on　his　good　fortune。　　He　sent　his　affectionate　remembrances
  to　his　sister；　and　hoped　to　have　her　good…will　for
  Mrs。　Rawdon；　and　the　letter　concluded　with　a　postscript
  to　Pitt　in　the　latter　lady's　own　handwriting。　　She；　too；
  begged　to　join　in　her　husband's　congratulations。　　She　should
  ever　remember　Mr。　Crawley's　kindness　to　her　in　early
  days　when　she　was　a　friendless　orphan；　the　instructress　of
  his　little　sisters；　in　whose　welfare　she　still　took　the
  tenderest　interest。　　She　wished　him　every　happiness　in　his
  married　life；　and；　asking　his　permission　to　offer　her
  remembrances　to　Lady　Jane　（of　whose　goodness　all　the
  world　informed　her）；　she　hoped　that　one　day　she　might
  be　allowed　to　present　her　little　boy　to　his　uncle　and　aunt；
  and　begged　to　bespeak　for　him　their　good…will　and
  protection。
  Pitt　Crawley　received　this　communication　very
  graciouslymore　graciously　than　Miss　Crawley　had　received
  some　of　Rebecca's　previous　compositions　in　Rawdon's
  handwriting；　and　as　for　Lady　Jane；　she　was　so　charmed
  with　the　letter　that　she　expected　her　husband　would
  instantly　divide　his　aunt's　legacy　into　two　equal　portions
  and　send　off　one…half　to　his　brother　at　Paris。
  To　her　Ladyship's　surprise；　however；　Pitt　declined　to
  accommodate　his　brother　with　a　cheque　for　thirty
  thousand　pounds。　　But　he　made　Rawdon　a　handsome　offer
  of　his　hand　whenever　the　latter　should　come　to　England
  and　choose　to　take　it；　and；　thanking　Mrs。　Crawley　for
  her　good　opinion　of　himself　and　Lady　Jane；　he　graciously
  pronounced　his　willingness　to　take　any　opportunity　to
  serve　her　little　boy。
  Thus　an　almost　reconciliation　was　brought　about
  between　the　brothers。　　When　Rebecca　came　to　town　Pitt
  and　his　wife　were　not　in　London。　　Many　a　time　she　drove
  by　the　old　door　in　Park　Lane　to　see　whether　they　had
  taken　possession　of　Miss　Crawley's　house　there。　　But　the
  new　family　did　not　make　its　appearance；　it　was　only
  through　Raggles　that　she　heard　of　their　movementshow
  Miss　Crawley's　domestics　had　been　dismissed　with　decent
  gratuities；　and　how　Mr。　Pitt　had　only　once　made　his
  appearance　in　London；　when　he　stopped　for　a　few　days
  at　the　house；　did　business　with　his　lawyers　there；　and　sold
  off　all　Miss　Crawley's　French　novels　to　a　bookseller　out
  of　Bond　Street。　　Becky　had　reasons　of　her　own　which
  caused　her　to　long　for　the　arrival　of　her　new　relation。
  〃When　Lady　Jane　comes；〃　thought　she；　〃she　shall　be　my
  sponsor　in　London　society；　and　as　for　the　women！　bah！
  the　women　will　ask　me　when　they　find　the　men　want　to
  see　me。〃
  An　article　as　necessary　to　a　lady　in　this　position　as　her
  brougham　or　her　bouquet　is　her　companion。　　I　have
  always　admired　the　way　in　which　the　tender　creatures；　who
  cannot　exist　without　sympathy；　hire　an　exceedingly　plain
  friend　of　their　own　sex　from　whom　they　are　almost
  inseparable。　　The　sight　of　that　inevitable　woman　in　her
  faded　gown　seated　behind　her　dear　friend　in　the　opera…
  box；　or　occupying　the　back　seat　of　the　barouche；　is
  always　a　wholesome　and　moral　one　to　me；　as　jolly　a
  reminder　as　that　of　the　Death's…head　which　figured　in
  the　repasts　of　Egyptian　bon…vivants；　a　strange　sardonic
