“Well，BeckywouldhavemadeagoodLadyCrawley，afterall。”MissCrawleyremarkedwhowasmollifiedbythegirl’srefusal，andveryliberalandgenerousnowtherewasnocallforhersacrifices。”Shehasbrainsinplentymuchmorewitinherlittlefingerthanyouhave，mypoordearBriggs，inallyourhead。Hermannersareexcellent，nowIhaveformedher。SheisaMontmorency，Briggs，andbloodissomething，thoughIdespiseitformypart；andshewouldhaveheldherownamongstthosepompousstupidHampshirepeoplemuchbetterthanthatunfortunateironmonger’sdaughter。”
Briggscoincidedasusual，andthe“previousattachment“
wasthendiscussedinconjectures。”Youpoorfriendlesscreaturesarealwayshavingsomefoolishtendre。”MissCrawleysaid。”Youyourself，youknow，wereinlovewithawriting-masterdon’tcry，Briggs——
you’realwayscrying，anditwon’tbringhimtolifeagain，andIsupposethisunfortunateBeckyhasbeensillyandsentimentaltoo——someapothecary，orhouse-steward，orpainter，oryoungcurate，orsomethingofthatsort。”
“Poorthing！poorthing！”saysBriggswhowasthinkingoftwenty-fouryearsback，andthathecticyoungwriting-masterwhoselockofyellowhair，andwhoseletters，beautifulintheirillegibility，shecherishedinherolddeskupstairs。”Poorthing，poorthing！”saysBriggs。Oncemoreshewasafresh-cheekedlassofeighteen；
shewasateveningchurch，andthehecticwriting-masterandshewerequaveringoutofthesamepsalm-book。
“AftersuchconductonRebecca’spart。”MissCrawleysaidenthusiastically，“ourfamilyshoulddosomething。
Findoutwhoistheobjet，Briggs。I’llsethimupinashop；orordermyportraitofhim，youknow；orspeaktomycousin，theBishop andI’lldoterBecky，andwe’llhaveawedding，Briggs，andyoushallmakethebreakfast，andbeabridesmaid。”
Briggsdeclaredthatitwouldbedelightful，andvowedthatherdearMissCrawleywasalwayskindandgenerous，andwentuptoRebecca’sbedroomtoconsoleherandprattleabouttheoffer，andtherefusal，andthecausethereof；andtohintatthegenerousintentionsofMissCrawley，andtofindoutwhowasthegentlemanthathadthemasteryofMissSharp’sheart。
Rebeccawasverykind，veryaffectionateandaffected——respondedtoBriggs’sofferoftendernesswithgratefulfervour——ownedtherewasasecretattachment——adeliciousmystery——whatapityMissBriggshadnotremainedhalfaminutelongeratthekeyhole！Rebeccamight，perhaps，havetoldmore：butfiveminutesafterMissBriggs’sarrivalinRebecca’sapartment，MissCrawleyactuallymadeherappearancethere——anunheard-ofhonour——herimpatiencehadovercomeher；shecouldnotwaitforthetardyoperationsofherambassadress：soshecameinperson，andorderedBriggsoutoftheroom。
AndexpressingherapprovalofRebecca’sconduct，sheaskedparticularsoftheinterview，andtheprevioustransactionswhichhadbroughtabouttheastonishingofferofSirPitt。
RebeccasaidshehadlonghadsomenotionofthepartialitywithwhichSirPitthonouredherforhewasinthehabitofmakinghisfeelingsknowninaveryfrankandunreservedmannerbut，nottomentionprivatereasonswithwhichshewouldnotforthepresenttroubleMissCrawley，SirPitt’sage，station，andhabitsweresuchastorenderamarriagequiteimpossible；andcouldawomanwithanyfeelingofself-respectandanydecencylistentoproposalsatsuchamoment，whenthefuneralofthelover’sdeceasedwifehadnotactuallytakenplace？
“Nonsense，mydear，youwouldneverhaverefusedhimhadtherenotbeensomeoneelseinthecase。”MissCrawleysaid，comingtoherpointatonce。”Tellmetheprivatereasons；whataretheprivatereasons？Thereissomeone；whoisitthathastouchedyourheart？”
Rebeccacastdownhereyes，andownedtherewas。
“Youhaveguessedright，dearlady。”shesaid，withasweetsimplefalteringvoice。”Youwonderatonesopoorandfriendlesshavinganattachment，don’tyou？
Ihaveneverheardthatpovertywasanysafeguardagainstit。Iwishitwere。”
