Whenthepartieswereover，andthecarriageshadrolledaway，theinsatiableMissCrawleywouldsay。”Cometomydressingroom，Becky，andletusabusethecompany“——which，betweenthem，thispairoffriendsdidperfectly。OldSirHuddlestonwheezedagreatdealatdinner；SirGilesWapshothadaparticularlynoisymannerofimbibinghissoup，andherladyshipawinkofthelefteye；allofwhichBeckycaricaturedtoadmiration；aswellastheparticularsofthenight’sconversation；thepolitics；
　　thewar；thequarter-sessions；thefamousrunwiththeH。H。，andthoseheavyanddrearythemes，aboutwhichcountrygentlemenconverse。AsfortheMissesWapshot’stoilettesandLadyFuddleston’sfamousyellowhat，MissSharptorethemtotatters，totheinfiniteamusementofheraudience。
　　“Mydear，youareaperfecttrouvaille。”MissCrawleywouldsay。”IwishyoucouldcometomeinLondon，butIcouldn’tmakeabuttofyouasIdoofpoorBriggsno，no，youlittleslycreature；youaretooclever——Isn’tshe，Firkin？”
　　Mrs。FirkinwhowasdressingtheverysmallremnantofhairwhichremainedonMissCrawley’spate，flungupherheadandsaid，“IthinkMissisveryclever。”
　　withthemostkillingsarcasticair。Infact，Mrs。Firkinhadthatnaturaljealousywhichisoneofthemainprinciplesofeveryhonestwoman。
　　AfterrebuffingSirHuddlestonFuddleston，MissCrawleyorderedthatRawdonCrawleyshouldleadherintodinnereveryday，andthatBeckyshouldfollowwithhercushion——orelseshewouldhaveBecky’sarmandRawdonwiththepillow。”Wemustsittogether。”shesaid。
　　“We’retheonlythreeChristiansinthecounty，mylove“——
　　inwhichcase，itmustbeconfessed，thatreligionwasataverylowebbinthecountyofHants。
　　Besidesbeingsuchafinereligionist，MissCrawleywas，aswehavesaid，anUltra-liberalinopinions，andalwaystookoccasiontoexpresstheseinthemostcandidmanner。
　　“Whatisbirth，mydear！”shewouldsaytoRebecca——
　　“LookatmybrotherPitt；lookattheHuddlestons，whohavebeenheresinceHenryII；lookatpoorButeattheparsonage——isanyoneofthemequaltoyouinintelligenceorbreeding？Equaltoyou——theyarenotevenequaltopoordearBriggs，mycompanion，orBowls，mybutler。
　　You，mylove，arealittleparagon——positivelyalittlejewel——Youhavemorebrainsthanhalftheshire——ifmerithaditsrewardyououghttobeaDuchess——no，thereoughttobenoduchessesatall——butyououghttohavenosuperior，andIconsideryou，mylove，asmyequalineveryrespect；and——willyouputsomecoalsonthefire，mydear；andwillyoupickthisdressofmine，andalterit，youwhocandoitsowell？”Sothisoldphilanthropistusedtomakeherequalrunofhererrands，executehermillinery，andreadhertosleepwithFrenchnovels，everynight。
　　Atthistime，assomeoldreadersmayrecollect，thegenteelworldhadbeenthrownintoaconsiderablestateofexcitementbytwoevents，which，asthepaperssay，mightgiveemploymenttothegentlemenofthelongrobe。
　　EnsignShaftonhadrunawaywithLadyBarbaraFitzurse，theEarlofBruin’sdaughterandheiress；andpoorVereVane，agentlemanwho，uptoforty，hadmaintainedamostrespectablecharacterandrearedanumerousfamily，suddenlyandoutrageouslylefthishome，forthesakeofMrs。Rougemont，theactress，whowassixty-fiveyearsofage。
　　“ThatwasthemostbeautifulpartofdearLordNelson’scharacter。”MissCrawleysaid。”Hewenttothedeuceforawoman。Theremustbegoodinamanwhowilldothat。Iadoreallimpudentmatches——WhatIlikebest，isforanoblemantomarryamiller’sdaughter，asLordFlowerdaledid——itmakesallthewomensoangry——Iwishsomegreatmanwouldrunawaywithyou，mydear；I’msureyou’reprettyenough。”
　　“Twopost-boys！——Oh，itwouldbedelightful！”Rebeccaowned。
