第45章

women’sfaces；thelonglineofrocksandbuildingwereblushingandbrightinthesunshine。Rebeccaworeakind，tendersmileonherface，andwasholdingoutherprettywhitehandasBriggsemergedfromthebox。WhatcouldBriggsdobutacceptthesalutation？

“MissSh——Mrs。Crawley。”shesaid。

Mrs。Crawleyseizedherhand，pressedittoherheart，andwithasuddenimpulse，flingingherarmsroundBriggs，kissedheraffectionately。”Dear，dearfriend！”shesaid，withatouchofsuchnaturalfeeling，thatMissBriggsofcourseatoncebegantomelt，andeventhebathing-womanwasmollified。

RebeccafoundnodifficultyinengagingBriggsinalong，intimate，anddelightfulconversation。EverythingthathadpassedsincethemorningofBecky’ssuddendeparturefromMissCrawley’shouseinParkLaneuptothepresentday，andMrs。Bute’shappyretreat，wasdiscussedanddescribedbyBriggs。AllMissCrawley’ssymptoms，andtheparticularsofherillnessandmedicaltreatment，werenarratedbytheconfidantewiththatfulnessandaccuracywhichwomendelightin。Abouttheircomplaintsandtheirdoctorsdoladiesevertireoftalkingtoeachother？Briggsdidnotonthisoccasion；nordidRebeccawearyoflistening。Shewasthankful，trulythankful，thatthedearkindBriggs，thatthefaithful，theinvaluableFirkin，hadbeenpermittedtoremainwiththeirbenefactressthroughherillness。Heavenblessher！thoughshe，Rebecca，hadseemedtoactundutifullytowardsMissCrawley；yetwasnotherfaultanaturalandexcusableone？

Couldshehelpgivingherhandtothemanwhohadwonherheart？Briggs，thesentimental，couldonlyturnuphereyestoheavenatthisappeal，andheaveasympatheticsigh，andthinkthatshe，too，hadgivenawayheraffectionslongyearsago，andownthatRebeccawasnoverygreatcriminal。

“CanIeverforgetherwhosobefriendedthefriendlessorphan？No，thoughshehascastmeoff。”thelattersaid，“Ishallneverceasetoloveher，andIwoulddevotemylifetoherservice。Asmyownbenefactress，asmybelovedRawdon’sadoredrelative，IloveandadmireMissCrawley，dearMissBriggs，beyondanywomanintheworld，andnexttoherIloveallthosewhoarefaithfultoher。IwouldneverhavetreatedMissCrawley’sfaithfulfriendsasthatodiousdesigningMrs。Butehasdone。Rawdon，whowasallheart。”Rebeccacontinued。”althoughhisoutwardmannersmightseemroughandcareless，hadsaidahundredtimes，withtearsinhiseyes，thatheblessedHeavenforsendinghisdearestAuntytwosuchadmirablenursesasherattachedFirkinandheradmirableMissBriggs。ShouldthemachinationsofthehorribleMrs。Buteend，asshetoomuchfearedtheywould，inbanishingeverybodythatMissCrawleylovedfromherside，andleavingthatpoorladyavictimtothoseharpiesattheRectory，Rebeccabesoughther(MissBriggs)torememberthatherownhome，humbleasitwas，wasalwaysopentoreceiveBriggs。Dearfriend。”sheexclaimed，inatransportofenthusiasm，“someheartscanneverforgetbenefits；allwomenarenotButeCrawleys！ThoughwhyshouldIcomplainofher。”Rebeccaadded；“thoughIhavebeenhertoolandthevictimtoherarts，doInotowemydearestRawdontoher？”AndRebeccaunfoldedtoBriggsallMrs。Bute’sconductatQueen’sCrawley，which，thoughunintelligibletoherthen，wasclearlyenoughexplainedbytheeventsnow——nowthattheattachmenthadsprungupwhichMrs。Butehadencouragedbyathousandartifices——nowthattwoinnocentpeoplehadfallenintothesnareswhichshehadlaidforthem，andlovedandmarriedandbeenruinedthroughherschemes。

Itwasallverytrue。Briggssawthestratagemsasclearlyaspossible。Mrs。ButehadmadethematchbetweenRawdonandRebecca。Yet，thoughthelatterwasaperfectlyinnocentvictim，MissBriggscouldnotdisguisefromherfriendherfearthatMissCrawley’saffectionswerehopelesslyestrangedfromRebecca，andthattheoldladywouldneverforgivehernephewformakingsoimprudentamarriage。

OnthispointRebeccahadherownopinion，andstillkeptupagoodheart。IfMissCrawleydidnotforgivethematpresent，shemightatleastrelentonafutureday。Evennow，therewasonlythatpuling，sicklyPittCrawleybetweenRawdonandabaronetcy；andshouldanything