Thereonhistable，hissister’sletterlayreproachinghim。Hetookitup，ashamedratherofhisnegligenceregardingit，andpreparedhimselfforadisagreeablehour’scommuningwiththatcrabbed-handedabsentrelative……ItmayhavebeenanhouraftertheMajor’sdeparturefromtheColonel’shouse——SirMichaelwassleepingthesleepofthejust；Glorvinahadarrangedherblackringletsintheinnumerablelittlebitsofpaper，inwhichitwasherhabittoconfinethem；LadyO’Dowd，too，hadgonetoherbedinthenuptialchamber，ontheground-floor，andhadtuckedhermusquitocurtainsroundherfairform，whentheguardatthegatesoftheCommanding-Officer’scompoundbeheldMajorDobbin，inthemoonlight，rushingtowardsthehousewithaswiftstepandaveryagitatedcountenance，andhepassedthesentinelandwentuptothewindowsoftheColonel’sbedchamber。
“O’Dowd——Colonel！”saidDobbinandkeptupagreatshouting。
“Heavens，Meejor！”saidGlorvinaofthecurl-papers，puttingoutherheadtoo，fromherwindow。
“Whatisit，Dob，meboy？”saidtheColonel，expectingtherewasafireinthestation，orthattheroutehadcomefromheadquarters。
“I——Imusthaveleaveofabsence。ImustgotoEngland——onthemosturgentprivateaffairs。”Dobbinsaid。
“Goodheavens，whathashappened！”thoughtGlorvina，tremblingwithallthepapillotes。
“Iwanttobeoff——now——to-night。”Dobbincontinued；
andtheColonelgettingup，cameouttoparleywithhim。
InthepostscriptofMissDobbin’scross-letter，theMajorhadjustcomeuponaparagraph，tothefollowingeffect：——“IdroveyesterdaytoseeyouroldACQUAINTANCE，Mrs。Osborne。Thewretchedplacetheyliveat，sincetheywerebankrupts，youknow——Mr。S。，tojudgefromaBRASSPLATEonthedoorofhishutitislittlebetter
isacoal-merchant。Thelittleboy，yourgodson，iscertainlyafinechild，thoughforward，andinclinedtobesaucyandself-willed。Butwehavetakennoticeofhimasyouwishit，andhaveintroducedhimtohisaunt，MissO。，whowasratherpleasedwithhim。Perhapshisgrandpapa，notthebankruptone，whoisalmostdoting，butMr。Osborne，ofRussellSquare，maybeinducedtorelenttowardsthechildofyourfriend，HISERRINGAND
SELF-WILLEDSON。AndAmeliawillnotbeill-disposedtogivehimup。ThewidowisCONSOLED，andisabouttomarryareverendgentleman，theRev。Mr。Binny，oneofthecuratesofBrompton。Apoormatch。ButMrs。O。
isgettingold，andIsawagreatdealofgreyinherhair——
shewasinverygoodspirits：andyourlittlegodsonoveratehimselfatourhouse。Mammasendsherlovewiththatofyouraffectionate，AnnDobbin。”
CHAPTERXLIV
ARound-aboutChapterbetweenLondonandHampshireOuroldfriendstheCrawleys’familyhouse，inGreatGauntStreet，stillboreoveritsfrontthehatchmentwhichhadbeenplacedthereasatokenofmourningforSirPittCrawley’sdemise，yetthisheraldicemblemwasinitselfaverysplendidandgaudypieceoffurniture，andalltherestofthemansionbecamemorebrilliantthanithadeverbeenduringthelatebaronet’sreign。Theblackouter-coatingofthebrickswasremoved，andtheyappearedwithacheerful，blushingfacestreakedwithwhite：
theoldbronzelionsoftheknockerweregilthandsomely，therailingspainted，andthedismallesthouseinGreatGauntStreetbecamethesmartestinthewholequarter，beforethegreenleavesinHampshirehadreplacedthoseyellowingoneswhichwereonthetreesinQueen’sCrawleyAvenuewhenoldSirPittCrawleypassedunderthemforthelasttime。
