They had a long conversation, driving round and round the Regent's Park in Mrs.Crawley's carriage together, a conversation of which it is not necessary to repeat the details, but the upshot of it was that, when Becky came home, she flew to her dear Briggs with a smiling face and announced that she had some very good news for her.Lord Steyne had acted in the noblest and most generous manner.He was always thinking how and when he could do good.Now that little Rawdon was gone to school, a dear companion and friend was no longer necessary to her.She was grieved beyond measure to part with Briggs, but her means required that she should practise every retrenchment, and her sorrow was mitigated by the idea that her dear Briggs would be far better provided for by her generous patron than in her humble home.Mrs.Pilkington, the housekeeper at Gauntly Hall, was growing exceedingly old, feeble, and rheumatic:
she was not equal to the work of superintending that vast mansion, and must be on the look out for a successor.It was a splendid position.The family did not go to Gauntly once in two years.At other times the housekeeper was the mistress of the magnificent mansion--had four covers daily for her table; was visited by the clergy and the most respectable people of the county --was the lady of Gauntly, in fact; and the two last housekeepers before Mrs.Pilkington had married rectors of Gauntly--but Mrs.P.could not, being the aunt of the present Rector.The place was not to be hers yet, but she might go down on a visit to Mrs.Pilkington and see whether she would like to succeed her.
What words can paint the ecstatic gratitude of Briggs!
All she stipulated for was that little Rawdon should be allowed to come down and see her at the Hall.Becky promised this--anything.She ran up to her husband when he came home and told him the joyful news.Rawdon was glad, deuced glad; the weight was off his conscience about poor Briggs's money.She was provided for, at any rate, but--but his mind was disquiet.He did not seem to be all right, somehow.He told little Southdown what Lord Steyne had done, and the young man eyed Crawley with an air which surprised the latter.
He told Lady Jane of this second proof of Steyne's bounty, and she, too, looked odd and alarmed; so did Sir Pitt."She is too clever and--and gay to be allowed to go from party to party without a companion," both said."You must go with her, Rawdon, wherever she goes, and you must have somebody with her--one of the girls from Queen's Crawley, perhaps, though they were rather giddy guardians for her."Somebody Becky should have.But in the meantime it was clear that honest Briggs must not lose her chance of settlement for life, and so she and her bags were packed, and she set off on her journey.And so two of Rawdon's out-sentinels were in the hands of the enemy.
Sir Pitt went and expostulated with his sister-in-law upon the subject of the dismissal of Briggs and other matters of delicate family interest.In vain she pointed out to him how necessary was the protection of Lord Steyne for her poor husband; how cruel it would be on their part to deprive Briggs of the position offered to her.