AllshestipulatedforwasthatlittleRawdonshouldbeallowedtocomedownandseeherattheHall。Beckypromisedthis——anything。Sheranuptoherhusbandwhenhecamehomeandtoldhimthejoyfulnews。Rawdonwasglad，deucedglad；theweightwasoffhisconscienceaboutpoorBriggs’smoney。Shewasprovidedfor，atanyrate，but——buthismindwasdisquiet。Hedidnotseemtobeallright，somehow。HetoldlittleSouthdownwhatLordSteynehaddone，andtheyoungmaneyedCrawleywithanairwhichsurprisedthelatter。
　　HetoldLadyJaneofthissecondproofofSteyne’sbounty，andshe，too，lookedoddandalarmed；sodidSirPitt。”Sheistoocleverand——andgaytobeallowedtogofrompartytopartywithoutacompanion。”bothsaid。”Youmustgowithher，Rawdon，wherevershegoes，andyoumusthavesomebodywithher——oneofthegirlsfromQueen’sCrawley，perhaps，thoughtheywererathergiddyguardiansforher。”
　　SomebodyBeckyshouldhave。ButinthemeantimeitwasclearthathonestBriggsmustnotloseherchanceofsettlementforlife，andsosheandherbagswerepacked，andshesetoffonherjourney。AndsotwoofRawdon’sout-sentinelswereinthehandsoftheenemy。
　　SirPittwentandexpostulatedwithhissister-in-lawuponthesubjectofthedismissalofBriggsandothermattersofdelicatefamilyinterest。InvainshepointedouttohimhownecessarywastheprotectionofLordSteyneforherpoorhusband；howcruelitwouldbeontheirparttodepriveBriggsofthepositionofferedtoher。
　　Cajolements，coaxings，smiles，tearscouldnotsatisfySirPitt，andhehadsomethingverylikeaquarrelwithhisonceadmiredBecky。Hespokeofthehonourofthefamily，theunsulliedreputationoftheCrawleys；
　　expressedhimselfinindignanttonesaboutherreceivingthoseyoungFrenchmen——thosewildyoungmenoffashion，myLordSteynehimself，whosecarriagewasalwaysatherdoor，whopassedhoursdailyinhercompany，andwhoseconstantpresencemadetheworldtalkabouther。Astheheadofthehouseheimploredhertobemoreprudent。Societywasalreadyspeakinglightlyofher。LordSteyne，thoughanoblemanofthegreateststationandtalents，wasamanwhoseattentionswouldcompromiseanywoman；hebesought，heimplored，hecommandedhissister-in-lawtobewatchfulinherintercoursewiththatnobleman。
　　BeckypromisedanythingandeverythingPittwanted；
　　butLordSteynecametoherhouseasoftenasever，andSirPitt’sangerincreased。IwonderwasLadyJaneangryorpleasedthatherhusbandatlastfoundfaultwithhisfavouriteRebecca？LordSteyne’svisitscontinuing，hisownceased，andhiswifewasforrefusingallfurtherintercoursewiththatnoblemananddecliningtheinvitationtothecharade-nightwhichthemarchionesssenttoher；butSirPittthoughtitwasnecessarytoacceptit，ashisRoyalHighnesswouldbethere。
　　Althoughhewenttothepartyinquestion，SirPittquitteditveryearly，andhiswife，too，wasverygladtocomeaway。Beckyhardlysomuchasspoketohimornoticedhersister-in-law。PittCrawleydeclaredherbehaviourwasmonstrouslyindecorous，reprobatedinstrongtermsthehabitofplay-actingandfancydressingashighlyunbecomingaBritishfemale，andafterthecharadeswereover，tookhisbrotherRawdonseverelytotaskforappearinghimselfandallowinghiswifetojoininsuchimproperexhibitions。
　　Rawdonsaidsheshouldnotjoininanymoresuchamusements——butindeed，andperhapsfromhintsfromhiselderbrotherandsister，hehadalreadybecomeaverywatchfulandexemplarydomesticcharacter。Heleftoffhisclubsandbilliards。Heneverlefthome。HetookBeckyouttodrive；hewentlaboriouslywithhertoallherparties。WhenevermyLordSteynecalled，hewassuretofindtheColonel。AndwhenBeckyproposedtogooutwithoutherhusband，orreceivedinvitationsforherself，heperemptorilyorderedhertorefusethem：andtherewasthatinthegentleman’smannerwhichenforcedobedience。LittleBecky，todoherjustice，wascharmedwithRawdon’sgallantry。Ifhewassurly，sheneverwas。
