English
SirPittCrawleyhaddonemorethanrepairfencesandrestoredilapidatedlodgesontheQueen’sCrawleyestate.
Likeawisemanhehadsettoworktorebuildtheinjuredpopularityofhishouseandstopupthegapsandruinsinwhichhisnamehadbeenleftbyhisdisreputableandthriftlessoldpredecessor.
Hewaselectedfortheboroughspeedilyafterhisfather’sdemise;amagistrate,amemberofparliament,acountymagnateandrepresentativeofanancientfamily,hemadeithisdutytoshowhimselfbeforetheHampshirepublic,subscribedhandsomelytothecountycharities,calledassiduouslyuponallthecountyfolk,andlaidhimselfoutinawordtotakethatpositioninHampshire,andintheEmpireafterwards,towhichhethoughthisprodigioustalentsjustlyentitledhim.
LadyJanewasinstructedtobefriendlywiththeFuddlestones,andtheWapshots,andtheotherfamousbaronets,theirneighbours.
TheircarriagesmightfrequentlybeseenintheQueen’sCrawleyavenuenow;theydinedprettyfrequentlyattheHall(wherethecookerywassogoodthatitwasclearLadyJaneveryseldomhadahandinit),andinreturnPittandhiswifemostenergeticallydinedoutinallsortsofweatherandatallsortsofdistances.
ForthoughPittdidnotcareforjoviality,beingafrigidmanofpoorhearthandappetite,yetheconsideredthattobehospitableandcondescendingwasquiteincumbenton-hisstation,andeverytimethathegotaheadachefromtoolonganafter-dinnersitting,hefeltthathewasamartyrtoduty.
Hetalkedaboutcrops,corn-laws,politics,withthebestcountrygentlemen.
He(whohadbeenformerlyinclinedtobeasadfree-thinkeronthesepoints)enteredintopoachingandgamepreservingwithardour.
Hedidn’thunt;hewasn’tahuntingman;hewasamanofbooksandpeacefulhabits;buthethoughtthatthebreedofhorsesmustbekeptupinthecountry,andthatthebreedoffoxesmustthereforebelookedto,andforhispart,ifhisfriend,SirHuddlestoneFuddlestone,likedtodrawhiscountryandmeetasofoldtheF.houndsusedtodoatQueen’sCrawley,heshouldbehappytoseehimthere,andthegentlemenoftheFuddlestonehunt.
AndtoLadySouthdown’sdismaytoohebecamemoreorthodoxinhistendencieseveryday;gaveuppreachinginpublicandattendingmeeting-houses;wentstoutlytochurch;calledontheBishopandalltheClergyatWinchester;andmadenoobjectionwhentheVenerableArchdeaconTrumperaskedforagameofwhist.
WhatpangsmusthavebeenthoseofLadySouthdown,andwhatanuttercastawayshemusthavethoughtherson-in-lawforpermittingsuchagodlessdiversion!
Andwhen,onthereturnofthefamilyfromanoratorioatWinchester,theBaronetannouncedtotheyoungladiesthatheshouldnextyearveryprobablytakethemtothe“countyballs,”theyworshippedhimforhiskindness.
LadyJanewasonlytooobedient,andperhapsgladherselftogo.
TheDowagerwroteoffthedirestdescriptionsofherdaughter’sworldlybehaviourtotheauthoressoftheWasherwomanofFinchleyCommonattheCape;andherhouseinBrightonbeingaboutthistimeunoccupied,returnedtothatwatering-place,herabsencebeingnotverymuchdeploredbyherchildren.
Wemaysuppose,too,thatRebecca,onpayingasecondvisittoQueen’sCrawley,didnotfeelparticularlygrievedattheabsenceoftheladyofthemedicinechest;thoughshewroteaChristmaslettertoherLadyship,inwhichsherespectfullyrecalledherselftoLadySouthdown’srecollection,spokewithgratitudeofthedelightwhichherLadyship’sconversationhadgivenherontheformervisit,dilatedonthekindnesswithwhichherLadyshiphadtreatedherinsickness,anddeclaredthateverythingatQueen’sCrawleyremindedherofherabsentfriend.
