Theladiesengagedonbothsides。Mrs。O’DowdsnappedherfingersinMrs。Crawley’sfaceandcalledherhusband“nobettherthanablack-leg。”ColonelCrawleychallengedColonelO’Dowd，C。B。TheCommander-in-ChiefhearingofthedisputesentforColonelCrawley，whowasgettingreadythesamepistols“whichheshotCaptainMarker。”andhadsuchaconversationwithhimthatnodueltookplace。IfRebeccahadnotgoneonherkneestoGeneralTufto，CrawleywouldhavebeensentbacktoEngland；andhedidnotplay，exceptwithcivilians，forsomeweeksafter。
But，inspiteofRawdon’sundoubtedskillandconstantsuccesses，itbecameevidenttoRebecca，consideringthesethings，thattheirpositionwasbutaprecariousone，andthat，evenalthoughtheypaidscarcelyanybody，theirlittlecapitalwouldendonedaybydwindlingintozero。”Gambling。”shewouldsay，“dear，isgoodtohelpyourincome，butnotasanincomeitself。Somedaypeoplemaybetiredofplay，andthenwherearewe？”
Rawdonacquiescedinthejusticeofheropinion；andintruthhehadremarkedthatafterafewnightsofhislittlesuppers，&c。，gentlemenweretiredofplaywithhim，and，inspiteofRebecca’scharms，didnotpresentthemselvesveryeagerly。
EasyandpleasantastheirlifeatPariswas，itwasafterallonlyanidledallianceandamiabletrifling；andRebeccasawthatshemustpushRawdon’sfortuneintheirowncountry。Shemustgethimaplaceorappointmentathomeorinthecolonies，andshedeterminedtomakeamoveuponEnglandassoonasthewaycouldbeclearedforher。AsafirststepshehadmadeCrawleyselloutoftheGuardsandgoonhalf-pay。Hisfunctionasaide-de-camptoGeneralTuftohadceasedpreviously。
Rebeccalaughedinallcompaniesatthatofficer，athistoupeewhichhemountedoncomingtoParis，athiswaistband，athisfalseteeth，athispretensionstobealady-killeraboveall，andhisabsurdvanityinfancyingeverywomanwhomhecamenearwasinlovewithhim。ItwastoMrs。Brent，thebeetle-browedwifeofMr。CommissaryBrent，towhomthegeneraltransferredhisattentionsnow——hisbouquets，hisdinnersattherestaurateurs’，hisopera-boxes，andhisknick-knacks。PoorMrs。Tuftowasnomorehappythanbefore，andhadstilltopasslongeveningsalonewithherdaughters，knowingthatherGeneralwasgoneoffscentedandcurledtostandbehindMrs。Brent’schairattheplay。Beckyhadadozenadmirersinhisplace，tobesure，andcouldcutherrivaltopieceswithherwit。But，aswehavesaid，she。
wasgrowingtiredofthisidlesociallife：opera-boxesandrestaurateurdinnerspalleduponher：nosegayscouldnotbelaidbyasaprovisionforfutureyears：andshecouldnotliveuponknick-knacks，lacedhandkerchiefs，andkidgloves。Shefeltthefrivolityofpleasureandlongedformoresubstantialbenefits。
AtthisjuncturenewsarrivedwhichwasspreadamongthemanycreditorsoftheColonelatParis，andwhichcausedthemgreatsatisfaction。MissCrawley，therichauntfromwhomheexpectedhisimmenseinheritance，wasdying；theColonelmusthastetoherbedside。Mrs。
Crawleyandherchildwouldremainbehinduntilhecametoreclaimthem。HedepartedforCalais，andhavingreachedthatplaceinsafety，itmighthavebeensupposedthathewenttoDover；butinsteadhetookthediligencetoDunkirk，andthencetravelledtoBrussels，forwhichplacehehadaformerpredilection。Thefactis，heowedmoremoneyatLondonthanatParis；andhepreferredthequietlittleBelgiancitytoeitherofthemorenoisycapitals。
