第62章

Why，indeed？WehaveseenhowMrs。Bute，havingthegameinherhands，hadreallyplayedhercardstoowell。

ShehadruledoverMissCrawley’shouseholdutterlyandcompletely，tobeutterlyandcompletelyroutedwhenafavourableopportunityforrebellioncame。Sheandherhousehold，however，consideredthatshehadbeenthevictimofhorribleselfishnessandtreason，andthathersacrificesinMissCrawley’sbehalfhadmetwiththemostsavageingratitude。Rawdon’spromotion，andthehonourablementionmadeofhisnameintheGazette，filledthisgoodChristianladyalsowithalarm。WouldhisauntrelenttowardshimnowthathewasaLieutenant-ColonelandaC。B。？andwouldthatodiousRebeccaoncemoregetintofavour？TheRector’swifewroteasermonforherhusbandaboutthevanityofmilitarygloryandtheprosperityofthewicked，whichtheworthyparsonreadinhisbestvoiceandwithoutunderstandingonesyllableofit。HehadPittCrawleyforoneofhisauditors——Pitt，whohadcomewithhistwohalf-sisterstochurch，which。theoldBaronetcouldnowbynomeansbebroughttofrequent。

SincethedepartureofBeckySharp，thatoldwretchhadgivenhimselfupentirelytohisbadcourses，tothegreatscandalofthecountyandthemutehorrorofhisson。TheribbonsinMissHorrocks’scapbecamemoresplendidthanever。Thepolitefamiliesfledthehallanditsownerinterror。SirPittwentabouttipplingathistenants’houses；anddrankrum-and-waterwiththefarmersatMudburyandtheneighbouringplacesonmarket-days。Hedrovethefamilycoach-and-fourtoSouthamptonwithMissHorrocksinside：andthecountypeopleexpected，everyweek，ashissondidinspeechlessagony，thathismarriagewithherwouldbeannouncedintheprovincialpaper。ItwasindeedarudeburthenforMr。

Crawleytobear。Hiseloquencewaspalsiedatthemissionarymeetings，andotherreligiousassembliesintheneighbourhood，wherehehadbeeninthehabitofpresiding，andofspeakingforhours；forhefelt，whenherose，thattheaudiencesaid，“ThatisthesonoftheoldreprobateSirPitt，whoisverylikelydrinkingatthepublichouseatthisverymoment。”AndoncewhenhewasspeakingofthebenightedconditionofthekingofTimbuctoo，andthenumberofhiswiveswhowerelikewiseindarkness，somegipsymiscreantfromthecrowdasked。”HowmanyisthereatQueen’sCrawley，YoungSquaretoes？”tothesurpriseoftheplatform，andtheruinofMr。Pitt’sspeech。AndthetwodaughtersofthehouseofQueen’sCrawleywouldhavebeenallowedtorunutterlywild(forSirPittsworethatnogovernessshouldeverenterintohisdoorsagain)，hadnotMr。Crawley，bythreateningtheoldgentleman，forcedthelattertosendthemtoschool。

Meanwhile，aswehavesaid，whateverindividualdifferencestheremightbebetweenthemall，MissCrawley’sdearnephewsandnieceswereunanimousinlovingherandsendinghertokensofaffection。ThusMrs。Butesentguinea-fowls，andsomeremarkablyfinecauliflowers，andaprettypurseorpincushionworkedbyherdarlinggirls，whobeggedtokeepaLITTLEplaceintherecollectionoftheirdearaunt，whileMr。PittsentpeachesandgrapesandvenisonfromtheHall。TheSouthamptoncoachusedtocarrythesetokensofaffectiontoMissCrawleyatBrighton：itusedsometimestoconveyMr。Pittthithertoo：forhisdifferenceswithSirPittcausedMr。Crawleytoabsenthimselfagooddealfromhomenow：andbesides，hehadanattractionatBrightoninthepersonoftheLadyJaneSheepshanks，whoseengagementtoMr。

Crawleyhasbeenformerlymentionedinthishistory。

HerLadyshipandhersisterslivedatBrightonwiththeirmamma，theCountessSouthdown，thatstrong-mindedwomansofavourablyknownintheseriousworld。

AfewwordsoughttobesaidregardingherLadyshipandhernoblefamily，whoareboundbytiesofpresentandfuturerelationshiptothehouseofCrawley。

RespectingthechiefoftheSouthdownfamily，ClementWilliam，fourthEarlofSouthdown，littleneedbetold，exceptthathisLordshipcameintoParliament(asLordWolsey)undertheauspicesofMr。Wilberforce，andforatimewasacredittohispoliticalsponsor，anddecidedlyaseriousyoungman。Butwordscannotdescribethefeelingsofhisadmirablemother，whenshelearned，veryshortlyafterhernoblehusband’sdemise，thathersonwasamemberofseveralworldlyclubs，hadlostlargelyatplayatWattier’sandtheCocoaTree；thathehadraisedmoneyonpost-obits，andencumberedthefam