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fled. Good Heavens! was ever such ill luck as mine? she said; to be so near, and to lose all. Is it all too late? No; there was one chance more. She dressed herself and went away unmolested this time, but alone. It was four oclock. She went swiftly down the streets (she had no money to pay for a carriage), and never stopped until she came to Sir Pitt Crawleys door, in Great Gaunt Street. Where was Lady Jane Crawley? She was at church. Becky was not sorry. Sir Pitt was in his study, and had given orders not to be disturbedshe must see himshe slipped by the sentinel in livery at once, and was in Sir Pitts room before the astonished Baronet had even laid down the paper. He turned red and started back from her with a look of great alarm and horror. Do not look so, she said. I am not guilty, Pitt, dear Pitt; you were my friend once. Before God, I am not guilty. I seem so. Everything is against me. And oh! at such a moment! just when all my hopes were about to be realized: just when happiness was in store for us. Is this true, what I see in the paper then? Sir Pitt saida paragraph in which had greatly surprised him. It is true. Lord Steyne told me on Friday night, the night of that fatal ball. He has been promised an appointment any time these six months. Mr. Martyr, the Colonial Secretary, told him yesterday that it was made out. That unlucky arrest ensued; that horrible meeting. I was only guilty of too much devotedness to Rawdons service. I have received Lord Steyne alone a hundred times before. I confess I had money of which Rawdon knew nothing. Dont you know how careless he is of it, and could I dare to confide it to him? And so she went on with a perfectly connected story, which she poured into the ears of her perplexed kinsman. It was to the following effect. Becky owned, and with prefect frankness, but deep contrition, that having remarked Lord Steynes partiality for her (at the mention of which Pitt blushed), and being secure of her own virtue, she had determined to turn the great peers attachment to the advantage of herself and her family. I looked for a peerage for you, Pitt, she said (the brother- in-law again turned red). We have talked about it. Your genius and Lord Steynes interest made it more than probable, had not this dreadful calamity come to put an end to all our hopes. But, first, I own that it was my object to rescue my dear husbandhim whom I love in spite of all his ill usage and suspicions of meto remove him from the poverty and ruin which was impending over us. I saw Lord Steynes partiality for me, she said, casting down her eyes. I own that I did everything in my power to make myself pleasing to him, and as far as an honest woman may, to secure hishis esteem. It was only on Friday morning that the news arrived of the death of the Governor of Coventry Island, and my Lord instantly secured the appointment for my dear husband. It was intended as a surprise for himhe was to see it in the papers to-day. Even after that horrid arrest took place (the expenses of which Lord Steyne generously said he would settle, so that I was in a manner prevented from coming to my husbands assistance), my Lord was laughing with me, and saying that my dearest Rawdon would be consoled when he read of his appointment in the paper, in that shocking spunbailiffs house. And thenthen he came home. His suspicions were excited, the dreadful scene took place between my Lord and my cruel, cruel Rawdonand, O my God, what will happen next? Pitt, dear Pitt! pity me, and reconcile us! And as she spoke she flung herself down on her knees, and bursting into tears, seized hold of Pitts hand, which she kissed passionately. It was in this very attitude that Lady Jane, who, returning from church, ran to her husbands room directly she heard Mrs. Rawdon Crawley was closeted there, found the Baronet and his sister-in-law. I am surprised that woman has the audacity to enter this house, Lady Jane said, trembling in every limb and turning quite pale. (Her Ladyship had sent out her maid directly after breakfast, who had communicated with Raggles and Rawdon Crawleys household, who had told her all, and a great deal more than they knew, of that story, and many others besides). How dare Mrs. Crawley to enter the house ofof an honest family? |
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