RebeccahadneverseenaBaronet，asfarassheknew，andassoonasshehadtakenleaveofAmelia，andcountedtheguineaswhichgood-naturedMr。Sedleyhadputintoapurseforher，andassoonasshehaddonewipinghereyeswithherhandkerchiefwhichoperationsheconcludedtheverymomentthecarriagehadturnedthecornerofthestreet，shebegantodepictinherownmindwhataBaronetmustbe。”Iwonder，doeshewearastar？”thoughtshe，“orisitonlylordsthatwearstars？
　　Buthewillbeveryhandsomelydressedinacourtsuit，withruffles，andhishairalittlepowdered，likeMr。
　　WroughtonatCoventGarden。Isupposehewillbeawfullyproud，andthatIshallbetreatedmostcontemptuously。StillImustbearmyhardlotaswellasIcan——atleast，IshallbeamongstGENTLEFOLKS，andnotwithvulgarcitypeople“：andshefelltothinkingofherRussellSquarefriendswiththatverysamephilosophicalbitternesswithwhich，inacertainapologue，thefoxisrepresentedasspeakingofthegrapes。
　　HavingpassedthroughGauntSquareintoGreatGauntStreet，thecarriageatlengthstoppedatatallgloomyhousebetweentwoothertallgloomyhouses，eachwithahatchmentoverthemiddledrawing-roomwindow；asisthecustomofhousesinGreatGauntStreet，inwhichgloomylocalitydeathseemstoreignperpetual。Theshuttersofthefirst-floorwindowsofSirPitt’smansionwereclosed——thoseofthedining-roomwerepartiallyopen，andtheblindsneatlycoveredupinoldnewspapers。
　　John，thegroom，whohaddriventhecarriagealone，didnotcaretodescendtoringthebell；andsoprayedapassingmilk-boytoperformthatofficeforhim。Whenthebellwasrung，aheadappearedbetweentheintersticesofthedining-roomshutters，andthedoorwasopenedbyamanindrabbreechesandgaiters，withadirtyoldcoat，afouloldneckclothlashedroundhisbristlyneck，ashiningbaldhead，aleeringredface，apairoftwinklinggreyeyes，andamouthperpetuallyonthegrin“ThisSirPittCrawley’s？”saysJohn，fromthebox。
　　“Ees。”saysthemanatthedoor，withanod。
　　“Handdownthese’eretrunksthen。”saidJohn。
　　“Hand’ndownyourself。”saidtheporter。
　　“Don’tyouseeIcan’tleavemyhosses？Come，bearahand，myfinefeller，andMisswillgiveyousomebeer。”
　　saidJohn，withahorse-laugh，forhewasnolongerrespectfultoMissSharp，asherconnexionwiththefamilywasbrokenoff，andasshehadgivennothingtotheservantsoncomingaway。
　　Thebald-headedman，takinghishandsoutofhisbreechespockets，advancedonthissummons，andthrowingMissSharp’strunkoverhisshoulder，carrieditintothehouse。
　　“Takethisbasketandshawl，ifyouplease，andopenthedoor。”saidMissSharp，anddescendedfromthecarriageinmuchindignation。”IshallwritetoMr。Sedleyandinformhimofyourconduct。”saidshetothegroom。
　　“Don’t。”repliedthatfunctionary。”Ihopeyou’veforgotnothink？Miss’Melia’sgownds——haveyougotthem——asthelady’smaidwastohave’ad？Ihopethey’llfityou。
　　Shutthedoor，Jim，you’llgetnogoodoutof’ER。”
　　continuedJohn，pointingwithhisthumbtowardsMissSharp：
　　“abadlot，Itellyou，abadlot。”andsosaying，Mr。
　　Sedley’sgroomdroveaway。Thetruthis，hewasattachedtothelady’smaidinquestion，andindignantthatsheshouldhavebeenrobbedofherperquisites。
　　Onenteringthedining-room，bytheordersoftheindividualingaiters，Rebeccafoundthatapartmentnotmorecheerfulthansuchroomsusuallyare，whengenteelfamiliesareoutoftown。Thefaithfulchambersseem，asitwere，tomourntheabsenceoftheirmasters。Theturkeycarpethasrolleditselfup，andretiredsulkilyunderthesideboard：thepictureshavehiddentheirfacesbehindoldsheetsofbrownpaper：theceilinglampismuffledupinadismalsackofbrownholland：thewindow-curtainshavedisappearedunderallsortsofshabbyenvelopes：themarblebustofSirWalpoleCrawleyislookingfromitsblackcorneratthebareboardsandtheoiledfire-irons，andtheemptycard-racksoverthemantelpiece：thecellarethaslurkedawaybehindthecarpet：thechairsareturnedupheadsandtailsalongthewalls：andinthedarkcorneroppositethestatue，isanold-fashionedcrabbedknife-box，lockedandsittingonadumbwaiter。