AgreatpartofthealtereddemeanourandpopularityofSirPittCrawleymighthavebeentracedtothecounselsofthatastutelittleladyofCurzonStreet.
“YouremainaBaronet—youconsenttobeamerecountrygentleman,”shesaidtohim,whilehehadbeenherguestinLondon.
“No,SirPittCrawley,Iknowyoubetter.Iknowyourtalentsandyourambition.
Youfancyyouhidethemboth,butyoucanconcealneitherfromme.
IshowedLordSteyneyourpamphletonmalt.
Hewasfamiliarwithit,andsaiditwasintheopinionofthewholeCabinetthemostmasterlythingthathadappearedonthesubject.
TheMinistryhasitseyeuponyou,andIknowwhatyouwant.
YouwanttodistinguishyourselfinParliament;everyonesaysyouarethefinestspeakerinEngland(foryourspeechesatOxfordarestillremembered).
YouwanttobeMemberfortheCounty,where,withyourownvoteandyourboroughatyourback,youcancommandanything.
AndyouwanttobeBaronCrawleyofQueen’sCrawley,andwillbebeforeyoudie.Isawitall.Icouldreadyourheart,SirPitt.
IfIhadahusbandwhopossessedyourintellectashedoesyourname,IsometimesthinkIshouldnotbeunworthyofhim—but—butIamyourkinswomannow,”sheaddedwithalaugh.
“Poorlittlepenniless,Ihavegotalittleinterest—andwhoknows,perhapsthemousemaybeabletoaidthelion.”
PittCrawleywasamazedandenrapturedwithherspeech.“Howthatwomancomprehendsme!”hesaid.
“InevercouldgetJanetoreadthreepagesofthemaltpamphlet.
ShehasnoideathatIhavecommandingtalentsorsecretambition.
SotheyremembermyspeakingatOxford,dothey?Therascals!
NowthatIrepresentmyboroughandmaysitforthecounty,theybegintorecollectme!
Why,LordSteynecutmeattheleveelastyear;theyarebeginningtofindoutthatPittCrawleyissomeoneatlast.
Yes,themanwasalwaysthesamewhomthesepeopleneglected:itwasonlytheopportunitythatwaswanting,andIwillshowthemnowthatIcanspeakandactaswellaswrite.
Achillesdidnotdeclarehimselfuntiltheygavehimthesword.
Iholditnow,andtheworldshallyethearofPittCrawley.”
Thereforeitwasthatthisroguishdiplomatisthasgrownsohospitable;thathewassociviltooratoriosandhospitals;sokindtoDeansandChapters;sogenerousingivingandacceptingdinners;souncommonlygracioustofarmersonmarket-days;andsomuchinterestedaboutcountybusiness;andthattheChristmasattheHallwasthegayestwhichhadbeenknownthereformanyalongday.
OnChristmasDayagreatfamilygatheringtookplace.
AlltheCrawleysfromtheRectorycametodine.
RebeccawasasfrankandfondofMrs.Buteasiftheotherhadneverbeenherenemy;shewasaffectionatelyinterestedinthedeargirls,andsurprisedattheprogresswhichtheyhadmadeinmusicsincehertime,andinsisteduponencoringoneoftheduetsoutofthegreatsong-bookswhichJim,grumbling,hadbeenforcedtobringunderhisarmfromtheRectory.
Mrs.Bute,perforce,wasobligedtoadoptadecentdemeanourtowardsthelittleadventuress—ofcoursebeingfreetodiscoursewithherdaughtersafterwardsabouttheabsurdrespectwithwhichSirPitttreatedhissister-in-law.
ButJim,whohadsatnexttoheratdinner,declaredshewasatrump,andoneandalloftheRector’sfamilyagreedthatthelittleRawdonwasafineboy.
