""My Dear Amelia," ""Here we continue in Arcadian simplicity at Queen's Crawley" ""or Humdrum Hall, as I call it to myself." ""My charges give me little trouble, being as slow-witted" ""and as good-natured as their mother," ""who lies in bed most of the day" ""because she can think of nothing else to do." ""I've become a great favorite with Sir Pitt and help him daily with his accounts. "" "There, sir." "79 pounds, 13 shillings and threepence." "Well done, Becky Sharp." "You're a clever little hussy." "By God, you are." "Come and sit on my knee a minute." "No." "What would Lady Crawley say?" "Never mind Lady Crawley." "I'm master..." "Here." "" Savez-vous planter les choux... "" "We are all in a great state, preparing for the arrival of Sir Pitt's sister, Miss Crawley- a very great fortune- and the servants have been killing and dressing half the animals in the county all this last week." "She's coming!" "She's coming up the drive!" "What dignity it gives an old lady- that balance at the banker's." "All right!" "How are you, dear brother?" "All the better for seeing you, dear lady." "Drunk, sir." "You're looking very pale and pasty, Betsy." "You should take more exercise." "Ah, little Pitt." "Still at your pamphlets?" "On behalf of the..." "Bute..." "Is that a black eye?" "Have you been fighting again?" "I had to teach a fellow a lesson at Crowborough races, ma'am." "Looks like he's taught you one." "Mrs. Bute," "I've left my toady, Briggs, behind in London." "Perhaps I'll let you be my toady here." "And who's this?" "I'm Rebecca Sharp." "I'm the new governess." "If you please, ma'am." "Now, girls." "" Savez-vous "" "" Planter les choux "" "" A la mode, à la mode "" "" Savez-vous planter les choux "" "" A la mode de chez nous? "" "Now..." "Well..." "Very edifying, I'm sure." "Teaching them French, eh?" "Très bien," "Ma petite." "Merci, madame." "But how I wish I could teach them to speak with an accent so good as yours." "Miss Sharp, is it?" "You look a sharp little minx to me, too." "Mind you don't cut yourself." "Now, where's Rawdon?" "It's not like him to neglect his aunt, scoundrel though he is." "Oh, indeed, we expect him at any moment, ma'am." "Get on, you brutes!" "There's money in this, you know." "Come on." "Thousand apologies, ma'am." "Came as quick as I could." "Well, you rascal." "Looking very well, ma'am." "I don't expect to see the year out, Rawdon, which is why you're all so keen and eager to dance attendance." "Oh, perish the thought, ma'am." "Come up to the drawing room, ma'am, rest your feet." "Very good." "Hey, new blood in the schoolroom, Pa?" "Aye, sir." "That's the new governess," "Miss Sharp." "Is it, by Jove?" "There you are." "Roland Crawley at your service, miss." "I'll have the little governess sitting by me at dinner- I like her looks- and Rawdon on the other side." "But, ma'am, Miss Sharp takes her dinners in the schoolroom..." " Not tonight she don't." " with the children." "I want little Miss Sharp by me." "Miss Sharp at the bottom of the table?" "No, I won't hear of it." "I want her sitting by me, and young Rawdon on the other side." "Go and sit with the Wapshots, Lady Huddleston." "Your conversation is not required at present." "We three must stay together." "Nothing to be done with her." "You come and sit by me, Lady H." "We're the only Christians in the county." "Did you hear that, Bute?" "Look how she preens, the little minx." "Very true." "What is birth after all, my dear?" "Look at my brother, Pitt, there- no more brains than he was born with." "Look at the Huddlestons." "They've been here since Henry II." "And the Wapshots- none of them have half the wit, breeding and beauty that you do." "You're worth ten of them, my dear- you and I and Rawdon here." "Is the captain very clever then, Miss Crawley?" "Clever?" "No." "But he's handsome enough and wicked enough, ain't you, Rawdon?" "Don't know about that, ma'am." "Fought three duels, killed his man every time." "No, no, that's not quite true, ma'am." "The second girl's father- shot him through the hat only, you know." "He has an eye for the ladies, too, you see, Miss Sharp." "Fonder of you than any of them, though, Aunt." "Oh, Lord, hear