“GiveusLadySouthdownandtheblackdose。”wasaconstantcryamongstthefolksinBecky’slittledrawing-roominMayFair。AndforthefirsttimeinherlifetheDowagerCountessofSouthdownwasmadeamusing。
　　SirPittrememberedthetestimoniesofrespectandvenerationwhichRebeccahadpaidpersonallytohimselfinearlydays，andwastolerablywelldisposedtowardsher。Themarriage，ill-advisedasitwas，hadimprovedRawdonverymuch——thatwasclearfromtheColonel’salteredhabitsanddemeanour——andhaditnotbeenaluckyunionasregardedPitthimself？Thecunningdiplomatistsmiledinwardlyasheownedthatheowedhisfortunetoit，andacknowledgedthatheatleastoughtnottocryoutagainstit。HissatisfactionwasnotremovedbyRebecca’sownstatements，behaviour，andconversation。
　　Shedoubledthedeferencewhichbeforehadcharmedhim，callingouthisconversationalpowersinsuchamannerasquitetosurprisePitthimself，who，alwaysinclinedtorespecthisowntalents，admiredthemthemorewhenRebeccapointedthemouttohim。Withhersister-in-law，RebeccawassatisfactorilyabletoprovethatitwasMrs。ButeCrawleywhobroughtaboutthemarriagewhichsheafterwardssocalumniated；thatitwasMrs。
　　Bute’savarice——whohopedtogainallMissCrawley’sfortuneanddepriveRawdonofhisaunt’sfavour——whichcausedandinventedallthewickedreportsagainstRebecca。”Shesucceededinmakinguspoor。”Rebeccasaidwithanairofangelicalpatience；“buthowcanI
　　beangrywithawomanwhohasgivenmeoneofthebesthusbandsintheworld？Andhasnotherownavaricebeensufficientlypunishedbytheruinofherownhopesandthelossofthepropertybywhichshesetsomuchstore？Poor！”shecried。”DearLadyJane，whatcareweforpoverty？Iamusedtoitfromchildhood，andIamoftenthankfulthatMissCrawley’smoneyhasgonetorestorethesplendourofthenobleoldfamilyofwhichIamsoproudtobeamember。IamsureSirPittwillmakeamuchbetteruseofitthanRawdonwould。”
　　AllthesespeecheswerereportedtoSirPittbythemostfaithfulofwives，andincreasedthefavourableimpressionwhichRebeccamade；somuchsothatwhen，onthethirddayafterthefuneral，thefamilypartywereatdinner，SirPittCrawley，carvingfowlsattheheadofthetable，actuallysaidtoMrs。Rawdon，“Ahem！Rebecca，mayIgiveyouawing？”——aspeechwhichmadethelittlewoman’seyessparklewithpleasure。
　　WhileRebeccawasprosecutingtheaboveschemesandhopes，andPittCrawleyarrangingthefuneralceremonialandothermattersconnectedwithhisfutureprogressanddignity，andLadyJanebusywithhernursery，asfarashermotherwouldlether，andthesunrisingandsetting，andtheclock-towerbelloftheHallringingtodinnerandtoprayersasusual，thebodyofthelateownerofQueen’sCrawleylayintheapartmentwhichhehadoccupied，watchedunceasinglybytheprofessionalattendantswhowereengagedforthatrite。Awomanortwo，andthreeorfourundertaker’smen，thebestwhomSouthamptoncouldfurnish，dressedinblack，andofaproperstealthyandtragicaldemeanour，hadchargeoftheremainswhichtheywatchedturnabout，havingthehousekeeper’sroomfortheirplaceofrendezvouswhenoffduty，wheretheyplayedatcardsinprivacyanddranktheirbeer。
　　Themembersofthefamilyandservantsofthehousekeptawayfromthegloomyspot，wherethebonesofthedescendantofanancientlineofknightsandgentlemenlay，awaitingtheirfinalconsignmenttothefamilycrypt。
　　Noregretsattendedthem，savethoseofthepoorwomanwhohadhopedtobeSirPitt’swifeandwidowandwhohadfledindisgracefromtheHalloverwhichshehadsonearlybeenaruler。Beyondherandafavouriteoldpointerhehad，andbetweenwhomandhimselfanattachmentsubsistedduringtheperiodofhisimbecility，theoldmanhadnotasinglefriendtomournhim，havingindeed，duringthewholecourseofhislife，nevertakentheleastpainstosecureone。Couldthebestandkindestofuswhodepartfromtheearthhaveanopportunityofrevisitingit，IsupposeheorsheassumingthatanyVanityFairfeelingssubsistinthespherewhitherwearebound
　　wouldhaveapangofmortificationatfindinghowsoonoursurvivorswereconsoled。AndsoSirPittwasforgotten——likethekindestandbestofus——onlyafewweekssooner。
