women’sfaces；thelonglineofrocksandbuildingwereblushingandbrightinthesunshine。Rebeccaworeakind，tendersmileonherface，andwasholdingoutherprettywhitehandasBriggsemergedfromthebox。WhatcouldBriggsdobutacceptthesalutation？
“MissSh——Mrs。Crawley。”shesaid。
Mrs。Crawleyseizedherhand，pressedittoherheart，andwithasuddenimpulse，flingingherarmsroundBriggs，kissedheraffectionately。”Dear，dearfriend！”shesaid，withatouchofsuchnaturalfeeling，thatMissBriggsofcourseatoncebegantomelt，andeventhebathing-womanwasmollified。
RebeccafoundnodifficultyinengagingBriggsinalong，intimate，anddelightfulconversation。EverythingthathadpassedsincethemorningofBecky’ssuddendeparturefromMissCrawley’shouseinParkLaneuptothepresentday，andMrs。Bute’shappyretreat，wasdiscussedanddescribedbyBriggs。AllMissCrawley’ssymptoms，andtheparticularsofherillnessandmedicaltreatment，werenarratedbytheconfidantewiththatfulnessandaccuracywhichwomendelightin。Abouttheircomplaintsandtheirdoctorsdoladiesevertireoftalkingtoeachother？Briggsdidnotonthisoccasion；nordidRebeccawearyoflistening。Shewasthankful，trulythankful，thatthedearkindBriggs，thatthefaithful，theinvaluableFirkin，hadbeenpermittedtoremainwiththeirbenefactressthroughherillness。Heavenblessher！thoughshe，Rebecca，hadseemedtoactundutifullytowardsMissCrawley；yetwasnotherfaultanaturalandexcusableone？
Couldshehelpgivingherhandtothemanwhohadwonherheart？Briggs，thesentimental，couldonlyturnuphereyestoheavenatthisappeal，andheaveasympatheticsigh，andthinkthatshe，too，hadgivenawayheraffectionslongyearsago，andownthatRebeccawasnoverygreatcriminal。