English
WhenLordSteynewasbenevolentlydisposed,hedidnothingbyhalves,andhiskindnesstowardstheCrawleyfamilydidthegreatesthonourtohisbenevolentdiscrimination.
Hislordshipextendedhisgood-willtolittleRawdon:hepointedouttotheboy’sparentsthenecessityofsendinghimtoapublicschool,thathewasofanagenowwhenemulation,thefirstprinciplesoftheLatinlanguage,pugilisticexercises,andthesocietyofhisfellow-boyswouldbeofthegreatestbenefittotheboy.
Hisfatherobjectedthathewasnotrichenoughtosendthechildtoagoodpublicschool;hismotherthatBriggswasacapitalmistressforhim,andhadbroughthimon(asindeedwasthefact)famouslyinEnglish,theLatinrudiments,andingenerallearning:butalltheseobjectionsdisappearedbeforethegenerousperseveranceoftheMarquisofSteyne.
HislordshipwasoneofthegovernorsofthatfamousoldcollegiateinstitutioncalledtheWhitefriars.
IthadbeenaCistercianConventinolddays,whentheSmithfield,whichiscontiguoustoit,wasatournamentground.
Obstinatehereticsusedtobebroughtthitherconvenientforburninghardby.
HenryVIII,theDefenderoftheFaith,seizeduponthemonasteryanditspossessionsandhangedandtorturedsomeofthemonkswhocouldnotaccommodatethemselvestothepaceofhisreform.
Finally,agreatmerchantboughtthehouseandlandadjoining,inwhich,andwiththehelpofotherwealthyendowmentsoflandandmoney,heestablishedafamousfoundationhospitalforoldmenandchildren.
Anexternschoolgrewroundtheoldalmostmonasticfoundation,whichsubsistsstillwithitsmiddle-agecostumeandusages—andallCistercianspraythatitmaylongflourish.
Ofthisfamoushouse,someofthegreatestnoblemen,prelates,anddignitariesinEnglandaregovernors:andastheboysareverycomfortablylodged,fed,andeducated,andsubsequentlyinductedtogoodscholarshipsattheUniversityandlivingsintheChurch,manylittlegentlemenaredevotedtotheecclesiasticalprofessionfromtheirtenderestyears,andthereisconsiderableemulationtoprocurenominationsforthefoundation.
Itwasoriginallyintendedforthesonsofpooranddeservingclericsandlaics,butmanyofthenoblegovernorsoftheInstitution,withanenlargedandrathercapriciousbenevolence,selectedallsortsofobjectsfortheirbounty.
Togetaneducationfornothing,andafuturelivelihoodandprofessionassured,wassoexcellentaschemethatsomeoftherichestpeopledidnotdisdainit;andnotonlygreatmen’srelations,butgreatmenthemselves,senttheirsonstoprofitbythechance—RightRev.prelatessenttheirownkinsmenorthesonsoftheirclergy,while,ontheotherhand,somegreatnoblemendidnotdisdaintopatronizethechildrenoftheirconfidentialservants—sothataladenteringthisestablishmenthadeveryvarietyofyouthfulsocietywherewithtomingle.
RawdonCrawley,thoughtheonlybookwhichhestudiedwastheRacingCalendar,andthoughhischiefrecollectionsofpolitelearningwereconnectedwiththefloggingswhichhereceivedatEtoninhisearlyyouth,hadthatdecentandhonestreverenceforclassicallearningwhichallEnglishgentlemenfeel,andwasgladtothinkthathissonwastohaveaprovisionforlife,perhaps,andacertainopportunityofbecomingascholar.
Andalthoughhisboywashischiefsolaceandcompanion,andendearedtohimbyathousandsmallties,aboutwhichhedidnotcaretospeaktohiswife,whohadallalongshowntheutmostindifferencetotheirson,yetRawdonagreedatoncetopartwithhimandtogiveuphisowngreatestcomfortandbenefitforthesakeofthewelfareofthelittlelad.
Hedidnotknowhowfondhewasofthechilduntilitbecamenecessarytolethimgoaway.
Whenhewasgone,hefeltmoresadanddowncastthanhecaredtoown—farsadderthantheboyhimself,whowashappyenoughtoenteranewcareerandfindcompanionsofhisownage.
BeckyburstoutlaughingonceortwicewhentheColonel,inhisclumsy,incoherentway,triedtoexpresshissentimentalsorrowsattheboy’sdeparture.