　　Thosewhowillmayfollowhisremainstothegrave，whithertheywereborneontheappointedday，inthemostbecomingmanner，thefamilyinblackcoaches，withtheirhandkerchiefsuptotheirnoses，readyforthetearswhichdidnotcome；theundertakerandhisgentlemenindeeptribulation；theselecttenantrymourningoutofcomplimenttothenewlandlord；theneighbouringgentry’scarriagesatthreemilesanhour，empty，andinprofoundaffliction；theparsonspeakingouttheformulaabout“ourdearbrotherdeparted。”Aslongaswehaveaman’sbody，weplayourVanitiesuponit，surroundingitwithhumbugandceremonies，layingitinstate，andpackingitupingiltnailsandvelvet；andwefinishourdutybyplacingoveritastone，writtenalloverwithlies。Bute’scurate，asmartyoungfellowfromOxford，andSirPittCrawleycomposedbetweenthemanappropriateLatinepitaphforthelatelamentedBaronet，andtheformerpreachedaclassicalsermon，exhortingthesurvivorsnottogivewaytogriefandinformingtheminthemostrespectfultermsthattheyalsowouldbeonedaycalledupontopassthatgloomyandmysteriousportalwhichhadjustclosedupontheremainsoftheirlamentedbrother。
　　Thenthetenantrymountedonhorsebackagain，orstayedandrefreshedthemselvesattheCrawleyArms。Then，afteralunchintheservants’hallatQueen’sCrawley，thegentry’scarriageswheeledofftotheirdifferentdestinations：thentheundertaker’smen，takingtheropes，palls，velvets，ostrichfeathers，andothermortuaryproperties，clamberedupontheroofofthehearseandrodeofftoSouthampton。Theirfacesrelapsedintoanaturalexpressionasthehorses，clearingthelodge-gates，gotintoabriskertrotontheopenroad；andsquadsofthemmighthavebeenseen，specklingwithblackthepublic-houseentrances，withpewter-potsflashinginthesunshine。SirPitt’sinvalidchairwaswheeledawayintoatool-houseinthegarden；theoldpointerusedtohowlsometimesatfirst，buttheseweretheonlyaccentsofgriefwhichwereheardintheHallofwhichSirPittCrawley，Baronet，hadbeenmasterforsomethreescoreyears。
　　Asthebirdswereprettyplentiful，andpartridgeshootingisasitwerethedutyofanEnglishgentlemanofstatesmanlikepropensities，SirPittCrawley，thefirstshockofgriefover，wentoutalittleandpartookofthatdiversioninawhitehatwithcraperoundit。Thesightofthosefieldsofstubbleandturnips，nowhisown，gavehimmanysecretjoys。Sometimes，andwithanexquisitehumility，hetooknogun，butwentoutwithapeacefulbamboocane；
　　Rawdon，hisbigbrother，andthekeepersblazingawayathisside。Pitt’smoneyandacreshadagreateffectuponhisbrother。ThepennilessColonelbecamequiteobsequiousandrespectfultotheheadofhishouse，anddespisedthemilksopPittnolonger。Rawdonlistenedwithsympathytohissenior’sprospectsofplantinganddraining，gavehisadviceaboutthestablesandcattle，rodeovertoMudburytolookatamare，whichhethoughtwouldcarryLadyJane，andofferedtobreakher，&c。：therebelliousdragoonwasquitehumbledandsubdued，andbecameamostcreditableyoungerbrother。HehadconstantbulletinsfromMissBriggsinLondonrespectinglittleRawdon，whowasleftbehindthere，whosentmessagesofhisown。”Iamverywell。”hewrote。”I
　　hopeyouareverywell。IhopeMammaisverywell。Theponyisverywell。Greytakesmetorideinthepark。
　　Icancanter。Imetthelittleboywhorodebefore。Hecriedwhenhecantered。Idonotcry。”RawdonreadtheseletterstohisbrotherandLadyJane，whowasdelightedwiththem。TheBaronetpromisedtotakechargeoftheladatschool，andhiskind-heartedwifegaveRebeccaabank-note，begginghertobuyapresentwithitforherlittlenephew。
　　Onedayfollowedanother，andtheladiesofthehousepassedtheirlifeinthosecalmpursuitsandamusementswhichsatisfycountryladies。Bellsrangtomealsandtoprayers。Theyoungladiestookexerciseonthepianoforteeverymorningafterbreakfast，Rebeccagivingthemthebenefitofherinstruction。Thentheyputonthickshoesandwalkedintheparkorshrubberies，orbeyondthepalingsintothevillage，descendinguponthecottages，withLadySouthdown’smedicineandtractsforthesickpeoplethere。LadySouthdowndroveoutinapony-chaise，whenRebeccawouldtakeherplacebytheDowager’ssideandlistentohersolemntalkwiththeutmostinterest。ShesangHandelandHaydntothefamilyofevenings，andengagedinalargepieceofworstedwork，asifshehadbeenborntothebusinessandasifthiskindoflifewastocontinuewithheruntilsheshouldsinktothegraveinapoliteoldage，leavingregretsandagreatquantityofconsolsbehindher——asiftherewerenotcaresandduns，schemes，shifts，andpovertywaitingoutsidetheparkgates，topounceuponherwhensheissuedintotheworldagain。
