第63章

“Andthe’WasherwomanofFinchleyCommon，’

Mamma。”saidLadyEmily。”Itisaswelltobeginsoothinglyatfirst。”

“Stop，mydearladies。”saidPitt，thediplomatist。

“WitheverydeferencetotheopinionofmybelovedandrespectedLadySouthdown，IthinkitwouldbequiteunadvisabletocommencesoearlyuponserioustopicswithMissCrawley。Rememberherdelicatecondition，andhowlittle，howverylittleaccustomedshehashithertobeentoconsiderationsconnectedwithherimmortalwelfare。”

“Canwethenbegintooearly，Pitt？”saidLadyEmily，risingwithsixlittlebooksalreadyinherhand。

“Ifyoubeginabruptly，youwillfrightenheraltogether。

Iknowmyaunt’sworldlynaturesowellastobesurethatanyabruptattemptatconversionwillbetheveryworstmeansthatcanbeemployedforthewelfareofthatunfortunatelady。Youwillonlyfrightenandannoyher。

Shewillverylikelyflingthebooksaway，andrefuseallacquaintancewiththegivers。”

“YouareasworldlyasMissCrawley，Pitt。”saidLadyEmily，tossingoutoftheroom，herbooksinherhand。

“AndIneednottellyou，mydearLadySouthdown。”

Pittcontinued，inalowvoice，andwithoutheedingtheinterruption，“howfatalalittlewantofgentlenessandcautionmaybetoanyhopeswhichwemayentertainwithregardtotheworldlypossessionsofmyaunt。Remembershehasseventythousandpounds；thinkofherage，andherhighlynervousanddelicatecondition；Iknowthatshehasdestroyedthewillwhichwasmadeinmybrother’s(ColonelCrawley’s)favour：itisbysoothingthatwoundedspiritthatwemustleaditintotherightpath，andnotbyfrighteningit；andsoIthinkyouwillagreewithmethat——that——’

“Ofcourse，ofcourse。”LadySouthdownremarked。

“Jane，mylove，youneednotsendthatnotetoMr。Irons。

Ifherhealthissuchthatdiscussionsfatigueher，wewillwaitheramendment。IwillcalluponMissCrawleytomorrow。”

“AndifImightsuggest，mysweetlady。”Pittsaidinablandtone，“itwouldbeaswellnottotakeourpreciousEmily，whoistooenthusiastic；butratherthatyoushouldbeaccompaniedbyoursweetanddearLadyJane。”

“Mostcertainly，Emilywouldruineverything。”LadySouthdownsaid；andthistimeagreedtoforegoherusualpractice，whichwas，aswehavesaid，beforesheboredownpersonallyuponanyindividualwhomsheproposedtosubjugate，tofireinaquantityoftractsuponthemenacedparty(asachargeoftheFrenchwasalwaysprecededbyafuriouscannonade)。LadySouthdown，wesay，forthesakeoftheinvalid’shealth，orforthesakeofhersoul’sultimatewelfare，orforthesakeofhermoney，agreedtotemporise。

Thenextday，thegreatSouthdownfemalefamilycarriage，withtheEarl’scoronetandthelozenge(uponwhichthethreelambstrottantargentuponthefieldvertoftheSouthdowns，werequarteredwithsableonabendor，threesnuff-mullsgules，thecognizanceofthehouseofBinkie)，droveupinstatetoMissCrawley’sdoor，andthetallseriousfootmanhandedintoMr。BowlsherLadyship’scardsforMissCrawley，andonelikewiseforMissBriggs。Bywayofcompromise，LadyEmilysentinapacketintheeveningforthelatterlady，containingcopiesofthe“Washerwoman。”andothermildandfavouritetractsforMissB。’sownperusal；andafewfortheservants’hall，viz。：“CrumbsfromthePantry。”“TheFryingPanandtheFire。”and“TheLiveryofSin。”ofamuchstrongerkind。

JamesCrawley’sPipeIsPutOutTheamiablebehaviourofMr。Crawley，andLadyJane’skindreceptionofher，highlyflatteredMissBriggs，whowasenabledtospeakagoodwordforthelatte