English
ThemansionofSirPittCrawley,inGreatGauntStreet,wasjustbeginningtodressitselffortheday,asRawdon,inhiseveningcostume,whichhehadnowworntwodays,passedbythescaredfemalewhowasscouringthestepsandenteredintohisbrother’sstudy.
LadyJane,inhermorning-gown,wasupandabovestairsinthenurserysuperintendingthetoilettesofherchildrenandlisteningtothemorningprayerswhichthelittlecreaturesperformedatherknee.
Everymorningsheandtheyperformedthisdutyprivately,andbeforethepublicceremonialatwhichSirPittpresidedandatwhichallthepeopleofthehouseholdwereexpectedtoassemble.
RawdonsatdowninthestudybeforetheBaronet’stable,setoutwiththeorderlybluebooksandtheletters,theneatlydocketedbillsandsymmetricalpamphlets,thelockedaccount-books,desks,anddispatchboxes,theBible,theQuarterlyReview,andtheCourtGuide,whichallstoodasifonparadeawaitingtheinspectionoftheirchief.
Abookoffamilysermons,oneofwhichSirPittwasinthehabitofadministeringtohisfamilyonSundaymornings,layreadyonthestudytable,andawaitinghisjudiciousselection.
Andbythesermon-bookwastheObservernewspaper,dampandneatlyfolded,andforSirPitt’sownprivateuse.
Hisgentlemanalonetooktheopportunityofperusingthenewspaperbeforehelaiditbyhismaster’sdesk.
Beforehehadbroughtitintothestudythatmorning,hehadreadinthejournalaflamingaccountof“FestivitiesatGauntHouse,”withthenamesofallthedistinguishedpersonagesinvitedbythoMarquisofSteynetomeethisRoyalHighness.
Havingmadecommentsuponthisentertainmenttothehousekeeperandhernieceastheyweretakingearlyteaandhotbutteredtoastintheformerlady’sapartment,andwonderedhowtheRawdingCrawleyscouldgiton,thevalethaddampedandfoldedthepaperoncemore,sothatitlookedquitefreshandinnocentagainstthearrivalofthemasterofthehouse.
PoorRawdontookupthepaperandbegantotryandreadituntilhisbrothershouldarrive.
Buttheprintfellblankuponhiseyes,andhedidnotknowintheleastwhathewasreading.
TheGovernmentnewsandappointments(whichSirPittasapublicmanwasboundtoperuse,otherwisehewouldbynomeanspermittheintroductionofSundaypapersintohishousehold),thetheatricalcriticisms,thefightforahundredpoundsasidebetweentheBarkingButcherandtheTutburyPet,theGauntHousechronicleitself,whichcontainedamostcomplimentarythoughguardedaccountofthefamouscharadesofwhichMrs.Beckyhadbeentheheroine—allthesepassedasinahazebeforeRawdon,ashesatwaitingthearrivalofthechiefofthefamily.
Punctually,astheshrill-tonedbelloftheblackmarblestudyclockbegantochimenine,SirPittmadehisappearance,fresh,neat,smuglyshaved,withawaxycleanface,andstiffshirtcollar,hisscantyhaircombedandoiled,trimminghisnailsashedescendedthestairsmajestically,inastarchedcravatandagreyflanneldressing-gown—arealoldEnglishgentleman,inaword—amodelofneatnessandeverypropriety.
HestartedwhenhesawpoorRawdoninhisstudyintumbledclothes,withblood-shoteyes,andhishairoverhisface.
Hethoughthisbrotherwasnotsober,andhadbeenoutallnightonsomeorgy.
“Goodgracious,Rawdon,”hesaid,withablankface,“whatbringsyouhereatthistimeofthemorning?Whyain’tyouathome?”
“Home,”saidRawdonwithawildlaugh.“Don’tbefrightened,Pitt.I’mnotdrunk.Shutthedoor;Iwanttospeaktoyou.”
Pittclosedthedoorandcameuptothetable,wherehesatdownintheotherarm-chair—thatoneplacedforthereceptionofthesteward,agent,orconfidentialvisitorwhocametotransactbusinesswiththeBaronet—andtrimmedhisnailsmorevehementlythanever.
“Pitt,it’salloverwithme,”theColonelsaidafterapause.“I’mdone.”
“Ialwayssaiditwouldcometothis,”theBaronetcriedpeevishly,andbeatingatunewithhisclean-trimmednails.“Iwarnedyouathousandtimes.Ican’thelpyouanymore.Everyshillingofmymoneyistiedup.
EventhehundredpoundsthatJanetookyoulastnightwerepromisedtomylawyerto-morrowmorning,andthewantofitwillputmetogreatinconvenience.
