Vanity Fair: Level 5
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Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
Amelia Sedley and Becky Sharp Leave School
It was a lovely sunny day in June 1812 when two young ladies were preparing to leave Miss Pinkerton’s boarding school for the last time. Amelia Sedley was seventeen, and the daughter of a rich merchant. She could sing, dance, and sew and was everybody’s best friend. She smiled beautifully, though she cried easily when she saw or read something sad. Even the teachers loved her, and they were sad that she was leaving. Miss Pinkerton personally invited Amelia to her room to say good-bye and gave her a dictionary as a farewell present. Miss Pinkerton believed that receiving the dictionary was a great honor.
Becky Sharp was Amelia’s friend, but she was very different. She was nineteen. Her father was an artist, who had given drawing lessons to the young ladies at Miss Pinkerton’s school before he died. Her mother was a French dancer, but she had died before Becky’s father. Miss Pinkerton allowed Becky to come to the school because she could help the other girls learn French; however, she did not like her and treated her badly. Miss Pinkerton’s sister also gave Becky a dictionary. She had to do it secretly, because she knew that Miss Pinkerton would not approve.
Becky said good-bye to the teachers in French, even though she knew that Miss Pinkerton did not understand French. Amelia’s father sent a carriage to pick up the two young ladies. The servants helped to carry all Amelia’s boxes and cases into the carriage. Becky carried her own case. All the students stood outside the school to wave good-bye. As the carriage drove out through the gates, Becky put her head out of the window and threw her dictionary into the garden. Miss Pinkerton’s sister was very surprised and afraid and so was Amelia.
She could hardly speak, but at last she asked, Why did you do that, Becky?
Do you think Miss Pinkerton will run after the carriage and tell me to go back to school?
Becky replied, smiling.
No, but . . .
I hate the school!
cried Becky. I never want to see it again!
Amelia was shocked. Becky!
she whispered.
But it was fun to speak French to Miss Pinkerton,
continued Becky. It makes her look so stupid because she will not admit that she can’t understand it! Ha ha! Thank goodness for French! Vive la France! Vive Napoleon!
This was a very bad thing to say in England at that time because England and France were not friendly with each other.
How can you have such bad thoughts of revenge?
asked Amelia.
Revenge might be bad, but it is human,
replied Becky. Miss Pinkerton treated me badly. Why should I treat her well?
Amelia had no answer.
Becky was small and thin. She had blonde hair and very attractive green eyes. More than one young man had fallen in love with her without even speaking to her because of the way that she looked at them. She had enjoyed living with her father and his artist friends before he died, and the school seemed to her like a prison. She did not like the teachers, and she did not like the girls. She was used to more interesting conversations with her father. The only friend she had was Amelia Sedley.
She was envious of the rich girls’ happiness.
They are happy, although I am more clever,
she thought. She studied hard and practiced her music. Miss Pinkerton heard her play the piano and asked her to teach the girls music. Becky demanded to be paid, and Miss Pinkerton had to agree. She never liked Becky after that.
"Find me a good position with a rich family, and I will be happy to leave," promised Becky.
Miss Pinkerton thought that this was a good idea, and when she heard that a position was available with Sir Pitt Crawley, she recommended Miss Sharp to the family. Since Amelia was about to leave the school and Becky was her friend, they decided to send Becky away with Amelia. She would spend a week with Amelia at her home before going to her new position with Sir Pitt Crawley.
Amelia was very happy when they arrived at her father’s home, and everybody there was very happy to see her. They thought she looked very well and healthy. Amelia soon showed Becky all the rooms in the house and gave her some of her clothes. Amelia’s brother had given her two shawls from India, and she gave one of them to Becky who thought they were very beautiful.
It must be lovely to have such a kind brother,
she said to Amelia, who knew that Becky had no brothers or sisters and no parents.
Amelia laughed. My brother is very kind and good, but he is much older than me and doesn’t speak to me often.
But he must be very rich!
Yes, he is.
I am sure that his wife must be beautiful!
No, Joseph is not married.
Amelia laughed again.
If he is kind, and rich, and not married,
thought Becky, why shouldn’t I marry him? I will only be here for one or two weeks, but I can try.
However, she did not say anything about this to Amelia. It was her secret plan.
Joseph Sedley Meets Becky Sharp
Joseph Sedley was a large man. He was twelve years older than his sister and had a good position in the East India Company. He had worked in India for eight years but was now in London for a while, where he lived like a young bachelor. He dressed in fashionable clothes and went to good restaurants and the opera. However, he was very shy, so he had few friends and was often lonely.
He was reading the paper by the fire when the two girls came into the room. He immediately stood up and blushed. He was very nervous. Amelia laughed at him and introduced him to Becky.
It’s very cold,
he said and began to poke the fire to make it burn, although it was really quite warm already. His face was very red.
He’s very handsome,
whispered Becky a little too loudly and stared at the carpet.
Do you think so? I’ll tell him.
replied Amelia.
No, please don’t!
said Becky, still staring at the carpet.
Amelia told Joseph that the shawls were beautiful, but he was so nervous that he told them he had to go because he had a dinner appointment with his friend. Before he could leave, however, his father came in and teased him and made him stay home for dinner. Poor Joseph was very embarrassed, but he had no choice.
He had heard Becky’s loud whisper and was pleased, but then he worried that she was teasing him. He didn’t know what to think.
Mrs. Sedley had prepared curry, which Joseph enjoyed. However, Becky had never seen curry before and found it difficult to eat. Joseph offered her a chili, and she ate it. It was so hot that she had to ask for water, and everybody laughed. Becky joked about it, and everybody thought that she was a very brave girl. After dinner, Mr. Sedley warned his son that Becky was interested in him, but he would not believe it. When Becky began to sing, Joseph was so nervous that he left the house and went to the theater.
There goes Joseph,
said Amelia.
"Miss