CaptainRawdongotanextensionofleaveonhisaunt’sillness，andremaineddutifullyathome。Hewasalwaysinherantechamber。Shelaysickinthestatebedroom，intowhichyouenteredbythelittlebluesaloon。Hisfatherwasalwaysmeetinghimthere；orifhecamedownthecorridoreversoquietly，hisfather’sdoorwassuretoopen，andthehyenafaceoftheoldgentlemantoglareout。Whatwasitsetonetowatchtheotherso？Agenerousrivalry，nodoubt，astowhichshouldbemostattentivetothedearsuffererinthestatebedroom。Rebeccausedtocomeoutandcomfortbothofthem；oroneortheotherofthemrather。Bothoftheseworthygentlemenweremostanxioustohavenewsoftheinvalidfromherlittleconfidentialmessenger。
　　Atdinner——towhichmealshedescendedforhalfanhour——shekeptthepeacebetweenthem：afterwhichshedisappearedforthenight；whenRawdonwouldrideovertothedepotofthe150thatMudbury，leavinghispapatothesocietyofMr。Horrocksandhisrumandwater。
　　ShepassedaswearyafortnightasevermortalspentinMissCrawley’ssick-room；butherlittlenervesseemedtobeofiron，asshewasquiteunshakenbythedutyandthetediumofthesick-chamber。
　　Shenevertolduntillongafterwardshowpainfulthatdutywas；howpeevishapatientwasthejovialoldlady；
　　howangry；howsleepless；inwhathorrorsofdeath；
　　duringwhatlongnightsshelaymoaning，andinalmostdeliriousagoniesrespectingthatfutureworldwhichshequiteignoredwhenshewasingoodhealth——Picturetoyourself，ohfairyoungreader，aworldly，selfish，graceless，thankless，religionlessoldwoman，writhinginpainandfear，andwithoutherwig。Picturehertoyourself，andereyoubeold，learntoloveandpray！
　　Sharpwatchedthisgracelessbedsidewithindomitablepatience。Nothingescapedher；and，likeaprudentsteward，shefoundauseforeverything。ShetoldmanyagoodstoryaboutMissCrawley’sillnessinafterdays——
　　storieswhichmadetheladyblushthroughherartificialcarnations。Duringtheillnessshewasneveroutoftemper；alwaysalert；shesleptlight，havingaperfectlyclearconscience；andcouldtakethatrefreshmentatalmostanyminute’swarning。Andsoyousawveryfewtracesoffatigueinherappearance。Herfacemightbeatriflepaler，andthecirclesroundhereyesalittleblackerthanusual；butwhenevershecameoutfromthesick-roomshewasalwayssmiling，fresh，andneat，andlookedastriminherlittledressing-gownandcap，asinhersmartesteveningsuit。
　　TheCaptainthoughtso，andravedaboutherinuncouthconvulsions。Thebarbedshaftoflovehadpenetratedhisdullhide。Sixweeks——appropinquity——
　　opportunity——hadvictimisedhimcompletely。HemadeaconfidanteofhisauntattheRectory，ofallpersonsintheworld。Sheralliedhimaboutit；shehadperceivedhisfolly；shewarnedhim；shefinishedbyowningthatlittleSharpwasthemostclever，droll，odd，good-natured，simple，kindlycreatureinEngland。Rawdonmustnottriflewithheraffections，though——dearMissCrawleywouldneverpardonhimforthat；forshe，too，wasquiteovercomebythelittlegoverness，andlovedSharplikeadaughter。Rawdonmustgoaway——gobacktohisregimentandnaughtyLondon，andnotplaywithapoorartlessgirl’sfeelings。
　　Manyandmanyatimethisgood-naturedlady，compassionatingtheforlornlife-guardsman’scondition，gavehimanopportunityofseeingMissSharpattheRectory，andofwalkinghomewithher，aswehaveseen。Whenmenofacertainsort，ladies，areinlove，thoughtheyseethehookandthestring，andthewholeapparatuswithwhichtheyaretobetaken，theygorgethebaitnevertheless——theymustcometoit——theymustswallowit——andarepresentlystruckandlandedgasping。RawdonsawtherewasamanifestintentiononMrs。Bute’sparttocaptivatehimwithRebecca。Hewasnotverywise；
　　buthewasamanabouttown，andhadseenseveralseasons。Alightdawneduponhisduskysoul，ashethought，throughaspeechofMrs。Bute’s。
　　“Markmywords，Rawdon。”shesaid。”YouwillhaveMissSharponedayforyourrelation。”
　　“Whatrelation——mycousin，hey，Mrs。Bute？Jamessweetonher，hey？”inquiredthewaggishofficer。
　　“Morethanthat。”Mrs。Butesaid，withaflashfromherblackeyes。
　　“NotPitt？Hesha’n’thaveher。Thesneaka’n’tworthyofher。He’sbookedtoLadyJaneSheepshanks。”
