although I have a shrewd idea that it is a humbug；
so an uninitiated man cannot take upon himself to
portray the great world accurately； and had best keep his
opinions to himself； whatever they are。
Becky has often spoken in subsequent years of this
season of her life； when she moved among the very
greatest circles of the London fashion。 Her success
excited； elated； and then bored her。 At first no occupation
was more pleasant than to invent and procure （the latter
a work of no small trouble and ingenuity； by the way； in
a person of Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley's very narrow means）
to procure； we say； the prettiest new dresses and
ornaments； to drive to fine dinner parties； where she was
welcomed by great people； and from the fine dinner
parties to fine assemblies； whither the same people came
with whom she had been dining； whom she had met the
night before； and would see on the morrowthe young
men faultlessly appointed； handsomely cravatted； with
the neatest glossy boots and white glovesthe elders
portly； brass…buttoned； noble…looking； polite； and prosy
the young ladies blonde； timid； and in pinkthe
mothers grand； beautiful； sumptuous； solemn； and in
diamonds。 They talked in English； not in bad French； as
they do in the novels。 They talked about each others'
houses； and characters； and familiesjust as the Joneses
do about the Smiths。 Becky's former acquaintances hated
and envied her； the poor woman herself was yawning in
spirit。 〃I wish I were out of it；〃 she said to herself。 〃I
would rather be a parson's wife and teach a Sunday
school than this； or a sergeant's lady and ride in the
regimental waggon； or； oh； how much gayer it would be
to wear spangles and trousers and dance before a booth
at a fair。〃
〃You would do it very well；〃 said Lord Steyne； laughing。
She used to tell the great man her ennuis and
perplexities in her artless waythey amused him。
〃Rawdon would make a very good EcuyerMaster of
the Ceremonieswhat do you call himthe man in the
large boots and the uniform； who goes round the ring
cracking the whip？ He is large； heavy； and of a military
figure。 I recollect；〃 Becky continued pensively； 〃my
father took me to see a show at Brookgreen Fair when I
was a child； and when we came home； I made myself a
pair of stilts and danced in the studio to the wonder of
all the pupils。〃
〃I should have liked to see it；〃 said Lord Steyne。
〃I should like to do it now；〃 Becky continued。 〃How
Lady Blinkey would open her eyes； and Lady Grizzel
Macbeth would stare！ Hush！ silence！ there is Pasta
beginning to sing。〃 Becky always made a point of being
conspicuously polite to the professional ladies and
gentlemen who attended at these aristocratic partiesof
following them into the corners where they sat in silence；
and shaking hands with them； and smiling in the view of
all persons。 She was an artist herself； as she said very
truly； there was a frankness and humility in the manner
in which she acknowledged her origin； which provoked；
or disarmed； or amused lookers…on； as the case might
be。 〃How cool that woman is；〃 said one； 〃what airs of
independence she assumes； where she ought to sit still
and be thankful if anybody speaks to her！〃 〃What an
honest and good…natured soul she is！〃 said another。
〃What an artful little minx〃 said a third。 They were all
right very likely； but Becky went her own way； and so
fascinated the professional personages that they would
leave off their sore throats in order to sing at her parties
and give her lessons for nothing。
Yes； she gave parties in the little house in Curzon
Street。 Many scores of carriages； with blazing lamps；
blocked up the street； to the disgust of No。 100； who
could not rest for the thunder of the knocking； and of
102； who could not sleep for envy。 The gigantic footmen
who accompanied the vehicles were too big to be
contained in Becky's little hall； and were billeted off in the
neighbouring public…houses； whence； when they were
wanted； call…boys summoned them from their beer。
Scores of the great dandies of London squeezed and
trod on each other on the little stairs； laughing to find
themselves there； and many spotless and severe ladies of
ton were seated in the little drawing…room； listening to
the professional singers； who were singing according to
their wont； and as if they wished to blow the windows
down。 And the day after； there appeared among the
fashionable reunions in the Morning Post a paragraph
to the following effect：
〃Yesterday； Colonel and Mrs。 Crawley entertained a
select party at dinner at their house in May Fair。 Their
Excellencies the Prince and Princess of Peterwaradin；
H。 E。 Papoosh Pasha； the Turkish Ambassador （attended
by Kibob Bey； dragoman of the mission）； the Marquess
of Steyne； Earl of Southdown； Sir Pitt and Lady
Jane Crawley； Mr。 Wagg； &c。 After dinner Mrs。 Crawley
had an assembly which was attended by the Duchess
（Dowager） of Stilton； Duc de la Gruyere； Marchioness
of Cheshire； Marchese Alessandro Strachino； Comte de
Brie； Baron Schapzuger； Chevalier Tosti； Countess of
