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madness, sheer madness, to think of such a thing. You must come to a compromise. Its a painful thing for the family, but everybody does it. There was George Kitely, Lord Raglands son, went through the Court last week, and was what they call whitewashed, I believe. Lord Ragland would not pay a shilling for him, and Its not money I want, Rawdon broke in. Im not come to you about myself. Never mind what happens to me What is the matter, then? said Pitt, somewhat relieved. Its the boy, said Rawdon in a husky voice. I want you to promise me that you will take charge of him when Im gone. That dear good wife of yours has always been good to him; and hes fonder of her than he is of his . . .Damn it. Look here, Pittyou know that I was to have had Miss Crawleys money. I wasnt brought up like a younger brother, but was always encouraged to be extravagant and kep idle. But for this I might have been quite a different man. I didnt do my duty with the regiment so bad. You know how I was thrown over about the money, and who got it. After the sacrifices I have made, and the manner in which I have stood by you, I think this sort of reproach is useless, Sir Pitt said. Your marriage was your own doing, not mine. Thats over now, said Rawdon. Thats over now. And the words were wrenched from him with a groan, which made his brother start. Good God! is she dead? Sir Pitt said with a voice of genuine alarm and commiseration. I wish I was, Rawdon replied. If it wasnt for little Rawdon Id have cut my throat this morningand that damned villains too. Sir Pitt instantly guessed the truth and surmised that Lord Steyne was the person whose life Rawdon wished to take. The Colonel told his senior briefly, and in broken accents, the circumstances of the case. It was a regular plan between that scoundrel and her, he said. The bailiffs were put upon me; I was taken as I was going out of his house; when I wrote to her for money, she said she was ill in bed and put me off to another day. And when I got home I found her in diamonds and sitting with that villain alone. He then went on to describe hurriedly the personal conflict with Lord Steyne. To an affair of that nature, of course, he said, there was but one issue, and after his conference with his brother, he was going away to make the necessary arrangements for the meeting which must ensue. And as it may end fatally with me, Rawdon said with a broken voice, and as the boy has no mother, I must leave him to you and Jane, Pittonly it will be a comfort to me if you will promise me to be his friend. The elder brother was much affected, and shook Rawdons hand with a cordiality seldom exhibited by him. Rawdon passed his hand over his shaggy eyebrows. Thank you, brother, said he. I know I can trust your word. I will, upon my honour, the Baronet said. And thus, and almost mutely, this bargain was struck between them. Then Rawdon took out of his pocket the little pocket-book which he had discovered in Beckys desk, and from which he drew a bundle of the notes which it contained. Heres six hundred, he saidyou didnt know I was so rich. I want you to give the money to Briggs, who lent it to usand who was kind to the boyand Ive always felt ashamed of having taken the poor old womans money. And heres some moreIve only kept back a few poundswhich Becky may as well have, to get on with. As he spoke he took hold of the other notes to give to his brother, but his hands shook, and he was so agitated that the pocket-book fell from him, and out of it the thousand-pound note which had been the last of the unlucky Beckys winnings. |
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