Themarriageatfirstwasahappyandprosperousone。
MyLordGeorgeGauntcouldnotonlyread，butwriteprettycorrectly。HespokeFrenchwithconsiderablefluency；andwasoneofthefinestwaltzersinEurope。Withthesetalents，andhisinterestathome，therewaslittledoubtthathislordshipwouldrisetothehighestdignitiesinhisprofession。Thelady，hiswife，feltthatcourtswerehersphere，andherwealthenabledhertoreceivesplendidlyinthosecontinentaltownswhitherherhusband’sdiplomaticdutiesledhim。Therewastalkofappointinghimminister，andbetswerelaidattheTravellers’thathewouldbeambassadorerelong，whenofasudden，rumoursarrivedofthesecretary’sextraordinarybehaviour。
Atagranddiplomaticdinnergivenbyhischief，hehadstartedupanddeclaredthatapatedefoiegraswaspoisoned。HewenttoaballatthehoteloftheBavarianenvoy，theCountdeSpringbock-Hohenlaufen，withhisheadshavedanddressedasaCapuchinfriar。Itwasnotamaskedball，assomefolkswantedtopersuadeyou。Itwassomethingqueer，peoplewhispered。Hisgrandfatherwasso。Itwasinthefamily。
HiswifeandfamilyreturnedtothiscountryandtookuptheirabodeatGauntHouse。LordGeorgegaveuphispostontheEuropeancontinent，andwasgazettedtoBrazil。Butpeopleknewbetter；heneverreturnedfromthatBrazilexpedition——neverdiedthere——neverlivedthere——neverwasthereatall。Hewasnowhere；hewasgoneoutaltogether。”Brazil。”saidonegossiptoanother，withagrin——“BrazilisSt。John’sWood。RiodeJaneiroisacottagesurroundedbyfourwalls，andGeorgeGauntisaccreditedtoakeeper，whohasinvestedhimwiththeorderoftheStrait-Waistcoat。”ThesearethekindsofepitaphswhichmenpassoveroneanotherinVanityFair。
Twiceorthriceinaweek，intheearliestmorning，thepoormotherwentforhersinsandsawthepoorinvalid。
Sometimeshelaughedatherandhislaughterwasmorepitifulthantohearhimcry；sometimesshefoundthebrilliantdandydiplomatistoftheCongressofViennadraggingaboutachild’stoy，ornursingthekeeper’sbaby’sdoll。SometimesheknewherandFatherMole，herdirectorandcompanion；oftenerheforgother，ashehaddonewife，children，love，ambition，vanity。Butherememberedhisdinner-hour，andusedtocryifhiswine-and-waterwasnotstrongenough。
Itwasthemysterioustaintoftheblood；thepoormotherhadbroughtitfromherownancientrace。Theevilhadbrokenoutonceortwiceinthefather’sfamily，longbeforeLadySteyne’ssinshadbegun，orherfastsandtearsandpenanceshadbeenofferedintheirexpiation。Theprideoftheracewasstruckdownasthefirst-bornofPharaoh。Thedarkmarkoffateanddoomwasonthethreshold——thetalloldthresholdsurmountedbycoronetsandcanedheraldry。
Theabsentlord’schildrenmeanwhileprattledandgrewonquiteunconsciousthatthedoomwasoverthemtoo。Firsttheytalkedoftheirfatheranddevisedplansagainsthisreturn。Thenthenameofthelivingdeadmanwaslessfrequentlyintheirmouth——thennotmentionedatall。Butthestrickenoldgrandmothertrembledtothinkthatthesetooweretheinheritorsoftheirfather’sshameaswellasofhishonours，andwatchedsickeningforthedaywhentheawfulancestralcurseshouldcomedownonthem。
