[Nigel Mace]

VANITY FAIR

The money was paid and Becky’s character established.

Colonel Dobbin, glad of his share, paid off the little Ranee of Shagpur with whom he had co-habited in India while waiting for Emmy’s father to die, for who would not have found that gentleman a horrible charge on his funds.

Sir Pitt took a stroke on learning of Rawdon’s KCMG, though His Excellency only lasted months longer, leaving Becky the Crawley fortune, title and status as a widow of Empire. Young Rawdon and George are become Prinny’s louche hangers-on in Bath, competing for the favours of Lady Lade, while Emmy has found the Colonel fonder of his Punjabi housemaids and dull enough that she now understands why George became a rake out of pure boredom.

Ah! Vanitas Vanitatum! Which of us is fairly treated in this world? Come readers, let us sack all these puppets….. for my ink has run out!