　　Twokitchenchairs，andaroundtable，andanattenuatedoldpokerandtongswere，however，gatheredroundthefire-place，aswasasaucepanoverafeeblesputteringfire。Therewasabitofcheeseandbread，andatincandlestickonthetable，andalittleblackporterinapint-pot。
　　“Hadyourdinner，Isuppose？Itisnottoowarmforyou？Likeadropofbeer？”
　　“WhereisSirPittCrawley？”saidMissSharpmajestically。
　　“He，he！I’mSirPittCrawley。Reklectyouowemeapintforbringingdownyourluggage。He，he！AskTinkerifIaynt。Mrs。Tinker，MissSharp；MissGoverness，Mrs。Charwoman。Ho，ho！”
　　TheladyaddressedasMrs。Tinkeratthismomentmadeherappearancewithapipeandapaperoftobacco，forwhichshehadbeendespatchedaminutebeforeMissSharp’sarrival；andshehandedthearticlesovertoSirPitt，whohadtakenhisseatbythefire。
　　“Where’sthefarden？”saidhe。”Igaveyouthreehalfpence。Where’sthechange，oldTinker？”
　　“There！”repliedMrs。Tinker，flingingdownthecoin；
　　it’sonlybaronetsascaresaboutfarthings。”
　　“Afarthingadayissevenshillingsayear。”answeredtheM。P。；“sevenshillingsayearistheinterestofsevenguineas。Takecareofyourfarthings，oldTinker，andyourguineaswillcomequitenat’ral。”
　　“Youmaybesureit’sSirPittCrawley，youngwoman。”
　　saidMrs。Tinker，surlily；“becausehelookstohisfarthings。You’llknowhimbetteraforelong。”
　　“Andlikemenonetheworse，MissSharp。”saidtheoldgentleman，withanairalmostofpoliteness。”ImustbejustbeforeI’mgenerous。”
　　“Henevergaveawayafarthinginhislife。”growledTinker。
　　“Never，andneverwill：it’sagainstmyprinciple。Goandgetanotherchairfromthekitchen，Tinker，ifyouwanttositdown；andthenwe’llhaveabitofsupper。”
　　Presentlythebaronetplungedaforkintothesaucepanonthefire，andwithdrewfromthepotapieceoftripeandanonion，whichhedividedintoprettyequalportions，andofwhichhepartookwithMrs。Tinker。”Yousee，MissSharp，whenI’mnothereTinker’sonboardwages：whenI’mintownshedineswiththefamily。
　　Haw！haw！I’mgladMissSharp’snothungry，ain’tyou，Tink？”Andtheyfelltoupontheirfrugalsupper。
　　AftersupperSirPittCrawleybegantosmokehispipe；andwhenitbecamequitedark，helightedtherushlightinthetincandlestick，andproducingfromaninterminablepocketahugemassofpapers，beganreadingthem，andputtingtheminorder。
　　“I’mhereonlawbusiness，mydear，andthat’showithappensthatIshallhavethepleasureofsuchaprettytravellingcompanionto-morrow。”
　　“He’salwaysatlawbusiness。”saidMrs。Tinker，takingupthepotofporter。
　　“Drinkanddrinkabout。”saidtheBaronet。”Yes；mydear，Tinkerisquiteright：I’velostandwonmorelawsuitsthananymaninEngland。LookhereatCrawley，Bart。v。Snaffle。I’llthrowhimover，ormyname’snotPittCrawley。PodderandanotherversusCrawley，Bart。
　　OverseersofSnailyparishagainstCrawley，Bart。Theycan’tproveit’scommon：I’lldefy’em；theland’smine。
　　ItnomorebelongstotheparishthanitdoestoyouorTinkerhere。I’llbeat’em，ifitcostmeathousandguineas。
　　Lookoverthepapers；youmayifyoulike，mydear。
　　Doyouwriteagoodhand？I’llmakeyouusefulwhenwe’reatQueen’sCrawley，dependonit，MissSharp。
　　Nowthedowager’sdeadIwantsomeone。”
　　“Shewasasbadashe。”saidTinker。”Shetookthelawofeveryoneofhertradesmen；andturnedawayforty-eightfootmeninfouryear。”
　　“Shewasclose——veryclose。”saidtheBaronet，simply；
　　“butshewasavalyblewomantome，andsavedmeasteward。”——Andinthisconfidentialstrain，andmuchtotheamusementofthenew-comer，theconversationcontinuedforaconsiderabletime。WhateverSirPittCrawley’squalitiesmightbe，goodorbad，hedidnotmaketheleastdisguiseofthem。Hetalkedofhimselfincessantly，sometimesinthecoarsestandvulgarestHampshireaccent；
　　sometimesadoptingthetoneofamanoftheworld。Andso，withinjunctionstoMissSharptobereadyatfiveinthemorning，hebadehergoodnight。“You’llsleepwithTinkerto-night。”hesaid；“it’sabigbed，andthere’sroomfortwo。
