toButeCrawleytoreceivebutfive;outofwhichsum,whenhehadpaidhisowndebtsandthoseofJim,hissonatcollege,averysmallfragmentremainedtoportionoffhisfourplaindaughters.
Mrs.Buteneverknew,oratleastneveracknowledged,howfarherowntyrannousbehaviourhadtendedtoruinherhusband.
Wasitherfaultifshedidnotpossessthosesycophanticartswhichherhypocriticalnephew,PittCrawley,practised?
“Pittwillneverspendit,mydear,thatisquitecertain;foragreatermiserdoesnotexistinEngland,andheisasodious,thoughinadifferentway,ashisspendthriftbrother,theabandonedRawdon.”
SoMrs.Bute,afterthefirstshockofrageanddisappointment,begantoaccommodateherselfasbestshecouldtoheralteredfortunesandtosaveandretrenchwithallhermight.
Sheinstructedherdaughtershowtobearpovertycheerfully,andinventedathousandnotablemethodstoconcealorevadeit.
Shetookthemabouttoballsandpublicplacesintheneighbourhood,withpraiseworthyenergy;nay,sheentertainedherfriendsinahospitablecomfortablemannerattheRectory,andmuchmorefrequentlythanbeforedearMissCrawley’slegacyhadfallenin.
Fromheroutwardbearingnobodywouldhavesupposedthatthefamilyhadbeendisappointedintheirexpectations,orhaveguessedfromherfrequentappearanceinpublichowshepinchedandstarvedathome.
TheyappearedperseveringlyattheWinchesterandSouthamptonassemblies;theypenetratedtoCowesfortherace-ballsandregatta-gaietiesthere;andtheircarriage,withthehorsestakenfromtheplough,wasatworkperpetually,untilitbeganalmosttobebelievedthatthefoursistershadhadfortunesleftthembytheiraunt,whosenamethefamilynevermentionedinpublicbutwiththemosttendergratitudeandregard.
IknownosortoflyingwhichismorefrequentinVanityFairthanthis,anditmayberemarkedhowpeoplewhopractiseittakecredittothemselvesfortheirhypocrisy,andfancythattheyareexceedinglyvirtuousandpraiseworthy,becausetheyareabletodeceivetheworldwithregardtotheextentoftheirmeans.
Mrs.ButecertainlythoughtherselfoneofthemostvirtuouswomeninEngland,andthesightofherhappyfamilywasanedifyingonetostrangers.
FannyandMatildasangduetstogether,Mammaplayingthepiano,andtheothertwosisterssittingwiththeirarmsroundeachother’swaistsandlisteningaffectionately.
ShegotoveryachtingmenfromSouthampton,parsonsfromtheCathedralCloseatWinchester,andofficersfromthebarracksthere.
ShetriedtoinveigletheyoungbarristersatassizesandencouragedJimtobringhomefriendswithwhomhewentouthuntingwiththeH.H.
Betweensuchawomanandherbrother-in-law,theodiousBaronetattheHall,itismanifestthattherecouldbeverylittleincommon.
TherupturebetweenButeandhisbrotherSirPittwascomplete;indeed,betweenSirPittandthewholecounty,towhichtheoldmanwasascandal.
Hisdislikeforrespectablesocietyincreasedwithage,andthelodge-gateshadnotopenedtoagentleman’scarriage-wheelssincePittandLadyJanecametopaytheirvisitofdutyaftertheirmarriage.
Pittbeggedhiswife,withaghastlycountenance,nevertospeakofit,anditwasonlythroughMrs.Buteherself,whostillkneweverythingwhichtookplaceattheHall,thatthecircumstancesofSirPitt’sreceptionofhissonanddaughter-in-lawwereeverknownatall.
Astheydroveuptheavenueoftheparkintheirneatandwell-appointedcarriage,Pittremarkedwithdismayandwrathgreatgapsamongthetrees—histrees—whichtheoldBaronetwasfellingentirelywithoutlicense.
Thegreatsweepinfrontoftheterraceandentrancestairwasblackandcoveredwithmosses;theoncetrimflower-bedsrankandweedy.
Shutterswereupalongalmostthewholelineofthehouse;thegreathall-doorwasunbarredaftermuchringingofthebell;anindividualinribbonswasseenflittinguptheblackoakstair,asHorrocksatlengthadmittedtheheirofQueen’sCrawleyandhisbrideintothehallsoftheirfathers.
