English
IknowthatthetuneIampipingisaverymildone(althoughtherearesometerrificchapterscomingpresently),andmustbegthegood-naturedreadertorememberthatweareonlydiscoursingatpresentaboutastockbroker’sfamilyinRussellSquare,whoaretakingwalks,orluncheon,ordinner,ortalkingandmakingloveaspeopledoincommonlife,andwithoutasinglepassionateandwonderfulincidenttomarktheprogressoftheirloves.
Theargumentstandsthus—Osborne,inlovewithAmelia,hasaskedanoldfriendtodinnerandtoVauxhall—JosSedleyisinlovewithRebecca.Willhemarryher?Thatisthegreatsubjectnowinhand.
Wemighthavetreatedthissubjectinthegenteel,orintheromantic,orinthefacetiousmanner.
SupposewehadlaidthesceneinGrosvenorSquare,withtheverysameadventures—wouldnotsomepeoplehavelistened?
SupposewehadshownhowLordJosephSedleyfellinlove,andtheMarquisofOsbornebecameattachedtoLadyAmelia,withthefullconsentoftheDuke,hernoblefather:orinsteadofthesupremelygenteel,supposewehadresortedtotheentirelylow,anddescribedwhatwasgoingoninMr.Sedley’skitchen—howblackSambowasinlovewiththecook(asindeedhewas),andhowhefoughtabattlewiththecoachmaninherbehalf;howtheknife-boywascaughtstealingacoldshoulderofmutton,andMissSedley’snewfemmedechambrerefusedtogotobedwithoutawaxcandle;suchincidentsmightbemadetoprovokemuchdelightfullaughter,andbesupposedtorepresentscenesof“life.”
Orif,onthecontrary,wehadtakenafancyfortheterrible,andmadetheloverofthenewfemmedechambreaprofessionalburglar,whoburstsintothehousewithhisband,slaughtersblackSamboatthefeetofhismaster,andcarriesoffAmeliainhernight-dress,nottobeletlooseagaintillthethirdvolume,weshouldeasilyhaveconstructedataleofthrillinginterest,throughthefierychaptersofwhichthereadershouldhurry,panting.
Butmyreadersmusthopefornosuchromance,onlyahomelystory,andmustbecontentwithachapteraboutVauxhall,whichissoshortthatitscarcedeservestobecalledachapteratall.
Andyetitisachapter,andaveryimportantonetoo.
Arenottherelittlechaptersineverybody’slife,thatseemtobenothing,andyetaffectalltherestofthehistory?
LetusthenstepintothecoachwiththeRussellSquareparty,andbeofftotheGardens.
ThereisbarelyroombetweenJosandMissSharp,whoareonthefrontseat.
Mr.Osbornesittingbodkinopposite,betweenCaptainDobbinandAmelia.
EverysoulinthecoachagreedthatonthatnightJoswouldproposetomakeRebeccaSharpMrs.Sedley.
Theparentsathomehadacquiescedinthearrangement,though,betweenourselves,oldMr.Sedleyhadafeelingverymuchakintocontemptforhisson.
Hesaidhewasvain,selfish,lazy,andeffeminate.
Hecouldnotendurehisairsasamanoffashion,andlaughedheartilyathispompousbraggadociostories.
“Ishallleavethefellowhalfmyproperty,”hesaid;“andhewillhave,besides,plentyofhisown;butasIamperfectlysurethatifyou,andI,andhissisterweretodieto-morrow,hewouldsay‘GoodGad!’
andeathisdinnerjustaswellasusual,Iamnotgoingtomakemyselfanxiousabouthim.Lethimmarrywhomhelikes.It’snoaffairofmine.”
Amelia,ontheotherhand,asbecameayoungwomanofherprudenceandtemperament,wasquiteenthusiasticforthematch.
OnceortwiceJoshadbeenonthepointofsayingsomethingveryimportanttoher,towhichshewasmostwillingtolendanear,butthefatfellowcouldnotbebroughttounbosomhimselfofhisgreatsecret,andverymuchtohissister’sdisappointmentheonlyridhimselfofalargesighandturnedaway.
ThismysteryservedtokeepAmelia’sgentlebosominaperpetualflutterofexcitement.
IfshedidnotspeakwithRebeccaonthetendersubject,shecompensatedherselfwithlongandintimateconversationswithMrs.Blenkinsop,thehousekeeper,whodroppedsomehintstothelady’s-maid,whomayhavecursorilymentionedthemattertothecook,whocarriedthenews,Ihavenodoubt,toallthetradesmen,sothatMr.Jos’smarriagewasnowtalkedofbyaveryconsiderablenumberofpersonsintheRussellSquareworld.