Theyrespectedapossiblebaronetintheboy,betweenwhomandthetitletherewasonlythelittlesicklypalePittBinkie.
Thechildrenwereverygoodfriends.PittBinkiewastoolittleadogforsuchabigdogasRawdontoplaywith;andMatildabeingonlyagirl,ofcoursenotfitcompanionforayounggentlemanwhowasneareightyearsold,andgoingintojacketsverysoon.
Hetookthecommandofthissmallpartyatonce—thelittlegirlandthelittleboyfollowinghimaboutwithgreatreverenceatsuchtimesashecondescendedtosportwiththem.
Hishappinessandpleasureinthecountrywereextreme.
Thekitchengardenpleasedhimhugely,theflowersmoderately,butthepigeonsandthepoultry,andthestableswhenhewasallowedtovisitthem,weredelightfulobjectstohim.
HeresistedbeingkissedbytheMissesCrawley,butheallowedLadyJanesometimestoembracehim,anditwasbyhersidethathelikedtositwhen,thesignaltoretiretothedrawing-roombeinggiven,theladiesleftthegentlementotheirclaret—byhersideratherthanbyhismother.
ForRebecca,seeingthattendernesswasthefashion,calledRawdontoheroneeveningandstoopeddownandkissedhiminthepresenceofalltheladies.
Helookedherfullinthefaceaftertheoperation,tremblingandturningveryred,ashiswontwaswhenmoved.
“Youneverkissmeathome,Mamma,”hesaid,atwhichtherewasageneralsilenceandconsternationandabynomeanspleasantlookinBecky’seyes.
Rawdonwasfondofhissister-in-law,forherregardforhisson.
LadyJaneandBeckydidnotgetonquitesowellatthisvisitasonoccasionoftheformerone,whentheColonel’swifewasbentuponpleasing.
Thosetwospeechesofthechildstruckratherachill.
PerhapsSirPittwasrathertooattentivetoher.
ButRawdon,asbecamehisageandsize,wasfonderofthesocietyofthementhanofthewomen,andneverweariedofaccompanyinghissiretothestables,whithertheColonelretiredtosmokehiscigar—Jim,theRector’sson,sometimesjoininghiscousininthatandotheramusements.
HeandtheBaronet’skeeperwereveryclosefriends,theirmutualtastefor“dawgs”bringingthemmuchtogether.
Ononeday,Mr.James,theColonel,andHorn,thekeeper,wentandshotpheasants,takinglittleRawdonwiththem.
Onanothermostblissfulmorning,thesefourgentlemenpartookoftheamusementofrat-huntinginabarn,thanwhichsportRawdonasyethadneverseenanythingmorenoble.
Theystoppeduptheendsofcertaindrainsinthebarn,intotheotheropeningsofwhichferretswereinserted,andthenstoodsilentlyaloof,withupliftedstakesintheirhands,andananxiouslittleterrier(Mr.James’scelebrated“dawg”Forceps,indeed)scarcelybreathingfromexcitement,listeningmotionlessonthreelegs,tothefaintsqueakingoftheratsbelow.
Desperatelyboldatlast,thepersecutedanimalsboltedabove-ground—theterrieraccountedforone,thekeeperforanother;Rawdon,fromflurryandexcitement,missedhisrat,butontheotherhandhehalf-murderedaferret.
ButthegreatestdayofallwasthatonwhichSirHuddlestoneFuddlestone’shoundsmetuponthelawnatQueen’sCrawley.
ThatwasafamoussightforlittleRawdon.
Athalf-pastten,TomMoody,SirHuddlestoneFuddlestone’shuntsman,wasseentrottinguptheavenue,followedbythenoblepackofhoundsinacompactbody—therearbeingbroughtupbythetwowhipscladinstainedscarletfrocks—lighthard-featuredladsonwell-bredleanhorses,possessingmarvellousdexterityincastingthepointsoftheirlongheavywhipsatthethinnestpartofanydog’sskinwhodarestostragglefromthemainbody,ortotaketheslightestnotice,orevensomuchaswink,attheharesandrabbitsstartingundertheirnoses.
