AllshestipulatedforwasthatlittleRawdonshouldbeallowedtocomedownandseeherattheHall。Beckypromisedthis——anything。Sheranuptoherhusbandwhenhecamehomeandtoldhimthejoyfulnews。Rawdonwasglad，deucedglad；theweightwasoffhisconscienceaboutpoorBriggs’smoney。Shewasprovidedfor，atanyrate，but——buthismindwasdisquiet。Hedidnotseemtobeallright，somehow。HetoldlittleSouthdownwhatLordSteynehaddone，andtheyoungmaneyedCrawleywithanairwhichsurprisedthelatter。
HetoldLadyJaneofthissecondproofofSteyne’sbounty，andshe，too，lookedoddandalarmed；sodidSirPitt。”Sheistoocleverand——andgaytobeallowedtogofrompartytopartywithoutacompanion。”bothsaid。”Youmustgowithher，Rawdon，wherevershegoes，andyoumusthavesomebodywithher——oneofthegirlsfromQueen’sCrawley，perhaps，thoughtheywererathergiddyguardiansforher。”
SomebodyBeckyshouldhave。ButinthemeantimeitwasclearthathonestBriggsmustnotloseherchanceofsettlementforlife，andsosheandherbagswerepacked，andshesetoffonherjourney。AndsotwoofRawdon’sout-sentinelswereinthehandsoftheenemy。
SirPittwentandexpostulatedwithhissister-in-lawuponthesubjectofthedismissalofBriggsandothermattersofdelicatefamilyinterest。InvainshepointedouttohimhownecessarywastheprotectionofLordSteyneforherpoorhusband；howcruelitwouldbeontheirparttodepriveBriggsofthepositionofferedtoher。
Cajolements，coaxings，smiles，tearscouldnotsatisfySirPitt，andhehadsomethingverylikeaquarrelwithhisonceadmiredBecky。Hespokeofthehonourofthefamily，theunsulliedreputationoftheCrawleys；
expressedhimselfinindignanttonesaboutherreceivingthoseyoungFrenchmen——thosewildyoungmenoffashion，myLordSteynehimself，whosecarriagewasalwaysatherdoor，whopassedhoursdailyinhercompany，andwhoseconstantpresencemadetheworldtalkabouther。Astheheadofthehouseheimploredhertobemoreprudent。Societywasalreadyspeakinglightlyofher。LordSteyne，thoughanoblemanofthegreateststationandtalents，wasamanwhoseattentionswouldcompromiseanywoman；hebesought，heimplored，hecommandedhissister-in-lawtobewatchfulinherintercoursewiththatnobleman。
BeckypromisedanythingandeverythingPittwanted；
butLordSteynecametoherhouseasoftenasever，andSirPitt’sangerincreased。IwonderwasLadyJaneangryorpleasedthatherhusbandatlastfoundfaultwithhisfavouriteRebecca？LordSteyne’svisitscontinuing，hisownceased，andhiswifewasforrefusingallfurtherintercoursewiththatnoblemananddecliningtheinvitationtothecharade-nightwhichthemarchionesssenttoher；butSirPittthoughtitwasnecessarytoacceptit，ashisRoyalHighnesswouldbethere。
Althoughhewenttothepartyinquestion，SirPittquitteditveryearly，andhiswife，too，wasverygladtocomeaway。Beckyhardlysomuchasspoketohimornoticedhersister-in-law。PittCrawleydeclaredherbehaviourwasmonstrouslyindecorous，reprobatedinstrongtermsthehabitofplay-actingandfancydressingashighlyunbecomingaBritishfemale，andafterthecharadeswereover，tookhisbrotherRawdonseverelytotaskforappearinghimselfandallowinghiswifetojoininsuchimproperexhibitions。
Rawdonsaidsheshouldnotjoininanymoresuchamusements——butindeed，andperhapsfromhintsfromhiselderbrotherandsister，hehadalreadybecomeaverywatchfulandexemplarydomesticcharacter。Heleftoffhisclubsandbilliards。Heneverlefthome。HetookBeckyouttodrive；hewentlaboriouslywithhertoallherparties。WhenevermyLordSteynecalled，hewassuretofindtheColonel。AndwhenBeckyproposedtogooutwithoutherhusband，orreceivedinvitationsforherself，heperemptorilyorderedhertorefusethem：andtherewasthatinthegentleman’smannerwhichenforcedobedience。LittleBecky，todoherjustice，wascharmedwithRawdon’sgallantry。Ifhewassurly，sheneverwas。
