AlsobeforethismerryChristmaswasover，theBaronethadscrewedupcourageenoughtogivehisbrotheranotherdraftonhisbankers，andfornolessasumthanahundredpounds，anactwhichcausedSirPittcruelpangsatfirst，butwhichmadehimglowafterwardstothinkhimselfoneofthemostgenerousofmen。Rawdonandhissonwentawaywiththeutmostheavinessofheart。Beckyandtheladiespartedwithsomealacrity，however，andourfriendreturnedtoLondontocommencethoseavocationswithwhichwefindheroccupiedwhenthischapterbegins。
　　UnderhercaretheCrawleyHouseinGreatGauntStreetwasquiterejuvenescentandreadyforthereceptionofSirPittandhisfamily，whentheBaronetcametoLondontoattendhisdutiesinParliamentandtoassumethatpositioninthecountryforwhichhisvastgeniusfittedhim。
　　Forthefirstsession，thisprofounddissemblerhidhisprojectsandneveropenedhislipsbuttopresentapetitionfromMudbury。ButheattendedassiduouslyinhisplaceandlearnedthoroughlytheroutineandbusinessoftheHouse。AthomehegavehimselfuptotheperusalofBlueBooks，tothealarmandwonderofLadyJane，whothoughthewaskillinghimselfbylatehoursandintenseapplication。Andhemadeacquaintancewiththeministers，andthechiefsofhisparty，determiningtorankasoneofthembeforemanyyearswereover。
　　LadyJane’ssweetnessandkindnesshadinspiredRebeccawithsuchacontemptforherladyshipasthelittlewomanfoundnosmalldifficultyinconcealing。ThatsortofgoodnessandsimplicitywhichLadyJanepossessedannoyedourfriendBecky，anditwasimpossibleforherattimesnottoshow，ortolettheotherdivine，herscorn。
　　Herpresence，too，renderedLadyJaneuneasy。HerhusbandtalkedconstantlywithBecky。Signsofintelligenceseemedtopassbetweenthem，andPittspokewithheronsubjectsonwhichheneverthoughtofdiscoursingwithLadyJane。Thelatterdidnotunderstandthem，tobesure，butitwasmortifyingtoremainsilent；stillmoremortifyingtoknowthatyouhadnothingtosay，andhearthatlittleaudaciousMrs。Rawdondashingonfromsubjecttosubject，withawordforeveryman，andajokealwayspat；
　　andtositinone’sownhousealone，bythefireside，andwatchingallthemenroundyourrival。
　　Inthecountry，whenLadyJanewastellingstoriestothechildren，whoclusteredaboutherkneeslittleRawdonintothebargain，whowasveryfondofher，andBeckycameintotheroom，sneeringwithgreenscornfuleyes，poorLadyJanegrewsilentunderthosebalefulglances。Hersimplelittlefanciesshrankawaytremulously，asfairiesinthestory-books，beforeasuperiorbadangel。Shecouldnotgoon，althoughRebecca，withthesmallestinflectionofsarcasminhervoice，besoughthertocontinuethatcharmingstory。AndonhersidegentlethoughtsandsimplepleasureswereodioustoMrs。Becky；
　　theydiscordedwithher；shehatedpeopleforlikingthem；
　　shespurnedchildrenandchildren-lovers。”Ihavenotasteforbreadandbutter。”shewouldsay，whencaricaturingLadyJaneandherwaystomyLordSteyne。
　　“Nomorehasacertainpersonforholywater。”hislordshiprepliedwithabowandagrinandagreatjarringlaughafterwards。
　　Sothesetwoladiesdidnotseemuchofeachotherexceptuponthoseoccasionswhentheyoungerbrother’swife，havinganobjecttogainfromtheother，frequentedher。Theymy-lovedandmy-dearedeachotherassiduously，butkeptapartgenerally，whereasSirPitt，inthemidstofhismultipliedavocations，founddailytimetoseehissister-in-law。
　　OntheoccasionofhisfirstSpeaker’sdinner，SirPitttooktheopportunityofappearingbeforehissister-in-lawinhisuniform——thatolddiplomaticsuitwhichhehadwornwhenattachetothePumpernickellegation。
　　Beckycomplimentedhimuponthatdressandadmiredhimalmostasmuchashisownwifeandchildren，towhomhedisplayedhimselfbeforehesetout。ShesaidthatitwasonlythethoroughbredgentlemanwhocouldweartheCourtsuitwithadvantage：itwasonlyyourmenofancientracewhomtheculottecourtebecame。Pittlookeddownwithcomplacencyathislegs，whichhadnot，intruth，muchmoresymmetryorswellthantheleanCourtswordwhichdangledbyhisside——lookeddownathislegs，andthoughtinhisheartthathewaskilling。
　　Whenhewasgone，Mrs。Beckymadeacaricatureofhisfigure，whichsheshowedtoLordSteynewhenhearrived。Hislordshipcarriedoffthesketch，delightedwiththeaccuracyoftheresemblance。HehaddoneSirPittCrawleythehonourtomeethimatMrs。Becky’shouseandhadbeenmostgracioustothenewBaronetandmember。PittwasstrucktoobythedeferencewithwhichthegreatPeertreatedhissister-in-law，byhereaseandsprightlinessintheconversation，andbythedelightwithwhichtheothermenofthepartylistenedtohertalk。
