BareacresCastlewastheirs，too，withallitscostlypictures，furniture，andarticlesofvertu——themagnificentVandykes；thenobleReynoldspictures；theLawrenceportraits，tawdryandbeautiful，and，thirtyyearsago，deemedaspreciousasworksofrealgenius；thematchlessDancingNymphofCanova，forwhichLadyBareacreshadsatinheryouth——LadyBareacressplendidthen，andradiantinwealth，rank，andbeauty——atoothless，bald，oldwomannow——amereragofaformerrobeofstate。Herlord，paintedatthesametimebyLawrence，aswavinghissabreinfrontofBareacresCastle，andclothedinhisuniformasColoneloftheThistlewoodYeomanry，wasawithered，old，leanmaninagreatcoatandaBrutuswig，slinkingaboutGray’sInnofmorningschieflyanddiningaloneatclubs。HedidnotliketodinewithSteynenow。TheyhadrunracesofpleasuretogetherinyouthwhenBareacreswasthewinner。ButSteynehadmorebottomthanheandhadlastedhimout。TheMarquiswastentimesagreatermannowthantheyoungLordGauntof’85，andBareacresnowhereintherace——old，beaten，bankrupt，andbrokendown。HehadborrowedtoomuchmoneyofSteynetofinditpleasanttomeethisoldcomradeoften。Thelatter，wheneverhewishedtobemerry，usedjeeringlytoaskLadyGauntwhyherfatherhadnotcometoseeher。
“Hehasnotbeenhereforfourmonths。”LordSteynewouldsay。”Icanalwaystellbymycheque-bookafterwards，whenIgetavisitfromBareacres。Whatacomfortitis，myladies，Ibankwithoneofmysons’
fathers-in-law，andtheotherbankswithme！”
OftheotherillustriouspersonswhomBeckyhadthehonourtoencounteronthisherfirstpresentationtothegrandworld，itdoesnotbecomethepresenthistoriantosaymuch。TherewashisExcellencythePrinceofPeterwaradin，withhisPrincess——anoblemantightlygirthed，withalargemilitarychest，onwhichtheplaqueofhisordershonemagnificently，andwearingtheredcollaroftheGoldenFleeceroundhisneck。Hewastheownerofcountlessflocks。”Lookathisface。Ithinkhemustbedescendedfromasheep。”BeckywhisperedtoLordSteyne。Indeed，hisExcellency’scountenance，long，solemn，andwhite，withtheornamentroundhisneck，。
boresomeresemblancetothatofavenerablebell-wether。
TherewasMr。JohnPaulJeffersonJones，titularlyattachedtotheAmericanEmbassyandcorrespondentoftheNewYorkDemagogue，who，bywayofmakinghimselfagreeabletothecompany，askedLadySteyne，duringapauseintheconversationatdinner，howhisdearfriend，GeorgeGaunt，likedtheBrazils？HeandGeorgehadbeenmostintimateatNaplesandhadgoneupVesuviustogether。Mr。Joneswroteafullandparticularaccountofthedinner，whichappeareddulyintheDemagogue。Hementionedthenamesandtitlesofalltheguests，givingbiographicalsketchesoftheprincipalpeople。Hedescribedthepersonsoftheladieswithgreateloquence；theserviceofthetable；thesizeandcostumeoftheservants；enumeratedthedishesandwinesserved；theornamentsofthesideboard；andtheprobablevalueoftheplate。Suchadinnerhecalculatedcouldnotbedishedupunderfifteenoreighteendollarsperhead。
Andhewasinthehabit，untilverylately，ofsendingoverproteges，withlettersofrecommendationtothepresentMarquisofSteyne，encouragedtodosobytheintimatetermsonwhichhehadlivedwithhisdearfriend，thelatelord。Hewasmostindignantthatayoungandinsignificantaristocrat，theEarlofSouthdown，shouldhavetakenthepasofhimintheirprocessiontothedining-room。”JustasIwassteppinguptooffermyhandtoaverypleasingandwittyfashionable，thebrilliantandexclusiveMrs。RawdonCrawley。”——hewrote——“theyoungpatricianinterposedbetweenmeandtheladyandwhiskedmyHelenoffwithoutawordofapology。
