When Lord Steyne was benevolently disposed, he did nothing by halves,and his kindness towards the Crawley family did the greatest honour tohis benevolent discrimination. His lordship extended his good-will tolittle Rawdon: he pointed out to the boy's parents the necessity ofsending him to a public school, that he was of an age now whenemulation, the first principles of the Latin language, pugilisticexercises, and the society of his fellow-boys would be of the greatestbenefit to the boy. His father objected that he was not rich enough tosend the child to a good public school; his mother that Briggs was acapital mistress for him, and had brought him on (as indeed was thefact) famously in English, the Latin rudiments, and in generallearning: but all these objections disappeared before the generousperseverance of the Marquis of Steyne. His lordship was one of thegovernors of that famous old collegiate institution called theWhitefriars. It had been a Cistercian Convent in old days, when theSmithfield, which is contiguous to it, was a tournament ground.Obstinate heretics used to be brought thither convenient for burninghard by. Henry VIII, the Defender of the Faith, seized upon themonastery and its possessions and hanged and tortured some of the monkswho could not accommodate themselves to the pace of his reform.Finally, a great merchant bought the house and land adjoining, inwhich, and with the help of other wealthy endowments of land and money,he established a famous foundation hospital for old men and children.An extern school grew round the old almost monastic foundation, whichsubsists still with its middle-age costume and usages--and allCistercians pray that it may long flourish.

Of this famous house, some of the greatest noblemen, prelates, anddignitaries in England are governors: and as the boys are verycomfortably lodged, fed, and educated, and subsequently inducted togood scholarships at the University and livings in the Church, manylittle gentlemen are devoted to the ecclesiastical profession fromtheir tenderest years, and there is considerable emulation to procurenominations for the foundation. It was originally intended for thesons of poor and deserving clerics and laics, but many of the noblegovernors of the Institution, with an enlarged and rather capriciousbenevolence, selected all sorts of objects for their bounty. To get aneducation for nothing, and a future livelihood and profession assured,was so excellent a scheme that some of the richest people did notdisdain it; and not only great men's relations, but great menthemselves, sent their sons to profit by the chance--Right Rev.prelates sent their own kinsmen or the sons of their clergy, while, onthe other hand, some great noblemen did not disdain to patronize thechildren of their confidential servants--so that a lad entering thisestablishment had every variety of youthful society wherewith to mingle.

Rawdon Crawley, though the only book which he studied was the RacingCalendar, and though his chief recollections of polite learning wereconnected with the floggings which he received at Eton in his earlyyouth, had that decent and honest reverence for classical learningwhich all English gentlemen feel, and was glad to think that his sonwas to have a provision for life, perhaps, and a certain opportunity ofbecoming a scholar. And although his boy was his chief solace andcompanion, and endeared to him by a thousand small ties, about which hedid not care to speak to his wife, who had all along shown the utmostindifference to their son, yet Rawdon agreed at once to part with himand to give up his own greatest comfort and benefit for the sake of thewelfare of the little lad. He did not know how fond he was of thechild until it became necessary to let him go away. When he was gone,he felt more sad and downcast than he cared to own--far sadder than theboy himself, who was happy enough to enter a new career and findcompanions of his own age. Becky burst out laughing once or twice whenthe Colonel, in his clumsy, incoherent way, tried to express hissentimental sorrows at the boy's departure. The poor fellow felt thathis dearest pleasure and closest friend was taken from him. He lookedoften and wistfully at the little vacant bed in his dressing-room,where the child used to sleep. He missed him sadly of mornings andtried in vain to walk in the park without him. He did not know howsolitary he was until little Rawdon was gone. He liked the people whowere fond of him, and would go and sit for long hours with hisgood-natured sister Lady Jane, and talk to her about the virtues, andgood looks, and hundred good qualities of the child.