the villain talk." "But that was the best part of Lord Nelson's character." "He went to the deuce for a woman." "I wish some great man would run away with you, my dear." "Lord knows you're pretty enough." "Oh, yes, indeed." "So what other delights have you to offer?" "" Give us love, give us love and wine for our cares "" "" Give us love, give us love, give us wine "" "" Give us love, give us love, give us wine for our cares "" "" No life could be more fine "" "" Give us love, give us love and wine for our cares "" "" Give us love, give us love, give us wine "" "" Give us love, give us love, give us wine for our cares "" "" No life could be more fine. "" "Bravo!" "Oh, those stars." "I feel myself almost a spirit when I gaze upon them." "So do I, by God." "You, uh... you don't mind the smell of my cigar, do you, Becky?" "No." "Mmm, I love it... the night air, you know... beyond anything." "I wonder, might I...?" "What?" "You wouldn't tell?" "What, I?" "No." "Never, damn it." "Uh... what?" "No." "Mutton soup and mutton to follow." "Nothing could be finer, excepting a nice bit of tripe." "I'm a plain man, Becky." "Come sit on my knee." "Oh, that's Pitt to a tee." "Now, what about his good lady?" "Oh, Miss Sharp, please be kind to my poor girls." "Becky Sharp, you're a treasure." "Look at that." "That girl's a veritable snake in the grass." "Becky!" "Becky." "I can't do without you." "I think you can... just." "But..." "Becky!" "Damn it!" "Becky!" "Why, Becky, my dear." "We've been looking for you all over." "The old girl's been took bad and she's been asking and asking for you." "I'll be up directly." "Yes, ma'am." "Out!" "Out!" "Come here, Becky Sharp." "They all think I'm on my deathbed, but I'm not, am I?" "Tell me truly." "No, ma'am, I don't think so." "Then what is the matter with me?" "To be honest, ma'am..." "I think it's just a case of too many lobsters, and a bit too much wine and brandy." "A little rest and you'll be right as rain." "Yes." "you under my constitution." "Well, I'll not stay here to be poisoned." "I shall go back to Park Lane." "And you shall come with me, Becky, to be my chief nurse and companion." "That'll put Briggs's nose out of joint." "I'm very flattered, ma'am, but what would Sir Pitt say?" "Pitt will do as I tell him!" "And... will your other favorite be allowed to visit in Park Lane, ma'am?" "Rawdon?" "You like the captain, do you, eh, Becky?" "Well enough, ma'am, I confess." "He's a little wild." "Don't the girls prefer a rake to a milksop, eh, Becky?" "But you be careful." "Rawdon has to make his way in the world." "He's not for you." "I hope I'll always know my place, ma'am." "Yes." "Damn and blast it all to hell." "First off, she has to go and recover, when we were reliably assured she was a goner." "And now she says she's taking my lovely Becky Sharp away with her to London." "I'll tell you what that is." "It's enticement, and it's abduction, and I'll have the law onto her." "I will." "No, you won't, Sir Pitt." "Not if you want a sniff of her money when she do pop off." "Well... it ain't right!" "And it ain't fair." "Oh, Becky." "Becky..." "Oh, I shall miss you." "Oh, Becky, Becky." "Captain Crawley." "Oh!" "Mrs. Bute." "I... oh, how shall I put this?" "Couldn't help noticing a certain tenderness between you and the bewitching little Miss Sharp." "Don't see as it's any of your business, Mrs. Bute, but... yes, I..." "I do think she's a damn fine girl." "Oh!" "Poor innocent captain." "Huh?" "Don't you see?" "She's well on the way to becoming your stepmother." "Stepmother?" "If anything happened to Lady Crawley, who's not of the most robust constitution... well, you may not have noticed, but your papa's grown very fond of little Miss Sharp." "Good God!" "So tell me, damn it, is there any truth in it?" "That he's fond of me?" "Do you think I can't defend my own honor?" "Do you suppose I have no self-respect, because I'm poor and friendless?" "You should know," "I'm a Montmorency on my mother's side." "Do you think a Montmorency is not worthy to be seen with a Crawley?" "No!" "Hang it, that's not what..." "No!" "I can endure poverty, but not shame- neglect, but not