Idon’tmeantosaythatIwon’tassistyouultimately.
Butasforpayingyourcreditorsinfull,ImightaswellhopetopaytheNationalDebt.
Itismadness,sheermadness,tothinkofsuchathing.Youmustcometoacompromise.
It’sapainfulthingforthefamily,buteverybodydoesit.
TherewasGeorgeKitely,LordRagland’sson,wentthroughtheCourtlastweek,andwaswhattheycallwhitewashed,Ibelieve.
LordRaglandwouldnotpayashillingforhim,and—”
“It’snotmoneyIwant,”Rawdonbrokein.“I’mnotcometoyouaboutmyself.Nevermindwhathappenstome.”
“Whatisthematter,then?”saidPitt,somewhatrelieved.
“It’stheboy,”saidRawdoninahuskyvoice.
“IwantyoutopromisemethatyouwilltakechargeofhimwhenI’mgone.
Thatdeargoodwifeofyourshasalwaysbeengoodtohim;andhe’sfonderofherthanheisofhis...—Damnit.
Lookhere,Pitt—youknowthatIwastohavehadMissCrawley’smoney.
Iwasn’tbroughtuplikeayoungerbrother,butwasalwaysencouragedtobeextravagantandkepidle.
ButforthisImighthavebeenquiteadifferentman.
Ididn’tdomydutywiththeregimentsobad.
YouknowhowIwasthrownoveraboutthemoney,andwhogotit.”
“AfterthesacrificesIhavemade,andthemannerinwhichIhavestoodbyyou,Ithinkthissortofreproachisuseless,”SirPittsaid.“Yourmarriagewasyourowndoing,notmine.”
“That’sovernow,”saidRawdon.“That’sovernow.”Andthewordswerewrenchedfromhimwithagroan,whichmadehisbrotherstart.
“GoodGod!isshedead?”SirPittsaidwithavoiceofgenuinealarmandcommiseration.
“IwishIwas,”Rawdonreplied.“Ifitwasn’tforlittleRawdonI’dhavecutmythroatthismorning—andthatdamnedvillain’stoo.”
SirPittinstantlyguessedthetruthandsurmisedthatLordSteynewasthepersonwhoselifeRawdonwishedtotake.
TheColoneltoldhisseniorbriefly,andinbrokenaccents,thecircumstancesofthecase.
“Itwasaregularplanbetweenthatscoundrelandher,”hesaid.
“Thebailiffswereputuponme;IwastakenasIwasgoingoutofhishouse;whenIwrotetoherformoney,shesaidshewasillinbedandputmeofftoanotherday.
AndwhenIgothomeIfoundherindiamondsandsittingwiththatvillainalone.”
HethenwentontodescribehurriedlythepersonalconflictwithLordSteyne.
Toanaffairofthatnature,ofcourse,hesaid,therewasbutoneissue,andafterhisconferencewithhisbrother,hewasgoingawaytomakethenecessaryarrangementsforthemeetingwhichmustensue.
“Andasitmayendfatallywithme,”Rawdonsaidwithabrokenvoice,“andastheboyhasnomother,ImustleavehimtoyouandJane,Pitt—onlyitwillbeacomforttomeifyouwillpromisemetobehisfriend.”
Theelderbrotherwasmuchaffected,andshookRawdon’shandwithacordialityseldomexhibitedbyhim.
Rawdonpassedhishandoverhisshaggyeyebrows.“Thankyou,brother,”saidhe.“IknowIcantrustyourword.”
“Iwill,uponmyhonour,”theBaronetsaid.Andthus,andalmostmutely,thisbargainwasstruckbetweenthem.
ThenRawdontookoutofhispocketthelittlepocket-bookwhichhehaddiscoveredinBecky’sdesk,andfromwhichhedrewabundleofthenoteswhichitcontained.
“Here’ssixhundred,”hesaid—”youdidn’tknowIwassorich.
IwantyoutogivethemoneytoBriggs,wholentittous—andwhowaskindtotheboy—andI’vealwaysfeltashamedofhavingtakenthepooroldwoman’smoney.
Andhere’ssomemore—I’veonlykeptbackafewpounds—whichBeckymayaswellhave,togetonwith.”
Ashespokehetookholdoftheothernotestogivetohisbrother,buthishandsshook,andhewassoagitatedthatthepocket-bookfellfromhim,andoutofitthethousand-poundnotewhichhadbeenthelastoftheunluckyBecky’swinnings.
Pittstoopedandpickedthemup,amazedatsomuchwealth.“Notthat,”Rawdonsaid.
