RebeccahadneverseenaBaronet，asfarassheknew，andassoonasshehadtakenleaveofAmelia，andcountedtheguineaswhichgood-naturedMr。Sedleyhadputintoapurseforher，andassoonasshehaddonewipinghereyeswithherhandkerchiefwhichoperationsheconcludedtheverymomentthecarriagehadturnedthecornerofthestreet，shebegantodepictinherownmindwhataBaronetmustbe。”Iwonder，doeshewearastar？”thoughtshe，“orisitonlylordsthatwearstars？
Buthewillbeveryhandsomelydressedinacourtsuit，withruffles，andhishairalittlepowdered，likeMr。
WroughtonatCoventGarden。Isupposehewillbeawfullyproud，andthatIshallbetreatedmostcontemptuously。StillImustbearmyhardlotaswellasIcan——atleast，IshallbeamongstGENTLEFOLKS，andnotwithvulgarcitypeople“：andshefelltothinkingofherRussellSquarefriendswiththatverysamephilosophicalbitternesswithwhich，inacertainapologue，thefoxisrepresentedasspeakingofthegrapes。
HavingpassedthroughGauntSquareintoGreatGauntStreet，thecarriageatlengthstoppedatatallgloomyhousebetweentwoothertallgloomyhouses，eachwithahatchmentoverthemiddledrawing-roomwindow；asisthecustomofhousesinGreatGauntStreet，inwhichgloomylocalitydeathseemstoreignperpetual。Theshuttersofthefirst-floorwindowsofSirPitt’smansionwereclosed——thoseofthedining-roomwerepartiallyopen，andtheblindsneatlycoveredupinoldnewspapers。
John，thegroom，whohaddriventhecarriagealone，didnotcaretodescendtoringthebell；andsoprayedapassingmilk-boytoperformthatofficeforhim。Whenthebellwasrung，aheadappearedbetweentheintersticesofthedining-roomshutters，andthedoorwasopenedbyamanindrabbreechesandgaiters，withadirtyoldcoat，afouloldneckclothlashedroundhisbristlyneck，ashiningbaldhead，aleeringredface，apairoftwinklinggreyeyes，andamouthperpetuallyonthegrin“ThisSirPittCrawley’s？”saysJohn，fromthebox。
“Ees。”saysthemanatthedoor，withanod。
“Handdownthese’eretrunksthen。”saidJohn。
“Hand’ndownyourself。”saidtheporter。
“Don’tyouseeIcan’tleavemyhosses？Come，bearahand，myfinefeller，andMisswillgiveyousomebeer。”
saidJohn，withahorse-laugh，forhewasnolongerrespectfultoMissSharp，asherconnexionwiththefamilywasbrokenoff，andasshehadgivennothingtotheservantsoncomingaway。
Thebald-headedman，takinghishandsoutofhisbreechespockets，advancedonthissummons，andthrowingMissSharp’strunkoverhisshoulder，carrieditintothehouse。
“Takethisbasketandshawl，ifyouplease，andopenthedoor。”saidMissSharp，anddescendedfromthecarriageinmuchindignation。”IshallwritetoMr。Sedleyandinformhimofyourconduct。”saidshetothegroom。
“Don’t。”repliedthatfunctionary。”Ihopeyou’veforgotnothink？Miss’Melia’sgownds——haveyougotthem——asthelady’smaidwastohave’ad？Ihopethey’llfityou。
Shutthedoor，Jim，you’llgetnogoodoutof’ER。”
continuedJohn，pointingwithhisthumbtowardsMissSharp：
“abadlot，Itellyou，abadlot。”andsosaying，Mr。
Sedley’sgroomdroveaway。Thetruthis，hewasattachedtothelady’smaidinquestion，andindignantthatsheshouldhavebeenrobbedofherperquisites。
Onenteringthedining-room，bytheordersoftheindividualingaiters，Rebeccafoundthatapartmentnotmorecheerfulthansuchroomsusuallyare，whengenteelfamiliesareoutoftown。Thefaithfulchambersseem，asitwere，tomourntheabsenceoftheirmasters。Theturkeycarpethasrolleditselfup，andretiredsulkilyunderthesideboard：thepictureshavehiddentheirfacesbehindoldsheetsofbrownpaper：theceilinglampismuffledupinadismalsackofbrownholland：thewindow-curtainshavedisappearedunderallsortsofshabbyenvelopes：themarblebustofSirWalpoleCrawleyislookingfromitsblackcorneratthebareboardsandtheoiledfire-irons，andtheemptycard-racksoverthemantelpiece：thecellarethaslurkedawaybehindthecarpet：thechairsareturnedupheadsandtailsalongthewalls：andinthedarkcorneroppositethestatue，isanold-fashionedcrabbedknife-box，lockedandsittingonadumbwaiter。