　　“Youmenperceivenothing。Yousilly，blindcreature——ifanythinghappenstoLadyCrawley，MissSharpwillbeyourmother-in-law；andthat’swhatwillhappen。”
　　RawdonCrawley，Esquire，gaveventtoaprodigiouswhistle，intokenofastonishmentatthisannouncement。
　　Hecouldn’tdenyit。Hisfather’sevidentlikingforMissSharphadnotescapedhim。Heknewtheoldgentleman’scharacterwell；andamoreunscrupulousold——whyou——
　　hedidnotconcludethesentence，butwalkedhome，curlinghismustachios，andconvincedhehadfoundacluetoMrs。Bute’smystery。
　　“ByJove，it’stoobad。”thoughtRawdon，“toobad，byJove！Idobelievethewomanwantsthepoorgirltoberuined，inorderthatsheshouldn’tcomeintothefamilyasLadyCrawley。”
　　WhenhesawRebeccaalone，heralliedherabouthisfather’sattachmentinhisgracefulway。Sheflungupherheadscornfully，lookedhimfullintheface，andsaid。”Well，supposeheisfondofme。Iknowheis，andotherstoo。Youdon’tthinkIamafraidofhim，CaptainCrawley？Youdon’tsupposeIcan’tdefendmyownhonour。”saidthelittlewoman，lookingasstatelyasaqueen。
　　“Oh，ah，why——giveyoufairwarning——lookout，youknow——that’sall。”saidthemustachio-twiddler。
　　“Youhintatsomethingnothonourable，then？”saidshe，flashingout。
　　“OGad——really——MissRebecca。”theheavydragooninterposed。
　　“DoyousupposeIhavenofeelingofself-respect，becauseIampoorandfriendless，andbecauserichpeoplehavenone？Doyouthink，becauseIamagoverness，I
　　havenotasmuchsense，andfeeling，andgoodbreedingasyougentlefolksinHampshire？I’maMontmorency。
　　DoyousupposeaMontmorencyisnotasgoodasaCrawley？”
　　WhenMissSharpwasagitated，andalludedtohermaternalrelatives，shespokewitheversoslightaforeignaccent，whichgaveagreatcharmtoherclearringingvoice。”No。”shecontinued，kindlingasshespoketotheCaptain；“Icanendurepoverty，butnotshame——
　　neglect，butnotinsult；andinsultfrom——fromyou。”
　　Herfeelingsgaveway，andsheburstintotears。
　　“Hangit，MissSharp——Rebecca——byJove——uponmysoul，Iwouldn’tforathousandpounds。Stop，Rebecca！”
　　Shewasgone。ShedroveoutwithMissCrawleythatday。Itwasbeforethelatter’sillness。Atdinnershewasunusuallybrilliantandlively；butshewouldtakenonoticeofthehints，orthenods，ortheclumsyexpostulationsofthehumiliated，infatuatedguardsman。Skirmishesofthissortpassedperpetuallyduringthelittlecampaign——tedioustorelate，andsimilarinresult。TheCrawleyheavycavalrywasmaddenedbydefeat，androutedeveryday。
　　IftheBaronetofQueen’sCrawleyhadnothadthefearoflosinghissister’slegacybeforehiseyes，heneverwouldhavepermittedhisdeargirlstolosetheeducationalblessingswhichtheirinvaluablegovernesswasconferringuponthem。Theoldhouseathomeseemedadesertwithouther，sousefulandpleasanthadRebeccamadeherselfthere。SirPitt’sletterswerenotcopiedandcorrected；hisbooksnotmadeup；hishouseholdbusinessandmanifoldschemesneglected，nowthathislittlesecretarywasaway。Anditwaseasytoseehownecessarysuchanamanuensiswastohim，bythetenorandspellingofthenumerousletterswhichhesenttoher，entreatingherandcommandinghertoreturn。AlmosteverydaybroughtafrankfromtheBaronet，enclosingthemosturgentprayerstoBeckyforherreturn，orconveyingpatheticstatementstoMissCrawley，regardingtheneglectedstateofhisdaughters’education；ofwhichdocumentsMissCrawleytookverylittleheed。
　　MissBriggswasnotformallydismissed，butherplaceascompanionwasasinecureandaderision；andhercompanywasthefatspanielinthedrawing-room，oroccasionallythediscontentedFirkininthehousekeeper’scloset。NorthoughtheoldladywouldbynomeanshearofRebecca’sdeparture，wasthelatterregularlyinstalledinofficeinParkLane。Likemanywealthypeople，itwasMissCrawley’shabittoacceptasmuchserviceasshecouldgetfromherinferiors；andgood-naturedlytotakeleaveofthemwhenshenolongerfoundthemuseful。Gratitudeamongcertainrichfolksisscarcelynaturalortobethoughtof。Theytakeneedypeople’sservicesastheirdue。Norhaveyou，Opoorparasiteandhumblehanger-on，muchreasontocomplain！YourfriendshipforDivesisaboutassincereasthereturnwhichitusuallygets。Itismoneyyoulove，andnottheman；andwereCroesusandhisfootmantochangeplacesyouknow，youpoorrogue，whowouldhavethebenefitofyourallegiance。
