第76章

prodigiously，andthreateningtodriveheroffthatveryinstanttoCourtinacoach-and-four。Shehadtheransackingofthewardrobesofthetwodefunctladies，andcutandhackedtheirposthumousfinerysoastosuitherowntastesandfigure。Andshewouldhavelikedtotakepossessionoftheirjewelsandtrinketstoo；buttheoldBaronethadlockedthemawayinhisprivatecabinet；

norcouldshecoaxorwheedlehimoutofthekeys。Anditisafact，thatsometimeaftersheleftQueen’sCrawleyacopy-bookbelongingtothisladywasdiscovered，whichshowedthatshehadtakengreatpainsinprivatetolearntheartofwritingingeneral，andespeciallyofwritingherownnameasLadyCrawley，LadyBetsyHorrocks，LadyElizabethCrawley，&c。

ThoughthegoodpeopleoftheParsonageneverwenttotheHallandshunnedthehorridolddotarditsowner，yettheykeptastrictknowledgeofallthathappenedthere，andwerelookingouteverydayforthecatastropheforwhichMissHorrockswasalsoeager。ButFateintervenedenviouslyandpreventedherfromreceivingtherewardduetosuchimmaculateloveandvirtue。

OnedaytheBaronetsurprised“herladyship。”ashejocularlycalledher，seatedatthatoldandtunelesspianointhedrawing-room，whichhadscarcelybeentouchedsinceBeckySharpplayedquadrillesuponit——seatedatthepianowiththeutmostgravityandsquallingtothebestofherpowerinimitationofthemusicwhichshehadsometimesheard。Thelittlekitchen-maidonherpromotionwasstandingathermistress’sside，quitedelightedduringtheoperation，andwaggingherheadupanddownandcrying，“Lor，Mum，’tisbittiful“——justlikeagenteelsycophantinarealdrawing-room。

ThisincidentmadetheoldBaronetroarwithlaughter，asusual。HenarratedthecircumstanceadozentimestoHorrocksinthecourseoftheevening，andgreatlytothediscomfitureofMissHorrocks。Hethrummedonthetableasifithadbeenamusicalinstrument，andsqualledinimitationofhermannerofsinging。Hevowedthatsuchabeautifulvoiceoughttobecultivatedanddeclaredsheoughttohavesinging-masters，inwhichproposalsshesawnothingridiculous。Hewasingreatspiritsthatnight，anddrankwithhisfriendandbutleranextraordinaryquantityofrum-and-water——ataverylatehourthefaithfulfriendanddomesticconductedhismastertohisbedroom。

Halfanhourafterwardstherewasagreathurryandbustleinthehouse。LightswentaboutfromwindowtowindowinthelonelydesolateoldHall，whereofbuttwoorthreeroomswereordinarilyoccupiedbyitsowner。

Presently，aboyonaponywentgallopingofftoMudbury，totheDoctor’shousethere。Andinanotherhour(bywhichfactweascertainhowcarefullytheexcellentMrs。

ButeCrawleyhadalwayskeptupanunderstandingwiththegreathouse)，thatladyinherclogsandcalash，theReverendButeCrawley，andJamesCrawley，herson，hadwalkedoverfromtheRectorythroughthepark，andhadenteredthemansionbytheopenhall-door。

Theypassedthroughthehallandthesmalloakparlour，onthetableofwhichstoodthethreetumblersandtheemptyrum-bottlewhichhadservedforSirPitt’scarouse，andthroughthatapartmentintoSirPitt’sstudy，wheretheyfoundMissHorrocks，oftheguiltyribbons，withawildair，tryingatthepressesandescritoireswithabunchofkeys。Shedroppedthemwithascreamofterror，aslittleMrs。Bute’seyesflashedoutatherfromunderherblackcalash。

“Lookatthat，JamesandMr。Crawley，？”criedMrs。

Bute，pointingatthescaredfigureoftheblack-eyed，guiltywench。

“Hegave’emme；hegave’emme！”shecried。

“Gavethemyou，youabandonedcreature！”screamedMrs。Bute。”Bearwitness，Mr。Crawley，wefoundthisgood-for-nothingwomanintheactofstealingyourbrother’sproperty；andshewillbehanged，asIalwayssaidshewould。”

BetsyHorrocks，quitedaunted，flungherselfdownonherknees，burstingintotears。Butthosewhoknowareallygoodwomanareawarethatsheisnotinahurrytoforgive，andthatthehumiliationofanenemyisatriumphtohersoul。

“Ringthebell，James。”Mrs。Butesaid。”Goonringingittillthepeoplecome。”Thethreeorfourdomesticsresidentinthedesertedoldhousecamepresentlyatthatjanglingandcontinuedsummons。

“Putthatwomaninthestrong-room。”shesaid。”WecaughtherintheactofrobbingSirPitt。Mr。Crawley，you’llmakeouthercomm