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were tossing upon that innocent pillow； why should he
not declare himself to be Rebecca's confidante too；
master of her secrets； and seal…keeper of that young
woman's conscience？
Well； then； in the first place； Rebecca gave way to
some very sincere and touching regrets that a piece of
marvellous good fortune should have been so near her；
and she actually obliged to decline it。 In this natural
emotion every properly regulated mind will certainly
share。 What good mother is there that would not
commiserate a penniless spinster； who might have been
my lady； and have shared four thousand a year？ What
well…bred young person is there in all Vanity Fair； who
will not feel for a hard…working； ingenious； meritorious
girl； who gets such an honourable； advantageous； provoking
offer； just at the very moment when it is out of her
power to accept it？ I am sure our friend Becky's
disappointment deserves and will command every
sympathy。
I remember one night being in the Fair myself； at an
evening party。 I observed old Miss Toady there also
present； single out for her special attentions and flattery
little Mrs。 Briefless； the barrister's wife； who is of a
good family certainly； but； as we all know； is as poor
as poor can be。
What； I asked in my own mind； can cause this
obsequiousness on the part of Miss Toady； has Briefless
got a county court； or has his wife had a fortune left her？
Miss Toady explained presently； with that simplicity
which distinguishes all her conduct。 〃You know；〃 she
said； 〃Mrs。Briefless is granddaughter of Sir John Redhand；
who is so ill at Cheltenham that he can't last six
months。 Mrs。 Briefless's papa succeeds； so you see she
will be a baronet's daughter。〃 And Toady asked Briefless
and his wife to dinner the very next week。
If the mere chance of becoming a baronet's daughter
can procure a lady such homage in the world； surely；
surely we may respect the agonies of a young woman
who has lost the opportunity of becoming a baronet's
wife。 Who would have dreamed of Lady Crawley dying
so soon？ She was one of those sickly women that
might have lasted these ten yearsRebecca thought to
herself； in all the woes of repentanceand I might have
been my lady！ I might have led that old man whither I
would。 I might have thanked Mrs。 Bute for her
patronage； and Mr。 Pitt for his insufferable condescension。 I
would have had the town…house newly furnished and
decorated。 I would have had the handsomest carriage in
London； and a box at the opera； and I would have
been presented next season。 All this might have been；
and nownow all was doubt and mystery。
But Rebecca was a young lady of too much resolution
and energy of character to permit herself much useless
and unseemly sorrow for the irrevocable past； so； having
devoted only the proper portion of regret to it； she wisely
turned her whole attention towards the future； which
was now vastly more important to her。 And she
surveyed her position； and its hopes； doubts； and chances。
In the first place； she was MARRIEDthat was a great
fact。 Sir Pitt knew it。 She was not so much surprised into
the avowal； as induced to make it by a sudden calculation。
It must have come some day： and why not now
as at a later period？ He who would have married her
himself must at least be silent with regard to her marriage。
How Miss Crawley would bear the newswas the great
question。 Misgivings Rebecca had； but she remembered
all Miss Crawley had said； the old lady's avowed
contempt for birth； her daring liberal opinions； her
general romantic propensities； her almost doting attachment
to her nephew； and her repeatedly expressed fondness for
Rebecca herself。 She is so fond of him； Rebecca thought；
that she will forgive him anything： she is so used to me
that I don't think she could be comfortable without
me： when the eclaircissement comes there will be a
scene； and hysterics； and a great quarrel； and then a
great reconciliation。 At all events； what use was there
in delaying？ the die was thrown； and now or to…morrow
the issue must be the same。 And so； resolved that Miss
Crawley should have the news； the young person
debated in her mind as to the best means of conveying it
to her； and whether she should face the storm that must
come； or fly and avoid it until its first fury was blown
over。 In this state of meditation she wrote the following
letter：
Dearest Friend；
The great crisis which we have debated
about so often is COME。 Half of my secret is known； and
I have thought and thought； until I am quite sure that
now is the time to reveal THE WHOLE OF THE MYSTERY。 Sir
Pitt came to me this morning； and madewhat do you
think？A DECLARATION IN FORM。 Think of that！ Poor
little me。 I might have been Lady Crawley。 How pleased
Mrs。 Bute would have been： and ma tante if I had taken
precedence of her！ I might have been somebody's
mamma； instead ofO； I tremble； I tremble； when I
think how soon we must tell all！
Sir Pitt knows I am married； and not knowing to
whom； is not very much displeased as yet。 Ma tante is
ACTUALLY ANGRY that I should have refused him。 But she
is all kindness and graciousness。 She condescends to say
I would have made him a good wife； and vows that
she will be a mother to your little Rebecca。 She will be
shaken when she first hears the news。 But need we fear
anything beyond a momentary anger？ I think not： I AM
SURE not。 She dotes upon you so （you naughty； good…for…
nothing man）； that she would pardon you ANYTHING：
and； indeed； I believe； the next place in her heart is
mine： and that she would be miserable without me。
Dearest！ something TELLS ME we shall conquer。 You shall
leave that odious regiment： quit gaming； racing； and BE
A GOOD BOY； and we shall all live in Park Lane； and ma
tante shall leave us all her money。
I shall try and walk to…morrow at 3 in the usual place。
If Miss B。 accompanies me； you must come to dinner；
and bring an answer； and put it in the third volume of
Porteus's Sermons。 But； at all events； come to your own
R。
To Miss Eliza Styles；
At Mr。 Barnet's； Saddler； Knightsbridge。
And I trust there is no reader of this little story who
has not discernment enough to perceive that the Miss
Eliza Styles （an old schoolfellow； Rebecca said； with
whom she had resumed an active correspondence of late；
and who used to fetch these letters from the saddler's）；
wore brass spurs； and large curling mustachios； and was
indeed no other than Captain Rawdon Crawley。
CHAPTER XVI
The Letter on the Pincushion
How they were married is not of the slightest
consequence to anybody。 What is to hinder a Captain who
is a major； and a young lady who is of age； from purchasing
a licence； and uniting themselves at any church in this
town？ Who needs to be told； that if a woman has a will
she will assuredly find a way？My belief is that one
day； when Miss Sharp had gone to pass the forenoon
with her dear friend Miss Amelia Sedley in Russell
Square； a lady very like her might have been seen
entering a church in the City； in company with a gentleman
with dyed mustachios； who； after a quarter of an hour's
interval； escorted her bac