ThisdarkpresentimentalsohauntedLordSteyne。HetriedtolaythehorridbedsideghostinRedSeasofwineandjollity，andlostsightofitsometimesinthecrowdandroutofhispleasures。Butitalwayscamebacktohimwhenalone，andseemedtogrowmorethreateningwithyears。”Ihavetakenyourson。”itsaid，“whynotyou？ImayshutyouupinaprisonsomedaylikeyoursonGeorge。Imaytapyouontheheadto-morrow，andawaygopleasureandhonours，feastsandbeauty，friends，flatterers，Frenchcooks，finehorsesandhouses——inexchangeforaprison，akeeper，andastrawmattresslikeGeorgeGaunt’s。”Andthenmylordwoulddefytheghostwhichthreatenedhim，forheknewofaremedybywhichhecouldbaulkhisenemy。
Sotherewassplendourandwealth，butnogreathappinessperchance，behindthetallcanedportalsofGauntHousewithitssmokycoronetsandciphers。ThefeaststherewereofthegrandestinLondon，buttherewasnotovermuchcontenttherewith，exceptamongtheguestswhosatatmylord’stable。HadhenotbeensogreataPrinceveryfewpossiblywouldhavevisitedhim；butinVanityFairthesinsofverygreatpersonagesarelookedatindulgently。”Nousregardonsadeuxfois“astheFrenchladysaidbeforewecondemnapersonofmylord’sundoubtedquality。SomenotoriouscarpersandsqueamishmoralistsmightbesulkywithLordSteyne，buttheyweregladenoughtocomewhenheaskedthem。
“LordSteyneisreallytoobad。”LadySlingstonesaid。”buteverybodygoes，andofcourseIshallseethatmygirlscometonoharm。”“HislordshipisamantowhomIowemuch，everythinginlife。”saidtheRightReverendDoctorTrail，thinkingthattheArchbishopwasrathershaky，andMrs。Trailandtheyoungladieswouldassoonhavemissedgoingtochurchastooneofhislordship’sparties。”Hismoralsarebad。”saidlittleLordSouthdowntohissister，whomeeklyexpostulated，havingheardterrificlegendsfromhermammawithrespecttothedoingsatGauntHouse；“buthangit，he’sgotthebestdrySilleryinEurope！”AndasforSirPittCrawley，Bart——SirPittthatpatternofdecorum，SirPittwhohadledoffatmissionarymeetings——heneverforonemomentthoughtofnotgoingtoo。”WhereyouseesuchpersonsastheBishopofEalingandtheCountessofSlingstone，youmaybeprettysure，Jane。”theBaronetwouldsay，“thatwecannotbewrong。ThegreatrankandstationofLordSteyneputhiminapositiontocommandpeopleinourstationinlife。TheLordLieutenantofaCounty，mydear，isarespectableman。Besides，GeorgeGauntandIwereintimateinearlylife；hewasmyjuniorwhenwewereattachesatPumpernickeltogether。”
Inawordeverybodywenttowaituponthisgreatman——everybodywhowasasked，asyouthereaderdonotsaynayorIthewriterhereofwouldgoifwehadaninvitation。
InWhichtheReaderIsIntroducedtotheVeryBestofCompanyAtlastBecky’skindnessandattentiontothechiefofherhusband’sfamilyweredestinedtomeetwithanexceedinggreatreward，arewardwhich，thoughcertainlysomewhatunsubstantial，thelittlewomancovetedwithgreatereagernessthanmorepositivebenefits。Ifshedidnotwishtoleadavirtuouslife，atleastshedesiredtoenjoyacharacterforvirtue，andweknowthatnoladyinthegenteelworldcanpossessthisdesideratum，untilshehasputonatrainandfeathersandhasbeenpresentedtoherSovereignatCourt。Fromthataugustinterviewtheycomeoutstampedashonestwomen。TheLordChamberlaingivesthemacertificateofvirtue。Andasdubiousgoodsorlettersarepassedthroughanovenatquarantine，sprinkledwitharomaticvinegar，andthenpronouncedclean，manyalady，whosereputationwouldbedoubtfulotherwiseandliabletogiveinfection，passesthroughthewholesomeordealoftheRoyalpresenceandissuesfromitfreefromalltaint。
