BetweenHampshireandLondonSirPittCrawleyhaddonemorethanrepairfencesandrestoredilapidatedlodgesontheQueen’sCrawleyestate。

　　Likeawisemanhehadsettoworktorebuildtheinjuredpopularityofhishouseandstopupthegapsandruinsinwhichhisnamehadbeenleftbyhisdisreputableandthriftlessoldpredecessor。Hewaselectedfortheboroughspeedilyafterhisfather’sdemise；amagistrate，amemberofparliament，acountymagnateandrepresentativeofanancientfamily，hemadeithisdutytoshowhimselfbeforetheHampshirepublic，subscribedhandsomelytothecountycharities，calledassiduouslyuponallthecountyfolk，andlaidhimselfoutinawordtotakethatpositioninHampshire，andintheEmpireafterwards，towhichhethoughthisprodigioustalentsjustlyentitledhim。LadyJanewasinstructedtobefriendlywiththeFuddlestones，andtheWapshots，andtheotherfamousbaronets，theirneighbours。TheircarriagesmightfrequentlybeseenintheQueen’sCrawleyavenuenow；

　　theydinedprettyfrequentlyattheHallwherethecookerywassogoodthatitwasclearLadyJaneveryseldomhadahandinit，andinreturnPittandhiswifemostenergeticallydinedoutinallsortsofweatherandatallsortsofdistances。ForthoughPittdidnotcareforjoviality，beingafrigidmanofpoorhearthandappetite，yetheconsideredthattobehospitableandcondescendingwasquiteincumbenton-hisstation，andeverytimethathegotaheadachefromtoolonganafter-dinnersitting，hefeltthathewasamartyrtoduty。Hetalkedaboutcrops，corn-laws，politics，withthebestcountrygentlemen。

　　Hewhohadbeenformerlyinclinedtobeasadfree-thinkeronthesepointsenteredintopoachingandgamepreservingwithardour。Hedidn’thunt；hewasn’tahuntingman；hewasamanofbooksandpeacefulhabits；buthethoughtthatthebreedofhorsesmustbekeptupinthecountry，andthatthebreedoffoxesmustthereforebelookedto，andforhispart，ifhisfriend，SirHuddlestoneFuddlestone，likedtodrawhiscountryandmeetasofoldtheF。houndsusedtodoatQueen’sCrawley，heshouldbehappytoseehimthere，andthegentlemenoftheFuddlestonehunt。AndtoLadySouthdown’sdismaytoohebecamemoreorthodoxinhistendencieseveryday；gaveuppreachinginpublicandattendingmeeting-houses；wentstoutlytochurch；calledontheBishopandalltheClergyatWinchester；andmadenoobjectionwhentheVenerableArchdeaconTrumperaskedforagameofwhist。WhatpangsmusthavebeenthoseofLadySouthdown，andwhatanuttercastawayshemusthavethoughtherson-in-lawforpermittingsuchagodlessdiversion！Andwhen，onthereturnofthefamilyfromanoratorioatWinchester，theBaronetannouncedtotheyoungladiesthatheshouldnextyearveryprobablytakethemtothe“countyballs。”theyworshippedhimforhiskindness。LadyJanewasonlytooobedient，andperhapsgladherselftogo。TheDowagerwroteoffthedirestdescriptionsofherdaughter’sworldlybehaviourtotheauthoressoftheWasherwomanofFinchleyCommonattheCape；andherhouseinBrightonbeingaboutthistimeunoccupied，returnedtothatwatering-place，herabsencebeingnotverymuchdeploredbyherchildren。

　　Wemaysuppose，too，thatRebecca，onpayingasecondvisittoQueen’sCrawley，didnotfeelparticularlygrievedattheabsenceoftheladyofthemedicinechest；thoughshewroteaChristmaslettertoherLadyship，inwhichsherespectfullyrecalledherselftoLadySouthdown’srecollection，spokewithgratitudeofthedelightwhichherLadyship’sconversationhadgivenherontheformervisit，dilatedonthekindnesswithwhichherLadyshiphadtreatedherinsickness，anddeclaredthateverythingatQueen’sCrawleyremindedherofherabsentfriend。

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