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with dyed mustachios； who； after a quarter of an hour's
interval； escorted her back to the hackney…coach in
waiting； and that this was a quiet bridal party。
And who on earth； after the daily experience we have；
can question the probability of a gentleman marrying
anybody？ How many of the wise and learned have
married their cooks？ Did not Lord Eldon himself； the
most prudent of men； make a runaway match？ Were not
Achilles and Ajax both in love with their servant maids？
And are we to expect a heavy dragoon with strong
desires and small brains； who had never controlled a
passion in his life； to become prudent all of a sudden；
and to refuse to pay any price for an indulgence to
which he had a mind？ If people only made prudent
marriages； what a stop to population there would be！
It seems to me； for my part； that Mr。 Rawdon's marriage
was one of the honestest actions which we shall have to
record in any portion of that gentleman's biography which
has to do with the present history。 No one will say it is
unmanly to be captivated by a woman； or； being
captivated； to marry her； and the admiration； the delight； the
passion； the wonder； the unbounded confidence； and frantic
adoration with which； by degrees； this big warrior got
to regard the little Rebecca； were feelings which the ladies
at least will pronounce were not altogether discreditable
to him。 When she sang； every note thrilled in his dull
soul； and tingled through his huge frame。 When she spoke；
he brought all the force of his brains to listen and wonder。
If she was jocular； he used to revolve her jokes in his
mind； and explode over them half an hour afterwards in
the street； to the surprise of the groom in the tilbury by
his side； or the comrade riding with him in Rotten Row。
Her words were oracles to him； her smallest actions
marked by an infallible grace and wisdom。 〃How she
sings；how she paints；〃 thought he。 〃How she rode that
kicking mare at Queen's Crawley！〃 And he would say to
her in confidential moments； 〃By Jove； Beck； you're fit
to be Commander…in…Chief； or Archbishop of Canterbury；
by Jove。〃 Is his case a rare one？ and don't we see every
day in the world many an honest Hercules at the
apron…strings of Omphale； and great whiskered Samsons
prostrate in Delilah's lap？
When； then； Becky told him that the great crisis was
near； and the time for action had arrived； Rawdon
expressed himself as ready to act under her orders； as he
would be to charge with his troop at the command of his
colonel。 There was no need for him to put his letter into
the third volume of Porteus。 Rebecca easily found a
means to get rid of Briggs； her companion； and met her
faithful friend in 〃the usual place〃 on the next day。 She
had thought over matters at night； and communicated to
Rawdon the result of her determinations。 He agreed； of
course； to everything； was quite sure that it was all
right： that what she proposed was best； that Miss Crawley
would infallibly relent； or 〃come round；〃 as he said； after
a time。 Had Rebecca's resolutions been entirely different；
he would have followed them as implicitly。 〃You have
head enough for both of us； Beck；〃 said he。 〃You're sure
to get us out of the scrape。 I never saw your equal； and
I've met with some clippers in my time too。〃 And with
this simple confession of faith； the love…stricken dragoon
left her to execute his part of the project which she had
formed for the pair。
It consisted simply in the hiring of quiet lodgings at
Brompton； or in the neighbourhood of the barracks； for
Captain and Mrs。 Crawley。 For Rebecca had determined；
and very prudently； we think； to fly。 Rawdon was
only too happy at her resolve； he had been entreating
her to take this measure any time for weeks past。 He
pranced off to engage the lodgings with all the impetuosity
of love。 He agreed to pay two guineas a week so readily；
that the landlady regretted she had asked him so little。
He ordered in a piano； and half a nursery…house full of
flowers： and a heap of good things。 As for shawls； kid
gloves； silk stockings； gold French watches； bracelets and
perfumery； he sent them in with the profusion of blind
love and unbounded credit。 And having relieved his mind
by this outpouring of generosity； he went and dined
nervously at the club； waiting until the great moment of his
life should come。
The occurrences of the previous day； the admirable
conduct of Rebecca in refusing an offer so advantageous
to her； the secret unhappiness preying upon her； the
sweetness and silence with which she bore her affliction；
made Miss Crawley much more tender than usual。 An
event of this nature； a marriage； or a refusal； or a
proposal； thrills through a whole household of women； and
sets all their hysterical sympathies at work。 As an
observer of human nature； I regularly frequent St。 George's；
Hanover Square； during the genteel marriage season； and
though I have never seen the bridegroom's male friends
give way to tears； or the beadles and officiating clergy
any way affected； yet it is not at all uncommon to see
women who are not in the least concerned in the
operations going onold ladies who are long past marrying；
stout middle…aged females with plenty of sons and daughters；
let alone pretty young creatures in pink bonnets； who
are on their promotion； and may naturally take an
interest in the ceremonyI say it is quite common to see
the women present piping； sobbing； sniffling； hiding their
little faces in their little useless pocket…handkerchiefs；
and heaving； old and young； with emotion。 When my
friend； the fashionable John Pimlico； married the lovely
Lady Belgravia Green Parker； the excitement was so
general that even the little snuffy old pew…opener who let me
into the seat was in tears。 And wherefore？ I inquired of
my own soul： she was not going to be married。
Miss Crawley and Briggs in a word； after the affair of
Sir Pitt； indulged in the utmost luxury of sentiment； and
Rebecca became an object of the most tender interest to
them。 In her absence Miss Crawley solaced herself with
the most sentimental of the novels in her library。 Little
Sharp； with her secret griefs； was the heroine of the day。
That night Rebecca sang more sweetly and talked more
pleasantly than she had ever been heard to do in Park
Lane。 She twined herself round the heart of Miss Crawley。
She spoke lightly and laughingly of Sir Pitt's proposal；
ridiculed it as the foolish fancy of an old man； and her
eyes filled with tears； and Briggs's heart with unutterable
pangs of defeat； as she said she desired no other lot than
to remain for ever with her dear benefactress。 〃My dear
little creature；〃 the old lady said； 〃I don't intend to let
you stir for years； that you may depend upon it。 As for
going back to that odious brother of mine after what
has passed； it is out of the question。 Here you stay with me
and Briggs。 Briggs wants to go to see her relations very
often。 Briggs； you may go when you like。 But as for you；
my dear； you must stay and take care of the old woman。〃
If Rawdon Crawley had been then and there present；
instead of being at the club ne