English
TheheirofCrawleyarrivedathome,induetime,afterthiscatastrophe,andhenceforthmaybesaidtohavereignedinQueen’sCrawley.
ForthoughtheoldBaronetsurvivedmanymonths,heneverrecoveredtheuseofhisintellectorhisspeechcompletely,andthegovernmentoftheestatedevolveduponhiselderson.InastrangeconditionPittfoundit.
SirPittwasalwaysbuyingandmortgaging;hehadtwentymenofbusiness,andquarrelswitheach;quarrelswithallhistenants,andlawsuitswiththem;lawsuitswiththelawyers;lawsuitswiththeMiningandDockCompaniesinwhichhewasproprietor;andwitheverypersonwithwhomhehadbusiness.
TounravelthesedifficultiesandtosettheestateclearwasataskworthyoftheorderlyandperseveringdiplomatistofPumpernickel,andhesethimselftoworkwithprodigiousassiduity.
Hiswholefamily,ofcourse,wastransportedtoQueen’sCrawley,whitherLadySouthdown,ofcourse,cametoo;andshesetaboutconvertingtheparishundertheRector’snose,andbroughtdownherirregularclergytothedismayoftheangryMrsBute.
SirPitthadconcludednobargainforthesaleofthelivingofQueen’sCrawley;whenitshoulddrop,herLadyshipproposedtotakethepatronageintoherownhandsandpresentayoungprotegetotheRectory,onwhichsubjectthediplomaticPittsaidnothing.
Mrs.Bute’sintentionswithregardtoMissBetsyHorrockswerenotcarriedintoeffect,andshepaidnovisittoSouthamptonGaol.
SheandherfatherlefttheHallwhenthelattertookpossessionoftheCrawleyArmsinthevillage,ofwhichhehadgotaleasefromSirPitt.
Theex-butlerhadobtainedasmallfreeholdtherelikewise,whichgavehimavotefortheborough.
TheRectorhadanotherofthesevotes,andtheseandfourothersformedtherepresentativebodywhichreturnedthetwomembersforQueen’sCrawley.
TherewasashowofcourtesykeptupbetweentheRectoryandtheHallladies,betweentheyoungeronesatleast,forMrs.ButeandLadySouthdownnevercouldmeetwithoutbattles,andgraduallyceasedseeingeachother.
HerLadyshipkeptherroomwhentheladiesfromtheRectoryvisitedtheircousinsattheHall.
PerhapsMr.Pittwasnotverymuchdispleasedattheseoccasionalabsencesofhismamma-in-law.
HebelievedtheBinkiefamilytobethegreatestandwisestandmostinterestingintheworld,andherLadyshipandhisaunthadlongheldascendencyoverhim;butsometimeshefeltthatshecommandedhimtoomuch.
Tobeconsideredyoungwascomplimentary,doubtless,butatsix-and-fortytobetreatedasaboywassometimesmortifying.
LadyJaneyieldedupeverything,however,tohermother.
Shewasonlyfondofherchildreninprivate,anditwasluckyforherthatLadySouthdown’smultifariousbusiness,herconferenceswithministers,andhercorrespondencewithallthemissionariesofAfrica,Asia,andAustralasia,&c.,occupiedthevenerableCountessagreatdeal,sothatshehadbutlittletimetodevotetohergranddaughter,thelittleMatilda,andhergrandson,MasterPittCrawley.
Thelatterwasafeeblechild,anditwasonlybyprodigiousquantitiesofcalomelthatLadySouthdownwasabletokeephiminlifeatall.
AsforSirPittheretiredintothoseveryapartmentswhereLadyCrawleyhadbeenpreviouslyextinguished,andherewastendedbyMissHester,thegirluponherpromotion,withconstantcareandassiduity.
Whatlove,whatfidelity,whatconstancyisthereequaltothatofanursewithgoodwages?
Theysmoothpillows;andmakearrowroot;theygetupatnights;theybearcomplaintsandquerulousness;theyseethesunshiningoutofdoorsanddon’twanttogoabroad;theysleeponarm-chairsandeattheirmealsinsolitude;theypasslonglongeveningsdoingnothing,watchingtheembers,andthepatient’sdrinksimmeringinthejug;theyreadtheweeklypaperthewholeweekthrough;andLaw’sSeriousCallortheWholeDutyofMansufficesthemforliteraturefortheyear—andwequarrelwiththembecause,whentheirrelationscometoseethemonceaweek,alittleginissmuggledinintheirlinenbasket.
