moaned the fickleness of her Matilda。 At the end of half
an hour； the meal over； Miss Rebecca Sharp （for such；
astonishing to state； is the name of her who has been
described ingeniously as 〃the person〃 hitherto）； went
upstairs again to her patient's rooms； from which； with
the most engaging politeness； she eliminated poor Firkin。
〃Thank you； Mrs。 Firkin； that will quite do； how nicely
you make it！ I will ring when anything is wanted。〃 〃Thank
you〃； and Firkin came downstairs in a tempest of
jealousy； only the more dangerous because she was forced
to confine it in her own bosom。
Could it be the tempest which； as she passed the
landing of the first floor； blew open the drawing…room door？
No； it was stealthily opened by the hand of Briggs。
Briggs had been on the watch。 Briggs too well heard the
creaking Firkin descend the stairs； and the clink of the
spoon and gruel…basin the neglected female carried。
〃Well； Firkin？〃 says she； as the other entered the
apartment。 〃Well； Jane？〃
〃Wuss and wuss； Miss B。；〃 Firkin said； wagging her
head。
〃Is she not better then？〃
〃She never spoke but once； and I asked her if she felt
a little more easy； and she told me to hold my stupid
tongue。 Oh； Miss B。； I never thought to have seen this
day！〃 And the water…works again began to play。
〃What sort of a person is this Miss Sharp； Firkin？ I
little thought； while enjoying my Christmas revels in the
elegant home of my firm friends； the Reverend Lionel
Delamere and his amiable lady； to find a stranger had
taken my place in the affections of my dearest； my still
dearest Matilda！〃 Miss Briggs； it will be seen by her
language； was of a literary and sentimental turn； and had
once published a volume of poems〃Trills of the
Nightingale〃by subscription。
〃Miss B。； they are all infatyated about that young
woman；〃 Firkin replied。 〃Sir Pitt wouldn't have let her
go； but he daredn't refuse Miss Crawley anything。 Mrs。
Bute at the Rectory jist as badnever happy out of her
sight。 The Capting quite wild about her。 Mr。 Crawley
mortial jealous。 Since Miss C。 was took ill； she won't
have nobody near her but Miss Sharp； I can't tell for
where nor for why； and I think somethink has bewidged
everybody。〃
Rebecca passed that night in constant watching upon
Miss Crawley； the next night the old lady slept so
comfortably； that Rebecca had time for several hours'
comfortable repose herself on the sofa； at the foot of her
patroness's bed； very soon； Miss Crawley was so well
that she sat up and laughed heartily at a perfect
imitation of Miss Briggs and her grief； which Rebecca
described to her。 Briggs' weeping snuffle； and her manner
of using the handkerchief； were so completely rendered
that Miss Crawley became quite cheerful； to the
admiration of the doctors when they visited her； who usually
found this worthy woman of the world； when the least
sickness attacked her； under the most abject depression
and terror of death。
Captain Crawley came every day； and received bulletins
from Miss Rebecca respecting his aunt's health。
This improved so rapidly； that poor Briggs was allowed
to see her patroness； and persons with tender hearts
may imagine the smothered emotions of that sentimental
female； and the affecting nature of the interview。
Miss Crawley liked to have Briggs in a good deal
soon。 Rebecca used to mimic her to her face with the
most admirable gravity； thereby rendering the imitation
doubly piquant to her worthy patroness。
The causes which had led to the deplorable illness of
Miss Crawley； and her departure from her brother's
house in the country； were of such an unromantic nature
that they are hardly fit to be explained in this genteel
and sentimental novel。 For how is it possible to hint of a
delicate female； living in good society； that she ate and
drank too much； and that a hot supper of lobsters
profusely enjoyed at the Rectory was the reason of an
indisposition which Miss Crawley herself persisted was
solely attributable to the dampness of the weather？ The
attack was so sharp that Matildaas his Reverence
expressed itwas very nearly 〃off the hooks〃； all the
family were in a fever of expectation regarding the will；
and Rawdon Crawley was making sure of at least forty
thousand pounds before the commencement of the
London season。 Mr。 Crawley sent over a choice parcel of
tracts； to prepare her for the change from Vanity Fair
and Park Lane for another world； but a good doctor
from Southampton being called in in time； vanquished
the lobster which was so nearly fatal to her； and gave
her sufficient strength to enable her to return to London。
The Baronet did not disguise his exceeding mortification
at the turn which affairs took。
While everybody was attending on Miss Crawley； and
messengers every hour from the Rectory were carrying
news of her health to the affectionate folks there； there
was a lady in another part of the house； being exceedingly
ill； of whom no one took any notice at all； and this was
the lady of Crawley herself。 The good doctor shook his
