Vanity Fair Page #5

Oh, please tell me there's something

disreputable in your past.

Well, my father was an artist.

Ah, that's better.

A starving one, I hope.

Absolutely ravenous.

Who's ravenous... besides me?

Horrocks? When's dinner?

Any minute now,

Sir Pitt.

Good.

I'd best excuse myself.

Come along, girls.

- Is Miss Sharp not to dine with us?

- Well, don't ask me. Ask Pitt.

Mm.

Nephew?

I hope she's not banished

in my honor.

You know I am nothing

if not democratic.

It's no great sacrifice

in the cause of peace.

Of course,

Miss Sharp must dine with us

if you wish it, Aunt.

Dinner is served!

Good!

Come along, my dear.

You'll sit by me.

And after dinner,

we shall abuse the company.

Really,

the hoops she makes

us jump through.

I don't mind, Mama.

I like Miss Sharp.

Mm.

Caesar liked Brutus

and look where it got him.

- All these and all Thy other gifts may...

- Pitt!

Amen.

Aunt Matilda,

you are the guest ofhonor.

Um, what shall we drink to?

Better food and a warmer room.

Should we not drink to peace at

last... with Napoleon safe on Elba?

To the men who put him there...

to Wellington and Nelson.

Wellington and Nelson.

Wellington I grant you, hmm,

but, um, it is hard

to match Nelson's heroism...

with his private life.

The life of Alexander

did not bear much scrutiny.

Is he not a hero, either?

Quite right, Miss Sharp.

And to my mind, that was

the best part of Nelson's character!

He went to the deuce for a woman.

There must be some good

in a man who'll do that.

Hmm.

I adore imprudent matches.

- Wellington and Nelson.

- Wellington...

Mm. You set no store

by birth, then?

Birth?

Look at this family.!

We've been

at Queen's Crawley

since Henry II,

but not one of us here

is as clever as Miss Sharp.

- To all the King's officers!

- All the King's officers!

The King's officers.

Mmm, lobster.

Delicious.

Come in, my dear.

I've left my toadies in London.

And what bores they are

downstairs.

It falls to you

to make me laugh.

She's clever enough,

isn't she, Firkin?

I think Miss seems

very clever.

Oh, yes.

If merit had its just reward,

you ought to be a duchess.

Mm.

You set no store by birth, then?

Mm.

Silly old fool,

grabbing at my money

for her daughter's intended,

that hypocrite Pitt.

He should put down his Bible

and do the dirty work himself.

With a decent position,

you could put the world on a leash.

Perhaps I'll surprise you

and run away with a great man.

Oh, that'd be perfect.

I love elopements.

I've set my heart on Rawdon

running away with someone.

A rich someone

or a poor someone?

Well, above all,

a clever someone.

He's the dearest of creatures,

but not the wisest.

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