English
OuroldfriendstheCrawleys’familyhouse,inGreatGauntStreet,stillboreoveritsfrontthehatchmentwhichhadbeenplacedthereasatokenofmourningforSirPittCrawley’sdemise,yetthisheraldicemblemwasinitselfaverysplendidandgaudypieceoffurniture,andalltherestofthemansionbecamemorebrilliantthanithadeverbeenduringthelatebaronet’sreign.
Theblackouter-coatingofthebrickswasremoved,andtheyappearedwithacheerful,blushingfacestreakedwithwhite:theoldbronzelionsoftheknockerweregilthandsomely,therailingspainted,andthedismallesthouseinGreatGauntStreetbecamethesmartestinthewholequarter,beforethegreenleavesinHampshirehadreplacedthoseyellowingoneswhichwereonthetreesinQueen’sCrawleyAvenuewhenoldSirPittCrawleypassedunderthemforthelasttime.
Alittlewoman,withacarriagetocorrespond,wasperpetuallyseenaboutthismansion;anelderlyspinster,accompaniedbyalittleboy,alsomightberemarkedcomingthitherdaily.
ItwasMissBriggsandlittleRawdon,whosebusinessitwastoseetotheinwardrenovationofSirPitt’shouse,tosuperintendthefemalebandengagedinstitchingtheblindsandhangings,topokeandrummageinthedrawersandcupboardscrammedwiththedirtyrelicsandcongregatedtrumperiesofacoupleofgenerationsofLadyCrawleys,andtotakeinventoriesofthechina,theglass,andotherpropertiesintheclosetsandstore-rooms.
Mrs.RawdonCrawleywasgeneral-in-chiefoverthesearrangements,withfullordersfromSirPitttosell,barter,confiscate,orpurchasefurniture,andsheenjoyedherselfnotalittleinanoccupationwhichgavefullscopetohertasteandingenuity.
TherenovationofthehousewasdetermineduponwhenSirPittcametotowninNovembertoseehislawyers,andwhenhepassednearlyaweekinCurzonStreet,undertheroofofhisaffectionatebrotherandsister.
Hehadputupatanhotelatfirst,but,Becky,assoonassheheardoftheBaronet’sarrival,wentoffalonetogreethim,andreturnedinanhourtoCurzonStreetwithSirPittinthecarriagebyherside.
Itwasimpossiblesometimestoresistthisartlesslittlecreature’shospitalities,sokindlyweretheypressed,sofranklyandamiablyoffered.
BeckyseizedPitt’shandinatransportofgratitudewhenheagreedtocome.
“Thankyou,”shesaid,squeezingitandlookingintotheBaronet’seyes,whoblushedagooddeal;“howhappythiswillmakeRawdon!”
ShebustleduptoPitt’sbedroom,leadingontheservants,whowerecarryinghistrunksthither.
Shecameinherselflaughing,withacoal-scuttleoutofherownroom.
AfirewasblazingalreadyinSirPitt’sapartment(itwasMissBriggs’sroom,bytheway,whowassentupstairstosleepwiththemaid).
“IknewIshouldbringyou,”shesaidwithpleasurebeaminginherglance.
Indeed,shewasreallysincerelyhappyathavinghimforaguest.
BeckymadeRawdondineoutonceortwiceonbusiness,whilePittstayedwiththem,andtheBaronetpassedthehappyeveningalonewithherandBriggs.
Shewentdownstairstothekitchenandactuallycookedlittledishesforhim.“Isn’titagoodsalmi?”shesaid;“Imadeitforyou.
Icanmakeyoubetterdishesthanthat,andwillwhenyoucometoseeme.”
“Everythingyoudo,youdowell,”saidtheBaronetgallantly.“Thesalmiisexcellentindeed.”
“Apoorman’swife,”Rebeccarepliedgaily,“mustmakeherselfuseful,youknow”;onwhichherbrother-in-lawvowedthat“shewasfittobethewifeofanEmperor,andthattobeskilfulindomesticdutieswassurelyoneofthemostcharmingofwoman’squalities.”
AndSirPittthought,withsomethinglikemortification,ofLadyJaneathome,andofacertainpiewhichshehadinsistedonmaking,andservingtohimatdinner—amostabominablepie.
