everything, understood quickly, and was desirous to show not only as a
beauty but as a wit. There were men at this time who declared that she was
simply the cleverest and the handsomest woman in England. As an
independent young woman she was perhaps one of the richest.




CHAPTER III

LUCY MORRIS


Although the first two chapters of this new history have been devoted to
the fortunes and personal attributes of Lady Eustace, the historian begs
his readers not to believe that that opulent and aristocratic Becky Sharp
is to assume the dignity of heroine in the forthcoming pages. That there
shall be any heroine the historian will not take upon himself to assert;
but if there be a heroine, that heroine shall not be Lady Eustace.

Poor Lizzie Greystock! as men double her own age, and who had known her as
a forward, capricious, spoiled child in her father's lifetime, would still
call her. She did so many things, made so many efforts, caused so much
suffering to others, and suffered so much herself throughout the scenes
with which we are about to deal, that the story can hardly be told without
giving her that prominence of place which has been assigned to her in the
last two chapters.

Nor does the chronicler dare to put forward Lucy Morris as a heroine. The
real heroine, if it be found possible to arrange her drapery for her