IwasfaintobringuptherearwiththeColonel，thelady’shusband，astoutred-facedwarriorwhodistinguishedhimselfatWaterloo，wherehehadbetterluckthanbefellsomeofhisbrotherredcoatsatNewOrleans。”
TheColonel’scountenanceoncomingintothispolitesocietyworeasmanyblushesasthefaceofaboyofsixteenassumeswhenheisconfrontedwithhissister’sschoolfellows。IthasbeentoldbeforethathonestRawdonhadnotbeenmuchusedatanyperiodofhislifetoladies’company。WiththemenattheCluborthemessroom，hewaswellenough；andcouldride，bet，smoke，orplayatbilliardswiththeboldestofthem。Hehadhadhistimeforfemalefriendshipstoo，butthatwastwentyyearsago，andtheladieswereoftherankofthosewithwhomYoungMarlowinthecomedyisrepresentedashavingbeenfamiliarbeforehebecameabashedinthepresenceofMissHardcastle。ThetimesaresuchthatonescarcelydarestoalludetothatkindofcompanywhichthousandsofouryoungmeninVanityFairarefrequentingeveryday，whichnightlyfillscasinosanddancing-rooms，whichisknowntoexistaswellastheRinginHydeParkortheCongregationatSt。James’s——butwhichthemostsqueamishifnotthemostmoralofsocietiesisdeterminedtoignore。Inaword，althoughColonelCrawleywasnowfive-and-fortyyearsofage，ithadnotbeenhislotinlifetomeetwithahalfdozengoodwomen，besideshisparagonofawife。AllexceptherandhiskindsisterLadyJane，whosegentlenaturehadtamedandwonhim，scaredtheworthyColonel，andonoccasionofhisfirstdinneratGauntHousehewasnotheardtomakeasingleremarkexcepttostatethattheweatherwasveryhot。IndeedBeckywouldhavelefthimathome，butthatvirtueordainedthatherhusbandshouldbebyhersidetoprotectthetimidandflutteringlittlecreatureonherfirstappearanceinpolitesociety。
OnherfirstappearanceLordSteynesteppedforward，takingherhand，andgreetingherwithgreatcourtesy，andpresentinghertoLadySteyne，andtheirladyships，herdaughters。Theirladyshipsmadethreestatelycurtsies，andtheelderladytobesuregaveherhandtothenewcomer，butitwasascoldandlifelessasmarble。
Beckytookit，however，withgratefulhumility，andperformingareverencewhichwouldhavedonecredittothebestdancer-master，putherselfatLadySteyne’sfeet，asitwere，bysayingthathisLordshiphadbeenherfather’searliestfriendandpatron，andthatshe，Becky，hadlearnedtohonourandrespecttheSteynefamilyfromthedaysofherchildhood。ThefactisthatLordSteynehadoncepurchasedacoupleofpicturesofthelateSharp，andtheaffectionateorphancouldneverforgethergratitudeforthatfavour。
TheLadyBareacresthencameunderBecky’scognizance——towhomtheColonel’sladymadealsoamostrespectfulobeisance：itwasreturnedwithseveredignitybytheexaltedpersoninquestion。
“IhadthepleasureofmakingyourLadyship’sacquaintanceatBrussels，tenyearsago。”Beckysaidinthemostwinningmanner。”IhadthegoodfortunetomeetLadyBareacresattheDuchessofRichmond’sball，thenightbeforetheBattleofWaterloo。AndIrecollectyourLadyship，andmyLadyBlanche，yourdaughter，sittinginthecarriageintheporte-cochereattheInn，waitingforhorses。IhopeyourLadyship’sdiamondsaresafe。”
Everybody’seyeslookedintotheirneighbour’s。Thefamousdiamondshadundergoneafamousseizure，itappears，aboutwhichBecky，ofcourse，knewnothing。