　　“AndwhatIlikenextbest，isforapoorfellowtorunawaywitharichgirl。IhavesetmyheartonRawdonrunningawaywithsomeone。”
　　“Arichsomeone，orapoorsomeone？”
　　“Why，yougoose！RawdonhasnotashillingbutwhatI
　　givehim。Heiscriblededettes——hemustrepairhisfortunes，andsucceedintheworld。”
　　“Isheveryclever？”Rebeccaasked。
　　“Clever，mylove？——notanideaintheworldbeyondhishorses，andhisregiment，andhishunting，andhisplay；
　　buthemustsucceed——he’ssodelightfullywicked。Don’tyouknowhehashitaman，andshotaninjuredfatherthroughthehatonly？He’sadoredinhisregiment；andalltheyoungmenatWattier’sandtheCocoa-Treeswearbyhim。”
　　WhenMissRebeccaSharpwrotetoherbelovedfriendtheaccountofthelittleballatQueen’sCrawley，andthemannerinwhich，forthefirsttime，CaptainCrawleyhaddistinguishedher，shedidnot，strangetorelate，giveanaltogetheraccurateaccountofthetransaction。TheCaptainhaddistinguishedheragreatnumberoftimesbefore。TheCaptainhadmetherinahalf-scoreofwalks。TheCaptainhadlighteduponherinahalf-hundredofcorridorsandpassages。TheCaptainhadhungoverherpianotwentytimesofaneveningmyLadywasnowupstairs，beingill，andnobodyheededherasMissSharpsang。TheCaptainhadwrittenhernotesthebestthatthegreatblunderingdragooncoulddeviseandspell；butdulnessgetsonaswellasanyotherqualitywithwomen。Butwhenheputthefirstofthenotesintotheleavesofthesongshewassinging，thelittlegoverness，risingandlookinghimsteadilyintheface，tookupthetriangularmissivedaintily，andwaveditaboutasifitwereacockedhat，andshe，advancingtotheenemy，poppedthenoteintothefire，andmadehimaverylowcurtsey，andwentbacktoherplace，andbegantosingawayagainmoremerrilythanever。
　　“What’sthat？”saidMissCrawley，interruptedinherafter-dinnerdozebythestoppageofthemusic。
　　“It’safalsenote。”MissSharpsaidwithalaugh；andRawdonCrawleyfumedwithrageandmortification。
　　SeeingtheevidentpartialityofMissCrawleyforthenewgoverness，howgooditwasofMrs。ButeCrawleynottobejealous，andtowelcometheyoungladytotheRectory，andnotonlyher，butRawdonCrawley，herhusband’srivalintheOldMaid’sfivepercents！Theybecameveryfondofeachother’ssociety，Mrs。Crawleyandhernephew。Hegaveuphunting；hedeclinedentertainmentsatFuddleston：hewouldnotdinewiththemessofthedepotatMudbury：hisgreatpleasurewastostrollovertoCrawleyparsonage——whitherMissCrawleycametoo；andastheirmammawasill，whynotthechildrenwithMissSharp？Sothechildrenlittledears！camewithMissSharp；andofaneveningsomeofthepartywouldwalkbacktogether。NotMissCrawley——shepreferredhercarriage——butthewalkovertheRectoryfields，andinatthelittleparkwicket，andthroughthedarkplantation，andupthecheckeredavenuetoQueen’sCrawley，wascharminginthemoonlighttotwosuchloversofthepicturesqueastheCaptainandMissRebecca。
　　“Othosestars，thosestars！”MissRebeccawouldsay，turninghertwinklinggreeneyesuptowardsthem。”I
　　feelmyselfalmostaspiritwhenIgazeuponthem。”
　　“O——ah——Gad——yes，sodoIexactly，MissSharp。”theotherenthusiastreplied。”Youdon’tmindmycigar，doyou，MissSharp？”MissSharplovedthesmellofacigaroutofdoorsbeyondeverythingintheworld——andshejusttastedonetoo，intheprettiestwaypossible，andgavealittlepuff，andalittlescream，andalittlegiggle，andrestoredthedelicacytotheCaptain，whotwirledhismoustache，andstraightwaypuffeditintoablazethatglowedquiteredinthedarkplantation，andswore——“Jove——aw——Gad——aw——it’sthefinestsegawIeversmokedintheworldaw。”forhisintellectandconversationwerealikebrilliantandbecomingtoaheavyyoungdragoon。
