第77章

Atlastadaycamewhenthenurse’soccupationwasover。Earlyonemorning，asPittCrawleywasathissteward’sandbailiff’sbooksinthestudy，aknockcametothedoor，andHesterpresentedherself，droppingacurtsey，andsaid。”Ifyouplease，SirPitt，SirPittdiedthismorning，SirPitt。Iwasa-makingofhistoast，SirPitt，forhisgruel，SirPitt，whichhetookeverymorningregularatsix，SirPitt，and——IthoughtIheardamoan-like，SirPitt——and——

and——and——“Shedroppedanothercurtsey。

WhatwasitthatmadePitt’spalefaceflushquitered？WasitbecausehewasSirPittatlast，withaseatinParliament，andperhapsfuturehonoursinprospect？

“I’llcleartheestatenowwiththereadymoney。”hethoughtandrapidlycalculateditsincumbrancesandtheimprovementswhichhewouldmake。Hewouldnotusehisaunt’smoneypreviouslylestSirPittshouldrecoverandhisoutlaybeinvain。

AlltheblindswerepulleddownattheHallandRectory：

thechurchbellwastolled，andthechancelhunginblack；andButeCrawleydidn’tgotoacoursingmeeting，butwentanddinedquietlyatFuddleston，wheretheytalkedabouthisdeceasedbrotherandyoungSirPittovertheirport。MissBetsy，whowasbythistimemarriedtoasaddleratMudbury，criedagooddeal。

Thefamilysurgeonrodeoverandpaidhisrespectfulcompliments，andinquiriesforthehealthoftheirladyships。ThedeathwastalkedaboutatMudburyandattheCrawleyArms，thelandlordwhereofhadbecomereconciledwiththeRectoroflate，whowasoccasionallyknowntostepintotheparlourandtasteMr。Horrocks’

mildbeer。

“ShallIwritetoyourbrother——orwillyou？”askedLadyJaneofherhusband，SirPitt。

“Iwillwrite，ofcourse。”SirPittsaid，“andinvitehimtothefuneral：itwillbebutbecoming。”

“And——and——Mrs。Rawdon。”saidLadyJanetimidly。

“Jane！”saidLadySouthdown，“howcanyouthinkofsuchathing？”

“Mrs。Rawdonmustofcoursebeasked。”saidSirPitt，resolutely。

“NotwhilstIaminthehouse！”saidLadySouthdown。

“YourLadyshipwillbepleasedtorecollectthatIamtheheadofthisfamily。”SirPittreplied。”Ifyouplease，LadyJane，youwillwritealettertoMrs。RawdonCrawley，requestingherpresenceuponthismelancholyoccasion。”

“Jane，Iforbidyoutoputpentopaper！”criedtheCountess。

“IbelieveIamtheheadofthisfamily。”SirPittrepeated；“andhowevermuchImayregretanycircumstancewhichmayleadtoyourLadyshipquittingthishouse，must，ifyouplease，continuetogovernitasIseefit。”

LadySouthdownroseupasmagnificentasMrs。SiddonsinLadyMacbethandorderedthathorsesmightbeputtohercarriage。Ifhersonanddaughterturnedheroutoftheirhouse，shewouldhidehersorrowssomewhereinlonelinessandprayfortheirconversiontobetterthoughts。

“Wedon’tturnyououtofourhouse，Mamma。”saidthetimidLadyJaneimploringly。

“YouinvitesuchcompanytoitasnoChristianladyshouldmeet，andIwillhavemyhorsesto-morrowmorning。”

“Havethegoodnesstowrite，Jane，undermydictation。”

saidSirPitt，risingandthrowinghimselfintoanattitudeofcommand，liketheportraitofaGentlemanintheExhibition，“andbegin。’Queen’sCrawley，September14，1822——Mydearbrother——’“

Hearingthesedecisiveandterriblewords，LadyMacbeth，whohadbeenwaitingforasignofweaknessorvacillationonthepartofherson-in-law，roseand，withascaredlook，leftthelibrary。LadyJanelookeduptoherhusbandasifshewouldfainfollowandsoothehermamma，butPittforbadehiswifetomove。

“Shewon’tgoaway。”hesaid。”ShehasletherhouseatBrightonandhasspentherlasthalf-year’sdividends。

ACountesslivingataninnisaruinedwoman。Ihavebeenwaitinglongforanopportunity——totakethis——thisdecisivestep，mylove；for，asyoumustperceive，itisimpossiblethatthereshouldbetwochiefsinafamily：

andnow，ifyouplease，wewillresumethedictation。’Mydearbrother，themelancholyintelligencewhichitismydutytoconveytomyfamilymusthavebeenlonganticipatedby，’“&c。

Inaword，Pitthavingcometohiskingdom，andhavingbygoodluck，ordesertrather，asheconsidered，assumedalmostallthefortunewhichhisotherrelativeshadexpected，wasdetermined