Thepoorfellowfeltthathisdearestpleasureandclosestfriendwastakenfromhim.
Helookedoftenandwistfullyatthelittlevacantbedinhisdressing-room,wherethechildusedtosleep.
Hemissedhimsadlyofmorningsandtriedinvaintowalkintheparkwithouthim.
HedidnotknowhowsolitaryhewasuntillittleRawdonwasgone.
Helikedthepeoplewhowerefondofhim,andwouldgoandsitforlonghourswithhisgood-naturedsisterLadyJane,andtalktoheraboutthevirtues,andgoodlooks,andhundredgoodqualitiesofthechild.
YoungRawdon’saunt,wehavesaid,wasveryfondofhim,aswasherlittlegirl,whoweptcopiouslywhenthetimeforhercousin’sdeparturecame.
TheelderRawdonwasthankfulforthefondnessofmotheranddaughter.
Theverybestandhonestestfeelingsofthemancameoutintheseartlessoutpouringsofpaternalfeelinginwhichheindulgedintheirpresence,andencouragedbytheirsympathy.
HesecurednotonlyLadyJane’skindness,buthersincereregard,bythefeelingswhichhemanifested,andwhichhecouldnotshowtohisownwife.
Thetwokinswomenmetasseldomaspossible.
BeckylaughedbitterlyatJane’sfeelingsandsoftness;theother’skindlyandgentlenaturecouldnotbutrevoltathersister’scallousbehaviour.
ItestrangedRawdonfromhiswifemorethanhekneworacknowledgedtohimself.Shedidnotcarefortheestrangement.
Indeed,shedidnotmisshimoranybody.
Shelookeduponhimashererrand-manandhumbleslave.
Hemightbeeversodepressedorsulky,andshedidnotmarkhisdemeanour,oronlytreateditwithasneer.
Shewasbusythinkingaboutherposition,orherpleasures,orheradvancementinsociety;sheoughttohaveheldagreatplaceinit,thatiscertain.
ItwashonestBriggswhomadeupthelittlekitfortheboywhichhewastotaketoschool.
Molly,thehousemaid,blubberedinthepassagewhenhewentaway—Mollykindandfaithfulinspiteofalongarrearofunpaidwages.
Mrs.Beckycouldnotletherhusbandhavethecarriagetotaketheboytoschool.TakethehorsesintotheCity!—suchathingwasneverheardof.Letacabbebrought.
Shedidnotoffertokisshimwhenhewent,nordidthechildproposetoembraceher;butgaveakisstooldBriggs(whom,ingeneral,hewasveryshyofcaressing),andconsoledherbypointingoutthathewastocomehomeonSaturdays,whenshewouldhavethebenefitofseeinghim.
AsthecabrolledtowardstheCity,Becky’scarriagerattledofftothepark.
ShewaschatteringandlaughingwithascoreofyoungdandiesbytheSerpentineasthefatherandsonenteredattheoldgatesoftheschool—whereRawdonleftthechildandcameawaywithasadderpurerfeelinginhisheartthanperhapsthatpoorbatteredfellowhadeverknownsincehehimselfcameoutofthenursery.
Hewalkedallthewayhomeverydismally,anddinedalonewithBriggs.
Hewasverykindtoherandgratefulforherloveandwatchfulnessovertheboy.
HisconsciencesmotehimthathehadborrowedBriggs’smoneyandaidedindeceivingher.
TheytalkedaboutlittleRawdonalongtime,forBeckyonlycamehometodressandgoouttodinner—andthenhewentoffuneasilytodrinkteawithLadyJane,andtellherofwhathadhappened,andhowlittleRawdonwentofflikeatrump,andhowhewastowearagownandlittleknee-breeches,andhowyoungBlackball,JackBlackball’sson,oftheoldregiment,hadtakenhiminchargeandpromisedtobekindtohim.
Inthecourseofaweek,youngBlackballhadconstitutedlittleRawdonhisfag,shoe-black,andbreakfasttoaster;initiatedhimintothemysteriesoftheLatinGrammar;andthrashedhimthreeorfourtimes,butnotseverely.
Thelittlechap’sgood-naturedhonestfacewonhiswayforhim.
Heonlygotthatdegreeofbeatingwhichwas,nodoubt,goodforhim;andasforblackingshoes,toastingbread,andfaggingingeneral,weretheseofficesnotdeemedtobenecessarypartsofeveryyoungEnglishgentleman’seducation?
