Chapter 17 Summary

The Osborne family butler is at a public auction, buying household items for the family from repossessed homes and estates. Becky and Rawdon bid on a piano against Dobbin, who wins the bidding war. The piano once belonged to Amelia Sedley. The Sedley family has gone bankrupt in the stock market, and the auction is being held in their old home. Dobbin is buying back Amelia's piano for her. It arrives that evening at a tiny cottage outside of town.

Rawdon and Becky would not think of visiting Amelia in her present housing, as the Sedleys no longer have anything to offer them. Matilda has not yet forgiven them, though a month has passed since the wedding. Rawdon is turned away when he visits, and his letters get sent back to him. Mrs. Bute has replaced Becky as nursemaid for Matilda. This causes...