Young Rawdon's aunt, we have said, was very fond of him, as was herlittle girl, who wept copiously when the time for her cousin'sdeparture came. The elder Rawdon was thankful for the fondness ofmother and daughter. The very best and honestest feelings of the mancame out in these artless outpourings of paternal feeling in which heindulged in their presence, and encouraged by their sympathy. Hesecured not only Lady Jane's kindness, but her sincere regard, by thefeelings which he manifested, and which he could not show to his ownwife. The two kinswomen met as seldom as possible. Becky laughedbitterly at Jane's feelings and softness; the other's kindly and gentlenature could not but revolt at her sister's callous behaviour.

It estranged Rawdon from his wife more than he knew or acknowledged tohimself. She did not care for the estrangement. Indeed, she did notmiss him or anybody. She looked upon him as her errand-man and humbleslave. He might be ever so depressed or sulky, and she did not markhis demeanour, or only treated it with a sneer. She was busy thinkingabout her position, or her pleasures, or her advancement in society;she ought to have held a great place in it, that is certain.

It was honest Briggs who made up the little kit for the boy which hewas to take to school. Molly, the housemaid, blubbered in the passagewhen he went away--Molly kind and faithful in spite of a long arrear ofunpaid wages. Mrs. Becky could not let her husband have the carriageto take the boy to school. Take the horses into the City!--such athing was never heard of. Let a cab be brought. She did not offer tokiss him when he went, nor did the child propose to embrace her; butgave a kiss to old Briggs (whom, in general, he was very shy ofcaressing), and consoled her by pointing out that he was to come homeon Saturdays, when she would have the benefit of seeing him. As thecab rolled towards the City, Becky's carriage rattled off to the park.She was chattering and laughing with a score of young dandies by theSerpentine as the father and son entered at the old gates of theschool--where Rawdon left the child and came away with a sadder purerfeeling in his heart than perhaps that poor battered fellow had everknown since he himself came out of the nursery.

He walked all the way home very dismally, and dined alone with Briggs.He was very kind to her and grateful for her love and watchfulness overthe boy. His conscience smote him that he had borrowed Briggs's moneyand aided in deceiving her. They talked about little Rawdon a longtime, for Becky only came home to dress and go out to dinner--and thenhe went off uneasily to drink tea with Lady Jane, and tell her of whathad happened, and how little Rawdon went off like a trump, and how hewas to wear a gown and little knee-breeches, and how young Blackball,Jack Blackball's son, of the old regiment, had taken him in charge andpromised to be kind to him.

In the course of a week, young Blackball had constituted little Rawdonhis fag, shoe-black, and breakfast toaster; initiated him into themysteries of the Latin Grammar; and thrashed him three or four times,but not severely. The little chap's good-natured honest face won hisway for him. He only got that degree of beating which was, no doubt,good for him; and as for blacking shoes, toasting bread, and fagging ingeneral, were these offices not deemed to be necessary parts of everyyoung English gentleman's education?

Our business does not lie with the second generation and MasterRawdon's life at school, otherwise the present tale might be carried toany indefinite length. The Colonel went to see his son a short timeafterwards and found the lad sufficiently well and happy, grinning andlaughing in his little black gown and little breeches.

His father sagaciously tipped Blackball, his master, a sovereign, andsecured that young gentleman's good-will towards his fag. As a protegeof the great Lord Steyne, the nephew of a County member, and son of aColonel and C.B., whose name appeared in some of the most fashionableparties in the Morning Post, perhaps the school authorities weredisposed not to look unkindly on the child. He had plenty ofpocket-money, which he spent in treating his comrades royally toraspberry tarts, and he was often allowed to come home on Saturdays tohis father, who always made a jubilee of that day. When free, Rawdonwould take him to the play, or send him thither with the footman; andon Sundays he went to church with Briggs and Lady Jane and his cousins.Rawdon marvelled over his stories about school, and fights, andfagging. Before long, he knew the names of all the masters and theprincipal boys as well as little Rawdon himself. He invited littleRawdon's crony from school, and made both the children sick withpastry, and oysters, and porter after the play. He tried to lookknowing over the Latin grammar when little Rawdon showed him what partof that work he was "in." "Stick to it, my boy," he said to him withmuch gravity, "there's nothing like a good classical education!Nothing!"

