Mrs。Bowls，lateFirkin，cameandlistenedgrimlyinthepassagetothehystericalsnifflingandgigglingwhichwentoninthefrontparlour。Beckyhadneverbeenafavouriteofhers。SincetheestablishmentofthemarriedcoupleinLondontheyhadfrequentedtheirformerfriendsofthehouseofRaggles，anddidnotlikethelatter’saccountoftheColonel’smenage。”Iwouldn’ttrusthim，Ragg，myboy。”Bowlsremarked；andhiswife，whenMrs。Rawdonissuedfromtheparlour，onlysalutedtheladywithaverysourcurtsey；andherfingerswerelikesomanysausages，coldandlifeless，whensheheldthemoutindeferencetoMrs。Rawdon，whopersistedinshakinghandswiththeretiredlady’smaid。ShewhirledawayintoPiccadilly，noddingwiththesweetestofsmilestowardsMissBriggs，whohungnoddingatthewindowcloseundertheadvertisement-card，andatthenextmomentwasintheparkwithahalf-dozenofdandiescanteringafterhercarriage。
Whenshefoundhowherfriendwassituated，andhowhavingasnuglegacyfromMissCrawley，salarywasnoobjecttoourgentlewoman，Beckyinstantlyformedsomebenevolentlittledomesticplansconcerningher。Thiswasjustsuchacompanionaswouldsuitherestablishment，andsheinvitedBriggstocometodinnerwithherthatveryevening，whensheshouldseeBecky’sdearlittledarlingRawdon。
Mrs。Bowlscautionedherlodgeragainstventuringintothelion’sden，“whereinyouwillrueit，MissB。，markmywords，andassureasmynameisBowls。”AndBriggspromisedtobeverycautious。TheupshotofwhichcautionwasthatshewenttolivewithMrs。Rawdonthenextweek，andhadlentRawdonCrawleysixhundredpoundsuponannuitybeforesixmonthswereover。
InWhichBeckyRevisitstheHallsofHerAncestorsSothemourningbeingready，andSirPittCrawleywarnedoftheirarrival，ColonelCrawleyandhiswifetookacoupleofplacesinthesameoldHigh-flyercoachbywhichRebeccahadtravelledinthedefunctBaronet’scompany，onherfirstjourneyintotheworldsomenineyearsbefore。HowwellsherememberedtheInnYard，andtheostlertowhomsherefusedmoney，andtheinsinuatingCambridgeladwhowrappedherinhiscoatonthejourney！Rawdontookhisplaceoutside，andwouldhavelikedtodrive，buthisgriefforbadehim。Hesatbythecoachmanandtalkedabouthorsesandtheroadthewholeway；andwhokepttheinns，andwhohorsedthecoachbywhichhehadtravelledsomanyatime，whenheandPittwereboysgoingtoEton。AtMudburyacarriageandapairofhorsesreceivedthem，withacoachmaninblack。”It’stheolddrag，Rawdon。”Rebeccasaidastheygotin。”Thewormshaveeatentheclothagooddeal——there’sthestainwhichSirPitt——ha！IseeDawsontheIronmongerhashisshuttersup——whichSirPittmadesuchanoiseabout。ItwasabottleofcherrybrandyhebrokewhichwewenttofetchforyourauntfromSouthampton。Howtimeflies，tobesure！Thatcan’tbePollyTalboys，thatbouncinggirlstandingbyhermotheratthecottagethere。Irememberheramangylittleurchinpickingweedsinthegarden。”
“Finegal。”saidRawdon，returningthesalutewhichthecottagegavehim，bytwofingersappliedtohiscrapehatband。Beckybowedandsaluted，andrecognizedpeoplehereandtheregraciously。Theserecognitionswereinexpressiblypleasanttoher。Itseemedasifshewasnotanimposteranymore，andwascomingtothehomeofherancestors。Rawdonwasratherabashedandcastdown，ontheotherhand。Whatrecollectionsofboyhoodandinnocencemighthavebeenflittingacrosshisbrain？
Whatpangsofdimremorseanddoubtandshame？
“Yoursistersmustbeyoungwomennow。”Rebeccasaid，thinkingofthosegirlsforthefirsttimeperhapssinceshehadleftthem。