Alittlewoman，withacarriagetocorrespond，wasperpetuallyseenaboutthismansion；anelderlyspinster，accompaniedbyalittleboy，alsomightberemarkedcomingthitherdaily。ItwasMissBriggsandlittleRawdon，whosebusinessitwastoseetotheinwardrenovationofSirPitt’shouse，tosuperintendthefemalebandengagedinstitchingtheblindsandhangings，topokeandrummageinthedrawersandcupboardscrammedwiththedirtyrelicsandcongregatedtrumperiesofacoupleofgenerationsofLadyCrawleys，andtotakeinventoriesofthechina，theglass，andotherpropertiesintheclosetsandstore-rooms。
Mrs。RawdonCrawleywasgeneral-in-chiefoverthesearrangements，withfullordersfromSirPitttosell，barter，confiscate，orpurchasefurniture，andsheenjoyedherselfnotalittleinanoccupationwhichgavefullscopetohertasteandingenuity。TherenovationofthehousewasdetermineduponwhenSirPittcametotowninNovembertoseehislawyers，andwhenhepassednearlyaweekinCurzonStreet，undertheroofofhisaffectionatebrotherandsister。
Hehadputupatanhotelatfirst，but，Becky，assoonassheheardoftheBaronet’sarrival，wentoffalonetogreethim，andreturnedinanhourtoCurzonStreetwithSirPittinthecarriagebyherside。Itwasimpossiblesometimestoresistthisartlesslittlecreature’shospitalities，sokindlyweretheypressed，sofranklyandamiablyoffered。BeckyseizedPitt’shandinatransportofgratitudewhenheagreedtocome。”Thankyou。”shesaid，squeezingitandlookingintotheBaronet’seyes，whoblushedagooddeal；“howhappythiswillmakeRawdon！”ShebustleduptoPitt’sbedroom，leadingontheservants，whowerecarryinghistrunksthither。Shecameinherselflaughing，withacoal-scuttleoutofherownroom。
AfirewasblazingalreadyinSirPitt’sapartmentitwasMissBriggs’sroom，bytheway，whowassentupstairstosleepwiththemaid。”IknewIshouldbringyou。”shesaidwithpleasurebeaminginherglance。Indeed，shewasreallysincerelyhappyathavinghimforaguest。
BeckymadeRawdondineoutonceortwiceonbusiness，whilePittstayedwiththem，andtheBaronetpassedthehappyeveningalonewithherandBriggs。Shewentdownstairstothekitchenandactuallycookedlittledishesforhim。”Isn’titagoodsalmi？”shesaid；“I
madeitforyou。Icanmakeyoubetterdishesthanthat，andwillwhenyoucometoseeme。”
“Everythingyoudo，youdowell。”saidtheBaronetgallantly。”Thesalmiisexcellentindeed。”
“Apoorman’swife。”Rebeccarepliedgaily，“mustmakeherselfuseful，youknow“；onwhichherbrother-
in-lawvowedthat“shewasfittobethewifeofanEmperor，andthattobeskilfulindomesticdutieswassurelyoneofthemostcharmingofwoman’squalities。”
AndSirPittthought，withsomethinglikemortification，ofLadyJaneathome，andofacertainpiewhichshehadinsistedonmaking，andservingtohimatdinner——amostabominablepie。
Besidesthesalmi，whichwasmadeofLordSteyne’spheasantsfromhislordship’scottageofStillbrook，Beckygaveherbrother-in-lawabottleofwhitewine，somethatRawdonhadbroughtwithhimfromFrance，andhadpickedupfornothing，thelittlestory-tellersaid；whereastheliquorwas，intruth，someWhiteHermitagefromtheMarquisofSteyne’sfamouscellars，whichbroughtfireintotheBaronet’spallidcheeksandaglowintohisfeebleframe。
Thenwhenhehaddrunkupthebottleofpetitvinblanc，shegavehimherhand，andtookhimuptothedrawing-room，andmadehimsnugonthesofabythefire，andlethimtalkasshelistenedwiththetenderestkindlyinterest，sittingbyhim，andhemmingashirtforherdearlittleboy。WheneverMrs。Rawdonwishedtobeparticularlyhumbleandvirtuous，thislittleshirtusedtocomeoutofherwork-box。IthadgottobetoosmallforRawdonlongbeforeitwasfinished。