Whetherfriendswerepresentorabsent，shehadalwaysakindsmileforhimandwasattentivetohispleasureandcomfort。Itwastheearlydaysoftheirmarriageoveragain：thesamegoodhumour，prevenances，merriment，andartlessconfidenceandregard。”Howmuchpleasanteritis。”shewouldsay，“tohaveyoubymysideinthecarriagethanthatfoolisholdBriggs！Letusalwaysgoonso，dearRawdon。Howniceitwouldbe，andhowhappyweshouldalwaysbe，ifwehadbutthemoney！”Hefellasleepafterdinnerinhischair；hedidnotseethefaceoppositetohim，haggard，weary，andterrible；itlightedupwithfreshcandidsmileswhenhewoke。Itkissedhimgaily。Hewonderedthathehadeverhadsuspicions。No，heneverhadsuspicions；allthosedumbdoubtsandsurlymisgivingswhichhadbeengatheringonhismindweremereidlejealousies。Shewasfondofhim；
shealwayshadbeen。Asforhershininginsociety，itwasnofaultofhers；shewasformedtoshinethere。
Wasthereanywomanwhocouldtalk，orsing，ordoanythinglikeher？Ifshewouldbutliketheboy！
Rawdonthought。Butthemotherandsonnevercouldbebroughttogether。
AnditwaswhileRawdon’smindwasagitatedwiththesedoubtsandperplexitiesthattheincidentoccurredwhichwasmentionedinthelastchapter，andtheunfortunateColonelfoundhimselfaprisonerawayfromhome。
CHAPTERLIII
FriendRawdondroveonthentoMr。Moss’smansioninCursitorStreet，andwasdulyinductedintothatdismalplaceofhospitality。Morningwasbreakingoverthecheerfulhouse-topsofChanceryLaneastherattlingcabwokeuptheechoesthere。Alittlepink-eyedJew-boy，withaheadasruddyastherisingmorn，letthepartyintothehouse，andRawdonwaswelcomedtotheground-floorapartmentsbyMr。Moss，histravellingcompanionandhost，whocheerfullyaskedhimifhewouldlikeaglassofsomethingwarmafterhisdrive。
TheColonelwasnotsodepressedassomemortalswouldbe，who，quittingapalaceandaplacensuxor，findthemselvesbarredintoaspunging-house；for，ifthetruthmustbetold，hehadbeenalodgeratMr。Moss’sestablishmentonceortwicebefore。Wehavenotthoughtitnecessaryinthepreviouscourseofthisnarrativetomentionthesetriviallittledomesticincidents：butthereadermaybeassuredthattheycan’tunfrequentlyoccurinthelifeofamanwholivesonnothingayear。
UponhisfirstvisittoMr。Moss，theColonel，thenabachelor，hadbeenliberatedbythegenerosityofhisaunt；onthesecondmishap，littleBecky，withthegreatestspiritandkindness，hadborrowedasumofmoneyfromLordSouthdownandhadcoaxedherhusband’screditorwhowashershawl，velvet-gown，lacepocket-handkerchief，trinket，andgim-crackpurveyor，indeedtotakeaportionofthesumclaimedandRawdon’spromissorynotefortheremainder：soonboththeseoccasionsthecaptureandreleasehadbeenconductedwiththeutmostgallantryonallsides，andMossandtheColonelwerethereforeontheverybestofterms。
“You’llfindyouroldbed，Colonel，andeverythingcomfortable。”thatgentlemansaid，“asImayhonestlysay。
Youmaybeprettysureitskepaired，andbythebestofcompany，too。ItwasslepinthenightaforelastbytheHonorableCaptingFamish，oftheFiftiethDragoons，whoseMartookhimout，afterafortnight，jesttopunishhim，shesaid。But，Lawblessyou，Ipromiseyou，hepunishedmychampagne，andhadapartyereeverynight——reglartip-topswells，downfromtheclubsandtheWestEnd——CaptingRagg，theHonorableDeuceace，wholivesintheTemple，andsomefellersasknowsagoodglassofwine，Iwarrantyou。I’vegotaDoctorofDiwinityupstairs，fivegentsinthecoffee-room，andMrs。
Mosshasatably-dy-hotyathalf-pastfive，andalittlecardsormusicafterwards，whenweshallbemosthappytoseeyou。”
“I’llringwhenIwantanything。”saidRawdonandwentquietlytohisbedroom。Hewasanoldsoldier，wehavesaid，andnottobedisturbedbyanylittleshocksoffate。Aweakermanwouldhavesentoffalettertohiswifeontheinstantofhiscapture。”Butwhatistheuseofdisturbinghernight’srest？”thoughtRawdon。”Shewon’tknowwhetherIaminmyroomornot。Itwillbetimeenoughtowritetoherwhenshehashadhersleepout，andIhavehadmine。It’sonlyahundred-