“Don’tknow，I’mshaw。”repliedtheColonel。”Hullo！
here’soldMotherLock。How-dy-do，Mrs。Lock？Rememberme，don’tyou？MasterRawdon，hey？Dammyhowthoseoldwomenlast；shewasahundredwhenIwasaboy。”
Theyweregoingthroughthelodge-gateskeptbyoldMrs。Lock，whosehandRebeccainsisteduponshaking，assheflungopenthecreakingoldirongate，andthecarriagepassedbetweenthetwomoss-grownpillarssurmountedbythedoveandserpent。
“Thegovernorhascutintothetimber。”Rawdonsaid，lookingabout，andthenwassilent——sowasBecky。Bothofthemwereratheragitated，andthinkingofoldtimes。
HeaboutEton，andhismother，whomheremembered，afrigiddemurewoman，andasisterwhodied，ofwhomhehadbeenpassionatelyfond；andhowheusedtothrashPitt；andaboutlittleRawdyathome。AndRebeccathoughtaboutherownyouthandthedarksecretsofthoseearlytainteddays；andofherentranceintolifebyyondergates；andofMissPinkerton，andJoe，andAmelia。
Thegravelwalkandterracehadbeenscrapedquiteclean。Agrandpaintedhatchmentwasalreadyoverthegreatentrance，andtwoverysolemnandtallpersonagesinblackflungopeneachaleafofthedoorasthecarriagepulledupatthefamiliarsteps。Rawdonturnedred，andBeckysomewhatpale，astheypassedthroughtheoldhall，arminarm。Shepinchedherhusband’sarmastheyenteredtheoakparlour，whereSirPittandhiswifewerereadytoreceivethem。SirPittinblack，LadyJaneinblack，andmyLadySouthdownwithalargeblackhead-pieceofbuglesandfeathers，whichwavedonherLadyship’sheadlikeanundertaker’stray。
SirPitthadjudgedcorrectly，thatshewouldnotquitthepremises。Shecontentedherselfbypreservingasolemnandstonysilence，whenincompanyofPittandhisrebelliouswife，andbyfrighteningthechildreninthenurserybytheghastlygloomofherdemeanour。
Onlyaveryfaintbendingofthehead-dressandplumeswelcomedRawdonandhiswife，asthoseprodigalsreturnedtotheirfamily。
Tosaythetruth，theywerenotaffectedverymuchonewayorotherbythiscoolness。HerLadyshipwasapersononlyofsecondaryconsiderationintheirmindsjustthen——theywereintentuponthereceptionwhichthereigningbrotherandsisterwouldaffordthem。
Pitt，withratheraheightenedcolour，wentupandshookhisbrotherbythehand，andsalutedRebeccawithahand-shakeandaverylowbow。ButLadyJanetookboththehandsofhersister-in-lawandkissedheraffectionately。
Theembracesomehowbroughttearsintotheeyesofthelittleadventuress——whichornaments，asweknow，sheworeveryseldom。Theartlessmarkofkindnessandconfidencetouchedandpleasedher；andRawdon，encouragedbythisdemonstrationonhissister’spart，twirleduphismustachiosandtookleavetosaluteLadyJanewithakiss，whichcausedherLadyshiptoblushexceedingly。
“Dev’lishnicelittlewoman，LadyJane。”washisverdict，whenheandhiswifeweretogetheragain。”Pitt’sgotfat，too，andisdoingthethinghandsomely。”“Hecanaffordit。”saidRebeccaandagreedinherhusband’sfartheropinion“thatthemother-in-lawwasatremendousoldGuy——andthatthesisterswereratherwell-lookingyoungwomen。”
They，too，hadbeensummonedfromschooltoattendthefuneralceremonies。ItseemedSirPittCrawley，forthedignityofthehouseandfamily，hadthoughtrighttohaveabouttheplaceasmanypersonsinblackascouldpossiblybeassembled。Allthemenandmaidsofthehouse，theoldwomenoftheAlmsHouse，whomtheelderSirPitthadcheatedoutofagreatportionoftheirdue，theparishclerk’sfamily，andthespecialretainersofbothHallandRectorywerehabitedinsable；addedtothese，theundertaker’smen，atleastascore，withcrapesandhatbands，andwhomadegoodlyshowwhenthegreatburyingshowtookplace——butthesearemutepersonagesinourdrama；andhavingnothingtodoorsay，needoccupyaverylittlespacehere。
