had ever been during the late baronet's reign。 The black
outer…coating of the bricks was removed； and they
appeared with a cheerful； blushing face streaked with white：
the old bronze lions of the knocker were gilt handsomely；
the railings painted； and the dismallest house in Great
Gaunt Street became the smartest in the whole quarter；
before the green leaves in Hampshire had replaced those
yellowing ones which were on the trees in Queen's Crawley
Avenue when old Sir Pitt Crawley passed under them
for the last time。
A little woman； with a carriage to correspond； was
perpetually seen about this mansion； an elderly spinster；
accompanied by a little boy； also might be remarked
coming thither daily。 It was Miss Briggs and little Rawdon；
whose business it was to see to the inward renovation
of Sir Pitt's house； to superintend the female band
engaged in stitching the blinds and hangings； to poke
and rummage in the drawers and cupboards crammed
with the dirty relics and congregated trumperies of a
couple of generations of Lady Crawleys； and to take
inventories of the china； the glass； and other properties
in the closets and store…rooms。
Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley was general…in…chief over these
arrangements； with full orders from Sir Pitt to sell； barter；
confiscate； or purchase furniture； and she enjoyed herself
not a little in an occupation which gave full scope to her
taste and ingenuity。 The renovation of the house was
determined upon when Sir Pitt came to town in November
to see his lawyers； and when he passed nearly a week in
Curzon Street； under the roof of his affectionate brother
and sister。
He had put up at an hotel at first； but； Becky； as soon
as she heard of the Baronet's arrival； went off alone to
greet him； and returned in an hour to Curzon Street
with Sir Pitt in the carriage by her side。 It was impossible
sometimes to resist this artless little creature's hospitalities；
so kindly were they pressed； so frankly and amiably
offered。 Becky seized Pitt's hand in a transport of
gratitude when he agreed to come。 〃Thank you；〃 she
said； squeezing it and looking into the Baronet's eyes；
who blushed a good deal； 〃how happy this will make
Rawdon！〃 She bustled up to Pitt's bedroom； leading
on the servants； who were carrying his trunks thither。 She
came in herself laughing； with a coal…scuttle out of
her own room。
A fire was blazing already in Sir Pitt's apartment （it
was Miss Briggs's room； by the way； who was sent
upstairs to sleep with the maid）。 〃I knew I should bring
you；〃 she said with pleasure beaming in her glance。 Indeed；
she was really sincerely happy at having him for a guest。
Becky made Rawdon dine out once or twice on business；
while Pitt stayed with them； and the Baronet passed
the happy evening alone with her and Briggs。 She went
downstairs to the kitchen and actually cooked little
dishes for him。 〃Isn't it a good salmi？〃 she said； 〃I
made it for you。 I can make you better dishes than that；
and will when you come to see me。〃
〃Everything you do； you do well；〃 said the Baronet
gallantly。 〃The salmi is excellent indeed。〃
〃A poor man's wife；〃 Rebecca replied gaily； 〃must
make herself useful； you know〃； on which her brother…
in…law vowed that 〃she was fit to be the wife of an
Emperor； and that to be skilful in domestic duties was
surely one of the most charming of woman's qualities。〃
And Sir Pitt thought； with something like mortification；
of Lady Jane at home； and of a certain pie which she had
insisted on making； and serving to him at dinnera
most abominable pie。
Besides the salmi； which was made of Lord Steyne's
pheasants from his lordship's cottage of Stillbrook； Becky
gave her brother…in…law a bottle of white wine； some
that Rawdon had brought with him from France； and had
picked up for nothing； the little story…teller said； whereas
the liquor was； in truth； some White Hermitage from
the Marquis of Steyne's famous cellars； which brought fire
into the Baronet's pallid cheeks and a glow into his feeble
frame。
Then when he had drunk up the bottle of petit vin
blanc； she gave him her hand； and took him up to the
drawing…room； and made him snug on the sofa by the
fire； and let him talk as she listened with the tenderest
kindly interest； sitting by him； and hemming a shirt
for her dear little boy。 Whenever Mrs。 Rawdon wished
to be particularly humble and virtuous； this little shirt
used to come out of her work…box。 It had got to be too
small for Rawdon long before it was finished。
Well； Rebecca listened to Pitt； she talked to him； she
sang to him； she coaxed him； and cuddled him； so that
he found himself more and more glad every day to get
back from the lawyer's at Gray's Inn； to the blazing fire
in Curzon Streeta gladness in which the men of law
likewise participated； for Pitt's harangues were of the
longestand so that when he went away he felt quite a
pang at departing。 How pretty she looked kissing her
hand to him from the carriage and waving her handkerchief
when he had taken his place in the mail！ She put
the handkerchief to her eyes once。 He pulled his
