"My relations won't cry fie upon me," Becky said, with rather a bitter laugh; and she was quite contented to wait until the old aunt should be reconciled, before she claimed her place in society.So she lived at Brompton, and meanwhile saw no one, or only those few of her husband's male companions who were admitted into her little dining-room.These were all charmed with her.The little dinners, the laughing and chatting, the music afterwards, delighted all who participated in these enjoyments.Major Martingale never thought about asking to see the marriage licence, Captain Cinqbars was perfectly enchanted with her skill in making punch.And young Lieutenant Spatterdash (who was fond of piquet, and whom Crawley would often invite) was evidently and quickly smitten by Mrs.Crawley; but her own circumspection and modesty never forsook her for a moment, and Crawley's reputation as a fire-eating and jealous warrior was a further and complete defence to his little wife.
There are gentlemen of very good blood and fashion in this city, who never have entered a lady's drawing-room; so that though Rawdon Crawley's marriage might be talked about in his county, where, of course, Mrs.
Bute had spread the news, in London it was doubted, or not heeded, or not talked about at all.He lived comfortably on credit.He had a large capital of debts, which laid out judiciously, will carry a man along for many years, and on which certain men about town contrive to live a hundred times better than even men with ready money can do.Indeed who is there that walks London streets, but can point out a half-dozen of men riding by him splendidly, while he is on foot, courted by fashion, bowed into their carriages by tradesmen, denying themselves nothing, and living on who knows what? We see Jack Thriftless prancing in the park, or darting in his brougham down Pall Mall: we eat his dinners served on his miraculous plate."How did this begin," we say, "or where will it end?" "My dear fellow," I heard Jack once say, "I owe money in every capital in Europe." The end must come some day, but in the meantime Jack thrives as much as ever; people are glad enough to shake him by the hand, ignore the little dark stories that are whispered every now and then against him, and pronounce him a good-natured, jovial, reckless fellow.
Truth obliges us to confess that Rebecca had married a gentleman of this order.Everything was plentiful in his house but ready money, of which their menage pretty early felt the want; and reading the Gazette one day, and coming upon the announcement of "Lieutenant G.
Osborne to be Captain by purchase, vice Smith, who exchanges," Rawdon uttered that sentiment regarding Amelia's lover, which ended in the visit to Russell Square.
When Rawdon and his wife wished to communicate with Captain Dobbin at the sale, and to know particulars of the catastrophe which had befallen Rebecca's old acquaintances, the Captain had vanished; and such information as they got was from a stray porter or broker at the auction.
"Look at them with their hooked beaks," Becky said, getting into the buggy, her picture under her arm, in great glee."They're like vultures after a battle.""Don't know.Never was in action, my dear.Ask Martingale; he was in Spain, aide-de-camp to General Blazes.""He was a very kind old man, Mr.Sedley," Rebecca said; "I'm really sorry he's gone wrong.""O stockbrokers--bankrupts--used to it, you know,"Rawdon replied, cutting a fly off the horse's ear.
"I wish we could have afforded some of the plate, Rawdon," the wife continued sentimentally."Five-and-twenty guineas was monstrously dear for that little piano.
We chose it at Broadwood's for Amelia, when she came from school.It only cost five-and-thirty then.""What-d'-ye-call'em--'Osborne,' will cry off now, Isuppose, since the family is smashed.How cut up your pretty little friend will be; hey, Becky?""I daresay she'll recover it," Becky said with a smile --and they drove on and talked about something else.