“Mypoordearchild。”criedMissCrawley，whowasalwaysquitereadytobesentimental，“isourpassionunrequited，then？Arewepininginsecret？Tellmeall，andletmeconsoleyou。”
“Iwishyoucould，dearMadam。”Rebeccasaidinthesametearfultone。”Indeed，indeed，Ineedit。”AndshelaidherheaduponMissCrawley’sshoulderandwepttheresonaturallythattheoldlady，surprisedintosympathy，embracedherwithanalmostmaternalkindness，utteredmanysoothingprotestsofregardandaffectionforher，vowedthatshelovedherasadaughter，andwoulddoeverythinginherpowertoserveher。”Andnowwhoisit，mydear？IsitthatprettyMissSedley’sbrother？Yousaidsomethingaboutanaffairwithhim。
I’llaskhimhere，mydear。Andyoushallhavehim：
indeedyoushall。”
“Don’taskmenow。”Rebeccasaid。”Youshallknowallsoon。Indeedyoushall。DearkindMissCrawley——
dearfriend，mayIsayso？”
“Thatyoumay，mychild。”theoldladyreplied，kissingher。
“Ican’ttellyounow。”sobbedoutRebecca，“Iamverymiserable。ButO！lovemealways——promiseyouwilllovemealways。”Andinthemidstofmutualtears——fortheemotionsoftheyoungerwomanhadawakenedthesympathiesoftheelder——thispromisewassolemnlygivenbyMissCrawley，wholeftherlittleprotege，blessingandadmiringherasadear，artless，tender-hearted，affectionate，incomprehensiblecreature。
Andnowshewasleftalonetothinkoverthesuddenandwonderfuleventsoftheday，andofwhathadbeenandwhatmighthavebeen。WhatthinkyouweretheprivatefeelingsofMiss，nobeggingherpardonofMrs。Rebecca？If，afewpagesback，thepresentwriterclaimedtheprivilegeofpeepingintoMissAmeliaSedley’sbedroom，andunderstandingwiththeomniscienceofthenovelistallthegentlepainsandpassionswhichweretossinguponthatinnocentpillow，whyshouldhenotdeclarehimselftobeRebecca’sconfidantetoo，masterofhersecrets，andseal-keeperofthatyoungwoman’sconscience？
Well，then，inthefirstplace，Rebeccagavewaytosomeverysincereandtouchingregretsthatapieceofmarvellousgoodfortuneshouldhavebeensonearher，andsheactuallyobligedtodeclineit。Inthisnaturalemotioneveryproperlyregulatedmindwillcertainlyshare。Whatgoodmotheristherethatwouldnotcommiserateapennilessspinster，whomighthavebeenmylady，andhavesharedfourthousandayear？Whatwell-bredyoungpersonisthereinallVanityFair，whowillnotfeelforahard-working，ingenious，meritoriousgirl，whogetssuchanhonourable，advantageous，provokingoffer，justattheverymomentwhenitisoutofherpowertoacceptit？IamsureourfriendBecky’sdisappointmentdeservesandwillcommandeverysympathy。
IrememberonenightbeingintheFairmyself，ataneveningparty。IobservedoldMissToadytherealsopresent，singleoutforherspecialattentionsandflatterylittleMrs。Briefless，thebarrister’swife，whoisofagoodfamilycertainly，but，asweallknow，isaspooraspoorcanbe。
What，Iaskedinmyownmind，cancausethisobsequiousnessonthepartofMissToady；hasBrieflessgotacountycourt，orhashiswifehadafortunelefther？
MissToadyexplainedpresently，withthatsimplicitywhichdistinguishesallherconduct。”Youknow。”shesaid，“Mrs。BrieflessisgranddaughterofSirJohnRedhand，whoissoillatCheltenhamthathecan’tlastsixmonths。Mrs。Briefless’spapasucceeds；soyouseeshewillbeabaronet’sdaughter。”AndToadyaskedBrieflessandhiswifetodinnertheverynextweek。
Ifthemerechanceofbecomingabaronet’sdaughtercanprocurealadysuchhomageintheworld，surely，surelywemayrespecttheagoniesofayoungwomanwhohaslosttheopportunityofbecomingabaronet’swife。WhowouldhavedreamedofLadyCrawleydyingsosoon？Shewasoneofthosesicklywomenthatmighthavelastedthesetenyears——Rebeccathoughttoherself，inallthewoesofrepentance——andImighthavebeenmylady！ImighthaveledthatoldmanwhitherI
