第120章

IfweweretogiveafullaccountofherproceedingsduringacoupleofyearsthatfollowedaftertheCurzonStreetcatastrophe，theremightbesomereasonforpeopletosaythisbookwasimproper。Theactionsofveryvain，heartless，pleasure-seekingpeopleareveryoftenimproper(asaremanyofyours，myfriendwiththegravefaceandspotlessreputation——butthatismerelybytheway)；andwhatarethoseofawomanwithoutfaith——orlove——orcharacter？AndIaminclinedtothinkthattherewasaperiodinMrsBecky’slifewhenshewasseized，notbyremorse，butbyakindofdespair，andabsolutelyneglectedherpersonanddidnotevencareforherreputation。

Thisabattementanddegradationdidnottakeplaceallatonce；itwasbroughtaboutbydegrees，afterhercalamity，andaftermanystrugglestokeepup——asamanwhogoesoverboardhangsontoasparwhilstanyhopeisleft，andthenflingsitawayandgoesdown，whenhefindsthatstrugglingisinvain。

ShelingeredaboutLondonwhilstherhusbandwasmakingpreparationsforhisdeparturetohisseatofgovernment，anditisbelievedmademorethanoneattempttoseeherbrother-in-law，SirPittCrawley，andtoworkuponhisfeelings，whichshehadalmostenlistedinherfavour。AsSirPittandMr。WenhamwerewalkingdowntotheHouseofCommons，thelatterspiedMrs。Rawdoninablackveil，andlurkingnearthepalaceofthelegislature。ShesneakedawaywhenhereyesmetthoseofWenham，andindeedneversucceededinherdesignsupontheBaronet。

ProbablyLadyJaneinterposed。Ihaveheardthatshequiteastonishedherhusbandbythespiritwhichsheexhibitedinthisquarrel，andherdeterminationtodisownMrs。Becky。Ofherownmovement，sheinvitedRawdontocomeandstopinGauntStreetuntilhisdepartureforCoventryIsland，knowingthatwithhimforaguardMrs。

Beckywouldnottrytoforceherdoor；andshelookedcuriouslyatthesuperscriptionsofalltheletterswhicharrivedforSirPitt，lestheandhissister-in-lawshouldbecorresponding。NotbutthatRebeccacouldhavewrittenhadsheamind，butshedidnottrytoseeortowritetoPittathisownhouse，andafteroneortwoattemptsconsentedtohisdemandthatthecorrespondenceregardingherconjugaldifferencesshouldbecarriedonbylawyersonly。

ThefactwasthatPitt’smindhadbeenpoisonedagainsther。AshorttimeafterLordSteyne’saccidentWenhamhadbeenwiththeBaronetandgivenhimsuchabiographyofMrs。BeckyashadastonishedthememberforQueen’sCrawley。Hekneweverythingregardingher：

whoherfatherwas；inwhatyearhermotherdancedattheopera；whathadbeenherprevioushistory；andwhatherconductduringhermarriedlife——asIhavenodoubtthatthegreaterpartofthestorywasfalseanddictatedbyinterestedmalevolence，itshallnotberepeatedhere。ButBeckywasleftwithasadsadreputationintheesteemofacountrygentlemanandrelativewhohadbeenonceratherpartialtoher。

TherevenuesoftheGovernorofCoventryIslandarenotlarge。ApartofthemweresetasidebyhisExcellencyforthepaymentofcertainoutstandingdebtsandliabilities，thechargesincidentonhishighsituationrequiredconsiderableexpense；finally，itwasfoundthathecouldnotsparetohiswifemorethanthreehundredpoundsayear，whichheproposedtopaytoheronanundertakingthatshewouldnevertroublehim。

Otherwise，scandal，separation，Doctors’Commonswouldensue。ButitwasMr。Wenham’sbusiness，LordSteyne’sbusiness，Rawdon’s，everybody’s——togetheroutofthecountry，andhushupamostdisagreeableaffair。

Shewasprobablysomuchoccupiedinarrangingtheseaffairsofbusinesswithherhusband’slawyersthatsheforgottotakeanystepwhateveraboutherson，thelittleRawdon，anddidnotevenonceproposetogoandseehim。Thatyounggentlemanwasconsignedtotheentireguardianshipofhisauntanduncle，theformerofwhomhadalwayspossessedagreatshareofthechild’saffection。HismammawrotehimaneatletterfromBoulogne，whenshequittedEngland，inwhichsherequestedhimtomindhisbook，andsaidshewasgoingtotakeaContine