Paul’s，jinglingrapidlybythestrangers’entryofFleet-
Market，which，withExeter’Change，hasnowdepartedtotheworldofshadows——howtheypassedtheWhiteBearinPiccadilly，andsawthedewrisingupfromthemarket-gardensofKnightsbridge——howTurnhamgreen，Brentwood，Bagshot，werepassed——neednotbetoldhere。
Butthewriterofthesepages，whohaspursuedinformerdays，andinthesamebrightweather，thesameremarkablejourney，cannotbutthinkofitwithasweetandtenderregret。Whereistheroadnow，anditsmerryincidentsoflife？IstherenoChelseaorGreenwichfortheoldhonestpimple-nosedcoachmen？Iwonderwherearethey，thosegoodfellows？IsoldWelleraliveordead？
andthewaiters，yea，andtheinnsatwhichtheywaited，andthecoldroundsofbeefinside，andthestuntedostler，withhisbluenoseandclinkingpail，whereishe，andwhereishisgeneration？Tothosegreatgeniusesnowinpetticoats，whoshallwritenovelsforthebelovedreader’schildren，thesemenandthingswillbeasmuchlegendandhistoryasNineveh，orCoeurdeLion，orJackSheppard。Forthemstage-coacheswillhavebecomeromances——ateamoffourbaysasfabulousasBucephalusorBlackBess。Ah，howtheircoatsshone，asthestable-menpulledtheirclothesoff，andawaytheywent——ah，howtheirtailsshook，aswithsmokingsidesatthestage’sendtheydemurelywalkedawayintotheinn-yard。Alas！weshallneverhearthehornsingatmidnight，orseethepike-gatesflyopenanymore。Whither，however，isthelightfour-insideTrafalgarcoachcarryingus？LetusbesetdownatQueen’sCrawleywithoutfurtherdivagation，andseehowMissRebeccaSharpspeedsthere。
CHAPTERVIII
MissRebeccaSharptoMissAmeliaSedley，RussellSquare，London。
Free——PittCrawley。
MYDEAREST，SWEETESTAMELIA，WithwhatmingledjoyandsorrowdoItakeupthepentowritetomydearestfriend！Oh，whatachangebetweento-dayandyesterday！NowIamfriendlessandalone；yesterdayIwasathome，inthesweetcompanyofasister，whomIshallever，evercherish！
IwillnottellyouinwhattearsandsadnessIpassedthefatalnightinwhichIseparatedfromyou。YOUwentonTuesdaytojoyandhappiness，withyourmotherandYOURDEVOTEDYOUNGSOLDIERbyyourside；andIthoughtofyouallnight，dancingatthePerkins’s，theprettiest，Iamsure，ofalltheyoungladiesattheBall。IwasbroughtbythegroomintheoldcarriagetoSirPittCrawley’stownhouse，where，afterJohnthegroomhadbehavedmostrudelyandinsolentlytomealas！’twassafetoinsultpovertyandmisfortune！，IwasgivenovertoSirP。’scare，andmadetopassthenightinanoldgloomybed，andbythesideofahorridgloomyoldcharwoman，whokeepsthehouse。Ididnotsleeponesinglewinkthewholenight。
SirPittisnotwhatwesillygirls，whenweusedtoreadCeciliaatChiswick，imaginedabaronetmusthavebeen。Anything，indeed，lesslikeLordOrvillecannotbeimagined。Fancyanold，stumpy，short，vulgar，andverydirtyman，inoldclothesandshabbyoldgaiters，whosmokesahorridpipe，andcookshisownhorridsupperinasaucepan。Hespeakswithacountryaccent，andsworeagreatdealattheoldcharwoman，atthehackneycoachmanwhodroveustotheinnwherethecoachwentfrom，andonwhichImadethejourneyOUTSIDEFORTHE
GREATERPARTOFTHEWAY。
Iwasawakenedatdaybreakbythecharwoman，andhavingarrivedattheinn，wasatfirstplacedinsidethecoach。But，whenwegottoaplacecalledLeakington，wheretherainbegantofallveryheavily——willyoubelieveit？——Iwasforcedtocomeoutside；forSirPittisaproprietorofthecoach，andasapassengercameatMudbury，whowantedaninsideplace，Iwasobligedtogooutsideintherain，where，however，ayounggentlemanfromCambridgeCollegeshelteredmeverykindlyinoneofhisseveralgreatcoats。
ThisgentlemanandtheguardseemedtoknowSirPittverywell，andlaughedathimagreatdeal。Theybothagreedincallinghimanoldscrew；whichmeansaverystingy，avariciousperson。Henevergivesanymoneytoanybody，theysaidandthismeannessIhate；andtheyounggentlemanmademeremarkthatwedroveveryslowforthelasttwostagesontheroad，becauseSirPittwasonthebox，andbecauseheisproprietorofthehorsesforthispartofthejourney。”Butwon’tI