Besidesthesalmi,whichwasmadeofLordSteyne’spheasantsfromhislordship’scottageofStillbrook,Beckygaveherbrother-in-lawabottleofwhitewine,somethatRawdonhadbroughtwithhimfromFrance,andhadpickedupfornothing,thelittlestory-tellersaid;whereastheliquorwas,intruth,someWhiteHermitagefromtheMarquisofSteyne’sfamouscellars,whichbroughtfireintotheBaronet’spallidcheeksandaglowintohisfeebleframe.
Thenwhenhehaddrunkupthebottleofpetitvinblanc,shegavehimherhand,andtookhimuptothedrawing-room,andmadehimsnugonthesofabythefire,andlethimtalkasshelistenedwiththetenderestkindlyinterest,sittingbyhim,andhemmingashirtforherdearlittleboy.
WheneverMrs.Rawdonwishedtobeparticularlyhumbleandvirtuous,thislittleshirtusedtocomeoutofherwork-box.
IthadgottobetoosmallforRawdonlongbeforeitwasfinished.
Well,RebeccalistenedtoPitt,shetalkedtohim,shesangtohim,shecoaxedhim,andcuddledhim,sothathefoundhimselfmoreandmoregladeverydaytogetbackfromthelawyer’satGray’sInn,totheblazingfireinCurzonStreet—agladnessinwhichthemenoflawlikewiseparticipated,forPitt’sharangueswereofthelongest--andsothatwhenhewentawayhefeltquiteapangatdeparting.
Howprettyshelookedkissingherhandtohimfromthecarriageandwavingherhandkerchiefwhenhehadtakenhisplaceinthemail!
Sheputthehandkerchieftohereyesonce.
Hepulledhissealskincapoverhis,asthecoachdroveaway,and,sinkingback,hethoughttohimselfhowsherespectedhimandhowhedeservedit,andhowRawdonwasafoolishdullfellowwhodidn’thalf-appreciatehiswife;andhowmumandstupidhisownwifewascomparedtothatbrilliantlittleBecky.
Beckyhadhintedeveryoneofthesethingsherself,perhaps,butsodelicatelyandgentlythatyouhardlyknewwhenorwhere.
And,beforetheyparted,itwasagreedthatthehouseinLondonshouldberedecoratedforthenextseason,andthatthebrothers’familiesshouldmeetagaininthecountryatChristmas.
“Iwishyoucouldhavegotalittlemoneyoutofhim,”RawdonsaidtohiswifemoodilywhentheBaronetwasgone.
“IshouldliketogivesomethingtooldRaggles,hangedifIshouldn’t.
Itain’tright,youknow,thattheoldfellowshouldbekeptoutofallhismoney.
Itmaybeinconvenient,andhemightlettosomebodyelsebesidesus,youknow.”
“Tellhim,”saidBecky,“thatassoonasSirPitt’saffairsaresettled,everybodywillbepaid,andgivehimalittlesomethingonaccount.
Here’sachequethatPittleftfortheboy,”andshetookfromherbagandgaveherhusbandapaperwhichhisbrotherhadhandedovertoher,onbehalfofthelittlesonandheiroftheyoungerbranchoftheCrawleys.
Thetruthis,shehadtriedpersonallythegroundonwhichherhusbandexpressedawishthatsheshouldventure—triediteversodelicately,andfounditunsafe.
Evenatahintaboutembarrassments,SirPittCrawleywasoffandalarmed.
Andhebeganalongspeech,explaininghowstraitenedhehimselfwasinmoneymatters;howthetenantswouldnotpay;howhisfather’saffairs,andtheexpensesattendantuponthedemiseoftheoldgentleman,hadinvolvedhim;howhewantedtopayoffincumbrances;andhowthebankersandagentswereoverdrawn;andPittCrawleyendedbymakingacompromisewithhissister-in-lawandgivingheraverysmallsumforthebenefitofherlittleboy.
Pittknewhowpoorhisbrotherandhisbrother’sfamilymustbe.
ItcouldnothaveescapedthenoticeofsuchacoolandexperiencedolddiplomatistthatRawdon’sfamilyhadnothingtoliveupon,andthathousesandcarriagesarenottobekeptfornothing.
Heknewverywellthathewastheproprietororappropriatorofthemoney,which,accordingtoallpropercalculation,oughttohavefallentohisyoungerbrother,andhehad,wemaybesure,somesecretpangsofremorsewithinhim,whichwarnedhimthatheoughttoperformsomeactofjustice,or,letussay,compensation,towardsthesedisappointedrelations.
