YoungRawdon’saunt，wehavesaid，wasveryfondofhim，aswasherlittlegirl，whoweptcopiouslywhenthetimeforhercousin’sdeparturecame。TheelderRawdonwasthankfulforthefondnessofmotheranddaughter。Theverybestandhonestestfeelingsofthemancameoutintheseartlessoutpouringsofpaternalfeelinginwhichheindulgedintheirpresence，andencouragedbytheirsympathy。HesecurednotonlyLadyJane’skindness，buthersincereregard，bythefeelingswhichhemanifested，andwhichhecouldnotshowtohisownwife。Thetwokinswomenmetasseldomaspossible。
　　BeckylaughedbitterlyatJane’sfeelingsandsoftness；
　　theother’skindlyandgentlenaturecouldnotbutrevoltathersister’scallousbehaviour。
　　ItestrangedRawdonfromhiswifemorethanhekneworacknowledgedtohimself。Shedidnotcarefortheestrangement。Indeed，shedidnotmisshimoranybody。
　　Shelookeduponhimashererrand-manandhumbleslave。Hemightbeeversodepressedorsulky，andshedidnotmarkhisdemeanour，oronlytreateditwithasneer。Shewasbusythinkingaboutherposition，orherpleasures，orheradvancementinsociety；sheoughttohaveheldagreatplaceinit，thatiscertain。
　　ItwashonestBriggswhomadeupthelittlekitfortheboywhichhewastotaketoschool。Molly，thehousemaid，blubberedinthepassagewhenhewentaway——
　　Mollykindandfaithfulinspiteofalongarrearofunpaidwages。Mrs。Beckycouldnotletherhusbandhavethecarriagetotaketheboytoschool。TakethehorsesintotheCity！——suchathingwasneverheardof。Letacabbebrought。Shedidnotoffertokisshimwhenhewent，nordidthechildproposetoembraceher；butgaveakisstooldBriggswhom，ingeneral，hewasveryshyofcaressing，andconsoledherbypointingoutthathewastocomehomeonSaturdays，whenshewouldhavethebenefitofseeinghim。AsthecabrolledtowardstheCity，Becky’scarriagerattledofftothepark。ShewaschatteringandlaughingwithascoreofyoungdandiesbytheSerpentineasthefatherandsonenteredattheoldgatesoftheschool——whereRawdonleftthechildandcameawaywithasadderpurerfeelinginhisheartthanperhapsthatpoorbatteredfellowhadeverknownsincehehimselfcameoutofthenursery。
　　Hewalkedallthewayhomeverydismally，anddinedalonewithBriggs。Hewasverykindtoherandgratefulforherloveandwatchfulnessovertheboy。HisconsciencesmotehimthathehadborrowedBriggs’smoneyandaidedindeceivingher。TheytalkedaboutlittleRawdonalongtime，forBeckyonlycamehometodressandgoouttodinner——andthenhewentoffuneasilytodrinkteawithLadyJane，andtellherofwhathadhappened，andhowlittleRawdonwentofflikeatrump，andhowhewastowearagownandlittleknee-breeches，andhowyoungBlackball，JackBlackball’sson，oftheoldregiment，hadtakenhiminchargeandpromisedtobekindtohim。
　　Inthecourseofaweek，youngBlackballhadconstitutedlittleRawdonhisfag，shoe-black，andbreakfasttoaster；initiatedhimintothemysteriesoftheLatinGrammar；andthrashedhimthreeorfourtimes，butnotseverely。Thelittlechap’sgood-naturedhonestfacewonhiswayforhim。Heonlygotthatdegreeofbeatingwhichwas，nodoubt，goodforhim；andasforblackingshoes，toastingbread，andfaggingingeneral，weretheseofficesnotdeemedtobenecessarypartsofeveryyoungEnglishgentleman’seducation？
　　OurbusinessdoesnotliewiththesecondgenerationandMasterRawdon’slifeatschool，otherwisethepresenttalemightbecarriedtoanyindefinitelength。TheColonelwenttoseehissonashorttimeafterwardsandfoundtheladsufficientlywellandhappy，grinningandlaughinginhislittleblackgownandlittlebreeches。
　　HisfathersagaciouslytippedBlackball，hismaster，asovereign，andsecuredthatyounggentleman’sgood-willtowardshisfag。AsaprotegeofthegreatLordSteyne，thenephewofaCountymember，andsonofaColonelandC。B。，whosenameappearedinsomeofthemostfashionablepartiesintheMorningPost，perhapstheschoolauthoritiesweredisposednottolookunkindlyonthechild。Hehadplentyofpocket-money，whichhespentintreatinghiscomradesroyallytoraspberrytarts，andhewasoftenallowedtocomehomeonSaturdaystohisfather，whoalwaysmadeajubileeofthatday。
　　Whenfree，Rawdonwouldtakehimtotheplay，orsendhimthitherwiththefootman；andonSundayshewenttochurchwithBriggsandLadyJaneandhiscousins。