flog’emontoSquashmore，whenItaketheribbons？”
saidtheyoungCantab。”Andsarve’emright，MasterJack。”saidtheguard。WhenIcomprehendedthemeaningofthisphrase，andthatMasterJackintendedtodrivetherestoftheway，andrevengehimselfonSirPitt’shorses，ofcourseIlaughedtoo。
Acarriageandfoursplendidhorses，coveredwitharmorialbearings，however，awaitedusatMudbury，fourmilesfromQueen’sCrawley，andwemadeourentrancetothebaronet’sparkinstate。Thereisafineavenueofamilelongleadingtothehouse，andthewomanatthelodge-gateoverthepillarsofwhichareaserpentandadove，thesupportersoftheCrawleyarms，madeusanumberofcurtsiesassheflungopentheoldironcarveddoors，whicharesomethinglikethoseatodiousChiswick。
“There’sanavenue。”saidSirPitt，“amilelong。
There’ssixthousandpoundoftimberinthemtheretrees。Doyoucallthatnothing？”Hepronouncedavenue——EVENUE，andnothing——NOTHINK，sodroll；andhehadaMr。Hodson，hishindfromMudbury，intothecarriagewithhim，andtheytalkedaboutdistraining，andsellingup，anddrainingandsubsoiling，andagreatdealabouttenantsandfarming——muchmorethanIcouldunderstand。SamMileshadbeencaughtpoaching，andPeterBaileyhadgonetotheworkhouseatlast。”Servehimright。”saidSirPitt；“himandhisfamilyhasbeencheatingmeonthatfarmthesehundredandfiftyyears。”
Someoldtenant，Isuppose，whocouldnotpayhisrent。
SirPittmighthavesaid“heandhisfamily。”tobesure；
butrichbaronetsdonotneedtobecarefulaboutgrammar，aspoorgovernessesmustbe。
Aswepassed，Iremarkedabeautifulchurch-spirerisingabovesomeoldelmsinthepark；andbeforethem，inthemidstofalawn，andsomeouthouses，anoldredhousewithtallchimneyscoveredwithivy，andthewindowsshininginthesun。”Isthatyourchurch，sir？”
Isaid。
“Yes，hangit。”saidSirPitt，onlyheused，dear，AMUCH
WICKEDERWORD；“how’sButy，Hodson？Buty’smybrotherBute，mydear——mybrothertheparson。ButyandtheBeastIcallhim，ha，ha！”
Hodsonlaughedtoo，andthenlookingmoregraveandnoddinghishead，said，“I’mafraidhe’sbetter，SirPitt。Hewasoutonhisponyyesterday，lookingatourcorn。”
“Lookingafterhistithes，hang’unonlyheusedthesamewickedword。Willbrandyandwaterneverkillhim？He’sastoughasoldwhatdyecallum——oldMethusalem。”
Mr。Hodsonlaughedagain。”Theyoungmenishomefromcollege。They’vewhoppedJohnScrogginstillhe’swellnighdead。”
“Whopmysecondkeeper！”roaredoutSirPitt。
“Hewasontheparson’sground，sir。”repliedMr。
Hodson；andSirPittinafurysworethatifheevercaught’empoachingonhisground，he’dtransport’em，bythelordhewould。However，hesaid，“I’vesoldthepresentationoftheliving，Hodson；noneofthatbreedshallgetit，Iwar’nt“；andMr。Hodsonsaidhewasquiteright：
andIhavenodoubtfromthisthatthetwobrothersareatvariance——asbrothersoftenare，andsisterstoo。Don’tyourememberthetwoMissScratchleysatChiswick，howtheyusedalwaystofightandquarrel——andMaryBox，howshewasalwaysthumpingLouisa？
Presently，seeingtwolittleboysgatheringsticksinthewood，Mr。Hodsonjumpedoutofthecarriage，atSirPitt’sorder，andrusheduponthemwithhiswhip。”Pitchinto’em，Hodson。”roaredthebaronet；“flogtheirlittlesoulsout，andbring’emuptothehouse，thevagabonds；
I’llcommit’emassureasmyname’sPitt。”AndpresentlyweheardMr。Hodson’swhipcrackingontheshouldersofthepoorlittleblubberingwretches，andSirPitt，seeingthatthemalefactorswereincustody，droveontothehall。
Alltheservantswerereadytomeetus，and……
Here，mydear，Iwasinterruptedlastnightbyadreadfulthumpingatmydoor：andwhodoyouthinkitwas？SirPittCrawleyinhisnight-capanddressing-