insult." "An insult from you... whom I..." "Becky!" "Miss Sharp... that is not what I meant." "Do... just tell me how to make amends." "I'll do anything!" "Damn and blast it, girl, I'm in love with you!" ""My dearest, dearest Rebecca." ""How happy I was to read your letter," ""and learn that you are not entirely miserable" ""at Queens Crawley." ""I note a great many mentions of the captain." ""As for me, I've not seen my dearest George for some days." ""Regimental duties are so irksome." "But perhaps..." "I do believe... "" "Captain Osborne... my good friend, George Osborne..." "Yes." "He sends his compliments," "Miss Sedley." "He had hoped to call this morning, but he is detained." "Regimental duties?" "Yes." "Yes, regimental duties, as you say." "Again." "Again." "Captain Dobbin?" "Yes, Miss Sedley?" "You're his friend." "He tells you everything." "That is..." "I'm such a silly creature." "It's just that when so many days go by, he does still.." "you would tell me if..." "What is it, Miss Sedley?" "He does still care for me?" "Oh, with all his heart, Miss Sedley." "I am sure of it." "Oh..." "How could he not?" "Captain Dobbin, you are so good." "Would you be very kind and take a letter to him?" "It would be an honor, Miss Sedley." "Thank you." "No, no, no." "You slander me, gentlemen." "Then what about that judge's daughter at Demerara." "She was almost mad about him." "Much exaggerated, Stubble." "And what about that beautiful quadroon girl at St. Vincent's?" "Miss Pine." "By God, what was her name?" "Miss Pine." "Dobbin, come and have breakfast." "I've already had mine, thanks." "Then have another one- best meal of the day." "Damn me if it's not another billet doux." "The fellow should be gelded, if you ask me." "Who is it, Osborne?" "Is it the judge's daughter?" "Another of his little opera girls, more likely." "No, no, no." "Why don't you tell them, George?" "Tell them what, Dobbin?" "Tell them you're engaged." "Engaged?" "Yes, engaged." "To the finest girl who ever lived," "Miss Amelia Sedley." "And the man who calls her names had better not do so in my hearing." "Damn you, Dobbin." "Who the deuce asked you to talk about my affairs?" "And what right have you to tell all and sundry that I am engaged?" "Why should I not?" "Are you ashamed of it?" "She's a sweet girl, and you're neglecting her." "You don't mean to break it off, do you?" "It would be none of your damn business if I did." "You'd break her heart, George." "No, hang it, Dobbin." "I don't mean to break it off." "I'm very fond of Amelia." "I adore her, and..." "all that sort of thing." "But a man must have a little fling before he settles down." "Everybody understands that." "I have been neglecting her." "I shall go into town and buy her a present." "Damn it if I don't." "And she shall come to Russell Square for dinner, with my sister, and you shall come too, Dobbin, to see fair play." "How's that?" "Excellent." "As to the present, er..." "I had a damnable run of bad luck with the cards last night, Dobbin, and, er..." "I find myself... in short, if..." "if you could see your way..." "Just a few guineas for a little trinket for the sweet girl?" "Gladly, George." "I know you'd share your last shilling with me, if I needed it." "Yes, I would, by God." "I would indeed." "You're absolutely right." "Yes, sir?" "Yes, I'm looking for a little trinket, don't you know, nothing extravagant." "Nothing too... showy." "Just a little dress pin, say?" "It's for a young lady." "Yes, indeed, sir- a young lady." "Here we are, sir." "Ah..." "Ah..." "Hm." "What are those?" "Why, those are shirt pins, sir." "Yes." "Yes." "Gentlemen's shirt pins, sir." "Yes." "Let's do them, then." "How strange that we are all sitting here together." "Captain Dobbin." "Miss Sedley." "George is in town, Papa, but will be here for dinner." "He will, will he?" "Well, if he thinks I'll wait..." "Sorry I'm late, Pa." "Skin of your teeth, my lad." "We wouldn't have waited for you." "You know that, don't you?" "I do indeed, sir." "Hicks, dinner." "Well, let's go in." "Dobbin, old friend." "George." "Amelia." "You were so long coming." "it couldn't be helped, Emmy." "What a beautiful shirt pin!" "Is