This event was copied into the London papers, out of which Miss Briggs

read the statement to Miss Crawley, at breakfast, at Brighton. The

intelligence, expected as it might have been, caused a crisis in the

affairs of the Crawley family. The spinster's rage rose to its height,

and sending instantly for Pitt, her nephew, and for the Lady Southdown,

from Brunswick Square, she requested an immediate celebration of the

marriage which had been so long pending between the two families. And

she announced that it was her intention to allow the young couple a

thousand a year during her lifetime, at the expiration of which the

bulk of her property would be settled upon her nephew and her dear

niece, Lady Jane Crawley. Waxy came down to ratify the deeds--Lord

Southdown gave away his sister--she was married by a Bishop, and not by

the Rev. Bartholomew Irons--to the disappointment of the irregular

prelate.

When they were married, Pitt would have liked to take a hymeneal tour

with his bride, as became people of their condition. But the affection

of the old lady towards Lady Jane had grown so strong, that she fairly

owned she could not part with her favourite. Pitt and his wife came

therefore and lived with Miss Crawley: and (greatly to the annoyance of

poor Pitt, who conceived himself a most injured character--being

subject to the humours of his aunt on one side, and of his

mother-in-law on the other) Lady Southdown, from her neighbouring

house, reigned over the whole family--Pitt, Lady Jane, Miss Crawley,

Briggs, Bowls, Firkin, and all. She pitilessly dosed them with her

tracts and her medicine, she dismissed Creamer, she installed Rodgers,

and soon stripped Miss Crawley of even the semblance of authority. The

poor soul grew so timid that she actually left off bullying Briggs any

more, and clung to her niece, more fond and terrified every day. Peace

to thee, kind and selfish, vain and generous old heathen!--We shall see

thee no more. Let us hope that Lady Jane supported her kindly, and led

her with gentle hand out of the busy struggle of Vanity Fair.




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