OurbelovedRebeccahadnoneed，however，ofanysuchafriendlyhalotosetoffherbeauty。Hercomplexioncouldbearanysunshineasyet，andherdress，thoughifyouweretoseeitnow，anypresentladyofVanityFairwouldpronounceittobethemostfoolishandpreposterousattireeverworn，wasashandsomeinhereyesandthoseofthepublic，somefive-and-twentyyearssince，asthemostbrilliantcostumeofthemostfamousbeautyofthepresentseason。Ascoreofyearshencethattoo，thatmilliner’swonder，willhavepassedintothedomainoftheabsurd，alongwithallpreviousvanities。Butwearewanderingtoomuch。Mrs。Rawdon’sdresswaspronouncedtobecharmanteontheeventfuldayofherpresentation。EvengoodlittleLadyJanewasforcedtoacknowledgethiseffect，asshelookedatherkinswoman，andownedsorrowfullytoherselfthatshewasquiteinferiorintastetoMrs。Becky。
　　Shedidnotknowhowmuchcare，thought，andgeniusMrs。Rawdonhadbestoweduponthatgarment。RebeccahadasgoodtasteasanymillinerinEurope，andsuchacleverwayofdoingthingsasLadyJanelittleunderstood。
　　ThelatterquicklyspiedoutthemagnificenceofthebrocadeofBecky’strain，andthesplendourofthelaceonherdress。
　　Thebrocadewasanoldremnant，Beckysaid；andasforthelace，itwasagreatbargain。Shehadhaditthesehundredyears。
　　“MydearMrs。Crawley，itmusthavecostalittlefortune。”LadyJanesaid，lookingdownatherownlace，whichwasnotnearlysogood；andthenexaminingthequalityoftheancientbrocadewhichformedthematerialofMrs。Rawdon’sCourtdress，shefeltinclinedtosaythatshecouldnotaffordsuchfineclothing，butcheckedthatspeech，withaneffort，asoneuncharitabletoherkinswoman。
　　Andyet，ifLadyJanehadknownall，Ithinkevenherkindlytemperwouldhavefailedher。Thefactis，whenshewasputtingSirPitt’shouseinorder，Mrs。Rawdonhadfoundthelaceandthebrocadeinoldwardrobes，thepropertyoftheformerladiesofthehouse，andhadquietlycarriedthegoodshome，andhadsuitedthemtoherownlittleperson。Briggssawhertakethem，askednoquestions，toldnostories；butIbelievequitesympathisedwithheronthismatter，andsowouldmanyanotherhonestwoman。
　　Andthediamonds——“Wherethedoosedidyougetthediamonds，Becky？”saidherhusband，admiringsomejewelswhichhehadneverseenbeforeandwhichsparkledinherearsandonherneckwithbrillianceandprofusion。
　　Beckyblushedalittleandlookedathimhardforamoment。PittCrawleyblushedalittletoo，andlookedoutofwindow。Thefactis，hehadgivenheraverysmallportionofthebrilliants；aprettydiamondclasp，whichconfinedapearlnecklacewhichshewore-andtheBaronethadomittedtomentionthecircumstancetohislady。
　　Beckylookedatherhusband，andthenatSirPitt，withanairofsaucytriumph——asmuchastosay，“ShallIbetrayyou？”
　　“Guess！”shesaidtoherhusband。”Why，yousillyman。”shecontinued，“wheredoyousupposeIgotthem？——
　　allexceptthelittleclasp，whichadearfriendofminegavemelongago。Ihiredthem，tobesure。IhiredthematMr。Polonius’s，inCoventryStreet。Youdon’tsupposethatallthediamondswhichgotoCourtbelongtothewearers；likethosebeautifulstoneswhichLadyJanehas，andwhicharemuchhandsomerthananywhichIhave，Iamcertain。”
　　“Theyarefamilyjewels。”saidSirPitt，againlookinguneasy。Andinthisfamilyconversationthecarriagerolleddownthestreet，untilitscargowasfinallydischargedatthegatesofthepalacewheretheSovereignwassittinginstate。
　　Thediamonds，whichhadcreatedRawdon’sadmiration，neverwentbacktoMr。Polonius，ofCoventryStreet，andthatgentlemanneverappliedfortheirrestoration，buttheyretiredintoalittleprivaterepository，inanolddesk，whichAmeliaSedleyhadgivenheryearsandyearsago，andinwhichBeckykeptanumberofusefuland，perhaps，valuablethings，aboutwhichherhusbandknewnothing。Toknownothing，orlittle，isinthenatureofsomehusbands。Tohide，inthenatureofhowmanywomen？Oh，ladies！howmanyofyouhavesurreptitiousmilliners’bills？Howmanyofyouhavegownsandbraceletswhichyoudaren’tshow，orwhichyouweartrembling？——trembling，andcoaxingwithsmilesthehusbandbyyourside，whodoesnotknowthenewvelvetgownfromtheoldone，orthenewbraceletfromlastyear’s，orhasanynotionthattheragged-lookingyellowlacescarfcostfortyguineasandthatMadameBobinotiswritingdunningletterseveryweekforthemoney！
