Whenthepartieswereover，andthecarriageshadrolledaway，theinsatiableMissCrawleywouldsay。”Cometomydressingroom，Becky，andletusabusethecompany“——which，betweenthem，thispairoffriendsdidperfectly。OldSirHuddlestonwheezedagreatdealatdinner；SirGilesWapshothadaparticularlynoisymannerofimbibinghissoup，andherladyshipawinkofthelefteye；allofwhichBeckycaricaturedtoadmiration；aswellastheparticularsofthenight’sconversation；thepolitics；
thewar；thequarter-sessions；thefamousrunwiththeH。H。，andthoseheavyanddrearythemes，aboutwhichcountrygentlemenconverse。AsfortheMissesWapshot’stoilettesandLadyFuddleston’sfamousyellowhat，MissSharptorethemtotatters，totheinfiniteamusementofheraudience。
“Mydear，youareaperfecttrouvaille。”MissCrawleywouldsay。”IwishyoucouldcometomeinLondon，butIcouldn’tmakeabuttofyouasIdoofpoorBriggsno，no，youlittleslycreature；youaretooclever——Isn’tshe，Firkin？”
Mrs。FirkinwhowasdressingtheverysmallremnantofhairwhichremainedonMissCrawley’spate，flungupherheadandsaid，“IthinkMissisveryclever。”
withthemostkillingsarcasticair。Infact，Mrs。Firkinhadthatnaturaljealousywhichisoneofthemainprinciplesofeveryhonestwoman。
AfterrebuffingSirHuddlestonFuddleston，MissCrawleyorderedthatRawdonCrawleyshouldleadherintodinnereveryday，andthatBeckyshouldfollowwithhercushion——orelseshewouldhaveBecky’sarmandRawdonwiththepillow。”Wemustsittogether。”shesaid。
“We’retheonlythreeChristiansinthecounty，mylove“——
inwhichcase，itmustbeconfessed，thatreligionwasataverylowebbinthecountyofHants。
Besidesbeingsuchafinereligionist，MissCrawleywas，aswehavesaid，anUltra-liberalinopinions，andalwaystookoccasiontoexpresstheseinthemostcandidmanner。
“Whatisbirth，mydear！”shewouldsaytoRebecca——
“LookatmybrotherPitt；lookattheHuddlestons，whohavebeenheresinceHenryII；lookatpoorButeattheparsonage——isanyoneofthemequaltoyouinintelligenceorbreeding？Equaltoyou——theyarenotevenequaltopoordearBriggs，mycompanion，orBowls，mybutler。
You，mylove，arealittleparagon——positivelyalittlejewel——Youhavemorebrainsthanhalftheshire——ifmerithaditsrewardyououghttobeaDuchess——no，thereoughttobenoduchessesatall——butyououghttohavenosuperior，andIconsideryou，mylove，asmyequalineveryrespect；and——willyouputsomecoalsonthefire，mydear；andwillyoupickthisdressofmine，andalterit，youwhocandoitsowell？”Sothisoldphilanthropistusedtomakeherequalrunofhererrands，executehermillinery，andreadhertosleepwithFrenchnovels，everynight。
Atthistime，assomeoldreadersmayrecollect，thegenteelworldhadbeenthrownintoaconsiderablestateofexcitementbytwoevents，which，asthepaperssay，mightgiveemploymenttothegentlemenofthelongrobe。
EnsignShaftonhadrunawaywithLadyBarbaraFitzurse，theEarlofBruin’sdaughterandheiress；andpoorVereVane，agentlemanwho，uptoforty，hadmaintainedamostrespectablecharacterandrearedanumerousfamily，suddenlyandoutrageouslylefthishome，forthesakeofMrs。Rougemont，theactress，whowassixty-fiveyearsofage。
“ThatwasthemostbeautifulpartofdearLordNelson’scharacter。”MissCrawleysaid。”Hewenttothedeuceforawoman。Theremustbegoodinamanwhowilldothat。Iadoreallimpudentmatches——WhatIlikebest，isforanoblemantomarryamiller’sdaughter，asLordFlowerdaledid——itmakesallthewomensoangry——Iwishsomegreatmanwouldrunawaywithyou，mydear；I’msureyou’reprettyenough。”
“Twopost-boys！——Oh，itwouldbedelightful！”Rebeccaowned。
