Chapter 14 Summary

Miss Matilda Crawley is quite ill, and Rawdon comes to visit her. He finds the house staff in tears and miserable. Matilda's lifelong friend and servant Miss Briggs is distraught because Matilda will not see her anymore. Matilda has a new companion who is administering her medication. The new companion is, of course, Miss Becky Sharp, who has agreed to stay with her until she is well.

Miss Firkin, Matilda's housekeeper, tells Miss Briggs that everyone is infatuated with Becky: Sir Pitt, Mrs. Bute, the house staff and particularly Rawdon. Miss Firkin thinks Becky has bewitched everyone.

Matilda has merely contracted food poisoning from a lobster she ate at Queens Crawley. In the meantime, Lady Crawley has become extremely ill, and nobody has noticed. Everyone is anxious about Matilda's health because of her will and estate. Becky gives them all regular updates.

Becky...