Withregardtohersisters-in-lawRebeccadidnotattempttoforgetherformerpositionofGovernesstowardsthem，butrecalleditfranklyandkindly，andaskedthemabouttheirstudieswithgreatgravity，andtoldthemthatshehadthoughtofthemmanyandmanyaday，andlongedtoknowoftheirwelfare。Infactyouwouldhavesupposedthateversinceshehadleftthemshehadnotceasedtokeepthemuppermostinherthoughtsandtotakethetenderestinterestintheirwelfare。SosupposedLadyCrawleyherselfandheryoungsisters。
“She’shardlychangedsinceeightyears。”saidMissRosalindtoMissViolet，astheywerepreparingfordinner。
“Thosered-hairedwomenlookwonderfullywell。”
repliedtheother。
“Hersismuchdarkerthanitwas；Ithinkshemustdyeit。”MissRosalindadded。”Sheisstouter，too，andaltogetherimproved。”continuedMissRosalind，whowasdisposedtobeveryfat。
“AtleastshegivesherselfnoairsandremembersthatshewasourGovernessonce。”MissVioletsaid，intimatingthatitbefittedallgovernessestokeeptheirproperplace，andforgettingaltogetherthatshewasgranddaughternotonlyofSirWalpoleCrawley，butofMr。DawsonofMudbury，andsohadacoal-scuttleinherscutcheon。Thereareotherverywell-meaningpeoplewhomonemeetseverydayinVanityFairwhoaresurelyequallyoblivious。
“Itcan’tbetruewhatthegirlsattheRectorysaid，thathermotherwasanopera-dancer——“
“Apersoncan’thelptheirbirth。”Rosalindrepliedwithgreatliberality。”AndIagreewithourbrother，thatassheisinthefamily，ofcourseweareboundtonoticeher。
IamsureAuntButeneednottalk；shewantstomarryKatetoyoungHooper，thewine-merchant，andabsolutelyaskedhimtocometotheRectoryfororders。”
“IwonderwhetherLadySouthdownwillgoaway，shelookedveryglumuponMrs。Rawdon。”theothersaid。
“Iwishshewould。Iwon’treadtheWasherwomanofFinchleyCommon。”vowedViolet；andsosaying，andavoidingapassageattheendofwhichacertaincoffinwasplacedwithacoupleofwatchers，andlightsperpetuallyburningintheclosedroom，theseyoungwomencamedowntothefamilydinner，forwhichthebellrangasusual。
Butbeforethis，LadyJaneconductedRebeccatotheapartmentspreparedforher，which，withtherestofthehouse，hadassumedaverymuchimprovedappearanceoforderandcomfortduringPitt’sregency，andherebeholdingthatMrs。Rawdon’smodestlittletrunkshadarrived，andwereplacedinthebedroomanddressing-roomadjoining，helpedhertotakeoffherneatblackbonnetandcloak，andaskedhersister-in-lawinwhatmoreshecouldbeuseful。
“WhatIshouldlikebest。”saidRebecca，“wouldbetogotothenurseryandseeyourdearlittlechildren。”Onwhichthetwoladieslookedverykindlyateachotherandwenttothatapartmenthandinhand。
BeckyadmiredlittleMatilda，whowasnotquitefouryearsold，asthemostcharminglittleloveintheworld；
andtheboy，alittlefellowoftwoyears——pale，heavy-eyed，andlarge-headed——shepronouncedtobeaperfectprodigyinpointofsize，intelligence，andbeauty。
“IwishMammawouldnotinsistongivinghimsomuchmedicine。”LadyJanesaidwithasigh。”Ioftenthinkweshouldallbebetterwithoutit。”AndthenLadyJaneandhernew-foundfriendhadoneofthoseconfidentialmedicalconversationsaboutthechildren，whichallmothers，andmostwomen，asIamgiventounderstand，delightin。