Ajust,decentman,notwithoutbrains,whosaidhisprayers,andknewhiscatechism,anddidhisdutyoutwardlythroughlife,hecouldnotbeotherwisethanawarethatsomethingwasduetohisbrotherathishands,andthatmorallyhewasRawdon’sdebtor.
But,asonereadsinthecolumnsoftheTimesnewspapereverynowandthen,queerannouncementsfromtheChancelloroftheExchequer,acknowledgingthereceiptof50poundsfromA.B.,or10poundsfromW.T.,asconscience-money,onaccountoftaxesduebythesaidA.B.orW.T.,whichpaymentsthepenitentsbegtheRightHonourablegentlemantoacknowledgethroughthemediumofthepublicpress—soistheChancellornodoubt,andthereaderlikewise,alwaysperfectlysurethattheabove-namedA.B.andW.T.areonlypayingaverysmallinstalmentofwhattheyreallyowe,andthatthemanwhosendsupatwenty-poundnotehasverylikelyhundredsorthousandsmoreforwhichheoughttoaccount.
Such,atleast,aremyfeelings,whenIseeA.B.orW.T.’sinsufficientactsofrepentance.
AndIhavenodoubtthatPittCrawley’scontrition,orkindnessifyouwill,towardshisyoungerbrother,bywhomhehadsomuchprofited,wasonlyaverysmalldividenduponthecapitalsuminwhichhewasindebtedtoRawdon.
Noteverybodyiswillingtopayevensomuch.
Topartwithmoneyisasacrificebeyondalmostallmenendowedwithasenseoforder.
Thereisscarcelyanymanalivewhodoesnotthinkhimselfmeritoriousforgivinghisneighbourfivepounds.
Thriftlessgives,notfromabeneficentpleasureingiving,butfromalazydelightinspending.
Hewouldnotdenyhimselfoneenjoyment;nothisopera-stall,nothishorse,nothisdinner,noteventhepleasureofgivingLazarusthefivepounds.
Thrifty,whoisgood,wise,just,andowesnomanapenny,turnsfromabeggar,haggleswithahackney-coachman,ordeniesapoorrelation,andIdoubtwhichisthemostselfishofthetwo.
Moneyhasonlyadifferentvalueintheeyesofeach.
So,inaword,PittCrawleythoughthewoulddosomethingforhisbrother,andthenthoughtthathewouldthinkaboutitsomeothertime.
AndwithregardtoBecky,shewasnotawomanwhoexpectedtoomuchfromthegenerosityofherneighbours,andsowasquitecontentwithallthatPittCrawleyhaddoneforher.
Shewasacknowledgedbytheheadofthefamily.
IfPittwouldnotgiveheranything,hewouldgetsomethingforhersomeday.
Ifshegotnomoneyfromherbrother-in-law,shegotwhatwasasgoodasmoney—credit.
Raggleswasmaderathereasyinhismindbythespectacleoftheunionbetweenthebrothers,byasmallpaymentonthespot,andbythepromiseofamuchlargersumspeedilytobeassignedtohim.
AndRebeccatoldMissBriggs,whoseChristmasdividenduponthelittlesumlentbyherBeckypaidwithanairofcandidjoy,andasifherexchequerwasbrimmingoverwithgold—Rebecca,wesay,toldMissBriggs,instrictconfidencethatshehadconferredwithSirPitt,whowasfamousasafinancier,onBriggs’sspecialbehalf,astothemostprofitableinvestmentofMissB.’sremainingcapital;thatSirPitt,aftermuchconsideration,hadthoughtofamostsafeandadvantageouswayinwhichBriggscouldlayouthermoney;that,beingespeciallyinterestedinherasanattachedfriendofthelateMissCrawley,andofthewholefamily,andthatlongbeforehelefttown,hehadrecommendedthatsheshouldbereadywiththemoneyatamoment’snotice,soastopurchaseatthemostfavourableopportunitytheshareswhichSirPitthadinhiseye.
PoorMissBriggswasverygratefulforthismarkofSirPitt’sattention—itcamesounsolicited,shesaid,forshenevershouldhavethoughtofremovingthemoneyfromthefunds—andthedelicacyenhancedthekindnessoftheoffice;andshepromisedtoseehermanofbusinessimmediatelyandbereadywithherlittlecashattheproperhour.