“Ihopetoputabulletintothemanwhomthatbelongsto.”
Hehadthoughttohimself,itwouldbeafinerevengetowrapaballinthenoteandkillSteynewithit.
Afterthiscolloquythebrothersoncemoreshookhandsandparted.
LadyJanehadheardoftheColonel’sarrival,andwaswaitingforherhusbandintheadjoiningdining-room,withfemaleinstinct,auguringevil.
Thedoorofthedining-roomhappenedtobeleftopen,andtheladyofcoursewasissuingfromitasthetwobrotherspassedoutofthestudy.
SheheldoutherhandtoRawdonandsaidshewasgladhewascometobreakfast,thoughshecouldperceive,byhishaggardunshornfaceandthedarklooksofherhusband,thattherewasverylittlequestionofbreakfastbetweenthem.
Rawdonmutteredsomeexcusesaboutanengagement,squeezinghardthetimidlittlehandwhichhissister-in-lawreachedouttohim.
Herimploringeyescouldreadnothingbutcalamityinhisface,buthewentawaywithoutanotherword.
NordidSirPittvouchsafeheranyexplanation.
Thechildrencameuptosalutehim,andhekissedtheminhisusualfrigidmanner.
Themothertookbothofthemclosetoherself,andheldahandofeachofthemastheykneltdowntoprayers,whichSirPittreadtothem,andtotheservantsintheirSundaysuitsorliveries,rangeduponchairsontheothersideofthehissingtea-urn.
Breakfastwassolatethatday,inconsequenceofthedelayswhichhadoccurred,thatthechurch-bellsbegantoringwhilsttheyweresittingovertheirmeal;andLadyJanewastooill,shesaid,togotochurch,thoughherthoughtshadbeenentirelyastrayduringtheperiodoffamilydevotion.
RawdonCrawleymeanwhilehurriedonfromGreatGauntStreet,andknockingatthegreatbronzeMedusa’sheadwhichstandsontheportalofGauntHouse,broughtoutthepurpleSilenusinaredandsilverwaistcoatwhoactsasporterofthatpalace.
ThemanwasscaredalsobytheColonel’sdishevelledappearance,andbarredthewayasifafraidthattheotherwasgoingtoforceit.
ButColonelCrawleyonlytookoutacardandenjoinedhimparticularlytosenditintoLordSteyne,andtomarktheaddresswrittenonit,andsaythatColonelCrawleywouldbealldayafteroneo’clockattheRegentClubinSt.James’sStreet—notathome.
Thefatred-facedmanlookedafterhimwithastonishmentashestrodeaway;sodidthepeopleintheirSundayclotheswhowereoutsoearly;thecharity-boyswithshiningfaces,thegreengrocerlollingathisdoor,andthepublicanshuttinghisshuttersinthesunshine,againstservicecommenced.
Thepeoplejokedatthecab-standabouthisappearance,ashetookacarriagethere,andtoldthedrivertodrivehimtoKnightsbridgeBarracks.
Allthebellswerejanglingandtollingashereachedthatplace.
HemighthaveseenhisoldacquaintanceAmeliaonherwayfromBromptontoRussellSquare,hadhebeenlookingout.
Troopsofschoolswereontheirmarchtochurch,theshinypavementandoutsidesofcoachesinthesuburbswerethrongedwithpeopleoutupontheirSundaypleasure;buttheColonelwasmuchtoobusytotakeanyheedofthesephenomena,and,arrivingatKnightsbridge,speedilymadehiswayuptotheroomofhisoldfriendandcomradeCaptainMacmurdo,whoCrawleyfound,tohissatisfaction,wasinbarracks.
CaptainMacmurdo,aveteranofficerandWaterlooman,greatlylikedbyhisregiment,inwhichwantofmoneyalonepreventedhimfromattainingthehighestranks,wasenjoyingtheforenooncalmlyinbed.
Hehadbeenatafastsupper-party,giventhenightbeforebyCaptaintheHonourableGeorgeCinqbars,athishouseinBromptonSquare,toseveralyoungmenoftheregiment,andanumberofladiesofthecorpsdeballet,andoldMac,whowasathomewithpeopleofallagesandranks,andconsortedwithgenerals,dog-fanciers,opera-dancers,bruisers,andeverykindofperson,inaword,wasrestinghimselfafterthenight’slabours,and,notbeingonduty,wasinbed.
Hisroomwashungroundwithboxing,sporting,anddancingpictures,presentedtohimbycomradesastheyretiredfromtheregiment,andmarriedandsettledintoquietlife.
Andashewasnownearlyfiftyyearsofage,twenty-fourofwhichhehadpassedinthecorps,hehadasingularmuseum.
