noBecky。Mr。Moss’stably-dy-hotywasservedattheappointedhourofhalf-pastfive，whensuchofthegentlemenlodginginthehouseascouldaffordtopayforthebanquetcameandpartookofitinthesplendidfrontparlourbeforedescribed，andwithwhichMr。Crawley’stemporarylodgingcommunicated，whenMissM。MissHem，asherpapacalledherappearedwithoutthecurl-
papersofthemorning，andMrs。Hemdidthehonoursofaprimeboiledlegofmuttonandturnips，ofwhichtheColonelatewithaveryfaintappetite。Askedwhetherhewould“stand“abottleofchampagneforthecompany，heconsented，andtheladiesdranktohis’ealth，andMr。Moss，inthemostpolitemanner，“lookedtowardshim。”
Inthemidstofthisrepast，however，thedoorbellwasheard——youngMossoftheruddyhairroseupwiththekeysandansweredthesummons，andcomingback，toldtheColonelthatthemessengerhadreturnedwithabag，adeskandaletter，whichhegavehim。”Noceramony，Colonel，Ibeg。”saidMrs。Mosswithawaveofherhand，andheopenedtheletterrathertremulously。Itwasabeautifulletter，highlyscented，onapinkpaper，andwithalightgreenseal。
MONPAUVRECHERPETIT，Mrs。Crawleywrote
IcouldnotsleepONEWINKforthinkingofwhathadbecomeofmyodiousoldmonstre，andonlygottorestinthemorningaftersendingforMr。BlenchforIwasinafever，whogavemeacomposingdraughtandleftorderswithFinettethatIshouldbedisturbedONNO
ACCOUNT。Sothatmypooroldman’smessenger，whohadbienmauvaisemineFinettesays，andsentoitleGenievre，remainedinthehallforsomehourswaitingmybell。
YoumayfancymystatewhenIreadyourpoordearoldill-speltletter。
IllasIwas，Iinstantlycalledforthecarriage，andassoonasIwasdressedthoughIcouldn’tdrinkadropofchocolate——IassureyouIcouldn’twithoutmymonstretobringittome，IdroveventreaterretoNathan’s。Isawhim——Iwept——Icried——Ifellathi~
odiousknees。Nothingwouldmollifythehorridman。
Hewouldhaveallthemoney，hesaid，orkeepmypoormonstreinprison。IdrovehomewiththeintentionofpayingthattristevisitechezmononclewheneverytrinketIhaveshouldbeatyourdisposalthoughtheywouldnotfetchahundredpounds，forsome，youknow，arewithcecheronclealready，andfoundMilortherewiththeBulgarianoldsheep-facedmonster，whohadcometocomplimentmeuponlastnight’sperformances。
Paddingtoncamein，too，drawlingandlispingandtwiddlinghishair；sodidChampignac，andhischef——
everybodywithfoisonofcomplimentsandprettyspeeches——plaguingpoorme，wholongedtoberidofthem，andwasthinkingeverymomentofthetimeofmonpauvreprisonnier。
Whentheyweregone，IwentdownonmykneestoMilor；toldhimweweregoingtopawneverything，andbeggedandprayedhimtogivemetwohundredpounds。
Hepish’dandpsha’dinafury——toldmenottobesuchafoolastopawn——andsaidhewouldseewhetherhecouldlendmethemoney。Atlasthewentaway，promisingthathewouldsenditmeinthemorning：whenIwillbringittomypooroldmonsterwithakissfrohisaffectionateBECKY
Iamwritinginbed。OhIhavesuchaheadacheandsuchaheartache！
WhenRawdonreadoverthisletter，heturnedsoredandlookedsosavagethatthecompanyatthetabled’hoteeasilyperceivedthatbadnewshadreachedhim。Allhissuspicions，whichhehadbeentryingtobanish，returneduponhim。Shecouldnotevengooutandsellhertrinketstofreehim。Shecouldlaughandtalkaboutcomplimentspaidtoher，whilsthewasinprison。Whohadputhimthere？Wenhamhadwalkedwithhim。Wasthere……Hecouldhardlybeartothinkofwhathesuspected。Leavingtheroomhurriedly，heranintohisown——openedhisdesk，wrotetwohurriedlines，whichhedirectedtoSirPittorLadyCrawley，andbadethemessengercarrythematoncetoGauntStreet，biddinghimtotakeacab，andpromisinghimaguineaifhewasbackinanhour。
Inthenotehebesoughthisdearbrotherandsister，forthesakeofGod，forthesakeofhisdearchildandhishonour，tocometohimandrelievehimfromhisdifficulty。Hewasinprison，hewantedahundredpoundstosethimfree——heentreatedthemtocometohim。
Hewentbacktothedining-roomafterdispatchinghismessengerandcalledformorewine。Helaughedandtalkedwithastrangeboisterousness，asthepeoplethought。Sometimeshelaughedmadlyathisownfearsandwentondrinkingforanhour，listeningallthewhileforthecarriagewhichwastobringhisfateback。