  memorial　of　Vanity　Fair。　　What？　even　battered；　brazen；
  beautiful；　conscienceless；　heartless；　Mrs。　Firebrace；　whose
  father　died　of　her　shame：　　even　lovely；　daring　Mrs。
  Mantrap；　who　will　ride　at　any　fence　which　any　man　in
  England　will　take；　and　who　drives　her　greys　in　the
  park；　while　her　mother　keeps　a　huckster's　stall　in　Bath
  stilleven　those　who　are　so　bold；　one　might　fancy
  they　could　face　anything　dare　not　face　the　world　without
  a　female　friend。　　They　must　have　somebody　to　cling　to；　the
  affectionate　creatures！　　And　you　will　hardly　see　them　in
  any　public　place　without　a　shabby　companion　in　a　dyed
  silk；　sitting　somewhere　in　the　shade　close　behind　them。
  〃Rawdon；〃　said　Becky；　very　late　one　night；　as　a　party
  of　gentlemen　were　seated　round　her　crackling　drawing…
  room　fire　（for　the　men　came　to　her　house　to　finish　the
  night；　and　she　had　ice　and　coffee　for　them；　the　best　in
  London）：　　〃I　must　have　a　sheep…dog。〃
  〃A　what？〃　said　Rawdon；　looking　up　from　an　ecarte
  table。
  〃A　sheep…dog！〃　said　young　Lord　Southdown。　　〃My　dear
  Mrs。　Crawley；　what　a　fancy！　　Why　not　have　a　Danish
  dog？　I　know　of　one　as　big　as　a　camel…leopard；　by　Jove。
  It　would　almost　pull　your　brougham。　　Or　a　Persian
  greyhound；　eh？　（I　propose；　if　you　please）；　or　a　little　pug
  that　would　go　into　one　of　Lord　Steyne's　snuff…boxes？
  There's　a　man　at　Bayswater　got　one　with　such　a　nose　that
  you　mightI　mark　the　king　and　playthat　you　might
  hang　your　hat　on　it。〃
  〃I　mark　the　trick；〃　Rawdon　gravely　said。　　He　attended
  to　his　game　commonly　and　didn't　much　meddle　with
  the　conversation；　except　when　it　was　about　horses　and
  betting。
  〃What　CAN　you　want　with　a　shepherd's　dog？〃　the　lively
  little　Southdown　continued。
  〃I　mean　a　MORAL　shepherd's　dog；〃　said　Becky；　laughing
  and　looking　up　at　Lord　Steyne。
  〃What　the　devil's　that？〃　said　his　Lordship。
  〃A　dog　to　keep　the　wolves　off　me；〃　Rebecca　continued。
  〃A　companion。〃
  〃Dear　little　innocent　lamb；　you　want　one；〃　said　the
  marquis；　and　his　jaw　thrust　out；　and　he　began　to　grin
  hideously；　his　little　eyes　leering　towards　Rebecca。
  The　great　Lord　of　Steyne　was　standing　by　the　fire
  sipping　coffee。　　The　fire　crackled　and　blazed　pleasantly
  There　was　a　score　of　candles　sparkling　round　the　mantel
  piece；　in　all　sorts　of　quaint　sconces；　of　gilt　and　bronze　and
  porcelain。　　They　lighted　up　Rebecca's　figure　to　admiration；
  as　she　sat　on　a　sofa　covered　with　a　pattern　of　gaudy
  flowers。　　She　was　in　a　pink　dress　that　looked　as　fresh　as
  a　rose；　her　dazzling　white　arms　and　shoulders　were　half…
  covered　with　a　thin　hazy　scarf　through　which　they
  sparkled；　her　hair　hung　in　curls　round　her　neck；　one　of　her
  little　feet　peeped　out　from　the　fresh　crisp　folds　of　the
  silk：　　the　prettiest　little　foot　in　the　prettiest　little　sandal
  in　the　finest　silk　stocking　in　the　world。
  The　candles　lighted　up　Lord　Steyne's　shining　bald　head；
  which　was　fringed　with　red　hair。　　He　had　thick　bushy
  eyebrows；　with　little　twinkling　bloodshot　eyes；　surrounded
  by　a　thousand　wrinkles。　　His　jaw　was　underhung；　and
  when　he　laughed；　two　white　buck…teeth　protruded