RawdonCrawleyretreatedwithLordSouthdownintoawindow，wherethelatterwasheardtolaughimmoderately，asRawdontoldhimthestoryofLadyBareacreswantinghorsesand“knucklingdownbyJove。”toMrs。
Crawley。”IthinkIneedn’tbeafraidofTHATwoman。”
Beckythought。Indeed，LadyBareacresexchangedterrifiedandangrylookswithherdaughterandretreatedtoatable，whereshebegantolookatpictureswithgreatenergy。
WhenthePotentatefromtheDanubemadehisappearance，theconversationwascarriedonintheFrenchlanguage，andtheLadyBareacresandtheyoungerladiesfound，totheirfarthermortification，thatMrs。Crawleywasmuchbetteracquaintedwiththattongue，andspokeitwithamuchbetteraccentthanthey。BeckyhadmetotherHungarianmagnateswiththearmyinFrancein1816-17。SheaskedafterherfriendswithgreatinterestTheforeignpersonagesthoughtthatshewasaladyofgreatdistinction，andthePrinceandthePrincessaskedseverallyofLordSteyneandtheMarchioness，whomtheyconductedtodinner，whowasthatpetitedamewhospokesowell？
Finally，theprocessionbeingformedintheorderdescribedbytheAmericandiplomatist，theymarchedintotheapartmentwherethebanquetwasserved，andwhich，asIhavepromisedthereaderheshallenjoyit，heshallhavethelibertyoforderinghimselfsoastosuithisfancy。
ButitwaswhentheladieswerealonethatBeckyknewthetugofwarwouldcome。AndthenindeedthelittlewomanfoundherselfinsuchasituationasmadeheracknowledgethecorrectnessofLordSteyne’scautiontohertobewareofthesocietyofladiesaboveherownsphere。Astheysay，thepersonswhohateIrishmenmostareIrishmen；so，assuredly，thegreatesttyrantsoverwomenarewomen。WhenpoorlittleBecky，alonewiththeladies，wentuptothefire-placewhitherthegreatladieshadrepaired，thegreatladiesmarchedawayandtookpossessionofatableofdrawings。WhenBeckyfollowedthemtothetableofdrawings，theydroppedoffonebyonetothefireagain。Shetriedtospeaktooneofthechildrenofwhomshewascommonlyfondinpublicplaces，butMasterGeorgeGauntwascalledawaybyhismamma；andthestrangerwastreatedwithsuchcrueltyfinally，thatevenLadySteyneherselfpitiedherandwentuptospeaktothefriendlesslittlewoman。
“LordSteyne。”saidherLadyship，asherwancheeksglowedwithablush，“saysyousingandplayverybeautifully，Mrs。Crawley——Iwishyouwoulddomethekindnesstosingtome。”
“IwilldoanythingthatmaygivepleasuretomyLordSteyneortoyou。”saidRebecca，sincerelygrateful，andseatingherselfatthepiano，begantosing。
ShesangreligioussongsofMozart，whichhadbeenearlyfavouritesofLadySteyne，andwithsuchsweetnessandtendernessthatthelady，lingeringroundthepiano，satdownbyitssideandlisteneduntilthetearsrolleddownhereyes。Itistruethattheoppositionladiesattheotherendoftheroomkeptupaloudandceaselessbuzzingandtalking，buttheLadySteynedidnothearthoserumours。Shewasachildagain——andhadwanderedbackthroughafortyyears’wildernesstoherconventgarden。Thechapelorganhadpealedthesametones，theorganist，thesisterwhomshelovedbestofthecommunity，hadtaughtthemtoherinthoseearlyhappydays。Shewasagirloncemore，andthebriefperiodofherhappinessbloomedoutagainforanhour——shestartedwhenthejarringdoorswereflungopen，andwithaloudlaughfromLordSteyne，themenofthepartyenteredfullofgaiety。
