prodigiously，andthreateningtodriveheroffthatveryinstanttoCourtinacoach-and-four。Shehadtheransackingofthewardrobesofthetwodefunctladies，andcutandhackedtheirposthumousfinerysoastosuitherowntastesandfigure。Andshewouldhavelikedtotakepossessionoftheirjewelsandtrinketstoo；buttheoldBaronethadlockedthemawayinhisprivatecabinet；
norcouldshecoaxorwheedlehimoutofthekeys。Anditisafact，thatsometimeaftersheleftQueen’sCrawleyacopy-bookbelongingtothisladywasdiscovered，whichshowedthatshehadtakengreatpainsinprivatetolearntheartofwritingingeneral，andespeciallyofwritingherownnameasLadyCrawley，LadyBetsyHorrocks，LadyElizabethCrawley，&c。
ThoughthegoodpeopleoftheParsonageneverwenttotheHallandshunnedthehorridolddotarditsowner，yettheykeptastrictknowledgeofallthathappenedthere，andwerelookingouteverydayforthecatastropheforwhichMissHorrockswasalsoeager。ButFateintervenedenviouslyandpreventedherfromreceivingtherewardduetosuchimmaculateloveandvirtue。
OnedaytheBaronetsurprised“herladyship。”ashejocularlycalledher，seatedatthatoldandtunelesspianointhedrawing-room，whichhadscarcelybeentouchedsinceBeckySharpplayedquadrillesuponit——seatedatthepianowiththeutmostgravityandsquallingtothebestofherpowerinimitationofthemusicwhichshehadsometimesheard。Thelittlekitchen-maidonherpromotionwasstandingathermistress’sside，quitedelightedduringtheoperation，andwaggingherheadupanddownandcrying，“Lor，Mum，’tisbittiful“——justlikeagenteelsycophantinarealdrawing-room。
ThisincidentmadetheoldBaronetroarwithlaughter，asusual。HenarratedthecircumstanceadozentimestoHorrocksinthecourseoftheevening，andgreatlytothediscomfitureofMissHorrocks。Hethrummedonthetableasifithadbeenamusicalinstrument，andsqualledinimitationofhermannerofsinging。Hevowedthatsuchabeautifulvoiceoughttobecultivatedanddeclaredsheoughttohavesinging-masters，inwhichproposalsshesawnothingridiculous。Hewasingreatspiritsthatnight，anddrankwithhisfriendandbutleranextraordinaryquantityofrum-and-water——ataverylatehourthefaithfulfriendanddomesticconductedhismastertohisbedroom。
Halfanhourafterwardstherewasagreathurryandbustleinthehouse。LightswentaboutfromwindowtowindowinthelonelydesolateoldHall，whereofbuttwoorthreeroomswereordinarilyoccupiedbyitsowner。
Presently，aboyonaponywentgallopingofftoMudbury，totheDoctor’shousethere。AndinanotherhourbywhichfactweascertainhowcarefullytheexcellentMrs。
ButeCrawleyhadalwayskeptupanunderstandingwiththegreathouse，thatladyinherclogsandcalash，theReverendButeCrawley，andJamesCrawley，herson，hadwalkedoverfromtheRectorythroughthepark，andhadenteredthemansionbytheopenhall-door。
Theypassedthroughthehallandthesmalloakparlour，onthetableofwhichstoodthethreetumblersandtheemptyrum-bottlewhichhadservedforSirPitt’scarouse，andthroughthatapartmentintoSirPitt’sstudy，wheretheyfoundMissHorrocks，oftheguiltyribbons，withawildair，tryingatthepressesandescritoireswithabunchofkeys。Shedroppedthemwithascreamofterror，aslittleMrs。Bute’seyesflashedoutatherfromunderherblackcalash。
“Lookatthat，JamesandMr。Crawley，？”criedMrs。
Bute，pointingatthescaredfigureoftheblack-eyed，guiltywench。
“Hegave’emme；hegave’emme！”shecried。
“Gavethemyou，youabandonedcreature！”screamedMrs。Bute。”Bearwitness，Mr。Crawley，wefoundthisgood-for-nothingwomanintheactofstealingyourbrother’sproperty；andshewillbehanged，asIalwayssaidshewould。”
BetsyHorrocks，quitedaunted，flungherselfdownonherknees，burstingintotears。Butthosewhoknowareallygoodwomanareawarethatsheisnotinahurrytoforgive，andthatthehumiliationofanenemyisatriumphtohersoul。
“Ringthebell，James。”Mrs。Butesaid。”Goonringingittillthepeoplecome。”Thethreeorfourdomesticsresidentinthedesertedoldhousecamepresentlyatthatjanglingandcontinuedsummons。
“Putthatwomaninthestrong-room。”shesaid。”WecaughtherintheactofrobbingSirPitt。Mr。Crawley，you’llmakeouthercommittal——and，Beddoes，you’lldriveheroverinthespringcart，inthemorning，toSouthamptonGaol。”