it new?" "Yes." "Well, that is to say..." "Yes." "It is." "I thought I hadn't seen it before." "Now..." "Captain Dobbin?" "The battle of Leipzig?" "Why should I or any other Englishman bother his head over the battle of Leipzig?" "200,000 men died there, sir." "But not 200,000 Englishmen, eh?" "Eh?" "No, that's very true, sir." "And now peace is declared." "Boney's in exile." "The only snag is, there's damn all for us military men to do." "Well, I confess I'm very glad to hear it." "I couldn't bear to think of you in mortal danger... or Captain Dobbin." "Ladies." "Now, George, I want to speak to you on a matter of importance." "I want to know how you and that little thing through there are carrying on." "Well, sir, it's not hard to see." "It's pretty clear, sir, I think." ""Pretty clear, sir?"" "What do you mean?" "Hang it, father, I'm a modest man." "I don't set out to be a..." "lady killer, do I, Dob?" "but she is as devilish fond of me as she can be." "What about you, you rogue?" "Well, sir, didn't you order me to marry her?" "And aren't I a good boy?" "Didn't you and Mr. Sedley make the match 100 years ago?" "Yes, well, I don't deny it." "People's positions alter, sir." "Now you're an officer." "You rub shoulders with Lord Tarquin," "Captain Rawdon Crawley of the guards." "All that set." "So why shouldn't you marry higher than a stockbroker's daughter?" "That's what I should like to know." "Marry higher, sir?" "Well... why not?" "Why do you stare?" "I don't deny that Sedley gave me my start in business." "And I've shown my gratitude, and he's tried it of late, as my checkbook can testify." "George, he's not the man he was." "I'll tell you in confidence..." "I don't like the look of his affairs." "Unless I see Miss Amelia's 10,000 down, you don't marry her, and you can tell her that yourself." "I'll have no lame duck's daughter in this family, sir." "Pass the Madeira." "If you haven't anything better to say for yourselves, you can go and join the young ladies." "Go on." "Delightful." "We saw the lights across the square." "Did you enjoy yourself, my love?" "Oh, yes." "Did Mr. Osborne mention my name, Emmy, in the way of business?" "No, Papa, not to my hearing." "Well..." "Well, then." "That might be a good thing." "What do you mean?" "Well, you go, my dear." "You young people need your sleep." "Good night, Papa." "Good night, Mama." "Good night, my love." "There..." "There you are, you see." "He's heard nothing, or he thinks little of it." "Well, perhaps..." "John, didn't you stake him at first?" "He'd be nothing if you hadn't given him his start, and he knows that." "Look..." "go to his office tomorrow morning." "He'll see you right." "There are some folk who can't forgive you for a good deed, Mrs. Sedley." "Dear, old Park Lane." "I feel better already." "I feel so much better, Becky, that I think I could bear a little society." "Miss Briggs, I suppose you mean." "She's been supping on the landing these three days." "No, I do not mean Briggs." "I mean pretty, lively young people, like yourself and that young rascal, Rawdon." "That pretty, little friend you told me of, and her fiancé, the vain, young officer." "I have a whim I should like to see them." "Then you shall, Miss Crawley." "Mmm." "Your aunt is resting." "It's uh... it's not my aunt I want to see." "What a sweet voice!" "My dear Sharp, your young friend is charming." "And the young man... such a fine figure." "Just as you promised." "His father's one of those city fellows." "Really?" "Oh, you can hardly tell the difference." "I won 200 off him at billiards, once." "Wonder if he plays piquet." "Bravo!" "Do come over here, my dear." "Oh, bravo..." "That was so enchanting." "A sweet voice so finely produced." "Ah, Miss Sharp... how do you like your new place?" "My place?" "How kind of you to remind me of it." "We're not so wealthy in Hampshire as you city people, but then, I am in a gentleman's family now." "I seem to remember you liked the city families rather well a little while ago." "Well, dear Amelia is a pearl." "She would be charming anywhere." "Or perhaps you're thinking of Mr. Joss, and what an honor it would have been for me to be sister-in-law