HewasoneofthebestshotsinEngland,and,foraheavyman,oneofthebestriders;indeed,heandCrawleyhadbeenrivalswhenthelatterwasintheArmy.
Tobebrief,Mr.Macmurdowaslyinginbed,readinginBell’sLifeanaccountofthatveryfightbetweentheTutburyPetandtheBarkingButcher,whichhasbeenbeforementioned—avenerablebristlywarrior,withalittleclose-shavedgreyhead,withasilknightcap,aredfaceandnose,andagreatdyedmoustache.
WhenRawdontoldtheCaptainhewantedafriend,thelatterknewperfectlywellonwhatdutyoffriendshiphewascalledtoact,andindeedhadconductedscoresofaffairsforhisacquaintanceswiththegreatestprudenceandskill.
HisRoyalHighnessthelatelamentedCommander-in-ChiefhadhadthegreatestregardforMacmurdoonthisaccount,andhewasthecommonrefugeofgentlemenintrouble.
“What’stherowabout,Crawley,myboy?”saidtheoldwarrior.“Nomoregamblingbusiness,hay,likethatwhenweshotCaptainMarker?”
“It’sabout—aboutmywife,”Crawleyanswered,castingdownhiseyesandturningveryred.
Theothergaveawhistle.“Ialwayssaidshe’dthrowyouover,”hebegan—indeedtherewerebetsintheregimentandattheclubsregardingtheprobablefateofColonelCrawley,solightlywashiswife’scharacteresteemedbyhiscomradesandtheworld;butseeingthesavagelookwithwhichRawdonansweredtheexpressionofthisopinion,Macmurdodidnotthinkfittoenlargeuponitfurther.
“Istherenowayoutofit,oldboy?”theCaptaincontinuedinagravetone.
“Isitonlysuspicion,youknow,or—orwhatisit?Anyletters?Can’tyoukeepitquiet?
Bestnotmakeanynoiseaboutathingofthatsortifyoucanhelpit.”
“Thinkofhisonlyfindingheroutnow,”theCaptainthoughttohimself,andrememberedahundredparticularconversationsatthemess-table,inwhichMrs.Crawley’sreputationhadbeentorntoshreds.
“There’snowaybutoneoutofit,”Rawdonreplied—”andthere’sonlyawayoutofitforoneofus,Mac—doyouunderstand?
Iwasputoutoftheway—arrested—Ifound‘emalonetogether.
Itoldhimhewasaliarandacoward,andknockedhimdownandthrashedhim.”
“Servehimright,”Macmurdosaid.“Whoisit?”
RawdonanswereditwasLordSteyne.
“Thedeuce!aMarquis!theysaidhe—thatis,theysaidyou—”
“Whatthedevildoyoumean?”roaredoutRawdon;“doyoumeanthatyoueverheardafellowdoubtaboutmywifeanddidn’ttellme,Mac?”
“Theworld’sverycensorious,oldboy,”theotherreplied.“Whatthedeucewasthegoodofmytellingyouwhatanytom-foolstalkedabout?”
“Itwasdamnedunfriendly,Mac,”saidRawdon,quiteovercome;and,coveringhisfacewithhishands,hegavewaytoanemotion,thesightofwhichcausedthetougholdcampaigneroppositehimtowincewithsympathy.
“Holdup,oldboy,”hesaid;“greatmanornot,we’llputabulletinhim,damnhim.Asforwomen,they’reallso.”
“Youdon’tknowhowfondIwasofthatone,”Rawdonsaid,half-inarticulately.“Damme,Ifollowedherlikeafootman.IgaveupeverythingIhadtoher.I’mabeggarbecauseIwouldmarryher.
ByJove,sir,I’vepawnedmyownwatchinordertogetheranythingshefancied;andsheshe’sbeenmakingapurseforherselfallthetime,andgrudgedmeahundredpoundtogetmeoutofquod.”
Hethenfiercelyandincoherently,andwithanagitationunderwhichhiscounsellorhadneverbeforeseenhimlabour,toldMacmurdothecircumstancesofthestory.
Hisadvisercaughtatsomestrayhintsinit.
“Shemaybeinnocent,afterall,”hesaid.“Shesaysso.
Steynehasbeenahundredtimesalonewithherinthehousebefore.”
“Itmaybeso,”Rawdonansweredsadly,“butthisdon’tlookveryinnocent”:andheshowedtheCaptainthethousand-poundnotewhichhehadfoundinBecky’spocket-book.
“Thisiswhathegaveher,Mac,andshekepitunknowntome;andwiththismoneyinthehouse,sherefusedtostandbymewhenIwaslockedup.”