　　AndIamnotsurethat，inspiteofRebecca’ssimplicityandactivity，andgentlenessanduntiringgoodhumour，theshrewdoldLondonlady，uponwhomthesetreasuresoffriendshipwerelavished，hadnotalurkingsuspicionallthewhileofheraffectionatenurseandfriend。
　　ItmusthaveoftencrossedMissCrawley’smindthatnobodydoesanythingfornothing。Ifshemeasuredherownfeelingtowardstheworld，shemusthavebeenprettywellabletogaugethoseoftheworldtowardsherself；
　　andperhapsshereflectedthatitistheordinarylotofpeopletohavenofriendsiftheythemselvescarefornobody。
　　Well，meanwhileBeckywasthegreatestcomfortandconveniencetoher，andshegaveheracoupleofnewgowns，andanoldnecklaceandshawl，andshowedherfriendshipbyabusingallherintimateacquaintancestohernewconfidantethanwhichtherecan’tbeamoretouchingproofofregard，andmeditatedvaguelysomegreatfuturebenefit——tomarryherperhapstoClump，theapothecary，ortosettleherinsomeadvantageouswayoflife；oratanyrate，tosendherbacktoQueen’sCrawleywhenshehaddonewithher，andthefullLondonseasonhadbegun。
　　WhenMissCrawleywasconvalescentanddescendedtothedrawing-room，Beckysangtoher，andotherwiseamusedher；whenshewaswellenoughtodriveout，Beckyaccompaniedher。Andamongstthedriveswhichtheytook，whither，ofallplacesintheworld，didMissCrawley’sadmirablegood-natureandfriendshipactuallyinducehertopenetrate，buttoRussellSquare，Bloomsbury，andthehouseofJohnSedley，Esquire。
　　Erethatevent，manynoteshadpassed，asmaybeimagined，betweenthetwodearfriends。DuringthemonthsofRebecca’sstayinHampshire，theeternalfriendshiphadmustitbeowned？sufferedconsiderablediminution，andgrownsodecrepitandfeeblewitholdageastothreatendemisealtogether。Thefactis，bothgirlshadtheirownrealaffairstothinkof：Rebeccaheradvancewithheremployers——Ameliaherownabsorbingtopic。Whenthetwogirlsmet，andflewintoeachother’sarmswiththatimpetuositywhichdistinguishesthebehaviourofyoungladiestowardseachother，Rebeccaperformedherpartoftheembracewiththemostperfectbrisknessandenergy。PoorlittleAmeliablushedasshekissedherfriend，andthoughtshehadbeenguiltyofsomethingverylikecoldnesstowardsher。
　　Theirfirstinterviewwasbutaveryshortone。Ameliawasjustreadytogooutforawalk。MissCrawleywaswaitinginhercarriagebelow，herpeoplewonderingatthelocalityinwhichtheyfoundthemselves，andgazinguponhonestSambo，theblackfootmanofBloomsbury，asoneofthequeernativesoftheplace。ButwhenAmeliacamedownwithherkindsmilinglooksRebeccamustintroducehertoherfriend，MissCrawleywaslongingtoseeher，andwastooilltoleavehercarriage——when，Isay，Ameliacamedown，theParkLaneshoulder-knotaristocracywonderedmoreandmorethatsuchathingcouldcomeoutofBloomsbury；andMissCrawleywasfairlycaptivatedbythesweetblushingfaceoftheyoungladywhocameforwardsotimidlyandsogracefullytopayherrespectstotheprotectorofherfriend。
　　“Whatacomplexion，mydear！Whatasweetvoice！”
　　MissCrawleysaid，astheydroveawaywestwardafterthelittleinterview。”MydearSharp，youryoungfriendischarming。SendforhertoParkLane，doyouhear？”
　　MissCrawleyhadagoodtaste。Shelikednaturalmanners——alittletimidityonlysetthemoff。Shelikedprettyfacesnearher；asshelikedprettypicturesandnicechina。ShetalkedofAmeliawithrapturehalfadozentimesthatday。ShementionedhertoRawdonCrawley，whocamedutifullytopartakeofhisaunt’schicken。
　　Ofcourse，onthisRebeccainstantlystatedthatAmeliawasengagedtobemarried——toaLieutenantOsborne——
　　averyoldflame。
　　“Isheamaninaline-regiment？”CaptainCrawleyasked，rememberingafteraneffort，asbecameaguardsman，thenumberoftheregiment，the——th。
　　Rebeccathoughtthatwastheregiment。”TheCaptain’sname。”shesaid，“wasCaptainDobbin。”