Slingstone； and Lady F。 Macadam； Major…General and
Lady G。 Macbeth； and （2） Miss Macbeths； Viscount
Paddington； Sir Horace Fogey； Hon。 Sands Bedwin；
Bobachy Bahawder；〃 and an &c。； which the reader may fill
at his pleasure through a dozen close lines of small type。
And in her commerce with the great our dear friend
showed the same frankness which distinguished her
transactions with the lowly in station。 On one occasion；
when out at a very fine house； Rebecca was （perhaps
rather ostentatiously） holding a conversation in the
French language with a celebrated tenor singer of that
nation； while the Lady Grizzel Macbeth looked over her
shoulder scowling at the pair。
〃How very well you speak French；〃 Lady Grizzel said；
who herself spoke the tongue in an Edinburgh accent
most remarkable to hear。
〃I ought to know it；〃 Becky modestly said； casting
down her eyes。 〃I taught it in a school； and my mother
was a Frenchwoman。〃
Lady Grizzel was won by her humility and was
mollified towards the little woman。 She deplored the fatal
levelling tendencies of the age； which admitted persons
of all classes into the society of their superiors； but her
ladyship owned that this one at least was well behaved
and never forgot her place in life。 She was a very good
woman： good to the poor； stupid； blameless； unsuspicious。
It is not her ladyship's fault that she fancies herself
better than you and me。 The skirts of her ancestors'
garments have been kissed for centuries； it is a thousand
years； they say； since the tartans of the head of the
family were embraced by the defunct Duncan's lords and
councillors； when the great ancestor of the House
became King of Scotland。
Lady Steyne； after the music scene； succumbed before
Becky； and perhaps was not disinclined to her。 The
younger ladies of the house of Gaunt were also
compelled into submission。 Once or twice they set people at
her； but they failed。 The brilliant Lady Stunnington tried
a passage of arms with her； but was routed with great
slaughter by the intrepid little Becky。 When attacked
sometimes； Becky had a knack of adopting a demure
ingenue air； under which she was most dangerous。 She
said the wickedest things with the most simple unaffected
air when in this mood； and would take care artlessly to
apologize for her blunders； so that all the world should
know that she had made them。
Mr。 Wagg； the celebrated wit； and a led captain and
trencher…man of my Lord Steyne； was caused by the
ladies to charge her； and the worthy fellow； leering at his
patronesses and giving them a wink； as much as to say；
〃Now look out for sport；〃 one evening began an assault
upon Becky； who was unsuspiciously eating her dinner。
The little woman； attacked on a sudden； but never
without arms； lighted up in an instant； parried and riposted
with a home…thrust； which made Wagg's face tingle with
shame； then she returned to her soup with the most
perfect calm and a quiet smile on her face。 Wagg's great
patron； who gave him dinners and lent him a little money
sometimes； and whose election； newspaper； and other
jobs Wagg did； gave the luckless fellow such a savage
glance with the eyes as almost made him sink under the
table and burst into tears。 He looked piteously at my
lord； who never spoke to him during dinner； and at the
ladies； who disowned him。 At last Becky herself took
compassion upon him and tried to engage him in talk。
He was not asked to dinner again for six weeks； and
Fiche； my lord's confidential man； to whom Wagg
naturally paid a good deal of court； was instructed to tell
him that if he ever dared to say a rude thing to Mrs。
Crawley again； or make her the butt of his stupid jokes；
Milor would put every one of his notes of hand into his
lawyer's hands and sell him up without mercy。 Wagg
wept before Fiche and implored his dear friend to intercede
for him。 He wrote a poem in favour of Mrs。 R。 C。；
which appeared in the very next number of the Harum…
scarum Magazine； which he conducted。 He implored her
good…will at parties where he met her。 He cringed and
coaxed Rawdon at the club。 He was allowed to come back
to Gaunt House after a while。 Becky was always good to
him； always amused； never angry。
His lordship's vizier and chief confidential servant
（with a seat in parliament and at the dinner table）； Mr。
Wenham； was much more prudent in his behaviour and
opinions than Mr。 Wagg。 However much he might be
disposed to hate all parvenus （Mr。 Wenham himself was a
staunch old True Blue Tory； and his father a small coal…
merchant in the north of England）； this aide…de…camp of
the Marquis never showed any sort of hostility to the
new favourite； but pursued her with stealthy kindnesses
and a sly and deferential politeness which somehow
made Becky more uneasy than other people's overt
hostilities。
How the Crawleys got the money which was spent
upon the entertainments with which they treated the
polite world was a mystery which gave rise to some
conversation at the time； and probably added zest to these
little festivities。 Some persons averred that Sir Pitt Crawley
gave his brother a handsome allowance； if he