Well，RebeccalistenedtoPitt，shetalkedtohim，shesangtohim，shecoaxedhim，andcuddledhim，sothathefoundhimselfmoreandmoregladeverydaytogetbackfromthelawyer’satGray’sInn，totheblazingfireinCurzonStreet——agladnessinwhichthemenoflawlikewiseparticipated，forPitt’sharangueswereofthelongest——andsothatwhenhewentawayhefeltquiteapangatdeparting。Howprettyshelookedkissingherhandtohimfromthecarriageandwavingherhandkerchiefwhenhehadtakenhisplaceinthemail！Sheputthehandkerchieftohereyesonce。Hepulledhissealskincapoverhis，asthecoachdroveaway，and，sinkingback，hethoughttohimselfhowsherespectedhimandhowhedeservedit，andhowRawdonwasafoolishdullfellowwhodidn’thalf-appreciatehiswife；andhowmumandstupidhisownwifewascomparedtothatbrilliantlittleBecky。Beckyhadhintedeveryoneofthesethingsherself，perhaps，butsodelicatelyandgentlythatyouhardlyknewwhenorwhere。And，beforetheyparted，itwasagreedthatthehouseinLondonshouldberedecoratedforthenextseason，andthatthebrothers’
familiesshouldmeetagaininthecountryatChristmas。
“Iwishyoucouldhavegotalittlemoneyoutofhim。”RawdonsaidtohiswifemoodilywhentheBaronetwasgone。”IshouldliketogivesomethingtooldRaggles，hangedifIshouldn’t。Itain’tright，youknow，thattheoldfellowshouldbekeptoutofallhismoney。Itmaybeinconvenient，andhemightlettosomebodyelsebesidesus，youknow。”
“Tellhim。”saidBecky，“thatassoonasSirPitt’saffairsaresettled，everybodywillbepaid，andgivehimalittlesomethingonaccount。Here’sachequethatPittleftfortheboy。”andshetookfromherbagandgaveherhusbandapaperwhichhisbrotherhadhandedovertoher，onbehalfofthelittlesonandheiroftheyoungerbranchoftheCrawleys。
Thetruthis，shehadtriedpersonallythegroundonwhichherhusbandexpressedawishthatsheshouldventure——triediteversodelicately，andfounditunsafe。
Evenatahintaboutembarrassments，SirPittCrawleywasoffandalarmed。Andhebeganalongspeech，explaininghowstraitenedhehimselfwasinmoneymatters；howthetenantswouldnotpay；howhisfather’saffairs，andtheexpensesattendantuponthedemiseoftheoldgentleman，hadinvolvedhim；howhewantedtopayoffincumbrances；andhowthebankersandagentswereoverdrawn；andPittCrawleyendedbymakingacompromisewithhissister-in-lawandgivingheraverysmallsumforthebenefitofherlittleboy。
Pittknewhowpoorhisbrotherandhisbrother’sfamilymustbe。ItcouldnothaveescapedthenoticeofsuchacoolandexperiencedolddiplomatistthatRawdon’sfamilyhadnothingtoliveupon，andthathousesandcarriagesarenottobekeptfornothing。Heknewverywellthathewastheproprietororappropriatorofthemoney，which，accordingtoallpropercalculation，oughttohavefallentohisyoungerbrother，andhehad，wemaybesure，somesecretpangsofremorsewithinhim，whichwarnedhimthatheoughttoperformsomeactofjustice，or，letussay，compensation，towardsthesedisappointedrelations。Ajust，decentman，notwithoutbrains，whosaidhisprayers，andknewhiscatechism，anddidhisdutyoutwardlythroughlife，hecouldnotbeotherwisethanawarethatsomethingwasduetohisbrotherathishands，andthatmorallyhewasRawdon’sdebtor。