Itwas,ofcourse,Mrs.Sedley’sopinionthathersonwoulddemeanhimselfbyamarriagewithanartist’sdaughter.
“But,lor’,Ma’am,”ejaculatedMrs.Blenkinsop,“wewasonlygrocerswhenwemarriedMr.S.,whowasastock-broker’sclerk,andwehadn’tfivehundredpoundsamongus,andwe’rerichenoughnow.”
AndAmeliawasentirelyofthisopinion,towhich,gradually,thegood-naturedMrs.Sedleywasbrought.
Mr.Sedleywasneutral.“LetJosmarrywhomhelikes,”hesaid;“it’snoaffairofmine.
Thisgirlhasnofortune;nomorehadMrs.Sedley.
Sheseemsgood-humouredandclever,andwillkeephiminorder,perhaps.
Bettershe,mydear,thanablackMrs.Sedley,andadozenofmahoganygrandchildren.”
SothateverythingseemedtosmileuponRebecca’sfortunes.
ShetookJos’sarm,asamatterofcourse,ongoingtodinner;shehadsatebyhimontheboxofhisopencarriage(amosttremendous“buck”hewas,ashesatthere,serene,instate,drivinghisgreys),andthoughnobodysaidawordonthesubjectofthemarriage,everybodyseemedtounderstandit.
Allshewantedwastheproposal,andah!
howRebeccanowfeltthewantofamother!
—adear,tendermother,whowouldhavemanagedthebusinessintenminutes,and,inthecourseofalittledelicateconfidentialconversation,wouldhaveextractedtheinterestingavowalfromthebashfullipsoftheyoungman!
SuchwasthestateofaffairsasthecarriagecrossedWestminsterbridge.
ThepartywaslandedattheRoyalGardensinduetime.
AsthemajesticJossteppedoutofthecreakingvehiclethecrowdgaveacheerforthefatgentleman,whoblushedandlookedverybigandmighty,ashewalkedawaywithRebeccaunderhisarm.
George,ofcourse,tookchargeofAmelia.
Shelookedashappyasarose-treeinsunshine.
“Isay,Dobbin,”saysGeorge,“justlooktotheshawlsandthings,there’sagoodfellow.”
AndsowhilehepairedoffwithMissSedley,andJossqueezedthroughthegateintothegardenswithRebeccaathisside,honestDobbincontentedhimselfbygivinganarmtotheshawls,andbypayingatthedoorforthewholeparty.
Hewalkedverymodestlybehindthem.Hewasnotwillingtospoilsport.
AboutRebeccaandJoshedidnotcareafig.
ButhethoughtAmeliaworthyevenofthebrilliantGeorgeOsborne,andashesawthatgood-lookingcouplethreadingthewalkstothegirl’sdelightandwonder,hewatchedherartlesshappinesswithasortoffatherlypleasure.
Perhapshefeltthathewouldhavelikedtohavesomethingonhisownarmbesidesashawl(thepeoplelaughedatseeingthegawkyyoungofficercarryingthisfemaleburthen);butWilliamDobbinwasverylittleaddictedtoselfishcalculationatall;andsolongashisfriendwasenjoyinghimself,howshouldhebediscontented?
Andthetruthis,thatofallthedelightsoftheGardens;ofthehundredthousandextralamps,whichwerealwayslighted;thefiddlersincockedhats,whoplayedravishingmelodiesunderthegildedcockle-shellinthemidstofthegardens;thesingers,bothofcomicandsentimentalballads,whocharmedtheearsthere;thecountrydances,formedbybouncingcockneysandcockneyesses,andexecutedamidstjumping,thumpingandlaughter;thesignalwhichannouncedthatMadameSaquiwasabouttomountskywardonaslack-ropeascendingtothestars;thehermitthatalwayssatintheilluminatedhermitage;thedarkwalks,sofavourabletotheinterviewsofyounglovers;thepotsofstouthandedaboutbythepeopleintheshabbyoldliveries;andthetwinklingboxes,inwhichthehappyfeastersmade-believetoeatslicesofalmostinvisibleham—ofallthesethings,andofthegentleSimpson,thatkindsmilingidiot,who,Idaresay,presidedeventhenovertheplace—CaptainWilliamDobbindidnottaketheslightestnotice.