to George Osborne, Esquire." "son of John Osborne, Esquire, son of..." "What was your grandfather, Mr. Osborne?" "Don't be angry." "You can't help your pedigree, can you?" "Know our little Miss Sharp, do you, Osborne?" "Miss Sharp, indeed." "Hmm." "A very dangerous young woman," "Captain Crawley." "Is she?" "Is she, indeed?" "Oh, I'm sure you're right." "Hmm." "I know women, Crawley, and I advise you to be on your guard." "Well, thank you, my boy." "Mm... you're wide awake, I see." "My dear Becky, please to come back as quick as may be, because all goes wrong without you here." "Lady C. has gone into a decline, and has not spoke for a week." "The girls have run wild." "All my accounts is in confusion." "Black sow is sick of a fever." "We are none of us happy since you were gone, Becky." "Damn, bloody, bugger..." "I'll go and fetch her home myself." "Begging your pardon, Sir Pitt." "Yes, yes, what now?" "She's dead, Sir Pitt." "What, my good black sow?" "No, Sir Pitt, your wife." "She's too ill to see you, sir." "So much the better." "I wants to see you, Miss Becky." "Now, Miss Becky, what it is..." "I want you back at Queens Crawley." "There." "Well, I hope to come as soon as miss Crawley is better, sir" "And to attend to The dear children" "And to you, sir." "You've said so these months, Becky" "And still, you go hanging onto my sister who'll fling you off like an old shoe when she's worn you out." "I tell you" "I want you." "Now, I'm going back to the funeral." "Will you come back?" "Yes or no?" "I don't think it would be right, sir..." "To be alone with you." "Well, I say again, I-I want you." "I can't get on without you." "I didn't see what it was until you went away." "The house all goes wrong." "It's not the same place." "All the accounts have gotten muddled again." "You must come back dear Becky." "Do come." "Come as what, sir?" "Come as..." "Come as Lady Crawley, If you like." "There, will that satisfy you?" "Come back and be my wife, damn it." "You're fit for it." "Sir Pitt..." "I'm an old one, but a good one." "I'm good for 20 years." "I'll make you happy, see if I don't." "You shall do what you like spend what you like, have everything your own way." "I'll do everything right." "Look here." "Sir Pitt, I-I can't." "I-I'm married already." "Married?" "I'm so sorry, sir." "Please get up." "Married?" "You're joking." "Who'd go to marry you without a shilling to your name?" "Sir, please don't think me ungrateful for all your goodness to me." "It's only your generosity that has extorted my secret." "Generosity be hanged." "Who is it you're married to?" "Let me come back to the country with you, sir." "I can't be your wife, sir but let me..." "Oh, dear sir Pitt let me be your daughter." "The lady on her knees and not the gentleman." "I was informed it was the other way round." "I was thanking sir Pitt, ma'am for his extreme kindness in making me an offer, and telling him... telling him that I could never become Lady Crawley." "You refused him?" "Pray, Miss Sharp, are you waiting for the prince regent's divorce that our family is not good enough for you?" "I had to." "Oh, miss Crawley, I'm so unhappy." "Oh, there." "There, now." "My poor child." "Let me console you." "I wish you could." "I understand." "Someone else has taken your heart." "Some schoolmaster, or apothecary's clerk the villain." "Never mind, Becky." "I'm your friend whether you marry me or not." "There." "Thank you." "Thank you both." "I think I should like to be alone." "Yes, yes." "Go to your room." "Lie down." "I'll send Briggs to you presently with a bowl of beef tea." "Damn." "Who is it?" "It's me, Beck." "Oh." " What?" " Get off, you great bear." "It's all right." "No one saw me come in." "It is not all right." "Married to Rawdon..." "Behind my back." "Treacherous little trollop." "This is your doing, Briggs." "No, ma'am." "Yes!" "You made him marry her, thinking I'd leave you his inheritance." "No, ma'am, no." "Yes, yes!" "Get out." "Get out!" "Get out." "Get out!" "Get out." "Mrs. Bute!" "Miss Sharp is married to Captain Crawley." "Indeed." "And Miss Crawley is blaming me." "I'll go to her." "Lust and avarice, ma'am." "That girl is