Crawleyweresilent。Wenham，thewitandlawyer，LordSteyne’sright-handman，wentabouteverywherepraisingher：somewhohadhesitated，cameforwardatonceandwelcomedher；littleTomToady，whohadwarnedSouthdownaboutvisitingsuchanabandonedwoman，nowbesoughttobeintroducedtoher。Inaword，shewasadmittedtobeamongthe“best“people。Ah，mybelovedreadersandbrethren，donotenvypoorBeckyprematurely——glorylikethisissaidtobefugitive。Itiscurrentlyreportedthatevenintheveryinmostcircles，theyarenohappierthanthepoorwanderersoutsidethezone；andBecky，whopenetratedintotheverycentreoffashionandsawthegreatGeorgeIVfacetoface，hasownedsincethattheretoowasVanity。
　　Wemustbebriefindescantinguponthispartofhercareer。AsIcannotdescribethemysteriesoffreemasonry，althoughIhaveashrewdideathatitisahumbug，soanuninitiatedmancannottakeuponhimselftoportraythegreatworldaccurately，andhadbestkeephisopinionstohimself，whatevertheyare。
　　Beckyhasoftenspokeninsubsequentyearsofthisseasonofherlife，whenshemovedamongtheverygreatestcirclesoftheLondonfashion。Hersuccessexcited，elated，andthenboredher。Atfirstnooccupationwasmorepleasantthantoinventandprocurethelatteraworkofnosmalltroubleandingenuity，bytheway，inapersonofMrs。RawdonCrawley’sverynarrowmeans——
　　toprocure，wesay，theprettiestnewdressesandornaments；todrivetofinedinnerparties，whereshewaswelcomedbygreatpeople；andfromthefinedinnerpartiestofineassemblies，whitherthesamepeoplecamewithwhomshehadbeendining，whomshehadmetthenightbefore，andwouldseeonthemorrow——theyoungmenfaultlesslyappointed，handsomelycravatted，withtheneatestglossybootsandwhitegloves——theeldersportly，brass-buttoned，noble-looking，polite，andprosy——theyoungladiesblonde，timid，andinpink——themothersgrand，beautiful，sumptuous，solemn，andindiamonds。TheytalkedinEnglish，notinbadFrench，astheydointhenovels。Theytalkedabouteachothers’
　　houses，andcharacters，andfamilies——justastheJonesesdoabouttheSmiths。Becky’sformeracquaintanceshatedandenviedher；thepoorwomanherselfwasyawninginspirit。”IwishIwereoutofit。”shesaidtoherself。”I
　　wouldratherbeaparson’swifeandteachaSundayschoolthanthis；orasergeant’sladyandrideintheregimentalwaggon；or，oh，howmuchgayeritwouldbetowearspanglesandtrousersanddancebeforeaboothatafair。”
　　“Youwoulddoitverywell。”saidLordSteyne，laughing。
　　Sheusedtotellthegreatmanherennuisandperplexitiesinherartlessway——theyamusedhim。
　　“RawdonwouldmakeaverygoodEcuyer——MasteroftheCeremonies——whatdoyoucallhim——themaninthelargebootsandtheuniform，whogoesroundtheringcrackingthewhip？Heislarge，heavy，andofamilitaryfigure。Irecollect。”Beckycontinuedpensively，“myfathertookmetoseeashowatBrookgreenFairwhenI
　　wasachild，andwhenwecamehome，Imademyselfapairofstiltsanddancedinthestudiotothewonderofallthepupils。”
　　“Ishouldhavelikedtoseeit。”saidLordSteyne。
　　“Ishouldliketodoitnow。”Beckycontinued。”HowLadyBlinkeywouldopenhereyes，andLadyGrizzelMacbethwouldstare！Hush！silence！thereisPastabeginningtosing。”Beckyalwaysmadeapointofbeingconspicuouslypolitetotheprofessionalladiesandgentlemenwhoattendedatthesearistocraticparties——offollowingthemintothecornerswheretheysatinsilence，andshakinghandswiththem，andsmilingintheviewofallpersons。Shewasanartistherself，asshesaidverytruly；therewasafranknessandhumilityinthemannerinwhichsheacknowledgedherorigin，whichprovoked，ordisarmed，oramusedlookers-on，asthecasemightbe。”Howcoolthatwomanis。”saidone；“whatairsofindependencesheassumes，wheresheoughttositstillandbethankfulifanybodyspeakstoher！”“Whatanhonestandgood-naturedsoulsheis！”saidanother。
　　“Whatanartfullittleminx“saidathird。Theywereallrightverylikely，butBeckywentherownway，andsofascinatedtheprofessionalpersonagesthattheywouldleaveofftheirsorethroatsinordertosingatherpartiesandgiveherlessonsfornothing。