TheCaptaincouldnotbutownthatthesecretingofthemoneyhadaveryuglylook.
Whilsttheywereengagedintheirconference,RawdondispatchedCaptainMacmurdo’sservanttoCurzonStreet,withanordertothedomestictheretogiveupabagofclothesofwhichtheColonelhadgreatneed.
Andduringtheman’sabsence,andwithgreatlabourandaJohnson’sDictionary,whichstoodtheminmuchstead,Rawdonandhissecondcomposedaletter,whichthelatterwastosendtoLordSteyne.
CaptainMacmurdohadthehonourofwaitingupontheMarquisofSteyne,onthepartofColonelRawdonCrawley,andbeggedtointimatethathewasempoweredbytheColoneltomakeanyarrangementsforthemeetingwhich,hehadnodoubt,itwashisLordship’sintentiontodemand,andwhichthecircumstancesofthemorninghadrenderedinevitable.
CaptainMacmurdobeggedLordSteyne,inthemostpolitemanner,toappointafriend,withwhomhe(CaptainM.M.)mightcommunicate,anddesiredthatthemeetingmighttakeplacewithaslittledelayaspossible.
InapostscripttheCaptainstatedthathehadinhispossessionabank-noteforalargeamount,whichColonelCrawleyhadreasontosupposewasthepropertyoftheMarquisofSteyne.
Andhewasanxious,ontheColonel’sbehalf,togiveupthenotetoitsowner.
Bythetimethisnotewascomposed,theCaptain’sservantreturnedfromhismissiontoColonelCrawley’shouseinCurzonStreet,butwithoutthecarpet-bagandportmanteau,forwhichhehadbeensent,andwithaverypuzzledandoddface.
“Theywon’tgive‘emup,”saidtheman;“there’saregularshintyinthehouse,andeverythingatsixesandsevens.
Thelandlord’scomeinandtookpossession.
Theservantswasadrinkin’upinthedrawingroom.
Theysaid—theysaidyouhadgoneoffwiththeplate,Colonel”—themanaddedafterapause—”Oneoftheservantsisoffalready.
AndSimpson,themanaswasverynoisyanddrunkindeed,saysnothingshallgooutofthehouseuntilhiswagesispaidup.”
TheaccountofthislittlerevolutioninMayFairastonishedandgavealittlegaietytoanotherwiseverytristeconversation.ThetwoofficerslaughedatRawdon’sdiscomfiture.
“I’mgladthelittle‘unisn’tathome,”Rawdonsaid,bitinghisnails.“Yourememberhim,Mac,don’tyou,intheRidingSchool?Howhesatthekickertobesure!didn’the?”
“Thathedid,oldboy,”saidthegood-naturedCaptain.
LittleRawdonwasthensitting,oneoffiftygownboys,intheChapelofWhitefriarsSchool,thinking,notaboutthesermon,butaboutgoinghomenextSaturday,whenhisfatherwouldcertainlytiphimandperhapswouldtakehimtotheplay.
“He’saregulartrump,thatboy,”thefatherwenton,stillmusingabouthisson.
“Isay,Mac,ifanythinggoeswrong—ifIdrop—Ishouldlikeyouto—togoandseehim,youknow,andsaythatIwasveryfondofhim,andthat.
And—dashit—oldchap,givehimthesegoldsleeve-buttons:it’sallI’vegot.”
Hecoveredhisfacewithhisblackhands,overwhichthetearsrolledandmadefurrowsofwhite.
Mr.Macmurdohadalsooccasiontotakeoffhissilknight-capandrubitacrosshiseyes.
“Godownandordersomebreakfast,”hesaidtohismaninaloudcheerfulvoice.“What’llyouhave,Crawley?
Somedevilledkidneysandaherring—let’ssay.
And,Clay,layoutsomedressingthingsfortheColonel:wewerealwaysprettymuchofasize,Rawdon,myboy,andneitherofusridesolightaswedidwhenwefirstenteredthecorps.”
Withwhich,andleavingtheColoneltodresshimself,Macmurdoturnedroundtowardsthewall,andresumedtheperusalofBell’sLife,untilsuchtimeashisfriend’stoilettewascompleteandhewasatlibertytocommencehisown.
This,ashewasabouttomeetalord,CaptainMacmurdoperformedwithparticularcare.
Hewaxedhismustachiosintoastateofbrilliantpolishandputonatightcravatandatrimbuffwaistcoat,sothatalltheyoungofficersinthemess-room,whitherCrawleyhadprecededhisfriend,complimentedMaconhisappearanceatbreakfastandaskedifhewasgoingtobemarriedthatSunday.
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