servant also was owed the greater part of his wages； and
thus kept up perforce an interest in the house。 Nobody in
fact was paid。 Not the blacksmith who opened the lock；
nor the glazier who mended the pane； nor the jobber who
let the carriage； nor the groom who drove it； nor the
butcher who provided the leg of mutton； nor the coals
which roasted it； nor the cook who basted it； nor the
servants who ate it： and this I am given to understand is not
unfrequently the way in which people live elegantly on
nothing a year。
In a little town such things cannot be done without
remark。 We know there the quantity of milk our
neighbour takes and espy the joint or the fowls which are
going in for his dinner。 So； probably； 200 and 202 in Curzon
Street might know what was going on in the house
between them； the servants communicating through the
area…railings； but Crawley and his wife and his friends
did not know 200 and 202。 When you came to 201 there
was a hearty welcome； a kind smile； a good dinner； and
a jolly shake of the hand from the host and hostess there；
just for all the world as if they had been undisputed
masters of three or four thousand a yearand so they were；
not in money； but in produce and labourif they did
not pay for the mutton； they had it： if they did not give
bullion in exchange for their wine； how should we know？
Never was better claret at any man's table than at honest
Rawdon's； dinners more gay and neatly served。 His
drawing…rooms were the prettiest； little； modest salons
conceivable： they were decorated with the greatest taste；
and a thousand knick…knacks from Paris； by Rebecca：
and when she sat at her piano trilling songs with a
lightsome heart； the stranger voted himself in a little
paradise of domestic comfort and agreed that； if the
husband was rather stupid； the wife was charming； and the
dinners the pleasantest in the world。
Rebecca's wit； cleverness； and flippancy made her speedily
the vogue in London among a certain class。 You saw
demure chariots at her door； out of which stepped very
great people。 You beheld her carriage in the park；
surrounded by dandies of note。 The little box in the third
tier of the opera was crowded with heads constantly
changing； but it must be confessed that the ladies held
aloof from her； and that their doors were shut to our
little adventurer。
With regard to the world of female fashion and its
customs； the present writer of course can only speak at
second hand。 A man can no more penetrate or under…
stand those mysteries than he can know what the ladies
talk about when they go upstairs after dinner。 It is only
by inquiry and perseverance that one sometimes gets
hints of those secrets； and by a similar diligence every
person who treads the Pall Mall pavement and frequents
the clubs of this metropolis knows； either through his
own experience or through some acquaintance with whom
he plays at billiards or shares the joint； something about
the genteel world of London； and how； as there are men
（such as Rawdon Crawley； whose position we mentioned
before） who cut a good figure to the eyes of the ignorant
world and to the apprentices in the park； who behold
them consorting with the most notorious dandies there；
so there are ladies； who may be called men's women；
being welcomed entirely by all the gentlemen and cut
or slighted by all their wives。 Mrs。 Firebrace is of this sort；
the lady with the beautiful fair ringlets whom you see
every day in Hyde Park； surrounded by the greatest and
most famous dandies of this empire。 Mrs。 Rockwood is
another； whose parties are announced laboriously in the
fashionable newspapers and with whom you see that all
sorts of ambassadors and great noblemen dine； and
many more might be mentioned had they to do with the
history at present in hand。 But while simple folks who
are out of the world； or country people with a taste for
the genteel； behold these ladies in their seeming glory in
public places； or envy them from afar off； persons who
are better instructed could inform them that these envied
ladies have no more chance of establishing themselves
in 〃society；〃 than the benighted squire's wife in
Somersetshire who reads of their doings in the Morning Post。
Men living about London are aware of these awful truths。
You hear how pitilessly many ladies of seeming rank and
wealth are excluded from this 〃society。〃 The frantic
efforts which they make to enter this circle； the meannesses
to which they submit； the insults which they undergo；
are matters of wonder to those who take human or
