did not forget their beloved kins woman, and by a number of tokens, presents, and kind, affectionate messages, strove to keep themselves alive in her recollection.

whither, as Rawdon said, they had the good luck to go in the track of the conquering army.

To the rector's lady, who went off to tend In the first place, let us mention her her husband's broken collar-bone at the Recnephew, Rawdon Crawley. A few weeks tory at Queen's Crawley, the spinster's after the famous fight of Waterloo, and after communications were by no means so grathe Gazette had made known to her the pro- cious. Mrs. Bute, that brisk, managing, motion and gallantry of that distinguished lively, imperious woman, had committed the officer, the Dieppe packet brought over to most fatal of all errors with regard to her Miss Crawley, at Brighton, a box contain- sister-in-law. She had not merely oppressing presents, and a dutiful letter from the ed her and her household-she had bored colonel her nephew. In the box were a Miss Crawley; and if poor Miss Briggs had pair of French epaulets, a cross of the Le-been a woman of any spirit, she might have gion of Honor, and the hilt of a sword-rel- been made happy by the commission which ics from the field of battle: and the letter her principal gave her, to write a letter to described, with a good deal of humor, how Mrs. Bute Crawley, saying that Miss Crawthe latter belonged to a commanding-officer ley's health was greatly improved since Mrs. of the guard, who having sworn that "the Bute had left her, and begging the latter on guard died, but never surrendered," was no account to put herself to trouble, or quit taken prisoner the next minute by a private her family for Miss Crawley's sake. This soldier, who broke the Frenchman's sword triumph over a lady who had been very with the butt of his musket, when Rawdon haughty and cruel in her behavior to Miss made himself master of the shattered wea- Briggs, would have rejoiced most women; pon. As for the cross and epaulets, they but the truth is, Briggs was a woman of no came from a colonel of French cavalry, who spirit at all, and the inoment her enemy was had fallen under the aid-de-camp's arm in discomfited she began to feel compassion in battle and Rawdon Crawley did not know her favor. what better to do with the spoils than to send them to his kindest and most affectionate old friend. Should he continue to write to her from Paris, whither the army was marching? He might be able to give her interesting news from that capital, and of some of Miss Crawley's old friends of the emigration, to whom she had shown so much kindness during their distress.

"How silly I was," Mrs. Bute thought, and with reason, "ever to hint that I was coming, as I did, in that foolish letter when we sent Miss Crawley the guinea-fowls. I ought to have gone without a word to the poor, dear, doting, old creature, and taken her out of the hands of that ninny Briggs, and that harpy of a femme de chambre. Oh! Bute, Bute, why did you break your collarbone?"

The spinster caused Briggs to write back to the colonel a gracious and complimentary Why, indeed? We have seen how Mrs. letter, encouraging him to continue his cor- Bute, having the game in her hands, had respondence. His first letter was so excess- really played her cards too well. She had ively lively and amusing, that she should ruled over Miss Crawley's household utterlook with pleasure for its successors. "Ofly and completely, to be utterly and comcourse I know," she explained to Miss Briggs, "that Rawdon could not write such a good letter any more than you could, my poor Briggs, and that it is that clever little wretch of a Rebecca, who dictates every word to him; but that is no reason why my nephew should not amuse me; and so I wish to let him understand that I am in high good-humor."

pletely routed when a favorable opportunity for rebellion came. She and her household, however, considered that she had been the victim of horrible selfishness and treason, and that her sacrifices in Miss Crawley's behalf had met with the most savage ingratitude. Rawdon's promotion, and the honorable mention made of his name in the Gazette, filled this good Christian lady also with I wonder whether she knew that it was alarm. Would his aunt relent toward him not only Becky who wrote the letters, but now that he was a colonel and a C.B.? and that Mrs. Rawdon actually took and sent would that odious Rebecca once more get home the trophies-which she bought for a into favor? The rector's wife wrote a serfew francs, from one of the innumerable mon for her husband about the vanity of peddlers, who immediately began to deal in military glory and the prosperity of the relics of the war. The novelist, who knows wicked, which the worthy parson read in every thing, knows this also. Be this, how- his best voice and without understanding one ever, as it may, Miss Crawley's gracious re-syllable of it. He had Pitt Crawley for one ply greatly encouraged our young friends, of his auditors-Pitt, who had come with Rawdon and his lady, who hoped for the his two half-sisters, to church, which the old best from their aunt's evidently pacified hu- baronet could now by no means be brought mor and they took care to entertain her to frequent. with many delightful letters from Paris,

