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genteel world sometimes extends to the commonalty。
There is no more agreeable object in life than to see
Mayfair folks condescending。 Miss Crawley's prodigious
benevolence rather fatigued poor little Amelia； and I am
not sure that of the three ladies in Park Lane she did
not find honest Miss Briggs the most agreeable。 She
sympathised with Briggs as with all neglected or gentle
people： she wasn't what you call a woman of spirit。
George came to dinnera repast en garcon with
Captain Crawley。
The great family coach of the Osbornes transported
him to Park Lane from Russell Square； where the young
ladies； who were not themselves invited； and professed
the greatest indifference at that slight； nevertheless looked
at Sir Pitt Crawley's name in the baronetage； and learned
everything which that work had to teach about the
Crawley family and their pedigree； and the Binkies； their
relatives； &c。； &c。 Rawdon Crawley received George Osborne
with great frankness and graciousness： praised his play at
billiards： asked him when he would have his revenge：
was interested about Osborne's regiment： and would have
proposed piquet to him that very evening； but Miss
Crawley absolutely forbade any gambling in her house；
so that the young Lieutenant's purse was not lightened
by his gallant patron； for that day at least。 However； they
made an engagement for the next； somewhere： to look
at a horse that Crawley had to sell； and to try him in the
Park； and to dine together； and to pass the evening with
some jolly fellows。 〃That is； if you're not on duty to that
pretty Miss Sedley；〃 Crawley said； with a knowing wink。
〃Monstrous nice girl； 'pon my honour； though； Osborne；〃
he was good enough to add。 〃Lots of tin； I suppose； eh？〃
Osborne wasn't on duty； he would join Crawley with
pleasure： and the latter； when they met the next day；
praised his new friend's horsemanshipas he might with
perfect honestyand introduced him to three or four
young men of the first fashion； whose acquaintance
immensely elated the simple young officer。
〃How's little Miss Sharp； by…the…bye？〃 Osborne inquired
of his friend over their wine； with a dandified air。
〃Good…natured little girl that。 Does she suit you well at
Queen's Crawley？ Miss Sedley liked her a good deal last
year。〃
Captain Crawley looked savagely at the Lieutenant out
of his little blue eyes； and watched him when he went up
to resume his acquaintance with the fair governess。 Her
conduct must have relieved Crawley if there was any
jealousy in the bosom of that life…guardsman。
When the young men went upstairs； and after
Osborne's introduction to Miss Crawley； he walked up to
Rebecca with a patronising； easy swagger。 He was going
to be kind to her and protect her。 He would even shake
hands with her； as a friend of Amelia's； and saying； 〃Ah；
Miss Sharp！ how…dy…doo？〃 held out his left hand towards
her； expecting that she would be quite confounded at
the honour。
Miss Sharp put out her right forefinger； and gave him
a little nod； so cool and killing； that Rawdon Crawley；
watching the operations from the other room； could
hardly restrain his laughter as he saw the Lieutenant's
entire discomfiture； the start he gave； the pause； and the
perfect clumsiness with which he at length condescended
to take the finger which was offered for his embrace。
〃She'd beat the devil； by Jove！〃 the Captain said； in a
rapture； and the Lieutenant； by way of beginning the
conversation； agreeably asked Rebecca how she liked her
new place。
〃My place？〃 said Miss Sharp； coolly； 〃how kind of you
to remind me of it！ It's a tolerably good place： the wages
are pretty goodnot so good as Miss Wirt's； I believe；
with your sisters in Russell Square。 How are those young
ladies？not that I ought to ask。〃
〃Why not？〃 Mr。 Osborne said； amazed。
〃Why； they never condescended to speak to me； or to
ask me into their house； whilst I was staying with Amelia；
but we poor governesses； you know； are used to slights of
this sort。〃
〃My dear Miss Sharp！〃 Osborne ejaculated。
〃At least in some families；〃 Rebecca continued。 〃You
can't think what a difference there is though。 We are not
so wealthy in Hampshire as you lucky folks of the City。
But then I am in a gentleman's familygood old
English stock。 I suppose you know Sir Pitt's father refused a
peerage。 And you see how I am treated。 I am pretty
comfortable。 Indeed it is rather a good place。 But how
very good of you to inquire！〃
Osborne was quite savage。 The little governess
patronised him and persiffled him until this young
British Lion felt quite uneasy； nor could he muster sufficient
presence of mind to find a pretext for backing out
of this most delectable conversation。
〃I thought you liked the City families pretty well；〃 he
said； haughtily。
〃Last year you mean； when I was fresh from that
horrid vulgar school？ Of course I did。 Doesn't every girl like
to come home for the holidays？ And how was I to know
any better？ But oh； Mr。 Osborne； what a difference
eighteen months' experience makes！ eighteen months spent；
pardon me for saying so； with gentlemen。 As for dear
Amelia； she； I grant you； is a pearl； and would be charming
anywhere。 There now； I see you are beginning to be
in a good humour； but oh these queer odd City people！
And Mr。 Joshow is that wonderful Mr。 Joseph？〃
〃It seems to me you didn't dislike that wonderful Mr。
Joseph last year；〃 Osborne said kindly。
〃How severe of you！ Well； entre nous； I didn't break
my heart about him； yet if he had asked me to do what
you mean by your looks （and very expressive and kind
they are； too）； I wouldn't have said no。〃
Mr。 Osborne gave a look as much as to say； 〃Indeed；
how very obliging！〃
〃What an honour to have had you for a brother…in…law；
you are thinking？ To be sister…in…law to George
Osborne； Esquire； son of John Osborne； Esquire； son of
what was your grandpapa； Mr。 Osborne？ Well； don't be
angry。 You can't help your pedigree； and I quite agree
with you that I would have married Mr。 Joe Sedley； for
could a poor penniless girl do better？ Now you know
the whole secret。 I'm frank and open； considering all
things； it was very kind of you to allude to the
circumstancevery kind and polite。 Amelia dear； Mr。
Osborne and I were talking about your poor brother Joseph。
How is he？〃
Thus was George utterly routed。 Not that Rebecca was
in the right； but she had managed most successfully to
put him in the wrong。 And he now shamefully fled；
feeling； if he stayed another minute； that he would have
been made to look foolish in the presence of Amelia。
Though Rebecca had had the better of him； George was
above the meanness of talebearing or revenge upon a
ladyonly he could not help cleverly confiding to
Captain Crawley； next day； some notions of his regarding
Miss Rebeccathat she was a sharp one； a dangerous
one； a desperate flirt； &c。； in all of which opinions
Crawley agreed laughingly； and with every one of which Miss
Rebecca was made acquainted before twenty…four hours
were over。 They added to her original regard for Mr。
Osborne。 Her woman's