　　Whetherfriendswerepresentorabsent，shehadalwaysakindsmileforhimandwasattentivetohispleasureandcomfort。Itwastheearlydaysoftheirmarriageoveragain：thesamegoodhumour，prevenances，merriment，andartlessconfidenceandregard。”Howmuchpleasanteritis。”shewouldsay，“tohaveyoubymysideinthecarriagethanthatfoolisholdBriggs！Letusalwaysgoonso，dearRawdon。Howniceitwouldbe，andhowhappyweshouldalwaysbe，ifwehadbutthemoney！”Hefellasleepafterdinnerinhischair；hedidnotseethefaceoppositetohim，haggard，weary，andterrible；itlightedupwithfreshcandidsmileswhenhewoke。Itkissedhimgaily。Hewonderedthathehadeverhadsuspicions。No，heneverhadsuspicions；allthosedumbdoubtsandsurlymisgivingswhichhadbeengatheringonhismindweremereidlejealousies。Shewasfondofhim；
　　shealwayshadbeen。Asforhershininginsociety，itwasnofaultofhers；shewasformedtoshinethere。
　　Wasthereanywomanwhocouldtalk，orsing，ordoanythinglikeher？Ifshewouldbutliketheboy！
　　Rawdonthought。Butthemotherandsonnevercouldbebroughttogether。
　　AnditwaswhileRawdon’smindwasagitatedwiththesedoubtsandperplexitiesthattheincidentoccurredwhichwasmentionedinthelastchapter，andtheunfortunateColonelfoundhimselfaprisonerawayfromhome。
　　CHAPTERLIII
　　FriendRawdondroveonthentoMr。Moss’smansioninCursitorStreet，andwasdulyinductedintothatdismalplaceofhospitality。Morningwasbreakingoverthecheerfulhouse-topsofChanceryLaneastherattlingcabwokeuptheechoesthere。Alittlepink-eyedJew-boy，withaheadasruddyastherisingmorn，letthepartyintothehouse，andRawdonwaswelcomedtotheground-floorapartmentsbyMr。Moss，histravellingcompanionandhost，whocheerfullyaskedhimifhewouldlikeaglassofsomethingwarmafterhisdrive。
　　TheColonelwasnotsodepressedassomemortalswouldbe，who，quittingapalaceandaplacensuxor，findthemselvesbarredintoaspunging-house；for，ifthetruthmustbetold，hehadbeenalodgeratMr。Moss’sestablishmentonceortwicebefore。Wehavenotthoughtitnecessaryinthepreviouscourseofthisnarrativetomentionthesetriviallittledomesticincidents：butthereadermaybeassuredthattheycan’tunfrequentlyoccurinthelifeofamanwholivesonnothingayear。
　　UponhisfirstvisittoMr。Moss，theColonel，thenabachelor，hadbeenliberatedbythegenerosityofhisaunt；onthesecondmishap，littleBecky，withthegreatestspiritandkindness，hadborrowedasumofmoneyfromLordSouthdownandhadcoaxedherhusband’screditorwhowashershawl，velvet-gown，lacepocket-handkerchief，trinket，andgim-crackpurveyor，indeedtotakeaportionofthesumclaimedandRawdon’spromissorynotefortheremainder：soonboththeseoccasionsthecaptureandreleasehadbeenconductedwiththeutmostgallantryonallsides，andMossandtheColonelwerethereforeontheverybestofterms。
　　“You’llfindyouroldbed，Colonel，andeverythingcomfortable。”thatgentlemansaid，“asImayhonestlysay。
　　Youmaybeprettysureitskepaired，andbythebestofcompany，too。ItwasslepinthenightaforelastbytheHonorableCaptingFamish，oftheFiftiethDragoons，whoseMartookhimout，afterafortnight，jesttopunishhim，shesaid。But，Lawblessyou，Ipromiseyou，hepunishedmychampagne，andhadapartyereeverynight——reglartip-topswells，downfromtheclubsandtheWestEnd——CaptingRagg，theHonorableDeuceace，wholivesintheTemple，andsomefellersasknowsagoodglassofwine，Iwarrantyou。I’vegotaDoctorofDiwinityupstairs，fivegentsinthecoffee-room，andMrs。
　　Mosshasatably-dy-hotyathalf-pastfive，andalittlecardsormusicafterwards，whenweshallbemosthappytoseeyou。”
　　“I’llringwhenIwantanything。”saidRawdonandwentquietlytohisbedroom。Hewasanoldsoldier，wehavesaid，andnottobedisturbedbyanylittleshocksoffate。Aweakermanwouldhavesentoffalettertohiswifeontheinstantofhiscapture。”Butwhatistheuseofdisturbinghernight’srest？”thoughtRawdon。”Shewon’tknowwhetherIaminmyroomornot。Itwillbetimeenoughtowritetoherwhenshehashadhersleepout，andIhavehadmine。It’sonlyahundred-
