MissSharpBeginstoMakeFriendsAndnow，beingreceivedasamemberoftheamiablefamilywhoseportraitswehavesketchedintheforegoingpages，itbecamenaturallyRebecca’sdutytomakeherself，asshesaid，agreeabletoherbenefactors，andtogaintheirconfidencetotheutmostofherpower。Whocanbutadmirethisqualityofgratitudeinanunprotectedorphan；and，ifthereenteredsomedegreeofselfishnessintohercalculations，whocansaybutthatherprudencewasperfectlyjustifiable？”Iamaloneintheworld。”saidthefriendlessgirl。”Ihavenothingtolookforbutwhatmyownlabourcanbringme；andwhilethatlittlepink-facedchitAmelia，withnothalfmysense，hastenthousandpoundsandanestablishmentsecure，poorRebeccaandmyfigureisfarbetterthanhers
hasonlyherselfandherownwitstotrustto。Well，letusseeifmywitscannotprovidemewithanhonourablemaintenance，andifsomedayortheotherIcannotshowMissAmeliamyrealsuperiorityoverher。NotthatI
dislikepoorAmelia：whocandislikesuchaharmless，good-naturedcreature？——onlyitwillbeafinedaywhenIcantakemyplaceaboveherintheworld，aswhy，indeed，shouldInot？”Thusitwasthatourlittleromanticfriendformedvisionsofthefutureforherself——
normustwebescandalisedthat，inallhercastlesintheair，ahusbandwastheprincipalinhabitant。Ofwhatelsehaveyoungladiestothink，buthusbands？Ofwhatelsedotheirdearmammasthink？”Imustbemyownmamma。”saidRebecca；notwithoutatinglingconsciousnessofdefeat，asshethoughtoverherlittlemisadventurewithJosSedley。
SoshewiselydeterminedtorenderherpositionwiththeQueen’sCrawleyfamilycomfortableandsecure，andtothisendresolvedtomakefriendsofeveryonearoundherwhocouldatallinterferewithhercomfort。
AsmyLadyCrawleywasnotoneofthesepersonages，andawoman，moreover，soindolentandvoidofcharacterasnottobeoftheleastconsequenceinherownhouse，Rebeccasoonfoundthatitwasnotatallnecessarytocultivatehergoodwill——indeed，impossibletogainit。Sheusedtotalktoherpupilsabouttheir“poormamma“；and，thoughshetreatedthatladywitheverydemonstrationofcoolrespect，itwastotherestofthefamilythatshewiselydirectedthechiefpartofherattentions。
Withtheyoungpeople，whoseapplauseshethoroughlygained，hermethodwasprettysimple。Shedidnotpestertheiryoungbrainswithtoomuchlearning，but，onthecontrary，letthemhavetheirownwayinregardtoeducatingthemselves；forwhatinstructionismoreeffectualthanself-instruction？Theeldestwasratherfondofbooks，andastherewasintheoldlibraryatQueen’sCrawleyaconsiderableprovisionofworksoflightliteratureofthelastcentury，bothintheFrenchandEnglishlanguagestheyhadbeenpurchasedbytheSecretaryoftheTapeandSealingWaxOfficeattheperiodofhisdisgrace，andasnobodyevertroubledthebook-shelvesbutherself，Rebeccawasenabledagreeably，and，asitwere，inplaying，toimpartagreatdealofinstructiontoMissRoseCrawley。
SheandMissRosethusreadtogethermanydelightfulFrenchandEnglishworks，amongwhichmaybementionedthoseofthelearnedDr。Smollett，oftheingeniousMr。HenryFielding，ofthegracefulandfantasticMonsieurCrebillontheyounger，whomourimmortalpoetGraysomuchadmired，andoftheuniversalMonsieurdeVoltaire。Once，whenMr。Crawleyaskedwhattheyoungpeoplewerereading，thegovernessreplied“Smollett。”
“Oh，Smollett。”saidMr。Crawley，quitesatisfied。”Hishistoryismoredull，butbynomeanssodangerousasthatofMr。Hume。Itishistoryyouarereading？”“Yes。”
saidMissRose；without，however，addingthatitwasthehistoryofMr。HumphreyClinker。OnanotheroccasionhewasratherscandalisedatfindinghissisterwithabookofFrenchplays；butasthegovernessremarkedthatitwasforthepurposeofacquiringtheFrenchidiominconversation，hewasfaintobecontent。Mr。Crawley，asadiplomatist，wasexceedinglyproudofhisownskillinspeakingtheFrenchlanguageforhewasoftheworldstill，andnotalittlepleasedwiththecomplimentswhichthegovernesscontinuallypaidhimuponhisproficiency。
MissViolet’stasteswere，onthecontrary，morerudeandboisterousthanthoseofhersister。Sheknewthesequesteredspotswherethehenslaidtheireggs。Shecouldclimbatreetorobthenestsofthefeatheredsongstersoftheirspeckledspoils。Andherpleasurewastoridetheyoungcolts，andtoscourtheplainslikeCamilla。
Shewasthefavouriteofherfatherandofthestablemen。