NextcomesboyJack,TomMoody’sson,whoweighsfivestone,measureseight-and-fortyinches,andwillneverbeanybigger.
Heisperchedonalargeraw-bonedhunter,half-coveredbyacapacioussaddle.
ThisanimalisSirHuddlestoneFuddlestone’sfavouritehorsetheNob.
Otherhorses,riddenbyothersmallboys,arrivefromtimetotime,awaitingtheirmasters,whowillcomecanteringonanon.
TomMoodyridesuptothedooroftheHall,whereheiswelcomedbythebutler,whooffershimdrink,whichhedeclines.
Heandhispackthendrawoffintoashelteredcornerofthelawn,wherethedogsrollonthegrass,andplayorgrowlangrilyatoneanother,everandanonbreakingoutintofuriousfightspeedilytobequelledbyTom’svoice,unmatchedatrating,orthesnakythongsofthewhips.
Manyyounggentlemencanteruponthoroughbredhacks,spatter-dashedtotheknee,andenterthehousetodrinkcherry-brandyandpaytheirrespectstotheladies,or,moremodestandsportsmanlike,divestthemselvesoftheirmud-boots,exchangetheirhacksfortheirhunters,andwarmtheirbloodbyapreliminarygalloproundthelawn.
ThentheycollectroundthepackinthecornerandtalkwithTomMoodyofpastsport,andthemeritsofSnivellerandDiamond,andofthestateofthecountryandofthewretchedbreedoffoxes.
SirHuddlestonepresentlyappearsmountedonaclevercobandridesuptotheHall,whereheentersanddoesthecivilthingbytheladies,afterwhich,beingamanoffewwords,heproceedstobusiness.
Thehoundsaredrawnuptothehall-door,andlittleRawdondescendsamongstthem,excitedyethalf-alarmedbythecaresseswhichtheybestowuponhim,atthethumpshereceivesfromtheirwavingtails,andattheircaninebickerings,scarcelyrestrainedbyTomMoody’stongueandlash.
Meanwhile,SirHuddlestonehashoistedhimselfunwieldilyontheNob:“Let’strySowster’sSpinney,Tom,”saystheBaronet,“FarmerMangletellsmetherearetwofoxesinit.”
Tomblowshishornandtrotsoff,followedbythepack,bythewhips,bytheyounggentsfromWinchester,bythefarmersoftheneighbourhood,bythelabourersoftheparishonfoot,withwhomthedayisagreatholiday,SirHuddlestonebringinguptherearwithColonelCrawley,andthewholecortegedisappearsdowntheavenue.
TheReverendButeCrawley(whohasbeentoomodesttoappearatthepublicmeetbeforehisnephew’swindows),whomTomMoodyremembersfortyyearsbackaslenderdivineridingthewildesthorses,jumpingthewidestbrooks,andlarkingoverthenewestgatesinthecountry—hisReverence,wesay,happenstotrotoutfromtheRectoryLaneonhispowerfulblackhorsejustasSirHuddlestonepasses;hejoinstheworthyBaronet.
Houndsandhorsemendisappear,andlittleRawdonremainsonthedoorsteps,wonderingandhappy.
Duringtheprogressofthismemorableholiday,littleRawdon,ifhehadgotnospeciallikingforhisuncle,alwaysawfulandcoldandlockedupinhisstudy,plungedinjustice-businessandsurroundedbybailiffsandfarmers—hasgainedthegoodgracesofhismarriedandmaidenaunts,ofthetwolittlefolksoftheHall,andofJimoftheRectory,whomSirPittisencouragingtopayhisaddressestooneoftheyoungladies,withanunderstandingdoubtlessthatheshallbepresentedtothelivingwhenitshallbevacatedbyhisfox-huntingoldsire.
