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patient's drink simmering in the jug； they read the weekly
paper the whole week through； and Law's Serious Call or
the Whole Duty of Man suffices them for literature for
the yearand we quarrel with them because； when their
relations come to see them once a week； a little gin
is smuggled in in their linen basket。 Ladies； what man's
love is there that would stand a year's nursing of the
object of his affection？ Whereas a nurse will stand by you
for ten pounds a quarter； and we think her too highly
paid。 At least Mr。 Crawley grumbled a good deal about
paying half as much to Miss Hester for her constant
attendance upon the Baronet his father。
Of sunshiny days this old gentleman was taken out in a
chair on the terracethe very chair which Miss Crawley
had had at Brighton； and which had been transported
thence with a number of Lady Southdown's effects to
Queen's Crawley。 Lady Jane always walked by the old
man； and was an evident favourite with him。 He used to
nod many times to her and smile when she came in； and
utter inarticulate deprecatory moans when she was going
away。 When the door shut upon her he would cry and
sobwhereupon Hester's face and manner； which was
always exceedingly bland and gentle while her lady was
present； would change at once； and she would make faces
at him and clench her fist and scream out 〃Hold your
tongue； you stoopid old fool；〃 and twirl away his chair
from the fire which he loved to look atat which he
would cry more。 For this was all that was left after more
than seventy years of cunning； and struggling； and
drinking； and scheming； and sin and selfishnessa
whimpering old idiot put in and out of bed and cleaned
and fed like a baby。
At last a day came when the nurse's occupation was
over。 Early one morning； as Pitt Crawley was at his
steward's and bailiff's books in the study； a knock came
to the door； and Hester presented herself； dropping a
curtsey； and said；
〃If you please； Sir Pitt； Sir Pitt died this morning； Sir
Pitt。 I was a…making of his toast； Sir Pitt； for his gruel；
Sir Pitt； which he took every morning regular at six； Sir
Pitt； andI thought I heard a moan…like； Sir Pittand
andand〃 She dropped another curtsey。
What was it that made Pitt's pale face flush quite
red？ Was it because he was Sir Pitt at last； with a seat
in Parliament； and perhaps future honours in prospect？
〃I'll clear the estate now with the ready money；〃 he
thought and rapidly calculated its incumbrances and the
improvements which he would make。 He would not use his
aunt's money previously lest Sir Pitt should recover and
his outlay be in vain。
All the blinds were pulled down at the Hall and Rectory：
the church bell was tolled； and the chancel hung in
black； and Bute Crawley didn't go to a coursing meeting；
but went and dined quietly at Fuddleston； where
they talked about his deceased brother and young Sir
Pitt over their port。 Miss Betsy； who was by this time
married to a saddler at Mudbury； cried a good deal。
The family surgeon rode over and paid his respectful
compliments； and inquiries for the health of their
ladyships。 The death was talked about at Mudbury and at
the Crawley Arms； the landlord whereof had become
reconciled with the Rector of late； who was occasionally
known to step into the parlour and taste Mr。 Horrocks'
mild beer。
〃Shall I write to your brotheror will you？〃 asked
Lady Jane of her husband； Sir Pitt。
〃I will write； of course；〃 Sir Pitt said； 〃and invite him
to the funeral： it will be but becoming。〃
〃AndandMrs。 Rawdon；〃 said Lady Jane timidly。
〃Jane！〃 said Lady Southdown； 〃how can you think of
such a thing？〃
〃Mrs。 Rawdon must of course be asked；〃 said Sir Pitt；
resolutely。
〃Not whilst I am in the house！〃 said Lady Southdown。
〃Your Ladyship will be pleased to recollect that I am
the head of this family；〃 Sir Pitt replied。 〃If you please；
Lady Jane； you will write a letter to Mrs。 Rawdon
Crawley； requesting her presence upon this melancholy
occasion。〃
〃Jane； I forbid you to put pen to paper！〃 cried the
Countess。
〃I believe I am the head of this family；〃 Sir Pitt
repeated； 〃and however much I may regret any
circumstance which may lead to your Ladyship quitting this
house； must； if you please； continue to govern it as I see
fit。〃
Lady Southdown rose up as magnificent as Mrs。 Siddons
in Lady Macbeth and ordered that horses might be put
to her carriage。 If her son and daughter turned her out
of their house； she would hide her sorrows somewhere in
loneliness and pray for their conversion to better
thoughts。
〃We don't turn you out of our house； Mamma；〃 said
the timid Lady Jane imploringly。
〃You invite such company to it as no Christian lady
should meet； and I will have my horses to…morrow
morning。〃
〃Have the goodness to write； Jane； under my dictation；〃
said Sir Pitt； rising and throwing himself into an attitude
of command； like the portrait of a Gentleman in the
Exhibition； 〃and begin。 'Queen's Crawley； September 14；
1822。My dear brother' 〃
Hearing these decisive and terrible words； Lady Macbeth；
who had been waiting for a sign of weakness or
vacillation on the part of her son…in…law； rose and； with a
scared look； left the library。 Lady Jane looked up to
her husband as if she would fain follow and soothe her
mamma； but Pitt forbade his wife to move。
〃She won't go away；〃 he said。 〃She has let her house
at Brighton and has spent her last half…year's dividends。
A Countess living at an inn is a ruined woman。 I have
been waiting long for an opportunityto take thisthis
decisive step； my love； for； as you must perceive； it is
impossible that there should be two chiefs in a family：
and now； if you please； we will resume the dictation。 'My
dear brother； the melancholy intelligence which it is my
duty to convey to my family must have been long
anticipated by；' 〃 &c。
In a word； Pitt having come to his kingdom； and having
by good luck； or desert rather； as he considered； assumed
almost all the fortune which his other relatives
had expected； was determined to treat his family kindly
and respectably and make a house of Queen's Crawley
once more。 It pleased him to think that he should be its
chief。 He proposed to use the vast influence that his
commanding talents and position must speedily acquire
for him in the county to get his brother placed and his
cousins decently provided for； and perhaps had a little
sting of repentance as he thought that he was the
proprietor of all that they had hoped for。 In the course of
three or four days' reign his bearing was changed and
his plans quite fixed： he determined to rule justly and
honestly； to depose Lady Southdown； and to be on the
friendliest possible terms with all the relations of his
blood。
So he dictated a letter to his brother Rawdona solemn
and elaborate letter； containing the profoundest
observations； couched in the longest words； and filling with
wonder the simple little secretary； who wrote under her
husband's order。 〃What an orator this will be；〃 thought
she； 〃when he enters the House of Commons〃 （on which
point； and on the tyranny of Lady Southdown； Pitt had
sometimes dropped hints to his wife in bed）； 〃how wise
and