HeledthewayintoSirPitt’s“Library,”asitwascalled,thefumesoftobaccogrowingstrongerasPittandLadyJaneapproachedthatapartment,“SirPittain’tverywell,”Horrocksremarkedapologeticallyandhintedthathismasterwasafflictedwithlumbago.
SirPitthadopenedoneofthewindows,andwasbawlingoutthencetothepostilionandPitt’sservant,whoseemedtobeabouttotakethebaggagedown.
Ain’ttherenooneattheKing’sHeadtorub‘emalittle?Howdo,Pitt?Howdo,mydear?Cometoseetheoldman,hay?‘Gad—you’veaprettyface,too.
Theembracedisconcertedthedaughter-in-lawsomewhat,asthecaressesoftheoldgentleman,unshornandperfumedwithtobacco,mightwelldo.
ButsherememberedthatherbrotherSouthdownhadmustachios,andsmokedcigars,andsubmittedtotheBaronetwithatolerablegrace.
GoandgetaglassofMalmseyandacakeformyLadyJane,Horrocks,yougreatbigbooby,anddon’tstandstearingtherelikeafatpig.
“Icanplayatbackgammon,sir,”saidLadyJane,laughing.“IusedtoplaywithPapaandMissCrawley,didn’tI,Mr.Crawley?”
Butshewawn’tstopforallthat.Naw,naw,goobacktoMudburyandgiveMrs.Rincerabenefit;ordrivedowntotheRectoryandaskButyforadinner.
“Yees,yees,veryfineweather,andseasonableforthetimeofyear,”SirPittanswered,whohadsuddenlygrowndeaf.“ButI’mgittin’old,Pitt,now.
Lookatme,I’mnotveryfurfromfowr-score—he,he”;andhelaughed,andtooksnuff,andleeredatherandpinchedherhand.
Ilikeyourface,LadyJane:it’sgotnoneofthedamnedhigh-bonedBinkielookinit;andI’llgiveeesomethingpretty,mydear,togotoCourtin.”
Take‘emandput‘emupquick,”saidhe,thrustingthecaseintohisdaughter’shand,andclappingthedoorofthecabinetto,asHorrocksenteredwithasalverandrefreshments.
ItwasMissHorrocks,thebutler’sdaughter—thecauseofthescandalthroughoutthecounty—theladywhoreignednowalmostsupremeatQueen’sCrawley.
TheRibbonsopenedanaccountattheMudburyBranchSavingsBank;theRibbonsdrovetochurch,monopolisingthepony-chaise,whichwasfortheuseoftheservantsattheHall.
TheScotchgardener,whostilllingeredonthepremises,takingaprideinhiswallsandhot-houses,andindeedmakingaprettygoodlivelihoodbythegarden,whichhefarmed,andofwhichhesoldtheproduceatSouthampton,foundtheRibbonseatingpeachesonasunshinymorningatthesouth-wall,andhadhisearsboxedwhenheremonstratedaboutthisattackonhisproperty.
HeandhisScotchwifeandhisScotchchildren,theonlyrespectableinhabitantsofQueen’sCrawley,wereforcedtomigrate,withtheirgoodsandtheirchattels,andleftthestatelycomfortablegardenstogotowaste,andtheflower-bedstoruntoseed.
SirPittlivedinprivate,andboozednightlywithHorrocks,hisbutlerorhouse-steward(ashenowbegantobecalled),andtheabandonedRibbons.
ThetimeswereverymuchchangedsincetheperiodwhenshedrovetoMudburyinthespring-cartandcalledthesmalltradesmen“Sir.”
Itmayhavebeenshame,oritmayhavebeendislikeofhisneighbours,buttheoldCynicofQueen’sCrawleyhardlyissuedfromhispark-gatesatallnow.
Hisdayswerepassedinconductinghisowncorrespondence;thelawyersandfarm-bailiffswhohadtodobusinesswithhimcouldnotreachhimbutthroughtheRibbons,whoreceivedthematthedoorofthehousekeeper’sroom,whichcommandedthebackentrancebywhichtheywereadmitted;andsotheBaronet’sdailyperplexitiesincreased,andhisembarrassmentsmultipliedroundhim.
ThehorrorofPittCrawleymaybeimagined,asthesereportsofhisfather’sdotagereachedthemostexemplaryandcorrectofgentlemen.
TheCountessSouthdownkeptondroppingpercoachatthelodge-gatethemostexcitingtracts,tractswhichoughttofrightenthehairoffyourhead.
