TheKingtooknoticeofheryesterdayattheTuileries，andwearealljealousoftheattentionwhichMonsieurpaysher。IfyoucouldhaveseenthespiteofacertainstupidMiladiBareacreswhoseeagle-beakandtoqueandfeat，hersmaybeseenpeeringovertheheadsofallassemblieswhenMadame，theDuchessofAngouleme，theaugustdaughterandcompanionofkings，desiredespeciallytobepresentedtoMrs。Crawley，asyourdeardaughterandprotegee，andthankedherinthenameofFrance，forallyourbenevolencetowardsourunfortunatesduringtheirexile！Sheisofallthesocieties，ofalltheballs——oftheballs——yes——ofthedances，no；
　　andyethowinterestingandprettythisfaircreaturelookssurroundedbythehomageofthemen，andsosoontobeamother！Tohearherspeakofyou，herprotectress，hermother，wouldbringtearstotheeyesofogres。Howshelovesyou！howweallloveouradmirable，ourrespectableMissCrawley！”
　　ItistobefearedthatthisletteroftheParisiangreatladydidnotbyanymeansadvanceMrs。Becky’sinterestwithheradmirable，herrespectable，relative。Onthecontrary，thefuryoftheoldspinsterwasbeyondbounds，whenshefoundwhatwasRebecca’ssituation，andhowaudaciouslyshehadmadeuseofMissCrawley’sname，togetanentreeintoParisiansociety。ToomuchshakeninmindandbodytocomposealetterintheFrenchlanguageinreplytothatofhercorrespondent，shedictatedtoBriggsafuriousanswerinherownnativetongue，repudiatingMrs。RawdonCrawleyaltogether，andwarningthepublictobewareofherasamostartfulanddangerousperson。ButasMadametheDuchessofX——
　　hadonlybeentwentyyearsinEngland，shedidnotunderstandasinglewordofthelanguage，andcontentedherselfbyinformingMrs。RawdonCrawleyattheirnextmeeting，thatshehadreceivedacharmingletterfromthatchereMees，andthatitwasfullofbenevolentthingsforMrs。Crawley，whobeganseriouslytohavehopesthatthespinsterwouldrelent。
　　Meanwhile，shewasthegayestandmostadmiredofEnglishwomen：andhadalittleEuropeancongressonherreception-night。PrussiansandCossacks，SpanishandEnglish——alltheworldwasatParisduringthisfamouswinter：tohaveseenthestarsandcordonsinRebecca’shumblesaloonwouldhavemadeallBakerStreetpalewithenvy。FamouswarriorsrodebyhercarriageintheBois，orcrowdedhermodestlittleboxattheOpera。
　　Rawdonwasinthehighestspirits。TherewerenodunsinParisasyet：therewerepartieseverydayatVery’sorBeauvilliers’；playwasplentifulandhisluckgood。
　　Tuftoperhapswassulky。Mrs。TuftohadcomeovertoParisatherowninvitation，andbesidesthiscontretemps，therewereascoreofgeneralsnowroundBecky’schair，andshemighttakeherchoiceofadozenbouquetswhenshewenttotheplay。LadyBareacresandthechiefsoftheEnglishsociety，stupidandirreproachablefemales，writhedwithanguishatthesuccessofthelittleupstartBecky，whosepoisonedjokesquiveredandrankledintheirchastebreasts。Butshehadallthemenonherside。Shefoughtthewomenwithindomitablecourage，andtheycouldnottalkscandalinanytonguebuttheirown。
　　Soinfetes，pleasures，andprosperity，thewinterof1815-16passedawaywithMrs。RawdonCrawley，whoaccommodatedherselftopolitelifeasifherancestorshadbeenpeopleoffashionforcenturiespast——
　　andwhofromherwit，talent，andenergy，indeedmeritedaplaceofhonourinVanityFair。Intheearlyspringof1816，Galignani’sJournalcontainedthefollowingannouncementinaninterestingcornerofthepaper：“Onthe26thofMarch——theLadyofLieutenant-ColonelCrawley，oftheLifeGuardsGreen——ofasonandheir。”
　　ThiseventwascopiedintotheLondonpapers，outofwhichMissBriggsreadthestatementtoMissCrawley，atbreakfast，atBrighton。Theintelligence，expectedasitmighthavebeen，causedacrisisintheaffairsoftheCrawleyfamily。Thespinster’sragerosetoitsheight，andsendinginstantlyforPitt，hernephew，andfortheLadySouthdown，fromBrunswickSquare，sherequestedanimmediatecelebrationofthemarriagewhichhadbeensolongpendingbetweenthetwofamilies。Andsheannouncedthatitwasherintentiontoallowtheyoungcoupleathousandayearduringherlifetime，attheexpirationofwhichthebulkofherpropertywouldbesettleduponhernephewandherdearniece，LadyJaneCrawley。Waxycamedowntoratifythedeeds——LordSouthdowngaveawayhissister——shewasmarriedbyaBishop，andnotbytheRev。BartholomewIrons——tothedisappointmentoftheirregularprelate。