Ladies,whatman’sloveistherethatwouldstandayear’snursingoftheobjectofhisaffection?
Whereasanursewillstandbyyoufortenpoundsaquarter,andwethinkhertoohighlypaid.
AtleastMr.CrawleygrumbledagooddealaboutpayinghalfasmuchtoMissHesterforherconstantattendanceupontheBaronethisfather.
Ofsunshinydaysthisoldgentlemanwastakenoutinachairontheterrace—theverychairwhichMissCrawleyhadhadatBrighton,andwhichhadbeentransportedthencewithanumberofLadySouthdown’seffectstoQueen’sCrawley.
LadyJanealwayswalkedbytheoldman,andwasanevidentfavouritewithhim.
Heusedtonodmanytimestoherandsmilewhenshecamein,andutterinarticulatedeprecatorymoanswhenshewasgoingaway.
Whenthedoorshutuponherhewouldcryandsob—whereuponHester’sfaceandmanner,whichwasalwaysexceedinglyblandandgentlewhileherladywaspresent,wouldchangeatonce,andshewouldmakefacesathimandclenchherfistandscreamout“Holdyourtongue,youstoopidoldfool,”andtwirlawayhischairfromthefirewhichhelovedtolookat—atwhichhewouldcrymore.
Forthiswasallthatwasleftaftermorethanseventyyearsofcunning,andstruggling,anddrinking,andscheming,andsinandselfishness—awhimperingoldidiotputinandoutofbedandcleanedandfedlikeababy.
Atlastadaycamewhenthenurse’soccupationwasover.
Earlyonemorning,asPittCrawleywasathissteward’sandbailiff’sbooksinthestudy,aknockcametothedoor,andHesterpresentedherself,droppingacurtsey,andsaid,
“Ifyouplease,SirPitt,SirPittdiedthismorning,SirPitt.
Iwasa-makingofhistoast,SirPitt,forhisgruel,SirPitt,whichhetookeverymorningregularatsix,SirPitt,and—IthoughtIheardamoan-like,SirPitt—and—and—and—”Shedroppedanothercurtsey.
WhatwasitthatmadePitt’spalefaceflushquitered?
WasitbecausehewasSirPittatlast,withaseatinParliament,andperhapsfuturehonoursinprospect?
“I’llcleartheestatenowwiththereadymoney,”hethoughtandrapidlycalculateditsincumbrancesandtheimprovementswhichhewouldmake.
Hewouldnotusehisaunt’smoneypreviouslylestSirPittshouldrecoverandhisoutlaybeinvain.
AlltheblindswerepulleddownattheHallandRectory:thechurchbellwastolled,andthechancelhunginblack;andButeCrawleydidn’tgotoacoursingmeeting,butwentanddinedquietlyatFuddleston,wheretheytalkedabouthisdeceasedbrotherandyoungSirPittovertheirport.
MissBetsy,whowasbythistimemarriedtoasaddleratMudbury,criedagooddeal.
Thefamilysurgeonrodeoverandpaidhisrespectfulcompliments,andinquiriesforthehealthoftheirladyships.
ThedeathwastalkedaboutatMudburyandattheCrawleyArms,thelandlordwhereofhadbecomereconciledwiththeRectoroflate,whowasoccasionallyknowntostepintotheparlourandtasteMr.Horrocks’mildbeer.
“ShallIwritetoyourbrother—orwillyou?”askedLadyJaneofherhusband,SirPitt.
“Iwillwrite,ofcourse,”SirPittsaid,“andinvitehimtothefuneral:itwillbebutbecoming.”
“And—and—Mrs.Rawdon,”saidLadyJanetimidly.
“Jane!”saidLadySouthdown,“howcanyouthinkofsuchathing?”
“Mrs.Rawdonmustofcoursebeasked,”saidSirPitt,resolutely.
“NotwhilstIaminthehouse!”saidLadySouthdown.
“YourLadyshipwillbepleasedtorecollectthatIamtheheadofthisfamily,”SirPittreplied.
“Ifyouplease,LadyJane,youwillwritealettertoMrs.RawdonCrawley,requestingherpresenceuponthismelancholyoccasion.”
“Jane,Iforbidyoutoputpentopaper!”criedtheCountess.
“IbelieveIamtheheadofthisfamily,”SirPittrepeated;“andhowevermuchImayregretanycircumstancewhichmayleadtoyourLadyshipquittingthishouse,must,ifyouplease,continuetogovernitasIseefit.”