HecarriedaboutAmelia’swhitecashmereshawl,andhavingattendedunderthegiltcockle-shell,whileMrs.SalmonperformedtheBattleofBorodino(asavagecantataagainsttheCorsicanupstart,whohadlatelymetwithhisRussianreverses)—Mr.Dobbintriedtohumitashewalkedaway,andfoundhewashumming—thetunewhichAmeliaSedleysangonthestairs,asshecamedowntodinner.
Heburstoutlaughingathimself;forthetruthis,hecouldsingnobetterthananowl.
Itistobeunderstood,asamatterofcourse,thatouryoungpeople,beinginpartiesoftwoandtwo,madethemostsolemnpromisestokeeptogetherduringtheevening,andseparatedintenminutesafterwards.
PartiesatVauxhallalwaysdidseparate,but‘twasonlytomeetagainatsupper-time,whentheycouldtalkoftheirmutualadventuresintheinterval.
WhatweretheadventuresofMr.OsborneandMissAmelia?Thatisasecret.
Butbesureofthis—theywereperfectlyhappy,andcorrectintheirbehaviour;andastheyhadbeeninthehabitofbeingtogetheranytimethesefifteenyears,theirtete-a-teteofferednoparticularnovelty.
ButwhenMissRebeccaSharpandherstoutcompanionlostthemselvesinasolitarywalk,inwhichtherewerenotabovefivescoremoreofcouplessimilarlystraying,theybothfeltthatthesituationwasextremelytenderandcritical,andnoworneverwasthemomentMissSharpthought,toprovokethatdeclarationwhichwastremblingonthetimidlipsofMr.Sedley.
TheyhadpreviouslybeentothepanoramaofMoscow,wherearudefellow,treadingonMissSharp’sfoot,causedhertofallbackwithalittleshriekintothearmsofMr.Sedley,andthislittleincidentincreasedthetendernessandconfidenceofthatgentlemantosuchadegree,thathetoldherseveralofhisfavouriteIndianstoriesoveragainfor,atleast,thesixthtime.
“HowIshouldliketoseeIndia!”saidRebecca.
“SHOULDyou?”saidJoseph,withamostkillingtenderness;andwasnodoubtabouttofollowupthisartfulinterrogatorybyaquestionstillmoretender(forhepuffedandpantedagreatdeal,andRebecca’shand,whichwasplacednearhisheart,couldcountthefeverishpulsationsofthatorgan),when,oh,provoking!
thebellrangforthefireworks,and,agreatscufflingandrunningtakingplace,theseinterestingloverswereobligedtofollowinthestreamofpeople.
CaptainDobbinhadsomethoughtsofjoiningthepartyatsupper:as,intruth,hefoundtheVauxhallamusementsnotparticularlylively—butheparadedtwicebeforetheboxwherethenowunitedcouplesweremet,andnobodytookanynoticeofhim.Coverswerelaidforfour.
Thematedpairswereprattlingawayquitehappily,andDobbinknewhewasascleanforgottenasifhehadneverexistedinthisworld.
“Ishouldonlybedetrop,”saidtheCaptain,lookingatthemratherwistfully.
“I’dbestgoandtalktothehermit,”—andsohestrolledoffoutofthehumofmen,andnoise,andclatterofthebanquet,intothedarkwalk,attheendofwhichlivedthatwell-knownpasteboardSolitary.
Itwasn’tverygoodfunforDobbin—and,indeed,tobealoneatVauxhall,Ihavefound,frommyownexperience,tobeoneofthemostdismalsportseverenteredintobyabachelor.
Thetwocoupleswereperfectlyhappythenintheirbox:wherethemostdelightfulandintimateconversationtookplace.
Joswasinhisglory,orderingaboutthewaiterswithgreatmajesty.
Hemadethesalad;anduncorkedtheChampagne;andcarvedthechickens;andateanddrankthegreaterpartoftherefreshmentsonthetables.
Finally,heinsisteduponhavingabowlofrackpunch;everybodyhadrackpunchatVauxhall.“Waiter,rackpunch.”
Thatbowlofrackpunchwasthecauseofallthishistory.
Andwhynotabowlofrackpunchaswellasanyothercause?
WasnotabowlofprussicacidthecauseofFairRosamond’sretiringfromtheworld?
WasnotabowlofwinethecauseofthedemiseofAlexandertheGreat,or,atleast,doesnotDr.Lemprieresayso?
—sodidthisbowlofrackpunchinfluencethefatesofalltheprincipalcharactersinthis“NovelwithoutaHero,”whichwearenowrelating.
Itinfluencedtheirlife,althoughmostofthemdidnottasteadropofit.