　　and-seventy，andthedeuceisinitifwecan’traisethat。”Andso，thinkingaboutlittleRawdonwhomhewouldnothaveknowthathewasinsuchaqueerplace，theColonelturnedintothebedlatelyoccupiedbyCaptainFamishandfellasleep。Itwasteno’clockwhenhewokeup，andtheruddy-headedyouthbroughthim，withconsciouspride，afinesilverdressing-case，wherewithhemightperformtheoperationofshaving。IndeedMr。Moss’shouse，thoughsomewhatdirty，wassplendidthroughout。Thereweredirtytrays，andwine-coolersenpermanenceonthesideboard，hugedirtygiltcornices，withdingyyellowsatinhangingstothebarredwindowswhichlookedintoCursitorStreet——vastanddirtygiltpictureframessurroundingpiecessportingandsacred，allofwhichworkswerebythegreatestmasters——andfetchedthegreatestprices，too，inthebilltransactions，inthecourseofwhichtheyweresoldandboughtoverandoveragain。TheColonel’sbreakfastwasservedtohiminthesamedingyandgorgeousplatedware。MissMoss，adark-eyedmaidincurl-papers，appearedwiththeteapot，and，smiling，askedtheColonelhowhehadslep？
　　AndshebroughthimintheMorningPost，withthenamesofallthegreatpeoplewhohadfiguredatLordSteyne’sentertainmentthenightbefore。ItcontainedabrilliantaccountofthefestivitiesandofthebeautifulandaccomplishedMrs。RawdonCrawley’sadmirablepersonifications。
　　Afteralivelychatwiththisladywhosatontheedgeofthebreakfasttableinaneasyattitudedisplayingthedraperyofherstockingandanex-whitesatinshoe，whichwasdownatheel，ColonelCrawleycalledforpensandink，andpaper，andbeingaskedhowmanysheets，choseonewhichwasbroughttohimbetweenMissMoss’sownfingerandthumb。Manyasheethadthatdark-eyeddamselbroughtin；manyapoorfellowhadscrawledandblottedhurriedlinesofentreatyandpacedupanddownthatawfulroomuntilhismessengerbroughtbackthereply。Poormenalwaysusemessengersinsteadofthepost。Whohasnothadtheirletters，withthewaferswet，andtheannouncementthatapersoniswaitinginthehall？
　　Nowonthescoreofhisapplication，Rawdonhadnotmanymisgivings。
　　DEARBECKY，Rawdonwrote
　　IHOPEYOUSLEPTWELL。Don’tbeFRIGHTENEDifIdon’tbringyouinyourCOFFY。LastnightasIwascominghomesmoaking，ImetwithanACCADENT。IwasNABBED
　　byMossofCursitorStreet——fromwhoseGILTANDSPLENDID
　　PARLERIwritethis——thesamethathadmethistimetwoyears。MissMossbroughtinmytea——sheisgrownveryFAT，and，asusual，hadherSTOCKENSDOWNATHEAL。
　　It’sNathan’sbusiness——ahundred-and-fifty——withcosts，hundred-and-seventy。PleasesendmemydeskandsomeCLOTHS——I’minpumpsandawhitetyesomethinglikeMissM’sstockings——I’veseventyinit。Andassoonasyougetthis，DrivetoNathan’s——offerhimseventy-fivedown，andASKHIMTORENEW——sayI’lltakewine——wemayaswellhavesomedinnersherry；butnotPICTURS，they’retoodear。
　　Ifhewon’tstandit。TakemytickerandsuchofyourthingsasyoucanSPARE，andsendthemtoBalls——wemust，ofcoarse，havethesumto-night。Itwon’tdotoletitstandover，asto-morrow’sSunday；thebedsherearenotveryCLEAN，andtheremaybeotherthingsoutagainstme——I’mgladitan’tRawdon’sSaturdayforcominghome。Godblessyou。
　　Yoursinhaste，R。C。
　　P。S。Makehasteandcome。
　　Thisletter，sealedwithawafer，wasdispatchedbyoneofthemessengerswhoarealwayshangingaboutMr。Moss’sestablishment，andRawdon，havingseenhimdepart，wentoutinthecourt-yardandsmokedhiscigarwithatolerablyeasymind——inspiteofthebarsoverhead——forMr。Moss’scourt-yardisrailedinlikeacage，lestthegentlemenwhoareboardingwithhimshouldtakeafancytoescapefromhishospitality。
　　Threehours，hecalculated，wouldbetheutmosttimerequired，beforeBeckyshouldarriveandopenhisprisondoors，andhepassedtheseprettycheerfullyinsmoking，inreadingthepaper，andinthecoffee-roomwithanacquaintance，CaptainWalker，whohappenedtobethere，andwithwhomhecutforsixpencesforsomehours，withprettyequalluckoneitherside。
　　Butthedaypassedawayandnomessengerreturned