ButwhenLoveheardthatawfulconfessionfromBeautythatshewasmarriedalready,hebouncedupfromhisattitudeofhumilityonthecarpet,utteringexclamationswhichcausedpoorlittleBeautytobemorefrightenedthanshewaswhenshemadeheravowal.
“Married;you’rejoking,”theBaronetcried,afterthefirstexplosionofrageandwonder.“You’remakingvunofme,Becky.
Rebeccasaid,inanagonyoftears—hervoicechokingwithemotion,herhandkerchiefuptoherreadyeyes,faintingagainstthemantelpieceafigureofwoefittomeltthemostobdurateheart.
“Letmecomebackwithyoutothecountry,sir!Letmewatchoveryouasfaithfullyasever!Don’t,don’tseparatemefromdearQueen’sCrawley!”
“Thefellerhasleftyou,hashe?”theBaronetsaid,beginning,ashefancied,tocomprehend.“Well,Becky—comebackifyoulike.Youcan’teatyourcakeandhaveit.AnywaysImadeyouavairoffer.
“Sotherascalranoff,eh?”SirPittsaid,withahideousattemptatconsolation.“Nevermind,Becky,I’LLtakecareof‘ee.”
“Oh,sir!itwouldbetheprideofmylifetogobacktoQueen’sCrawley,andtakecareofthechildren,andofyouasformerly,whenyousaidyouwerepleasedwiththeservicesofyourlittleRebecca.
Sayingwhich,RebeccawentdownonHERkneesinamosttragicalway,and,takingSirPitt’shornyblackhandbetweenherowntwo(whichwereveryprettyandwhite,andassoftassatin),lookedupinhisfacewithanexpressionofexquisitepathosandconfidence,when—whenthedooropened,andMissCrawleysailedin.
Mrs.FirkinandMissBriggs,whohappenedbychancetobeattheparlourdoorsoonaftertheBaronetandRebeccaenteredtheapartment,hadalsoseenaccidentally,throughthekeyhole,theoldgentlemanprostratebeforethegoverness,andhadheardthegenerousproposalwhichhemadeher.
ItwasscarcelyoutofhismouthwhenMrs.FirkinandMissBriggshadstreamedupthestairs,hadrushedintothedrawing-roomwhereMissCrawleywasreadingtheFrenchnovel,andhadgiventhatoldladytheastoundingintelligencethatSirPittwasonhisknees,proposingtoMissSharp.
Andifyoucalculatethetimefortheabovedialoguetotakeplace—thetimeforBriggsandFirkintoflytothedrawing-room—thetimeforMissCrawleytobeastonished,andtodrophervolumeofPigaultleBrun—andthetimeforhertocomedownstairs—youwillseehowexactlyaccuratethishistoryis,andhowMissCrawleymusthaveappearedattheveryinstantwhenRebeccahadassumedtheattitudeofhumility.
“IhavethankedSirPittCrawley,Ma’am,”Rebeccasaid,rising,“andhavetoldhimthat—thatInevercanbecomeLadyCrawley.”
“Refusedhim!”MissCrawleysaid,morebewilderedthanever.BriggsandFirkinatthedooropenedtheeyesofastonishmentandthelipsofwonder.
Thatanoldgentlemanofstationshouldfallonhiskneestoapennilessgoverness,andburstoutlaughingbecausesherefusedtomarryhim—thatapennilessgovernessshouldrefuseaBaronetwithfourthousandayear—theseweremysterieswhichMissCrawleycouldnevercomprehend.
“Vamous,”saidSirPitt.“Who’dha’thoughtit!whataslylittledevil!whatalittlefoxitwaws!”hemutteredtohimself,chucklingwithpleasure.
“Who’dhavethoughtwhat?”criesMissCrawley,stampingwithherfoot.“Pray,MissSharp,areyouwaitingforthePrinceRegent’sdivorce,thatyoudon’tthinkourfamilygoodenoughforyou?”
“Myattitude,”Rebeccasaid,“whenyoucamein,ma’am,didnotlookasifIdespisedsuchanhonourasthisgood—thisnoblemanhasdeignedtoofferme.DoyouthinkIhavenoheart?
Haveyoualllovedme,andbeensokindtothepoororphan—deserted—girl,andamItofeelnothing?Omyfriends!Omybenefactors!
Itistoomuch--myheartistoofull”;andshesankdowninachairsopathetically,thatmostoftheaudiencepresentwereperfectlymeltedwithhersadness.
“Whetheryoumarrymeornot,you’reagoodlittlegirl,Becky,andI’myourvriend,mind,”saidSirPitt,andputtingonhiscrape-boundhat,hewalkedaway—greatlytoRebecca’srelief;foritwasevidentthathersecretwasunrevealedtoMissCrawley,andshehadtheadvantageofabriefreprieve.
Puttingherhandkerchieftohereyes,andnoddingawayhonestBriggs,whowouldhavefollowedherupstairs,shewentuptoherapartment;whileBriggsandMissCrawley,inahighstateofexcitement,remainedtodiscussthestrangeevent,andFirkin,notlessmoved,diveddownintothekitchenregions,andtalkedofitwithallthemaleandfemalecompanythere.
