第29章

MissCrawley，beitknown，didnotleaveherroomuntilnearnoon——takingchocolateinbedinthemorning，whileBeckySharpreadtheMorningPosttoher，orotherwiseamusingherselfordawdling。Theconspiratorsbelowagreedthattheywouldsparethedearlady’sfeelingsuntilsheappearedinherdrawing-room：meanwhileitwasannouncedtoherthatMrs。ButeCrawleyhadcomeupfromHampshirebythemail，wasstayingattheGloster，sentherlovetoMissCrawley，andaskedforbreakfastwithMissBriggs。ThearrivalofMrs。Bute，whichwouldnothavecausedanyextremedelightatanotherperiod，washailedwithpleasurenow；MissCrawleybeingpleasedatthenotionofagossipwithhersister-in-lawregardingthelateLadyCrawley，thefuneralarrangementspending，andSirPitt’sabruptproposaltoRebecca。

Itwasnotuntiltheoldladywasfairlyensconcedinherusualarm-chairinthedrawing-room，andthepreliminaryembracesandinquirieshadtakenplacebetweentheladies，thattheconspiratorsthoughtitadvisabletosubmithertotheoperation。Whohasnotadmiredtheartificesanddelicateapproacheswithwhichwomen“prepare“theirfriendsforbadnews？MissCrawley’stwofriendsmadesuchanapparatusofmysterybeforetheybroketheintelligencetoher，thattheyworkedheruptothenecessarydegreeofdoubtandalarm。

“AndsherefusedSirPitt，mydear，dearMissCrawley，prepareyourselfforit。”Mrs。Butesaid，“because——

becauseshecouldn’thelpherself。”

“Ofcoursetherewasareason。”MissCrawleyanswered。

“Shelikedsomebodyelse。ItoldBriggssoyesterday。”

“LIKESsomebodyelse！”Briggsgasped。”Omydearfriend，sheismarriedalready。”

“Marriedalready。”Mrs。Butechimedin；andbothsatewithclaspedhandslookingfromeachotherattheirvictim。

“Sendhertome，theinstantshecomesin。Thelittleslywretch：howdaredshenottellme？”criedoutMissCrawley。

“Shewon’tcomeinsoon。Prepareyourself，dearfriend——she’sgoneoutforalongtime——she’s——she’sgonealtogether。”

“Graciousgoodness，andwho’stomakemychocolate？

Sendforherandhaveherback；Idesirethatshecomeback。”theoldladysaid。

“Shedecampedlastnight，Ma’am。”criedMrs。Bute。

“Sheleftaletterforme。”Briggsexclaimed。”She’smarriedto——“

“Prepareher，forheaven’ssake。Don’ttortureher，mydearMissBriggs。”

“She’smarriedtowhom？”criesthespinsterinanervousfury。

“To——toarelationof——“

“SherefusedSirPitt。”criedthevictim。”Speakatonce。

Don’tdrivememad。”

“OMa’am——prepareher，MissBriggs——she’smarriedtoRawdonCrawley。”

“RawdonmarriedRebecca——governess——nobod——

Getoutofmyhouse，youfool，youidiot——youstupidoldBriggshowdareyou？You’reintheplot——youmadehimmarry，thinkingthatI’dleavemymoneyfromhim——

youdid，Martha。”thepooroldladyscreamedinhystericsentences。

“I，Ma’am，askamemberofthisfamilytomarryadrawing-master’sdaughter？”

“HermotherwasaMontmorency。”criedouttheoldlady，pullingatthebellwithallhermight。

“Hermotherwasanoperagirl，andshehasbeenonthestageorworseherself。”saidMrs。Bute。

MissCrawleygaveafinalscream，andfellbackinafaint。Theywereforcedtotakeherbacktotheroomwhichshehadjustquitted。Onefitofhystericssucceededanother。Thedoctorwassentfor——theapothecaryarrived。

Mrs。Butetookupthepostofnursebyherbedside。”Herrelationsoughttoberoundabouther。”thatamiablewomansaid。

Shehadscarcelybeencarrieduptoherroom，whenanewpersonarrivedtowhomitwasalsonecessarytobreakthenews。ThiswasSirPitt。”Where’sBecky？”hesaid，comingin。”Where’shertraps？She’scomingwithmetoQueen’sCrawley。”

“Haveyounotheardtheastonishingintelligenceregardinghersurreptitiousunion？”Briggsasked。

“What’sthattome？”SirPittasked。”Iknowshe’smarried。Thatmakesnoodds。Tellhertocomedownatonce，andnotkeepme。”

“Areyounotaware，sir。”MissBriggsasked，“thatshehasleftourroof，tothedismayofMissCrawley，whoisnearlykilledbytheintelligenceofCaptainRawdon’sunionwithher？”

WhenSirPittCrawleyheardthatRebeccawasmarriedtohisson，hebrokeoutintoaf