第95章

Crawleyweresilent。Wenham，thewitandlawyer，LordSteyne’sright-handman，wentabouteverywherepraisingher：somewhohadhesitated，cameforwardatonceandwelcomedher；littleTomToady，whohadwarnedSouthdownaboutvisitingsuchanabandonedwoman，nowbesoughttobeintroducedtoher。Inaword，shewasadmittedtobeamongthe“best“people。Ah，mybelovedreadersandbrethren，donotenvypoorBeckyprematurely——glorylikethisissaidtobefugitive。Itiscurrentlyreportedthatevenintheveryinmostcircles，theyarenohappierthanthepoorwanderersoutsidethezone；andBecky，whopenetratedintotheverycentreoffashionandsawthegreatGeorgeIVfacetoface，hasownedsincethattheretoowasVanity。

Wemustbebriefindescantinguponthispartofhercareer。AsIcannotdescribethemysteriesoffreemasonry，althoughIhaveashrewdideathatitisahumbug，soanuninitiatedmancannottakeuponhimselftoportraythegreatworldaccurately，andhadbestkeephisopinionstohimself，whatevertheyare。

Beckyhasoftenspokeninsubsequentyearsofthisseasonofherlife，whenshemovedamongtheverygreatestcirclesoftheLondonfashion。Hersuccessexcited，elated，andthenboredher。Atfirstnooccupationwasmorepleasantthantoinventandprocure(thelatteraworkofnosmalltroubleandingenuity，bytheway，inapersonofMrs。RawdonCrawley’sverynarrowmeans)——

toprocure，wesay，theprettiestnewdressesandornaments；todrivetofinedinnerparties，whereshewaswelcomedbygreatpeople；andfromthefinedinnerpartiestofineassemblies，whitherthesamepeoplecamewithwhomshehadbeendining，whomshehadmetthenightbefore，andwouldseeonthemorrow——theyoungmenfaultlesslyappointed，handsomelycravatted，withtheneatestglossybootsandwhitegloves——theeldersportly，brass-buttoned，noble-looking，polite，andprosy——theyoungladiesblonde，timid，andinpink——themothersgrand，beautiful，sumptuous，solemn，andindiamonds。TheytalkedinEnglish，notinbadFrench，astheydointhenovels。Theytalkedabouteachothers’

houses，andcharacters，andfamilies——justastheJonesesdoabouttheSmiths。Becky’sformeracquaintanceshatedandenviedher；thepoorwomanherselfwasyawninginspirit。”IwishIwereoutofit。”shesaidtoherself。”I

wouldratherbeaparson’swifeandteachaSundayschoolthanthis；orasergeant’sladyandrideintheregimentalwaggon；or，oh，howmuchgayeritwouldbetowearspanglesandtrousersanddancebeforeaboothatafair。”

“Youwoulddoitverywell。”saidLordSteyne，laughing。

Sheusedtotellthegreatmanherennuisandperplexitiesinherartlessway——theyamusedhim。

“RawdonwouldmakeaverygoodEcuyer——MasteroftheCeremonies——whatdoyoucallhim——themaninthelargebootsandtheuniform，whogoesroundtheringcrackingthewhip？Heislarge，heavy，andofamilitaryfigure。Irecollect。”Beckycontinuedpensively，“myfathertookmetoseeashowatBrookgreenFairwhenI

wasachild，andwhenwecamehome，Imademyselfapairofstiltsanddancedinthestudiotothewonderofallthepupils。”

“Ishouldhavelikedtoseeit。”saidLordSteyne。

“Ishouldliketodoitnow。”Beckycontinued。”HowLadyBlinkeywouldopenhereyes，andLadyGrizzelMacbethwouldstare！Hush！silence！thereisPastabeginningtosing。”Beckyalwaysmadeapointofbeingconspicuouslypolitetotheprofessionalladiesandgentlemenwhoattendedatthesearistocraticparties——offollowingthemintothecornerswheretheysatinsilence，andshakinghandswiththem，andsmilingintheviewofallpersons。Shewasanartistherself，asshesaidverytruly；therewasafranknessandhumilityinthemannerinwhichsheacknowledgedherorigin，whichprovoked，ordisarmed，oramusedlookers-on，asthecasemightbe。”Howcoolthatwomanis。”saidone；“whatairsofindependencesheassumes，wheresheoughttositstillandbethankfulifanybodyspeakstoher！”“Whatanhonestandgood-naturedsoulsheis！”saidanother。

“Whatanartfullittleminx“saidathird。Theywereallrightverylikely，butBeckywentherownway，andsofascinatedtheprofessionalpersonagesthattheywouldleaveofftheirsorethroatsinordertosingatherpartiesandgiveherlessonsfornothing。

Yes，shegavepartiesinthelittlehouseinCurzonStreet。Manyscoresofcarriages，withblazinglamps，blockedupthestreet，tothedisgustofNo。100，whocouldnotrestforthethunderof