　　Yes，shegavepartiesinthelittlehouseinCurzonStreet。Manyscoresofcarriages，withblazinglamps，blockedupthestreet，tothedisgustofNo。100，whocouldnotrestforthethunderoftheknocking，andof102，whocouldnotsleepforenvy。ThegiganticfootmenwhoaccompaniedthevehiclesweretoobigtobecontainedinBecky’slittlehall，andwerebilletedoffintheneighbouringpublic-houses，whence，whentheywerewanted，call-boyssummonedthemfromtheirbeer。
　　ScoresofthegreatdandiesofLondonsqueezedandtrodoneachotheronthelittlestairs，laughingtofindthemselvesthere；andmanyspotlessandsevereladiesoftonwereseatedinthelittledrawing-room，listeningtotheprofessionalsingers，whoweresingingaccordingtotheirwont，andasiftheywishedtoblowthewindowsdown。Andthedayafter，thereappearedamongthefashionablereunionsintheMorningPostaparagraphtothefollowingeffect：
　　“Yesterday，ColonelandMrs。CrawleyentertainedaselectpartyatdinnerattheirhouseinMayFair。TheirExcellenciesthePrinceandPrincessofPeterwaradin，H。E。PapooshPasha，theTurkishAmbassadorattendedbyKibobBey，dragomanofthemission，theMarquessofSteyne，EarlofSouthdown，SirPittandLadyJaneCrawley，Mr。Wagg，&c。AfterdinnerMrs。CrawleyhadanassemblywhichwasattendedbytheDuchessDowagerofStilton，DucdelaGruyere，MarchionessofCheshire，MarcheseAlessandroStrachino，ComtedeBrie，BaronSchapzuger，ChevalierTosti，CountessofSlingstone，andLadyF。Macadam，Major-GeneralandLadyG。Macbeth，and2MissMacbeths；ViscountPaddington，SirHoraceFogey，Hon。SandsBedwin，BobachyBahawder。”andan&c。，whichthereadermayfillathispleasurethroughadozencloselinesofsmalltype。
　　Andinhercommercewiththegreatourdearfriendshowedthesamefranknesswhichdistinguishedhertransactionswiththelowlyinstation。Ononeoccasion，whenoutataveryfinehouse，RebeccawasperhapsratherostentatiouslyholdingaconversationintheFrenchlanguagewithacelebratedtenorsingerofthatnation，whiletheLadyGrizzelMacbethlookedoverhershoulderscowlingatthepair。
　　“HowverywellyouspeakFrench。”LadyGrizzelsaid，whoherselfspokethetongueinanEdinburghaccentmostremarkabletohear。
　　“Ioughttoknowit。”Beckymodestlysaid，castingdownhereyes。”Itaughtitinaschool，andmymotherwasaFrenchwoman。”
　　LadyGrizzelwaswonbyherhumilityandwasmollifiedtowardsthelittlewoman。Shedeploredthefatallevellingtendenciesoftheage，whichadmittedpersonsofallclassesintothesocietyoftheirsuperiors，butherladyshipownedthatthisoneatleastwaswellbehavedandneverforgotherplaceinlife。Shewasaverygoodwoman：goodtothepoor；stupid，blameless，unsuspicious。
　　Itisnotherladyship’sfaultthatshefanciesherselfbetterthanyouandme。Theskirtsofherancestors’
　　garmentshavebeenkissedforcenturies；itisathousandyears，theysay，sincethetartansoftheheadofthefamilywereembracedbythedefunctDuncan’slordsandcouncillors，whenthegreatancestoroftheHousebecameKingofScotland。
　　LadySteyne，afterthemusicscene，succumbedbeforeBecky，andperhapswasnotdisinclinedtoher。TheyoungerladiesofthehouseofGauntwerealsocompelledintosubmission。Onceortwicetheysetpeopleather，buttheyfailed。ThebrilliantLadyStunningtontriedapassageofarmswithher，butwasroutedwithgreatslaughterbytheintrepidlittleBecky。Whenattackedsometimes，Beckyhadaknackofadoptingademureingenueair，underwhichshewasmostdangerous。Shesaidthewickedestthingswiththemostsimpleunaffectedairwheninthismood，andwouldtakecareartlesslytoapologizeforherblunders，sothatalltheworldshouldknowthatshehadmadethem。
　　Mr。Wagg，thecelebratedwit，andaledcaptainandtrencher-manofmyLordSteyne，wascausedbytheladiestochargeher；andtheworthyfellow，leeringathispatronessesandgivingthemawink，asmuchastosay。”Nowlookoutforsport。”oneeveningbegananassaultuponBecky，whowasunsuspiciouslyeatingherdinner。
　　Thelittlewoman，attackedonasudden，butneverwithoutarms，lightedupinaninstant，parriedandripostedwithahome-thrust，whichmadeWagg’sfacetinglewithshame；thenshereturnedtohersoupwiththemostperfectcalmandaquietsmileonherface。Wagg’sgreatpatron，whogavehimdinnersandlenthimalittlemoneysometimes，andwhoseelection，newspaper，andotherjobsWaggdid，gavethelucklessfellowsuchasavageglancewiththeeyesasalmostmadehimsinkunderthetableandburstintotears。Helookedpiteouslyatmylord，whoneverspoketohimduringdinner，andattheladies，whodisownedhim。AtlastBeckyherselftookcompassionuponhimandtriedtoengagehimintalk。