OurbusinessdoesnotliewiththesecondgenerationandMasterRawdon’slifeatschool,otherwisethepresenttalemightbecarriedtoanyindefinitelength.
TheColonelwenttoseehissonashorttimeafterwardsandfoundtheladsufficientlywellandhappy,grinningandlaughinginhislittleblackgownandlittlebreeches.
HisfathersagaciouslytippedBlackball,hismaster,asovereign,andsecuredthatyounggentleman’sgood-willtowardshisfag.
AsaprotegeofthegreatLordSteyne,thenephewofaCountymember,andsonofaColonelandC.B.,whosenameappearedinsomeofthemostfashionablepartiesintheMorningPost,perhapstheschoolauthoritiesweredisposednottolookunkindlyonthechild.
Hehadplentyofpocket-money,whichhespentintreatinghiscomradesroyallytoraspberrytarts,andhewasoftenallowedtocomehomeonSaturdaystohisfather,whoalwaysmadeajubileeofthatday.
Whenfree,Rawdonwouldtakehimtotheplay,orsendhimthitherwiththefootman;andonSundayshewenttochurchwithBriggsandLadyJaneandhiscousins.
Rawdonmarvelledoverhisstoriesaboutschool,andfights,andfagging.
Beforelong,heknewthenamesofallthemastersandtheprincipalboysaswellaslittleRawdonhimself.
HeinvitedlittleRawdon’scronyfromschool,andmadeboththechildrensickwithpastry,andoysters,andporteraftertheplay.
HetriedtolookknowingovertheLatingrammarwhenlittleRawdonshowedhimwhatpartofthatworkhewas“in.”
“Sticktoit,myboy,”hesaidtohimwithmuchgravity,“there’snothinglikeagoodclassicaleducation!Nothing!”
Becky’scontemptforherhusbandgrewgreatereveryday.
“Dowhatyoulike—dinewhereyouplease—goandhaveginger-beerandsawdustatAstley’s,orpsalm-singingwithLadyJane—onlydon’texpectmetobusymyselfwiththeboy.
Ihaveyourintereststoattendto,asyoucan’tattendtothemyourself.
Ishouldliketoknowwhereyouwouldhavebeennow,andinwhatsortofapositioninsociety,ifIhadnotlookedafteryou.”
Indeed,nobodywantedpooroldRawdonatthepartieswhitherBeckyusedtogo.Shewasoftenaskedwithouthimnow.
Shetalkedaboutgreatpeopleasifshehadthefee-simpleofMayFair,andwhentheCourtwentintomourning,shealwaysworeblack.
LittleRawdonbeingdisposedof,LordSteyne,whotooksuchaparentalinterestintheaffairsofthisamiablepoorfamily,thoughtthattheirexpensesmightbeveryadvantageouslycurtailedbythedepartureofMissBriggs,andthatBeckywasquitecleverenoughtotakethemanagementofherownhouse.
IthasbeennarratedinaformerchapterhowthebenevolentnoblemanhadgivenhisprotegeemoneytopayoffherlittledebttoMissBriggs,whohoweverstillremainedbehindwithherfriends;whencemylordcametothepainfulconclusionthatMrs.Crawleyhadmadesomeotheruseofthemoneyconfidedtoherthanthatforwhichhergenerouspatronhadgiventheloan.
However,LordSteynewasnotsorudeastoimparthissuspicionsuponthisheadtoMrs.Becky,whosefeelingsmightbehurtbyanycontroversyonthemoney-question,andwhomighthaveathousandpainfulreasonsfordisposingotherwiseofhislordship’sgenerousloan.
Buthedeterminedtosatisfyhimselfoftherealstateofthecase,andinstitutedthenecessaryinquiriesinamostcautiousanddelicatemanner.
InthefirstplacehetookanearlyopportunityofpumpingMissBriggs.Thatwasnotadifficultoperation.
Averylittleencouragementwouldsetthatworthywomantotalkvolublyandpouroutallwithinher.
AndonedaywhenMrs.Rawdonhadgoneouttodrive(asMr.Fiche,hislordship’sconfidentialservant,easilylearnedattheliverystableswheretheCrawleyskepttheircarriageandhorses,orrather,wherethelivery-mankeptacarriageandhorsesforMr.andMrs.Crawley)—mylorddroppedinupontheCurzonStreethouse—askedBriggsforacupofcoffee—toldherthathehadgoodaccountsofthelittleboyatschool—andinfiveminutesfoundoutfromherthatMrs.Rawdonhadgivenhernothingexceptablacksilkgown,forwhichMissBriggswasimmenselygrateful.