Attheexpirationofthattime，wheelswereheardwhirlinguptothegate——theyoungjanitorwentoutwithhisgate-keys。Itwasaladywhomheletinatthebailiff’sdoor。
“ColonelCrawley。”shesaid，tremblingverymuch。He，withaknowinglook，lockedtheouterdooruponher——
thenunlockedandopenedtheinnerone，andcallingout。”Colonel，you’rewanted。”ledherintothebackparlour，whichheoccupied。
Rawdoncameinfromthedining-parlourwhereallthosepeoplewerecarousing，intohisbackroom；aflareofcoarselightfollowinghimintotheapartmentwheretheladystood，stillverynervous。
“ItisI，Rawdon。”shesaidinatimidvoice，whichshestrovetorendercheerful。”ItisJane。”Rawdonwasquiteovercomebythatkindvoiceandpresence。Heranuptoher——caughtherinhisarms——gaspedoutsomeinarticulatewordsofthanksandfairlysobbedonhershoulder。Shedidnotknowthecauseofhisemotion。
ThebillsofMr。Mosswerequicklysettled，perhapstothedisappointmentofthatgentleman，whohadcountedonhavingtheColonelashisguestoverSundayatleast；
andJane，withbeamingsmilesandhappinessinhereyes，carriedawayRawdonfromthebailiff’shouse，andtheywenthomewardsinthecabinwhichshehadhastenedtohisrelease。”Pittwasgonetoaparliamentarydinner。”
shesaid，“whenRawdon’snotecame，andso，dearRawdon，I——Icamemyself“；andsheputherkindhandinhis。PerhapsitwaswellforRawdonCrawleythatPittwasawayatthatdinner。Rawdonthankedhissisterahundredtimes，andwithanardourofgratitudewhichtouchedandalmostalarmedthatsoft-heartedwoman。
“Oh。”saidhe，inhisrude，artlessway，“you——youdon’tknowhowI’mchangedsinceI’veknownyou，and——andlittleRawdy。I——I’dliketochangesomehow。YouseeIwant——Iwant——tobe——“Hedid-notfinishthesentence，butshecouldinterpretit。Andthatnightafterhelefther，andasshesatbyherownlittleboy’sbed，sheprayedhumblyforthatpoorway-wornsinner。
Rawdonleftherandwalkedhomerapidly。Itwasnineo’clockatnight。HeranacrossthestreetsandthegreatsquaresofVanityFair，andatlengthcameupbreathlessoppositehisownhouse。Hestartedbackandfellagainsttherailings，tremblingashelookedup。Thedrawing-
roomwindowswereblazingwithlight。Shehadsaidthatshewasinbedandill。Hestoodthereforsometime，thelightfromtheroomsonhispaleface。
Hetookouthisdoor-keyandlethimselfintothehouse。Hecouldhearlaughterintheupperrooms。Hewasintheball-dressinwhichhehadbeencapturedthenightbefore。Hewentsilentlyupthestairs，leaningagainstthebanistersatthestair-head。Nobodywasstirringinthehousebesides——alltheservantshadbeensentaway。Rawdonheardlaughterwithin——laughterandsinging。
Beckywassingingasnatchofthesongofthenightbefore；ahoarsevoiceshouted“Brava！Brava！”——itwasLordSteyne’s。
Rawdonopenedthedoorandwentin。Alittletablewithadinnerwaslaidout——andwineandplate。SteynewashangingoverthesofaonwhichBeckysat。Thewretchedwomanwasinabrilliantfulltoilette，herarmsandallherfingerssparklingwithbraceletsandrings，andthebrilliantsonherbreastwhichSteynehadgivenher。Hehadherhandinhis，andwasbowingoverittokissit，whenBeckystartedupwithafaintscreamasshecaughtsightofRawdon’swhiteface。Atthenextinstantshetriedasmile，ahorridsmile，asiftowelcomeherhusband；andSteyneroseup，grindinghisteeth，pale，andwithfuryinhislooks。
He，too，attemptedalaugh——andcameforwardholdingouthishand。”What，comeback！Howd’yedo，Crawley？”
hesaid，thenervesofhismouthtwitchingashetriedtogrinattheintruder。
TherewasthatinRawdon’sfacewhichcausedBeckytoflingherselfbeforehim。”Iaminnocent，Rawdon。”
shesaid；“beforeGod，Iaminnocent。”Sheclungholdofhiscoat，ofhishands；herownwereallcoveredwithserpents，andrings，andbaubles。”Iaminnocent。SayI
aminnocent。”shesaidtoLordSteyne。
Hethoughtatraphadbeenlaidforhim，andwasasfuriouswiththewifeaswiththehusband。”Youinnocent！Damnyou。”hescreamedout。”Youinnocent！Whyeverytrinketyouhaveonyourbodyispaidforbyme。