LadySouthdownroseupasmagnificentasMrs.SiddonsinLadyMacbethandorderedthathorsesmightbeputtohercarriage.
Ifhersonanddaughterturnedheroutoftheirhouse,shewouldhidehersorrowssomewhereinlonelinessandprayfortheirconversiontobetterthoughts.
“Wedon’tturnyououtofourhouse,Mamma,”saidthetimidLadyJaneimploringly.
“YouinvitesuchcompanytoitasnoChristianladyshouldmeet,andIwillhavemyhorsesto-morrowmorning.”
“Havethegoodnesstowrite,Jane,undermydictation,”saidSirPitt,risingandthrowinghimselfintoanattitudeofcommand,liketheportraitofaGentlemanintheExhibition,“andbegin.‘Queen’sCrawley,September14,1822.—Mydearbrother—’”
Hearingthesedecisiveandterriblewords,LadyMacbeth,whohadbeenwaitingforasignofweaknessorvacillationonthepartofherson-in-law,roseand,withascaredlook,leftthelibrary.
LadyJanelookeduptoherhusbandasifshewouldfainfollowandsoothehermamma,butPittforbadehiswifetomove.
“Shewon’tgoaway,”hesaid.“ShehasletherhouseatBrightonandhasspentherlasthalf-year’sdividends.
ACountesslivingataninnisaruinedwoman.
Ihavebeenwaitinglongforanopportunity—totakethis—thisdecisivestep,mylove;for,asyoumustperceive,itisimpossiblethatthereshouldbetwochiefsinafamily:andnow,ifyouplease,wewillresumethedictation.
‘Mydearbrother,themelancholyintelligencewhichitismydutytoconveytomyfamilymusthavebeenlonganticipatedby,’”&c.
Inaword,Pitthavingcometohiskingdom,andhavingbygoodluck,ordesertrather,asheconsidered,assumedalmostallthefortunewhichhisotherrelativeshadexpected,wasdeterminedtotreathisfamilykindlyandrespectablyandmakeahouseofQueen’sCrawleyoncemore.
Itpleasedhimtothinkthatheshouldbeitschief.
Heproposedtousethevastinfluencethathiscommandingtalentsandpositionmustspeedilyacquireforhiminthecountytogethisbrotherplacedandhiscousinsdecentlyprovidedfor,andperhapshadalittlestingofrepentanceashethoughtthathewastheproprietorofallthattheyhadhopedfor.
Inthecourseofthreeorfourdays’reignhisbearingwaschangedandhisplansquitefixed:hedeterminedtorulejustlyandhonestly,todeposeLadySouthdown,andtobeonthefriendliestpossibletermswithalltherelationsofhisblood.
SohedictatedalettertohisbrotherRawdon—asolemnandelaborateletter,containingtheprofoundestobservations,couchedinthelongestwords,andfillingwithwonderthesimplelittlesecretary,whowroteunderherhusband’sorder.
“Whatanoratorthiswillbe,”thoughtshe,“whenheenterstheHouseofCommons”(onwhichpoint,andonthetyrannyofLadySouthdown,Pitthadsometimesdroppedhintstohiswifeinbed);“howwiseandgood,andwhatageniusmyhusbandis!
Ifanciedhimalittlecold;buthowgood,andwhatagenius!”
Thefactis,PittCrawleyhadgoteverywordoftheletterbyheartandhadstudiedit,withdiplomaticsecrecy,deeplyandperfectly,longbeforehethoughtfittocommunicateittohisastonishedwife.
Thisletter,withahugeblackborderandseal,wasaccordinglydespatchedbySirPittCrawleytohisbrothertheColonel,inLondon.
RawdonCrawleywasbuthalf-pleasedatthereceiptofit.
“What’stheuseofgoingdowntothatstupidplace?”thoughthe.
“Ican’tstandbeingalonewithPittafterdinner,andhorsesthereandbackwillcostustwentypound.”
Hecarriedtheletter,ashedidalldifficulties,toBecky,upstairsinherbedroom—withherchocolate,whichhealwaysmadeandtooktoherofamorning.
Heputthetraywiththebreakfastandtheletteronthedressing-table,beforewhichBeckysatcombingheryellowhair.
Shetookuptheblack-edgedmissive,andhavingreadit,shejumpedupfromthechair,crying“Hurray!”andwavingthenoteroundherhead.
“Hurray?”saidRawdon,wonderingatthelittlefigurecaperingaboutinastreamingflanneldressing-gown,withtawnylocksdishevelled.“He’snotleftusanything,Becky.IhadmysharewhenIcameofage.”