head after seeing her； to which visit Sir Pitt consented；
as it could be paid without a fee； and she was left fading
away in her lonely chamber； with no more heed paid to
her than to a weed in the park。
The young ladies； too； lost much of the inestimable
benefit of their governess's instruction； So affectionate a
nurse was Miss Sharp； that Miss Crawley would take
her medicines from no other hand。 Firkin had been
deposed long before her mistress's departure from the
country。 That faithful attendant found a gloomy consolation
on returning to London； in seeing Miss Briggs suffer
the same pangs of jealousy and undergo the same
faithless treatment to which she herself had been subject。
Captain Rawdon got an extension of leave on his
aunt's illness； and remained dutifully at home。 He was
always in her antechamber。 （She lay sick in the state
bedroom； into which you entered by the little blue
saloon。） His father was always meeting him there； or if he
came down the corridor ever so quietly； his father's
door was sure to open； and the hyena face of the old
gentleman to glare out。 What was it set one to watch
the other so？ A generous rivalry； no doubt； as to which
should be most attentive to the dear sufferer in the state
bedroom。 Rebecca used to come out and comfort both
of them； or one or the other of them rather。 Both of
these worthy gentlemen were most anxious to have news
of the invalid from her little confidential messenger。
At dinnerto which meal she descended for half an
hourshe kept the peace between them： after which she
disappeared for the night； when Rawdon would ride over
to the depot of the 150th at Mudbury； leaving his papa
to the society of Mr。 Horrocks and his rum and water。
She passed as weary a fortnight as ever mortal spent in
Miss Crawley's sick…room； but her little nerves seemed
to be of iron； as she was quite unshaken by the duty and
the tedium of the sick…chamber。
She never told until long afterwards how painful that
duty was； how peevish a patient was the jovial old lady；
how angry； how sleepless； in what horrors of death；
during what long nights she lay moaning； and in almost
delirious agonies respecting that future world which she
quite ignored when she was in good health。Picture to
yourself； oh fair young reader； a worldly； selfish；
graceless； thankless； religionless old woman； writhing in pain
and fear； and without her wig。 Picture her to yourself；
and ere you be old； learn to love and pray！
Sharp watched this graceless bedside with indomitable
patience。 Nothing escaped her； and； like a prudent steward；
she found a use for everything。 She told many a
good story about Miss Crawley's illness in after days
stories which made the lady blush through her artificial
carnations。 During the illness she was never out of
temper； always alert； she slept light； having a perfectly clear
conscience； and could take that refreshment at almost
any minute's warning。 And so you saw very few traces of
fatigue in her appearance。 Her face might be a trifle
paler； and the circles round her eyes a little blacker than
usual； but whenever she came out from the sick…room
she was always smiling； fresh； and neat； and looked as
trim in her little dressing…gown and cap； as in her
smartest evening suit。
The Captain thought so； and raved about her in
uncouth convulsions。 The barbed shaft of love had
penetrated his dull hide。 Six weeksappropinquity
opportunityhad victimised him completely。 He made a
confidante of his aunt at the Rectory； of all persons in the
world。 She rallied him about it； she had perceived his
folly； she warned him； she finished by owning that little
Sharp was the most clever； droll； odd； good…natured；
simple； kindly creature in England。 Rawdon must not
trifle with her affections； thoughdear Miss Crawley
would never pardon him for that； for she； too； was quite
overcome by the little governess； and loved Sharp like a
daughter。 Rawdon must go awaygo back to his
regiment and naughty London； and not play with a poor
artless girl's feelings。
Many and many a time this good…natured lady；
compassionating the forlorn life…guardsman's condition；
gave him an opportunity of seeing Miss Sharp at the Rectory；
and of walking home with her； as we have seen。 When
men of a certain sort； ladies； are in love； though they
see the hook and the string； and the whole apparatus
with which they are to be taken； they gorge the bait
neverthelessthey must come to itthey must swallow
itand are presently struck and landed gasping。 Rawdon
saw there was a manifest intention on Mrs。 Bute's part
to captivate him with Rebecca。 He was not very wise；
but he was a man about town； and had seen several
seasons。 A light dawned upon his dusky soul； as he thought；
through a speech of Mrs。 Bute's。
〃Mark my words； Rawdon；〃 she said。 〃You will have
Miss Sharp one day for your relation。〃
〃What relationmy cousin； hey； Mrs。 Bute？ James
sweet on her； hey？〃 inquired the waggish officer。
〃More than that；〃 Mrs。 Bute said； with a flash from
her black eyes。
〃Not Pitt？ He sha'n't have her。 The