　　OldSirPitt，whowastakinghispipeandbeer，andtalkingtoJohnHorrocksabouta“ship“thatwastobekilled，espiedthepairsooccupiedfromhisstudy-window，andwithdreadfuloathssworethatifitwasn’tforMissCrawley，he’dtakeRawdonandbundleunoutofdoors，likearogueashewas。
　　“Hebeabad’n，sureenough。”Mr。Horrocksremarked；
　　“andhismanFlethersiswuss，andhavemadesucharowinthehousekeeper’sroomaboutthedinnersandhale，asnolordwouldmake——butIthinkMissSharp’samatchfor’n，SirPitt。”headded，afterapause。
　　Andso，intruth，shewas——forfatherandsontoo。
　　QuiteaSentimentalChapterWemustnowtakeleaveofArcadia，andthoseamiablepeoplepractisingtheruralvirtuesthere，andtravelbacktoLondon，toinquirewhathasbecomeofMissAmelia“Wedon’tcareafigforher。”writessomeunknowncorrespondentwithaprettylittlehandwritingandapinksealtohernote。”Sheisfadeandinsipid。”andaddssomemorekindremarksinthisstrain，whichIshouldneverhaverepeatedatall，butthattheyareintruthprodigiouslycomplimentarytotheyoungladywhomtheyconcern。
　　Hasthebelovedreader，inhisexperienceofsociety，neverheardsimilarremarksbygood-naturedfemalefriends；whoalwayswonderwhatyouCANseeinMissSmiththatissofascinating；orwhatCOULDinduceMajorJonestoproposeforthatsillyinsignificantsimperingMissThompson，whohasnothingbutherwax-dollfacetorecommendher？Whatisthereinapairofpinkcheeksandblueeyesforsooth？thesedearMoralistsask，andhintwiselythatthegiftsofgenius，theaccomplishmentsofthemind，themasteryofMangnall’sQuestions，andaladylikeknowledgeofbotanyandgeology，theknackofmakingpoetry，thepowerofrattlingsonatasintheHerz-manner，andsoforth，arefarmorevaluableendowmentsforafemale，thanthosefugitivecharmswhichafewyearswillinevitablytarnish。Itisquiteedifyingtohearwomenspeculateupontheworthlessnessandthedurationofbeauty。
　　Butthoughvirtueisamuchfinerthing，andthosehaplesscreatureswhosufferunderthemisfortuneofgoodlooksoughttobecontinuallyputinmindofthefatewhichawaitsthem；andthough，verylikely，theheroicfemalecharacterwhichladiesadmireisamoregloriousandbeautifulobjectthanthekind，fresh，smiling，artless，tenderlittledomesticgoddess，whommenareinclinedtoworship——yetthelatterandinferiorsortofwomenmusthavethisconsolation——thatthemendoadmirethemafterall；andthat，inspiteofallourkindfriends’warningsandprotests，wegooninourdesperateerrorandfolly，andshalltotheendofthechapter。Indeed，formyownpart，thoughIhavebeenrepeatedlytoldbypersonsforwhomIhavethegreatestrespect，thatMissBrownisaninsignificantchit，andMrs。Whitehasnothingbutherpetitminoischiffonne，andMrs。Blackhasnotawordtosayforherself；yetIknowthatIhavehadthemostdelightfulconversationswithMrs。Blackofcourse，mydearMadam，theyareinviolable：IseeallthemeninaclusterroundMrs。White’schair：alltheyoungfellowsbattlingtodancewithMissBrown；andsoIamtemptedtothinkthattobedespisedbyhersexisaverygreatcomplimenttoawoman。
　　TheyoungladiesinAmelia’ssocietydidthisforherverysatisfactorily。Forinstance，therewasscarcelyanypointuponwhichtheMissesOsborne，George’ssisters，andtheMesdemoisellesDobbinagreedsowellasintheirestimateofherverytriflingmerits：andtheirwonderthattheirbrotherscouldfindanycharmsinher。”Wearekindtoher。”theMissesOsbornesaid，apairoffineblack-