　　LordSteynemadenodoubtbutthattheBaronethadonlycommencedhiscareerinpubliclife，andexpectedratheranxiouslytohearhimasanorator；astheywereneighboursforGreatGauntStreetleadsintoGauntSquare，whereofGauntHouse，aseverybodyknows，formsonesidemylordhopedthatassoonasLadySteynearrivedinLondonshewouldhavethehonourofmakingtheacquaintanceofLadyCrawley。Heleftacarduponhisneighbourinthecourseofadayortwo，havingneverthoughtfittonoticehispredecessor，thoughtheyhadlivedneareachotherfornearacenturypast。
　　InthemidstoftheseintriguesandfinepartiesandwiseandbrilliantpersonagesRawdonfelthimselfmoreandmoreisolatedeveryday。Hewasallowedtogototheclubmore；todineabroadwithbachelorfriends；
　　tocomeandgowhenheliked，withoutanyquestionsbeingasked。AndheandRawdontheyoungermanyatimewouldwalktoGauntStreetandsitwiththeladyandthechildrentherewhileSirPittwasclosetedwithRebecca，onhiswaytotheHouse，oronhisreturnfromit。
　　Theex-Colonelwouldsitforhoursinhisbrother’shouseverysilent，andthinkinganddoingaslittleaspossible。Hewasgladtobeemployedofanerrand；togoandmakeinquiriesaboutahorseoraservant，ortocarvetheroastmuttonforthedinnerofthechildren。
　　Hewasbeatandcowedintolazinessandsubmission。
　　Delilahhadimprisonedhimandcuthishairoff，too。Theboldandrecklessyoungbloodoften-yearsbackwassubjugatedandwasturnedintoatorpid，submissive，middle-aged，stoutgentleman。
　　AndpoorLadyJanewasawarethatRebeccahadcaptivatedherhusband，althoughsheandMrs。Rawdonmy-dearedandmy-lovedeachothereverydaytheymet。
　　StrugglesandTrialsOurfriendsatBromptonweremeanwhilepassingtheirChristmasaftertheirfashionandinamannerbynomeanstoocheerful。
　　Outofthehundredpoundsayear，whichwasabouttheamountofherincome，theWidowOsbornehadbeeninthehabitofgivingupnearlythree-fourthstoherfatherandmother，fortheexpensesofherselfandherlittleboy。With#120more，suppliedbyJos，thisfamilyoffourpeople，attendedbyasingleIrishservantwhoalsodidforClappandhiswife，mightmanagetoliveindecentcomfortthroughtheyear，andholduptheirheadsyet，andbeabletogiveafriendadishofteastill，afterthestormsanddisappointmentsoftheirearlylife。
　　SedleystillmaintainedhisascendencyoverthefamilyofMr。Clapp，hisex-clerk。Clapprememberedthetimewhen，sittingontheedgeofthechair，hetossedoffabumpertothehealthof“Mrs。S——，MissEmmy，andMr。JosephinIndia。”atthemerchant’srichtableinRussellSquare。Timemagnifiedthesplendourofthoserecollectionsinthehonestclerk’sbosom。Wheneverhecameupfromthekitchen-parlourtothedrawing-roomandpartookofteaorgin-and-waterwithMr。Sedley，hewouldsay，“Thiswasnotwhatyouwasaccustomedtoonce，sir。”andasgravelyandreverentiallydrinkthehealthoftheladiesashehaddoneinthedaysoftheirutmostprosperity。HethoughtMiss’Melia’splayingthedivinestmusiceverperformed，andherthefinestlady。
　　HeneverwouldsitdownbeforeSedleyattheclubeven，norwouldhehavethatgentleman’scharacterabusedbyanymemberofthesociety。HehadseenthefirstmeninLondonshakinghandswithMr。S——；hesaid，“He’dknownhimintimeswhenRothschildmightbeseenon’Changewithhimanyday，andheowedhimpersonallyeverythink。”
　　Clapp，withthebestofcharactersandhandwritings，hadbeenableverysoonafterhismaster’sdisastertofindotheremploymentforhimself。”Suchalittlefishasmecanswiminanybucket。”heusedtoremark，andamemberofthehousefromwhicholdSedleyhadsecededwasverygladtomakeuseofMr。Clapp’sservicesandtorewardthemwithacomfortablesalary。Infine，allSedley’swealthyfriendshaddroppedoffonebyone，andthispoorex-dependentstillremainedfaithfullyattachedtohim。