Herauntwasdead。Mrs。CrawleyorderedthemostintensemourningforherselfandlittleRawdon。TheColonelwasbusyarrangingtheaffairsoftheinheritance。Theycouldtakethepremiernow，insteadofthelittleentresolofthehotelwhichtheyoccupied。Mrs。Crawleyandthelandlordhadaconsultationaboutthenewhangings，anamicablewrangleaboutthecarpets，andafinaladjustmentofeverythingexceptthebill。Shewentoffinoneofhiscarriages；herFrenchbonnewithher；thechildbyherside；theadmirablelandlordandlandladysmilingfarewelltoherfromthegate。GeneralTuftowasfuriouswhenheheardshewasgone，andMrs。Brentfuriouswithhimforbeingfurious；LieutenantSpooneywascuttotheheart；andthelandlordgotreadyhisbestapartmentsprevioustothereturnofthefascinatinglittlewomanandherhusband。Heserredthetrunkswhichsheleftinhischargewiththegreatestcare。TheyhadbeenespeciallyrecommendedtohimbyMadameCrawley。Theywerenot，however，foundtobeparticularlyvaluablewhenopenedsometimeafter。
ButbeforeshewenttojoinherhusbandintheBelgiccapital，Mrs。CrawleymadeanexpeditionintoEngland，leavingbehindherherlittlesonuponthecontinent，underthecareofherFrenchmaid。
ThepartingbetweenRebeccaandthelittleRawdondidnotcauseeitherpartymuchpain。Shehadnot，tosaytruth，seenmuchoftheyounggentlemansincehisbirth。
AftertheamiablefashionofFrenchmothers，shehadplacedhimoutatnurseinavillageintheneighbourhoodofParis，wherelittleRawdonpassedthefirstmonthsofhislife，notunhappily，withanumerousfamilyoffoster-brothersinwoodenshoes。Hisfatherwouldrideovermanyatimetoseehimhere，andtheelderRawdon’spaternalheartglowedtoseehimrosyanddirty，shoutinglustily，andhappyinthemakingofmud-piesunderthesuperintendenceofthegardener’swife，hisnurse。
Rebeccadidnotcaremuchtogoandseethesonandheir。Oncehespoiledanewdove-colouredpelisseofhers。Hepreferredhisnurse’scaressestohismamma’s，andwhenfinallyhequittedthatjollynurseandalmostparent，hecriedloudlyforhours。Hewasonlyconsoledbyhismother’spromisethatheshouldreturntohisnursethenextday；indeedthenurseherself，whoprobablywouldhavebeenpainedatthepartingtoo，wastoldthatthechildwouldimmediatelyberestoredtoher，andforsometimeawaitedquiteanxiouslyhisreturn。
Infact，ourfriendsmaybesaidtohavebeenamongthefirstofthatbroodofhardyEnglishadventurerswhohavesubsequentlyinvadedtheContinentandswindledinallthecapitalsofEurope。Therespectinthosehappydaysof1817-18wasverygreatforthewealthandhonourofBritons。Theyhadnotthenlearned，asIamtold，tohaggleforbargainswiththepertinacitywhichnowdistinguishesthem。ThegreatcitiesofEuropehadnotbeenasyetopentotheenterpriseofourrascals。
AndwhereasthereisnowhardlyatownofFranceorItalyinwhichyoushallnotseesomenoblecountrymanofourown，withthathappyswaggerandinsolenceofdemeanourwhichwecarryeverywhere，swindlinginn-landlords，passingfictitiouschequesuponcredulousbankers，robbingcoach-makersoftheircarriages，goldsmithsoftheirtrinkets，easytravellersoftheirmoneyatcards，evenpubliclibrariesoftheirbooks——thirtyyearsagoyouneededbuttobeaMilorAnglais，travellinginaprivatecarriage，andcreditwasatyourhandwhereveryouchosetoseekit，andgentlemen，insteadofcheating，werecheated。ItwasnotforsomeweeksaftertheCrawleys’
