not all his conversation during dinner…time tended to
prove there was none？ He became very confused and
silent。
〃I must and will go；〃 Amelia cried with the greatest
spirit； and George； applauding her resolution； patted her
under the chin； and asked all the persons present if
they ever saw such a termagant of a wife； and agreed
that the lady should bear him company。 〃We'll have
Mrs。 O'Dowd to chaperon you；〃 he said。 What cared she
so long as her husband was near her？ Thus somehow
the bitterness of a parting was juggled away。 Though war
and danger were in store； war and danger might not
befall for months to come。 There was a respite at any rate；
which made the timid little Amelia almost as happy as
a full reprieve would have done； and which even Dobbin
owned in his heart was very welcome。 For； to be permitted
to see her was now the greatest privilege and hope
of his life； and he thought with himself secretly how he
would watch and protect her。 I wouldn't have let her go
if I had been married to her； he thought。 But George was
the master； and his friend did not think fit to remonstrate。
Putting her arm round her friend's waist； Rebecca at
length carried Amelia off from the dinner…table where so
much business of importance had been discussed； and
left the gentlemen in a highly exhilarated state； drinking
and talking very gaily。
In the course of the evening Rawdon got a little family…
note from his wife； which； although he crumpled it up
and burnt it instantly in the candle； we had the good
luck to read over Rebecca's shoulder。 〃Great news；〃 she
wrote。 〃Mrs。 Bute is gone。 Get the money from Cupid tonight；
as he'll be off to…morrow most likely。 Mind this。
R。〃 So when the little company was about adjourning
to coffee in the women's apartment； Rawdon touched
Osborne on the elbow； and said gracefully； 〃I say； Osborne；
my boy； if quite convenient； I'll trouble you for
that 'ere small trifle。〃 It was not quite convenient； but
nevertheless George gave him a considerable present
instalment in bank…notes from his pocket…book； and a bill
on his agents at a week's date； for the remaining sum。
This matter arranged； George； and Jos； and Dobbin；
held a council of war over their cigars； and agreed that a
general move should be made for London in Jos's open
carriage the next day。 Jos； I think； would have preferred
staying until Rawdon Crawley quitted Brighton； but Dobbin
and George overruled him； and he agreed to carry
the party to town； and ordered four horses； as became his
dignity。 With these they set off in state； after breakfast；
the next day。 Amelia had risen very early in the morning；
and packed her little trunks with the greatest alacrity；
while Osborne lay in bed deploring that she had not a
maid to help her。 She was only too glad； however； to
perform this office for herself。 A dim uneasy sentiment
about Rebecca filled her mind already； and although they
kissed each other most tenderly at parting； yet we know
what jealousy is； and Mrs。 Amelia possessed that among
other virtues of her sex。
Besides these characters who are coming and going
away； we must remember that there were some other old
friends of ours at Brighton； Miss Crawley； namely； and
the suite in attendance upon her。 Now； although Rebecca
and her husband were but at a few stones' throw of the
lodgings which the invalid Miss Crawley occupied； the
old lady's door remained as pitilessly closed to them as it
had been heretofore in London。 As long as she remained
by the side of her sister…in…law； Mrs。 Bute Crawley took
care that her beloved Matilda should not be agitated by a
meeting with her nephew。 When the spinster took her
drive； the faithful Mrs。 Bute sate beside her in the carriage。
When Miss Crawley took the air in a chair； Mrs。
Bute marched on one side of the vehicle； whilst honest
Briggs occupied the other wing。 And if they met Rawdon
and his wife by chancealthough the former constantly
and obsequiously took off his hat； the Miss…Crawley party
passed him by with such a frigid and killing indifference；
that Rawdon began to despair。
〃We might as well be in London as here；〃 Captain
Rawdon often said； with a downcast air。
〃A comfortable inn in Brighton is better than a
spunging…house in Chancery Lane；〃 his wife answered； who was
of a more cheerful temperament。 〃Think of those two
aides…de…camp of Mr。 Moses； the sheriff's…officer； who
watched our lodging for a week。 Our friends here are
very stupid； but Mr。 Jos and Captain Cupid are better
companions than Mr。 Moses's men； Rawdon； my love。〃
〃I wonder the writs haven't followed me down here；〃
Rawdon continued； still desponding。
〃When they do； we'll find means to give them the slip；〃
said dauntless little Becky； and further pointed out to her
husband the great comfort and advantage of meeting
Jos and Osborne； whose acquaintance had brought to
Rawdon Crawley a most timely little supply of ready
money。
〃It will hardly be enough to pay the inn bill；〃 grumbled
the Guardsman。
〃Why need we pay it？〃 said the lady； who had an answer
for everything。
