Then Rawdon followed in his old Guards' uniform；
which had grown woefully shabby； and was much too
tight。 He was to have followed the procession and waited
upon his sovereign in a cab； but that his good…natured
sister…in…law insisted that they should be a family party。
The coach was large； the ladies not very big； they would
hold their trains in their lapsfinally； the four went
fraternally together； and their carriage presently joined
the line of royal equipages which was making its way
down Piccadilly and St。 James's Street； towards the old
brick palace where the Star of Brunswick was in waiting
to receive his nobles and gentlefolks。
Becky felt as if she could bless the people out of the
carriage windows； so elated was she in spirit； and so
strong a sense had she of the dignified position which
she had at last attained in life。 Even our Becky had her
weaknesses； and as one often sees how men pride
themselves upon excellences which others are slow to
perceive： how； for instance； Comus firmly believes that he
is the greatest tragic actor in England； how Brown； the
famous novelist； longs to be considered； not a man of
genius； but a man of fashion； while Robinson； the great
lawyer； does not in the least care about his reputation in
Westminster Hall； but believes himself incomparable
across country and at a five…barred gateso to be； and
to be thought； a respectable woman was Becky's aim in
life； and she got up the genteel with amazing assiduity；
readiness； and success。 We have said； there were times
when she believed herself to be a fine lady and forgot
that there was no money in the chest at homeduns
round the gate； tradesmen to coax and wheedleno
ground to walk upon； in a word。 And as she went to
Court in the carriage； the family carriage； she adopted a
demeanour so grand； self…satisfied； deliberate； and
imposing that it made even Lady Jane laugh。 She walked
into the royal apartments with a toss of the head which
would have befitted an empress； and I have no doubt had
she been one； she would have become the character
perfectly。
We are authorized to state that Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley's
costume de cour on the occasion of her presentation
to the Sovereign was of the most elegant and brilliant
description。 Some ladies we may have seenwe
who wear stars and cordons and attend the St。 James's
assemblies； or we； who； in muddy boots； dawdle up and
down Pall Mall and peep into the coaches as they drive
up with the great folks in their featherssome ladies of
fashion； I say； we may have seen； about two o'clock of
the forenoon of a levee day； as the laced…jacketed band
of the Life Guards are blowing triumphal marches seated
on those prancing music…stools； their cream…coloured
chargerswho are by no means lovely and enticing
objects at that early period of noon。 A stout countess of
sixty； decolletee； painted； wrinkled with rouge up to her
drooping eyelids； and diamonds twinkling in her wig； is a
wholesome and edifying； but not a pleasant sight。 She
has the faded look of a St。 James's Street illumination； as
it may be seen of an early morning； when half the lamps
are out； and the others are blinking wanly； as if they
were about to vanish like ghosts before the dawn。 Such
charms as those of which we catch glimpses while her
ladyship's carriage passes should appear abroad at night
alone。 If even Cynthia looks haggard of an afternoon； as
we may see her sometimes in the present winter season；
with Phoebus staring her out of countenance from the
opposite side of the heavens； how much more can old
Lady Castlemouldy keep her head up when the sun is
shining full upon it through the chariot windows； and
showing all the chinks and crannies with which time has
marked her face！ No。 Drawing…rooms should be
announced for November； or the first foggy day； or the
elderly sultanas of our Vanity Fair should drive up in
closed litters； descend in a covered way； and make their
curtsey to the Sovereign under the protection of lamplight。
Our beloved Rebecca had no need； however； of any
such a friendly halo to set off her beauty。 Her complexion
could bear any sunshine as yet； and her dress； though if
you were to see it now； any present lady of Vanity Fair
would pronounce it to be the most foolish and preposterous
attire ever worn； was as handsome in her eyes
and those of the public； some five…and…twenty years since；
as the most brilliant costume of the most famous beauty
of the present season。 A score of years hence that too；
that milliner's wonder； will have passed into the domain
of the absurd； along with all previous vanities。 But we
are wandering too much。 Mrs。 Rawdon's dress was
pronounced to be charmante on the eventful day of her
presentation。 Even good little Lady Jane was forced to
acknowledge this effect； as she looked at her kinswoman；
and owned sorrowfully to herself that she was quite
inferior in taste to Mrs。 Becky。
She did not know how much care； thought； and genius
Mrs。 Rawdon had bestowed upon that garment。 Rebecca
had as good taste as any milliner in Europe； and such a