　　“Itisn’tdifficulttobeacountrygentleman’swife。”
　　Rebeccathought。”IthinkIcouldbeagoodwomanifIhadfivethousandayear。Icoulddawdleaboutinthenurseryandcounttheapricotsonthewall。Icouldwaterplantsinagreen-houseandpickoffdeadleavesfromthegeraniums。Icouldaskoldwomenabouttheirrheumatismsandorderhalf-a-crown’sworthofsoupforthepoor。Ishouldn’tmissitmuch，outoffivethousandayear。Icouldevendriveouttenmilestodineataneighbour’s，anddressinthefashionsoftheyearbeforelast。
　　Icouldgotochurchandkeepawakeinthegreatfamilypew，orgotosleepbehindthecurtains，withmyveildown，ifIonlyhadpractice。Icouldpayeverybody，ifIhadbutthemoney。Thisiswhattheconjurorsherepridethemselvesupondoing。Theylookdownwithpityuponusmiserablesinnerswhohavenone。Theythinkthemselvesgenerousiftheygiveourchildrenafive-poundnote，anduscontemptibleifwearewithoutone。”AndwhoknowsbutRebeccawasrightinherspeculations——andthatitwasonlyaquestionofmoneyandfortunewhichmadethedifferencebetweenherandanhonestwoman？Ifyoutaketemptationsintoaccount，whoistosaythatheisbetterthanhisneighbour？Acomfortablecareerofprosperity，ifitdoesnotmakepeoplehonest，atleastkeepsthemso。Analdermancomingfromaturtlefeastwillnotstepoutofhiscarnagetostealalegofmutton；butputhimtostarve，andseeifhewillnotpurloinaloaf。Beckyconsoledherselfbysobalancingthechancesandequalizingthedistributionofgoodandevilintheworld。
　　Theoldhaunts，theoldfieldsandwoods，thecopses，ponds，andgardens，theroomsoftheoldhousewhereshehadspentacoupleofyearssevenyearsago，wereallcarefullyrevisitedbyher。Shehadbeenyoungthere，orcomparativelyso，forsheforgotthetimewhensheeverWASyoung——butsherememberedherthoughtsandfeelingssevenyearsbackandcontrastedthemwiththosewhichshehadatpresent，nowthatshehadseentheworld，andlivedwithgreatpeople，andraisedherselffarbeyondheroriginalhumblestation。
　　“Ihavepassedbeyondit，becauseIhavebrains。”Beckythought，“andalmostalltherestoftheworldarefools。
　　Icouldnotgobackandconsortwiththosepeoplenow，whomIusedtomeetinmyfather’sstudio。Lordscomeuptomydoorwithstarsandgarters，insteadofpoorartistswithscrewsoftobaccointheirpockets。Ihaveagentlemanformyhusband，andanEarl’sdaughterformysister，intheveryhousewhereIwaslittlebetterthanaservantafewyearsago。ButamImuchbettertodonowintheworldthanIwaswhenIwasthepoorpainter’sdaughterandwheedledthegrocerroundthecornerforsugarandtea？SupposeIhadmarriedFranciswhowassofondofme——Icouldn’thavebeenmuchpoorerthanIamnow。Heigho！IwishIcouldexchangemypositioninsociety，andallmyrelationsforasnugsumintheThreePerCent。Consols“；forsoitwasthatBeckyfelttheVanityofhumanaffairs，anditwasinthosesecuritiesthatshewouldhavelikedtocastanchor。
　　Itmay，perhaps，havestruckherthattohavebeenhonestandhumble，tohavedoneherduty，andtohavemarchedstraightforwardonherway，wouldhavebroughtherasnearhappinessasthatpathbywhichshewasstrivingtoattainit。But——justasthechildrenatQueen’sCrawleywentroundtheroomwherethebodyoftheirfatherlay——ifeverBeckyhadthesethoughts，shewasaccustomedtowalkroundthemandnotlookin。Sheeludedthemanddespisedthem——oratleastshewascommittedtotheotherpathfromwhichretreatwasnowimpossible。AndformypartIbelievethatremorseistheleastactiveofallaman’smoralsenses——theveryeasiesttobedeadenedwhenwakened，andinsomeneverwakenedatall。Wegrieveatbeingfoundoutandattheideaofshameorpunishment，butthemeresenseofwrongmakesveryfewpeopleunhappyinVanityFair。
　　SoRebecca，duringherstayatQueen’sCrawley，madeasmanyfriendsoftheMammonofUnrighteousnessasshecouldpossiblybringundercontrol。LadyJaneandherhusbandbadeherfarewellwiththewarmestdemonstrationsofgood-will。Theylookedforwardwithpleasuretothetimewhen，thefamilyhouseinGauntStreetbeingrepairedandbeautified，theyweretomeetagaininLondon。LadySouthdownmadeherupapacketofmedicineandsentaletterbyhertotheRev。LawrenceGrills，exhortingthatgentlemantosavethebrandwho“honoured“theletterfromtheburning。PittaccompaniedthemwithfourhorsesinthecarriagetoMudbury，havingsentontheirbaggageinacartpreviously，accompaniedwithloadsofgame。