“Mydear。”interposedtheMagistrateandRector——
“she’sonly——“
“Aretherenohandcuffs？”Mrs。Butecontinued，stampinginherclogs。”Thereusedtobehandcuffs。
Where’sthecreature’sabominablefather？”
“HeDIDgive’emme。”stillcriedpoorBetsy；“didn’the，Hester？YousawSirPitt——youknowyoudid——
give’emme，eversolongago——thedayafterMudburyfair：notthatIwant’em。Take’emifyouthinktheyain’tmine。”Andheretheunhappywretchpulledoutfromherpocketalargepairofpasteshoe-buckleswhichhadexcitedheradmiration，andwhichshehadjustappropriatedoutofoneofthebookcasesinthestudy，wheretheyhadlain。
“Law，Betsy，howcouldyougofortotellsuchawickedstory！”saidHester，thelittlekitchen-maidlateonherpromotion——“andtoMadameCrawley，sogoodandkind，andhisRev’rincewithacurtsey，andyoumaysearchallMYboxes，Mum，I’msure，andhere’smykeysasI’manhonestgirl，thoughofporeparentsandworkhousebred——andifyoufindsomuchasabeggarlybitoflaceorasilkstockingoutofallthegowndsasYOU’VEhadthepickingof，mayInevergotochurchagin。”
“Giveupyourkeys，youhardenedhussy。”hissedoutthevirtuouslittleladyinthecalash。
“Andhere’sacandle，Mum，andifyouplease，Mum，Icanshowyouherroom，Mum，andthepressinthehousekeeper’sroom，Mum，whereshekeepsheapsandheapsofthings，Mum。”criedouttheeagerlittleHesterwithaprofusionofcurtseys。
“Holdyourtongue，ifyouplease。Iknowtheroomwhichthecreatureoccupiesperfectlywell。Mrs。Brown，havethegoodnesstocomewithme，andBeddoesdon’tyoulosesightofthatwoman。”saidMrs。Bute，seizingthecandle。”Mr。Crawley，youhadbettergoupstairsandseethattheyarenotmurderingyourunfortunatebrother“——
andthecalash，escortedbyMrs。Brown，walkedawaytotheapartmentwhich，asshesaidtruly，sheknewperfectlywell。
ButewentupstairsandfoundtheDoctorfromMudbury，withthefrightenedHorrocksoverhismasterinachair。TheyweretryingtobleedSirPittCrawley。
WiththeearlymorninganexpresswassentofftoMr。
PittCrawleybytheRector’slady，whoassumedthecommandofeverything，andhadwatchedtheoldBaronetthroughthenight。Hehadbeenbroughtbacktoasortoflife；hecouldnotspeak，butseemedtorecognizepeople。
Mrs。Butekeptresolutelybyhisbedside。Sheneverseemedtowanttosleep，thatlittlewoman，anddidnotcloseherfieryblackeyesonce，thoughtheDoctorsnoredinthearm-chair。Horrocksmadesomewildeffortstoasserthisauthorityandassisthismaster；butMrs。Butecalledhimatipsyoldwretchandbadehimnevershowhisfaceagaininthathouse，orheshouldbetransportedlikehisabominabledaughter。
Terrifiedbyhermanner，heslunkdowntotheoakparlourwhereMr。Jameswas，who，havingtriedthebottlestandingthereandfoundnoliquorinit，orderedMr。Horrockstogetanotherbottleofrum，whichhefetched，withcleanglasses，andtowhichtheRectorandhissonsatdown，orderingHorrockstoputdownthekeysatthatinstantandnevertoshowhisfaceagain。
Cowedbythisbehaviour，Horrocksgaveupthekeys，andheandhisdaughterslunkoffsilentlythroughthenightandgaveuppossessionofthehouseofQueen’sCrawley。
InWhichBeckyIsRecognizedbytheFamilyTheheirofCrawleyarrivedathome，induetime，afterthiscatastrophe，andhenceforthmaybesaidtohavereignedinQueen’sCrawley。ForthoughtheoldBaronetsurvivedmanymonths，heneverrecoveredtheuseofhisintellectorhisspeechcompletely，andthegovernmentoftheestatedevolveduponhiselderson。InastrangeconditionPittfoundit。SirPittwasalwaysbuyingandmortgaging；hehadtwentymenofbusiness，andquarrelswitheach；quarrelswithallhistenants，andlawsuitswiththem；lawsuitswiththelawyers；lawsuitswiththeMiningandDockCompaniesinwhichhewasproprietor；andwitheverypersonwithwhomhehadbusiness。TounravelthesedifficultiesandtosettheestateclearwasataskworthyoftheorderlyandperseveringdiplomatistofPumpernickel，andhesethimselftoworkwithprodigiousassiduity。Hiswholefamily，ofcourse，wastransportedtoQueen’sCrawley，whitherLadySouthdown，ofcourse，cametoo；andshesetaboutconvertingtheparishundertheRector’snose，andbroughtdownherirregularclergytothedismayoftheangryMrsBute。SirPitthadconcludednobargainforthesaleofthelivingofQueen’sCrawley；whenitshoulddrop，herLadyshipproposedtotakethepatronageintoherownhandsandpresentayoungprotegetotheRectory，onwhichsubjectthediplomaticPittsaidnothing。