Twokitchenchairs，andaroundtable，andanattenuatedoldpokerandtongswere，however，gatheredroundthefire-place，aswasasaucepanoverafeeblesputteringfire。Therewasabitofcheeseandbread，andatincandlestickonthetable，andalittleblackporterinapint-pot。
“Hadyourdinner，Isuppose？Itisnottoowarmforyou？Likeadropofbeer？”
“WhereisSirPittCrawley？”saidMissSharpmajestically。
“He，he！I’mSirPittCrawley。Reklectyouowemeapintforbringingdownyourluggage。He，he！AskTinkerifIaynt。Mrs。Tinker，MissSharp；MissGoverness，Mrs。Charwoman。Ho，ho！”
TheladyaddressedasMrs。Tinkeratthismomentmadeherappearancewithapipeandapaperoftobacco，forwhichshehadbeendespatchedaminutebeforeMissSharp’sarrival；andshehandedthearticlesovertoSirPitt，whohadtakenhisseatbythefire。
“Where’sthefarden？”saidhe。”Igaveyouthreehalfpence。Where’sthechange，oldTinker？”
“There！”repliedMrs。Tinker，flingingdownthecoin；
it’sonlybaronetsascaresaboutfarthings。”
“Afarthingadayissevenshillingsayear。”answeredtheM。P。；“sevenshillingsayearistheinterestofsevenguineas。Takecareofyourfarthings，oldTinker，andyourguineaswillcomequitenat’ral。”
“Youmaybesureit’sSirPittCrawley，youngwoman。”
saidMrs。Tinker，surlily；“becausehelookstohisfarthings。You’llknowhimbetteraforelong。”
“Andlikemenonetheworse，MissSharp。”saidtheoldgentleman，withanairalmostofpoliteness。”ImustbejustbeforeI’mgenerous。”
“Henevergaveawayafarthinginhislife。”growledTinker。
“Never，andneverwill：it’sagainstmyprinciple。Goandgetanotherchairfromthekitchen，Tinker，ifyouwanttositdown；andthenwe’llhaveabitofsupper。”
Presentlythebaronetplungedaforkintothesaucepanonthefire，andwithdrewfromthepotapieceoftripeandanonion，whichhedividedintoprettyequalportions，andofwhichhepartookwithMrs。Tinker。”Yousee，MissSharp，whenI’mnothereTinker’sonboardwages：whenI’mintownshedineswiththefamily。
Haw！haw！I’mgladMissSharp’snothungry，ain’tyou，Tink？”Andtheyfelltoupontheirfrugalsupper。
AftersupperSirPittCrawleybegantosmokehispipe；andwhenitbecamequitedark，helightedtherushlightinthetincandlestick，andproducingfromaninterminablepocketahugemassofpapers，beganreadingthem，andputtingtheminorder。
“I’mhereonlawbusiness，mydear，andthat’showithappensthatIshallhavethepleasureofsuchaprettytravellingcompanionto-morrow。”
“He’salwaysatlawbusiness。”saidMrs。Tinker，takingupthepotofporter。
“Drinkanddrinkabout。”saidtheBaronet。”Yes；mydear，Tinkerisquiteright：I’velostandwonmorelawsuitsthananymaninEngland。LookhereatCrawley，Bart。v。Snaffle。I’llthrowhimover，ormyname’snotPittCrawley。PodderandanotherversusCrawley，Bart。
OverseersofSnailyparishagainstCrawley，Bart。Theycan’tproveit’scommon：I’lldefy’em；theland’smine。
ItnomorebelongstotheparishthanitdoestoyouorTinkerhere。I’llbeat’em，ifitcostmeathousandguineas。
Lookoverthepapers；youmayifyoulike，mydear。
Doyouwriteagoodhand？I’llmakeyouusefulwhenwe’reatQueen’sCrawley，dependonit，MissSharp。
Nowthedowager’sdeadIwantsomeone。”
“Shewasasbadashe。”saidTinker。”Shetookthelawofeveryoneofhertradesmen；andturnedawayforty-eightfootmeninfouryear。”
“Shewasclose——veryclose。”saidtheBaronet，simply；
“butshewasavalyblewomantome，andsavedmeasteward。”——Andinthisconfidentialstrain，andmuchtotheamusementofthenew-comer，theconversationcontinuedforaconsiderabletime。WhateverSirPittCrawley’squalitiesmightbe，goodorbad，hedidnotmaketheleastdisguiseofthem。Hetalkedofhimselfincessantly，sometimesinthecoarsestandvulgarestHampshireaccent；
sometimesadoptingthetoneofamanoftheworld。Andso，withinjunctionstoMissSharptobereadyatfiveinthemorning，hebadehergoodnight。“You’llsleepwithTinkerto-night。”hesaid；“it’sabigbed，andthere’sroomfortwo。