departurethatthelandlordofthehotelwhichtheyoccupiedduringtheirresidenceatParisfoundoutthelosseswhichhehadsustained：notuntilMadameMarabou，themilliner，maderepeatedvisitswithherlittlebillforarticlessuppliedtoMadameCrawley；notuntilMonsieurDidelotfromBouled’OrinthePalaisRoyalhadaskedhalfadozentimeswhethercettecharmanteMiladiwhohadboughtwatchesandbraceletsofhimwasderetour。
Itisafactthateventhepoorgardener’swife，whohadnursedmadame’schild，wasneverpaidafterthefirstsixmonthsforthatsupplyofthemilkofhumankindnesswithwhichshehadfurnishedthelustyandhealthylittleRawdon。No，noteventhenursewaspaid——theCrawleyswereintoogreatahurrytoremembertheirtriflingdebttoher。Asforthelandlordofthehotel，hiscursesagainsttheEnglishnationwereviolentfortherestofhisnaturallife。HeaskedalltravellerswhethertheyknewacertainColonelLorCrawley——avecsafemmeunepetitedame，tresspirituelle。”Ah，Monsieur！”hewouldadd——“ilsm’ontaffreusementvole。”Itwasmelancholytohearhisaccentsashespokeofthatcatastrophe。
Rebecca’sobjectinherjourneytoLondonwastoeffectakindofcompromisewithherhusband’snumerouscreditors，andbyofferingthemadividendofninepenceorashillinginthepound，tosecureareturnforhimintohisowncountry。Itdoesnotbecomeustotracethestepswhichshetookintheconductofthismostdifficultnegotiation；but，havingshownthemtotheirsatisfactionthatthesumwhichshewasempoweredtoofferwasallherhusband’savailablecapital，andhavingconvincedthemthatColonelCrawleywouldpreferaperpetualretirementontheContinenttoaresidenceinthiscountrywithhisdebtsunsettled；havingprovedtothemthattherewasnopossibilityofmoneyaccruingtohimfromotherquarters，andnoearthlychanceoftheirgettingalargerdividendthanthatwhichshewasempoweredtooffer，shebroughttheColonel’screditorsunanimouslytoacceptherproposals，andpurchasedwithfifteenhundredpoundsofreadymoneymorethantentimesthatamountofdebts。
Mrs。Crawleyemployednolawyerinthetransaction。
Thematterwassosimple，tohaveortoleave，asshejustlyobserved，thatshemadethelawyersofthecreditorsthemselvesdothebusiness。AndMr。LewisrepresentingMr。Davids，ofRedLionSquare，andMr。MossactingforMr。ManassehofCursitorStreetchiefcreditorsoftheColonel’s，complimentedhisladyuponthebrilliantwayinwhichshedidbusiness，anddeclaredthattherewasnoprofessionalmanwhocouldbeather。
Rebeccareceivedtheircongratulationswithperfectmodesty；orderedabottleofsherryandabreadcaketothelittledingylodgingswhereshedwelt，whileconductingthebusiness，totreattheenemy’slawyers：
shookhandswiththematparting，inexcellentgoodhumour，andreturnedstraightwaytotheContinent，torejoinherhusbandandsonandacquainttheformerwiththegladnewsofhisentireliberation。Asforthelatter，hehadbeenconsiderablyneglectedduringhismother’sabsencebyMademoiselleGenevieve，herFrenchmaid；forthatyoungwoman，contractinganattachmentforasoldierinthegarrisonofCalais，forgotherchargeinthesocietyofthismilitaire，andlittleRawdonverynarrowlyescapeddrowningonCalaissandsatthisperiod，wheretheabsentGenevievehadleftandlosthim。
Andso，ColonelandMrs。CrawleycametoLondon：
anditisattheirhouseinCurzonStreet，MayFair，thattheyreallyshowedtheskillwhichmustbepossessedbythosewhowouldliveontheresourcesabovenamed。