  themselves　and　glistened　savagely　in　the　midst　of　the　grin。
  He　had　been　dining　with　royal　personages；　and　wore
  his　garter　and　ribbon。　　A　short　man　was　his　Lordship；
  broad…chested　and　bow…legged；　but　proud　of　the　fineness
  of　his　foot　and　ankle；　and　always　caressing　his　garter…
  knee。
  〃And　so　the　shepherd　is　not　enough；〃　said　he；　〃to
  defend　his　lambkin？〃
  〃The　shepherd　is　too　fond　of　playing　at　cards　and　going
  to　his　clubs；〃　answered　Becky；　laughing。
  〃　'Gad；　what　a　debauched　Corydon！〃　said　my　lord
  〃what　a　mouth　for　a　pipe！〃
  〃I　take　your　three　to　two；〃　here　said　Rawdon；　at　the
  card…table。
  〃Hark　at　Meliboeus；〃　snarled　the　noble　marquis；　〃he's
  pastorally　occupied　too：　　he's　shearing　a　Southdown。
  What　an　innocent　mutton；　hey？　Damme；　what　a　snowy
  fleece！〃
  Rebecca's　eyes　shot　out　gleams　of　scornful　humour。
  〃My　lord；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　a　knight　of　the　Order。〃
  He　had　the　collar　round　his　neck；　indeeda　gift　of　the
  restored　princes　of　Spain。
  Lord　Steyne　in　early　life　had　been　notorious　for　his
  daring　and　his　success　at　play。　　He　had　sat　up　two　days
  and　two　nights　with　Mr。　Fox　at　hazard。　　He　had　won
  money　of　the　most　august　personages　of　the　realm：　　he
  had　won　his　marquisate；　it　was　said；　at　the　gaming…
  table；　but　he　did　not　like　an　allusion　to　those　bygone
  fredaines。　　Rebecca　saw　the　scowl　gathering　over　his　heavy
  brow。
  She　rose　up　from　her　sofa　and　went　and　took　his　coffee
  cup　out　of　his　hand　with　a　little　curtsey。　　〃Yes；〃　she　said；
  〃I　must　get　a　watchdog。　　But　he　won't　bark　at　YOU。
  And；　going　into　the　other　drawing…room；　she　sat　down　to
  the　piano　and　began　to　sing　little　French　songs　in　such　a
  charming；　thrilling　voice　that　the　mollified　nobleman
  speedily　followed　her　into　that　chamber；　and　might　be　seen
  nodding　his　head　and　bowing　time　over　her。
  Rawdon　and　his　friend　meanwhile　played　ecarte　until
  they　had　enough。　　The　Colonel　won；　but；　say　that　he　won
  ever　so　much　and　often；　nights　like　these；　which　occurred
  many　times　in　the　weekhis　wife　having　all　the　talk　and
  all　the　admiration；　and　he　sitting　silent　without　the　circle；
  not　comprehending　a　word　of　the　jokes；　the　allusions；　the
  mystical　language　withinmust　have　been　rather
  wearisome　to　the　ex…dragoon。
  〃How　is　Mrs。　Crawley's　husband？〃　Lord　Steyne　used
  to　say　to　him　by　way　of　a　good　day　when　they　met；　and
  indeed　that　was　now　his　avocation　in　life。　　He　was
  Colonel　Crawley　no　more。　　He　was　Mrs。　Crawley's　husband。
  About　the　little　Rawdon；　if　nothing　has　been　said　all
  this　while；　it　is　because　he　is　hidden　upstairs　in　a　garret
  somewhere；　or　has　crawled　below　into　the　kitchen　for
  companionship。　　His　mother　scarcely　ever　took　notice　of
  him。　　He　passed　the　days　with　his　French　bonne　as　long
  as　that　domestic　remained　in　Mr。　Crawley's　family；　and
  when　the　Frenchwoman　went　away；　the　little　fellow；
  howling　in　the　loneliness　of　the　night；　had　compassion　taken
  on　him　by　a　housemaid；　who　took　him　out　of　his　solitary
  nursery　into　her　bed　in　the　garret　hard　by　and　comforted
  him。
  Rebecca；　my　Lord　Steyne；　and　one　or　two　more　were
  in　the　drawing…room　takin