women’sfaces；thelonglineofrocksandbuildingwereblushingandbrightinthesunshine。Rebeccaworeakind，tendersmileonherface，andwasholdingoutherprettywhitehandasBriggsemergedfromthebox。WhatcouldBriggsdobutacceptthesalutation？
“MissSh——Mrs。Crawley。”shesaid。
Mrs。Crawleyseizedherhand，pressedittoherheart，andwithasuddenimpulse，flingingherarmsroundBriggs，kissedheraffectionately。”Dear，dearfriend！”shesaid，withatouchofsuchnaturalfeeling，thatMissBriggsofcourseatoncebegantomelt，andeventhebathing-womanwasmollified。
RebeccafoundnodifficultyinengagingBriggsinalong，intimate，anddelightfulconversation。EverythingthathadpassedsincethemorningofBecky’ssuddendeparturefromMissCrawley’shouseinParkLaneuptothepresentday，andMrs。Bute’shappyretreat，wasdiscussedanddescribedbyBriggs。AllMissCrawley’ssymptoms，andtheparticularsofherillnessandmedicaltreatment，werenarratedbytheconfidantewiththatfulnessandaccuracywhichwomendelightin。Abouttheircomplaintsandtheirdoctorsdoladiesevertireoftalkingtoeachother？Briggsdidnotonthisoccasion；nordidRebeccawearyoflistening。Shewasthankful，trulythankful，thatthedearkindBriggs，thatthefaithful，theinvaluableFirkin，hadbeenpermittedtoremainwiththeirbenefactressthroughherillness。Heavenblessher！thoughshe，Rebecca，hadseemedtoactundutifullytowardsMissCrawley；yetwasnotherfaultanaturalandexcusableone？
Couldshehelpgivingherhandtothemanwhohadwonherheart？Briggs，thesentimental，couldonlyturnuphereyestoheavenatthisappeal，andheaveasympatheticsigh，andthinkthatshe，too，hadgivenawayheraffectionslongyearsago，andownthatRebeccawasnoverygreatcriminal。
“CanIeverforgetherwhosobefriendedthefriendlessorphan？No，thoughshehascastmeoff。”thelattersaid，“Ishallneverceasetoloveher，andIwoulddevotemylifetoherservice。Asmyownbenefactress，asmybelovedRawdon’sadoredrelative，IloveandadmireMissCrawley，dearMissBriggs，beyondanywomanintheworld，andnexttoherIloveallthosewhoarefaithfultoher。IwouldneverhavetreatedMissCrawley’sfaithfulfriendsasthatodiousdesigningMrs。Butehasdone。Rawdon，whowasallheart。”Rebeccacontinued。”althoughhisoutwardmannersmightseemroughandcareless，hadsaidahundredtimes，withtearsinhiseyes，thatheblessedHeavenforsendinghisdearestAuntytwosuchadmirablenursesasherattachedFirkinandheradmirableMissBriggs。ShouldthemachinationsofthehorribleMrs。Buteend，asshetoomuchfearedtheywould，inbanishingeverybodythatMissCrawleylovedfromherside，andleavingthatpoorladyavictimtothoseharpiesattheRectory，RebeccabesoughtherMissBriggstorememberthatherownhome，humbleasitwas，wasalwaysopentoreceiveBriggs。Dearfriend。”sheexclaimed，inatransportofenthusiasm，“someheartscanneverforgetbenefits；allwomenarenotButeCrawleys！ThoughwhyshouldIcomplainofher。”Rebeccaadded；“thoughIhavebeenhertoolandthevictimtoherarts，doInotowemydearestRawdontoher？”AndRebeccaunfoldedtoBriggsallMrs。Bute’sconductatQueen’sCrawley，which，thoughunintelligibletoherthen，wasclearlyenoughexplainedbytheeventsnow——nowthattheattachmenthadsprungupwhichMrs。Butehadencouragedbyathousandartifices——nowthattwoinnocentpeoplehadfallenintothesnareswhichshehadlaidforthem，andlovedandmarriedandbeenruinedthroughherschemes。
Itwasallverytrue。Briggssawthestratagemsasclearlyaspossible。Mrs。ButehadmadethematchbetweenRawdonandRebecca。Yet，thoughthelatterwasaperfectlyinnocentvictim，MissBriggscouldnotdisguisefromherfriendherfearthatMissCrawley’saffectionswerehopelesslyestrangedfromRebecca，andthattheoldladywouldneverforgivehernephewformakingsoimprudentamarriage。