Shewasthedarling，andwithaltheterrorofthecook；forshediscoveredthehauntsofthejam-pots，andwouldattackthemwhentheywerewithinherreach。
Sheandhersisterwereengagedinconstantbattles。Anyofwhichpeccadilloes，ifMissSharpdiscovered，shedidnottellthemtoLadyCrawley；whowouldhavetoldthemtothefather，orworse，toMr。Crawley；butpromisednottotellifMissVioletwouldbeagoodgirlandlovehergoverness。
WithMr。CrawleyMissSharpwasrespectfulandobedient。SheusedtoconsulthimonpassagesofFrenchwhichshecouldnotunderstand，thoughhermotherwasaFrenchwoman，andwhichhewouldconstruetohersatisfaction：and，besidesgivingherhisaidinprofaneliterature，hewaskindenoughtoselectforherbooksofamoreserioustendency，andaddresstohermuchofhisconversation。Sheadmired，beyondmeasure，hisspeechattheQuashimaboo-AidSociety；tookaninterestinhispamphletonmalt：wasoftenaffected，eventotears，byhisdiscoursesofanevening，andwouldsay——“Oh，thankyou，sir。”withasigh，andalookuptoheaven，thatmadehimoccasionallycondescendtoshakehandswithher。”Bloodiseverything，afterall。”
wouldthataristocraticreligionistsay。”HowMissSharpisawakenedbymywords，whennotoneofthepeoplehereistouched。Iamtoofineforthem——toodelicate。
Imustfamiliarisemystyle——butsheunderstandsit。HermotherwasaMontmorency。”
Indeeditwasfromthisfamousfamily，asitappears，thatMissSharp，bythemother’sside，wasdescended。
Ofcourseshedidnotsaythathermotherhadbeenonthestage；itwouldhaveshockedMr。Crawley’sreligiousscruples。Howmanynobleemigreshadthishorridrevolutionplungedinpoverty！Shehadseveralstoriesaboutherancestorsereshehadbeenmanymonthsinthehouse；someofwhichMr。CrawleyhappenedtofindinD’Hozier’sdictionary，whichwasinthelibrary，andwhichstrengthenedhisbeliefintheirtruth，andinthehigh-breedingofRebecca。Arewetosupposefromthiscuriosityandpryingintodictionaries，couldourheroinesupposethatMr。Crawleywasinterestedinher？——no，onlyinafriendlyway。HavewenotstatedthathewasattachedtoLadyJaneSheepshanks？
HetookRebeccatotaskonceortwiceabouttheproprietyofplayingatbackgammonwithSirPitt，sayingthatitwasagodlessamusement，andthatshewouldbemuchbetterengagedinreading“Thrump’sLegacy。”or“TheBlindWasherwomanofMoorfields。”oranyworkofamoreseriousnature；butMissSharpsaidherdearmotherusedoftentoplaythesamegamewiththeoldCountdeTrictracandthevenerableAbbeduCornet，andsofoundanexcuseforthisandotherworldlyamusements。
ButitwasnotonlybyplayingatbackgammonwiththeBaronet，thatthelittlegovernessrenderedherselfagreeabletoheremployer。Shefoundmanydifferentwaysofbeingusefultohim。Shereadover，withindefatigablepatience，allthoselawpapers，withwhich，beforeshecametoQueen’sCrawley，hehadpromisedtoentertainher。Shevolunteeredtocopymanyofhisletters，andadroitlyalteredthespellingofthemsoastosuittheusagesofthepresentday。Shebecameinterestedineverythingappertainingtotheestate，tothefarm，thepark，thegarden，andthestables；andsodelightfulacompanionwasshe，thattheBaronetwouldseldomtakehisafter-breakfastwalkwithoutherandthechildrenofcourse，whenshewouldgiveheradviceastothetreeswhichweretobeloppedintheshrubberies，thegarden-bedstobedug，thecropswhichweretobecut，thehorseswhichweretogotocartorplough。BeforeshehadbeenayearatQueen’sCrawleyshehadquitewontheBaronet’sconfidence；andtheconversationatthedinner-table，whichbeforeusedtobeheldbetweenhimandMr。Horrocksthebutler，wasnowalmostexclusivelybetweenSirPittandMissSharp。ShewasalmostmistressofthehousewhenMr。Crawleywasabsent，butconductedherselfinhernewandexaltedsituationwithsuchcircumspectionandmodestyasnottooffendtheauthoritiesofthekitchenandstable，amongwhomherbehaviourwasalwaysexceedinglymodestandaffable。Shewasquiteadifferentpersonfromthehaughty，shy，dissatisfiedlittlegirlwhomwehaveknownpreviously，andthischangeoftemperprovedgreatprudence，asinceredesireofamendment，oratanyrategreatmoralcourageonherpart。WhetheritwastheheartwhichdictatedthisnewsystemofcomplaisanceandhumilityadoptedbyourRebecca，istobeprovedbyherafter-history。Asystemofhypocrisy，whichlaststhroughwholeyears，isoneseldomsatisfactorilypractisedbyapersonofone-and-