TheSubjectContinuedInthefirstplace，andasamatterofthegreatestnecessity，weareboundtodescribehowahousemaybegotfornothingayear。Thesemansionsaretobehadeitherunfurnished，where，ifyouhavecreditwithMessrs。GillowsorBantings，youcangetthemsplendidlymonteesanddecoratedentirelyaccordingtoyourownfancy；ortheyaretobeletfurnished，alesstroublesomeandcomplicatedarrangementtomostparties。ItwassothatCrawleyandhiswifepreferredtohiretheirhouse。
BeforeMr。BowlscametopresideoverMissCrawley’shouseandcellarinParkLane，thatladyhadhadforabutleraMr。Raggles，whowasbornonthefamilyestateofQueen’sCrawley，andindeedwasayoungersonofagardenerthere。Bygoodconduct，ahandsomepersonandcalves，andagravedemeanour，Ragglesrosefromtheknife-boardtothefootboardofthecarriage；
fromthefootboardtothebutler’spantry。WhenhehadbeenacertainnumberofyearsattheheadofMissCrawley’sestablishment，wherehehadhadgoodwages，fatperquisites，andplentyofopportunitiesofsaving，heannouncedthathewasabouttocontractamatrimonialalliancewithalatecookofMissCrawley’s，whohadsubsistedinanhonourablemannerbytheexerciseofamangle，andthekeepingofasmallgreengrocer’sshopintheneighbourhood。Thetruthis，thattheceremonyhadbeenclandestinelyperformedsomeyearsback；althoughthenewsofMr。Raggles’marriagewasfirstbroughttoMissCrawleybyalittleboyandgirlofsevenandeightyearsofage，whosecontinualpresenceinthekitchenhadattractedtheattentionofMissBriggs。
Mr。Ragglesthenretiredandpersonallyundertookthesuperintendenceofthesmallshopandthegreens。Headdedmilkandcream，eggsandcountry-fedporktohisstores，contentinghimselfwhilstotherretiredbutlerswerevendingspiritsinpublichouses，bydealinginthesimplestcountryproduce。Andhavingagoodconnectionamongstthebutlersintheneighbourhood，andasnugbackparlourwhereheandMrs。Ragglesreceivedthem，hismilk，cream，andeggsgottobeadoptedbymanyofthefraternity，andhisprofitsincreasedeveryyear。Yearafteryearhequietlyandmodestlyamassedmoney，andwhenatlengththatsnugandcompletebachelor’sresidenceatNo。201，CurzonStreet，MayFair，latelytheresidenceoftheHonourableFrederickDeuceace，goneabroad，withitsrichandappropriatefurniturebythefirstmakers，wasbroughttothehammer，whoshouldgoinandpurchasetheleaseandfurnitureofthehousebutCharlesRaggles？Apartofthemoneyheborrowed，itistrue，andatratherahighinterest，fromabrotherbutler，butthechiefparthepaiddown，anditwaswithnosmallpridethatMrs。Ragglesfoundherselfsleepinginabedofcarvedmahogany，withsilkcurtains，withaprodigiouschevalglassoppositetoher，andawardrobewhichwouldcontainher，andRaggles，andallthefamily。
Ofcourse，theydidnotintendtooccupypermanentlyanapartmentsosplendid。ItwasinordertoletthehouseagainthatRagglespurchasedit。Assoonasatenantwasfound，hesubsidedintothegreengrocer’sshoponcemore；butahappythingitwasforhimtowalkoutofthattenementandintoCurzonStreet，andtheresurveyhishouse——hisownhouse——withgeraniumsinthewindowandacarvedbronzeknocker。Thefootmanoccasionallyloungingatthearearailing，treatedhimwithrespect；thecooktookhergreenstuffathishouseandcalledhimMr。Landlord，andtherewasnotonethingthetenantsdid，oronedishwhichtheyhadfordinner，thatRagglesmightnotknowof，ifheliked。
Hewasagoodman；goodandhappy。Thehousebroughthiminsohandsomeayearlyincomethathewasdeterminedtosendhischildrentogoodschools，andaccordingly，regardlessofexpense，CharleswassenttoboardingatDr。Swishtail’s，Sugar-caneLodge，andlittleMatildatoMissPeckover’s，LaurentinumHouse，Clapham。