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circumstances of Sir Pitt's reception of his son and
daughter…in…law were ever known at all。
As they drove up the avenue of the park in their neat
and well…appointed carriage； Pitt remarked with dismay
and wrath great gaps among the treeshis treeswhich
the old Baronet was felling entirely without license。 The
park wore an aspect of utter dreariness and ruin。 The
drives were ill kept； and the neat carriage splashed and
floundered in muddy pools along the road。 The great
sweep in front of the terrace and entrance stair was
black and covered with mosses； the once trim flower…beds
rank and weedy。 Shutters were up along almost the
whole line of the house； the great hall…door was unbarred
after much ringing of the bell； an individual in ribbons
was seen flitting up the black oak stair； as Horrocks at
length admitted the heir of Queen's Crawley and his bride
into the halls of their fathers。 He led the way into Sir
Pitt's 〃Library；〃 as it was called； the fumes of tobacco
growing stronger as Pitt and Lady Jane approached that
apartment； 〃Sir Pitt ain't very well；〃 Horrocks remarked
apologetically and hinted that his master was afflicted
with lumbago。
The library looked out on the front walk and park。
Sir Pitt had opened one of the windows； and was bawling
out thence to the postilion and Pitt's servant； who seemed
to be about to take the baggage down。
〃Don't move none of them trunks；〃 he cried； pointing
with a pipe which he held in his hand。 〃It's only a morning
visit； Tucker； you fool。 Lor； what cracks that off hoss
has in his heels！ Ain't there no one at the King's Head to
rub 'em a little？ How do； Pitt？ How do； my dear？ Come
to see the old man； hay？ 'Gadyou've a pretty face； too。
You ain't like that old horse…godmother； your mother。
Come and give old Pitt a kiss； like a good little gal。〃
The embrace disconcerted the daughter…in…law
somewhat； as the caresses of the old gentleman； unshorn and
perfumed with tobacco； might well do。 But she
remembered that her brother Southdown had mustachios；
and smoked cigars； and submitted to the Baronet with a
tolerable grace。
〃Pitt has got vat；〃 said the Baronet； after this mark of
affection。 〃Does he read ee very long zermons； my dear？
Hundredth Psalm； Evening Hymn； hay Pitt？ Go and get
a glass of Malmsey and a cake for my Lady Jane； Horrocks；
you great big booby； and don't stand stearing there like
a fat pig。 I won't ask you to stop； my dear； you'll find it too
stoopid； and so should I too along a Pitt。 I'm an old man
now； and like my own ways； and my pipe and backgammon
of a night。〃
〃I can play at backgammon； sir；〃 said Lady Jane；
laughing。 〃I used to play with Papa and Miss Crawley； didn't
I； Mr。 Crawley？〃
〃Lady Jane can play； sir； at the game to which you
state that you are so partial；〃 Pitt said haughtily。
But she wawn't stop for all that。 Naw； naw； goo back
to Mudbury and give Mrs。 Rincer a benefit； or drive down
to the Rectory and ask Buty for a dinner。 He'll be charmed
to see you； you know； he's so much obliged to you for
gettin' the old woman's money。 Ha； ha！ Some of it will
do to patch up the Hall when I'm gone。〃
〃I perceive； sir；〃 said Pitt with a heightened voice；
〃that your people will cut down the timber。〃
〃Yees； yees； very fine weather； and seasonable for the
time of year；〃 Sir Pitt answered； who had suddenly
grown deaf。 〃But I'm gittin' old； Pitt； now。 Law bless you；
you ain't far from fifty yourself。 But he wears well； my
pretty Lady Jane； don't he？ It's all godliness； sobriety； and
a moral life。 Look at me； I'm not very fur from fowr…score
he； he〃； and he laughed； and took snuff； and leered
at her and pinched her hand。
Pitt once more brought the conversation back to the
timber； but the Baronet was deaf again in an instant。
〃I'm gittin' very old； and have been cruel bad this year
with the lumbago。 I shan't be here now for long； but I'm
glad ee've come； daughter…in…law。 I like your face； Lady
Jane： it's got none of the damned high…boned Binkie look
in it； and I'll give ee something pretty； my dear； to go to
Court in。〃 And he shuffled across the room to a cupboard；
from which he took a little old case containing jewels of
some value。 〃Take that；〃 said he； 〃my dear； it belonged
to my mother； and afterwards to the first Lady Binkie。
Pretty pearlsnever gave 'em the ironmonger's daughter。
No； no。 Take 'em and put 'em up quick；〃 said he； thrusting
the case into his daughter's hand； and clapping the door of
the cabinet to； as Horrocks entered with a salver and
refreshments。
〃What have you a been and given Pitt's wife？〃 said
the individual in ribbons； when Pitt and Lady Jane had
taken leave of the old gentleman。 It was Miss Horrocks；
the butler's daughterthe cause of the scandal
throughout the countythe lady who reigned now almost
supreme at Queen's Crawley。
The rise and progress of those Ribbons had been
marked with dismay by the county and family。 The
Ribbons opened an account at the Mudbury Branch Savings
Bank； the Ribbons drove to church； monopolising the
pony…chaise； which was for the use of the servants at
the Hall。 The domestics were dismissed at her pleasure。
The Scotch gardener； who still lingered on the premises；
taking a pride in his walls and hot…houses； and indeed
making a pretty good livelihood by the garden； which he
farmed； and of which he sold the produce at Southampton；
found the Ribbons eating peaches on a sunshiny morning
at the south…wall； and had his ears boxed when he
remonstrated about this attack on his property。 He and
his Scotch wife and his Scotch children； the only
respectable inhabitants of Queen's Crawley； were forced to
migrate； with their goods and their chattels； and left the
stately comfortable gardens to go to waste； and the
flower…beds to run to seed。 Poor Lady Crawley's rose…garden
became the dreariest wilderness。 Only two or three
domestics shuddered in the bleak old servants' hall。 The
stables and offices were vacant； and shut up； and half
ruined。 Sir Pitt lived in private； and boozed nightly with
Horrocks； his butler or house…steward （as he now began
to be called）； and the abandoned Ribbons。 The times
were very much changed since the period when she drove
to Mudbury in the spring…cart and called the small tradesmen
〃Sir。〃 It may have been shame； or it may have been
dislike of his neighbours； but the old Cynic of Queen's
Crawley hardly issued from his park…gates at all now。 He
quarrelled with his agents and screwed his tenants by
letter。 His days were passed in conducting his own
correspondence； the lawyers and farm…bailiffs who had to
do business with him could not reach him but through the
Ribbons； who received them at the door of the
housekeeper's room； which commanded the back entrance by
which they were admitted； and so the Baronet's daily
perplexities increased； and his embarrassments multiplied
round him。
The horror of Pitt Crawley may be imagined； as these
reports of his father's dotage reached the most exemplary
and correct of gentlemen。 He trembled daily lest he should
hear that the Ribbons was proclaimed his second legal
mother…in…law。 After that first and last visit； his fa