　　Rawdonmarvelledoverhisstoriesaboutschool，andfights，andfagging。Beforelong，heknewthenamesofallthemastersandtheprincipalboysaswellaslittleRawdonhimself。HeinvitedlittleRawdon’scronyfromschool，andmadeboththechildrensickwithpastry，andoysters，andporteraftertheplay。HetriedtolookknowingovertheLatingrammarwhenlittleRawdonshowedhimwhatpartofthatworkhewas“in。”“Sticktoit，myboy。”hesaidtohimwithmuchgravity，“there’snothinglikeagoodclassicaleducation！Nothing！”
　　Becky’scontemptforherhusbandgrewgreatereveryday。”Dowhatyoulike——dinewhereyouplease——goandhaveginger-beerandsawdustatAstley’s，orpsalm-
　　singingwithLadyJane——onlydon’texpectmetobusymyselfwiththeboy。Ihaveyourintereststoattendto，asyoucan’tattendtothemyourself。Ishouldliketoknowwhereyouwouldhavebeennow，andinwhatsortofapositioninsociety，ifIhadnotlookedafteryou。”
　　Indeed，nobodywantedpooroldRawdonatthepartieswhitherBeckyusedtogo。Shewasoftenaskedwithouthimnow。Shetalkedaboutgreatpeopleasifshehadthefee-simpleofMayFair，andwhentheCourtwentintomourning，shealwaysworeblack。
　　LittleRawdonbeingdisposedof，LordSteyne，whotooksuchaparentalinterestintheaffairsofthisamiablepoorfamily，thoughtthattheirexpensesmightbeveryadvantageouslycurtailedbythedepartureofMissBriggs，andthatBeckywasquitecleverenoughtotakethemanagementofherownhouse。Ithasbeennarratedinaformerchapterhowthebenevolentnoblemanhadgivenhisprotegeemoney。topayoffherlittledebttoMissBriggs，whohoweverstillremainedbehindwithherfriends；whencemylordcametothepainfulconclusionthatMrs。Crawleyhadmadesomeotheruseofthemoneyconfidedtoherthanthatforwhichhergenerouspatronhadgiventheloan。However，LordSteynewasnotsorudeastoimparthissuspicionsuponthisheadtoMrs。Becky，whosefeelingsmightbehurtbyanycontroversyonthemoney-question，andwhomighthaveathousandpainfulreasonsfordisposingotherwiseofhislordship’sgenerousloan。Buthedeterminedtosatisfyhimselfoftherealstateofthecase，andinstitutedthenecessaryinquiriesinamostcautiousanddelicatemanner。
　　InthefirstplacehetookanearlyopportunityofpumpingMissBriggs。Thatwasnotadifficultoperation。
　　Averylittleencouragementwouldsetthatworthywomantotalkvolublyandpouroutallwithinher。AndonedaywhenMrs。RawdonhadgoneouttodriveasMr。Fiche，hislordship’sconfidentialservant，easilylearnedattheliverystableswheretheCrawleyskepttheircarriageandhorses，orrather，wherethelivery-mankeptacarriageandhorsesforMr。andMrs。Crawley——mylorddroppedinupontheCurzonStreethouse——askedBriggsforacupofcoffee——toldherthathehadgoodaccountsofthelittleboyatschool——andinfiveminutesfoundoutfromherthatMrs。Rawdonhadgivenhernothingexceptablacksilkgown，forwhichMissBriggswasimmenselygrateful。
　　Helaughedwithinhimselfatthisartlessstory。Forthetruthis，ourdearfriendRebeccahadgivenhimamostcircumstantialnarrationofBriggs’sdelightatreceivinghermoney——elevenhundredandtwenty-fivepounds——
　　andinwhatsecuritiesshehadinvestedit；andwhatapangBeckyherselffeltinbeingobligedtopayawaysuchadelightfulsumofmoney。”Whoknows。”thedearwomanmayhavethoughtwithinherself，“perhapshemaygivemealittlemore？”Mylord，however，madenosuchproposaltothelittleschemer——verylikelythinkingthathehadbeensufficientlygenerousalready。
　　Hehadthecuriosity，then，toaskMissBriggsaboutthestateofherprivateaffairs——andshetoldhislordshipcandidlywhatherpositionwas——howMissCrawleyhadleftheralegacy——howherrelativeshadhadpartofit——howColonelCrawleyhadputoutanotherportion，forwhichshehadthebestsecurityandinterest——andhowMr。andMrs。RawdonhadkindlybusiedthemselveswithSirPitt，whowastodisposeoftheremaindermostadvantageouslyforher，whenhehadtime。MylordaskedhowmuchtheColonelhadalreadyinvestedforher，andMissBriggsatonceandtrulytoldhimthatthesumwassixhundredandoddpounds。
　　Butassoonasshehadtoldherstory，thevolubleBriggsrepentedofherfranknessandbesoughtmylordnottotellMr。Crawleyoftheconfessionswhichshehadmade。”TheColonelwassokind——Mr。Crawleymightbeoffendedandpaybackthemoney，forwhichshecouldgetnosuchgoodinterestanywhereelse。”LordSteyne，laughing，promisedheneverwoulddivulgetheirconversation，andwhenheandMissBriggspartedhelaughedstillmore。
