not to mention private reasons with which she would not for the present trouble Miss Crawley, Sir Pitts
age, station, and habits were such as to render a marriage quite impossible; and could a woman with
any feeling of self-respect and any decency listen to proposals at such a moment, when the funeral of
the lovers deceased wife had not actually taken place? Nonsense, my dear, you would never have
refused him had there not been some one else in the case, Miss Crawley said, coming to her point at
once. Tell me the private reasons; what are the private reasons? There is some one; who is it that has
touched your heart? Rebecca cast down her eyes, and owned there was. You have guessed right,
dear lady, she said, with a sweet simple faltering voice. You wonder at one so poor and friendless
having an attachment, dont you? I have never heard that poverty was any safeguard against it. I wish
it were. My poor dear child, cried Miss Crawley, who was always quite ready to be sentimental, is
our passion unrequited, then? Are we pining in secret? Tell me all, and let me console you. I wish
you could, dear Madam, Rebecca said in the same tearful tone. Indeed, indeed, I need it. And she
laid her head upon Miss Crawleys shoulder and wept there so naturally that the old lady, surprised into
sympathy, embraced her with an almost maternal kindness, uttered many soothing protests of regard
and affection for her, vowed that she loved her as a daughter, and would do everything in her power to
serve her. And now who is it, my dear? Is it that pretty Miss Sedleys brother? You said something
about an affair with him. Ill ask him here, my dear. And you shall have him: indeed you shall. Dont
ask me now, Rebecca said. You shall know all soon. Indeed you shall. Dear kind Miss Crawley
dear friend, may I say so? That you may, my child, the old lady replied, kissing her. I cant tell you
now, sobbed out Rebecca, I am very miserable. But O! love me alwayspromise you will love me
always. And in the midst of mutual tearsfor the emotions of the younger woman had awakened the
sympathies of the elderthis promise was solemnly given by Miss Crawley, who left her little protégée,
blessing and admiring her as a dear, artless, tender-hearted, affectionate, incomprehensible creature.
And now she was left alone to think over the sudden and wonderful events of the day, and of what had
been and what might have been. What think you were the private feelings of Miss, no (begging her
pardon) of Mrs. Rebecca? If, a few pages back, the present writer claimed the privilege of peeping into
Miss Amelia Sedleys bedroom, and understanding with the omniscience of the novelist all the gentle
pains and passions which were tossing upon that innocent pillow, why should he not declare himself to
be Rebeccas confidante too, master of her secrets, and seal-keeper of that young womans conscience?
Well, then, in the first place, Rebecca gave way to some very sincere and touching regrets that a piece
of marvellous good fortune should have been so near her, and she actually obliged to decline it. In this
natural emotion every properly regulated mind will certainly share. What good mother is there that would
not commiserate a penniless spinster, who might have been my lady, and have shared four thousand
a year? What well-bred young person is there in all Vanity Fair, who will not feel for a hard-working,
ingenious, meritorious girl, who gets such an honourable, advantageous, provoking offer, just at the very
moment when it is out of her power to accept it? I am sure our friend Beckys disappointment deserves
and will command every sympathy. I remember one night being in the Fair myself, at an evening party.
I observed old Miss Toady there also present, single out for her special attentions and flattery little Mrs.
Briefless, the barristers wife, who is of a good family certainly, but, as we all know, is as poor as poor
can be. What, I asked in my own mind, can cause this obsequiousness on the part of Miss Toady; has
Briefless got a county court, or has his wife had a fortune left her? Miss Toady explained presently, with
that simplicity which distinguishes all her conduct. You know, she said, Mrs.Briefless is granddaughter
of Sir John Redhand, who is so ill at Cheltenham that he cant last six months. Mrs. Brieflesss papa
succeeds; so you see she will be a baronets daughter. And Toady asked Briefless and his wife to dinner
the very next week. If the mere chance of becoming a baronets daughter can procure a lady such homage
in the world, surely, surely we may respect the agonies of a young woman who has lost the opportunity
of becoming a baronets wife. Who would have dreamed of Lady Crawley dying so soon? She was one
of those sickly women that might have lasted these ten yearsRebecca thought to herself, in all the
woes of repentanceand I might have been my lady! I might have led that old man whither I would.
I might have thanked Mrs. Bute for her patronage, and Mr. Pitt for his insufferable condescension. I
would have had the town-house newly furnished and decorated. I would have had the handsomest carriage
in London, and a box at the opera; and I would have been presented next season. All this might have
been; and nownow all was doubt and mystery. But Rebecca was a young lady of too much resolution