as
bridesmaids； Colonel Bludyer of the Dragoon Guards （eldest
son of the house of Bludyer Brothers