　　“Whatanaccomplishedlittledevilitis！”thoughthe。
　　“Whatasplendidactressandmanager！Shehadalmostgotasecondsupplyoutofmetheotherday；withhercoaxingways。ShebeatsallthewomenIhaveeverseeninthecourseofallmywell-spentlife。Theyarebabiescomparedtoher。Iamagreenhornmyself，andafoolinherhands——anoldfool。Sheisunsurpassableinlies。”
　　Hislordship’sadmirationforBeckyroseimmeasurablyatthisproofofhercleverness。Gettingthemoneywasnothing——butgettingdoublethesumshewanted，andpayingnobody——itwasamagnificentstroke。AndCrawley，mylordthought——Crawleyisnotsuchafoolashelooksandseems。Hehasmanagedthemattercleverlyenoughonhisside。Nobodywouldeverhavesupposedfromhisfaceanddemeanourthatheknewanythingaboutthismoneybusiness；andyetheputheruptoit，andhasspentthemoney，nodoubt。Inthisopinionmylord，weknow，wasmistaken，butitinfluencedagooddealhisbehaviourtowardsColonelCrawley，whomhebegantotreatwithevenlessthanthatsemblanceofrespectwhichhehadformerlyshowntowardsthatgentleman。ItneverenteredintotheheadofMrs。
　　Crawley’spatronthatthelittleladymightbemakingapurseforherself；and，perhaps，ifthetruthmustbetold，hejudgedofColonelCrawleybyhisexperienceofotherhusbands，whomhehadknowninthecourseofthelongandwell-spentlifewhichhadmadehimacquaintedwithagreatdealoftheweaknessofmankind。Mylordhadboughtsomanymenduringhislifethathewassurelytobepardonedforsupposingthathehadfoundthepriceofthisone。
　　HetaxedBeckyuponthepointontheveryfirstoccasionwhenhemetheralone，andhecomplimentedher，good-humouredly，onherclevernessingettingmorethanthemoneywhichsherequired。Beckywasonlyalittletakenaback。Itwasnotthehabitofthisdearcreaturetotellfalsehoods，exceptwhennecessitycompelled，butinthesegreatemergenciesitwasherpracticetolieveryfreely；andinaninstantshewasreadywithanotherneatplausiblecircumstantialstorywhichsheadministeredtoherpatron。Thepreviousstatementwhichshehadmadetohimwasafalsehood——awickedfalsehood——sheownedit。Butwhohadmadehertellit？“Ah，myLord。”
　　shesaid，“youdon’tknowallIhavetosufferandbearinsilence；youseemegayandhappybeforeyou——youlittleknowwhatIhavetoendurewhenthereisnoprotectornearme。Itwasmyhusband，bythreatsandthemostsavagetreatment，forcedmetoaskforthatsumaboutwhichIdeceivedyou。Itwashewho，foreseeingthatquestionsmightbeaskedregardingthedisposalofthemoney，forcedmetoaccountforitasI
　　did。Hetookthemoney。HetoldmehehadpaidMissBriggs；Ididnotwant，Ididnotdaretodoubthim。
　　Pardonthewrongwhichadesperatemanisforcedtocommit，andpityamiserable，miserablewoman。”Sheburstintotearsasshespoke。Persecutedvirtueneverlookedmorebewitchinglywretched。
　　Theyhadalongconversation，drivingroundandroundtheRegent’sParkinMrs。Crawley’scarriagetogether，aconversationofwhichitisnotnecessarytorepeatthedetails，buttheupshotofitwasthat，whenBeckycamehome，sheflewtoherdearBriggswithasmilingfaceandannouncedthatshehadsomeverygoodnewsforher。LordSteynehadactedinthenoblestandmostgenerousmanner。Hewasalwaysthinkinghowandwhenhecoulddogood。NowthatlittleRawdonwasgonetoschool，adearcompanionandfriendwasnolongernecessarytoher。ShewasgrievedbeyondmeasuretopartwithBriggs，buthermeansrequiredthatsheshouldpractiseeveryretrenchment，andhersorrowwasmitigatedbytheideathatherdearBriggswouldbefarbetterprovidedforbyhergenerouspatronthaninherhumblehome。Mrs。Pilkington，thehousekeeperatGauntlyHall，wasgrowingexceedinglyold，feeble，andrheumatic：
　　shewasnotequaltotheworkofsuperintendingthatvastmansion，andmustbeonthelookoutforasuccessor。Itwasasplendidposition。ThefamilydidnotgotoGauntlyonceintwoyears。Atothertimesthehousekeeperwasthemistressofthemagnificentmansion——hadfourcoversdailyforhertable；wasvisitedbytheclergyandthemostrespectablepeopleofthecounty——wastheladyofGauntly，infact；andthetwolasthousekeepersbeforeMrs。PilkingtonhadmarriedrectorsofGauntly——butMrs。P。couldnot，beingtheauntofthepresentRector。Theplacewasnottobehersyet，butshemightgodownonavisittoMrs。Pilkingtonandseewhethershewouldliketosucceedher。
　　WhatwordscanpainttheecstaticgratitudeofBriggs！