　　ThusRawdonknewnothingaboutthebrilliantdiamondear-rings，orthesuperbbrilliantornamentwhichdecoratedthefairbosomofhislady；butLordSteyne，whowasinhisplaceatCourt，asLordofthePowderCloset，andoneofthegreatdignitariesandillustriousdefencesofthethroneofEngland，andcameupwithallhisstars，garters，collars，andcordons，andpaidparticularattentiontothelittlewoman，knewwhencethejewelscameandwhopaidforthem。
　　Ashebowedoverherhesmiled，andquotedthehackneyedandbeautifullinesfromTheRapeoftheLockaboutBelinda’sdiamonds，“whichJewsmightkissandinfidelsadore。”
　　“ButIhopeyourlordshipisorthodox。”saidthelittleladywithatossofherhead。Andmanyladiesroundaboutwhisperedandtalked，andmanygentlemennoddedandwhispered，astheysawwhatmarkedattentionthegreatnoblemanwaspayingtothelittleadventuress。
　　WhatwerethecircumstancesoftheinterviewbetweenRebeccaCrawley，neeSharp，andherImperialMaster，itdoesnotbecomesuchafeebleandinexperiencedpenasminetoattempttorelate。ThedazzledeyesclosebeforethatMagnificentIdea。Loyalrespectanddecencytelleventheimaginationnottolooktookeenlyandaudaciouslyaboutthesacredaudience-chamber，buttobackawayrapidly，silently，andrespectfully，makingprofoundbowsoutoftheAugustPresence。
　　Thismaybesaid，thatinallLondontherewasnomoreloyalheartthanBecky’safterthisinterview。Thenameofherkingwasalwaysonherlips，andhewasproclaimedbyhertobethemostcharmingofmen。ShewenttoColnaghi’sandorderedthefinestportraitofhimthatarthadproduced，andcreditcouldsupply。Shechosethatfamousoneinwhichthebestofmonarchsisrepresentedinafrock-coatwithafurcollar，andbreechesandsilkstockings，simperingonasofafromunderhiscurlybrownwig。Shehadhimpaintedinabroochandworeit——indeedsheamusedandsomewhatpesteredheracquaintancewithherperpetualtalkabouthisurbanityandbeauty。Whoknows！PerhapsthelittlewomanthoughtshemightplaythepartofaMaintenonoraPompadour。
　　Butthefinestsportofallafterherpresentationwastohearhertalkvirtuously。Shehadafewfemaleacquaintances，not，itmustbeowned，oftheveryhighestreputationinVanityFair。Butbeingmadeanhonestwomanof，sotospeak，Beckywouldnotconsortanylongerwiththesedubiousones，andcutLadyCrackenburywhenthelatternoddedtoherfromheropera-box，andgaveMrs。
　　WashingtonWhitethego-byintheRing。”Onemust，mydear，showoneissomebody。”shesaid。”Onemustn’tbeseenwithdoubtfulpeople。IpityLadyCrackenburyfrommyheart，andMrs。WashingtonWhitemaybeaverygood-naturedperson。YOUmaygoanddinewiththem，asyoulikeyourrubber。ButImustn’t，andwon’t；andyouwillhavethegoodnesstotellSmithtosayIamnotathomewheneitherofthemcalls。”
　　TheparticularsofBecky’scostumewereinthenewspapers——feathers，lappets，superbdiamonds，andalltherest。LadyCrackenburyreadtheparagraphinbitternessofspiritanddiscoursedtoherfollowersabouttheairswhichthatwomanwasgivingherself。Mrs。ButeCrawleyandheryoungladiesinthecountryhadacopyoftheMorningPostfromtown，andgaveaventtotheirhonestindignation。”Ifyouhadbeensandy-haired，green-eyed，andaFrenchrope-dancer’sdaughter。”Mrs。Butesaidtohereldestgirlwho，onthecontrary，wasaveryswarthy，short，andsnub-nosedyounglady，“Youmighthavehadsuperbdiamondsforsooth，andhavebeenpresentedatCourtbyyourcousin，theLadyJane。Butyou’reonlyagentlewoman，mypoordearchild。YouhaveonlysomeofthebestbloodinEnglandinyourveins，andgoodprinciplesandpietyforyourportion。I，myself，thewifeofaBaronet’syoungerbrother，too，neverthoughtofsuchathingasgoingtoCourt——norwouldotherpeople，ifgoodQueenCharlottehadbeenalive。”
　　InthiswaytheworthyRectoressconsoledherself，andherdaughterssighedandsatoverthePeerageallnight。