Through Rawdon's valet； who still kept up a trifling
acquaintance with the male inhabitants of Miss Crawley's
servants' hall； and was instructed to treat the coachman
to drink whenever they met； old Miss Crawley's movements
were pretty well known by our young couple； and
Rebecca luckily bethought herself of being unwell； and of
calling in the same apothecary who was in attendance
upon the spinster； so that their information was on the
whole tolerably complete。 Nor was Miss Briggs； although
forced to adopt a hostile attitude； secretly inimical to
Rawdon and his wife。 She was naturally of a kindly and
forgiving disposition。 Now that the cause of jealousy was
removed； her dislike for Rebecca disappeared also； and
she remembered the latter's invariable good words
and good humour。 And； indeed； she and Mrs。
Firkin； the lady's…maid； and the whole of Miss Crawley's
household； groaned under the tyranny of the
triumphant Mrs。 Bute。
As often will be the case； that good but imperious
woman pushed her advantages too far； and her successes
quite unmercifully。 She had in the course of a few weeks
brought the invalid to such a state of helpless docility；
that the poor soul yielded herself entirely to her sister's
orders； and did not even dare to complain of her slavery
to Briggs or Firkin。 Mrs。 Bute measured out the glasses
of wine which Miss Crawley was daily allowed to take；
with irresistible accuracy； greatly to the annoyance of
Firkin and the butler； who found themselves deprived of
control over even the sherry…bottle。 She apportioned the
sweetbreads； jellies； chickens； their quantity and order。
Night and noon and morning she brought the abominable
drinks ordained by the Doctor； and made her patient
swallow them with so affecting an obedience that Firkin
said 〃my poor Missus du take her physic like a lamb。〃 She
prescribed the drive in the carriage or the ride in the
chair； and； in a word； ground down the old lady in her
convalescence in such a way as only belongs to your
proper…managing； motherly moral woman。 If ever the
patient faintly resisted； and pleaded for a little bit more
dinner or a little drop less medicine； the nurse threatened
her with instantaneous death； when Miss Crawley
instantly gave in。 〃She's no spirit left in her；〃 Firkin
remarked to Briggs； 〃she ain't ave called me a fool these
three weeks。〃 Finally； Mrs。 Bute had made up her mind
to dismiss the aforesaid honest lady's…maid； Mr。 Bowls
the large confidential man； and Briggs herself； and to
send for her daughters from the Rectory； previous to
removing the dear invalid bodily to Queen's Crawley； when
an odious accident happened which called her away from
duties so pleasing。 The Reverend Bute Crawley； her
husband； riding home one night； fell with his horse and
broke his collar…bone。 Fever and inflammatory symptoms
set in； and Mrs。 Bute was forced to leave Sussex for
Hampshire。 As soon as ever Bute was restored； she
promised to return to her dearest friend； and departed；
leaving the strongest injunctions with the household
regarding their behaviour to their mistress； and as soon as
she got into the Southampton coach； there was such a
jubilee and sense of relief in all Miss Crawley's house；
as the company of persons assembled there had not
experienced for many a week before。 That very day Miss
Crawley left off her afternoon dose of medicine： that
afternoon Bowls opened an independent bottle of sherry
for himself and Mrs。 Firkin： that night Miss Crawley
and Miss Briggs indulged in a game of piquet instead
of one of Porteus's sermons。 It was as in the old nursery…
story； when the stick forgot to beat the dog； and the
whole course of events underwent a peaceful and happy
revolution。
At a very early hour in the morning； twice or thrice a
week； Miss Briggs used to betake herself to a bathing…
machine； and disport in the water in a flannel gown and
an oilskin cap。 Rebecca； as we have seen； was aware of
this circumstance； and though she did not attempt to
storm Briggs as she had threatened； and actually dive
into that lady's presence and surprise her under the
sacredness of the awning； Mrs。 Rawdon determined to
attack Briggs as she came away from her bath； refreshed
and invigorated by her dip； and likely to be in good
humour。
So getting up very early the next morning； Becky
brought the telescope in their sitting…room； which faced
the sea； to bear upon the bathing…machines on the beach；
saw Briggs arrive； enter her box； and put out to sea；
and was on the shore just as the nymph of whom she
came in quest stepped out of the little caravan on to the
shingles。 It was a pretty picture： the beach； the bathing…
women's faces； the long line of rocks and building were
blushing and bright in the sunshine。 Rebecca wore a kind；
tender smile on her face； and was holding out her pretty
white hand as Briggs emerged from the box。 What could
Briggs do but accept the salutation？
〃Miss ShMrs。 Crawley；〃 she said。
Mrs。 Crawley seized her hand； pressed it to her heart；
and with a sudden impulse； flinging her arms round
Briggs； kissed her affectionately。