AndthisworthywomanwassogratefulforthekindnessofRebeccainthematter,andforthatofhergenerousbenefactor,theColonel,thatshewentoutandspentagreatpartofherhalf-year’sdividendinthepurchaseofablackvelvetcoatforlittleRawdon,who,bytheway,wasgrownalmosttoobigforblackvelvetnow,andwasofasizeandagebefittinghimfortheassumptionofthevirilejacketandpantaloons.
Hewasafineopen-facedboy,withblueeyesandwavingflaxenhair,sturdyinlimb,butgenerousandsoftinheart,fondlyattachinghimselftoallwhoweregoodtohim—tothepony—toLordSouthdown,whogavehimthehorse(heusedtoblushandglowalloverwhenhesawthatkindyoungnobleman)—tothegroomwhohadchargeofthepony—toMolly,thecook,whocrammedhimwithghoststoriesatnight,andwithgoodthingsfromthedinner—toBriggs,whomheplaguedandlaughedat—andtohisfatherespecially,whoseattachmenttowardstheladwascurioustootowitness.
Here,ashegrewtobeabouteightyearsold,hisattachmentsmaybesaidtohaveended.
Thebeautifulmother-visionhadfadedawayafterawhile.
Duringneartwoyearsshehadscarcelyspokentothechild.Shedislikedhim.
Hehadthemeaslesandthehooping-cough.Heboredher.
Onedaywhenhewasstandingatthelanding-place,havingcreptdownfromtheupperregions,attractedbythesoundofhismother’svoice,whowassingingtoLordSteyne,thedrawingroomdooropeningsuddenly,discoveredthelittlespy,whobutamomentbeforehadbeenraptindelight,andlisteningtothemusic.
Hismothercameoutandstruckhimviolentlyacoupleofboxesontheear.
HeheardalaughfromtheMarquisintheinnerroom(whowasamusedbythisfreeandartlessexhibitionofBecky’stemper)andfleddownbelowtohisfriendsofthekitchen,burstinginanagonyofgrief.
“Itisnotbecauseithurtsme,”littleRawdongaspedout—”only—only”—sobsandtearswoundupthesentenceinastorm.
Itwasthelittleboy’sheartthatwasbleeding.“Whymayn’tIhearhersinging?
Whydon’tsheeversingtome—asshedoestothatbaldheadedmanwiththelargeteeth?”
Hegaspedoutatvariousintervalstheseexclamationsofrageandgrief.
Thecooklookedatthehousemaid,thehousemaidlookedknowinglyatthefootman—theawfulkitcheninquisitionwhichsitsinjudgementineveryhouseandknowseverything—satonRebeccaatthatmoment.
Afterthisincident,themother’sdislikeincreasedtohatred;theconsciousnessthatthechildwasinthehousewasareproachandapaintoher.Hisverysightannoyedher.
Fear,doubt,andresistancesprangup,too,intheboy’sownbosom.
Theywereseparatedfromthatdayoftheboxesontheear.
LordSteynealsoheartilydislikedtheboy.
Whentheymetbymischance,hemadesarcasticbowsorremarkstothechild,orglaredathimwithsavage-lookingeyes.
Rawdonusedtostarehiminthefaceanddoublehislittlefistsinreturn.
Heknewhisenemy,andthisgentleman,ofallwhocametothehouse,wastheonewhoangeredhimmost.
OnedaythefootmanfoundhimsquaringhisfistsatLordSteyne’shatinthehall.
ThefootmantoldthecircumstanceasagoodjoketoLordSteyne’scoachman;thatofficerimpartedittoLordSteyne’sgentleman,andtotheservants’hallingeneral.
Andverysoonafterwards,whenMrs.RawdonCrawleymadeherappearanceatGauntHouse,theporterwhounbarredthegates,theservantsofalluniformsinthehall,thefunctionariesinwhitewaistcoats,whobawledoutfromlandingtolandingthenamesofColonelandMrs.RawdonCrawley,knewabouther,orfanciedtheydid.
Themanwhobroughtherrefreshmentandstoodbehindherchair,hadtalkedhercharacteroverwiththelargegentlemaninmotley-colouredclothesathisside.BonDieu!
itisawful,thatservants’inquisition!
Youseeawomaninagreatpartyinasplendidsaloon,surroundedbyfaithfuladmirers,distributingsparklingglances,dressedtoperfection,curled,rouged,smilingandhappy—Discoverywalksrespectfullyuptoher,intheshapeofahugepowderedmanwithlargecalvesandatrayofices—withCalumny(whichisasfatalastruth)behindhim,intheshapeofthehulkingfellowcarryingthewafer-biscuits.