Jimhasgivenupthatsporthimselfandconfineshimselftoalittleharmlessduck-orsnipe-shooting,oralittlequiettriflingwiththeratsduringtheChristmasholidays,afterwhichhewillreturntotheUniversityandtryandnotbeplucked,oncemore.
Hehasalreadyeschewedgreencoats,redneckcloths,andotherworldlyornaments,andispreparinghimselfforachangeinhiscondition.
InthischeapandthriftywaySirPitttriestopayoffhisdebttohisfamily.
AlsobeforethismerryChristmaswasover,theBaronethadscrewedupcourageenoughtogivehisbrotheranotherdraftonhisbankers,andfornolessasumthanahundredpounds,anactwhichcausedSirPittcruelpangsatfirst,butwhichmadehimglowafterwardstothinkhimselfoneofthemostgenerousofmen.
Rawdonandhissonwentawaywiththeutmostheavinessofheart.
Beckyandtheladiespartedwithsomealacrity,however,andourfriendreturnedtoLondontocommencethoseavocationswithwhichwefindheroccupiedwhenthischapterbegins.
UnderhercaretheCrawleyHouseinGreatGauntStreetwasquiterejuvenescentandreadyforthereceptionofSirPittandhisfamily,whentheBaronetcametoLondontoattendhisdutiesinParliamentandtoassumethatpositioninthecountryforwhichhisvastgeniusfittedhim.
Forthefirstsession,thisprofounddissemblerhidhisprojectsandneveropenedhislipsbuttopresentapetitionfromMudbury.
ButheattendedassiduouslyinhisplaceandlearnedthoroughlytheroutineandbusinessoftheHouse.
AthomehegavehimselfuptotheperusalofBlueBooks,tothealarmandwonderofLadyJane,whothoughthewaskillinghimselfbylatehoursandintenseapplication.
Andhemadeacquaintancewiththeministers,andthechiefsofhisparty,determiningtorankasoneofthembeforemanyyearswereover.
LadyJane’ssweetnessandkindnesshadinspiredRebeccawithsuchacontemptforherladyshipasthelittlewomanfoundnosmalldifficultyinconcealing.
ThatsortofgoodnessandsimplicitywhichLadyJanepossessedannoyedourfriendBecky,anditwasimpossibleforherattimesnottoshow,ortolettheotherdivine,herscorn.
Herpresence,too,renderedLadyJaneuneasy.
HerhusbandtalkedconstantlywithBecky.
Signsofintelligenceseemedtopassbetweenthem,andPittspokewithheronsubjectsonwhichheneverthoughtofdiscoursingwithLadyJane.
Thelatterdidnotunderstandthem,tobesure,butitwasmortifyingtoremainsilent;stillmoremortifyingtoknowthatyouhadnothingtosay,andhearthatlittleaudaciousMrs.Rawdondashingonfromsubjecttosubject,withawordforeveryman,andajokealwayspat;andtositinone’sownhousealone,bythefireside,andwatchingallthemenroundyourrival.
Inthecountry,whenLadyJanewastellingstoriestothechildren,whoclusteredaboutherknees(littleRawdonintothebargain,whowasveryfondofher),andBeckycameintotheroom,sneeringwithgreenscornfuleyes,poorLadyJanegrewsilentunderthosebalefulglances.
Hersimplelittlefanciesshrankawaytremulously,asfairiesinthestory-books,beforeasuperiorbadangel.
Shecouldnotgoon,althoughRebecca,withthesmallestinflectionofsarcasminhervoice,besoughthertocontinuethatcharmingstory.
AndonhersidegentlethoughtsandsimplepleasureswereodioustoMrs.Becky;theydiscordedwithher;shehatedpeopleforlikingthem;shespurnedchildrenandchildren-lovers.
“Ihavenotasteforbreadandbutter,”shewouldsay,whencaricaturingLadyJaneandherwaystomyLordSteyne.