　　Hewasnotaskedtodinneragainforsixweeks；andFiche，mylord’sconfidentialman，towhomWaggnaturallypaidagooddealofcourt，wasinstructedtotellhimthatifheeverdaredtosayarudethingtoMrs。
　　Crawleyagain，ormakeherthebuttofhisstupidjokes，Milorwouldputeveryoneofhisnotesofhandintohislawyer’shandsandsellhimupwithoutmercy。WaggweptbeforeFicheandimploredhisdearfriendtointercedeforhim。HewroteapoeminfavourofMrs。R。C。，whichappearedintheverynextnumberoftheHarum-
　　scarumMagazine，whichheconducted。Heimploredhergood-willatpartieswherehemether。HecringedandcoaxedRawdonattheclub。HewasallowedtocomebacktoGauntHouseafterawhile。Beckywasalwaysgoodtohim，alwaysamused，neverangry。
　　Hislordship’svizierandchiefconfidentialservantwithaseatinparliamentandatthedinnertable，Mr。
　　Wenham，wasmuchmoreprudentinhisbehaviourandopinionsthanMr。Wagg。HowevermuchhemightbedisposedtohateallparvenusMr。WenhamhimselfwasastauncholdTrueBlueTory，andhisfatherasmallcoal-
　　merchantinthenorthofEngland，thisaide-de-campoftheMarquisnevershowedanysortofhostilitytothenewfavourite，butpursuedherwithstealthykindnessesandaslyanddeferentialpolitenesswhichsomehowmadeBeckymoreuneasythanotherpeople’soverthostilities。
　　HowtheCrawleysgotthemoneywhichwasspentupontheentertainmentswithwhichtheytreatedthepoliteworldwasamysterywhichgaverisetosomeconversationatthetime，andprobablyaddedzesttotheselittlefestivities。SomepersonsaverredthatSirPittCrawleygavehisbrotherahandsomeallowance；ifhedid，Becky’spowerovertheBaronetmusthavebeenextraordinaryindeed，andhischaractergreatlychangedinhisadvancedage。OtherpartieshintedthatitwasBecky’shabittolevycontributionsonallherhusband’sfriends：
　　goingtothisoneintearswithanaccountthattherewasanexecutioninthehouse；fallingonherkneestothatoneanddeclaringthatthewholefamilymustgotogaolorcommitsuicideunlesssuchandsuchabillcouldbepaid。LordSouthdown，itwassaid，hadbeeninducedtogivemanyhundredsthroughthesepatheticrepresentations。
　　YoungFeltham，ofthe——thDragoonsandsonofthefirmofTilerandFeltham，hattersandarmyaccoutrementmakers，andwhomtheCrawleysintroducedintofashionablelife，wasalsocitedasoneofBecky’svictimsinthepecuniaryway。Peopledeclaredthatshegotmoneyfromvarioussimplydisposedpersons，underpretenceofgettingthemconfidentialappointmentsunderGovernment。
　　Whoknowswhatstorieswereorwerenottoldofourdearandinnocentfriend？Certainitisthatifshehadhadallthemoneywhichshewassaidtohavebeggedorborrowedorstolen，shemighthavecapitalizedandbeenhonestforlife，whereas，——butthisisadvancingmatters。
　　Thetruthis，thatbyeconomyandgoodmanagement——
　　byasparinguseofreadymoneyandbypayingscarcelyanybody——peoplecanmanage，foratimeatleast，tomakeagreatshowwithverylittlemeans：anditisourbeliefthatBecky’smuch-talked-ofparties，whichwerenot，afterallwassaid，verynumerous，costthisladyverylittlemorethanthewaxcandleswhichlightedthewalls。
　　StillbrookandQueen’sCrawleysuppliedherwithgameandfruitinabundance。LordSteyne’scellarswereatherdisposal，andthatexcellentnobleman’sfamouscookspresidedoverherlittlekitchen，orsentbymylord’sordertherarestdelicaciesfromtheirown。Iprotestitisquiteshamefulintheworldtoabuseasimplecreature，aspeopleofhertimeabuseBecky，andIwarnthepublicagainstbelievingone-tenthofthestoriesagainsther。
　　Ifeverypersonistobebanishedfromsocietywhorunsintodebtandcannotpay——ifwearetobepeeringintoeverybody’sprivatelife，speculatingupontheirincome，andcuttingthemifwedon’tapproveoftheirexpenditure——why，whatahowlingwildernessandintolerabledwellingVanityFairwouldbe！Everyman’shandwouldbeagainsthisneighbourinthiscase，mydearsir，andthebenefitsofcivilizationwouldbedoneawaywith。Weshouldbequarrelling，abusing，avoidingoneanother。Ourhouseswouldbecomecaverns，andweshouldgoinragsbecausewecaredfornobody。Rentswouldgodown。