　　OutofthesmallresidueofherincomewhichAmeliakeptbackforherself，thewidowhadneedofallthethriftandcarepossibleinordertoenablehertokeepherdarlingboydressedinsuchamannerasbecameGeorgeOsborne’sson，andtodefraytheexpensesofthelittleschooltowhich，aftermuchmisgivingandreluctanceandmanysecretpangsandfearsonherownpart，shehadbeeninducedtosendthelad。ShehadsatupofnightsconninglessonsandspellingovercrabbedgrammarsandgeographybooksinordertoteachthemtoGeorgy。ShehadworkedevenattheLatinaccidence，fondlyhopingthatshemightbecapableofinstructinghiminthatlanguage。Topartwithhimallday，tosendhimouttothemercyofaschoolmaster’scaneandhisschoolfellows’roughness，wasalmostlikeweaninghimoveragaintothatweakmother，sotremulousandfullofsensibility。He，forhispart，rushedofftotheschoolwiththeutmosthappiness。Hewaslongingforthechange。
　　Thatchildishgladnesswoundedhismother，whowasherselfsogrievedtopartwithhim。Shewouldratherhavehadhimmoresorry，shethought，andthenwasdeeplyrepentantwithinherselffordaringtobesoselfishastowishherownsontobeunhappy。
　　Georgymadegreatprogressintheschool，whichwaskeptbyafriendofhismother’sconstantadmirer，theRev。Mr。Binny。Hebroughthomenumberlessprizesandtestimonialsofability。Hetoldhismothercountlessstorieseverynightabouthisschool-companions：andwhatafinefellowLyonswas，andwhatasneakSniffinwas，andhowSteel’sfatheractuallysuppliedthemeatfortheestablishment，whereasGolding’smothercameinacarriagetofetchhimeverySaturday，andhowNeathadstrapstohistrowsers——mighthehavestraps？——andhowBullMajorwassostrongthoughonlyinEutropiusthatitwasbelievedhecouldlicktheUsher，Mr。Ward，himself。SoAmelialearnedtoknoweveryoneoftheboysinthatschoolaswellasGeorgyhimself，andofnightssheusedtohelphiminhisexercisesandpuzzleherlittleheadoverhislessonsaseagerlyasifshewasherselfgoinginthemorningintothepresenceofthemaster。
　　Once，afteracertaincombatwithMasterSmith，Georgecamehometohismotherwithablackeye，andbraggedprodigiouslytohisparentandhisdelightedoldgrandfatherabouthisvalourinthefight，inwhich，ifthetruthwasknownhedidnotbehavewithparticularheroism，andinwhichhedecidedlyhadtheworst。ButAmeliahasneverforgiventhatSmithtothisday，thoughheisnowapeacefulapothecarynearLeicesterSquare。
　　Inthesequietlaboursandharmlesscaresthegentlewidow’slifewaspassingaway，asilverhairortwomarkingtheprogressoftimeonherheadandalinedeepeningeversolittleonherfairforehead。Sheusedtosmileatthesemarksoftime。”Whatmattersit。”sheasked，“Foranoldwomanlikeme？”Allshehopedforwastolivetoseehersongreat，famous，andglorious，ashedeservedtobe。Shekepthiscopy-books，hisdrawings，andcompositions，andshowedthemaboutinherlittlecircleasiftheyweremiraclesofgenius。SheconfidedsomeofthesespecimenstoMissDobbin，toshowthemtoMissOsborne，George’saunt，toshowthemtoMr。Osbornehimself——tomakethatoldmanrepentofhiscrueltyandillfeelingtowardshimwhowasgone。Allherhusband’sfaultsandfoiblesshehadburiedinthegravewithhim：
　　sheonlyrememberedthelover，whohadmarriedheratallsacrifices，thenoblehusband，sobraveandbeautiful，inwhosearmsshehadhungonthemorningwhenhehadgoneawaytofight，anddiegloriouslyforhisking。Fromheaventheheromustbesmilingdownuponthatparagonofaboywhomhehadlefttocomfortandconsoleher。
　　WehaveseenhowoneofGeorge’sgrandfathersMr。
　　Osborne，inhiseasychairinRussellSquare，dailygrewmoreviolentandmoody，andhowhisdaughter，withherfinecarriage，andherfinehorses，andhernameonhalfthepubliccharity-listsofthetown，wasalonely，miserable，persecutedoldmaid。Shethoughtagainandagainofthebeautifullittleboy，herbrother’sson，whomshehadseen。Shelongedtobeallowedtodriveinthefinecarriagetothehouseinwhichhelived，andsheusedtolookoutdayafterdayasshetookhersolitarydriveinthepark，inhopesthatshemightseehim。Hersister，thebanker’slady，occasionallycondescendedtopayheroldhomeandcompanionavisitinRussellSquare。Shebroughtacoupleofsicklychildrenattendedbyaprimnurse，andinafaintgenteelgigglingtonecackledtohersisteraboutherfineacquaintance，andhowherlittleFrederickwastheimageofLordClaudLollypopandhersweetMariahadbeennoticedbytheBaronessastheyweredrivingintheirdonkey-chaiseatRoehampton。Sheurgedhertomakeherpapadosomethingforthedarlings。
　　FrederickshehaddeterminedshouldgointotheGuards；
　　andiftheymadeaneldersonofhimandMr。Bullockwaspositivelyruiningandpinchinghimselftodeathtobuyland，howwasthedarlinggirltobeprovidedfor？