Since the departure of Becky Sharp, that

But

bound by ties of present and future relation-
ship to the house of Crawley. Respecting
the chief of the Southdown family, Clement
William, fourth Earl of Southdown, little
need be told, except that his lordship came
into Parliament (as Lord Wolsey), under
the auspices of Mr. Wilberforce, and for a
time was a credit to his political sponsor,
and decidedly a serious young man.
words can not describe the feelings of his
admirable mother, when she learned, very
shortly after her noble husband's demise,
that her son was a member of several world-
ly clubs, had lost largely at play at Wattiers
and the Cocoa Tree; that he had raised
money on post obits, and encumbered the
family estate; that he drove four-in-hand,
and patronized the ring; and that he actual-
ly had an opera-box, where he entertained
the most dangerous bachelor company. His
name was only mentioned with groans in the
dowager's circle.

old wretch had given himself up entirely to his bad courses, to the great scandal of the county and the mute horror of his son. The ribbons in Miss Horrock's cap became more splendid than ever. The polite families fled the hall and its owner in terror. Sir Pitt went about tippling at his tenants' houses; and drank rum-and-water with the farmers at Mudbury and the neighboring places on market-days. He drove the family coachand-four to Southampton with Miss Horrocks inside: and the county people expected, every week, as his son did in speechless agony, that his marriage with her would be announced in the provincial paper. It was indeed a rude burthen for Mr. Crawley to bear. His eloquence was palsied at the missionary meetings, and other religious assemblies in the neighborhood, where he had been in the habit of presiding, and of speaking for hours; for he felt, when he rose, that the audience said, "That is the son of the old reprobate Sir Pitt, who is very like- The Lady Emily was her brother's senior ly drinking at the public-house at this very by many years; and took considerable rank moment." And once when he was speak-in the serious world as author of some of ing of the benighted condition of the king of the delightful tracts before mentioned, and Timbuctoo, and the number of his wives of many hymns and spiritual pieces. who were likewise in darkness, some tipsy mature spinster, and having given up all miscreant from the crowd asked, "How ideas of marriage, her love for the blacks many is there at Queen's Crawley, Young occupied almost all her feelings. It is Squaretoes?" to the surprise of the plat- to her, I believe. we owe that beautiful form, and the ruin of Mr. Pitt's speech. poem,— And the two daughters of the house of Queen's Crawley would have been allowed to run utterly wild (for Sir Pitt swore that no governess should ever enter into his doors again), had not Mr. Crawley, by threatening the old gentleman, forced the latter to send them to school.

"Lead us to some sunny isle,

Yonder in the western deep;
Where the skies forever smile,

And the blacks forever weep," &c.

A

She had correspondences with clerical gentlemen in most of our East and West India possessions; and report says was once attached to the Reverend Silas Hornblower, who was tattooed in the South Sea Islands.

Meanwhile, as we have said, whatever individual differences there might be between them all, Miss Crawley's dear nephews and nieces were unanimous in loving her and As for the Lady Jane, on whom, as it has sending her tokens of affection. Thus Mrs. been said, Mr. Pitt Crawley's affection had Bute sent guinea-fowls, and some remarka- been placed, she was gentle, blushing, silent, bly fine cauliflowers, and a pretty purse or and timid. In spite of his falling away, she pincushion worked by her darling girls, who wept for her brother, and was quite ashamed begged to keep a little place in the recollec- of loving him still. Even yet she used to tion of their dear aunt, while Mr. Pitt sent send him little hurried smuggled notes, and peaches and grapes and venison from the pop them in the post in private. The one hall. The Southampton coach used to carry dreadful secret which weighed upon her life these tokens of affection to Miss Crawley at was, that she and the old housekeeper had Brighton: it used sometimes to convey Mr. been to pay Southdown a furtive visit at his Pitt thither too: for his differences with chambers in the Albany; and found him-O Sir Pitt caused Mr. Crawley to absent him- the naughty dear abandoned wretch'! smokself a good deal from home now and being a cigar with a bottle of curaçoa before sides, he had an attraction at Brighton in him. She admired her sister, she adored the person of the Lady Jane Sheepshanks her mother, she thought Mr. Crawley the whose engagement to Mr. Crawley has been formerly mentioned in this history. Her ladyship and her sisters lived at Brighton with their mamma, the Countess Southdown, that strong-minded woman so favorably known in the serious world.

