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looked out at the splendid ocean darkling before the
windows； and the lamps of heaven beginning more brightly to
shinewho； I say can measure the happiness and
sensibility of Briggs？
Pitt meanwhile in the dining…room； with a pamphlet on
the Corn Laws or a Missionary Register by his side； took
that kind of recreation which suits romantic and unromantic
men after dinner。 He sipped Madeira： built castles
in the air： thought himself a fine fellow： felt himself much
more in love with Jane than he had been any time these
seven years； during which their liaison had lasted without
the slightest impatience on Pitt's partand slept a good
deal。 When the time for coffee came； Mr。 Bowls used to
enter in a noisy manner； and summon Squire Pitt； who
would be found in the dark very busy with his pamphlet。
〃I wish； my love； I could get somebody to play piquet
with me；〃 Miss Crawley said one night when this functionary
made his appearance with the candles and the coffee。
〃Poor Briggs can no more play than an owl； she is so
stupid〃 （the spinster always took an opportunity of abusing
Briggs before the servants）； 〃and I think I should
sleep better if I had my game。〃
At this Lady Jane blushed to the tips of her little ears；
and down to the ends of her pretty fingers； and when Mr。
Bowls had quitted the room； and the door was quite shut；
she said：
〃Miss Crawley； I can play a little。 I used toto play
a little with poor dear papa。〃
〃Come and kiss me。 Come and kiss me this instant；
you dear good little soul；〃 cried Miss Crawley in an ecstasy：
and in this picturesque and friendly occupation Mr。 Pitt
found the old lady and the young one； when he came
upstairs with him pamphlet in his hand。 How she did blush
all the evening； that poor Lady Jane！
It must not be imagined that Mr。 Pitt Crawley's artifices
escaped the attention of his dear relations at the
Rectory at Queen's Crawley。 Hampshire and Sussex lie
very close together； and Mrs。 Bute had friends in the
latter county who took care to inform her of all； and a great
deal more than all； that passed at Miss Crawley's house
at Brighton。 Pitt was there more and more。 He did not
come for months together to the Hall； where his abominable
old father abandoned himself completely to rum…
and…water； and the odious society of the Horrocks family。
Pitt's success rendered the Rector's family furious； and
Mrs。 Bute regretted more （though she confessed less）
than ever her monstrous fault in so insulting Miss Briggs；
and in being so haughty and parsimonious to Bowls and
Firkin； that she had not a single person left in Miss
Crawley's household to give her information of what took place
there。 〃It was all Bute's collar…bone；〃 she persisted in
saying； 〃if that had not broke； I never would have left her。 I
am a martyr to duty and to your odious unclerical habit
of hunting； Bute。〃
〃Hunting； nonsense！ It was you that frightened her；
Barbara；〃 the divine interposed。 〃You're a clever woman；
but you've got a devil of a temper； and you're a screw
with your money； Barbara。〃
〃You'd have been screwed in gaol； Bute； if I had not
kept your money。〃
〃I know I would； my dear；〃 said the Rector； good…naturedly。
〃You ARE a clever woman； but you manage too
well； you know〃： and the pious man consoled himself
with a big glass of port。
〃What the deuce can she find in that spooney of a Pitt
Crawley？〃 he continued。 〃The fellow has not pluck enough
to say Bo to a goose。 I remember when Rawdon； who is a
man； and be hanged to him； used to flog him round the
stables as if he was a whipping…top： and Pitt would go
howling home to his maha； ha！ Why； either of my boys
would whop him with one hand。 Jim says he's
remembered at Oxford as Miss Crawley stillthe spooney。
〃I say； Barbara；〃 his reverence continued； after a pause。
〃What？〃 said Barbara； who was biting her nails； and
drumming the table。
〃I say； why not send Jim over to Brighton to see if he
can do anything with the old lady。 He's very near getting
his degree； you know。 He's only been plucked twiceso
was Ibut he's had the advantages of Oxford and a
university education。 He knows some of the best chaps there。
He pulls stroke in the Boniface boat。 He's a handsome
feller。 D it； ma'am； let's put him on the old woman；
hey； and tell him to thrash Pitt if he says anything。
Ha； ha； ha！
〃Jim might go down and see her； certainly；〃 the housewife
said； adding with a sigh； 〃If we could but get one of
the girls into the house； but she could never endure them；
because they are not pretty！〃 Those unfortunate and
well…educated women made themselves heard from the
neighbouring drawing…room； where they were thrumming
away； with hard fingers； an elaborate music…piece on the
piano…forte； as their mother spoke； and indeed； they were at
music； or at backboard； or at geography； or at history；
the whole day long。 But what avail all these accomplishments；
in Vanity Fair； to girls who are short； poor； plain；
and have a bad complexion？ Mrs。 Bute could think of
nobody but the Curate to take one of them off her hands；
and Jim coming in from the stable at this minute； through
the parlour window； with a short pipe stuck in his
oilskin cap； he and his father fell to talking about odds on
the St。 Leger； and the colloquy between the Rector and his
wife ended。
Mrs。 Bute did not augur much good to the cause from
the sending of her son James as an ambassador； and saw
him depart in rather a despairing mood。 Nor did the
young fellow himself； when told what his mission was to
be； expect much pleasure or benefit from it； but he was
consoled by the thought that possibly the old lady would
give him some handsome remembrance of her； which
would pay a few of his most pressing bills at the
commencement of the ensuing Oxford term； and so took his
place by the coach from Southampton； and was safely
landed at Brighton on the same evening？ with his
portmanteau； his favourite bull…dog Towzer； and an
immense basket of farm and garden produce； from the dear
Rectory folks to the dear Miss Crawley。 Considering it
was too late to disturb the invalid lady on the first night
of his arrival； he put up at an inn； and did not wait upon
Miss Crawley until a late hour in the noon of next day。
James Crawley； when his aunt had last beheld him； was
a gawky lad； at that uncomfortable age when the voice
varies between an unearthly treble and a preternatural
bass； when the face not uncommonly blooms out with
appearances for which Rowland's Kalydor is said to act as
a cure； when boys are seen to shave furtively with their
sister's scissors； and the sight of other young women
produces intolerable sensations of terror in them； when the
great hands and ankles protrude a long way from
garments which have grown too tight for them； when their
presence after dinner is at once frightful to the ladies； who
are whispering in the twilight in the drawing…room； and
inexpressibly odious to the gentlemen over the mahogany；
who are restrained from freedom of intercourse and
delightful interchange of wit by the presence of that gawky
innocence； when； at the conclusion of the second glass；
papa says； 〃Jack； my boy； go out and s