Madam,yoursecretwillbetalkedoverbythosemenattheirclubatthepublic-houseto-night.
JeameswilltellChawleshisnotionsaboutyouovertheirpipesandpewterbeer-pots.
SomepeopleoughttohavemutesforservantsinVanityFair—muteswhocouldnotwrite.Ifyouareguilty,tremble.
ThatfellowbehindyourchairmaybeaJanissarywithabow-stringinhisplushbreechespocket.
Ifyouarenotguilty,haveacareofappearances,whichareasruinousasguilt.
“WasRebeccaguiltyornot?”theVehmgerichtofthoservants’hallhadpronouncedagainsther.
And,Ishametosay,shewouldnothavegotcredithadtheynotbelievedhertobeguilty.
ItwasthesightoftheMarquisofSteyne’scarriage-lampsatherdoor,contemplatedbyRaggles,burningintheblacknessofmidnight,“thatkephimup,”asheafterwardssaid,thatevenmorethanRebecca’sartsandcoaxings.
Andso—guiltlessverylikely—shewaswrithingandpushingonwardtowardswhattheycall“apositioninsociety,”andtheservantswerepointingatheraslostandruined.
SoyouseeMolly,thehousemaid,ofamorning,watchingaspiderinthedoorpostlayhisthreadandlaboriouslycrawlupit,until,tiredofthesport,sheraisesherbroomandsweepsawaythethreadandtheartificer.
AdayortwobeforeChristmas,Becky,herhusbandandhersonmadereadyandwenttopasstheholidaysattheseatoftheirancestorsatQueen’sCrawley.
Beckywouldhavelikedtoleavethelittlebratbehind,andwouldhavedonesobutforLadyJane’surgentinvitationstotheyoungster,andthesymptomsofrevoltanddiscontentwhichRawdonmanifestedatherneglectofherson.
“He’sthefinestboyinEngland,”thefathersaidinatoneofreproachtoher,“andyoudon’tseemtocareforhim,Becky,asmuchasyoudoforyourspaniel.
Heshan’tbotheryoumuch;athomehewillbeawayfromyouinthenursery,andheshallgooutsideonthecoachwithme.”
“Whereyougoyourselfbecauseyouwanttosmokethosefilthycigars,”repliedMrs.Rawdon.
“Irememberwhenyouliked‘emthough,”answeredthehusband.
Beckylaughed;shewasalmostalwaysgood-humoured.“ThatwaswhenIwasonmypromotion,Goosey,”shesaid.“TakeRawdonoutsidewithyouandgivehimacigartooifyoulike.”
Rawdondidnotwarmhislittlesonforthewinter’sjourneyinthisway,butheandBriggswrappedupthechildinshawlsandcomforters,andhewashoistedrespectfullyontotheroofofthecoachinthedarkmorning,underthelampsoftheWhiteHorseCellar;andwithnosmalldelighthewatchedthedawnriseandmadehisfirstjourneytotheplacewhichhisfatherstillcalledhome.
Itwasajourneyofinfinitepleasuretotheboy,towhomtheincidentsoftheroadaffordedendlessinterest,hisfatheransweringtohimallquestionsconnectedwithitandtellinghimwholivedinthegreatwhitehousetotheright,andwhomtheparkbelongedto.
Hismother,insidethevehicle,withhermaidandherfurs,herwrappers,andherscentbottles,madesuchato-dothatyouwouldhavethoughtsheneverhadbeeninastage-coachbefore—muchless,thatshehadbeenturnedoutofthisveryonetomakeroomforapayingpassengeronacertainjourneyperformedsomehalf-scoreyearsago.
ItwasdarkagainwhenlittleRawdonwaswakeneduptoenterhisuncle’scarriageatMudbury,andhesatandlookedoutofitwonderingasthegreatirongatesflewopen,andatthewhitetrunksofthelimesastheysweptby,untiltheystopped,atlength,beforethelightwindowsoftheHall,whichwereblazingandcomfortablewithChristmaswelcome.
Thehall-doorwasflungopen—abigfirewasburninginthegreatoldfire-place—acarpetwasdownoverthechequeredblackflags—”It’stheoldTurkeyonethatusedtobeintheLadies’Gallery,”thoughtRebecca,andthenextinstantwaskissingLadyJane.
