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here's two hundred and thirty pounds。 I have got ten
Napoleons in my pocket。 That is as much as I shall want；
for the General pays everything like a prince； and if I'm
hit； why you know I cost nothing。 Don't cry； little woman；
I may live to vex you yet。 Well； I shan't take either of my
horses； but shall ride the General's grey charger： it's
cheaper； and I told him mine was lame。 If I'm done； those
two ought to fetch you something。 Grigg offered ninety
for the mare yesterday； before this confounded news
came； and like a fool I wouldn't let her go under the two
o's。 Bullfinch will fetch his price any day； only you'd
better sell him in this country； because the dealers have so
many bills of mine； and so I'd rather he shouldn't go
back to England。 Your little mare the General gave you
will fetch something； and there's no dd livery stable
bills here as there are in London；〃 Rawdon added； with a
laugh。 〃There's that dressing…case cost me two hundred
that is； I owe two for it； and the gold tops and bottles
must be worth thirty or forty。 Please to put THAT up the
spout； ma'am； with my pins； and rings； and watch and
chain； and things。 They cost a precious lot of money。 Miss
Crawley； I know； paid a hundred down for the chain and
ticker。 Gold tops and bottles； indeed！ dammy； I'm sorry
I didn't take more now。 Edwards pressed on me a silver…
gilt boot…jack； and I might have had a dressing…case fitted
up with a silver warming…pan； and a service of plate。 But
we must make the best of what we've got； Becky； you
know。〃
And so； making his last dispositions； Captain Crawley；
who had seldom thought about anything but himself； until
the last few months of his life； when Love had obtained
the mastery over the dragoon； went through the various
items of his little catalogue of effects； striving to see how
they might be turned into money for his wife's benefit； in
case any accident should befall him。 He pleased himself
by noting down with a pencil； in his big schoolboy
handwriting； the various items of his portable property which
might be sold for his widow's advantage as； for example；
〃My double…barril by Manton； say 40 guineas； my driving
cloak； lined with sable fur； 50 pounds； my duelling pistols in
rosewood case （same which I shot Captain Marker）；
20 pounds； my regulation saddle…holsters and housings； my
Laurie ditto；〃 and so forth； over all of which articles he
made Rebecca the mistress。
Faithful to his plan of economy； the Captain dressed
himself in his oldest and shabbiest uniform and epaulets；
leaving the newest behind； under his wife's （or it might
be his widow's） guardianship。 And this famous dandy of
Windsor and Hyde Park went off on his campaign with a
kit as modest as that of a sergeant； and with something
like a prayer on his lips for the woman he was leaving。
He took her up from the ground； and held her in his
arms for a minute； tight pressed against his strong…beating
heart。 His face was purple and his eyes dim； as he put her
down and left her。 He rode by his General's side； and
smoked his cigar in silence as they hastened after the
troops of the General's brigade； which preceded them；
and it was not until they were some miles on their way
that he left off twirling his moustache and broke silence。
And Rebecca； as we have said； wisely determined not to
give way to unavailing sentimentality on her husband's
departure。 She waved him an adieu from the window； and
stood there for a moment looking out after he was gone。
The cathedral towers and the full gables of the quaint old
houses were just beginning to blush in the sunrise。 There
had been no rest for her that night。 She was still in her
pretty ball…dress； her fair hair hanging somewhat out of
curl on her neck； and the circles round her eyes dark with
watching。 〃What a fright I seem；〃 she said； examining
herself in the glass； 〃and how pale this pink makes one
look！〃 So she divested herself of this pink raiment； in
doing which a note fell out from her corsage； which she
picked up with a smile； and locked into her dressing…box。
And then she put her bouquet of the ball into a glass of
water； and went to bed； and slept very comfortably。
The town was quite quiet when she woke up at ten
o'clock； and partook of coffee； very requisite and
comforting after the exhaustion and grief of the morning's
occurrences。
This meal over； she resumed honest Rawdon's calculations
of the night previous； and surveyed her position。
Should the worst befall； all things considered； she was
pretty well to do。 There were her own trinkets and trousseau；
in addition to those which her husband had left behind。
Rawdon's generosity； when they were first married；
has already been described and lauded。 Besides these；
and the little mare； the General； her slave and worshipper；
had made her many very handsome presents； in the shape
of cashmere shawls bought at the auction of a bankrupt
French general's lady； and numerous tributes from the
jewellers' shops； all of which betokened her admirer's
taste and wealth。 As for 〃tickers；〃 as poor Rawdon called
watches； her apartments were alive with their clicking。
For； happening to mention one night that hers； which
Rawdon had given to her； was of English workmanship；
and went ill； on the very next morning there came to her
a little bijou marked Leroy； with a chain and cover
charmingly set with turquoises； and another signed Brequet；
which was covered with pearls； and yet scarcely bigger
than a half…crown。 General Tufto had bought one； and
Captain Osborne had gallantly presented the other。 Mrs。
Osborne had no watch； though； to do George justice； she
might have had one for the asking； and the Honourable
Mrs。 Tufto in England had an old instrument of her
mother's that might have served for the plate…warming
pan which Rawdon talked about。 If Messrs。 Howell and
James were to publish a list of the purchasers of all the
trinkets which they sell； how surprised would some
families be： and if all these ornaments went to gentlemen's
lawful wives and daughters； what a profusion of jewellery
there would be exhibited in the genteelest homes of
Vanity Fair！
Every calculation made of these valuables Mrs。 Rebecca
found； not without a pungent feeling of triumph and self…
satisfaction； that should circumstances occur； she might
reckon on six or seven hundred pounds at the very least；
to begin the world with； and she passed the morning
disposing； ordering； looking out； and locking up her
properties in the most agreeable manner。 Among the notes
in Rawdon's pocket…book was a draft for twenty pounds
on Osborne's banker。 This made her think about Mrs。
Osborne。 〃I will go and get the draft cashed；〃 she said；
〃and pay a visit afterwards to poor little Emmy。〃 If this
is a novel without a hero； at least let us lay claim to a
heroine。 No man in the British army which has marched
away； not the great Duke himself； could be more cool or
collected in the presence of doubts and difficulties； than
the indomitable little aide…de…camp's wife。
And there was another of our acquaintances who was
also to be left behind； a non…combatant； and whose emotions
and behavio