A few words ought to be said regarding her ladyship and her noble family, who are

most delightful and accomplished of men, after Southdown, that fallen angel and her mamma and sister, who were ladies of the most superior sort, managed every thing for her, and regarded her with that amiable pity, of which your really superior woman always has such a share to give away. Her mamma ordered her dresses, her books, her bon

he thought now that every becoming means should be taken, both to save her soul from perdition, and to secure her fortune to himself as the head of the house of Crawley.

nets, and her ideas for her. She was made | friendship, with perhaps an improper pride, to take pony-riding, or piano-exercise, or any other sort of bodily medicament, according as my Lady Southdown saw meet; and her ladyship would have kept her daughter in pinafores up to her present age of six-andtwenty, but that they were thrown off when Lady Jane was presented to Queen Charlotte.

The strong-minded Lady Southdown quite agreed in both proposals of her son-in-law, and was for converting Miss Crawley off hand. At her own home, both at Southdown When these ladies first came to their and at Trottermore Castle, this tall and awhouse at Brighton, it was to them alone ful missionary of the truth rode about the that Mr. Crawley paid his personal visits, country in her barouche with outriders, contenting himself by leaving a card at his lanched packets of tracts among the cotaunt's house, and making a modest inquiry tagers and tenants, and would order Gaffer of Mr. Bowls or his assistant footman, with Jones to be converted, as she would order respect to the health of the invalid. When Goody Hicks to take a James's powder, withhe met Miss Briggs coming home from the out appeal, resistance, or benefit of clergy. library with a cargo of novels under her arm, My Lord Southdown, her late husband, an Mr. Crawley blushed in a manner quite un-epileptic and simple-minded nobleman, was usual to him, as he stepped forward and in the habit of approving of every thing which shook Miss Crawley's companion by the his Matilda did and thought. So that whathand. He introduced Miss Briggs to the ever changes her own belief might undergo lady with whom he happened to be walking, (and it accommodated itself to a prodigious the Lady Jane Sheepshanks, saying, "Lady variety of opinion, taken from all sorts of Jane, permit me to introduce to you my doctors among the dissenters) she had not aunt's kindest friend and most affectionate the least scruple in ordering all her tenants companion, Miss Briggs, whom you know and inferiors to follow and believe after her. under another title, as authoress of the de- Thus whether she received the Reverend lightful Lyrics of the Heart,' of which you Saunders McNitre the Scotch divine; or are so fond." Lady Jane blushed too as she the Reverend Luke Waters the mild Wesheld out a kind little hand to Miss Briggs, leyan; or the Reverend Giles Jowls the and said something very civil and incoherent illuminated cobbler, who dubbed himself about mamma, and proposing to call on Miss reverend as Napoleon crowned himself emCrawley, and being glad to be made known peror-the household, children, tenantry of to the friends and relatives of Mr. Crawley; my Lady Southdown were expected to go and with soft dove-like eyes saluted Miss down on their knees with her ladyship, and Briggs as they separated, while Pitt Craw-say Amen to the prayers of either doctor. ley treated her to a profound courtly bow, such as he had used to the Grand Duchess of Pumpernickel, when he was attaché at that court.

The artful diplomatist and disciple of the Machiavellian Binkie! It was he who had given Lady Jane that copy of poor Briggs's early poems, which he remembered to have seen at Queen's Crawley, with a dedication from the poetess to his father's late wife; and he brought the volume with him to Brighton, reading it in the Southampton coach, and marking it with his own pencil, before he presented it to the gentle Lady Jane.

It was he, too, who laid before Lady Southdown the great advantages which might occur from an intimacy between her family and Miss Crawley-advantages both worldly and spiritual, he said: for Miss Crawley was now quite alone; the monstrous dissipation and alliance of his brother Rawdon, had estranged her affections from that reprobate young man; the greedy tyranny and avarice of Mrs. Bute Crawley had caused the old lady to revolt against the exorbitant pretensions of that part of the family; and though he himself had held off all his life from cultivating Miss Crawley's L

During these exercises old Southdown, on account of his invalid condition, was allowed to sit in his own room, and have negus and the paper read to him. Lady Jane was the old earl's favorite daughter, and tended him and loved him sincerely: as for Lady Emily, the authoress of the "Washerwoman of Finchley Common," her denunciation of future punishments (at this period, for her opinions modified afterwards) were so awful that they used to frighten the timid old gentleman her father, and the physicians declared his fits always occurred after one of her ladyship's sermons.

"I will certainly call," said Lady Southdown, then, in reply to the exhortation of her daughter's prétendu, Mr. Pitt Crawley "Who is Miss Crawley's medical man?"

Mr. Crawley mentioned the name of Mr. Creamer.