AndsoimpressedwasMrs.Firkinwiththenews,thatshethoughtpropertowriteoffbythatverynight’spost,“withherhumbledutytoMrs.ButeCrawleyandthefamilyattheRectory,andSirPitthasbeenandproposedfortomarryMissSharp,whereinshehasrefusedhim,tothewonderofall.”
Thetwoladiesinthedining-room(whereworthyMissBriggswasdelightedtobeadmittedoncemoretoconfidentialconversationwithherpatroness)wonderedtotheirhearts’contentatSirPitt’soffer,andRebecca’srefusal;Briggsveryacutelysuggestingthattheremusthavebeensomeobstacleintheshapeofapreviousattachment,otherwisenoyoungwomaninhersenseswouldeverhaverefusedsoadvantageousaproposal.
“Well,BeckywouldhavemadeagoodLadyCrawley,afterall,”MissCrawleyremarked(whowasmollifiedbythegirl’srefusal,andveryliberalandgenerousnowtherewasnocallforhersacrifices).
SheisaMontmorency,Briggs,andbloodissomething,thoughIdespiseitformypart;andshewouldhaveheldherownamongstthosepompousstupidHampshirepeoplemuchbetterthanthatunfortunateironmonger’sdaughter.”
“Youyourself,youknow,wereinlovewithawriting-master(don’tcry,Briggs—you’realwayscrying,anditwon’tbringhimtolifeagain),andIsupposethisunfortunateBeckyhasbeensillyandsentimentaltoo—someapothecary,orhouse-steward,orpainter,oryoungcurate,orsomethingofthatsort.”
saysBriggs(whowasthinkingoftwenty-fouryearsback,andthathecticyoungwriting-masterwhoselockofyellowhair,andwhoseletters,beautifulintheirillegibility,shecherishedinherolddeskupstairs).“Poorthing,poorthing!”saysBriggs.
Oncemoreshewasafresh-cheekedlassofeighteen;shewasateveningchurch,andthehecticwriting-masterandshewerequaveringoutofthesamepsalm-book.
“AftersuchconductonRebecca’spart,”MissCrawleysaidenthusiastically,“ourfamilyshoulddosomething.Findoutwhoistheobjet,Briggs.
I’llsethimupinashop;orordermyportraitofhim,youknow;orspeaktomycousin,theBishopandI’lldoterBecky,andwe’llhaveawedding,Briggs,andyoushallmakethebreakfast,andbeabridesmaid.”
Briggsdeclaredthatitwouldbedelightful,andvowedthatherdearMissCrawleywasalwayskindandgenerous,andwentuptoRebecca’sbedroomtoconsoleherandprattleabouttheoffer,andtherefusal,andthecausethereof;andtohintatthegenerousintentionsofMissCrawley,andtofindoutwhowasthegentlemanthathadthemasteryofMissSharp’sheart.
Rebeccawasverykind,veryaffectionateandaffected—respondedtoBriggs’sofferoftendernesswithgratefulfervour—ownedtherewasasecretattachment—adeliciousmystery—whatapityMissBriggshadnotremainedhalfaminutelongeratthekeyhole!
Rebeccamight,perhaps,havetoldmore:butfiveminutesafterMissBriggs’sarrivalinRebecca’sapartment,MissCrawleyactuallymadeherappearancethere—anunheard-ofhonour—herimpatiencehadovercomeher;shecouldnotwaitforthetardyoperationsofherambassadress:soshecameinperson,andorderedBriggsoutoftheroom.
AndexpressingherapprovalofRebecca’sconduct,sheaskedparticularsoftheinterview,andtheprevioustransactionswhichhadbroughtabouttheastonishingofferofSirPitt.
RebeccasaidshehadlonghadsomenotionofthepartialitywithwhichSirPitthonouredher(forhewasinthehabitofmakinghisfeelingsknowninaveryfrankandunreservedmanner)but,nottomentionprivatereasonswithwhichshewouldnotforthepresenttroubleMissCrawley,SirPitt’sage,station,andhabitsweresuchastorenderamarriagequiteimpossible;andcouldawomanwithanyfeelingofself-respectandanydecencylistentoproposalsatsuchamoment,whenthefuneralofthelover’sdeceasedwifehadnotactuallytakenplace?
“Nonsense,mydear,youwouldneverhaverefusedhimhadtherenotbeensomeoneelseinthecase,”MissCrawleysaid,comingtoherpointatonce.
“Mypoordearchild,”criedMissCrawley,whowasalwaysquitereadytobesentimental,“isourpassionunrequited,then?Arewepininginsecret?Tellmeall,andletmeconsoleyou.”
AndshelaidherheaduponMissCrawley’sshoulderandwepttheresonaturallythattheoldlady,surprisedintosympathy,embracedherwithanalmostmaternalkindness,utteredmanysoothingprotestsofregardandaffectionforher,vowedthatshelovedherasadaughter,andwoulddoeverythinginherpowertoserveher.“Andnowwhoisit,mydear?