“You’llneverbeofage,yousillyoldman,”Beckyreplied.
“RunoutnowtoMadamBrunoy’s,forImusthavesomemourning:andgetacrapeonyourhat,andablackwaistcoat—Idon’tthinkyou’vegotone;orderittobebroughthometo-morrow,sothatwemaybeabletostartonThursday.”
“Youdon’tmeantogo?”Rawdoninterposed.
“OfcourseImeantogo.ImeanthatLadyJaneshallpresentmeatCourtnextyear.
ImeanthatyourbrothershallgiveyouaseatinParliament,youstupidoldcreature.
ImeanthatLordSteyneshallhaveyourvoteandhis,mydear,oldsillyman;andthatyoushallbeanIrishSecretary,oraWestIndianGovernor:oraTreasurer,oraConsul,orsomesuchthing.”
“Postingwillcostadooceofalotofmoney,”grumbledRawdon.
“WemighttakeSouthdown’scarriage,whichoughttobepresentatthefuneral,asheisarelationofthefamily:but,no—Iintendthatweshallgobythecoach.They’lllikeitbetter.Itseemsmorehumble—”
“Rawdygoes,ofcourse?”theColonelasked.
“Nosuchthing;whypayanextraplace?He’stoobigtotravelbodkinbetweenyouandme.
Lethimstayhereinthenursery,andBriggscanmakehimablackfrock.Goyou,anddoasIbidyou.
AndyouhadbesttellSparks,yourman,thatoldSirPittisdeadandthatyouwillcomeinforsomethingconsiderablewhentheaffairsarearranged.
He’lltellthistoRaggles,whohasbeenpressingformoney,anditwillconsolepoorRaggles.”
AndsoBeckybegansippingherchocolate.
WhenthefaithfulLordSteynearrivedintheevening,hefoundBeckyandhercompanion,whowasnootherthanourfriendBriggs,busycutting,ripping,snipping,andtearingallsortsofblackstuffsavailableforthemelancholyoccasion.
“MissBriggsandIareplungedingriefanddespondencyforthedeathofourPapa,”Rebeccasaid.“SirPittCrawleyisdead,mylord.
Wehavebeentearingourhairallthemorning,andnowwearetearingupouroldclothes.”
“Oh,Rebecca,howcanyou—”wasallthatBriggscouldsayassheturneduphereyes.
“Oh,Rebecca,howcanyou—”echoedmyLord.“Sothatoldscoundrel’sdead,ishe?
HemighthavebeenaPeerifhehadplayedhiscardsbetter.
Mr.Pitthadverynearlymadehim;butherattedalwaysatthewrongtime.WhatanoldSilenusitwas!”
“ImighthavebeenSilenus’swidow,”saidRebecca.
“Don’tyouremember,MissBriggs,howyoupeepedinatthedoorandsawoldSirPittonhiskneestome?”
MissBriggs,ouroldfriend,blushedverymuchatthisreminiscence,andwasgladwhenLordSteyneorderedhertogodownstairsandmakehimacupoftea.
Briggswasthehouse-dogwhomRebeccahadprovidedasguardianofherinnocenceandreputation.
MissCrawleyhadleftheralittleannuity.
ShewouldhavebeencontenttoremainintheCrawleyfamilywithLadyJane,whowasgoodtoherandtoeverybody;butLadySouthdowndismissedpoorBriggsasquicklyasdecencypermitted;andMr.Pitt(whothoughthimselfmuchinjuredbytheuncalled-forgenerosityofhisdeceasedrelativetowardsaladywhohadonlybeenMissCrawley’sfaithfulretainerascoreofyears)madenoobjectiontothatexerciseofthedowager’sauthority.
BowlsandFirkinlikewisereceivedtheirlegaciesandtheirdismissals,andmarriedandsetupalodging-house,accordingtothecustomoftheirkind.
Briggstriedtolivewithherrelationsinthecountry,butfoundthatattemptwasvainafterthebettersocietytowhichshehadbeenaccustomed.
Briggs’sfriends,smalltradesmen,inacountrytown,quarrelledoverMissBriggs’sfortypoundsayearaseagerlyandmoreopenlythanMissCrawley’skinsfolkhadforthatlady’sinheritance.
Briggs’sbrother,aradicalhatterandgrocer,calledhissisterapurse-proudaristocrat,becauseshewouldnotadvanceapartofhercapitaltostockhisshop;andshewouldhavedonesomostlikely,butthattheirsister,adissentingshoemaker’slady,atvariancewiththehatterandgrocer,whowenttoanotherchapel,showedhowtheirbrotherwasonthevergeofbankruptcy,andtookpossessionofBriggsforawhile.