　　LadyCrawleydiedinit。Goodnight。”
　　SirPittwentoffafterthisbenediction，andthesolemnTinker，rushlightinhand，ledthewayupthegreatbleakstonestairs，pastthegreatdrearydrawing-roomdoors，withthehandlesmuffledupinpaper，intothegreatfrontbedroom，whereLadyCrawleyhadsleptherlast。Thebedandchamberweresofunerealandgloomy，youmighthavefancied，notonlythatLadyCrawleydiedintheroom，butthatherghostinhabitedit。Rebeccasprangabouttheapartment，however，withthegreatestliveliness，andhadpeepedintothehugewardrobes，andtheclosets，andthecupboards，andtriedthedrawerswhichwerelocked，andexaminedthedrearypicturesandtoiletteappointments，whiletheoldcharwomanwassayingherprayers。”Ishouldn’tliketosleepinthisyeerbedwithoutagoodconscience，Miss。”saidtheoldwoman。”There’sroomforusandahalf-dozenofghostsinit。”saysRebecca。”TellmeallaboutLadyCrawleyandSirPittCrawley，andeverybody，myDEARMrs。
　　Tinker。”
　　ButoldTinkerwasnottobepumpedbythislittlecross-questioner；andsignifyingtoherthatbedwasaplaceforsleeping，notconversation，setupinhercornerofthebedsuchasnoreasonlythenoseofinnocencecanproduce。Rebeccalayawakeforalong，longtime，thinkingofthemorrow，andofthenewworldintowhichshewasgoing，andofherchancesofsuccessthere。Therushlightflickeredinthebasin。Themantelpiececastupagreatblackshadow，overhalfofamouldyoldsampler，whichherdefunctladyshiphadworked，nodoubt，andovertwolittlefamilypicturesofyounglads，oneinacollegegown，andtheotherinaredjacketlikeasoldier。
　　Whenshewenttosleep，Rebeccachosethatonetodreamabout。
　　Atfouro’clock，onsucharoseatesummer’smorningasevenmadeGreatGauntStreetlookcheerful，thefaithfulTinker，havingwakenedherbedfellow，andbidherpreparefordeparture，unbarredandunboltedthegreathalldoortheclangingandclappingwhereofstartledthesleepingechoesinthestreet，andtakingherwayintoOxfordStreet，summonedacoachfromastandthere。Itisneedlesstoparticularizethenumberofthevehicle，ortostatethatthedriverwasstationedthusearlyintheneighbourhoodofSwallowStreet，inhopesthatsomeyoungbuck，reelinghomewardfromthetavern，mightneedtheaidofhisvehicle，andpayhimwiththegenerosityofintoxication。
　　Itislikewiseneedlesstosaythatthedriver，ifhehadanysuchhopesasthose。abovestated，wasgrosslydisappointed；andthattheworthyBaronetwhomhedrovetotheCitydidnotgivehimonesinglepennymorethanhisfare。ItwasinvainthatJehuappealedandstormed；
　　thatheflungdownMissSharp’sbandboxesinthegutteratthe’Necks，andsworehewouldtakethelawofhisfare。
　　“You’dbetternot。”saidoneoftheostlers；“it’sSirPittCrawley。”
　　“Soitis，Joe。”criedtheBaronet，approvingly；“andI’dliketoseethemancandome。”
　　“Soshouldoi。”saidJoe，grinningsulkily，andmountingtheBaronet’sbaggageontheroofofthecoach。
　　“Keeptheboxforme，Leader。”exclaimstheMemberofParliamenttothecoachman；whoreplied，“Yes，SirPitt。”withatouchofhishat，andrageinhissoulforhehadpromisedtheboxtoayounggentlemanfromCambridge，whowouldhavegivenacrowntoacertainty，andMissSharpwasaccommodatedwithabackseatinsidethecarriage，whichmightbesaidtobecarryingherintothewideworld。
　　HowtheyoungmanfromCambridgesulkilyputhisfivegreat-coatsinfront；butwasreconciledwhenlittleMissSharpwasmadetoquitthecarriage，andmountupbesidehim——whenhecoveredherupinoneofhisBenjamins，andbecameperfectlygood-humoured——howtheasthmaticgentleman，theprimlady，whodeclareduponhersacredhonourshehadnevertravelledinapubliccarriagebeforethereisalwayssuchaladyinacoach——Alas！was；forthecoaches，wherearethey？，andthefatwidowwiththebrandy-bottle，tooktheirplacesinside——howtheporteraskedthemallformoney，andgotsixpencefromthegentlemanandfivegreasyhalfpencefromthefatwidow——andhowthecarriageatlengthdroveaway——nowthreadingthedarklanesofAldersgate，anonclatteringbytheBlueCupolaofSt。