“AndwhatIlikenextbest，isforapoorfellowtorunawaywitharichgirl。IhavesetmyheartonRawdonrunningawaywithsomeone。”
“Arichsomeone，orapoorsomeone？”
“Why，yougoose！RawdonhasnotashillingbutwhatI
givehim。Heiscriblededettes——hemustrepairhisfortunes，andsucceedintheworld。”
“Isheveryclever？”Rebeccaasked。
“Clever，mylove？——notanideaintheworldbeyondhishorses，andhisregiment，andhishunting，andhisplay；
buthemustsucceed——he’ssodelightfullywicked。Don’tyouknowhehashitaman，andshotaninjuredfatherthroughthehatonly？He’sadoredinhisregiment；andalltheyoungmenatWattier’sandtheCocoa-Treeswearbyhim。”
WhenMissRebeccaSharpwrotetoherbelovedfriendtheaccountofthelittleballatQueen’sCrawley，andthemannerinwhich，forthefirsttime，CaptainCrawleyhaddistinguishedher，shedidnot，strangetorelate，giveanaltogetheraccurateaccountofthetransaction。TheCaptainhaddistinguishedheragreatnumberoftimesbefore。TheCaptainhadmetherinahalf-scoreofwalks。TheCaptainhadlighteduponherinahalf-hundredofcorridorsandpassages。TheCaptainhadhungoverherpianotwentytimesofaneveningmyLadywasnowupstairs，beingill，andnobodyheededherasMissSharpsang。TheCaptainhadwrittenhernotesthebestthatthegreatblunderingdragooncoulddeviseandspell；butdulnessgetsonaswellasanyotherqualitywithwomen。Butwhenheputthefirstofthenotesintotheleavesofthesongshewassinging，thelittlegoverness，risingandlookinghimsteadilyintheface，tookupthetriangularmissivedaintily，andwaveditaboutasifitwereacockedhat，andshe，advancingtotheenemy，poppedthenoteintothefire，andmadehimaverylowcurtsey，andwentbacktoherplace，andbegantosingawayagainmoremerrilythanever。
“What’sthat？”saidMissCrawley，interruptedinherafter-dinnerdozebythestoppageofthemusic。
“It’safalsenote。”MissSharpsaidwithalaugh；andRawdonCrawleyfumedwithrageandmortification。
SeeingtheevidentpartialityofMissCrawleyforthenewgoverness，howgooditwasofMrs。ButeCrawleynottobejealous，andtowelcometheyoungladytotheRectory，andnotonlyher，butRawdonCrawley，herhusband’srivalintheOldMaid’sfivepercents！Theybecameveryfondofeachother’ssociety，Mrs。Crawleyandhernephew。Hegaveuphunting；hedeclinedentertainmentsatFuddleston：hewouldnotdinewiththemessofthedepotatMudbury：hisgreatpleasurewastostrollovertoCrawleyparsonage——whitherMissCrawleycametoo；andastheirmammawasill，whynotthechildrenwithMissSharp？Sothechildrenlittledears！camewithMissSharp；andofaneveningsomeofthepartywouldwalkbacktogether。NotMissCrawley——shepreferredhercarriage——butthewalkovertheRectoryfields，andinatthelittleparkwicket，andthroughthedarkplantation，andupthecheckeredavenuetoQueen’sCrawley，wascharminginthemoonlighttotwosuchloversofthepicturesqueastheCaptainandMissRebecca。
“Othosestars，thosestars！”MissRebeccawouldsay，turninghertwinklinggreeneyesuptowardsthem。”I
feelmyselfalmostaspiritwhenIgazeuponthem。”
“O——ah——Gad——yes，sodoIexactly，MissSharp。”theotherenthusiastreplied。”Youdon’tmindmycigar，doyou，MissSharp？”MissSharplovedthesmellofacigaroutofdoorsbeyondeverythingintheworld——andshejusttastedonetoo，intheprettiestwaypossible，andgavealittlepuff，andalittlescream，andalittlegiggle，andrestoredthedelicacytotheCaptain，whotwirledhismoustache，andstraightwaypuffeditintoablazethatglowedquiteredinthedarkplantation，andswore——“Jove——aw——Gad——aw——it’sthefinestsegawIeversmokedintheworldaw。”forhisintellectandconversationwerealikebrilliantandbecomingtoaheavyyoungdragoon。