twenty；however，ourreaderswillrecollect，that，thoughyounginyears，ourheroinewasoldinlifeandexperience，andwehavewrittentonopurposeiftheyhavenotdiscoveredthatshewasaverycleverwoman。
TheelderandyoungersonofthehouseofCrawleywere，likethegentlemanandladyintheweather-box，neverathometogether——theyhatedeachothercordially：
indeed，RawdonCrawley，thedragoon，hadagreatcontemptfortheestablishmentaltogether，andseldomcamethitherexceptwhenhisauntpaidherannualvisit。
Thegreatgoodqualityofthisoldladyhasbeenmentioned。Shepossessedseventythousandpounds，andhadalmostadoptedRawdon。Shedislikedhereldernephewexceedingly，anddespisedhimasamilksop。Inreturnhedidnothesitatetostatethathersoulwasirretrievablylost，andwasofopinionthathisbrother’schanceinthenextworldwasnotawhitbetter。”Sheisagodlesswomanoftheworld。”wouldMr。Crawleysay；“sheliveswithatheistsandFrenchmen。MymindshudderswhenIthinkofherawful，awfulsituation，andthat，nearassheistothegrave，sheshouldbesogivenuptovanity，licentiousness，profaneness，andfolly。”Infact，theoldladydeclinedaltogethertohearhishour’slectureofanevening；andwhenshecametoQueen’sCrawleyalone，hewasobligedtopretermithisusualdevotionalexercises。
“Shutupyoursarmons，Pitt，whenMissCrawleycomesdown。”saidhisfather；“shehaswrittentosaythatshewon’tstandthepreachifying。”
“O，sir！considertheservants。”
“Theservantsbehanged。”saidSirPitt；andhissonthoughtevenworsewouldhappenweretheydeprivedofthebenefitofhisinstruction。
“Why，hangit，Pitt！”saidthefathertohisremonstrance。
“Youwouldn’tbesuchaflatastoletthreethousandayeargooutofthefamily？”
“Whatismoneycomparedtooursouls，sir？”continuedMr。Crawley。
“Youmeanthattheoldladywon’tleavethemoneytoyou？”——andwhoknowsbutitwasMr。Crawley’smeaning？
OldMissCrawleywascertainlyoneofthereprobate。
ShehadasnuglittlehouseinParkLane，and，assheateanddrankagreatdealtoomuchduringtheseasoninLondon，shewenttoHarrowgateorCheltenhamforthesummer。Shewasthemosthospitableandjovialofoldvestals，andhadbeenabeautyinherday，shesaid。
Alloldwomenwerebeautiesonce，weverywellknow。
Shewasabelesprit，andadreadfulRadicalforthosedays。ShehadbeeninFrancewhereSt。Just，theysay，inspiredherwithanunfortunatepassion，andloved，everafter，Frenchnovels，Frenchcookery，andFrenchwines。ShereadVoltaire，andhadRousseaubyheart；
talkedverylightlyaboutdivorce，andmostenergeticallyoftherightsofwomen。ShehadpicturesofMr。Foxineveryroominthehouse：whenthatstatesmanwasinopposition，Iamnotsurethatshehadnotflungamainwithhim；andwhenhecameintooffice，shetookgreatcreditforbringingovertohimSirPittandhiscolleagueforQueen’sCrawley，althoughSirPittwouldhavecomeoverhimself，withoutanytroubleonthehonestlady’spart。ItisneedlesstosaythatSirPittwasbroughttochangehisviewsafterthedeathofthegreatWhigstatesman。
ThisworthyoldladytookafancytoRawdonCrawleywhenaboy，senthimtoCambridgeinoppositiontohisbrotheratOxford，and，whentheyoungmanwasrequestedbytheauthoritiesofthefirst-namedUniversitytoquitafteraresidenceoftwoyears，sheboughthimhiscommissionintheLifeGuardsGreen。
Aperfectandcelebrated“blood。”ordandyabouttown，wasthisyoungofficer。Boxing，rat-hunting，thefivescourt，andfour-in-handdrivingwerethenthefashionofourBritisharistocracy；andhewasanadeptinallthesenoblesciences。Andthoughhebelongedtothehouseholdtroops，who，asitwastheirdutytorallyroundthePrinceRegent，hadnotshowntheirvalourinforeignserviceyet，RawdonCrawleyhadalreadyaproposofplay，ofwhichhewasimmoderatelyfondfoughtthreebloodyduels，inwhichhegaveampleproofsofhiscontemptfordeath。
“Andforwhatfollowsafterdeath。”wouldMr。
Crawleyobserve，throwinghisgooseberry-colouredeyesuptotheceiling。Hewasalwaysthinkingofhisbrother’ssoul，orofthesoulsofthosewhodifferedwithhiminopinion：itisasortofcomfortwhichmanyoftheseriousgivethemselves。
Silly，romanticMissCrawley，farfrombeinghorrifiedatthecourageofherfavourite，alwaysusedtopayhisdebtsafterhisduels；andwouldnotlistentoawordthatwaswhisperedagainsthismorality。”Hewillsowhiswildoats。”shewouldsay，“andisworthfarmorethanthatpulinghypocriteofabrotherofhis。”