OnthispointRebeccahadherownopinion，andstillkeptupagoodheart。IfMissCrawleydidnotforgivethematpresent，shemightatleastrelentonafutureday。Evennow，therewasonlythatpuling，sicklyPittCrawleybetweenRawdonandabaronetcy；andshouldanythinghappentotheformer，allwouldbewell。Atallevents，tohaveMrs。Bute’sdesignsexposed，andherselfwellabused，wasasatisfaction，andmightbeadvantageoustoRawdon’sinterest；andRebecca，afteranhour’schatwithherrecoveredfriend，leftherwiththemosttenderdemonstrationsofregard，andquiteassuredthattheconversationtheyhadhadtogetherwouldbereportedtoMissCrawleybeforemanyhourswereover。
Thisinterviewended，itbecamefulltimeforRebeccatoreturntoherinn，whereallthepartyofthepreviousdaywereassembledatafarewellbreakfast。RebeccatooksuchatenderleaveofAmeliaasbecametwowomenwholovedeachotherassisters；andhavingusedherhandkerchiefplentifully，andhungonherfriend’sneckasiftheywerepartingforever，andwavedthehandkerchiefwhichwasquitedry，bythewayoutofwindow，asthecarriagedroveoff，shecamebacktothebreakfasttable，andatesomeprawnswithagooddealofappetite，consideringheremotion；andwhileshewasmunchingthesedelicacies，explainedtoRawdonwhathadoccurredinhermorningwalkbetweenherselfandBriggs。Herhopeswereveryhigh：shemadeherhusbandsharethem。Shegenerallysucceededinmakingherhusbandshareallheropinions，whethermelancholyorcheerful。
“Youwillnow，ifyouplease，mydear，sitdownatthewriting-tableandpenmeaprettylittlelettertoMissCrawley，inwhichyou’llsaythatyouareagoodboy，andthatsortofthing。”SoRawdonsatedown，andwroteoff，“Brighton，Thursday。”and“MydearAunt。”withgreatrapidity：buttherethegallantofficer’simaginationfailedhim。Hemumbledtheendofhispen，andlookedupinhiswife’sface。Shecouldnothelplaughingathisruefulcountenance，andmarchingupanddowntheroomwithherhandsbehindher，thelittlewomanbegantodictatealetter，whichhetookdown。
“Beforequittingthecountryandcommencingacampaign，whichverypossiblymaybefatal。”
“What？”saidRawdon，rathersurprised，buttookthehumourofthephrase，andpresentlywroteitdownwithagrin。
“Whichverypossiblymaybefatal，Ihavecomehither——“
“Whynotsaycomehere，Becky？Comehere’sgrammar。”
thedragooninterposed。
“Ihavecomehither。”Rebeccainsisted，withastampofherfoot，“tosayfarewelltomydearestandearliestfriend。IbeseechyoubeforeIgo，notperhapstoreturn，oncemoretoletmepressthehandfromwhichIhavereceivednothingbutkindnessesallmylife。”
“Kindnessesallmylife。”echoedRawdon，scratchingdownthewords，andquiteamazedathisownfacilityofcomposition。
“Iasknothingfromyoubutthatweshouldpartnotinanger。Ihavetheprideofmyfamilyonsomepoints，thoughnotonall。Imarriedapainter’sdaughter，andamnotashamedoftheunion。”
“No，runmethroughthebodyifIam！”Rawdonejaculated。
“Youoldbooby。”Rebeccasaid，pinchinghisearandlookingovertoseethathemadenomistakesinspelling——“beseechisnotspeltwithana，andearliestis。”Sohealteredthesewords，bowingtothesuperiorknowledgeofhislittleMissis。
“Ithoughtthatyouwereawareoftheprogressofmyattachment。”Rebeccacontinued：“IknewthatMrs。ButeCrawleyconfirmedandencouragedit。ButImakenoreproaches。Imarriedapoorwoman，andamcontenttoabidebywhatIhavedone。Leaveyourproperty，dearAunt，asyouwill。Ishallnevercomplainofthewayinwhichyoudisposeofit。IwouldhaveyoubelievethatI
loveyouforyourself，andnotformoney’ssake。IwanttobereconciledtoyouereIleaveEngland。Letme，letmeseeyoubeforeIgo。Afewweeksormonthshenceitmaybetoolate，andIcannotbearthenotionofquittingthecountrywithoutakindwordoffarewellfromyou。”
“Shewon’trecognisemystyleinthat。”saidBecky。”I
madethesentencesshortandbriskonpurpose。”AndthisauthenticmissivewasdespatchedundercovertoMissBriggs。
OldMissCrawleylaughedwhenBriggs，withgreatmystery，handedheroverthiscandidandsimplestatement。”WemayreaditnowMrs。Buteisaway。”
shesaid。”Readittome，Briggs。”
