Why，indeed？WehaveseenhowMrs。Bute，havingthegameinherhands，hadreallyplayedhercardstoowell。
ShehadruledoverMissCrawley’shouseholdutterlyandcompletely，tobeutterlyandcompletelyroutedwhenafavourableopportunityforrebellioncame。Sheandherhousehold，however，consideredthatshehadbeenthevictimofhorribleselfishnessandtreason，andthathersacrificesinMissCrawley’sbehalfhadmetwiththemostsavageingratitude。Rawdon’spromotion，andthehonourablementionmadeofhisnameintheGazette，filledthisgoodChristianladyalsowithalarm。WouldhisauntrelenttowardshimnowthathewasaLieutenant-ColonelandaC。B。？andwouldthatodiousRebeccaoncemoregetintofavour？TheRector’swifewroteasermonforherhusbandaboutthevanityofmilitarygloryandtheprosperityofthewicked，whichtheworthyparsonreadinhisbestvoiceandwithoutunderstandingonesyllableofit。HehadPittCrawleyforoneofhisauditors——Pitt，whohadcomewithhistwohalf-sisterstochurch，which。theoldBaronetcouldnowbynomeansbebroughttofrequent。
SincethedepartureofBeckySharp，thatoldwretchhadgivenhimselfupentirelytohisbadcourses，tothegreatscandalofthecountyandthemutehorrorofhisson。TheribbonsinMissHorrocks’scapbecamemoresplendidthanever。Thepolitefamiliesfledthehallanditsownerinterror。SirPittwentabouttipplingathistenants’houses；anddrankrum-and-waterwiththefarmersatMudburyandtheneighbouringplacesonmarket-days。Hedrovethefamilycoach-and-fourtoSouthamptonwithMissHorrocksinside：andthecountypeopleexpected，everyweek，ashissondidinspeechlessagony，thathismarriagewithherwouldbeannouncedintheprovincialpaper。ItwasindeedarudeburthenforMr。
Crawleytobear。Hiseloquencewaspalsiedatthemissionarymeetings，andotherreligiousassembliesintheneighbourhood，wherehehadbeeninthehabitofpresiding，andofspeakingforhours；forhefelt，whenherose，thattheaudiencesaid，“ThatisthesonoftheoldreprobateSirPitt，whoisverylikelydrinkingatthepublichouseatthisverymoment。”AndoncewhenhewasspeakingofthebenightedconditionofthekingofTimbuctoo，andthenumberofhiswiveswhowerelikewiseindarkness，somegipsymiscreantfromthecrowdasked。”HowmanyisthereatQueen’sCrawley，YoungSquaretoes？”tothesurpriseoftheplatform，andtheruinofMr。Pitt’sspeech。AndthetwodaughtersofthehouseofQueen’sCrawleywouldhavebeenallowedtorunutterlywildforSirPittsworethatnogovernessshouldeverenterintohisdoorsagain，hadnotMr。Crawley，bythreateningtheoldgentleman，forcedthelattertosendthemtoschool。
Meanwhile，aswehavesaid，whateverindividualdifferencestheremightbebetweenthemall，MissCrawley’sdearnephewsandnieceswereunanimousinlovingherandsendinghertokensofaffection。ThusMrs。Butesentguinea-fowls，andsomeremarkablyfinecauliflowers，andaprettypurseorpincushionworkedbyherdarlinggirls，whobeggedtokeepaLITTLEplaceintherecollectionoftheirdearaunt，whileMr。PittsentpeachesandgrapesandvenisonfromtheHall。TheSouthamptoncoachusedtocarrythesetokensofaffectiontoMissCrawleyatBrighton：itusedsometimestoconveyMr。Pittthithertoo：forhisdifferenceswithSirPittcausedMr。Crawleytoabsenthimselfagooddealfromhomenow：andbesides，hehadanattractionatBrightoninthepersonoftheLadyJaneSheepshanks，whoseengagementtoMr。