gown，suchafigure！AsIshrankawayfromsuchavisitor，hecameforwardandseizedmycandle。”Nocandlesaftereleveno’clock，MissBecky。”saidhe。”Gotobedinthedark，youprettylittlehussy“thatiswhathecalledme，“andunlessyouwishmetocomeforthecandleeverynight，mindandbeinbedateleven。”Andwiththis，heandMr。Horrocksthebutlerwentofflaughing。YoumaybesureIshallnotencourageanymoreoftheirvisits。Theyletloosetwoimmensebloodhoundsatnight，whichalllastnightwereyellingandhowlingatthemoon。”IcallthedogGorer。”saidSirPitt；“he’skilledamanthatdoghas，andismasterofabull，andthemotherIusedtocallFlora；butnowIcallsherAroarer，forshe’stoooldtobite。Haw，haw！”
BeforethehouseofQueen’sCrawley，whichisanodiousold-fashionedredbrickmansion，withtallchimneysandgablesofthestyleofQueenBess，thereisaterraceflankedbythefamilydoveandserpent，andonwhichthegreathall-dooropens。Andoh，mydear，thegreathallIamsureisasbigandasglumasthegreathallinthedearcastleofUdolpho。Ithasalargefireplace，inwhichwemightputhalfMissPinkerton’sschool，andthegrateisbigenoughtoroastanoxattheveryleast。RoundtheroomhangIdon’tknowhowmanygenerationsofCrawleys，somewithbeardsandruffs，somewithhugewigsandtoesturnedout，somedressedinlongstraightstaysandgownsthatlookasstiffastowers，andsomewithlongringlets，andoh，mydear！scarcelyanystaysatall。Atoneendofthehallisthegreatstaircaseallinblackoak，asdismalasmaybe，andoneithersidearetalldoorswithstags’heads。overthem，leadingtothebilliard-roomandthelibrary，andthegreatyellowsaloonandthemorning-rooms。Ithinkthereareatleasttwentybedroomsonthefirstfloor；oneofthemhasthebedinwhichQueenElizabethslept；
andIhavebeentakenbymynewpupilsthroughallthesefineapartmentsthismorning。Theyarenotrenderedlessgloomy，Ipromiseyou，byhavingtheshuttersalwaysshut；andthereisscarceoneoftheapartments，butwhenthelightwasletintoit，Iexpectedtoseeaghostintheroom。Wehaveaschoolroomonthesecondfloor，withmybedroomleadingintoitononeside，andthatoftheyoungladiesontheother。ThenthereareMr。Pitt’sapartments——Mr。Crawley，heiscalled——theeldestson，andMr。RawdonCrawley’srooms——heisanofficerlikeSOMEBODY，andawaywithhisregiment。ThereisnowantofroomIassureyou。YoumightlodgeallthepeopleinRussellSquareinthehouse，Ithink，andhavespacetospare。
Halfanhourafterourarrival，thegreatdinner-bellwasrung，andIcamedownwithmytwopupilstheyareverythininsignificantlittlechitsoftenandeightyearsold。IcamedowninyourdearmuslingownaboutwhichthatodiousMrs。Pinnerwassorude，becauseyougaveitme；forIamtobetreatedasoneofthefamily，exceptoncompanydays，whentheyoungladiesandIaretodineupstairs。
Well，thegreatdinner-bellrang，andweallassembledinthelittledrawing-roomwheremyLadyCrawleysits。SheisthesecondLadyCrawley，andmotheroftheyoungladies。Shewasanironmonger’sdaughter，andhermarriagewasthoughtagreatmatch。Shelooksasifshehadbeenhandsomeonce，andhereyesarealwaysweepingforthelossofherbeauty。Sheispaleandmeagreandhigh-shouldered，andhasnotawordtosayforherself，evidently。HerstepsonMr。Crawley，waslikewiseintheroom。Hewasinfulldress，aspompousasanundertaker。Heispale，thin，ugly，silent；hehasthinlegs，nochest，hay-colouredwhiskers，andstraw-
colouredhair。Heistheverypictureofhissaintedmotheroverthemantelpiece——GriseldaofthenoblehouseofBinkie。
“Thisisthenewgoverness，Mr。Crawley。”saidLadyCrawley，comingforwardandtakingmyhand。”MissSharp。”
“0！”saidMr。Crawley，andpushedhisheadonceforwardandbeganagaintoreadagreatpamphletwithwhichhewasbusy。
“Ihopeyouwillbekindtomygirls。”saidLadyCrawley，withherpinkeyesalwaysfulloftears。
“Law，Ma，ofcourseshewill。”saidtheeldest：andI
sawataglancethatIneednotbeafraidofTHATwoman。
“Myladyisserved。”saysthebutlerinblack，inanimmensewhiteshirt-frill，thatlookedasifithadbeenoneoftheQueenElizabeth’sruffsdepictedinthehall；