ThedissentingshoemakerwantedMissBriggstosendhissontocollegeandmakeagentlemanofhim.
Betweenthemthetwofamiliesgotagreatportionofherprivatesavingsoutofher,andfinallyshefledtoLondonfollowedbytheanathemasofboth,anddeterminedtoseekforservitudeagainasinfinitelylessonerousthanliberty.
Andadvertisinginthepapersthata“Gentlewomanofagreeablemanners,andaccustomedtothebestsociety,wasanxiousto,”&c.,shetookupherresidencewithMr.BowlsinHalfMoonStreet,andwaitedtheresultoftheadvertisement.
SoitwasthatshefellinwithRebecca.
Mrs.Rawdon’sdashinglittlecarriageandponieswaswhirlingdownthestreetoneday,justasMissBriggs,fatigued,hadreachedMr.Bowls’sdoor,afterawearywalktotheTimesOfficeintheCitytoinsertheradvertisementforthesixthtime.
Rebeccawasdriving,andatoncerecognizedthegentlewomanwithagreeablemanners,andbeingaperfectlygood-humouredwoman,aswehaveseen,andhavingaregardforBriggs,shepulleduptheponiesatthedoorsteps,gavethereinstothegroom,andjumpingout,hadholdofbothBriggs’shands,beforesheoftheagreeablemannershadrecoveredfromtheshockofseeinganoldfriend.
Briggscried,andBeckylaughedagreatdealandkissedthegentlewomanassoonastheygotintothepassage;andthenceintoMrs.Bowls’sfrontparlour,withtheredmoreencurtains,andtheroundlooking-glass,withthechainedeagleabove,gazinguponthebackoftheticketinthewindowwhichannounced“ApartmentstoLet.”
Briggstoldallherhistoryamidstthoseperfectlyuncalled-forsobsandejaculationsofwonderwithwhichwomenofhersoftnaturesaluteanoldacquaintance,orregardarencontreinthestreet;forthoughpeoplemeetotherpeopleeveryday,yetsometherearewhoinsistupondiscoveringmiracles;andwomen,eventhoughtheyhavedislikedeachother,begintocrywhentheymeet,deploringandrememberingthetimewhentheylastquarrelled.
So,inaword,Briggstoldallherhistory,andBeckygaveanarrativeofherownlife,withherusualartlessnessandcandour.
Mrs.Bowls,lateFirkin,cameandlistenedgrimlyinthepassagetothehystericalsnifflingandgigglingwhichwentoninthefrontparlour.
Beckyhadneverbeenafavouriteofhers.
SincetheestablishmentofthemarriedcoupleinLondontheyhadfrequentedtheirformerfriendsofthehouseofRaggles,anddidnotlikethelatter’saccountoftheColonel’smenage.
“Iwouldn’ttrusthim,Ragg,myboy,”Bowlsremarked;andhiswife,whenMrs.Rawdonissuedfromtheparlour,onlysalutedtheladywithaverysourcurtsey;andherfingerswerelikesomanysausages,coldandlifeless,whensheheldthemoutindeferencetoMrs.Rawdon,whopersistedinshakinghandswiththeretiredlady’smaid.
ShewhirledawayintoPiccadilly,noddingwiththesweetestofsmilestowardsMissBriggs,whohungnoddingatthewindowcloseundertheadvertisement-card,andatthenextmomentwasintheparkwithahalf-dozenofdandiescanteringafterhercarriage.
Whenshefoundhowherfriendwassituated,andhowhavingasnuglegacyfromMissCrawley,salarywasnoobjecttoourgentlewoman,Beckyinstantlyformedsomebenevolentlittledomesticplansconcerningher.
Thiswasjustsuchacompanionaswouldsuitherestablishment,andsheinvitedBriggstocometodinnerwithherthatveryevening,whensheshouldseeBecky’sdearlittledarlingRawdon.
Mrs.Bowlscautionedherlodgeragainstventuringintothelion’sden,“whereinyouwillrueit,MissB.,markmywords,andassureasmynameisBowls.”
AndBriggspromisedtobeverycautious.
TheupshotofwhichcautionwasthatshewenttolivewithMrs.Rawdonthenextweek,andhadlentRawdonCrawleysixhundredpoundsuponannuitybeforesixmonthswereover.
Share this article to
FINISH