OldSirPitt，whowastakinghispipeandbeer，andtalkingtoJohnHorrocksabouta“ship“thatwastobekilled，espiedthepairsooccupiedfromhisstudy-window，andwithdreadfuloathssworethatifitwasn’tforMissCrawley，he’dtakeRawdonandbundleunoutofdoors，likearogueashewas。
“Hebeabad’n，sureenough。”Mr。Horrocksremarked；
“andhismanFlethersiswuss，andhavemadesucharowinthehousekeeper’sroomaboutthedinnersandhale，asnolordwouldmake——butIthinkMissSharp’samatchfor’n，SirPitt。”headded，afterapause。
Andso，intruth，shewas——forfatherandsontoo。
QuiteaSentimentalChapterWemustnowtakeleaveofArcadia，andthoseamiablepeoplepractisingtheruralvirtuesthere，andtravelbacktoLondon，toinquirewhathasbecomeofMissAmelia“Wedon’tcareafigforher。”writessomeunknowncorrespondentwithaprettylittlehandwritingandapinksealtohernote。”Sheisfadeandinsipid。”andaddssomemorekindremarksinthisstrain，whichIshouldneverhaverepeatedatall，butthattheyareintruthprodigiouslycomplimentarytotheyoungladywhomtheyconcern。
Hasthebelovedreader，inhisexperienceofsociety，neverheardsimilarremarksbygood-naturedfemalefriends；whoalwayswonderwhatyouCANseeinMissSmiththatissofascinating；orwhatCOULDinduceMajorJonestoproposeforthatsillyinsignificantsimperingMissThompson，whohasnothingbutherwax-dollfacetorecommendher？Whatisthereinapairofpinkcheeksandblueeyesforsooth？thesedearMoralistsask，andhintwiselythatthegiftsofgenius，theaccomplishmentsofthemind，themasteryofMangnall’sQuestions，andaladylikeknowledgeofbotanyandgeology，theknackofmakingpoetry，thepowerofrattlingsonatasintheHerz-manner，andsoforth，arefarmorevaluableendowmentsforafemale，thanthosefugitivecharmswhichafewyearswillinevitablytarnish。Itisquiteedifyingtohearwomenspeculateupontheworthlessnessandthedurationofbeauty。
Butthoughvirtueisamuchfinerthing，andthosehaplesscreatureswhosufferunderthemisfortuneofgoodlooksoughttobecontinuallyputinmindofthefatewhichawaitsthem；andthough，verylikely，theheroicfemalecharacterwhichladiesadmireisamoregloriousandbeautifulobjectthanthekind，fresh，smiling，artless，tenderlittledomesticgoddess，whommenareinclinedtoworship——yetthelatterandinferiorsortofwomenmusthavethisconsolation——thatthemendoadmirethemafterall；andthat，inspiteofallourkindfriends’warningsandprotests，wegooninourdesperateerrorandfolly，andshalltotheendofthechapter。Indeed，formyownpart，thoughIhavebeenrepeatedlytoldbypersonsforwhomIhavethegreatestrespect，thatMissBrownisaninsignificantchit，andMrs。Whitehasnothingbutherpetitminoischiffonne，andMrs。Blackhasnotawordtosayforherself；yetIknowthatIhavehadthemostdelightfulconversationswithMrs。Blackofcourse，mydearMadam，theyareinviolable：IseeallthemeninaclusterroundMrs。White’schair：alltheyoungfellowsbattlingtodancewithMissBrown；andsoIamtemptedtothinkthattobedespisedbyhersexisaverygreatcomplimenttoawoman。
TheyoungladiesinAmelia’ssocietydidthisforherverysatisfactorily。Forinstance，therewasscarcelyanypointuponwhichtheMissesOsborne，George’ssisters，andtheMesdemoisellesDobbinagreedsowellasintheirestimateofherverytriflingmerits：andtheirwonderthattheirbrotherscouldfindanycharmsinher。”Wearekindtoher。”theMissesOsbornesaid，apairoffineblack-
