SundayAftertheBattleThemansionofSirPittCrawley，inGreatGauntStreet，wasjustbeginningtodressitselffortheday，asRawdon，inhiseveningcostume，whichhehadnowworntwodays，passedbythescaredfemalewhowasscouringthestepsandenteredintohisbrother’sstudy。LadyJane，inhermorning-gown，wasupandabovestairsinthenurserysuperintendingthetoilettesofherchildrenandlisteningtothemorningprayerswhichthelittlecreaturesperformedatherknee。Everymorningsheandtheyperformedthisdutyprivately，andbeforethepublicceremonialatwhichSirPittpresidedandatwhichallthepeopleofthehouseholdwereexpectedtoassemble。
RawdonsatdowninthestudybeforetheBaronet’stable，setoutwiththeorderlybluebooksandtheletters，theneatlydocketedbillsandsymmetricalpamphlets，thelockedaccount-books，desks，anddispatchboxes，theBible，theQuarterlyReview，andtheCourtGuide，whichallstoodasifonparadeawaitingtheinspectionoftheirchief。
Abookoffamilysermons，oneofwhichSirPittwasinthehabitofadministeringtohisfamilyonSundaymornings，layreadyonthestudytable，andawaitinghisjudiciousselection。Andbythesermon-bookwastheObservernewspaper，dampandneatlyfolded，andforSirPitt’sownprivateuse。Hisgentlemanalonetooktheopportunityofperusingthenewspaperbeforehelaiditbyhismaster’sdesk。Beforehehadbroughtitintothestudythatmorning，hehadreadinthejournalaflamingaccountof“FestivitiesatGauntHouse。”withthenamesofallthedistinguishedpersonagesinvitedbythoMarquisofSteynetomeethisRoyalHighness。Havingmadecommentsuponthisentertainmenttothehousekeeperandhernieceastheyweretakingearlyteaandhotbutteredtoastintheformerlady’sapartment，andwonderedhowtheRawdingCrawleyscouldgiton，thevalethaddampedandfoldedthepaperoncemore，sothatitlookedquitefreshandinnocentagainstthearrivalofthemasterofthehouse。
PoorRawdontookupthepaperandbegantotryandreadituntilhisbrothershouldarrive。Buttheprintfellblankuponhiseyes，andhedidnotknowintheleastwhathewasreading。TheGovernmentnewsandappointmentswhichSirPittasapublicmanwasboundtoperuse，otherwisehewouldbynomeanspermittheintroductionofSundaypapersintohishousehold，thetheatricalcriticisms，thefightforahundredpoundsasidebetweentheBarkingButcherandtheTutburyPet，theGauntHousechronicleitself，whichcontainedamostcomplimentarythoughguardedaccountofthefamouscharadesofwhichMrs。Beckyhadbeentheheroine——allthesepassedasinahazebeforeRawdon，ashesatwaitingthearrivalofthechiefofthefamily。
Punctually，astheshrill-tonedbelloftheblackmarblestudyclockbegantochimenine，SirPittmadehisappearance，fresh，neat，smuglyshaved，withawaxycleanface，andstiffshirtcollar，hisscantyhaircombedandoiled，trimminghisnailsashedescendedthestairsmajestically，inastarchedcravatandagreyflanneldressing-gown——arealoldEnglishgentleman，inaword——