"A most dangerous and ignorant practitioner, my dear Pitt. I have providentially been the means of removing him from several houses: though in one or two instances I did not arrive in time. I could not save poor dear General Glanders, who was dying under the hands of that ignorant man-dying. He rallied a little under the Podger's pills

was too late.

which I administered to him; but alas! it His death was delightful, however; and his change was only for the better Creamer, my dear Pitt, must leave your aunt."

of that unfortunate lady. You will only frighten and annoy her. She will very likely fling the books away, and refuse all acquaintance with the givers."

"You are as worldly as Miss Crawley, Pitt," said Lady Emily, tossing out of the room, her books in her hand.

Pitt expressed his perfect acquiescence. He too had been carried along by the energy of his noble kinswoman, and future mother- "And I need not tell you, my dear Lady in-law. He had been made to accept Saun- Southdown," Pitt continued, in a low voice, ders McNitre, Luke Waters, Giles Jowls, and without heeding the interruption, "how Podger's Pills, Rodger's Pills, Pokey's Elix-fatal a little want of gentleness and caution ir, every one of her ladyship's remedies spiritual or temporal. He never left her house without carrying respectfully away with him piles of her quack theology and medicine. my dear brethren and fellow sojourners in Vanity Fair, which among you does not know and suffer under such benevolent despots? It is in vain you say to them, "Dear madam, I took Podger's specific at your orders last year, and believe in it. Why, why, am I to recant and accept the Rodger's articles now?" There is no help for it; the faithful proselytizer, if she can not convince by argument, bursts into tears, and the recusant finds himself, at the end of the contest, taking down the bolus, and saying, "Well, well, Rodger's be it."

"And as for her spiritual state," continued the lady "that of course must be looked to immediately; with Creamer about her, she may go off any day and in what a condition, my dear Pitt, in what a dreadful condition! I will send the Reverend Mr. Irons to her instantly. Jane, write a line to the Reverend Bartholomew Irons, in the third person, and say that I desire the pleasure of his company this evening at tea at half-past six. He is an awakening man; he ought to see Miss Crawley before she rests this night. And Emily, my love, get ready a packet of books for Miss Crawley. Put up A voice from the Flames,' A Trumpet-warning to Jericho,' and the Flesh-pots Broken; or, the Converted Cannibal.'"

6

"And the Washerwoman of Finchley Common,' mamma," said Lady Emily. "It is as well to begin soothingly at first."

"Stop, my dear ladies," said Pitt the diplomatist. "With every deference to the opinion of my beloved and respected Lady Southdown, I think it would be quite unadvisable to commence so early upon serious topics with Miss Crawley. Remember her delicate condition, and how little, how very little accustomed she has hitherto been to considerations connected with her immortal welfare."

"Can we then begin too early, Pitt?" said Lady Emily, rising with six little books already in her hand.

"If you begin abruptly, you will frighten her altogether. I know my aunt's worldly nature so well as to be sure that any abrupt attempt at conversion will be the very worst means that can be employed for the welfare

may be to any hopes which we may entertain with regard to the worldly possessions of my aunt. Remember she has seventy thousand pounds; think of her age, and her highly nervous and delicate condition: I know that she has destroyed the will which was made in my brother's (Colonel Crawley's) favor: it is by soothing that wounded spirit that we must lead it into the right path, and not by frightening it; and so I think you will agree with me that-that-"

"

Of course, of course," Lady Southdown remarked. Jane, my love, you need not send that note to Mr. Irons. If her health is such that discussions fatigue her, we will wait her amendment. I will call upon Miss Crawley to-morrow."

And if I might suggest, my sweet lady,” Pitt said in a bland tone, it would be as well not to take our precious Emily, who is too enthusiastic; but rather that you should be accompanied by our sweet and dear Lady Jane."

66

Most certainly, Emily would ruin every thing," Lady Southdown said; and this time agreed to forego her usual practice, which was, as we have said, before she bore down personally upon any individual whom she proposed to subjugate, to fire in a quantity of tracts upon the menaced party; (as a charge of the French was always preceded by a furious cannonade). Lady Southdown, we say, for the sake of the invalid's health, or for the sake of her soul's ultimate welfare, or for the sake of her money, agreed to temporize.