Ihavegivenyouthousandsofpounds，whichthisfellowhasspentandforwhichhehassoldyou。Innocent，by——！You’reasinnocentasyourmother，theballet-
girl，andyourhusbandthebully。Don’tthinktofrightenmeasyouhavedoneothers。Makeway，sir，andletmepass“；andLordSteyneseizeduphishat，and，withflameinhiseyes，andlookinghisenemyfiercelyintheface，marcheduponhim，neverforamomentdoubtingthattheotherwouldgiveway。
ButRawdonCrawleyspringingout，seizedhimbytheneckcloth，untilSteyne，almoststrangled，writhedandbentunderhisarm。”Youlie，youdog！”saidRawdon。
“Youlie，youcowardandvillain！”AndhestruckthePeertwiceoverthefacewithhisopenhandandflunghimbleedingtotheground。ItwasalldonebeforeRebeccacouldinterpose。Shestoodtheretremblingbeforehim。Sheadmiredherhusband，strong，brave，andvictorious。
“Comehere。”hesaid。Shecameupatonce。
“Takeoffthosethings。”Shebegan，trembling，pullingthejewelsfromherarms，andtheringsfromhershakingfingers，andheldthemallinaheap，quiveringandlookingupathim。”Throwthemdown。”hesaid，andshedroppedthem。HetorethediamondornamentoutofherbreastandflungitatLordSteyne。Itcuthimonhisbaldforehead。Steyneworethescartohisdyingday。
“Comeupstairs。”Rawdonsaidtohiswife。”Don’tkillme，Rawdon。”shesaid。Helaughedsavagely。”Iwanttoseeifthatmanliesaboutthemoneyashehasaboutme。Hashegivenyouany？”
“No。”saidRebecca，“thatis——“
“Givemeyourkeys。”Rawdonanswered，andtheywentouttogether。
Rebeccagavehimallthekeysbutone，andshewasinhopesthathewouldnothaveremarkedtheabsenceofthat。ItbelongedtothelittledeskwhichAmeliahadgivenherinearlydays，andwhichshekeptinasecretplace。ButRawdonflungopenboxesandwardrobes，throwingthemultifarioustrumperyoftheircontentshereandthere，andatlasthefoundthedesk。Thewomanwasforcedtoopenit。Itcontainedpapers，love-lettersmanyyearsold——allsortsofsmalltrinketsandwoman’smemoranda。Anditcontainedapocket-bookwithbank-notes。
Someoftheseweredatedtenyearsback，too，andonewasquiteafreshone——anoteforathousandpoundswhichLordSteynehadgivenher。
“Didhegiveyouthis？”Rawdonsaid。
“Yes。”Rebeccaanswered。
“I’llsendittohimto-day。”Rawdonsaidfordayhaddawnedagain，andmanyhourshadpassedinthissearch。”andIwillpayBriggs，whowaskindtotheboy，andsomeofthedebts。YouwillletmeknowwhereIshallsendtheresttoyou。Youmighthavesparedmeahundredpounds，Becky，outofallthis——Ihavealwayssharedwithyou。”
“Iaminnocent。”saidBecky。Andheleftherwithoutanotherword。
Whatwereherthoughtswhenhelefther？Sheremainedforhoursafterhewasgone，thesunshinepouringintotheroom，andRebeccasittingaloneonthebed’sedge。Thedrawerswereallopenedandtheircontentsscatteredabout——dressesandfeathers，scarfsandtrinkets，aheapoftumbledvanitieslyinginawreck。Herhairwasfallingoverhershoulders；hergownwastornwhereRawdonhadwrenchedthebrilliantsoutofit。Sheheardhimgodownstairsafewminutesafterhelefther，andthedoorslammingandclosingonhim。Sheknewhewouldnevercomeback。Hewasgoneforever。Wouldhekillhimself？——shethought——notuntilafterhehadmetLordSteyne。Shethoughtofherlongpastlife，andallthedismalincidentsofit。Ah，howdrearyitseemed，howmiserable，lonelyandprofitless！Shouldshetakelaudanum，andendit，tohavedonewithallhopes，schemes，debts，andtriumphs？TheFrenchmaidfoundherinthisposition——sittinginthemidstofhermiserableruinswithclaspedhandsanddryeyes。ThewomanwasheraccompliceandinSteyne’spay。”MonDieu，madame，whathashappened？”sheasked。
Whathadhappened？Wassheguiltyornot？Shesaidnot，butwhocouldtellwhatwastruthwhichcamefromthoselips，orifthatcorruptheartwasinthiscasepure？
Allherliesandherschemes，anherselfishnessandherwiles，allherwitandgeniushadcometothisbankruptcy。Thewomanclosedthecurtainsand，withsomeentreatyandshowofkindness，persuadedhermistresstoliedownonthebed。ThenshewentbelowandgatheredupthetrinketswhichhadbeenlyingonthefloorsinceRebeccadroppedthemthereatherhusband’sorders，andLordSteynewentaway。