RaggleslovedandadoredtheCrawleyfamilyastheauthorofallhisprosperityinlife。Hehadasilhouetteofhismistressinhisbackshop，andadrawingofthePorter’sLodgeatQueen’sCrawley，donebythatspinsterherselfinIndiaink——andtheonlyadditionhemadetothedecorationsoftheCurzonStreetHousewasaprintofQueen’sCrawleyinHampshire，theseatofSirWalpoleCrawley，Baronet，whowasrepresentedinagildedcardrawnbysixwhitehorses，andpassingbyalakecoveredwithswans，andbargescontainingladiesinhoops，andmusicianswithflagsandpenwigs。IndeedRagglesthoughttherewasnosuchpalaceinalltheworld，andnosuchaugustfamily。
Asluckwouldhaveit，Raggles’houseinCurzonStreetwastoletwhenRawdonandhiswifereturnedtoLondon。
TheColonelknewitanditsownerquitewell；thelatter’sconnectionwiththeCrawleyfamilyhadbeenkeptupconstantly，forRaggleshelpedMr。BowlswheneverMissCrawleyreceivedfriends。AndtheoldmannotonlylethishousetotheColonelbutofficiatedashisbutlerwheneverhehadcompany；Mrs。RagglesoperatinginthekitchenbelowandsendingupdinnersofwhicholdMissCrawleyherselfmighthaveapproved。Thiswastheway，then，Crawleygothishousefornothing；forthoughRaggleshadtopaytaxesandrates，andtheinterestofthemortgagetothebrotherbutler；andtheinsuranceofhislife；andthechargesforhischildrenatschool；andthevalueofthemeatanddrinkwhichhisownfamily——andforatimethatofColonelCrawleytoo——consumed；andthoughthepoorwretchwasutterlyruinedbythetransaction，hischildrenbeingflungonthestreets，andhimselfdrivenintotheFleetPrison：yetsomebodymustpayevenforgentlemenwholivefornothingayear——andsoitwasthisunluckyRaggleswasmadetherepresentativeofColonelCrawley’sdefectivecapital。
IwonderhowmanyfamiliesaredriventorogueryandtoruinbygreatpractitionersinCrawlersway？——howmanygreatnoblemenrobtheirpettytradesmen，condescendtoswindletheirpoorretainersoutofwretchedlittlesumsandcheatforafewshillings？WhenwereadthatanoblenoblemanhasleftfortheContinent，orthatanothernoblenoblemanhasanexecutioninhishouse——andthatoneorotherowessixorsevenmillions，thedefeatseemsgloriouseven，andwerespectthevictiminthevastnessofhisruin。Butwhopitiesapoorbarberwhocan’tgethismoneyforpowderingthefootmen’sheads；
orapoorcarpenterwhohasruinedhimselfbyfixingupornamentsandpavilionsformylady’sdejeuner；orthepoordevilofatailorwhomthestewardpatronizes，andwhohaspledgedallheisworth，andmore，togettheliveriesready，whichmylordhasdonehimthehonourtobespeak？Whenthegreathousetumblesdown，thesemiserablewretchesfallunderitunnoticed：astheysayintheoldlegends，beforeamangoestothedevilhimself，hesendsplentyofothersoulsthither。
RawdonandhiswifegenerouslygavetheirpatronagetoallsuchofMissCrawley’stradesmenandpurveyorsaschosetoservethem。Somewerewilling，enough，especiallythepoorones。ItwaswonderfultoseethepertinacitywithwhichthewasherwomanfromTootingbroughtthecarteverySaturday，andherbillsweekafterweek。
Mr。Raggleshimselfhadtosupplythegreengroceries。Thebillforservants’porterattheFortuneofWarpublichouseisacuriosityinthechroniclesofbeer。Everyservantalsowasowedthegreaterpartofhiswages，andthuskeptupperforceaninterestinthehouse。Nobodyinfactwaspaid。Nottheblacksmithwhoopenedthelock；
northeglazierwhomendedthepane；northejobberwholetthecarriage；northegroomwhodroveit；northebutcherwhoprovidedthelegofmutton；northecoalswhichroastedit；northecookwhobastedit；northeservantswhoateit：andthisIamgiventounderstandisnotunfrequentlythewayinwhichpeopleliveelegantlyonnothingayear。
Inalittletownsuchthingscannotbedonewithoutremark。Weknowtherethequantityofmilkourneighbourtakesandespythejointorthefowlswhicharegoinginforhisdinner。So，probably，200and202inCurzonStreetmightknowwhatwasgoingoninthehousebetweenthem，theservantscommunicatingthroughthearea-railings；butCrawleyandhiswifeandhisfriendsdidnotknow200and202。Whenyoucameto201therewasaheartywelcome，akindsmile，agooddinner，andajollyshakeofthehandfromthehostandhostessthere，justforalltheworldasiftheyhadbeenundisputedmastersofthreeorfourthousandayear——andsotheywere，notinmoney，butinproduceandlabour——iftheydidnotpayforthemutton，theyhadit：iftheydidnotgivebullioninexchangefortheirwine，howshouldweknow？