　　browedyoungladieswhohadhadthebestofgovernesses，masters，andmilliners；andtheytreatedherwithsuchextremekindnessandcondescension，andpatronisedhersoinsufferably，thatthepoorlittlethingwasinfactperfectlydumbintheirpresence，andtoalloutwardappearanceasstupidastheythoughther。Shemadeeffortstolikethem，asindutybound，andassistersofherfuturehusband。Shepassed“longmornings“withthem——themostdrearyandseriousofforenoons。Shedroveoutsolemnlyintheirgreatfamilycoachwiththem，andMissWirttheirgoverness，thatraw-bonedVestal。Theytookhertotheancientconcertsbywayofatreat，andtotheoratorio，andtoSt。Paul’stoseethecharitychildren，whereinsuchterrorwassheofherfriends，shealmostdidnotdarebeaffectedbythehymnthechildrensang。Theirhousewascomfortable；theirpapa’stablerichandhandsome；theirsocietysolemnandgenteel；
　　theirself-respectprodigious；theyhadthebestpewattheFoundling：alltheirhabitswerepompousandorderly，andalltheiramusementsintolerablydullanddecorous。
　　Aftereveryoneofhervisitsandohhowgladshewaswhentheywereover！MissOsborneandMissMariaOsborne，andMissWirt，thevestalgoverness，askedeachotherwithincreasedwonder，“WhatcouldGeorgefindinthatcreature？”
　　Howisthis？somecarpingreaderexclaims。HowisitthatAmelia，whohadsuchanumberoffriendsatschool，andwassobelovedthere，comesoutintotheworldandisspurnedbyherdiscriminatingsex？Mydearsir，therewerenomenatMissPinkerton’sestablishmentexcepttheolddancing-master；andyouwouldnothavehadthegirlsfalloutaboutHIM？WhenGeorge，theirhandsomebrother，ranoffdirectlyafterbreakfast，anddinedfromhomehalf-a-dozentimesaweek，nowondertheneglectedsistersfeltalittlevexation。WhenyoungBullockofthefirmofHulker，Bullock&Co。，Bankers，LombardStreet，whohadbeenmakinguptoMissMariathelasttwoseasons，actuallyaskedAmeliatodancethecotillon，couldyouexpectthattheformeryoungladyshouldbepleased？Andyetshesaidshewas，likeanartlessforgivingcreature。”I’msodelightedyoulikedearAmelia。”shesaidquiteeagerlytoMr。Bullockafterthedance。”She’sengagedtomybrotherGeorge；there’snotmuchinher，butshe’sthebest-naturedandmostunaffectedyoungcreature：athomewe’reallsofondofher。”
　　Deargirl！whocancalculatethedepthofaffectionexpressedinthatenthusiasticSO？
　　MissWirtandthesetwoaffectionateyoungwomensoearnestlyandfrequentlyimpresseduponGeorgeOsborne’smindtheenormityofthesacrificehewasmaking，andhisromanticgenerosityinthrowinghimselfawayuponAmelia，thatI’mnotsurebutthathereallythoughthewasoneofthemostdeservingcharactersintheBritisharmy，andgavehimselfuptobelovedwithagooddealofeasyresignation。
　　Somehow，althoughhelefthomeeverymorning，aswasstated，anddinedabroadsixdaysintheweek，whenhissistersbelievedtheinfatuatedyouthtobeatMissSedley’sapron-strings：hewasNOTalwayswithAmelia，whilsttheworldsupposedhimatherfeet。Certainitisthatonmoreoccasionsthanone，whenCaptainDobbincalledtolookforhisfriend，MissOsbornewhowasveryattentivetotheCaptain，andanxioustohearhismilitarystories，andtoknowaboutthehealthofhisdearMamma，wouldlaughinglypointtotheoppositesideofthesquare，andsay，“Oh，youmustgototheSedleys’toaskforGeorge；
　　WEneverseehimfrommorningtillnight。”AtwhichkindofspeechtheCaptainwouldlaughinratheranabsurdconstrainedmanner，andturnofftheconversation，likeaconsummatemanoftheworld，tosometopicofgeneralinterest，suchastheOpera，thePrince’slastballatCarltonHouse，ortheweather——thatblessingtosociety。
　　“Whataninnocentitis，thatpetofyours。”MissMariawouldthensaytoMissJane，upontheCaptain’sdeparture。”DidyouseehowheblushedatthementionofpoorGeorgeonduty？”