Helaughedwithinhimselfatthisartlessstory.
Forthetruthis,ourdearfriendRebeccahadgivenhimamostcircumstantialnarrationofBriggs’sdelightatreceivinghermoney—elevenhundredandtwenty-fivepounds—andinwhatsecuritiesshehadinvestedit;andwhatapangBeckyherselffeltinbeingobligedtopayawaysuchadelightfulsumofmoney.
“Whoknows,”thedearwomanmayhavethoughtwithinherself,“perhapshemaygivemealittlemore?”
Mylord,however,madenosuchproposaltothelittleschemer—verylikelythinkingthathehadbeensufficientlygenerousalready.
Hehadthecuriosity,then,toaskMissBriggsaboutthestateofherprivateaffairs—andshetoldhislordshipcandidlywhatherpositionwas—howMissCrawleyhadleftheralegacy—howherrelativeshadhadpartofit—howColonelCrawleyhadputoutanotherportion,forwhichshehadthebestsecurityandinterest—andhowMr.andMrs.RawdonhadkindlybusiedthemselveswithSirPitt,whowastodisposeoftheremaindermostadvantageouslyforher,whenhehadtime.
MylordaskedhowmuchtheColonelhadalreadyinvestedforher,andMissBriggsatonceandtrulytoldhimthatthesumwassixhundredandoddpounds.
Butassoonasshehadtoldherstory,thevolubleBriggsrepentedofherfranknessandbesoughtmylordnottotellMr.Crawleyoftheconfessionswhichshehadmade.
“TheColonelwassokind—Mr.Crawleymightbeoffendedandpaybackthemoney,forwhichshecouldgetnosuchgoodinterestanywhereelse.”
LordSteyne,laughing,promisedheneverwoulddivulgetheirconversation,andwhenheandMissBriggspartedhelaughedstillmore.
“Whatanaccomplishedlittledevilitis!”thoughthe.“Whatasplendidactressandmanager!
Shehadalmostgotasecondsupplyoutofmetheotherday;withhercoaxingways.
ShebeatsallthewomenIhaveeverseeninthecourseofallmywell-spentlife.Theyarebabiescomparedtoher.
Iamagreenhornmyself,andafoolinherhands—anoldfool.Sheisunsurpassableinlies.”
Hislordship’sadmirationforBeckyroseimmeasurablyatthisproofofhercleverness.
Gettingthemoneywasnothing—butgettingdoublethesumshewanted,andpayingnobody—itwasamagnificentstroke.
AndCrawley,mylordthought—Crawleyisnotsuchafoolashelooksandseems.
Hehasmanagedthemattercleverlyenoughonhisside.
Nobodywouldeverhavesupposedfromhisfaceanddemeanourthatheknewanythingaboutthismoneybusiness;andyetheputheruptoit,andhasspentthemoney,nodoubt.
Inthisopinionmylord,weknow,wasmistaken,butitinfluencedagooddealhisbehaviourtowardsColonelCrawley,whomhebegantotreatwithevenlessthanthatsemblanceofrespectwhichhehadformerlyshowntowardsthatgentleman.
ItneverenteredintotheheadofMrs.Crawley’spatronthatthelittleladymightbemakingapurseforherself;and,perhaps,ifthetruthmustbetold,hejudgedofColonelCrawleybyhisexperienceofotherhusbands,whomhehadknowninthecourseofthelongandwell-spentlifewhichhadmadehimacquaintedwithagreatdealoftheweaknessofmankind.
Mylordhadboughtsomanymenduringhislifethathewassurelytobepardonedforsupposingthathehadfoundthepriceofthisone.
HetaxedBeckyuponthepointontheveryfirstoccasionwhenhemetheralone,andhecomplimentedher,good-humouredly,onherclevernessingettingmorethanthemoneywhichsherequired.Beckywasonlyalittletakenaback.
Itwasnotthehabitofthisdearcreaturetotellfalsehoods,exceptwhennecessitycompelled,butinthesegreatemergenciesitwasherpracticetolieveryfreely;andinaninstantshewasreadywithanotherneatplausiblecircumstantialstorywhichsheadministeredtoherpatron.
Thepreviousstatementwhichshehadmadetohimwasafalsehood—awickedfalsehood—sheownedit.Butwhohadmadehertellit?
