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the ticket in the window which announced 〃Apartments
to Let。〃
Briggs told all her history amidst those perfectly
uncalled…for sobs and ejaculations of wonder with which
women of her soft nature salute an old acquaintance； or
regard a rencontre in the street； for though people meet
other people every day； yet some there are who insist
upon discovering miracles； and women； even though they
have disliked each other； begin to cry when they meet；
deploring and remembering the time when they last
quarrelled。 So； in a word； Briggs told all her history； and
Becky gave a narrative of her own life； with her usual
artlessness and candour。
Mrs。 Bowls； late Firkin； came and listened grimly in
the passage to the hysterical sniffling and giggling which
went on in the front parlour。 Becky had never been a
favourite of hers。 Since the establishment of the married
couple in London they had frequented their former
friends of the house of Raggles； and did not like the
latter's account of the Colonel's menage。 〃I wouldn't trust
him； Ragg； my boy；〃 Bowls remarked； and his wife；
when Mrs。 Rawdon issued from the parlour； only saluted
the lady with a very sour curtsey； and her fingers
were like so many sausages； cold and lifeless； when she
held them out in deference to Mrs。 Rawdon； who persisted
in shaking hands with the retired lady's maid。 She whirled
away into Piccadilly； nodding with the sweetest of smiles
towards Miss Briggs； who hung nodding at the window
close under the advertisement…card； and at the next
moment was in the park with a half…dozen of dandies
cantering after her carriage。
When she found how her friend was situated； and how
having a snug legacy from Miss Crawley； salary was no
object to our gentlewoman； Becky instantly formed some
benevolent little domestic plans concerning her。 This
was just such a companion as would suit her establishment；
and she invited Briggs to come to dinner with her
that very evening； when she should see Becky's dear little
darling Rawdon。
Mrs。 Bowls cautioned her lodger against venturing into
the lion's den； 〃wherein you will rue it； Miss B。； mark my
words； and as sure as my name is Bowls。〃 And Briggs
promised to be very cautious。 The upshot of which
caution was that she went to live with Mrs。 Rawdon the next
week； and had lent Rawdon Crawley six hundred pounds
upon annuity before six months were over。
CHAPTER XLI
In Which Becky Revisits the Halls of Her Ancestors
So the mourning being ready； and Sir Pitt Crawley warned
of their arrival； Colonel Crawley and his wife took a
couple of places in the same old High…flyer coach by
which Rebecca had travelled in the defunct Baronet's
company； on her first journey into the world some nine
years before。 How well she remembered the Inn Yard；
and the ostler to whom she refused money； and the
insinuating Cambridge lad who wrapped her in his coat on
the journey！ Rawdon took his place outside； and would
have liked to drive； but his grief forbade him。 He sat by
the coachman and talked about horses and the road the
whole way； and who kept the inns； and who horsed the
coach by which he had travelled so many a time； when
he and Pitt were boys going to Eton。 At Mudbury a
carriage and a pair of horses received them； with a
coachman in black。 〃It's the old drag； Rawdon；〃 Rebecca said
as they got in。 〃The worms have eaten the cloth a good
dealthere's the stain which Sir Pittha！ I see Dawson
the Ironmonger has his shutters upwhich Sir Pitt made
such a noise about。 It was a bottle of cherry brandy he
broke which we went to fetch for your aunt from
Southampton。 How time flies； to be sure！ That can't be Polly
Talboys； that bouncing girl standing by her mother at
the cottage there。 I remember her a mangy little urchin
picking weeds in the garden。〃
〃Fine gal；〃 said Rawdon； returning the salute which the
cottage gave him； by two fingers applied to his crape
hatband。 Becky bowed and saluted； and recognized
people here and there graciously。 These recognitions were
inexpressibly pleasant to her。 It seemed as if she was
not an imposter any more； and was coming to the home
of her ancestors。 Rawdon was rather abashed and cast
down； on the other hand。 What recollections of boyhood
and innocence might have been flitting across his brain？
What pangs of dim remorse and doubt and shame？
〃Your sisters must be young women now；〃 Rebecca
said； thinking of those girls for the first time perhaps
since she had left them。
〃Don't know； I'm shaw；〃 replied the Colonel。 〃Hullo！
here's old Mother Lock。 How…dy…do； Mrs。 Lock？ Remember
me； don't you？ Master Rawdon； hey？ Dammy how
those old women last； she was a hundred when I was a
boy。〃
They were going through the lodge…gates kept by old
Mrs。 Lock； whose hand Rebecca insisted upon shaking；
as she flung open the creaking old iron gate； and the
carriage passed between the two moss…grown pillars
surmounted by the dove and serpent。
〃The governor has cut into the timber；〃 Rawdon said；
looking about； and then was silentso was Becky。 Both
of them were rather agitated； and thinking of old times。
He about Eton； and his mother； whom he remembered；
a frigid demure woman； and a sister who died； of whom
he had been passionately fond； and how he used to thrash
Pitt； and about little Rawdy at home。 And Rebecca
thought about her own youth and the dark secrets of
those early tainted days； and of her entrance into life
by yonder gates； and of Miss Pinkerton； and Joe； and
Amelia。
The gravel walk and terrace had been scraped quite
clean。 A grand painted hatchment was already over the
great entrance； and two very solemn and tall personages
in black flung open each a leaf of the door as the
carriage pulled up at the familiar steps。 Rawdon turned red；
and Becky somewhat pale； as they passed through the
old hall； arm in arm。 She pinched her husband's arm
as they entered the oak parlour； where Sir Pitt and his
wife were ready to receive them。 Sir Pitt in black； Lady
Jane in black； and my Lady Southdown with a large black
head…piece of bugles and feathers； which waved on her
Ladyship's head like an undertaker's tray。
Sir Pitt had judged correctly； that she would not quit
the premises。 She contented herself by preserving a
solemn and stony silence； when in company of Pitt and
his rebellious wife； and by frightening the children in
the nursery by the ghastly gloom of her demeanour。
Only a very faint bending of the head…dress and plumes
welcomed Rawdon and his wife； as those prodigals
returned to their family。
To say the truth； they were not affected very much
one way or other by this coolness。 Her Ladyship was a
person only of secondary consideration in their minds
just thenthey were intent upon the reception which
the reigning brother and sister would afford them。
Pitt； with rather a heightened colour； went up and
shook his brother by the hand； and saluted Rebecca with
a hand…shake and a very low bow。 But Lady Jane took both
the hands of her sister…in…law and kissed her affectionately。
The embrace somehow brought tears into the eyes of
the little adventuresswhich ornaments； as we know；
she wore very seldom。 The artless