　　Whentheyweremarried，Pittwouldhavelikedtotakeahymenealtourwithhisbride，asbecamepeopleoftheircondition。ButtheaffectionoftheoldladytowardsLadyJanehadgrownsostrong，thatshefairlyownedshecouldnotpartwithherfavourite。PittandhiswifecamethereforeandlivedwithMissCrawley：
　　andgreatlytotheannoyanceofpoorPitt，whoconceivedhimselfamostinjuredcharacter——beingsubjecttothehumoursofhisauntononeside，andofhismother-in-lawontheotherLadySouthdown，fromherneighbouringhouse，reignedoverthewholefamily——
　　Pitt，LadyJane，MissCrawley，Briggs，Bowls，Firkin，andall。Shepitilesslydosedthemwithhertractsandhermedicine，shedismissedCreamer，sheinstalledRodgers，andsoonstrippedMissCrawleyofeventhesemblanceofauthority。ThepoorsoulgrewsotimidthatsheactuallyleftoffbullyingBriggsanymore，andclungtoherniece，morefondandterrifiedeveryday。Peacetothee，kindandselfish，vainandgenerousoldheathen！——
　　Weshallseetheenomore。LetushopethatLadyJanesupportedherkindly，andledherwithgentlehandoutofthebusystruggleofVanityFair。
　　WidowandMotherThenewsofthegreatfightsofQuatreBrasandWaterlooreachedEnglandatthesametime。TheGazettefirstpublishedtheresultofthetwobattles；atwhichgloriousintelligenceallEnglandthrilledwithtriumphandfear。
　　Particularsthenfollowed；andaftertheannouncementofthevictoriescamethelistofthewoundedandtheslain。
　　Whocantellthedreadwithwhichthatcataloguewasopenedandread！Fancy，ateveryvillageandhomesteadalmostthroughthethreekingdoms，thegreatnewscomingofthebattlesinFlanders，andthefeelingsofexultationandgratitude，bereavementandsickeningdismay，whenthelistsoftheregimentallossesweregonethrough，anditbecameknownwhetherthedearfriendandrelativehadescapedorfallen。Anybodywhowilltakethetroubleoflookingbacktoafileofthenewspapersofthetime，must，evennow，feelatsecond-handthisbreathlesspauseofexpectation。Thelistsofcasualtiesarecarriedonfromdaytoday：youstopinthemidstasinastorywhichistobecontinuedinournext。Thinkwhatthefeelingsmusthavebeenasthosepapersfollowedeachotherfreshfromthepress；andifsuchaninterestcouldbefeltinourcountry，andaboutabattlewherebuttwentythousandofourpeoplewereengaged，thinkoftheconditionofEuropefortwentyyearsbefore，wherepeoplewerefighting，notbythousands，butbymillions；
　　eachoneofwhomashestruckhisenemywoundedhorriblysomeotherinnocentheartfaraway。
　　ThenewswhichthatfamousGazettebroughttotheOsbornesgaveadreadfulshocktothefamilyanditschief。
　　Thegirlsindulgedunrestrainedintheirgrief。Thegloom-strickenoldfatherwasstillmorebornedownbyhisfateandsorrow。Hestrovetothinkthatajudgmentwasontheboyforhisdisobedience。Hedarednotownthattheseverityofthesentencefrightenedhim，andthatitsfulfilmenthadcometoosoonuponhiscurses。Sometimesashudderingterrorstruckhim，asifhehadbeentheauthorofthedoomwhichhehadcalleddownonhisson。Therewasachancebeforeofreconciliation。Theboy’swifemighthavedied；orhemighthavecomebackandsaid，FatherIhavesinned。Buttherewasnohopenow。Hestoodontheothersideofthegulfimpassable，hauntinghisparentwithsadeyes。Herememberedthemoncebeforesoinafever，wheneveryonethoughttheladwasdying，andhelayonhisbedspeechless，andgazingwithadreadfulgloom。GoodGod！howthefatherclungtothedoctorthen，andwithwhatasickeninganxietyhefollowedhim：whataweightofgriefwasoffhismindwhen，afterthecrisisofthefever，theladrecovered，andlookedathisfatheroncemorewitheyesthatrecognisedhim。
　　Butnowtherewasnohelporcure，orchanceofreconcilement：aboveall，therewerenohumblewordstosoothevanityoutragedandfurious，orbringtoitsnaturalflowthepoisoned，angryblood。Anditishardtosaywhichpangitwasthattoretheproudfather’sheartmostkeenly——thathissonshouldhavegoneoutofthereachofhisforgiveness，orthattheapologywhichhisownprideexpectedshouldhaveescapedhim。