Mrs.ButeattheparsonagenightlylookedouttoseeiftheskywasredovertheelmsbehindwhichtheHallstood,andthemansionwasonfire.
SirG.WapshotandSirH.Fuddlestone,oldfriendsofthehouse,wouldn’tsitonthebenchwithSirPittatQuarterSessions,andcuthimdeadintheHighStreetofSouthampton,wherethereprobatestoodofferinghisdirtyoldhandstothem.
Nothinghadanyeffectuponhim;heputhishandsintohispockets,andburstoutlaughing,ashescrambledintohiscarriageandfour;heusedtoburstoutlaughingatLadySouthdown’stracts;andhelaughedathissons,andattheworld,andattheRibbonswhenshewasangry,whichwasnotseldom.
MissHorrockswasinstalledashousekeeperatQueen’sCrawley,andruledallthedomesticstherewithgreatmajestyandrigour.
Alltheservantswereinstructedtoaddressheras“Mum,”or“Madam”—andtherewasonelittlemaid,onherpromotion,whopersistedincallingher“MyLady,”withoutanyrebukeonthepartofthehousekeeper.
“Therehasbeenbetterladies,andtherehasbeenworser,Hester,”wasMissHorrocks’replytothiscomplimentofherinferior;sosheruled,havingsupremepoweroverallexceptherfather,whom,however,shetreatedwithconsiderablehaughtiness,warninghimnottobetoofamiliarinhisbehaviourtoone“aswastobeaBaronet’slady.”
Indeed,sherehearsedthatexaltedpartinlifewithgreatsatisfactiontoherself,andtotheamusementofoldSirPitt,whochuckledatherairsandgraces,andwouldlaughbythehourtogetheratherassumptionsofdignityandimitationsofgenteellife.
Hesworeitwasasgoodasaplaytoseeherinthecharacterofafinedame,andhemadeherputononeofthefirstLadyCrawley’scourt-dresses,swearing(entirelytoMissHorrocks’ownconcurrence)thatthedressbecameherprodigiously,andthreateningtodriveheroffthatveryinstanttoCourtinacoach-and-four.
Shehadtheransackingofthewardrobesofthetwodefunctladies,andcutandhackedtheirposthumousfinerysoastosuitherowntastesandfigure.
Andshewouldhavelikedtotakepossessionoftheirjewelsandtrinketstoo;buttheoldBaronethadlockedthemawayinhisprivatecabinet;norcouldshecoaxorwheedlehimoutofthekeys.
Anditisafact,thatsometimeaftersheleftQueen’sCrawleyacopy-bookbelongingtothisladywasdiscovered,whichshowedthatshehadtakengreatpainsinprivatetolearntheartofwritingingeneral,andespeciallyofwritingherownnameasLadyCrawley,LadyBetsyHorrocks,LadyElizabethCrawley,&c.
ThoughthegoodpeopleoftheParsonageneverwenttotheHallandshunnedthehorridolddotarditsowner,yettheykeptastrictknowledgeofallthathappenedthere,andwerelookingouteverydayforthecatastropheforwhichMissHorrockswasalsoeager.
OnedaytheBaronetsurprised“herladyship,”ashejocularlycalledher,seatedatthatoldandtunelesspianointhedrawing-room,whichhadscarcelybeentouchedsinceBeckySharpplayedquadrillesuponit—seatedatthepianowiththeutmostgravityandsquallingtothebestofherpowerinimitationofthemusicwhichshehadsometimesheard.
Thelittlekitchen-maidonherpromotionwasstandingathermistress’sside,quitedelightedduringtheoperation,andwaggingherheadupanddownandcrying,“Lor,Mum,‘tisbittiful”—justlikeagenteelsycophantinarealdrawing-room.
HenarratedthecircumstanceadozentimestoHorrocksinthecourseoftheevening,andgreatlytothediscomfitureofMissHorrocks.
Hevowedthatsuchabeautifulvoiceoughttobecultivatedanddeclaredsheoughttohavesinging-masters,inwhichproposalsshesawnothingridiculous.
Hewasingreatspiritsthatnight,anddrankwithhisfriendandbutleranextraordinaryquantityofrum-and-water—ataverylatehourthefaithfulfriendanddomesticconductedhismastertohisbedroom.
LightswentaboutfromwindowtowindowinthelonelydesolateoldHall,whereofbuttwoorthreeroomswereordinarilyoccupiedbyitsowner.