capable of anything." "The impudence and guile of it." "Still, I suppose it could have been worse." "She is a Montmorency, after all." "Oh, is that what she's been telling you?" "She's no Montmorency." "Her father was a drunken drawing master." "Wha..?" "And, uh, she's been on the stage herself." "Wha..?" "or worse." " oh!" "Fetch the doctor, Raggles." "My lawyer" "Mrs. Bute." "I intend to change my will." "Blasted little hussy." "Becky." "Becky." "Becky!" "Becky!" "Mr. George, sir, good morning." "Good morning, chopper." "Is my pa within?" "In a private meeting, sir." "Oh." "Uh, did he, uh...?" "Oh, yes, it was all arranged." "Mr. Quill will do the necessary." "Banknotes, sir?" "Yes, please, Mr. Quill." "Oh, I say..." "Wasn't that a Mr. John Sedley?" "Bad business, Mr. George." "Bad business." "Oh, George, what's the matter?" "Where are you?" "I hear Napoleon's escaped form Elba." "Wellington is certainly mobilizing his army." "That's what I hear." "There'll be war within a month." "He's on his way to Paris." "30 French at 12." "12 guineas." "30 French at 12 guineas." "30 French at ten." "30 French at ten guineas." "Gentlemen, Mr. Sedley begs to inform the house that he is unable to comply with his bargains." "Will you be taking tea, sir?" "Ah, John." "John, I've been thinking." "Did you order tea?" "Samuel has become so strange and uppity these last days." "We must do something about Emmy." "She's not happy." "That George Osborne neglects her." "Why don't you speak, John?" "John..." "What's happened?" "Napoleon's landed at Cannes." "Why should that affect us?" "It was the last straw." "I'd taken a position on futures that depends on peace." "Then the Jeune Amelie went down to a Frenchman with all hands lost." "I'd underwritten her at Lloyd's, you see- unlimited liability." "Oh, what does it matter?" "We're..." "We're ruined." "But, John, we have..." "friends- good friends." "John Osborne." "Oh, you gave him his start." "He'll bail us out." "You'll see." "He'd bail us out?" "Osborne?" "He's the worst of all my creditors and pressing hardest for a settlement." "He hates me for the favors he once had from me, Mary." "There are men like that." "But where shall we live, john?" "Oh, Mary, I'm sorry I brought you to this." "Oh, uh..." "John, my dear, dear..." "dear, good man." "He's brought it all upon himself." "He's given personal guarantees that he's been unable to meet and that is the very worst crime a man of business can commit." "He's shamed all his acquaintance... and anyone who stands by him will be damned by association." "You'll see no more of that young girl, George, do you hear?" "And I never want to hear that bankrupt's name mentioned in this house again." "Now, here we have something eminently desirable..." "Rawdon, that's Emmy's little piano." "...in first-class, spanking-new condition." "Just the article for a young lady's private sitting room." "Now, who's going to start me at ten, then?" "Thank you, sir." "And 12..." "And 14." "16 on my left." "18." "Thank you, captain." "24." "May I say 25?" "25 guineas against you, sir." "All done at 25." "Oh, I'm sorry, Dobbin." "He hasn't been to see me once." "I'm sure he still cares for me." "Perhaps his father has forbidden him to visit." "I believe he hopes to bring his father round in time." "His father and mine are such enemies now." "My own poor father has ordered me to return all George's presents that he made to me in..." "in happier days." "I would be grateful, Captain Dobbin if you would take them for me." "Yes, of course, if you wish it." "I think I must release him from his engagement." "No, Emmy." "I think you should not." "I have written to him saying so." "It is a hopeless situation for him." "No situation is utterly hopeless." "Oh, Captain Dobbin..." "You're such a good friend." "It's all over, Dobbin." "She says so here." "I dare say she'll get over me soon enough." "No, she won't." "How did you find her, Dobbin?" "Was she well?" "How did she look?" "George..." "If you please, ma'am..." "Now, there's no need to read those old letters anymore for there's a surprise for you." " George!" " Amelia!" "My darling, my lovely girl." "Dearest little wife."