Neverwasbetterclaretatanyman’stablethanathonestRawdon’s；dinnersmoregayandneatlyserved。Hisdrawing-roomsweretheprettiest，little，modestsalonsconceivable：theyweredecoratedwiththegreatesttaste，andathousandknick-knacksfromParis，byRebecca：
andwhenshesatatherpianotrillingsongswithalightsomeheart，thestrangervotedhimselfinalittleparadiseofdomesticcomfortandagreedthat，ifthehusbandwasratherstupid，thewifewascharming，andthedinnersthepleasantestintheworld。
Rebecca’swit，cleverness，andflippancymadeherspeedilythevogueinLondonamongacertainclass。Yousawdemurechariotsatherdoor，outofwhichsteppedverygreatpeople。Youbeheldhercarriageinthepark，surroundedbydandiesofnote。Thelittleboxinthethirdtieroftheoperawascrowdedwithheadsconstantlychanging；butitmustbeconfessedthattheladiesheldalooffromher，andthattheirdoorswereshuttoourlittleadventurer。
Withregardtotheworldoffemalefashionanditscustoms，thepresentwriterofcoursecanonlyspeakatsecondhand。Amancannomorepenetrateorunder-
standthosemysteriesthanhecanknowwhattheladiestalkaboutwhentheygoupstairsafterdinner。Itisonlybyinquiryandperseverancethatonesometimesgetshintsofthosesecrets；andbyasimilardiligenceeverypersonwhotreadsthePallMallpavementandfrequentstheclubsofthismetropolisknows，eitherthroughhisownexperienceorthroughsomeacquaintancewithwhomheplaysatbilliardsorsharesthejoint，somethingaboutthegenteelworldofLondon，andhow，astherearemensuchasRawdonCrawley，whosepositionwementionedbeforewhocutagoodfiguretotheeyesoftheignorantworldandtotheapprenticesinthepark，whobeholdthemconsortingwiththemostnotoriousdandiesthere，sothereareladies，whomaybecalledmen’swomen，beingwelcomedentirelybyallthegentlemenandcutorslightedbyalltheirwives。Mrs。Firebraceisofthissort；
theladywiththebeautifulfairringletswhomyouseeeverydayinHydePark，surroundedbythegreatestandmostfamousdandiesofthisempire。Mrs。Rockwoodisanother，whosepartiesareannouncedlaboriouslyinthefashionablenewspapersandwithwhomyouseethatallsortsofambassadorsandgreatnoblemendine；andmanymoremightbementionedhadtheytodowiththehistoryatpresentinhand。Butwhilesimplefolkswhoareoutoftheworld，orcountrypeoplewithatasteforthegenteel，beholdtheseladiesintheirseeminggloryinpublicplaces，orenvythemfromafaroff，personswhoarebetterinstructedcouldinformthemthattheseenviedladieshavenomorechanceofestablishingthemselvesin“society。”thanthebenightedsquire’swifeinSomersetshirewhoreadsoftheirdoingsintheMorningPost。
MenlivingaboutLondonareawareoftheseawfultruths。
Youhearhowpitilesslymanyladiesofseemingrankandwealthareexcludedfromthis“society。”Thefranticeffortswhichtheymaketoenterthiscircle，themeannessestowhichtheysubmit，theinsultswhichtheyundergo，aremattersofwondertothosewhotakehumanorwomankindforastudy；andthepursuitoffashionunderdifficultieswouldbeafinethemeforanyverygreatpersonwhohadthewit，theleisure，andtheknowledgeoftheEnglishlanguagenecessaryforthecompilingofsuchahistory。
NowthefewfemaleacquaintanceswhomMrs。CrawleyhadknownabroadnotonlydeclinedtovisitherwhenshecametothissideoftheChannel，butcutherseverelywhentheymetinpublicplaces。Itwascurioustoseehowthegreatladiesforgother，andnodoubtnotaltogetherapleasantstudytoRebecca。WhenLadyBareacresmetherinthewaiting-roomattheopera，shegatheredherdaughtersaboutherasiftheywouldbecontaminatedbyatouchofBecky，andretreatingasteportwo，placedherselfinfrontofthem，andstaredatherlittleenemy。
TostareBeckyoutofcountenancerequiredasevererglancethaneventhefrigidoldBareacrescouldshootoutofherdismaleyes。WhenLadydelaMole，whohadriddenascoreoftimesbyBecky’ssideatBrussels，metMrs。
Crawley’sopencarriageinHydePark，herLadyshipwasquiteblind，andcouldnotintheleastrecognizeherformerfriend。EvenMrs。Blenkinsop，thebanker’swife，cutheratchurch。Beckywentregularlytochurchnow；itwasedifyingtoseeherentertherewithRawdonbyherside，carryingacoupleoflargegiltprayer-books，andafterwardsgoingthroughtheceremonywiththegravestresignation。
