BareacresCastlewastheirs，too，withallitscostlypictures，furniture，andarticlesofvertu——themagnificentVandykes；thenobleReynoldspictures；theLawrenceportraits，tawdryandbeautiful，and，thirtyyearsago，deemedaspreciousasworksofrealgenius；thematchlessDancingNymphofCanova，forwhichLadyBareacreshadsatinheryouth——LadyBareacressplendidthen，andradiantinwealth，rank，andbeauty——atoothless，bald，oldwomannow——amereragofaformerrobeofstate。Herlord，paintedatthesametimebyLawrence，aswavinghissabreinfrontofBareacresCastle，andclothedinhisuniformasColoneloftheThistlewoodYeomanry，wasawithered，old，leanmaninagreatcoatandaBrutuswig，slinkingaboutGray’sInnofmorningschieflyanddiningaloneatclubs。HedidnotliketodinewithSteynenow。TheyhadrunracesofpleasuretogetherinyouthwhenBareacreswasthewinner。ButSteynehadmorebottomthanheandhadlastedhimout。TheMarquiswastentimesagreatermannowthantheyoungLordGauntof’85，andBareacresnowhereintherace——old，beaten，bankrupt，andbrokendown。HehadborrowedtoomuchmoneyofSteynetofinditpleasanttomeethisoldcomradeoften。Thelatter，wheneverhewishedtobemerry，usedjeeringlytoaskLadyGauntwhyherfatherhadnotcometoseeher。

　　“Hehasnotbeenhereforfourmonths。”LordSteynewouldsay。”Icanalwaystellbymycheque-bookafterwards，whenIgetavisitfromBareacres。Whatacomfortitis，myladies，Ibankwithoneofmysons’

　　fathers-in-law，andtheotherbankswithme！”

　　OftheotherillustriouspersonswhomBeckyhadthehonourtoencounteronthisherfirstpresentationtothegrandworld，itdoesnotbecomethepresenthistoriantosaymuch。TherewashisExcellencythePrinceofPeterwaradin，withhisPrincess——anoblemantightlygirthed，withalargemilitarychest，onwhichtheplaqueofhisordershonemagnificently，andwearingtheredcollaroftheGoldenFleeceroundhisneck。Hewastheownerofcountlessflocks。”Lookathisface。Ithinkhemustbedescendedfromasheep。”BeckywhisperedtoLordSteyne。Indeed，hisExcellency’scountenance，long，solemn，andwhite，withtheornamentroundhisneck，。

　　boresomeresemblancetothatofavenerablebell-wether。

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