Rawdon，finally，wereofcourseinvited；asbecamethefriendsofaGeneralcommandingacavalrybrigade。
Ontheappointednight，George，havingcommandednewdressesandornamentsofallsortsforAmelia，drovetothefamousball，wherehiswifedidnotknowasinglesoul。AfterlookingaboutforLadyBareacres，whocuthim，thinkingthecardwasquiteenough——andafterplacingAmeliaonabench，helefthertoherowncogitationsthere，thinking，onhisownpart，thathehadbehavedveryhandsomelyingettinghernewclothes，andbringinghertotheball，whereshewasfreetoamuseherselfassheliked。Herthoughtswerenotofthepleasantest，andnobodyexcepthonestDobbincametodisturbthem。
Whilstherappearancewasanutterfailureasherhusbandfeltwithasortofrage，Mrs。RawdonCrawley’sdebutwas，onthecontrary，verybrilliant。Shearrivedverylate。Herfacewasradiant；herdressperfection。Inthemidstofthegreatpersonsassembled，andtheeye-
glassesdirectedtoher，RebeccaseemedtobeascoolandcollectedaswhensheusedtomarshalMissPinkerton’slittlegirlstochurch。Numbersofthemensheknewalready，andthedandiesthrongedroundher。Asfortheladies，itwaswhisperedamongthemthatRawdonhadrunawaywithherfromoutofaconvent，andthatshewasarelationoftheMontmorencyfamily。ShespokeFrenchsoperfectlythattheremightbesometruthinthisreport，anditwasagreedthathermannerswerefine，andherairdistingue。Fiftywould-bepartnersthrongedroundheratonce，andpressedtohavethehonourtodancewithher。Butshesaidshewasengaged，andonlygoingtodanceverylittle；andmadeherwayatoncetotheplacewhereEmmysatequiteunnoticed，anddismallyunhappy。Andso，tofinishthepoorchildatonce，Mrs。RawdonranandgreetedaffectionatelyherdearestAmelia，andbeganforthwithtopatroniseher。
Shefoundfaultwithherfriend’sdress，andherhairdresser，andwonderedhowshecouldbesochaussee，andvowedthatshemustsendhercorsetierethenextmorning。Shevowedthatitwasadelightfulball；thattherewaseverybodythateveryoneknew，andonlyaVERYfewnobodiesinthewholeroom。Itisafact，thatinafortnight，andafterthreedinnersingeneralsociety，thisyoungwomanhadgotupthegenteeljargonsowell，thatanativecouldnotspeakitbetter；anditwasonlyfromherFrenchbeingsogood，thatyoucouldknowshewasnotabornwomanoffashion。