Mrs。Bute’sintentionswithregardtoMissBetsyHorrockswerenotcarriedintoeffect，andshepaidnovisittoSouthamptonGaol。SheandherfatherlefttheHallwhenthelattertookpossessionoftheCrawleyArmsinthevillage，ofwhichhehadgotaleasefromSirPitt。
Theex-butlerhadobtainedasmallfreeholdtherelikewise，whichgavehimavotefortheborough。TheRectorhadanotherofthesevotes，andtheseandfourothersformedtherepresentativebodywhichreturnedthetwomembersforQueen’sCrawley。
TherewasashowofcourtesykeptupbetweentheRectoryandtheHallladies，betweentheyoungeronesatleast，forMrs。ButeandLadySouthdownnevercouldmeetwithoutbattles，andgraduallyceasedseeingeachother。HerLadyshipkeptherroomwhentheladiesfromtheRectoryvisitedtheircousinsattheHall。PerhapsMr。
Pittwasnotverymuchdispleasedattheseoccasionalabsencesofhismamma-in-law。HebelievedtheBinkiefamilytobethegreatestandwisestandmostinterestingintheworld，andherLadyshipandhisaunthadlongheldascendencyoverhim；butsometimeshefeltthatshecommandedhimtoomuch。Tobeconsideredyoungwascomplimentary，doubtless，butatsix-and-fortytobetreatedasaboywassometimesmortifying。LadyJaneyieldedupeverything，however，tohermother。Shewasonlyfondofherchildreninprivate，anditwasluckyforherthatLadySouthdown’smultifariousbusiness，herconferenceswithministers，andhercorrespondencewithallthemissionariesofAfrica，Asia，audAustralasia，&c。，occupiedthevenerableCountessagreatdeal，sothatshehadbutlittletimetodevotetohergranddaughter，thelittleMatilda，andhergrandson，MasterPittCrawley。
Thelatterwasafeeblechild，anditwasonlybyprodigiousquantitiesofcalomelthatLadySouthdownwasabletokeephiminlifeatall。
AsforSirPittheretiredintothoseveryapartmentswhereLadyCrawleyhadbeenpreviouslyextinguished，andherewastendedbyMissHester，thegirluponherpromotion，withconstantcareandassiduity。Whatlove，whatfidelity，whatconstancyisthereequaltothatofanursewithgoodwages？Theysmoothpillows；andmakearrowroot；theygetupatnights；theybearcomplaintsandquerulousness；theyseethesunshiningoutofdoorsanddon’twanttogoabroad；theysleeponarm-chairsandeattheirmealsinsolitude；theypasslonglongeveningsdoingnothing，watchingtheembers，andthepatient’sdrinksimmeringinthejug；theyreadtheweeklypaperthewholeweekthrough；andLaw’sSeriousCallortheWholeDutyofMansufficesthemforliteraturefortheyear——andwequarrelwiththembecause，whentheirrelationscometoseethemonceaweek，alittleginissmuggledinintheirlinenbasket。Ladies，whatman’sloveistherethatwouldstandayear’snursingoftheobjectofhisaffection？Whereasanursewillstandbyyoufortenpoundsaquarter，andwethinkhertoohighlypaid。AtleastMr。CrawleygrumbledagooddealaboutpayinghalfasmuchtoMissHesterforherconstantattendanceupontheBaronethisfather。
Ofsunshinydaysthisoldgentlemanwastakenoutinachairontheterrace——theverychairwhichMissCrawleyhadhadatBrighton，andwhichhadbeentransportedthencewithanumberofLadySouthdown’seffectstoQueen’sCrawley。LadyJanealwayswalkedbytheoldman，andwasanevidentfavouritewithhim。Heusedtonodmanytimestoherandsmilewhenshecamein，andutterinarticulatedeprecatorymoanswhenshewasgoingaway。Whenthedoorshutuponherhewouldcryandsob——whereuponHester’sfaceandmanner，whichwasalwaysexceedinglyblandandgentlewhileherladywaspresent，wouldchangeatonce，andshewouldmakefacesathimandclenchherfistandscreamout“Holdyourtongue，youstoopidoldfool。”andtwirlawayhischairfromthefirewhichhelovedtolookat——atwhichhewouldcrymore。Forthiswasallthatwasleftaftermorethanseventyyearsofcunning，andstruggling，anddrinking，andscheming，andsinandselfishness——awhimperingoldidiotputinandoutofbedandcleanedandfedlikeababy。