Rawdonatfirstfeltveryacutelytheslightswhichwerepasseduponhiswife，andwasinclinedtobegloomyandsavage。Hetalkedofcallingoutthehusbandsorbrothersofeveryoneoftheinsolentwomenwhodidnotpayaproperrespecttohiswife；anditwasonlybythestrongestcommandsandentreatiesonherpartthathewasbroughtintokeepingadecentbehaviour。”Youcan’tshootmeintosociety。”shesaidgood-naturedly。”Remember，mydear，thatIwasbutagoverness，andyou，youpoorsillyoldman，havetheworstreputationfordebt，anddice，andallsortsofwickedness。Weshallgetquiteasmanyfriendsaswewantbyandby，andinthemeanwhileyoumustbeagoodboyandobeyyourschoolmistressineverythingshetellsyoutodo。WhenweheardthatyouraunthadleftalmosteverythingtoPittandhiswife，doyourememberwhatarageyouwerein？YouwouldhavetoldallParis，ifIhadnotmadeyoukeepyourtemper，andwherewouldyouhavebeennow？——inprisonatSte。Pelagiefordebt，andnotestablishedinLondoninahandsomehouse，witheverycomfortaboutyou——youwereinsuchafuryyouwerereadytomurderyourbrother，youwickedCainyou，andwhatgoodwouldhavecomeofremainingangry？Alltherageintheworldwon’tgetusyouraunt’smoney；anditismuchbetterthatweshouldbefriendswithyourbrother’sfamilythanenemies，asthosefoolishButesare。Whenyourfatherdies，Queen’sCrawleywillbeapleasanthouseforyouandmetopassthewinterin。Ifweareruined，youcancarveandtakechargeofthestable，andIcanbeagovernesstoLadyJane’schildren。Ruined！
fiddlede-dee！Iwillgetyouagoodplacebeforethat；orPittandhislittleboywilldie，andwewillbeSirRawdonandmylady。Whilethereislife，thereishope，mydear，andI
intendtomakeamanofyouyet。Whosoldyourhorsesforyou？Whopaidyourdebtsforyou？”Rawdonwasobligedtoconfessthatheowedallthesebenefitstohiswife，andtotrusthimselftoherguidanceforthefuture。
Indeed，whenMissCrawleyquittedtheworld，andthatmoneyforwhichallherrelativeshadbeenfightingsoeagerlywasfinallylefttoPitt，ButeCrawley，whofoundthatonlyfivethousandpoundshadbeenlefttohiminsteadofthetwentyuponwhichhecalculated，wasinsuchafuryathisdisappointmentthatheventeditinsavageabuseuponhisnephew；andthequarrelalwaysranklingbetweenthemendedinanutterbreachofintercourse。RawdonCrawley’sconduct，ontheotherhand，whogotbutahundredpounds，wassuchastoastonishhisbrotheranddelighthissister-in-law，whowasdisposedtolookkindlyuponallthemembersofherhusband’sfamily。Hewrotetohisbrotheraveryfrank，manly，good-humouredletterfromParis。Hewasaware，hesaid，thatbyhisownmarriagehehadforfeitedhisaunt’sfavour；andthoughhedidnotdisguisehisdisappointmentthatsheshouldhavebeensoentirelyrelentlesstowardshim，hewasgladthatthemoneywasstillkeptintheirbranchofthefamily，andheartilycongratulatedhisbrotheronhisgoodfortune。Hesenthisaffectionateremembrancestohissister，andhopedtohavehergood-willforMrs。Rawdon；andtheletterconcludedwithapostscripttoPittinthelatterlady’sownhandwriting。She，too，beggedtojoininherhusband’scongratulations。SheshouldeverrememberMr。Crawley’skindnesstoherinearlydayswhenshewasafriendlessorphan，theinstructressofhislittlesisters，inwhosewelfareshestilltookthetenderestinterest。Shewishedhimeveryhappinessinhismarriedlife，and，askinghispermissiontoofferherremembrancestoLadyJaneofwhosegoodnessalltheworldinformedher，shehopedthatonedayshemightbeallowedtopresentherlittleboytohisuncleandaunt，andbeggedtobespeakforhimtheirgood-willandprotection。
PittCrawleyreceivedthiscommunicationverygraciously——moregraciouslythanMissCrawleyhadreceivedsomeofRebecca’spreviouscompositionsinRawdon’shandwriting；andasforLadyJane，shewassocharmedwiththeletterthatsheexpectedherhusbandwouldinstantlydividehisaunt’slegacyintotwoequalportionsandsendoffone-halftohisbrotheratParis。
ToherLadyship’ssurprise，however，Pittdeclinedtoaccommodatehisbrotherwithachequeforthirtythousandpounds。ButhemadeRawdonahandsomeofferofhishandwheneverthelattershouldcometoEnglandandchoosetotakeit；and，thankingMrs。CrawleyforhergoodopinionofhimselfandLadyJane，hegraciouslypronouncedhiswillingnesstotakeanyopportunitytoserveherlittleboy。