womankind for a study； and the pursuit of fashion under
difficulties would be a fine theme for any very great
person who had the wit； the leisure； and the knowledge of
the English language necessary for the compiling of
such a history。
Now the few female acquaintances whom Mrs。 Crawley
had known abroad not only declined to visit her when
she came to this side of the Channel； but cut her severely
when they met in public places。 It was curious to see how
the great ladies forgot her； and no doubt not altogether
a pleasant study to Rebecca。 When Lady Bareacres met
her in the waiting…room at the opera； she gathered her
daughters about her as if they would be contaminated
by a touch of Becky； and retreating a step or two； placed
herself in front of them； and stared at her little enemy。
To stare Becky out of countenance required a severer
glance than even the frigid old Bareacres could shoot out
of her dismal eyes。 When Lady de la Mole； who had ridden
a score of times by Becky's side at Brussels； met Mrs。
Crawley's open carriage in Hyde Park； her Ladyship was
quite blind； and could not in the least recognize her
former friend。 Even Mrs。 Blenkinsop； the banker's wife；
cut her at church。 Becky went regularly to church now； it
was edifying to see her enter there with Rawdon by her
side； carrying a couple of large gilt prayer…books； and
afterwards going through the ceremony with the gravest
resignation。
Rawdon at first felt very acutely the slights which were
passed upon his wife； and was inclined to be gloomy and
savage。 He talked of calling out the husbands or brothers
of every one of the insolent women who did not pay a
proper respect to his wife； and it was only by the strongest
commands and entreaties on her part that he was
brought into keeping a decent behaviour。 〃You can't
shoot me into society；〃 she said good…naturedly。 〃Remember；
my dear； that I was but a governess； and you； you
poor silly old man； have the worst reputation for debt； and
dice； and all sorts of wickedness。 We shall get quite as
many friends as we want by and by； and in the meanwhile
you must be a good boy and obey your schoolmistress in
everything she tells you to do。 When we heard that your
aunt had left almost everything to Pitt and his wife； do
you remember what a rage you were in？ You would
have told all Paris； if I had not made you keep your
temper； and where would you have been now？in
prison at Ste。 Pelagie for debt； and not established in
London in a handsome house； with every comfort about
youyou were in such a fury you were ready to murder
your brother； you wicked Cain you； and what good
would have come of remaining angry？ All the rage in the
world won't get us your aunt's money； and it is much
better that we should be friends with your brother's
family than enemies； as those foolish Butes are。 When
your father dies； Queen's Crawley will be a pleasant house
for you and me to pass the winter in。 If we are ruined；
you can carve and take charge of the stable； and I can
be a governess to Lady Jane's children。 Ruined！
fiddlede…dee！ I will get you a good place before that； or Pitt
and his little boy will die； and we will be Sir Rawdon and my
lady。 While there is life； there is hope； my dear； and I
intend to make a man of you yet。 Who sold your horses for
you？ Who paid your debts for you？〃 Rawdon was obliged
to confess that he owed all these benefits to his wife； and
to trust himself to her guidance for the future。
Indeed； when Miss Crawley quitted the world； and that
money for which all her relatives had been fighting so
eagerly was finally left to Pitt； Bute Crawley； who found
that only five thousand pounds had been left to him
instead of the twenty upon which he calculated； was in
such a fury at his disappointment that he vented it in
savage abuse upon his nephew； and the quarrel always
rankling between them ended in an utter breach of
intercourse。 Rawdon Crawley's conduct； on the other hand；
who got but a hundred pounds； was such as to astonish
his brother and delight his sister…in…law； who was
disposed to look kindly upon all the members of her
husband's family。 He wrote to his brother a very frank； manly；
good…humoured letter from Paris。 He was aware； he said；
that by his own marriage he had forfeited his aunt's
favour； and though he did not disguise his disappointment
that she should have been so entirely relentless towards
him； he was glad that the money was still kept in their
branch of the family； and heartily congratulated his brother
on his good fortune。 He sent his affectionate remembrances
to his sister； and hoped