SheandSirPittperformedthesamesalutewithgreatgravity;butRawdon,havingbeensmoking,hungbackratherfromhissister-in-law,whosetwochildrencameuptotheircousin;and,whileMatildaheldoutherhandandkissedhim,PittBinkieSouthdown,thesonandheir,stoodaloofratherandexaminedhimasalittledogdoesabigdog.
Thenthekindhostessconductedhergueststothesnugapartmentsblazingwithcheerfulfires.
ThentheyoungladiescameandknockedatMrs.Rawdon’sdoor,underthepretencethattheyweredesiroustobeuseful,butinrealitytohavethepleasureofinspectingthecontentsofherbandandbonnet-boxes,andherdresseswhich,thoughblack,wereofthenewestLondonfashion.
AndtheytoldherhowmuchtheHallwaschangedforthebetter,andhowoldLadySouthdownwasgone,andhowPittwastakinghisstationinthecounty,asbecameaCrawleyinfact.
Thenthegreatdinner-bellhavingrung,thefamilyassembledatdinner,atwhichmealRawdonJuniorwasplacedbyhisaunt,thegood-naturedladyofthehouse,SirPittbeinguncommonlyattentivetohissister-in-lawathisownrighthand.
LittleRawdonexhibitedafineappetiteandshowedagentlemanlikebehaviour.
“Iliketodinehere,”hesaidtohisauntwhenhehadcompletedhismeal,attheconclusionofwhich,andafteradecentgracebySirPitt,theyoungersonandheirwasintroduced,andwasperchedonahighchairbytheBaronet’sside,whilethedaughtertookpossessionoftheplaceandthelittlewine-glasspreparedforhernearhermother.
“Iliketodinehere,”saidRawdonMinor,lookingupathisrelation’skindface.
“Why?”saidthegoodLadyJane.
“IdineinthekitchenwhenIamathome,”repliedRawdonMinor,“orelsewithBriggs.”
ButBeckywassoengagedwiththeBaronet,herhost,pouringoutafloodofcomplimentsanddelightsandraptures,andadmiringyoungPittBinkie,whomshedeclaredtobethemostbeautiful,intelligent,noble-lookinglittlecreature,andsolikehisfather,thatshedidnotheartheremarksofherownfleshandbloodattheotherendofthebroadshiningtable.
Asaguest,anditbeingthefirstnightofhisarrival,RawdontheSecondwasallowedtositupuntilthehourwhenteabeingover,andagreatgiltbookbeinglaidonthetablebeforeSirPitt,allthedomesticsofthefamilystreamedin,andSirPittreadprayers.
Itwasthefirsttimethepoorlittleboyhadeverwitnessedorheardofsuchaceremonial.
ThehousehadbeenmuchimprovedevensincetheBaronet’sbriefreign,andwaspronouncedbyBeckytobeperfect,charming,delightful,whenshesurveyeditinhiscompany.
AsforlittleRawdon,whoexamineditwiththechildrenforhisguides,itseemedtohimaperfectpalaceofenchantmentandwonder.
Therewerelonggalleries,andancientstatebedrooms,therewerepicturesandoldChina,andarmour.
ThereweretheroomsinwhichGrandpapadied,andbywhichthechildrenwalkedwithterrifiedlooks.“WhowasGrandpapa?”
heasked;andtheytoldhimhowheusedtobeveryold,andusedtobewheeledaboutinagarden-chair,andtheyshowedhimthegarden-chaironedayrottingintheout-houseinwhichithadlainsincetheoldgentlemanhadbeenwheeledawayyondertothechurch,ofwhichthespirewasglitteringovertheparkelms.
ThebrothershadgoodoccupationforseveralmorningsinexaminingtheimprovementswhichhadbeeneffectedbySirPitt’sgeniusandeconomy.
Andastheywalkedorrode,andlookedatthem,theycouldtalkwithouttoomuchboringeachother.
AndPitttookcaretotellRawdonwhataheavyoutlayofmoneytheseimprovementshadoccasioned,andthatamanoflandedandfundedpropertywasoftenveryhardpressedfortwentypounds.
“Thereisthatnewlodge-gate,”saidPitt,pointingtoithumblywiththebamboocane,“IcannomorepayforitbeforethedividendsinJanuarythanIcanfly.”
“Icanlendyou,Pitt,tillthen,”Rawdonansweredratherruefully;andtheywentinandlookedattherestoredlodge,wherethefamilyarmswerejustnewscrapedinstone,andwhereoldMrs.Lock,forthefirsttimethesemanylongyears,hadtightdoors,soundroofs,andwholewindows.
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