ItreappearednowforpoorRoseDawson。SirPittwasawidoweragain。Thearmsquarteredontheshieldalongwithhisownwerenot,tobesure,poorRose’s。
Shehadnoarms。ButthecherubspaintedonthescutcheonansweredaswellforherasforSirPitt’smother,andResurgamwaswrittenunderthecoat,flankedbytheCrawleyDoveandSerpent。ArmsandHatchments,Resurgam——Hereisanopportunityformoralising!
Mr。Crawleyhadtendedthatotherwisefriendlessbedside。Shewentoutoftheworldstrengthenedbysuchwordsandcomfortashecouldgiveher。Formanyyearshiswastheonlykindnesssheeverknew;theonlyfriendshipthatsolacedinanywaythatfeeble,lonelysoul。
Herheartwasdeadlongbeforeherbody。ShehadsoldittobecomeSirPittCrawley’swife。MothersanddaughtersaremakingthesamebargaineverydayinVanityFair。
Whenthedemisetookplace,herhusbandwasinLondonattendingtosomeofhisinnumerableschemes,andbusywithhisendlesslawyers。Hehadfoundtime,nevertheless,tocallofteninParkLane,andtodespatchmanynotestoRebecca,entreatingher,enjoiningher,commandinghertoreturntoheryoungpupilsinthecountry,whowerenowutterlywithoutcompanionshipduringtheirmother’sillness。ButMissCrawleywouldnothearofherdeparture;forthoughtherewasnoladyoffashioninLondonwhowoulddesertherfriendsmorecomplacentlyassoonasshewastiredoftheirsociety,andthoughfewtiredofthemsooner,yetaslongasherengoumentlastedherattachmentwasprodigious,andsheclungstillwiththegreatestenergytoRebecca。