“Ah,myLord,”shesaid,“youdon’tknowallIhavetosufferandbearinsilence;youseemegayandhappybeforeyou—youlittleknowwhatIhavetoendurewhenthereisnoprotectornearme.
Itwasmyhusband,bythreatsandthemostsavagetreatment,forcedmetoaskforthatsumaboutwhichIdeceivedyou.
Itwashewho,foreseeingthatquestionsmightbeaskedregardingthedisposalofthemoney,forcedmetoaccountforitasIdid.Hetookthemoney.
HetoldmehehadpaidMissBriggs;Ididnotwant,Ididnotdaretodoubthim.
Pardonthewrongwhichadesperatemanisforcedtocommit,andpityamiserable,miserablewoman.”Sheburstintotearsasshespoke.
Persecutedvirtueneverlookedmorebewitchinglywretched.
Theyhadalongconversation,drivingroundandroundtheRegent’sParkinMrs.Crawley’scarriagetogether,aconversationofwhichitisnotnecessarytorepeatthedetails,buttheupshotofitwasthat,whenBeckycamehome,sheflewtoherdearBriggswithasmilingfaceandannouncedthatshehadsomeverygoodnewsforher.
LordSteynehadactedinthenoblestandmostgenerousmanner.
Hewasalwaysthinkinghowandwhenhecoulddogood.
NowthatlittleRawdonwasgonetoschool,adearcompanionandfriendwasnolongernecessarytoher.
ShewasgrievedbeyondmeasuretopartwithBriggs,buthermeansrequiredthatsheshouldpractiseeveryretrenchment,andhersorrowwasmitigatedbytheideathatherdearBriggswouldbefarbetterprovidedforbyhergenerouspatronthaninherhumblehome.
Mrs.Pilkington,thehousekeeperatGauntlyHall,wasgrowingexceedinglyold,feeble,andrheumatic:shewasnotequaltotheworkofsuperintendingthatvastmansion,andmustbeonthelookoutforasuccessor.Itwasasplendidposition.
ThefamilydidnotgotoGauntlyonceintwoyears.
Atothertimesthehousekeeperwasthemistressofthemagnificentmansion—hadfourcoversdailyforhertable;wasvisitedbytheclergyandthemostrespectablepeopleofthecounty—wastheladyofGauntly,infact;andthetwolasthousekeepersbeforeMrs.PilkingtonhadmarriedrectorsofGauntly—butMrs.P.couldnot,beingtheauntofthepresentRector.
Theplacewasnottobehersyet,butshemightgodownonavisittoMrs.Pilkingtonandseewhethershewouldliketosucceedher.
WhatwordscanpainttheecstaticgratitudeofBriggs!
AllshestipulatedforwasthatlittleRawdonshouldbeallowedtocomedownandseeherattheHall.Beckypromisedthis—anything.
Sheranuptoherhusbandwhenhecamehomeandtoldhimthejoyfulnews.
Rawdonwasglad,deucedglad;theweightwasoffhisconscienceaboutpoorBriggs’smoney.
Shewasprovidedfor,atanyrate,but—buthismindwasdisquiet.
Hedidnotseemtobeallright,somehow.
HetoldlittleSouthdownwhatLordSteynehaddone,andtheyoungmaneyedCrawleywithanairwhichsurprisedthelatter.
HetoldLadyJaneofthissecondproofofSteyne’sbounty,andshe,too,lookedoddandalarmed;sodidSirPitt.
“Sheistoocleverand—andgaytobeallowedtogofrompartytopartywithoutacompanion,”bothsaid.
“Youmustgowithher,Rawdon,wherevershegoes,andyoumusthavesomebodywithher—oneofthegirlsfromQueen’sCrawley,perhaps,thoughtheywererathergiddyguardiansforher.”
SomebodyBeckyshouldhave.ButinthemeantimeitwasclearthathonestBriggsmustnotloseherchanceofsettlementforlife,andsosheandherbagswerepacked,andshesetoffonherjourney.
AndsotwoofRawdon’sout-sentinelswereinthehandsoftheenemy.
SirPittwentandexpostulatedwithhissister-in-lawuponthesubjectofthedismissalofBriggsandothermattersofdelicatefamilyinterest.
InvainshepointedouttohimhownecessarywastheprotectionofLordSteyneforherpoorhusband;howcruelitwouldbeontheirparttodepriveBriggsofthepositionofferedtoher.