ItmightbeverywellformyLadyBareacres，myLadyTufto，Mrs。ButeCrawleyinthecountry，andotherladieswhohadcomeintocontactwithMrs。RawdonCrawleytocryfieattheideaoftheodiouslittleadventuressmakinghercurtseybeforetheSovereign，andtodeclarethat，ifdeargoodQueenCharlottehadbeenalive，sheneverwouldhaveadmittedsuchanextremelyill-regulatedpersonageintoherchastedrawing-room。ButwhenweconsiderthatitwastheFirstGentlemaninEuropeinwhosehighpresenceMrs。Rawdonpassedherexamination，andasitwere，tookherdegreeinreputation，itsurelymustbeflatdisloyaltytodoubtanymoreabouthervirtue。I，formypart，lookbackwithloveandawetothatGreatCharacterinhistory。Ah，whatahighandnobleappreciationofGentlewomanhoodtheremusthavebeeninVanityFair，whenthatreveredandaugustbeingwasinvested，bytheuniversalacclaimoftherefinedandeducatedportionofthisempire，withthetitleofPremierGentilhommeofhisKingdom。Doyouremember，dearM——，ohfriendofmyyouth，howoneblissfulnightfive-and-twentyyearssince，the“Hypocrite“
beingacted，Ellistonbeingmanager，DowtonandListonperformers，twoboyshadleavefromtheirloyalmasterstogooutfromSlaughter-HouseSchoolwheretheywereeducatedandtoappearonDruryLanestage，amongstacrowdwhichassembledtheretogreettheking。THE
KING？Therehewas。Beefeaterswerebeforetheaugustbox；theMarquisofSteyneLordofthePowderClosetandothergreatofficersofstatewerebehindthechaironwhichhesat，HEsat——floridofface，portlyofperson，coveredwithorders，andinarichcurlingheadofhair——howwesangGodsavehim！Howthehouserockedandshoutedwiththatmagnificentmusic。Howtheycheered，andcried，andwavedhandkerchiefs。Ladieswept；mothersclaspedtheirchildren；somefaintedwithemotion。Peopleweresuffocatedinthepit，shrieksandgroansrisingupamidstthewrithingandshoutingmassthereofhispeoplewhowere，andindeedshowedthem-
selvesalmosttobe，readytodieforhim。Yes，wesawhim。FatecannotdepriveusofTHAT。OthershaveseenNapoleon。SomefewstillexistwhohavebeheldFredericktheGreat，DoctorJohnson，MarieAntoinette，&c——beitourreasonableboasttoourchildren，thatwesawGeorgetheGood，theMagnificent，theGreat。
Well，therecameahappydayinMrs。RawdonCrawley’sexistencewhenthisangelwasadmittedintotheparadiseofaCourtwhichshecoveted，hersister-in-lawactingashergodmother。Ontheappointedday，SirPittandhislady，intheirgreatfamilycarriagejustnewlybuilt，andreadyfortheBaronet’sassumptionoftheofficeofHighSheriffofhiscounty，droveuptothelittlehouseinCurzonStreet，totheedificationofRaggles，whowaswatchingfromhisgreengrocer’sshop，andsawfineplumeswithin，andenormousbunchesofflowersinthebreastsofthenewlivery-coatsofthefootmen。
SirPitt，inaglitteringuniform，descendedandwentintoCurzonStreet，hisswordbetweenhislegs。LittleRawdonstoodwithhisfaceagainsttheparlourwindow-
panes，smilingandnoddingwithallhismighttohisauntinthecarriagewithin；andpresentlySirPittissuedforthfromthehouseagain，leadingforthaladywithgrandfeathers，coveredinawhiteshawl，andholdingupdaintilyatrainofmagnificentbrocade。ShesteppedintothevehicleasifshewereaprincessandaccustomedallherlifetogotoCourt，smilinggraciouslyonthefootmanatthedoorandonSirPitt，whofollowedherintothecarriage。
ThenRawdonfollowedinhisoldGuards’uniform，whichhadgrownwoefullyshabby，andwasmuchtootight。Hewastohavefollowedtheprocessionandwaiteduponhissovereigninacab，butthathisgood-naturedsister-in-lawinsistedthattheyshouldbeafamilyparty。
