Page:Vanity Fair 1848.djvu/101

 "'O!' said Mr. Crawley, and pushed his head once forward and began again to read a great pamphlet with which he was busy.

"'I hope you will be kind to my girl,' said Lady Crawley; 'with her pink eyes always full of tears.'

"'Law Ma, of course she will,' said the eldest: 'and I saw at a glance that I need not be afraid of that woman.'

"'My Lady is served,' says the Butler, in black, in an immense white shirt-frill, that looked as if it had been one of the Queen Elizabeth ruffs depicted in the hall; and so taking Mr. Crawley's arm, she led the way to the dining-room, whither I followed with my little pupils in each hand.

"Sir Pitt was already in the room with a silver jug. He had just been to the cellar, and was in full dress too; that is, he had taken his gaiters off, and showed his little dumpy legs in black worsted stockings.  The side-board was covered with glistening old plate—old cups, both gold and silver; old salvers and cruet stands, like Rundell and Bridge's shop.  Everything on the table was in silver too, and two footmen, with red hair and canary-coloured liveries, stood on either side of the side-board.

"Mr. Crawley said a long grace, and Sir Pitt said amen, and the great silver dish-covers were removed.

"'What have we for dinner, Betsy?' said the Baronet.

"'Mutton broth, I believe, Sir Pitt,' answered Lady Crawley.