Fiftyyearsago，andwhenthepresentwriter，beinganinterestinglittleboy，wasorderedoutoftheroomwiththeladiesafterdinner，Irememberquitewellthattheirtalkwaschieflyabouttheirailments；andputtingthisquestiondirectlytotwoorthreesince，Ihavealwaysgotfromthemtheacknowledgementthattimesarenotchanged。Letmyfairreadersremarkforthemselvesthisveryeveningwhentheyquitthedessert-tableandassembletocelebratethedrawing-roommysteries。Well——inhalfanhourBeckyandLadyJanewerecloseandintimatefriends——andinthecourseoftheeveningherLadyshipinformedSirPittthatshethoughthernewsister-in-lawwasakind，frank，unaffected，andaffectionateyoungwoman。
Andsohavingeasilywonthedaughter’sgood-will，theindefatigablelittlewomanbentherselftoconciliatetheaugustLadySouthdown。AssoonasshefoundherLadyshipalone，Rebeccaattackedheronthenurseryquestionatonceandsaidthatherownlittleboywassaved，actuallysaved，bycalomel，freelyadministered，whenallthephysiciansinParishadgiventhedearchildup。AndthenshementionedhowoftenshehadheardofLadySouthdownfromthatexcellentmantheReverendLawrenceGrills，MinisterofthechapelinMayFair，whichshefrequented；andhowherviewswereverymuchchangedbycircumstancesandmisfortunes；andhowshehopedthatapastlifespentinworldlinessanderrormightnotincapacitateherfrommoreseriousthoughtforthefuture。
ShedescribedhowinformerdaysshehadbeenindebtedtoMr。Crawleyforreligiousinstruction，touchedupontheWasherwomanofFinchleyCommon，whichshehadreadwiththegreatestprofit，andaskedaboutLadyEmily，itsgiftedauthor，nowLadyEmilyHornblower，atCapeTown，whereherhusbandhadstronghopesofbecomingBishopofCaffraria。
Butshecrownedall，andconfirmedherselfinLadySouthdown’sfavour，byfeelingverymuchagitatedandunwellafterthefuneralandrequestingherLadyship’smedicaladvice，whichtheDowagernotonlygave，but，wrappedupinabed-gownandlookingmorelikeLadyMacbeththanever，cameprivatelyinthenighttoBecky’sroomwithaparceloffavouritetracts，andamedicineofherowncomposition，whichsheinsistedthatMrs。
Rawdonshouldtake。
Beckyfirstacceptedthetractsandbegantoexaminethemwithgreatinterest，engagingtheDowagerinaconversationconcerningthemandthewelfareofhersoul，bywhichmeansshehopedthatherbodymightescapemedication。Butafterthereligioustopicswereexhausted，LadyMacbethwouldnotquitBecky’schamberuntilhercupofnight-drinkwasemptiedtoo；andpoorMrs。Rawdonwascompelledactuallytoassumealookofgratitude，andtoswallowthemedicineundertheunyieldingoldDowager’snose，wholefthervictimfinallywithabenediction。
ItdidnotmuchcomfortMrs。Rawdon；hercountenancewasveryqueerwhenRawdoncameinandheardwhathadhappened；and。hisexplosionsoflaughterwereasloudasusual，whenBecky，withafunwhichshecouldnotdisguise，eventhoughitwasatherownexpense，describedtheoccurrenceandhowshehadbeenvictimizedbyLadySouthdown。LordSteyne，andhersoninLondon，hadmanyalaughoverthestorywhenRawdonandhiswifereturnedtotheirquartersinMayFair。Beckyactedthewholesceneforthem。Sheputonanight-capandgown。Shepreachedagreatsermoninthetrueseriousmanner；shelecturedonthevirtueofthemedicinewhichshepretendedtoadminister，withagravityofimitationsoperfectthatyouwouldhavethoughtitwastheCountess’sownRomannosethroughwhichshesnuffled。