and-seventy，andthedeuceisinitifwecan’traisethat。”Andso，thinkingaboutlittleRawdonwhomhewouldnothaveknowthathewasinsuchaqueerplace，theColonelturnedintothebedlatelyoccupiedbyCaptainFamishandfellasleep。Itwasteno’clockwhenhewokeup，andtheruddy-headedyouthbroughthim，withconsciouspride，afinesilverdressing-case，wherewithhemightperformtheoperationofshaving。IndeedMr。Moss’shouse，thoughsomewhatdirty，wassplendidthroughout。Thereweredirtytrays，andwine-coolersenpermanenceonthesideboard，hugedirtygiltcornices，withdingyyellowsatinhangingstothebarredwindowswhichlookedintoCursitorStreet——vastanddirtygiltpictureframessurroundingpiecessportingandsacred，allofwhichworkswerebythegreatestmasters——andfetchedthegreatestprices，too，inthebilltransactions，inthecourseofwhichtheyweresoldandboughtoverandoveragain。TheColonel’sbreakfastwasservedtohiminthesamedingyandgorgeousplatedware。MissMoss，adark-eyedmaidincurl-papers，appearedwiththeteapot，and，smiling，askedtheColonelhowhehadslep？
AndshebroughthimintheMorningPost，withthenamesofallthegreatpeoplewhohadfiguredatLordSteyne’sentertainmentthenightbefore。ItcontainedabrilliantaccountofthefestivitiesandofthebeautifulandaccomplishedMrs。RawdonCrawley’sadmirablepersonifications。
Afteralivelychatwiththisladywhosatontheedgeofthebreakfasttableinaneasyattitudedisplayingthedraperyofherstockingandanex-whitesatinshoe，whichwasdownatheel，ColonelCrawleycalledforpensandink，andpaper，andbeingaskedhowmanysheets，choseonewhichwasbroughttohimbetweenMissMoss’sownfingerandthumb。Manyasheethadthatdark-eyeddamselbroughtin；manyapoorfellowhadscrawledandblottedhurriedlinesofentreatyandpacedupanddownthatawfulroomuntilhismessengerbroughtbackthereply。Poormenalwaysusemessengersinsteadofthepost。Whohasnothadtheirletters，withthewaferswet，andtheannouncementthatapersoniswaitinginthehall？
Nowonthescoreofhisapplication，Rawdonhadnotmanymisgivings。
DEARBECKY，Rawdonwrote
IHOPEYOUSLEPTWELL。Don’tbeFRIGHTENEDifIdon’tbringyouinyourCOFFY。LastnightasIwascominghomesmoaking，ImetwithanACCADENT。IwasNABBED
byMossofCursitorStreet——fromwhoseGILTANDSPLENDID
PARLERIwritethis——thesamethathadmethistimetwoyears。MissMossbroughtinmytea——sheisgrownveryFAT，and，asusual，hadherSTOCKENSDOWNATHEAL。
It’sNathan’sbusiness——ahundred-and-fifty——withcosts，hundred-and-seventy。PleasesendmemydeskandsomeCLOTHS——I’minpumpsandawhitetyesomethinglikeMissM’sstockings——I’veseventyinit。Andassoonasyougetthis，DrivetoNathan’s——offerhimseventy-fivedown，andASKHIMTORENEW——sayI’lltakewine——wemayaswellhavesomedinnersherry；butnotPICTURS，they’retoodear。
Ifhewon’tstandit。TakemytickerandsuchofyourthingsasyoucanSPARE，andsendthemtoBalls——wemust，ofcoarse，havethesumto-night。Itwon’tdotoletitstandover，asto-morrow’sSunday；thebedsherearenotveryCLEAN，andtheremaybeotherthingsoutagainstme——I’mgladitan’tRawdon’sSaturdayforcominghome。Godblessyou。
Yoursinhaste，R。C。
P。S。Makehasteandcome。
Thisletter，sealedwithawafer，wasdispatchedbyoneofthemessengerswhoarealwayshangingaboutMr。Moss’sestablishment，andRawdon，havingseenhimdepart，wentoutinthecourt-yardandsmokedhiscigarwithatolerablyeasymind——inspiteofthebarsoverhead——forMr。Moss’scourt-yardisrailedinlikeacage，lestthegentlemenwhoareboardingwithhimshouldtakeafancytoescapefromhishospitality。
Threehours，hecalculated，wouldbetheutmosttimerequired，beforeBeckyshouldarriveandopenhisprisondoors，andhepassedtheseprettycheerfullyinsmoking，inreadingthepaper，andinthecoffee-roomwithanacquaintance，CaptainWalker，whohappenedtobethere，andwithwhomhecutforsixpencesforsomehours，withprettyequalluckoneitherside。
Butthedaypassedawayandnomessengerreturned