Shesatecommonlywithherfather，whowasveryproudofherwit，andheardthetalkofmanyofhiswildcompanions——oftenbutill-suitedforagirltohear。Butsheneverhadbeenagirl，shesaid；shehadbeenawomansinceshewaseightyearsold。Oh，whydidMissPinkertonletsuchadangerousbirdintohercage？
Thefactis，theoldladybelievedRebeccatobethemeekestcreatureintheworld，soadmirably，ontheoccasionswhenherfatherbroughthertoChiswick，usedRebeccatoperformthepartoftheingenue；andonlyayearbeforethearrangementbywhichRebeccahadbeenadmittedintoherhouse，andwhenRebeccawassixteenyearsold，MissPinkertonmajestically，andwithalittlespeech，madeherapresentofadoll——whichwas，bytheway，theconfiscatedpropertyofMissSwindle，discoveredsurreptitiouslynursingitinschool-hours。Howthefatheranddaughterlaughedastheytrudgedhometogetheraftertheeveningpartyitwasontheoccasionofthespeeches，whenalltheprofessorswereinvitedandhowMissPinkertonwouldhaveragedhadsheseenthecaricatureofherselfwhichthelittlemimic，Rebecca，managedtomakeoutofherdoll。Beckyusedtogothroughdialogueswithit；itformedthedelightofNewmanStreet，GerrardStreet，andtheArtists’quarter：
andtheyoungpainters，whentheycametotaketheirgin-
and-waterwiththeirlazy，dissolute，clever，jovialsenior，usedregularlytoaskRebeccaifMissPinkertonwasathome：shewasaswellknowntothem，poorsoul！asMr。LawrenceorPresidentWest。OnceRebeccahadthehonourtopassafewdaysatChiswick；afterwhichshebroughtbackJemima，anderectedanotherdollasMissJemmy：forthoughthathonestcreaturehadmadeandgivenherjellyandcakeenoughforthreechildren，andaseven-shillingpieceatparting，thegirl’ssenseofridiculewasfarstrongerthanhergratitude，andshesacrificedMissJemmyquiteaspitilesslyashersister。
Thecatastrophecame，andshewasbroughttotheMallastoherhome。Therigidformalityoftheplacesuffocatedher：theprayersandthemeals，thelessonsandthewalks，whichwerearrangedwithaconventualregularity，oppressedheralmostbeyondendurance；andshelookedbacktothefreedomandthebeggaryoftheoldstudioinSohowithsomuchregret，thateverybody，herselfincluded，fanciedshewasconsumedwithgriefforherfather。Shehadalittleroominthegarret，wherethemaidsheardherwalkingandsobbingatnight；butitwaswithrage，andnotwithgrief。Shehadnotbeenmuchofadissembler，untilnowherlonelinesstaughthertofeign。Shehadnevermingledinthesocietyofwomen：