Hesawataglancewhathadhappenedinhisabsence，andwasgratefultohiswifeforonce。Hewentandspoketoher，andcalledherbyherChristianname，soasagaintobringblushestoherpaleface——“Mywifesaysyouhavebeensinginglikeanangel。”hesaidtoBecky。Nowthereareangelsoftwokinds，andbothsorts，itissaid，arecharmingintheirway。
Whateverthepreviousportionoftheeveninghadbeen，therestofthatnightwasagreattriumphforBecky。Shesangherverybest，anditwassogoodthateveryoneofthemencameandcrowdedroundthepiano。Thewomen，herenemies，wereleftquitealone。
AndMr。PaulJeffersonJonesthoughthehadmadeaconquestofLadyGauntbygoinguptoherLadyshipandpraisingherdelightfulfriend’sfirst-ratesinging。
ContainsaVulgarIncidentTheMuse，whoevershebe，whopresidesoverthisComicHistorymustnowdescendfromthegenteelheightsinwhichshehasbeensoaringandhavethegoodnesstodropdownuponthelowlyroofofJohnSedleyatBrompton，anddescribewhateventsaretakingplacethere。Here，too，inthishumbletenement，livecare，anddistrust，anddismay。Mrs。Clappinthekitchenisgrumblinginsecrettoherhusbandabouttherent，andurgingthegoodfellowtorebelagainsthisoldfriendandpatronandhispresentlodger。Mrs。Sedleyhasceasedtovisitherlandladyinthelowerregionsnow，andindeedisinapositiontopatronizeMrs。Clappnolonger。Howcanonebecondescendingtoaladytowhomoneowesamatteroffortypounds，andwhoisperpetuallythrowingouthintsforthemoney？TheIrishmaidservanthasnotalteredintheleastinherkindandrespectfulbehaviour；butMrs。Sedleyfanciesthatsheisgrowinginsolentandungrateful，and，astheguiltythiefwhofearseachbushanofficer，seesthreateninginnuendoesandhintsofcaptureinallthegirl’sspeechesandanswers。MissClapp，grownquiteayoungwomannow，isdeclaredbythesouredoldladytobeanunbearableandimpudentlittleminx。WhyAmeliacanbesofondofher，orhaveherinherroomsomuch，orwalkoutwithhersoconstantly，Mrs。Sedleycannotconceive。
Thebitternessofpovertyhaspoisonedthelifeoftheoncecheerfulandkindlywoman。SheisthanklessforAmelia’sconstantandgentlebearingtowardsher；carpsatherforhereffortsatkindnessorservice；railsatherforhersillyprideinherchildandherneglectofherparents。Georgy’shouseisnotaverylivelyonesinceUncleJos’sannuityhasbeenwithdrawnandthelittlefamilyarealmostuponfaminediet。
Ameliathinks，andthinks，andracksherbrain，tofindsomemeansofincreasingthesmallpittanceuponwhichthehouseholdisstarving。Canshegivelessonsinanything？paintcard-racks？dofinework？Shefindsthatwomenareworkinghard，andbetterthanshecan，fortwopenceaday。ShebuysacoupleofbegiltBristolboardsattheFancyStationer’sandpaintsherverybestuponthem——ashepherdwitharedwaistcoatonone，andapinkfacesmilinginthemidstofapencillandscape——ashepherdessontheother，crossingalittlebridge，withalittledog，nicelyshaded。ThemanoftheFancyRepositoryandBromptonEmporiumofFineArtsofwhomsheboughtthescreens，vainlyhopingthathewouldrepurchasethemwhenornamentedbyherhand
canhardlyhidethesneerwithwhichheexaminesthesefeebleworksofart。Helooksaskanceattheladywhowaitsintheshop，andtiesupthecardsagainintheirenvelopeofwhitey-brownpaper，andhandsthemtothepoorwidowandMissClapp，whohadneverseensuchbeautifulthingsinherlife，andhadbeenquiteconfidentthatthemanmustgiveatleasttwoguineasforthescreens。TheytryatothershopsintheinteriorofLondon，withfaintsickeninghopes。”Don’twant’em。”