Cajolements,coaxings,smiles,tearscouldnotsatisfySirPitt,andhehadsomethingverylikeaquarrelwithhisonceadmiredBecky.
Hespokeofthehonourofthefamily,theunsulliedreputationoftheCrawleys;expressedhimselfinindignanttonesaboutherreceivingthoseyoungFrenchmen—thosewildyoungmenoffashion,myLordSteynehimself,whosecarriagewasalwaysatherdoor,whopassedhoursdailyinhercompany,andwhoseconstantpresencemadetheworldtalkabouther.
Astheheadofthehouseheimploredhertobemoreprudent.
Societywasalreadyspeakinglightlyofher.
LordSteyne,thoughanoblemanofthegreateststationandtalents,wasamanwhoseattentionswouldcompromiseanywoman;hebesought,heimplored,hecommandedhissister-in-lawtobewatchfulinherintercoursewiththatnobleman.
BeckypromisedanythingandeverythingPittwanted;butLordSteynecametoherhouseasoftenasever,andSirPitt’sangerincreased.
IwonderwasLadyJaneangryorpleasedthatherhusbandatlastfoundfaultwithhisfavouriteRebecca?
LordSteyne’svisitscontinuing,hisownceased,andhiswifewasforrefusingallfurtherintercoursewiththatnoblemananddecliningtheinvitationtothecharade-nightwhichthemarchionesssenttoher;butSirPittthoughtitwasnecessarytoacceptit,ashisRoyalHighnesswouldbethere.
Althoughhewenttothepartyinquestion,SirPittquitteditveryearly,andhiswife,too,wasverygladtocomeaway.
Beckyhardlysomuchasspoketohimornoticedhersister-in-law.
PittCrawleydeclaredherbehaviourwasmonstrouslyindecorous,reprobatedinstrongtermsthehabitofplay-actingandfancydressingashighlyunbecomingaBritishfemale,andafterthecharadeswereover,tookhisbrotherRawdonseverelytotaskforappearinghimselfandallowinghiswifetojoininsuchimproperexhibitions.
Rawdonsaidsheshouldnotjoininanymoresuchamusements—butindeed,andperhapsfromhintsfromhiselderbrotherandsister,hehadalreadybecomeaverywatchfulandexemplarydomesticcharacter.Heleftoffhisclubsandbilliards.Heneverlefthome.
HetookBeckyouttodrive;hewentlaboriouslywithhertoallherparties.
WhenevermyLordSteynecalled,hewassuretofindtheColonel.
AndwhenBeckyproposedtogooutwithoutherhusband,orreceivedinvitationsforherself,heperemptorilyorderedhertorefusethem:andtherewasthatinthegentleman’smannerwhichenforcedobedience.
LittleBecky,todoherjustice,wascharmedwithRawdon’sgallantry.Ifhewassurly,sheneverwas.
Whetherfriendswerepresentorabsent,shehadalwaysakindsmileforhimandwasattentivetohispleasureandcomfort.
Itwastheearlydaysoftheirmarriageoveragain:thesamegoodhumour,prevenances,merriment,andartlessconfidenceandregard.
“Howmuchpleasanteritis,”shewouldsay,“tohaveyoubymysideinthecarriagethanthatfoolisholdBriggs!Letusalwaysgoonso,dearRawdon.
Howniceitwouldbe,andhowhappyweshouldalwaysbe,ifwehadbutthemoney!”
Hefellasleepafterdinnerinhischair;hedidnotseethefaceoppositetohim,haggard,weary,andterrible;itlightedupwithfreshcandidsmileswhenhewoke.Itkissedhimgaily.
Hewonderedthathehadeverhadsuspicions.
No,heneverhadsuspicions;allthosedumbdoubtsandsurlymisgivingswhichhadbeengatheringonhismindweremereidlejealousies.
Shewasfondofhim;shealwayshadbeen.
Asforhershininginsociety,itwasnofaultofhers;shewasformedtoshinethere.
Wasthereanywomanwhocouldtalk,orsing,ordoanythinglikeher?Ifshewouldbutliketheboy!Rawdonthought.
Butthemotherandsonnevercouldbebroughttogether.
AnditwaswhileRawdon’smindwasagitatedwiththesedoubtsandperplexitiesthattheincidentoccurredwhichwasmentionedinthelastchapter,andtheunfortunateColonelfoundhimselfaprisonerawayfromhome.
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