But，asonereadsinthecolumnsoftheTimesnewspapereverynowandthen，queerannouncementsfromtheChancelloroftheExchequer，acknowledgingthereceiptof50poundsfromA。B。，or10poundsfromW。T。，asconscience-money，onaccountoftaxesduebythesaidA。B。orW。T。，whichpaymentsthepenitentsbegtheRightHonourablegentlemantoacknowledgethroughthemediumofthepublicpress——soistheChancellornodoubt，andthereaderlikewise，alwaysperfectlysurethattheabove-namedA。B。andW。T。areonlypayingaverysmallinstalmentofwhattheyreallyowe，andthatthemanwhosendsupatwenty-poundnotehasverylikelyhundredsorthousandsmoreforwhichheoughttoaccount。Such，atleast，aremyfeelings，whenIseeA。B。orW。T。’sinsufficientactsofrepentance。AndI
havenodoubtthatPittCrawley’scontrition，orkindnessifyouwill，towardshisyoungerbrother，bywhomhehadsomuchprofited，wasonlyaverysmalldividenduponthecapitalsuminwhichhewasindebtedtoRawdon。
Noteverybodyiswillingtopayevensomuch。Topartwithmoneyisasacrificebeyondalmostallmenendowedwithasenseoforder。Thereisscarcelyanymanalivewhodoesnotthinkhimselfmeritoriousforgivinghisneighbourfivepounds。Thriftlessgives，notfromabeneficentpleasureingiving，butfromalazydelightinspending。Hewouldnotdenyhimselfoneenjoyment；nothisopera-stall，nothishorse，nothisdinner，noteventhepleasureofgivingLazarusthefivepounds。Thrifty，whoisgood，wise，just，andowesnomanapenny，turnsfromabeggar，haggleswithahackney-coachman，ordeniesapoorrelation，andIdoubtwhichisthemostselfishofthetwo。Moneyhasonlyadifferentvalueintheeyesofeach。
So，inaword，PittCrawleythoughthewoulddosomethingforhisbrother，andthenthoughtthathewouldthinkaboutitsomeothertime。
AndwithregardtoBecky，shewasnotawomanwhoexpectedtoomuchfromthegenerosityofherneighbours，andsowasquitecontentwithallthatPittCrawleyhaddoneforher。Shewasacknowledgedbytheheadofthefamily。IfPittwouldnotgiveheranything，hewouldgetsomethingforhersomeday。Ifshegotnomoneyfromherbrother-in-law，shegotwhatwasasgoodasmoney——credit。Raggleswasmaderathereasyinhismindbythespectacleoftheunionbetweenthebrothers，byasmallpaymentonthespot，andbythepromiseofamuchlargersumspeedilytobeassignedtohim。AndRebeccatoldMissBriggs，whoseChristmasdividenduponthelittlesumlentbyherBeckypaidwithanairofcandidjoy，andasifherexchequerwasbrimmingoverwithgold——Rebecca，wesay，toldMissBriggs，instrictconfidencethatshehadconferredwithSirPitt，whowasfamousasafinancier，onBriggs’sspecialbehalf，astothemostprofitableinvestmentofMissB。’sremainingcapital；thatSirPitt，aftermuchconsideration，hadthoughtofamostsafeandadvantageouswayinwhichBriggscouldlayouthermoney；that，beingespeciallyinterestedinherasanattachedfriendofthelateMissCrawley，andofthewholefamily，andthatlongbeforehelefttown，hehadrecommendedthatsheshouldbereadywiththemoneyatamoment’snotice，soastopurchaseatthemostfavourableopportunitytheshareswhichSirPitthadinhiseye。PoorMissBriggswasverygratefulforthismarkofSirPitt’sattention——itcamesounsolicited，shesaid，forshenevershouldhavethoughtofremovingthemoneyfromthefunds——andthedelicacyenhancedthekindnessoftheoffice；andshepromisedtoseehermanofbusinessimmediatelyandbereadywithherlittlecashattheproperhour。
AndthisworthywomanwassogratefulforthekindnessofRebeccainthematter，andforthatofhergenerousbenefactor，theColonel，thatshewentoutandspentagreatpartofherhalf-year’sdividendinthepurchaseofablackvelvetcoatforlittleRawdon，who，bytheway，wasgrownalmosttoobigforblackvelvetnow，andwasofasizeandagebefittinghimfortheassumptionofthevirilejacketandpantaloons。