第66章

TheKingtooknoticeofheryesterdayattheTuileries，andwearealljealousoftheattentionwhichMonsieurpaysher。IfyoucouldhaveseenthespiteofacertainstupidMiladiBareacres(whoseeagle-beakandtoqueandfeat，hersmaybeseenpeeringovertheheadsofallassemblies)whenMadame，theDuchessofAngouleme，theaugustdaughterandcompanionofkings，desiredespeciallytobepresentedtoMrs。Crawley，asyourdeardaughterandprotegee，andthankedherinthenameofFrance，forallyourbenevolencetowardsourunfortunatesduringtheirexile！Sheisofallthesocieties，ofalltheballs——oftheballs——yes——ofthedances，no；

andyethowinterestingandprettythisfaircreaturelookssurroundedbythehomageofthemen，andsosoontobeamother！Tohearherspeakofyou，herprotectress，hermother，wouldbringtearstotheeyesofogres。Howshelovesyou！howweallloveouradmirable，ourrespectableMissCrawley！”

ItistobefearedthatthisletteroftheParisiangreatladydidnotbyanymeansadvanceMrs。Becky’sinterestwithheradmirable，herrespectable，relative。Onthecontrary，thefuryoftheoldspinsterwasbeyondbounds，whenshefoundwhatwasRebecca’ssituation，andhowaudaciouslyshehadmadeuseofMissCrawley’sname，togetanentreeintoParisiansociety。ToomuchshakeninmindandbodytocomposealetterintheFrenchlanguageinreplytothatofhercorrespondent，shedictatedtoBriggsafuriousanswerinherownnativetongue，repudiatingMrs。RawdonCrawleyaltogether，andwarningthepublictobewareofherasamostartfulanddangerousperson。ButasMadametheDuchessofX——

hadonlybeentwentyyearsinEngland，shedidnotunderstandasinglewordofthelanguage，andcontentedherselfbyinformingMrs。RawdonCrawleyattheirnextmeeting，thatshehadreceivedacharmingletterfromthatchereMees，andthatitwasfullofbenevolentthingsforMrs。Crawley，whobeganseriouslytohavehopesthatthespinsterwouldrelent。

Meanwhile，shewasthegayestandmostadmiredofEnglishwomen：andhadalittleEuropeancongressonherreception-night。PrussiansandCossacks，SpanishandEnglish——alltheworldwasatParisduringthisfamouswinter：tohaveseenthestarsandcordonsinRebecca’shumblesaloonwouldhavemadeallBakerStreetpalewithenvy。FamouswarriorsrodebyhercarriageintheBois，orcrowdedhermodestlittleboxattheOpera。

Rawdonwasinthehighestspirits。TherewerenodunsinParisasyet：therewerepartieseverydayatVery’sorBeauvilliers’；playwasplentifulandhisluckgood。

Tuftoperhapswassulky。Mrs。TuftohadcomeovertoParisatherowninvitation，andbesidesthiscontretemps，therewereascoreofgeneralsnowroundBecky’schair，andshemighttakeherchoiceofadozenbouquetswhenshewenttotheplay。LadyBareacresandthechiefsoftheEnglishsociety，stupidandirreproachablefemales，writhedwithanguishatthesuccessofthelittleupstartBecky，whosepoisonedjokesquiveredandrankledintheirchastebreasts。Butshehadallthemenonherside。Shefoughtthewomenwithindomitablecourage，andtheycouldnottalkscandalinanytonguebuttheirown。

Soinfetes，pleasures，andprosperity，thewinterof1815-16passedawaywithMrs。RawdonCrawley，whoaccommodatedherselftopolitelifeasifherancestorshadbeenpeopleoffashionforcenturiespast——

andwhofromherwit，talent，andenergy，indeedmeritedaplaceofhonourinVanityFair。Intheearlyspringof1816，Galignani’sJournalcontainedthefollowingannouncementinaninterestingcornerofthepaper：“Onthe26thofMarch——theLadyofLieutenant-ColonelCrawley，oftheLifeGuardsGreen——ofasonandheir。”

ThiseventwascopiedintotheLondonpapers，outofwhichMissBriggsreadthestatementtoMissCrawley，atbreakfast，atBrighton。Theintelligence，expectedasitmighthavebeen，causedacrisisintheaffairsoftheCrawleyfamily。Thespinster’sragerosetoitsheight，andsendinginstantlyforPitt，hernephew，andfortheLadySouthdown，fromBrunswickSquare，sherequestedanimmediatecelebrationofthemarriagewhichhadbeensolongpendingbetweenthetwofamilies。Andsheannouncedthatitwasherintentiontoallowtheyoungcoupleathousandayearduringherlifetime，attheexpirationofwhichthebulkofherpropertywouldbesettleduponhernephewandherdearniece，LadyJaneCrawley。Waxycamedowntoratifythedeeds——LordSouthdowngaveawayhissister——shewasmarried