her in their way,--the heavy, stupid, fuddled
dragoon, and the false, covetous, altogether unprincipled young woman.

The fat aunt Crawley is a maiden lady, very rich, and Becky quite
succeeds in gaining the rich aunt by her wiles. The aunt becomes so fond
of Becky down in the country, that when she has to return to her own
house in town, sick from over-eating, she cannot be happy without taking
Becky with her. So Becky is installed in the house in London, having
been taken away abruptly from her pupils, to the great dismay of the old
lady's long-established resident companion. They all fall in love with
her; she makes herself so charming, she is so clever; she can even, by
help of a little care in dressing, become so picturesque! As all this
goes on, the reader feels what a great personage is Miss Rebecca Sharp.

Lady Crawley dies down in the country, while Becky is still staying with
his sister, who will not part with her. Sir Pitt at once rushes up to
town, before the funeral, looking for consolation where only he can find
it. Becky brings him down word from his sister's room that the old lady
is too ill to see him.

"So much the better," Sir Pitt answered; "I want to see you,
Miss Sharp. I want you back at Queen's Crawley, miss," the
baronet said. His eyes had such a strange look, and were fixed
upon her so stedfastly that Rebecca Sharp began almost to
tremble. Then she half promises, talks about the dear
children, and angles with the old man. "I tell you I want
you," he says; "I'm going back to the vuneral, will you come
back?--yes or no?"

"I daren't. I don't think--it wouldn't be right--to be
alone--with you, sir," Becky said, seemingly in great
agitation.

"I say again, I want you. I can't get on without you. I didn't
see what it was till you went away. The house all goes wrong.
It's not the same place. All my accounts has got muddled
again. You must come back. Do come back. Dear Becky, do come."

"Come,--as what, sir?" Rebecca gasped out.

"Come as Lady Crawley, if you like. There, will that zatisfy
you? Come back and be my wife. You're vit for it. Birth be
hanged. You're as good a lady as ever I see. You've got more
brains in your little vinger than any baronet's wife in the
country. Will you come? Yes or no?" Rebecca is startled, but
the old man goes on. "I'll make you happy; zee if I don't. Y