The next day the great Southdown female family carriage, with the earl's coronet and the lozenge (upon which the three lambs trottant argent upon the field vert of the Southdowns, were quartered with sable on a bend or, three snuff-mulls gules, the cognizance of the house of Binkie), drove up in state to Miss Crawley's door, and the tall, serious footman handed in to Mr. Bowls her ladyship's cards for Miss Crawley, and one likewise for Miss Briggs. By way of compromise, Lady Emily sent in a packet in the evening for the latter lady, containing copies of the "Washerwoman," and other mild and favorite tracts for Miss B.'s own perusal; and a few for the servants' hall, viz.: "Crumbs from the Pantry;” “The Frying Pan and the Fire," and "The Livery of Sin," of a much stronger kind.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

JAMES CRAWLEY'S PIPE. IS PUT OUT.

a statesman whom, however much he might differ with him, it was impossible not to admire fervently a statesman who had always had the highest opinion of the Emperor Napoleon. And he spoke in terms of the strongest indignation of the faithless conduct of the allies toward this dethroned monarch, who, after giving himself generously up to their mercy, was consigned to an ignoble and cruel banishment, while a bigoted Popish rabble was tyrannizing over France in his stead.

THE amiable behavior of Mr. Crawley and Lady Jane's kind reception of her, highly flattered Miss Briggs, who was enabled to speak a good word for the latter, after the cards of the Southdown family had been presented to Miss Crawley. A countess's card left personally too for her, Briggs, was not a little pleasing to the poor friendless companion. What could Lady This orthodox horror of Romish superSouthdown mean by leaving a card upon stition saved Pitt Crawley in Lady Southyou, I wonder, Miss Briggs?" said the re-down's opinion, whilst his admiration for publican Miss Crawley; upon which the Fox and Napoleon raised him immeasurably companion meekly said "that she hoped in Miss Crawley's eyes. Her friendship there could be no harm in a lady of rank taking notice of a poor gentlewoman," and she put away this card in her work-box among her most cherished personal treasures. Furthermore, Miss Briggs explained how she had met Mr. Crawley walking with his cousin and long-affianced bride the day before and she told how kind and gentlelooking the lady was, and what a plain, not to say common, dress she had, all the articles of which, from the bonnet down to the boots, she described and estimated with female accuracy.

with that defunct British statesman was mentioned when we first introduced her in this history. A true Whig, Miss Crawley had been in opposition all through the war, and though, to be sure, the downfall of the emperor did not very much agitate the old lady, or his ill-treatment tend to shorten her life or natural rest, yet Pitt spoke to her heart when he lauded both her idols; and by that single speech made immense progress in her favor.

"And what do you think, my dear?" Miss Crawley said to the young lady, for whom she had taken a liking at first sight, as she always did for pretty and modest young people; though it must be owned her affections cooled as rapidly as they rose. Lady Jane blushed very much, and said that she did not understand politics, which she left to wiser heads than hers; but though mamma was, no doubt, correct, Mr. Crawley had spoken beautifully." And when the ladies were retiring at the conclusion of their visit, Miss Crawley hoped "Lady Southdown would be so kind as to send her Lady Jane sometimes, if she could be spared, to come down and console a poor sick, lonely, old woman." This promise was graciously accorded, and they separated upon great terms of amity.

Miss Crawley allowed Briggs to prattle on without interrupting her too much. As she got well, she was pining for society. Mr. Creamer, her medical man, would not hear of her returning to her old haunts and dissipation in London. The old spinster" was too glad to find any companionship at Brighton, and not only were the cards acknowledged the very next day, but Pitt Crawley was graciously invited to come and see his aunt. He came, bringing with him Lady Southdown and her daughter. The dowager did not say a word about the state of Miss Crawley's soul; but talked with much discretion about the weather: about the war and the downfall of the monster Bonaparte and above all, about doctors, quacks, and the particular merits of Dr. Podgers, whom she then patronized.

During their interview Pitt Crawley made a great stroke, and one which showed that, had his diplomatic career not been blighted by early neglect, he might have risen to a high rank in his profession. When the Countess Dowager of Southdown fell foul of the Corsican upstart, as the fashion was in those days, and showed that he was a monster stained with every conceivable crime, a coward and a tyrant not fit to live, one whose fall was predicted, &c., Pitt Crawley suddenly took up the cudgels in favor of the man of destiny. He described the first consul as he saw him at Paris at the Peace of Amiens; when he Pitt Crawley, had the gratification of making the acquaintance of the great and good Mr. Fox,

66

66

Don't let Lady Southdown come again, Pitt," said the old lady. She is stupid and pompous like all your mother's family, whom I never could endure. But bring that nice, good-natured little Lady Jane as often as ever you please." Pitt promised that he would do so. He did not tell the Countess of Southdown what opinion his aunt had formed of her ladyship, who, on the contrary, thought that she had made a most delightful and majestic impression on Miss Crawley.

And so, nothing loth to comfort a sick lady, and perhaps not sorry in her heart to be freed now and again from the dreary spouting of the Reverend Bartholomew Irons, and the serious toadies who gathered round the footstool of the pompous countess, her mamma, Lady Jane became a pretty constant