Becky's contempt for her husband grew greater every day. "Do what youlike--dine where you please--go and have ginger-beer and sawdust atAstley's, or psalm-singing with Lady Jane--only don't expect me to busymyself with the boy. I have your interests to attend to, as you can'tattend to them yourself. I should like to know where you would havebeen now, and in what sort of a position in society, if I had notlooked after you." Indeed, nobody wanted poor old Rawdon at the partieswhither Becky used to go. She was often asked without him now. Shetalked about great people as if she had the fee-simple of May Fair, andwhen the Court went into mourning, she always wore black.

Little Rawdon being disposed of, Lord Steyne, who took such a parentalinterest in the affairs of this amiable poor family, thought that theirexpenses might be very advantageously curtailed by the departure ofMiss Briggs, and that Becky was quite clever enough to take themanagement of her own house. It has been narrated in a former chapterhow the benevolent nobleman had given his protegee money to pay off herlittle debt to Miss Briggs, who however still remained behind with herfriends; whence my lord came to the painful conclusion that Mrs.Crawley had made some other use of the money confided to her than thatfor which her generous patron had given the loan. However, Lord Steynewas not so rude as to impart his suspicions upon this head to Mrs.Becky, whose feelings might be hurt by any controversy on themoney-question, and who might have a thousand painful reasons fordisposing otherwise of his lordship's generous loan. But he determinedto satisfy himself of the real state of the case, and instituted thenecessary inquiries in a most cautious and delicate manner.

In the first place he took an early opportunity of pumping Miss Briggs.That was not a difficult operation. A very little encouragement wouldset that worthy woman to talk volubly and pour out all within her. Andone day when Mrs. Rawdon had gone out to drive (as Mr. Fiche, hislordship's confidential servant, easily learned at the livery stableswhere the Crawleys kept their carriage and horses, or rather, where thelivery-man kept a carriage and horses for Mr. and Mrs. Crawley)--mylord dropped in upon the Curzon Street house--asked Briggs for a cup ofcoffee--told her that he had good accounts of the little boy atschool--and in five minutes found out from her that Mrs. Rawdon hadgiven her nothing except a black silk gown, for which Miss Briggs wasimmensely grateful.

He laughed within himself at this artless story. For the truth is, ourdear friend Rebecca had given him a most circumstantial narration ofBriggs's delight at receiving her money--eleven hundred and twenty-fivepounds--and in what securities she had invested it; and what a pangBecky herself felt in being obliged to pay away such a delightful sumof money. "Who knows," the dear woman may have thought within herself,"perhaps he may give me a little more?" My lord, however, made no suchproposal to the little schemer--very likely thinking that he had beensufficiently generous already.

He had the curiosity, then, to ask Miss Briggs about the state of herprivate affairs--and she told his lordship candidly what her positionwas--how Miss Crawley had left her a legacy--how her relatives had hadpart of it--how Colonel Crawley had put out another portion, for whichshe had the best security and interest--and how Mr. and Mrs. Rawdonhad kindly busied themselves with Sir Pitt, who was to dispose of theremainder most advantageously for her, when he had time. My lord askedhow much the Colonel had already invested for her, and Miss Briggs atonce and truly told him that the sum was six hundred and odd pounds.

But as soon as she had told her story, the voluble Briggs repented ofher frankness and besought my lord not to tell Mr. Crawley of theconfessions which she had made. "The Colonel was so kind--Mr. Crawleymight be offended and pay back the money, for which she could get nosuch good interest anywhere else." Lord Steyne, laughing, promised henever would divulge their conversation, and when he and Miss Briggsparted he laughed still more.