Andinanotherhour(bywhichfactweascertainhowcarefullytheexcellentMrs.ButeCrawleyhadalwayskeptupanunderstandingwiththegreathouse),thatladyinherclogsandcalash,theReverendButeCrawley,andJamesCrawley,herson,hadwalkedoverfromtheRectorythroughthepark,andhadenteredthemansionbytheopenhall-door.
Theypassedthroughthehallandthesmalloakparlour,onthetableofwhichstoodthethreetumblersandtheemptyrum-bottlewhichhadservedforSirPitt’scarouse,andthroughthatapartmentintoSirPitt’sstudy,wheretheyfoundMissHorrocks,oftheguiltyribbons,withawildair,tryingatthepressesandescritoireswithabunchofkeys.
“Bearwitness,Mr.Crawley,wefoundthisgood-for-nothingwomanintheactofstealingyourbrother’sproperty;andshewillbehanged,asIalwayssaidshewould.”
Butthosewhoknowareallygoodwomanareawarethatsheisnotinahurrytoforgive,andthatthehumiliationofanenemyisatriumphtohersoul.
“Ringthebell,James,”Mrs.Butesaid.“Goonringingittillthepeoplecome.”Thethreeorfourdomesticsresidentinthedesertedoldhousecamepresentlyatthatjanglingandcontinuedsummons.
Mr.Crawley,you’llmakeouthercommittal—and,Beddoes,you’lldriveheroverinthespringcart,inthemorning,toSouthamptonGaol.”
“Aretherenohandcuffs?”Mrs.Butecontinued,stampinginherclogs.“Thereusedtobehandcuffs.Where’sthecreature’sabominablefather?”
YousawSirPitt—youknowyoudid—give‘emme,eversolongago—thedayafterMudburyfair:notthatIwant‘em.Take‘emifyouthinktheyain’tmine.”
Andheretheunhappywretchpulledoutfromherpocketalargepairofpasteshoe-buckleswhichhadexcitedheradmiration,andwhichshehadjustappropriatedoutofoneofthebookcasesinthestudy,wheretheyhadlain.
saidHester,thelittlekitchen-maidlateonherpromotion—”andtoMadameCrawley,sogoodandkind,andhisRev’rince(withacurtsey),andyoumaysearchallMYboxes,Mum,I’msure,andhere’smykeysasI’manhonestgirl,thoughofporeparentsandworkhousebred—andifyoufindsomuchasabeggarlybitoflaceorasilkstockingoutofallthegowndsasYOU’VEhadthepickingof,mayInevergotochurchagin.”
“Andhere’sacandle,Mum,andifyouplease,Mum,Icanshowyouherroom,Mum,andthepressinthehousekeeper’sroom,Mum,whereshekeepsheapsandheapsofthings,Mum,”criedouttheeagerlittleHesterwithaprofusionofcurtseys.
Mrs.Brown,havethegoodnesstocomewithme,andBeddoesdon’tyoulosesightofthatwoman,”saidMrs.Bute,seizingthecandle.
“Mr.Crawley,youhadbettergoupstairsandseethattheyarenotmurderingyourunfortunatebrother”—andthecalash,escortedbyMrs.Brown,walkedawaytotheapartmentwhich,asshesaidtruly,sheknewperfectlywell.
ButewentupstairsandfoundtheDoctorfromMudbury,withthefrightenedHorrocksoverhismasterinachair.TheyweretryingtobleedSirPittCrawley.
WiththeearlymorninganexpresswassentofftoMr.PittCrawleybytheRector’slady,whoassumedthecommandofeverything,andhadwatchedtheoldBaronetthroughthenight.
Sheneverseemedtowanttosleep,thatlittlewoman,anddidnotcloseherfieryblackeyesonce,thoughtheDoctorsnoredinthearm-chair.
Horrocksmadesomewildeffortstoasserthisauthorityandassisthismaster;butMrs.Butecalledhimatipsyoldwretchandbadehimnevershowhisfaceagaininthathouse,orheshouldbetransportedlikehisabominabledaughter.
Terrifiedbyhermanner,heslunkdowntotheoakparlourwhereMr.Jameswas,who,havingtriedthebottlestandingthereandfoundnoliquorinit,orderedMr.Horrockstogetanotherbottleofrum,whichhefetched,withcleanglasses,andtowhichtheRectorandhissonsatdown,orderingHorrockstoputdownthekeysatthatinstantandnevertoshowhisfaceagain.
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