would be a fine theme for any very great person who had the wit,
the leisure, and the knowledge of the English language necessary for the
compiling of such a history.
    Now the few female acquaintances whom Mrs. Crawley had known abroad not only
declined to visit her when she came to this side of the Channel, but cut her
severely when they met in public places. It was curious to see how the great
ladies forgot her, and no doubt not altogether a pleasant study to Rebecca. When
Lady Bareacres met her in the waiting-room at the Opera, she gathered her
daughters about her as if they would be contaminated by a touch of Becky, and
retreating a step or two, placed herself in front of them, and stared at her
little enemy. To stare Becky out of countenance required a severer glance than
even the frigid old Bareacres could shoot out of her dismal eyes. When Lady de
la Mole, who had ridden a score of times by Becky's side at Brussels, met Mrs.
Crawley's open carriage in Hyde Park, her Ladyship was quite blind, and could
not in the least recognize her former friend. Even Mrs. Blenkinsop, the banker's
wife, cut her at church. Becky went regularly to church now; it was edifying to
see her enter there with Rawdon by her side, carrying a couple of large gilt
prayer-books, and afterwards going through the ceremony with the gravest
resignation.
    Rawdon at first felt very acutely the slights which were passed upon his
wife, and was inclined, to be gloomy and savage. He talked of calling out the
husbands or brothers of every one of the insolent women who did not pay a proper
respect to his wife, and it was only by the strongest commands and entreaties on
her part that he was brought into keeping a decent behaviour. »You can't shoot
me into society,« she said good-naturedly. »Remember, my dear, that I was but a
governess, and you, you poor silly old man, have the worst reputation for debt,
and dice, and all sorts of wickedness. We shall get quite as many friends as we
want by-and-by, and in the meanwhile you must be a good boy, and obey your
schoolmistress in everything she tells you to do. When we heard that your aunt
had left almost everything to Pitt and his wife, do you remember what a rage you
were in? You would have told all Paris if I had not made you keep your temper;
and where would you have been now?