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of his mother's voice； who was singing to Lord Steyne；
the drawing room door opening suddenly； discovered the
little spy； who but a moment before had been rapt in
delight； and listening to the music。
His mother came out and struck him violently a couple
of boxes on the ear。 He heard a laugh from the Marquis
in the inner room （who was amused by this free and
artless exhibition of Becky's temper） and fled down below
to his friends of the kitchen； bursting in an agony of
grief。
〃It is not because it hurts me；〃 little Rawdon gasped
out〃onlyonly〃sobs and tears wound up the
sentence in a storm。 It was the little boy's heart that was
bleeding。 〃Why mayn't I hear her singing？ Why don't
she ever sing to meas she does to that baldheaded
man with the large teeth？〃 He gasped out at various
intervals these exclamations of rage and grief。 The cook
looked at the housemaid； the housemaid looked
knowingly at the footmanthe awful kitchen inquisition which
sits in judgement in every house and knows everything
sat on Rebecca at that moment。
After this incident； the mother's dislike increased to
hatred； the consciousness that the child was in the house
was a reproach and a pain to her。 His very sight
annoyed her。 Fear； doubt； and resistance sprang up； too；
in the boy's own bosom。 They were separated from that
day of the boxes on the ear。
Lord Steyne also heartily disliked the boy。 When they
met by mischance； he made sarcastic bows or remarks
to the child； or glared at him with savage…looking eyes。
Rawdon used to stare him in the face and double his
little fists in return。 He knew his enemy； and this gentleman；
of all who came to the house； was the one who
angered him most。 One day the footman found him
squaring his fists at Lord Steyne's hat in the hall。 The
footman told the circumstance as a good joke to Lord
Steyne's coachman； that officer imparted it to Lord
Steyne's gentleman； and to the servants' hall in general。
And very soon afterwards； when Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley
made her appearance at Gaunt House； the porter who
unbarred the gates； the servants of all uniforms in the hall；
the functionaries in white waistcoats； who bawled out
from landing to landing the names of Colonel and Mrs。
Rawdon Crawley； knew about her； or fancied they did。
The man who brought her refreshment and stood behind
her chair； had talked her character over with the large
gentleman in motley…coloured clothes at his side。 Bon
Dieu！ it is awful； that servants' inquisition！ You see a
woman in a great party in a splendid saloon； surrounded
by faithful admirers； distributing sparkling glances；
dressed to perfection； curled； rouged； smiling and happy
Discovery walks respectfully up to her； in the shape of
a huge powdered man with large calves and a tray of ices
with Calumny （which is as fatal as truth） behind
him； in the shape of the hulking fellow carrying the wafer…
biscuits。 Madam； your secret will be talked over by those
men at their club at the public…house to…night。 Jeames
will tell Chawles his notions about you over their pipes
and pewter beer…pots。 Some people ought to have mutes
for servants in Vanity Fairmutes who could not write。
If you are guilty； tremble。 That fellow behind your chair
may be a Janissary with a bow…string in his plush breeches
pocket。 If you are not guilty； have a care of
appearances； which are as ruinous as guilt。
〃Was Rebecca guilty or not？〃 the Vehmgericht of tho
servants' hall had pronounced against her。
And； I shame to say； she would not have got credit
had they not believed her to be guilty。 It was the sight of
the Marquis of Steyne's carriage…lamps at her door；
contemplated by Raggles； burning in the blackness of
midnight； 〃that kep him up；〃 as he afterwards said； that
even more than Rebecca's arts and coaxings。
And soguiltless very likelyshe was writhing and
pushing onward towards what they call 〃a position in
society；〃 and the servants were pointing at her as lost
and ruined。 So you see Molly； the housemaid； of a morning；
watching a spider in the doorpost lay his thread and
laboriously crawl up it； until； tired of the sport； she
raises her broom and sweeps away the thread and the
artificer。
A day or two before Christmas； Becky； her husband
and her son made ready and went to pass the holidays
at the seat of their ancestors at Queen's Crawley。 Becky
would have liked to leave the little brat behind； and
would have done so but for Lady Jane's urgent invitations
to the youngster； and the symptoms of revolt and
discontent which Rawdon manifested at her neglect of her
son。 〃He's the finest boy in England；〃 the father said in a
tone of reproach to her； 〃and you don't seem to care for
him； Becky； as much as you do for your spaniel。 He
shan't bother you much； at home he will be away from
you in the nursery； and he shall go outside on the coach
with me。〃
〃Where you go yourself because you want to smoke
those filthy cigars；〃 replied Mrs。 Rawdon。
〃I remember when you liked 'em though；〃 answered the
husband。
Becky laughed； she was almost always good…humoured。
〃That was when I was on my promotion； Goosey；〃 she
said。 〃Take Rawdon outside with you and give him a cigar
too if you like。〃
Rawdon did not warm his little son for the winter's
journey in this way； but he and Briggs wrapped up the
child in shawls and comforters； and he was hoisted
respectfully onto the roof of the coach in the。dark morning；
under the lamps of the White Horse Cellar； and with
no small delight he watched the dawn rise and made
his first journey to the place which his father still called
home。 It was a journey of infinite pleasure to the boy； to
whom the incidents of the road afforded endless interest；
his father answering to him all questions connected with it
and telling him who lived in the great white house to the
right； and whom the park belonged to。 His mother； inside
the vehicle； with her maid and her furs； her wrappers； and
her scent bottles； made such a to…do that you would have
thought she never had been in a stage…coach before
much less； that she had been turned out of this very one
to make room for a paying passenger on a certain
journey performed some half…score years ago。
It was dark again when little Rawdon was wakened up
to enter his uncle's carriage at Mudbury； and he sat and
looked out of it wondering as the great iron gates flew
open； and at the white trunks of the limes as they swept
by； until they stopped； at length； before the light windows
of the Hall； which were blazing and comfortable with
Christmas welcome。 The hall…door was flung opena big
fire was burning in the great old fire…placea carpet was
down over the chequered black flags〃It's the old Turkey
one that used to be in the Ladies' Gallery；〃 thought
Rebecca； and the next instant was kissing Lady Jane。
She and Sir Pitt performed the same salute with great
gravity； but Rawdon； having been smoking； hung back
rather from his sister…in…law； whose two children came
up to their cousin； and； while Matilda held out her hand
and kissed him； Pitt Binkie Southdown； the son and heir；
stood aloof rather and examined him as a little dog does
a big dog。
Then the kind