browedyoungladieswhohadhadthebestofgovernesses，masters，andmilliners；andtheytreatedherwithsuchextremekindnessandcondescension，andpatronisedhersoinsufferably，thatthepoorlittlethingwasinfactperfectlydumbintheirpresence，andtoalloutwardappearanceasstupidastheythoughther。Shemadeeffortstolikethem，asindutybound，andassistersofherfuturehusband。Shepassed“longmornings“withthem——themostdrearyandseriousofforenoons。Shedroveoutsolemnlyintheirgreatfamilycoachwiththem，andMissWirttheirgoverness，thatraw-bonedVestal。Theytookhertotheancientconcertsbywayofatreat，andtotheoratorio，andtoSt。Paul’stoseethecharitychildren，whereinsuchterrorwassheofherfriends，shealmostdidnotdarebeaffectedbythehymnthechildrensang。Theirhousewascomfortable；theirpapa’stablerichandhandsome；theirsocietysolemnandgenteel；
theirself-respectprodigious；theyhadthebestpewattheFoundling：alltheirhabitswerepompousandorderly，andalltheiramusementsintolerablydullanddecorous。
Aftereveryoneofhervisitsandohhowgladshewaswhentheywereover！MissOsborneandMissMariaOsborne，andMissWirt，thevestalgoverness，askedeachotherwithincreasedwonder，“WhatcouldGeorgefindinthatcreature？”
Howisthis？somecarpingreaderexclaims。HowisitthatAmelia，whohadsuchanumberoffriendsatschool，andwassobelovedthere，comesoutintotheworldandisspurnedbyherdiscriminatingsex？Mydearsir，therewerenomenatMissPinkerton’sestablishmentexcepttheolddancing-master；andyouwouldnothavehadthegirlsfalloutaboutHIM？WhenGeorge，theirhandsomebrother，ranoffdirectlyafterbreakfast，anddinedfromhomehalf-a-dozentimesaweek，nowondertheneglectedsistersfeltalittlevexation。WhenyoungBullockofthefirmofHulker，Bullock&Co。，Bankers，LombardStreet，whohadbeenmakinguptoMissMariathelasttwoseasons，actuallyaskedAmeliatodancethecotillon，couldyouexpectthattheformeryoungladyshouldbepleased？Andyetshesaidshewas，likeanartlessforgivingcreature。”I’msodelightedyoulikedearAmelia。”shesaidquiteeagerlytoMr。Bullockafterthedance。”She’sengagedtomybrotherGeorge；there’snotmuchinher，butshe’sthebest-naturedandmostunaffectedyoungcreature：athomewe’reallsofondofher。”
Deargirl！whocancalculatethedepthofaffectionexpressedinthatenthusiasticSO？
MissWirtandthesetwoaffectionateyoungwomensoearnestlyandfrequentlyimpresseduponGeorgeOsborne’smindtheenormityofthesacrificehewasmaking，andhisromanticgenerosityinthrowinghimselfawayuponAmelia，thatI’mnotsurebutthathereallythoughthewasoneofthemostdeservingcharactersintheBritisharmy，andgavehimselfuptobelovedwithagooddealofeasyresignation。
Somehow，althoughhelefthomeeverymorning，aswasstated，anddinedabroadsixdaysintheweek，whenhissistersbelievedtheinfatuatedyouthtobeatMissSedley’sapron-strings：hewasNOTalwayswithAmelia，whilsttheworldsupposedhimatherfeet。Certainitisthatonmoreoccasionsthanone，whenCaptainDobbincalledtolookforhisfriend，MissOsbornewhowasveryattentivetotheCaptain，andanxioustohearhismilitarystories，andtoknowaboutthehealthofhisdearMamma，wouldlaughinglypointtotheoppositesideofthesquare，andsay，“Oh，youmustgototheSedleys’toaskforGeorge；
WEneverseehimfrommorningtillnight。”AtwhichkindofspeechtheCaptainwouldlaughinratheranabsurdconstrainedmanner，andturnofftheconversation，likeaconsummatemanoftheworld，tosometopicofgeneralinterest，suchastheOpera，thePrince’slastballatCarltonHouse，ortheweather——thatblessingtosociety。
“Whataninnocentitis，thatpetofyours。”MissMariawouldthensaytoMissJane，upontheCaptain’sdeparture。”DidyouseehowheblushedatthementionofpoorGeorgeonduty？”