MissCrawley，beitknown，didnotleaveherroomuntilnearnoon——takingchocolateinbedinthemorning，whileBeckySharpreadtheMorningPosttoher，orotherwiseamusingherselfordawdling。Theconspiratorsbelowagreedthattheywouldsparethedearlady’sfeelingsuntilsheappearedinherdrawing-room：meanwhileitwasannouncedtoherthatMrs。ButeCrawleyhadcomeupfromHampshirebythemail，wasstayingattheGloster，sentherlovetoMissCrawley，andaskedforbreakfastwithMissBriggs。ThearrivalofMrs。Bute，whichwouldnothavecausedanyextremedelightatanotherperiod，washailedwithpleasurenow；MissCrawleybeingpleasedatthenotionofagossipwithhersister-in-lawregardingthelateLadyCrawley，thefuneralarrangementspending，andSirPitt’sabruptproposaltoRebecca。
Itwasnotuntiltheoldladywasfairlyensconcedinherusualarm-chairinthedrawing-room，andthepreliminaryembracesandinquirieshadtakenplacebetweentheladies，thattheconspiratorsthoughtitadvisabletosubmithertotheoperation。Whohasnotadmiredtheartificesanddelicateapproacheswithwhichwomen“prepare“theirfriendsforbadnews？MissCrawley’stwofriendsmadesuchanapparatusofmysterybeforetheybroketheintelligencetoher，thattheyworkedheruptothenecessarydegreeofdoubtandalarm。
“AndsherefusedSirPitt，mydear，dearMissCrawley，prepareyourselfforit。”Mrs。Butesaid，“because——
becauseshecouldn’thelpherself。”
“Ofcoursetherewasareason。”MissCrawleyanswered。