would。ImighthavethankedMrs。Buteforherpatronage，andMr。Pittforhisinsufferablecondescension。I
wouldhavehadthetown-housenewlyfurnishedanddecorated。IwouldhavehadthehandsomestcarriageinLondon，andaboxattheopera；andIwouldhavebeenpresentednextseason。Allthismighthavebeen；
andnow——nowallwasdoubtandmystery。
ButRebeccawasayoungladyoftoomuchresolutionandenergyofcharactertopermitherselfmuchuselessandunseemlysorrowfortheirrevocablepast；so，havingdevotedonlytheproperportionofregrettoit，shewiselyturnedherwholeattentiontowardsthefuture，whichwasnowvastlymoreimportanttoher。Andshesurveyedherposition，anditshopes，doubts，andchances。
Inthefirstplace，shewasMARRIED——thatwasagreatfact。SirPittknewit。Shewasnotsomuchsurprisedintotheavowal，asinducedtomakeitbyasuddencalculation。
Itmusthavecomesomeday：andwhynotnowasatalaterperiod？Hewhowouldhavemarriedherhimselfmustatleastbesilentwithregardtohermarriage。
HowMissCrawleywouldbearthenews——wasthegreatquestion。MisgivingsRebeccahad；butsherememberedallMissCrawleyhadsaid；theoldlady’savowedcontemptforbirth；herdaringliberalopinions；hergeneralromanticpropensities；heralmostdotingattachmenttohernephew，andherrepeatedlyexpressedfondnessforRebeccaherself。Sheissofondofhim，Rebeccathought，thatshewillforgivehimanything：sheissousedtomethatIdon’tthinkshecouldbecomfortablewithoutme：whentheeclaircissementcomestherewillbeascene，andhysterics，andagreatquarrel，andthenagreatreconciliation。Atallevents，whatusewasthereindelaying？thediewasthrown，andnoworto-morrowtheissuemustbethesame。Andso，resolvedthatMissCrawleyshouldhavethenews，theyoungpersondebatedinhermindastothebestmeansofconveyingittoher；andwhethersheshouldfacethestormthatmustcome，orflyandavoidituntilitsfirstfurywasblownover。Inthisstateofmeditationshewrotethefollowingletter：
DearestFriend，ThegreatcrisiswhichwehavedebatedaboutsooftenisCOME。Halfofmysecretisknown，andIhavethoughtandthought，untilIamquitesurethatnowisthetimetorevealTHEWHOLEOFTHEMYSTERY。SirPittcametomethismorning，andmade——whatdoyouthink？——ADECLARATIONINFORM。Thinkofthat！Poorlittleme。ImighthavebeenLadyCrawley。HowpleasedMrs。Butewouldhavebeen：andmatanteifIhadtakenprecedenceofher！Imighthavebeensomebody’smamma，insteadof——O，Itremble，Itremble，whenI
thinkhowsoonwemusttellall！
SirPittknowsIammarried，andnotknowingtowhom，isnotverymuchdispleasedasyet。MatanteisACTUALLYANGRYthatIshouldhaverefusedhim。Butsheisallkindnessandgraciousness。ShecondescendstosayIwouldhavemadehimagoodwife；andvowsthatshewillbeamothertoyourlittleRebecca。Shewillbeshakenwhenshefirsthearsthenews。Butneedwefearanythingbeyondamomentaryanger？Ithinknot：IAM
SUREnot。Shedotesuponyousoyounaughty，good-for-
nothingman，thatshewouldpardonyouANYTHING：
and，indeed，Ibelieve，thenextplaceinherheartismine：andthatshewouldbemiserablewithoutme。
Dearest！somethingTELLSMEweshallconquer。Youshallleavethatodiousregiment：quitgaming，racing，andBE
AGOODBOY；andweshallallliveinParkLane，andmatanteshallleaveusallhermoney。
Ishalltryandwalkto-morrowat3intheusualplace。
IfMissB。accompaniesme，youmustcometodinner，andbringananswer，andputitinthethirdvolumeofPorteus’sSermons。But，atallevents，cometoyourownR。
ToMissElizaStyles，AtMr。Barnet’s，Saddler，Knightsbridge。
AndItrustthereisnoreaderofthislittlestorywhohasnotdiscernmentenoughtoperceivethattheMissElizaStylesanoldschoolfellow，Rebeccasaid，withwhomshehadresumedanactivecorrespondenceoflate，andwhousedtofetchtheselettersfromthesaddler’s，worebrassspurs，andlargecurlingmustachios，andwasindeednootherthanCaptainRawdonCrawley。