Vanity Fair

Chapter 28 In which Amelia invades the Low Countries

Chapter 29 Brussels

Chapter 30 “The Girl I Left Behind Me”

Chapter 31 In which Jos Sedley takes care of his sister

Chapter 32 In which Jos takes flight, and the War is brought to a close

Chapter 33 In which Miss Crawley’s relations are very anxious about her

Chapter 34 James Crawley’s pipe is put out

Chapter 35 Widow and Mother

Chapter 36 How to live well on nothing a year

Chapter 37 The subject continued

Chapter 38 A family in a very small way

Chapter 39 A cynical chapter

Chapter 40 In which Becky is recognised by the family

Chapter 41 In which Becky revisits the halls of her ancestors

Chapter 42 Which treats of the Osborne Family

Chapter 43 In which the reader has to double the Cape

Chapter 44 A roundabout chapter between London and Hampshire

Chapter 45 Between Hampshire and London

Chapter 46 Struggles and Trials

Chapter 47 Gaunt House

Chapter 48 In which the reader is introduced to the very best of company

Chapter 49 In which we enjoy three courses and a dessert

Chapter 50 Contains a vulgar incident

Chapter 51 In which a charade is acted which may or may not puzzle the reader

Chapter 52 In which Lord Steyne shows himself in a most amiable light

Chapter 53 A rescue and a catastrophe

Chapter 54 Sunday after the battle

Chapter 55 In which the same subject is pursued

Chapter 56 Georgy is made a gentleman

Chapter 57 Eothen

Chapter 58 Our friend the Major

Chapter 59 The old piano

Chapter 60 Returns to the genteel world

Chapter 61 In which two lights are put out

Chapter 62 Am Rhein

Chapter 63 In which we meet an old acquaintance

Chapter 64 A vagabond chapter

Chapter 65 Full of business and pleasure

Chapter 66 Amantium Iroe

Chapter 67 Which contains births, marriages, and deaths

Classic Literature: Words and Phrases Adapted from the Collins English Dictionary

History of Collins

About the Author

About the Publisher

CHAPTER 1 Chiswick Mall (#uec973d16-cb55-5026-9db4-a4997560fbbb)

While the present century was in its teens, and on one sunshiny morning in June, there drove up to the great iron gate of Miss Pinkerton’s academy for young ladies, on Chiswick Mall, a large family coach, with two fat horses in blazing harness, driven by a fat coachman in a three-cornered hat and wig, at the rate of four miles an hour. A black servant, who reposed on the box beside the fat coachman, uncurled his bandy-legs as soon as the equipage drew up opposite Miss Pinkerton’s shining brass plate, and as he pulled the bell, at least a score of young heads were seen peering out of the narrow windows of the stately old brick house. Nay, the acute observer might have recognised the little red nose of good-natured Miss Jemima Pinkerton herself, rising over some geranium-pots in the window of that lady’s own drawing-room.

“It is Mrs. Sedley’s coach, sister,” said Miss Jemima. “Sambo, the black servant, has just rung the bell; and the coachman has a new red waistcoat.”

“Have you completed all the necessary preparations incident to Miss Sedley’s departure, Miss Jemima?” asked Miss Pinkerton herself, that majestic lady; the Semiramis of Hammersmith, the friend of Doctor Johnson, the correspondent of Mrs. Chapone herself.

“The girls were up at four this morning, packing her trunks, sister,” replied Miss Jemima; “we have made her a bow-pot.”

“Say a bouquet, sister Jemima, ’tis more genteel.”