WhenBriggshadreadtheepistleout，herpatronesslaughedmore。”Don’tyousee，yougoose。”shesaidtoBriggs，whoprofessedtobemuchtouchedbythehonestaffectionwhichpervadedthecomposition，“don’tyouseethatRawdonneverwroteawordofit。Heneverwrotetomewithoutaskingformoneyinhislife，andallhislettersarefullofbadspelling，anddashes，andbadgrammar。Itisthatlittleserpentofagovernesswhoruleshim。”Theyareallalike，MissCrawleythoughtinherheart。Theyallwantmedead，andarehankeringformymoney。
“Idon’tmindseeingRawdon。”sheadded，afterapause，andinatoneofperfectindifference。”Ihadjustassoonshakehandswithhimasnot。Providedthereisnoscene，whyshouldn’twemeet？Idon’tmind。Buthumanpatiencehasitslimits；andmind，mydear，I
respectfullydeclinetoreceiveMrs。Rawdon——Ican’tsupportthatquite“——andMissBriggswasfaintobecontentwiththishalf-messageofconciliation；andthoughtthatthebestmethodofbringingtheoldladyandhernephewtogether，wastowarnRawdontobeinwaitingontheCliff，whenMissCrawleywentoutforherairinherchair。
Theretheymet。Idon’tknowwhetherMissCrawleyhadanyprivatefeelingofregardoremotionuponseeingheroldfavourite；butsheheldoutacoupleoffingerstohimwithassmilingandgood-humouredanair，asiftheyhadmetonlythedaybefore。AndasforRawdon，heturnedasredasscarlet，andwrungoffBriggs’shand，sogreatwashisraptureandhisconfusionatthemeeting。
Perhapsitwasinterestthatmovedhim：orperhapsaffection：perhapshewastouchedbythechangewhichtheillnessofthelastweekshadwroughtinhisaunt。
“Theoldgirlhasalwaysactedlikeatrumptome。”hesaidtohiswife，ashenarratedtheinterview，“andIfelt，youknow，ratherqueer，andthatsortofthing。Iwalkedbythesideofthewhat-dy’e-call-’em，youknow，andtoherowndoor，whereBowlscametohelpherin。AndI
wantedtogoinverymuch，only——“
“YOUDIDN’TGOIN，Rawdon！”screamedhiswife。
“No，mydear；I’mhangedifIwasn’tafraidwhenitcametothepoint。”
“Youfool！yououghttohavegonein，andnevercomeoutagain。”Rebeccasaid。
“Don’tcallmenames。”saidthebigGuardsman，sulkily。
“PerhapsIWASafool，Becky，butyoushouldn’tsayso“；andhegavehiswifealook，suchashiscountenancecouldwearwhenangered，andsuchaswasnotpleasanttoface。
“Well，dearest，to-morrowyoumustbeonthelook-out，andgoandseeher，mind，whethersheasksyouorno。”
Rebeccasaid，tryingtosootheherangryyoke-mate。Onwhichhereplied，thathewoulddoexactlyasheliked，andwouldjustthankhertokeepaciviltongueinherhead——andthewoundedhusbandwentaway，andpassedtheforenoonatthebilliard-room，sulky，silent，andsuspicious。
Butbeforethenightwasoverhewascompelledtogivein，andown，asusual，tohiswife’ssuperiorprudenceandforesight，bythemostmelancholyconfirmationofthepresentimentswhichshehadregardingtheconsequencesofthemistakewhichhehadmade。MissCrawleymusthavehadsomeemotionuponseeinghimandshakinghandswithhimaftersolongarupture。Shemuseduponthemeetingaconsiderabletime。”Rawdonisgettingveryfatandold，Briggs。”shesaidtohercompanion。”Hisnosehasbecomered，andheisexceedinglycoarseinappearance。Hismarriagetothatwomanhashopelesslyvulgarisedhim。Mrs。Butealwayssaidtheydranktogether；
andIhavenodoubttheydo。Yes：hesmeltofginabominably。Iremarkedit。Didn’tyou？”
InvainBriggsinterposedthatMrs。Butespokeillofeverybody：and，asfarasapersoninherhumblepositioncouldjudge，wasan——
“Anartfuldesigningwoman？Yes，sosheis，andshedoesspeakillofeveryone——butIamcertainthatwomanhasmadeRawdondrink。Allthoselowpeopledo——“
“Hewasverymuchaffectedatseeingyou，ma’am。”thecompanionsaid；“andIamsure，whenyourememberthatheisgoingtothefieldofdanger——“
“Howmuchmoneyhashepromisedyou，Briggs？”theoldspinstercriedout，workingherselfintoanervousrage——“therenow，ofcourseyoubegintocry。Ihatescenes。WhyamIalwaystobeworried？Goandcryupinyourownroom，andsendFirkintome——no，stop，sitdownandblowyournose，andleaveoffcrying，andwritealettertoCaptainCrawley。”PoorBriggswentandplacedherselfobedientlyatthewriting-book。Itsleaveswereblottedalloverwithrelicsofthefirm，strong，rapidhandwritingofthespinster’slateamanuensis，Mrs。ButeCrawley。