　　Afewdaysafterthefamouspresentation，anothergreatandexceedinghonourwasvouchsafedtothevirtuousBecky。LadySteyne’scarriagedroveuptoMr。
　　RawdonCrawley’sdoor，andthefootman，insteadofdrivingdownthefrontofthehouse，asbyhistremendousknockingheappearedtobeinclinedtodo，relentedandonlydeliveredinacoupleofcards，onwhichwereengraventhenamesoftheMarchionessofSteyneandtheCountessofGaunt。Ifthesebitsofpasteboardhadbeenbeautifulpictures，orhadhadahundredyardsofMalineslacerolledroundthem，worthtwicethenumberofguineas，Beckycouldnothaveregardedthemwithmorepleasure。
　　Youmaybesuretheyoccupiedaconspicuousplaceinthechinabowlonthedrawing-roomtable，whereBeckykeptthecardsofhervisitors。Lord！lord！howpoorMrs。WashingtonWhite’scardandLadyCrackenbury’scard——whichourlittlefriendhadbeengladenoughtogetafewmonthsback，andofwhichthesillylittlecreaturewasratherproudonce——Lord！lord！Isay，howsoonattheappearanceofthesegrandcourtcards，didthosepoorlittleneglecteddeucessinkdowntothebottomofthepack。Steyne！Bareacres，JohnesofHelvellyn！andCaerylonofCamelot！wemaybesurethatBeckyandBriggslookedoutthoseaugustnamesinthePeerage，andfollowedthenobleracesupthroughalltheramificationsofthefamilytree。
　　MyLordSteynecomingtocallacoupleofhoursafterwards，andlookingabouthim，andobservingeverythingaswashiswont，foundhisladies’cardsalreadyrangedasthetrumpsofBecky’shand，andgrinned，asthisoldcynicalwaysdidatanynaivedisplayofhumanweakness。Beckycamedowntohimpresently；wheneverthedeargirlexpectedhislordship，hertoilettewasprepared，herhairinperfectorder，hermouchoirs，aprons，scarfs，littlemoroccoslippers，andotherfemalegimcracksarranged，andsheseatedinsomeartlessandagreeableposturereadytoreceivehim——whenevershewassurprised，ofcourse，shehadtoflytoherapartmenttotakearapidsurveyofmattersintheglass，andtotripdownagaintowaituponthegreatpeer。
　　Shefoundhimgrinningoverthebowl。Shewasdiscovered，andsheblushedalittle。”Thankyou，Monseigneur。”shesaid。”Youseeyourladieshavebeenhere。Howgoodofyou！Icouldn’tcomebefore——Iwasinthekitchenmakingapudding。”
　　“Iknowyouwere，Isawyouthroughthearea-railingsasIdroveup。”repliedtheoldgentleman。
　　“Youseeeverything。”shereplied。
　　“Afewthings，butnotthat，myprettylady。”hesaidgood-naturedly。”Yousillylittlefibster！Iheardyouintheroomoverhead，whereIhavenodoubtyouwereputtingalittlerougeon——youmustgivesomeofyourstomyLadyGaunt，whosecomplexionisquitepreposterous——andIheardthebedroomdooropen，andthenyoucamedownstairs。”
　　“IsitacrimetotryandlookmybestwhenYOUcomehere？”answeredMrs。Rawdonplaintively，andsherubbedhercheekwithherhandkerchiefasiftoshowtherewasnorougeatall，onlygenuineblushesandmodestyinhercase。Aboutthiswhocantell？Iknowthereissomerougethatwon’tcomeoffonapocket-handkerchief，andsomesogoodthateventearswillnotdisturbit。
　　“Well。”saidtheoldgentleman，twiddlingroundhiswife’scard，“youarebentonbecomingafinelady。
　　Youpestermypooroldlifeouttogetyouintotheworld。Youwon’tbeabletoholdyourownthere，yousillylittlefool。You’vegotnomoney。”
　　“Youwillgetusaplace。”interposedBecky，“asquickaspossible。”
　　“You’vegotnomoney，andyouwanttocompetewiththosewhohave。Youpoorlittleearthenwarepipkin，youwanttoswimdownthestreamalongwiththegreatcop-
　　perkettles。Allwomenarealike。Everybodyisstrivingforwhatisnotworththehaving！Gad！IdinedwiththeKingyesterday，andwehadneckofmuttonandturnips。
　　Adinnerofherbsisbetterthanastalledoxveryoften。
　　YouwillgotoGauntHouse。Yougiveanoldfellownorestuntilyougetthere。It’snothalfsoniceashere。
　　You’llbeboredthere。Iam。MywifeisasgayasLadyMacbeth，andmydaughtersascheerfulasReganandGoneril。Idaren’tsleepinwhattheycallmybedroom。
　　ThebedislikethebaldaquinofSt。Peter’s，andthepicturesfrightenme。Ihavealittlebrassbedinadressing-room，andalittlehairmattresslikeananchorite。