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laughing with me； and saying that my dearest Rawdon
would be consoled when he read of his appointment in
the paper； in that shocking spunbailiff's house。 And
thenthen he came home。 His suspicions were excited；
the dreadful scene took place between my Lord and
my cruel； cruel Rawdonand； O my God； what will
happen next？ Pitt； dear Pitt！ pity me； and reconcile us！〃
And as she spoke she flung herself down on her knees；
and bursting into tears； seized hold of Pitt's hand； which
she kissed passionately。
It was in this very attitude that Lady Jane； who；
returning from church； ran to her husband's room directly
she heard Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley was closeted there；
found the Baronet and his sister…in…law。
〃I am surprised that woman has the audacity to enter
this house；〃 Lady Jane said； trembling in every limb
and turning quite pale。 （Her Ladyship had sent out her
maid directly after breakfast； who had communicated
with Raggles and Rawdon Crawley's household； who had
told her all； and a great deal more than they knew； of
that story； and many others besides）。 〃How dare Mrs。
Crawley to enter the house ofof an honest family？〃
Sir Pitt started back； amazed at his wife's display of
vigour。 Becky still kept her kneeling posture and clung
to Sir Pitt's hand。
〃Tell her that she does not know all： Tell her that I
am innocent； dear Pitt；〃 she whimpered out。
〃Upon…my word； my love； I think you do Mrs。 Crawley
injustice；〃 Sir Pitt said； at which speech Rebecca was
vastly relieved。 〃Indeed I believe her to be〃
〃To be what？〃 cried out Lady Jane； her clear voice
thrilling and； her heart beating violently as she spoke。
〃To be a wicked womana heartless mother； a false
wife？ She never loved her dear little boy； who used to
fly here and tell me of her cruelty to him。 She never
came into a family but she strove to bring misery with
her and to weaken the most sacred affections with her
wicked flattery and falsehoods。 She has deceived her
husband； as she has deceived everybody； her soul is black
with vanity； worldliness； and all sorts of crime。 I tremble
when I touch her。 I keep my children out of her sight。
〃Lady Jane！〃 cried Sir Pitt； starting up； 〃this is really
language〃
〃I have been a true and faithful wife to you； Sir
Pitt；〃 Lady Jane continued； intrepidly； 〃I have kept my
marriage vow as I made it to God and have been
obedient and gentle as a wife should。 But righteous
obedience has its limits； and I declare that I will not bear
thatthat woman again under my roof； if she enters it；
I and my children will leave it。 She is not worthy to sit
down with Christian people。 Youyou must choose； sir；
between her and me〃； and with this my Lady swept out
of the room； fluttering with her own audacity； and leaving
Rebecca and Sir Pitt not a little astonished at it。
As for Becky； she was not hurt； nay； she was pleased。
〃It was the diamond…clasp you gave me；〃 she said to Sir
Pitt； reaching him out her hand； and before she left him
（for which event you may be sure my Lady Jane was
looking out from her dressing…room window in the upper
story） the Baronet had promised to go and seek out his
brother； and endeavour to bring about a reconciliation。
Rawdon found some of the young fellows of the regiment
seated in the mess…room at breakfast； and was
induced without much difficulty to partake of that meal；
and of the devilled legs of fowls and soda…water with
which these young gentlemen fortified themselves。 Then
they had a conversation befitting the day and their time
of life： about the next pigeon…match at Battersea； with
relative bets upon Ross and Osbaldiston； about
Mademoiselle Ariane of the French Opera； and who had left
her； and how she was consoled by Panther Carr； and
about the fight between the Butcher and the Pet； and the
probabilities that it was a cross。 Young Tandyman； a
hero of seventeen； laboriously endeavouring to get up a
pair of mustachios； had seen the fight； and spoke in the
most scientific manner about the battle and the condition
of the men。 It was he who had driven the Butcher on to
the ground in his drag and passed the whole of the
previous night with him。 Had there not been foul play
he must have won it。 All the old files of the Ring were in
it； and Tandyman wouldn't pay； no； dammy； he wouldn't
pay。 It was but a year since the young Cornet； now so
knowing a hand in Cribb's parlour； had a still lingering
liking for toffy； and used to be birched at Eton。
So they went on talking about dancers； fights； drinking；
demireps； until Macmurdo came down and joined the
boys and the conversation。 He did not appear to think
that any especial reverence was due to their boyhood；
the old fellow cut in with stories； to the full as choice
as any the youngest rake present had to tellnor did his
own grey hairs nor their smooth faces detain him。 Old
Mac was famous for his good stories。 He was not exactly
a lady's man； that is； men asked him to dine rather at
the houses of their mistresses than of their mothers。
There can scarcely be a life lower； perhaps； than his；
but he was quite contented with it； such as it was； and
led it in perfect good nature； simplicity； and modesty of
demeanour。
By the time Mac had finished a copious breakfast；
most of the others had concluded their meal。 Young Lord
Varinas was smoking an immense Meerschaum pipe；
while Captain Hugues was employed with a cigar： that
violent little devil Tandyman； with his little bull…terrier
between his legs； was tossing for shillings with all his
might （that fellow was always at some game or other）
against Captain Deuceace； and Mac and Rawdon walked
off to the Club； neither； of course； having given any hint
of the business which was occupying their minds。 Both；
on the other hand； had joined pretty gaily in the
conversation； for why should they interrupt it？ Feasting；
drinking； ribaldry； laughter； go on alongside of all sorts
of other occupations in Vanity Fairthe crowds were
pouring out of church as Rawdon and his friend passed
down St。 James's Street and entered into their Club。
The old bucks and habitues； who ordinarily stand
gaping and grinning out of the great front window of the
Club； had not arrived at their posts as yetthe
newspaper…room was almost empty。 One man was present
whom Rawdon did not know； another to whom he owed
a little score for whist； and whom； in consequence； he
did not care to meet； a third was reading the Royalist
（a periodical famous for its scandal and its attachment
to Church and King） Sunday paper at the table； and
looking up at Crawley with some interest； said； 〃Crawley；
I congratulate you。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 said the Colonel。
〃It's in the Observer and the Royalist too；〃 said Mr。
Smith。
〃What？〃 Rawdon cried； turning very red。 He thought
that the affair with Lord Steyne was already in the
public prints。 Smith looked up wondering and smiling
at the agitation which the Colonel exhibited as he took
up the paper and； trembling； began to read。
Mr。 Smith and Mr。 Brown （the gentleman with 。whom
Rawdon had the outstanding whist account） had been
talking about the Colonel just before he came in。
〃It is come just in the nick of time；〃