sealskin cap over his； as the coach drove away； and；
sinking back； he thought to himself how she respected
him and how he deserved it； and how Rawdon was a foolish
dull fellow who didn't half…appreciate his wife； and
how mum and stupid his own wife was compared to that
brilliant little Becky。 Becky had hinted every one of these
things herself； perhaps； but so delicately and gently that
you hardly knew when or where。 And； before they
parted； it was agreed that the house in London should be
redecorated for the next season； and that the brothers'
families should meet again in the country at Christmas。
〃I wish you could have got a little money out of
him；〃 Rawdon said to his wife moodily when the Baronet
was gone。 〃I should like to give something to old Raggles；
hanged if I shouldn't。 It ain't right； you know； that the
old fellow should be kept out of all his money。 It may be
inconvenient； and he might let to somebody else besides
us； you know。〃
〃Tell him；〃 said Becky； 〃that as soon as Sir Pitt's
affairs are settled； everybody will be paid； and give him a
little something on account。 Here's a cheque that Pitt
left for the boy；〃 and she took from her bag and gave
her husband a paper which his brother had handed over
to her； on behalf of the little son and heir of the younger
branch of the Crawleys。
The truth is； she had tried personally the ground on
which her husband expressed a wish that she should
venturetried it ever so delicately； and found it unsafe。
Even at a hint about embarrassments； Sir Pitt Crawley was
off and alarmed。 And he began a long speech； explaining
how straitened he himself was in money matters； how
the tenants would not pay； how his father's affairs； and
the expenses attendant upon the demise of the old
gentleman； had involved him； how he wanted to pay off
incumbrances； and how the bankers and agents were
overdrawn； and Pitt Crawley ended by making a
compromise with his sister…in…law and giving her a very
small sum for the benefit of her little boy。
Pitt knew how poor his brother and his brother's family
must be。 It could not have escaped the notice of such a
cool and experienced old diplomatist that Rawdon's family
had nothing to live upon； and that houses and carriages
are not to be kept for nothing。 He knew very well that
he was the proprietor or appropriator of the money；
which； according to all proper calculation； ought to have
fallen to his younger brother； and he had； we may be sure；
somesecret pangs of remorse within him； which warned
him that he ought to perform some act of justice；
or； let us say； compensation； towards these disappointed
relations。 A just； decent man； not without brains；
who said his prayers； and knew his catechism； and
did his duty outwardly through life； he could not be
otherwise than aware that something was due to his
brother at his hands； and that morally he was Rawdon's
debtor。
But； as one reads in the columns of the Times newspaper
every now and then； queer announcements from
the Chancellor of the Exchequer； acknowledging the receipt
of 50 pounds from A。 B。； or 10 pounds from W。 T。； as
conscience…money； on account of taxes due by the said
A。 B。 or W。 T。； which payments the penitents beg the
Right Honourable gentleman to acknowledge through the
medium of the public pressso is the Chancellor no
doubt； and the reader likewise； always perfectly sure that
the above…named A。 B。 and W。 T。 are only paying a
very small instalment of what they really owe； and that
the man who sends up a twenty…pound note has very
likely hundreds or thousands more for which he ought
to account。 Such； at least； are my feelings； when I see
A。 B。 or W。 T。's insufficient acts of repentance。 And I
have no doubt that Pitt Crawley's contrition； or kindness
if you will； towards his younger brother； by whom
he had so much profited； was only a very small dividend
upon the capital sum in which he was indebted to Rawdon。
Not everybody is willing to pay even so much。 To part
with money is a sacrifice beyond almost all men endowed
with a sense of order。 There is scarcely any man alive
who does not think himself meritorious for giving
his neighbour five pounds。 Thriftless gives； not from a
beneficent pleasure in giving； but from a lazy delight in
spending。 He would not deny himself one enjoyment； not
his opera…stall； not his horse； not his dinner； not even
the pleasure of giving Lazarus the five pounds。 Thrifty；
who is good； wise； just； and owes no man a penny； turns
from a beggar； haggles with a hackney…coachman； or
denies a poor relation； and I doubt which is the most
selfish of the two。 Money has only a different value in
the eyes of each。
So； in a word； Pitt Crawley thought he would do something
for his brother； and then thought that he would think
about it some other time。
And with regard to Becky； she was not a woman who
expected too much from the generosity of her
neighbours； and so was quite content with all that Pitt Crawley
had done for her。 She was acknowledged by the head
of the family。 If Pitt would not give her anything； he
would