"What an accomplished little devil it is!" thought he. "What a splendidactress and manager! She had almost got a second supply out of me theother day; with her coaxing ways. She beats all the women I have everseen in the course of all my well-spent life. They are babies comparedto her. I am a greenhorn myself, and a fool in her hands--an old fool.She is unsurpassable in lies." His lordship's admiration for Becky roseimmeasurably at this proof of her cleverness. Getting the money wasnothing--but getting double the sum she wanted, and paying nobody--itwas a magnificent stroke. And Crawley, my lord thought--Crawley is notsuch a fool as he looks and seems. He has managed the matter cleverlyenough on his side. Nobody would ever have supposed from his face anddemeanour that he knew anything about this money business; and yet heput her up to it, and has spent the money, no doubt. In this opinionmy lord, we know, was mistaken, but it influenced a good deal hisbehaviour towards Colonel Crawley, whom he began to treat with evenless than that semblance of respect which he had formerly shown towardsthat gentleman. It never entered into the head of Mrs. Crawley'spatron that the little lady might be making a purse for herself; and,perhaps, if the truth must be told, he judged of Colonel Crawley by hisexperience of other husbands, whom he had known in the course of thelong and well-spent life which had made him acquainted with a greatdeal of the weakness of mankind. My lord had bought so many men duringhis life that he was surely to be pardoned for supposing that he hadfound the price of this one.

He taxed Becky upon the point on the very first occasion when he mether alone, and he complimented her, good-humouredly, on her clevernessin getting more than the money which she required. Becky was only alittle taken aback. It was not the habit of this dear creature to tellfalsehoods, except when necessity compelled, but in these greatemergencies it was her practice to lie very freely; and in an instantshe was ready with another neat plausible circumstantial story whichshe administered to her patron. The previous statement which she hadmade to him was a falsehood--a wicked falsehood--she owned it. But whohad made her tell it? "Ah, my Lord," she said, "you don't know all Ihave to suffer and bear in silence; you see me gay and happy beforeyou--you little know what I have to endure when there is no protectornear me. It was my husband, by threats and the most savage treatment,forced me to ask for that sum about which I deceived you. It was hewho, foreseeing that questions might be asked regarding the disposal ofthe money, forced me to account for it as I did. He took the money.He told me he had paid Miss Briggs; I did not want, I did not dare todoubt him. Pardon the wrong which a desperate man is forced to commit,and pity a miserable, miserable woman." She burst into tears as shespoke. Persecuted virtue never looked more bewitchingly wretched.

They had a long conversation, driving round and round the Regent's Parkin Mrs. Crawley's carriage together, a conversation of which it is notnecessary to repeat the details, but the upshot of it was that, whenBecky came home, she flew to her dear Briggs with a smiling face andannounced that she had some very good news for her. Lord Steyne hadacted in the noblest and most generous manner. He was always thinkinghow and when he could do good. Now that little Rawdon was gone toschool, a dear companion and friend was no longer necessary to her.She was grieved beyond measure to part with Briggs, but her meansrequired that she should practise every retrenchment, and her sorrowwas mitigated by the idea that her dear Briggs would be far betterprovided for by her generous patron than in her humble home. Mrs.Pilkington, the housekeeper at Gauntly Hall, was growing exceedinglyold, feeble, and rheumatic: she was not equal to the work ofsuperintending that vast mansion, and must be on the look out for asuccessor. It was a splendid position. The family did not go toGauntly once in two years. At other times the housekeeper was themistress of the magnificent mansion--had four covers daily for hertable; was visited by the clergy and the most respectable people of thecounty--was the lady of Gauntly, in fact; and the two last housekeepersbefore Mrs. Pilkington had married rectors of Gauntly--but Mrs. P.could not, being the aunt of the present Rector. The place was not tobe hers yet, but she might go down on a visit to Mrs. Pilkington andsee whether she would like to succeed her.

What words can paint the ecstatic gratitude of Briggs! All shestipulated for was that little Rawdon should be allowed to come downand see her at the Hall. Becky promised this--anything. She ran up toher husband when he came home and told him the joyful news. Rawdon wasglad, deuced glad; the weight was off his conscience about poorBriggs's money. She was provided for, at any rate, but--but his mindwas disquiet. He did not seem to be all right, somehow. He toldlittle Southdown what Lord Steyne had done, and the young man eyedCrawley with an air which surprised the latter.

He told Lady Jane of this second proof of Steyne's bounty, and she,too, looked odd and alarmed; so did Sir Pitt. "She is too cleverand--and gay to be allowed to go from party to party without acompanion," both said. "You must go with her, Rawdon, wherever shegoes, and you must have somebody with her--one of the girls fromQueen's Crawley, perhaps, though they were rather giddy guardians forher."

