第96章

Partieswouldn’tbegivenanymore。Allthetradesmenofthetownwouldbebankrupt。Wine，wax-lights，comestibles，rouge，crinoline-petticoats，diamonds，wigs，Louis-Quatorzegimcracks，andoldchina，parkhacks，andsplendidhigh-steppingcarriagehorses——allthedelightsoflife，Isay，——wouldgotothedeuce，ifpeopledidbutactupontheirsillyprinciplesandavoidthosewhomtheydislikeandabuse。Whereas，byalittlecharityandmutualforbearance，thingsaremadetogoonpleasantlyenough：wemayabuseamanasmuchaswelike，andcallhimthegreatestrascalunhanged——butdowewishtohanghimtherefore？No。Weshakehandswhenwemeet。Ifhiscookisgoodweforgivehimandgoanddinewithhim，andweexpecthewilldothesamebyus。Thustradeflourishes——civilizationadvances；peaceiskept；

newdressesarewantedfornewassemblieseveryweek；

andthelastyear’svintageofLafittewillremuneratethehonestproprietorwhorearedit。

Atthetimewhereofwearewriting，thoughtheGreatGeorgewasonthethroneandladiesworegigotsandlargecombsliketortoise-shellshovelsintheirhair，insteadofthesimplesleevesandlovelywreathswhichareactuallyinfashion，themannersoftheverypoliteworldwerenot，Itakeit，essentiallydifferentfromthoseofthepresentday：andtheiramusementsprettysimilar。Tous，fromtheoutside，gazingoverthepoliceman’sshouldersatthebewilderingbeautiesastheypassintoCourtorball，theymayseembeingsofunearthlysplendourandintheenjoymentofanexquisitehappinessbyusunattainable。

ItistoconsolesomeofthesedissatisfiedbeingsthatwearenarratingourdearBecky’sstruggles，andtriumphs，anddisappointments，ofallofwhich，indeed，asisthecasewithallpersonsofmerit，shehadhershare。

AtthistimetheamiableamusementofactingcharadeshadcomeamongusfromFrance，andwasconsiderablyinvogueinthiscountry，enablingthemanyladiesamongstuswhohadbeautytodisplaytheircharms，andthefewernumberwhohadclevernesstoexhibittheirwit。

MyLordSteynewasincitedbyBecky，whoperhapsbelievedherselfendowedwithboththeabovequalifications，togiveanentertainmentatGauntHouse，whichshouldincludesomeoftheselittledramas——andwemusttakeleavetointroducethereadertothisbrilliantreunion，and，withamelancholywelcometoo，foritwillbeamongtheverylastofthefashionableentertainmentstowhichitwillbeourfortunetoconducthim。

Aportionofthatsplendidroom，thepicturegalleryofGauntHouse，wasarrangedasthecharadetheatre。IthadbeensousedwhenGeorgeIIIwasking；andapictureoftheMarquisofGauntisstillextant，withhishairinpowderandapinkribbon，inaRomanshape，asitwascalled，enactingthepartofCatoinMr。Addison’stragedyofthatname，performedbeforetheirRoyalHighnessesthePrinceofWales，theBishopofOsnaburgh，andPrinceWilliamHenry，thenchildrenliketheactor。

Oneortwooftheoldpropertiesweredrawnoutofthegarrets，wheretheyhadlaineversince，andfurbishedupanewforthepresentfestivities。

YoungBedwinSands，thenanelegantdandyandEasterntraveller，wasmanageroftherevels。AnEasterntravellerwassomebodyinthosedays，andtheadventurousBedwin，whohadpublishedhisquartoandpassedsomemonthsunderthetentsinthedesert，wasapersonageofnosmallimportance。InhisvolumetherewereseveralpicturesofSandsinvariousorientalcostumes；andhetravelledaboutwithablackattendantofmostunprepossessingappearance，justlikeanotherBriandeBoisGuilbert。Bedwin，hiscostumes，andblackman，werehailedatGauntHouseasveryvaluableacquisitions。

Heledoffthefirstcharade。ATurkishofficerwithanimmenseplumeoffeathers(theJanizariesweresupposedtobestillinexistence，andthetarbooshhadnotasyetdisplacedtheancientandmajestichead-dressofthetruebelievers)wasseencouchedonadivan，andmakingbelievetopuffatanarghile，inwhich，however，forthesakeoftheladies，onlyafragrantpastillewasallowedtosmoke。TheTurkishdignitaryyawnsandexpressessignsofwearinessandidleness。HeclapshishandsandMesrourtheNubianappears，withbarearms，bangles，yataghans，andeveryEasternornament——gaun