“Nomorehasacertainpersonforholywater,”hislordshiprepliedwithabowandagrinandagreatjarringlaughafterwards.
Sothesetwoladiesdidnotseemuchofeachotherexceptuponthoseoccasionswhentheyoungerbrother’swife,havinganobjecttogainfromtheother,frequentedher.
Theymy-lovedandmy-dearedeachotherassiduously,butkeptapartgenerally,whereasSirPitt,inthemidstofhismultipliedavocations,founddailytimetoseehissister-in-law.
OntheoccasionofhisfirstSpeaker’sdinner,SirPitttooktheopportunityofappearingbeforehissister-in-lawinhisuniform—thatolddiplomaticsuitwhichhehadwornwhenattachetothePumpernickellegation.
Beckycomplimentedhimuponthatdressandadmiredhimalmostasmuchashisownwifeandchildren,towhomhedisplayedhimselfbeforehesetout.
ShesaidthatitwasonlythethoroughbredgentlemanwhocouldweartheCourtsuitwithadvantage:itwasonlyyourmenofancientracewhomtheculottecourtebecame.
Pittlookeddownwithcomplacencyathislegs,whichhadnot,intruth,muchmoresymmetryorswellthantheleanCourtswordwhichdangledbyhisside—lookeddownathislegs,andthoughtinhisheartthathewaskilling.
Whenhewasgone,Mrs.Beckymadeacaricatureofhisfigure,whichsheshowedtoLordSteynewhenhearrived.
Hislordshipcarriedoffthesketch,delightedwiththeaccuracyoftheresemblance.
HehaddoneSirPittCrawleythehonourtomeethimatMrs.Becky’shouseandhadbeenmostgracioustothenewBaronetandmember.
PittwasstrucktoobythedeferencewithwhichthegreatPeertreatedhissister-in-law,byhereaseandsprightlinessintheconversation,andbythedelightwithwhichtheothermenofthepartylistenedtohertalk.
LordSteynemadenodoubtbutthattheBaronethadonlycommencedhiscareerinpubliclife,andexpectedratheranxiouslytohearhimasanorator;astheywereneighbours(forGreatGauntStreetleadsintoGauntSquare,whereofGauntHouse,aseverybodyknows,formsoneside)mylordhopedthatassoonasLadySteynearrivedinLondonshewouldhavethehonourofmakingtheacquaintanceofLadyCrawley.
Heleftacarduponhisneighbourinthecourseofadayortwo,havingneverthoughtfittonoticehispredecessor,thoughtheyhadlivedneareachotherfornearacenturypast.
InthemidstoftheseintriguesandfinepartiesandwiseandbrilliantpersonagesRawdonfelthimselfmoreandmoreisolatedeveryday.
Hewasallowedtogototheclubmore;todineabroadwithbachelorfriends;tocomeandgowhenheliked,withoutanyquestionsbeingasked.
AndheandRawdontheyoungermanyatimewouldwalktoGauntStreetandsitwiththeladyandthechildrentherewhileSirPittwasclosetedwithRebecca,onhiswaytotheHouse,oronhisreturnfromit.
Theex-Colonelwouldsitforhoursinhisbrother’shouseverysilent,andthinkinganddoingaslittleaspossible.
Hewasgladtobeemployedofanerrand;togoandmakeinquiriesaboutahorseoraservant,ortocarvetheroastmuttonforthedinnerofthechildren.
Hewasbeatandcowedintolazinessandsubmission.
Delilahhadimprisonedhimandcuthishairoff,too.
Theboldandrecklessyoungbloodoften-yearsbackwassubjugatedandwasturnedintoatorpid,submissive,middle-aged,stoutgentleman.
AndpoorLadyJanewasawarethatRebeccahadcaptivatedherhusband,althoughsheandMrs.Rawdonmy-dearedandmy-lovedeachothereverydaytheymet.
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