clever way of doing things as Lady Jane little understood。
The latter quickly spied out the magnificence of the
brocade of Becky's train； and the splendour of the lace on
her dress。
The brocade was an old remnant； Becky said； and as
for the lace； it was a great bargain。 She had had it these
hundred years。
〃My dear Mrs。 Crawley； it must have cost a little
fortune；〃 Lady Jane said； looking down at her own lace；
which was not nearly so good； and then examining the
quality of the ancient brocade which formed the
material of Mrs。 Rawdon's Court dress； she felt inclined to
say that she could not afford such fine clothing； but
checked that speech； with an effort； as one uncharitable
to her kinswoman。
And yet； if Lady Jane had known all； I think even her
kindly temper would have failed her。 The fact is； when
she was putting Sir Pitt's house in order； Mrs。 Rawdon
had found the lace and the brocade in old wardrobes；
the property of the former ladies of the house； and had
quietly carried the goods home； and had suited them to
her own little person。 Briggs saw her take them； asked
no questions； told no stories； but I believe quite
sympathised with her on this matter； and so would
many another honest woman。
And the diamonds〃Where the doose did you get the
diamonds； Becky？〃 said her husband； admiring some
jewels which he had never seen before and which sparkled
in her ears and on her neck with brilliance and profusion。
Becky blushed a little and looked at him hard for a
moment。 Pitt Crawley blushed a little too； and looked
out of window。 The fact is； he had given her a very
small portion of the brilliants； a pretty diamond clasp；
which confined a pearl necklace which she wore… and the
Baronet had omitted to mention the circumstance to
his lady。
Becky looked at her husband； and then at Sir Pitt；
with an air of saucy triumphas much as to say； 〃Shall
I betray you？〃
〃Guess！〃 she said to her husband。 〃Why； you silly
man；〃 she continued； 〃where do you suppose I got them？
all except the little clasp； which a dear friend of mine
gave me long ago。 I hired them； to be sure。 I hired them
at Mr。 Polonius's； in Coventry Street。 You don't suppose
that all the diamonds which go to Court belong to the
wearers； like those beautiful stones which Lady Jane has；
and which are much handsomer than any which I have；
I am certain。〃
〃They are family jewels；〃 said Sir Pitt； again looking
uneasy。 And in this family conversation the carriage
rolled down the street； until its cargo was finally
discharged at the gates of the palace where the Sovereign
was sitting in state。
The diamonds； which had created Rawdon's admiration；
never went back to Mr。 Polonius； of Coventry Street； and
that gentleman never applied for their restoration； but
they retired into a little private repository； in an old desk；
which Amelia Sedley had given her years and years ago；
and in which Becky kept a number of useful and；
perhaps； valuable things； about which her husband
knew nothing。 To know nothing； or little； is in the
nature of some husbands。 To hide； in the nature of how
many women？ Oh； ladies！ how many of you have
surreptitious milliners' bills？ How many of you have gowns
and bracelets which you daren't show； or which you wear
trembling？trembling； and coaxing with smiles the
husband by your side； who does not know the new velvet
gown from the old one； or the new bracelet from last
year's； or has any notion that the ragged…looking yellow
lace scarf cost forty guineas and that Madame Bobinot is
writing dunning letters every week for the money！
Thus Rawdon knew nothing about the brilliant diamond
ear…rings； or the superb brilliant ornament which
decorated the fair bosom of his lady； but Lord Steyne；
who was in his place at Court； as Lord of the Powder
Closet； and one of the great dignitaries and illustrious
defences of the throne of England； and came up with all
his stars； garters； collars； and cordons； and paid particular
attention to the little woman； knew whence the jewels
came and who paid for them。
As he bowed over her he smiled； and quoted the
hackneyed and beautiful lines from The Rape of the Lock
about Belinda's diamonds； 〃which Jews might kiss and
infidels adore。〃
〃But I hope your lordship is orthodox；〃 said the little
lady with a toss of her head。 And many ladies round
about whispered and talked； and many gentlemen nodded
and whispered； as they saw what marked attention the
great nobleman was paying to the little adventuress。
What were the circumstances of the interview between
Rebecca Crawley； nee Sharp； and her Imperial Master；
it does not become such a feeble and inexperienced pen
as mine to attempt to relate。 The dazzled eyes close
before that Magnificent Idea。 Loyal respect and decency tell
even the imagination not to look too keenly and audaciously
about the sacred audience…chamber； but to back away
rapidly； silently； and respectfully； making profound
bows out of the August Presence。
This may be said； that in all London there was no
more loyal heart than Becky's after this interview。 The
name of her king was always on