LadyCrawleydiedinit。Goodnight。”
SirPittwentoffafterthisbenediction，andthesolemnTinker，rushlightinhand，ledthewayupthegreatbleakstonestairs，pastthegreatdrearydrawing-roomdoors，withthehandlesmuffledupinpaper，intothegreatfrontbedroom，whereLadyCrawleyhadsleptherlast。Thebedandchamberweresofunerealandgloomy，youmighthavefancied，notonlythatLadyCrawleydiedintheroom，butthatherghostinhabitedit。Rebeccasprangabouttheapartment，however，withthegreatestliveliness，andhadpeepedintothehugewardrobes，andtheclosets，andthecupboards，andtriedthedrawerswhichwerelocked，andexaminedthedrearypicturesandtoiletteappointments，whiletheoldcharwomanwassayingherprayers。”Ishouldn’tliketosleepinthisyeerbedwithoutagoodconscience，Miss。”saidtheoldwoman。”There’sroomforusandahalf-dozenofghostsinit。”saysRebecca。”TellmeallaboutLadyCrawleyandSirPittCrawley，andeverybody，myDEARMrs。
Tinker。”
ButoldTinkerwasnottobepumpedbythislittlecross-questioner；andsignifyingtoherthatbedwasaplaceforsleeping，notconversation，setupinhercornerofthebedsuchasnoreasonlythenoseofinnocencecanproduce。Rebeccalayawakeforalong，longtime，thinkingofthemorrow，andofthenewworldintowhichshewasgoing，andofherchancesofsuccessthere。Therushlightflickeredinthebasin。Themantelpiececastupagreatblackshadow，overhalfofamouldyoldsampler，whichherdefunctladyshiphadworked，nodoubt，andovertwolittlefamilypicturesofyounglads，oneinacollegegown，andtheotherinaredjacketlikeasoldier。
Whenshewenttosleep，Rebeccachosethatonetodreamabout。
Atfouro’clock，onsucharoseatesummer’smorningasevenmadeGreatGauntStreetlookcheerful，thefaithfulTinker，havingwakenedherbedfellow，andbidherpreparefordeparture，unbarredandunboltedthegreathalldoortheclangingandclappingwhereofstartledthesleepingechoesinthestreet，andtakingherwayintoOxfordStreet，summonedacoachfromastandthere。Itisneedlesstoparticularizethenumberofthevehicle，ortostatethatthedriverwasstationedthusearlyintheneighbourhoodofSwallowStreet，inhopesthatsomeyoungbuck，reelinghomewardfromthetavern，mightneedtheaidofhisvehicle，andpayhimwiththegenerosityofintoxication。
Itislikewiseneedlesstosaythatthedriver，ifhehadanysuchhopesasthose。abovestated，wasgrosslydisappointed；andthattheworthyBaronetwhomhedrovetotheCitydidnotgivehimonesinglepennymorethanhisfare。ItwasinvainthatJehuappealedandstormed；
thatheflungdownMissSharp’sbandboxesinthegutteratthe’Necks，andsworehewouldtakethelawofhisfare。
“You’dbetternot。”saidoneoftheostlers；“it’sSirPittCrawley。”
“Soitis，Joe。”criedtheBaronet，approvingly；“andI’dliketoseethemancandome。”
“Soshouldoi。”saidJoe，grinningsulkily，andmountingtheBaronet’sbaggageontheroofofthecoach。
“Keeptheboxforme，Leader。”exclaimstheMemberofParliamenttothecoachman；whoreplied，“Yes，SirPitt。”withatouchofhishat，andrageinhissoulforhehadpromisedtheboxtoayounggentlemanfromCambridge，whowouldhavegivenacrowntoacertainty，andMissSharpwasaccommodatedwithabackseatinsidethecarriage，whichmightbesaidtobecarryingherintothewideworld。
HowtheyoungmanfromCambridgesulkilyputhisfivegreat-coatsinfront；butwasreconciledwhenlittleMissSharpwasmadetoquitthecarriage，andmountupbesidehim——whenhecoveredherupinoneofhisBenjamins，andbecameperfectlygood-humoured——howtheasthmaticgentleman，theprimlady，whodeclareduponhersacredhonourshehadnevertravelledinapubliccarriagebeforethereisalwayssuchaladyinacoach——Alas！was；forthecoaches，wherearethey？，andthefatwidowwiththebrandy-bottle，tooktheirplacesinside——howtheporteraskedthemallformoney，andgotsixpencefromthegentlemanandfivegreasyhalfpencefromthefatwidow——andhowthecarriageatlengthdroveaway——nowthreadingthedarklanesofAldersgate，anonclatteringbytheBlueCupolaofSt。