Somebody Becky should have. But in the meantime it was clear thathonest Briggs must not lose her chance of settlement for life, and soshe and her bags were packed, and she set off on her journey. And sotwo of Rawdon's out-sentinels were in the hands of the enemy.

Sir Pitt went and expostulated with his sister-in-law upon the subjectof the dismissal of Briggs and other matters of delicate familyinterest. In vain she pointed out to him how necessary was theprotection of Lord Steyne for her poor husband; how cruel it would beon their part to deprive Briggs of the position offered to her.Cajolements, coaxings, smiles, tears could not satisfy Sir Pitt, and hehad something very like a quarrel with his once admired Becky. Hespoke of the honour of the family, the unsullied reputation of theCrawleys; expressed himself in indignant tones about her receivingthose young Frenchmen--those wild young men of fashion, my Lord Steynehimself, whose carriage was always at her door, who passed hours dailyin her company, and whose constant presence made the world talk abouther. As the head of the house he implored her to be more prudent.Society was already speaking lightly of her. Lord Steyne, though anobleman of the greatest station and talents, was a man whoseattentions would compromise any woman; he besought, he implored, hecommanded his sister-in-law to be watchful in her intercourse with thatnobleman.

Becky promised anything and everything Pitt wanted; but Lord Steynecame to her house as often as ever, and Sir Pitt's anger increased. Iwonder was Lady Jane angry or pleased that her husband at last foundfault with his favourite Rebecca? Lord Steyne's visits continuing, hisown ceased, and his wife was for refusing all further intercourse withthat nobleman and declining the invitation to the charade-night whichthe marchioness sent to her; but Sir Pitt thought it was necessary toaccept it, as his Royal Highness would be there.

Although he went to the party in question, Sir Pitt quitted it veryearly, and his wife, too, was very glad to come away. Becky hardly somuch as spoke to him or noticed her sister-in-law. Pitt Crawleydeclared her behaviour was monstrously indecorous, reprobated in strongterms the habit of play-acting and fancy dressing as highly unbecominga British female, and after the charades were over, took his brotherRawdon severely to task for appearing himself and allowing his wife tojoin in such improper exhibitions.

Rawdon said she should not join in any more such amusements--butindeed, and perhaps from hints from his elder brother and sister, hehad already become a very watchful and exemplary domestic character. Heleft off his clubs and billiards. He never left home. He took Beckyout to drive; he went laboriously with her to all her parties. Whenevermy Lord Steyne called, he was sure to find the Colonel. And when Beckyproposed to go out without her husband, or received invitations forherself, he peremptorily ordered her to refuse them: and there was thatin the gentleman's manner which enforced obedience. Little Becky, todo her justice, was charmed with Rawdon's gallantry. If he was surly,she never was. Whether friends were present or absent, she had always akind smile for him and was attentive to his pleasure and comfort. Itwas the early days of their marriage over again: the same good humour,prevenances, merriment, and artless confidence and regard. "How muchpleasanter it is," she would say, "to have you by my side in thecarriage than that foolish old Briggs! Let us always go on so, dearRawdon. How nice it would be, and how happy we should always be, if wehad but the money!" He fell asleep after dinner in his chair; he didnot see the face opposite to him, haggard, weary, and terrible; itlighted up with fresh candid smiles when he woke. It kissed him gaily.He wondered that he had ever had suspicions. No, he never hadsuspicions; all those dumb doubts and surly misgivings which had beengathering on his mind were mere idle jealousies. She was fond of him;she always had been. As for her shining in society, it was no fault ofhers; she was formed to shine there. Was there any woman who couldtalk, or sing, or do anything like her? If she would but like the boy!Rawdon thought. But the mother and son never could be brought together.

And it was while Rawdon's mind was agitated with these doubts andperplexities that the incident occurred which was mentioned in the lastchapter, and the unfortunate Colonel found himself a prisoner away fromhome.