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Miss Blackbrooks （Admiral Blackbrook's daughters； my
dear）； fine young ladies； with dresses from London；
when Captain Rawdon selected poor me for a partner！
When Mrs。 Bute Crawley （whose artifices our ingenious
Rebecca had so soon discovered） had procured from
Miss Sharp the promise of a visit； she induced the all…
powerful Miss Crawley to make the necessary application
to Sir Pitt； and the good…natured old lady； who loved to
be gay herself； and to see every one gay and happy round
about her； was quite charmed； and ready to establish a
reconciliation and intimacy between her two brothers。
It was therefore agreed that the young people of both
families should visit each other frequently for the future；
and the friendship of course lasted as long as the jovial
old mediatrix was there to keep the peace。
〃Why did you ask that scoundrel； Rawdon Crawley； to
dine？〃 said the Rector to his lady； as they were walking
home through the park。 〃I don't want the fellow。 He looks
down upon us country people as so many blackamoors。
He's never content unless he gets my yellow…sealed wine；
which costs me ten shillings a bottle； hang him！ Besides；
he's such an infernal characterhe's a gamblerhe's a
drunkardhe's a profligate in every way。 He shot a man
in a duelhe's over head and ears in debt； and he's
robbed me and mine of the best part of Miss Crawley's
fortune。 Waxy says she has him〃here the Rector shook
his fist at the moon； with something very like an oath；
and added； in a melancholious tone； 〃； down in her will
for fifty thousand； and there won't be above thirty to
divide。〃
〃I think she's going；〃 said the Rector's wife。 〃She was
very red in the face when we left dinner。 I was obliged
to unlace her。〃
〃She drank seven glasses of champagne；〃 said the
reverend gentleman； in a low voice； 〃and filthy champagne
it is； too； that my brother poisons us withbut you
women never know what's what。〃
〃We know nothing；〃 said Mrs。 Bute Crawley。
〃She drank cherry…brandy after dinner；〃 continued his
Reverence； 〃and took curacao with her coffee。 I
wouldn't take a glass for a five…pound note： it kills me
with heartburn。 She can't stand it； Mrs。 Crawleyshe
must goflesh and blood won't bear it！ and I lay five to
two； Matilda drops in a year。〃
Indulging in these solemn speculations； and thinking
about his debts； and his son Jim at College； and Frank at
Woolwich； and the four girls； who were no beauties； poor
things； and would not have a penny but what they got from
the aunt's expected legacy； the Rector and his lady walked
on for a while。
〃Pitt can't be such an infernal villain as to sell the
reversion of the living。 And that Methodist milksop of an
eldest son looks to Parliament；〃 continued Mr。 Crawley；
after a pause。
〃Sir Pitt Crawley will do anything；〃 said the Rector's
wife。 〃We must get Miss Crawley to make him promise it
to James。〃
〃Pitt will promise anything；〃 replied the brother。 〃He
promised he'd pay my college bills； when my father died；
he promised he'd build the new wing to the Rectory；
he promised he'd let me have Jibb's field and the Six…
acre Meadowand much he executed his promises！ And
it's to this man's sonthis scoundrel； gambler； swindler；
murderer of a Rawdon Crawley； that Matilda leaves the
bulk of her money。 I say it's un…Christian。 By Jove； it is。
The infamous dog has got every vice except hypocrisy；
and that belongs to his brother。〃
〃Hush； my dearest love！ we're in Sir Pitt's grounds；〃
interposed his wife。
〃I say he has got every vice； Mrs。 Crawley。 Don't
Ma'am； bully me。 Didn't he shoot Captain Marker？ Didn't
he rob young Lord Dovedale at the Cocoa…Tree？ Didn't
he cross the fight between Bill Soames and the Cheshire
Trump； by which I lost forty pound？ You know he did；
and as for the women； why； you heard that before me； in
my own magistrate's room 〃
〃For heaven's sake； Mr。 Crawley；〃 said the lady； 〃spare
me the details。〃
〃And you ask this villain into your house！〃 continued
the exasperated Rector。 〃You； the mother of a young
familythe wife of a clergyman of the Church of
England。 By Jove！〃
〃Bute Crawley； you are a fool；〃 said the Rector's wife
scornfully。
〃Well； Ma'am； fool or notand I don't say； Martha；
I'm so clever as you are； I never did。 But I won't meet
Rawdon Crawley； that's flat。 I'll go over to Huddleston；
that I will； and see his black greyhound； Mrs。 Crawley；
and I'll run Lancelot against him for fifty。 By Jove； I will；
or against any dog in England。 But I won't meet that
beast Rawdon Crawley。〃
〃Mr。 Crawley； you are intoxicated； as usual；〃 replied
his wife。 And the next morning； when the Rector woke；
and called for small beer； she put him in mind of his
promise to visit Sir Huddleston Fuddleston on Saturday；
and as he knew he should have a wet night； it was agreed
that he might gallop back again in time for church on
Sunday morning。 Thus it will be seen that the parishioners
of Crawley were equally happy in their Squire and in their
Rector。
Miss Crawley had not long been established at the Hall
before Rebecca's fascinations had won the heart of that
good…natured London rake； as they had of the country
innocents whom we have been describing。 Taking her
accustomed drive； one day； she thought fit to order that
〃that little governess〃 should accompany her to Mudbury。
Before they had returned Rebecca had made a conquest
of her； having made her laugh four times； and amused her
during the whole of the little journey。
〃Not let Miss Sharp dine at table！〃 said she to Sir Pitt；
who had arranged a dinner of ceremony； and asked all the
neighbouring baronets。 〃My dear creature； do you
suppose I can talk about the nursery with Lady Fuddleston； or
discuss justices' business with that goose； old Sir Giles
Wapshot？ I insist upon Miss Sharp appearing。 Let Lady
Crawley remain upstairs； if there is no room。 But little
Miss Sharp！ Why； she's the only person fit to talk to in
the county！〃
Of course； after such a peremptory order as this； Miss
Sharp； the governess； received commands to dine with the
illustrious company below stairs。 And when Sir Huddleston
had； with great pomp and ceremony； handed Miss
Crawley in to dinner； and was preparing to take his
place by her side； the old lady cried out； in a shrill
voice； 〃Becky Sharp！ Miss Sharp！ Come you and sit by
me and amuse me； and let Sir Huddleston sit by Lady
Wapshot。〃
When the parties were over； and the carriages had
rolled away； the insatiable Miss Crawley would say；
〃Come to my dressing room； Becky； and let us abuse the
company〃which； between them； this pair of friends did
perfectly。 Old Sir Huddleston wheezed a great deal at
dinner； Sir Giles Wapshot had a particularly noisy manner
of imbibing his soup； and her ladyship a wink of the left
eye； all of which Becky caricatured to admiration； as well
as the particulars of the night's conversation； the politics；
the war； the quarter…sessions； the famous run with the
H。H。； and those heavy and dreary themes； about which
country gentlemen converse。 As for the Misses Wapshot's
toilettes and Lady Fuddleston's famous yellow