　　Whateverhissensationsmighthavebeen，however，thestemoldmanwouldhavenoconfidant。Henevermentionedhisson’snametohisdaughters；butorderedtheeldertoplaceallthefemalesoftheestablishmentinmourning；anddesiredthatthemaleservantsshouldbesimilarlyattiredindeepblack。Allpartiesandentertainments，ofcourse，weretobeputoff。Nocommunicationsweremadetohisfutureson-in-law，whosemarriage-dayhadbeenfixed：buttherewasenoughinMr。Osborne’sappearancetopreventMr。Bullockfrommakinganyinquiries，orinanywaypressingforwardthatceremony。
　　Heandtheladieswhisperedaboutitundertheirvoicesinthedrawing-roomsometimes，whitherthefathernevercame。Heremainedconstantlyinhisownstudy；thewholefrontpartofthehousebeingcloseduntilsometimeafterthecompletionofthegeneralmourning。
　　Aboutthreeweeksafterthe18thofJune，Mr。
　　Osborne’sacquaintance，SirWilliamDobbin，calledatMr。
　　Osborne’shouseinRussellSquare，withaverypaleandagitatedface，andinsisteduponseeingthatgentleman。
　　Usheredintohisroom，andafterafewwords，whichneitherthespeakernorthehostunderstood，theformerproducedfromaninclosurealettersealedwithalargeredseal。”Myson，MajorDobbin。”theAldermansaid，withsomehesitation，“despatchedmealetterbyanofficerofthe——th，whoarrivedintownto-day。Myson’slettercontainsoneforyou，Osborne。”TheAldermanplacedtheletteronthetable，andOsbornestaredathimforamomentortwoinsilence。Hislooksfrightenedtheambassador，whoafterlookingguiltilyforalittletimeatthegrief-strickenman，hurriedawaywithoutanotherword。
　　TheletterwasinGeorge’swell-knownboldhandwriting。
　　Itwasthatonewhichhehadwrittenbeforedaybreakonthe16thofJune，andjustbeforehetookleaveofAmelia。ThegreatredsealwasemblazonedwiththeshamcoatofarmswhichOsbornehadassumedfromthePeerage，with“Paxinbello“foramotto；thatoftheducalhousewithwhichthevainoldmantriedtofancyhimselfconnected。Thehandthatsigneditwouldneverholdpenorswordmore。TheverysealthatsealedithadbeenrobbedfromGeorge’sdeadbodyasitlayonthefieldofbattle。Thefatherknewnothingofthis，butsatandlookedattheletterinterrifiedvacancy。Healmostfellwhenhewenttoopenit。
　　Haveyoueverhadadifferencewithadearfriend？
　　Howhisletters，writtenintheperiodofloveandconfidence，sickenandrebukeyou！Whatadrearymourningitistodwelluponthosevehementprotestsofdeadaffection！Whatlyingepitaphstheymakeoverthecorpseoflove！Whatdark，cruelcommentsuponLifeandVanities！
　　Mostofushavegotorwrittendrawersfullofthem。
　　Theyarecloset-skeletonswhichwekeepandshun。
　　Osbornetrembledlongbeforetheletterfromhisdeadson。
　　Thepoorboy’sletterdidnotsaymuch。Hehadbeentooproudtoacknowledgethetendernesswhichhisheartfelt。Heonlysaid，thatontheeveofagreatbattle，hewishedtobidhisfatherfarewell，andsolemnlytoimplorehisgoodofficesforthewife——itmightbeforthechild——
　　whomheleftbehindhim。Heownedwithcontritionthathisirregularitiesandhisextravagancehadalreadywastedalargepartofhismother’slittlefortune。Hethankedhisfatherforhisformergenerousconduct；andhepromisedhimthatifhefellonthefieldorsurvivedit，hewouldactinamannerworthyofthenameofGeorgeOsborne。
　　HisEnglishhabit，pride，awkwardnessperhaps，hadpreventedhimfromsayingmore。HisfathercouldnotseethekissGeorgehadplacedonthesuperscriptionofhisletter。Mr。Osbornedroppeditwiththebitterest，deadliestpangofbalkedaffectionandrevenge。Hissonwasstillbelovedandunforgiven。
　　Abouttwomonthsafterwards，however，astheyoungladiesofthefamilywenttochurchwiththeirfather，theyremarkedhowhetookadifferentseatfromthatwhichheusuallyoccupiedwhenhechosetoattenddivineworship；andthatfromhiscushionopposite，helookedupatthewallovertheirheads。Thiscausedtheyoungwomenlikewisetogazeinthedirectiontowardswhichtheirfather’sgloomyeyespointed：andtheysawanelaboratemonumentuponthewall，whereBritanniawasrepresentedweepingoveranurn，andabrokenswordandacouchantlionindicatedthatthepieceofsculpturehadbeenerectedinhonourofadeceasedwarrior。Thesculptorsofthosedayshadstocksofsuchfunerealemblemsinhand；asyoumayseestillonthewallsofSt。
　　Paul’s，whicharecoveredwithhundredsofthesebraggartheathenallegories。Therewasaconstantdemandforthemduringthefirstfifteenyearsofthepresentcentury。