“Don’taskmenow,”Rebeccasaid.“Youshallknowallsoon.Indeedyoushall.DearkindMissCrawley—dearfriend,mayIsayso?”
Andinthemidstofmutualtears—fortheemotionsoftheyoungerwomanhadawakenedthesympathiesoftheelder—thispromisewassolemnlygivenbyMissCrawley,wholeftherlittleprotege,blessingandadmiringherasadear,artless,tender-hearted,affectionate,incomprehensiblecreature.
Andnowshewasleftalonetothinkoverthesuddenandwonderfuleventsoftheday,andofwhathadbeenandwhatmighthavebeen.
If,afewpagesback,thepresentwriterclaimedtheprivilegeofpeepingintoMissAmeliaSedley’sbedroom,andunderstandingwiththeomniscienceofthenovelistallthegentlepainsandpassionswhichweretossinguponthatinnocentpillow,whyshouldhenotdeclarehimselftobeRebecca’sconfidantetoo,masterofhersecrets,andseal-keeperofthatyoungwoman’sconscience?
Well,then,inthefirstplace,Rebeccagavewaytosomeverysincereandtouchingregretsthatapieceofmarvellousgoodfortuneshouldhavebeensonearher,andsheactuallyobligedtodeclineit.
Whatgoodmotheristherethatwouldnotcommiserateapennilessspinster,whomighthavebeenmylady,andhavesharedfourthousandayear?
Whatwell-bredyoungpersonisthereinallVanityFair,whowillnotfeelforahard-working,ingenious,meritoriousgirl,whogetssuchanhonourable,advantageous,provokingoffer,justattheverymomentwhenitisoutofherpowertoacceptit?
IobservedoldMissToadytherealsopresent,singleoutforherspecialattentionsandflatterylittleMrs.Briefless,thebarrister’swife,whoisofagoodfamilycertainly,but,asweallknow,isaspooraspoorcanbe.
What,Iaskedinmyownmind,cancausethisobsequiousnessonthepartofMissToady;hasBrieflessgotacountycourt,orhashiswifehadafortunelefther?
“Youknow,”shesaid,“MrsBrieflessisgranddaughterofSirJohnRedhand,whoissoillatCheltenhamthathecan’tlastsixmonths.
Ifthemerechanceofbecomingabaronet’sdaughtercanprocurealadysuchhomageintheworld,surely,surelywemayrespecttheagoniesofayoungwomanwhohaslosttheopportunityofbecomingabaronet’swife.
Shewasoneofthosesicklywomenthatmighthavelastedthesetenyears—Rebeccathoughttoherself,inallthewoesofrepentance—andImighthavebeenmylady!
ButRebeccawasayoungladyoftoomuchresolutionandenergyofcharactertopermitherselfmuchuselessandunseemlysorrowfortheirrevocablepast;so,havingdevotedonlytheproperportionofregrettoit,shewiselyturnedherwholeattentiontowardsthefuture,whichwasnowvastlymoreimportanttoher.
MisgivingsRebeccahad;butsherememberedallMissCrawleyhadsaid;theoldlady’savowedcontemptforbirth;herdaringliberalopinions;hergeneralromanticpropensities;heralmostdotingattachmenttohernephew,andherrepeatedlyexpressedfondnessforRebeccaherself.
Sheissofondofhim,Rebeccathought,thatshewillforgivehimanything:sheissousedtomethatIdon’tthinkshecouldbecomfortablewithoutme:whentheeclaircissementcomestherewillbeascene,andhysterics,andagreatquarrel,andthenagreatreconciliation.
Andso,resolvedthatMissCrawleyshouldhavethenews,theyoungpersondebatedinhermindastothebestmeansofconveyingittoher;andwhethersheshouldfacethestormthatmustcome,orflyandavoidituntilitsfirstfurywasblownover.
Halfofmysecretisknown,andIhavethoughtandthought,untilIamquitesurethatnowisthetimetorevealTHEWHOLEOFTHEMYSTERY.
SirPittcametomethismorning,andmade—whatdoyouthink?—ADECLARATIONINFORM.Thinkofthat!Poorlittleme.ImighthavebeenLadyCrawley.
Shedotesuponyouso(younaughty,good-for-nothingman),thatshewouldpardonyouANYTHING:and,indeed,Ibelieve,thenextplaceinherheartismine:andthatshewouldbemiserablewithoutme.Dearest!somethingTELLSMEweshallconquer.
Youshallleavethatodiousregiment:quitgaming,racing,andBEAGOODBOY;andweshallallliveinParkLane,andmatanteshallleaveusallhermoney.
IfMissB.accompaniesme,youmustcometodinner,andbringananswer,andputitinthethirdvolumeofPorteus’sSermons.But,atallevents,cometoyourown
AndItrustthereisnoreaderofthislittlestorywhohasnotdiscernmentenoughtoperceivethattheMissElizaStyles(anoldschoolfellow,Rebeccasaid,withwhomshehadresumedanactivecorrespondenceoflate,andwhousedtofetchtheselettersfromthesaddler’s),worebrassspurs,andlargecurlingmustachios,andwasindeednootherthanCaptainRawdonCrawley.
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