Thecoachwaslarge，theladiesnotverybig，theywouldholdtheirtrainsintheirlaps——finally，thefourwentfraternallytogether，andtheircarriagepresentlyjoinedthelineofroyalequipageswhichwasmakingitswaydownPiccadillyandSt。James’sStreet，towardstheoldbrickpalacewheretheStarofBrunswickwasinwaitingtoreceivehisnoblesandgentlefolks。
Beckyfeltasifshecouldblessthepeopleoutofthecarriagewindows，soelatedwassheinspirit，andsostrongasensehadsheofthedignifiedpositionwhichshehadatlastattainedinlife。EvenourBeckyhadherweaknesses，andasoneoftenseeshowmenpridethemselvesuponexcellenceswhichothersareslowtoperceive：how，forinstance，ComusfirmlybelievesthatheisthegreatesttragicactorinEngland；howBrown，thefamousnovelist，longstobeconsidered，notamanofgenius，butamanoffashion；whileRobinson，thegreatlawyer，doesnotintheleastcareabouthisreputationinWestminsterHall，butbelieveshimselfincomparableacrosscountryandatafive-barredgate——sotobe，andtobethought，arespectablewomanwasBecky’saiminlife，andshegotupthegenteelwithamazingassiduity，readiness，andsuccess。Wehavesaid，thereweretimeswhenshebelievedherselftobeafineladyandforgotthattherewasnomoneyinthechestathome——dunsroundthegate，tradesmentocoaxandwheedle——nogroundtowalkupon，inaword。AndasshewenttoCourtinthecarriage，thefamilycarriage，sheadoptedademeanoursogrand，self-satisfied，deliberate，andimposingthatitmadeevenLadyJanelaugh。Shewalkedintotheroyalapartmentswithatossoftheheadwhichwouldhavebefittedanempress，andIhavenodoubthadshebeenone，shewouldhavebecomethecharacterperfectly。
WeareauthorizedtostatethatMrs。RawdonCrawley’scostumedecourontheoccasionofherpresentationtotheSovereignwasofthemostelegantandbrilliantdescription。Someladieswemayhaveseen——wewhowearstarsandcordonsandattendtheSt。James’sassemblies，orwe，who，inmuddyboots，dawdleupanddownPallMallandpeepintothecoachesastheydriveupwiththegreatfolksintheirfeathers——someladiesoffashion，Isay，wemayhaveseen，abouttwoo’clockoftheforenoonofaleveeday，asthelaced-jacketedbandoftheLifeGuardsareblowingtriumphalmarchesseatedonthoseprancingmusic-stools，theircream-colouredchargers——whoarebynomeanslovelyandenticingobjectsatthatearlyperiodofnoon。Astoutcountessofsixty，decolletee，painted，wrinkledwithrougeuptoherdroopingeyelids，anddiamondstwinklinginherwig，isawholesomeandedifying，butnotapleasantsight。ShehasthefadedlookofaSt。James’sStreetillumination，asitmaybeseenofanearlymorning，whenhalfthelampsareout，andtheothersareblinkingwanly，asiftheywereabouttovanishlikeghostsbeforethedawn。Suchcharmsasthoseofwhichwecatchglimpseswhileherladyship’scarriagepassesshouldappearabroadatnightalone。IfevenCynthialookshaggardofanafternoon，aswemayseehersometimesinthepresentwinterseason，withPhoebusstaringheroutofcountenancefromtheoppositesideoftheheavens，howmuchmorecanoldLadyCastlemouldykeepherheadupwhenthesunisshiningfulluponitthroughthechariotwindows，andshowingallthechinksandcrannieswithwhichtimehasmarkedherface！No。Drawing-roomsshouldbeannouncedforNovember，orthefirstfoggyday，ortheelderlysultanasofourVanityFairshoulddriveupinclosedlitters，descendinacoveredway，andmaketheircurtseytotheSovereignundertheprotectionoflamplight。