Theyoungladiesdidnotdrinkit;Osbornedidnotlikeit;andtheconsequencewasthatJos,thatfatgourmand,drankupthewholecontentsofthebowl;andtheconsequenceofhisdrinkingupthewholecontentsofthebowlwasalivelinesswhichatfirstwasastonishing,andthenbecamealmostpainful;forhetalkedandlaughedsoloudastobringscoresoflistenersroundthebox,muchtotheconfusionoftheinnocentpartywithinit;and,volunteeringtosingasong(whichhedidinthatmaudlinhighkeypeculiartogentlemeninaninebriatedstate),healmostdrewawaytheaudiencewhoweregatheredroundthemusiciansinthegiltscollop-shell,andreceivedfromhishearersagreatdealofapplause.
“Brayvo,Fatun!”saidone;“Angcore,DanielLambert!”
saidanother;“Whatafigureforthetight-rope!”
exclaimedanotherwag,totheinexpressiblealarmoftheladies,andthegreatangerofMr.Osborne.
“ForHeaven’ssake,Jos,letusgetupandgo,”criedthatgentleman,andtheyoungwomenrose.
“Stop,mydearestdiddle-diddle-darling,”shoutedJos,nowasboldasalion,andclaspingMissRebeccaroundthewaist.
Rebeccastarted,butshecouldnotgetawayherhand.Thelaughteroutsideredoubled.
Joscontinuedtodrink,tomakelove,andtosing;and,winkingandwavinghisglassgracefullytohisaudience,challengedalloranytocomeinandtakeashareofhispunch.
Mr.Osbornewasjustonthepointofknockingdownagentlemanintop-boots,whoproposedtotakeadvantageofthisinvitation,andacommotionseemedtobeinevitable,whenbythegreatestgoodluckagentlemanofthenameofDobbin,whohadbeenwalkingaboutthegardens,steppeduptothebox.“Beoff,youfools!”
saidthisgentleman—shoulderingoffagreatnumberofthecrowd,whovanishedpresentlybeforehiscockedhatandfierceappearance—andheenteredtheboxinamostagitatedstate.
“GoodHeavens!Dobbin,wherehaveyoubeen?”
Osbornesaid,seizingthewhitecashmereshawlfromhisfriend’sarm,andhuddlingupAmeliainit.
—”Makeyourselfuseful,andtakechargeofJoshere,whilstItaketheladiestothecarriage.”
Joswasforrisingtointerfere—butasinglepushfromOsborne’sfingersenthimpuffingbackintohisseatagain,andthelieutenantwasenabledtoremovetheladiesinsafety.
Joskissedhishandtothemastheyretreated,andhiccuppedout“Blessyou!Blessyou!”
Then,seizingCaptainDobbin’shand,andweepinginthemostpitifulway,heconfidedtothatgentlemanthesecretofhisloves.
Headoredthatgirlwhohadjustgoneout;hehadbrokenherheart,heknewhehad,byhisconduct;hewouldmarryhernextmorningatSt.George’s,HanoverSquare;he’dknockuptheArchbishopofCanterburyatLambeth:hewould,byJove!
andhavehiminreadiness;and,actingonthishint,CaptainDobbinshrewdlyinducedhimtoleavethegardensandhastentoLambethPalace,and,whenonceoutofthegates,easilyconveyedMr.JosSedleyintoahackney-coach,whichdepositedhimsafelyathislodgings.
GeorgeOsborneconductedthegirlshomeinsafety:andwhenthedoorwascloseduponthem,andashewalkedacrossRussellSquare,laughedsoastoastonishthewatchman.
Amelialookedveryruefullyatherfriend,astheywentupstairs,andkissedher,andwenttobedwithoutanymoretalking.
“Hemustproposeto-morrow,”thoughtRebecca.
“Hecalledmehissoul’sdarling,fourtimes;hesqueezedmyhandinAmelia’spresence.Hemustproposeto-morrow.”AndsothoughtAmelia,too.
AndIdaresayshethoughtofthedressshewastowearasbridesmaid,andofthepresentswhichsheshouldmaketohernicelittlesister-in-law,andofasubsequentceremonyinwhichsheherselfmightplayaprincipalpart,&c.,and&c.,and&c.,and&c.
Oh,ignorantyoungcreatures!Howlittledoyouknowtheeffectofrackpunch!
Whatistherackinthepunch,atnight,totherackintheheadofamorning?
TothistruthIcanvouchasaman;thereisnoheadacheintheworldlikethatcausedbyVauxhallpunch.
Throughthelapseoftwentyyears,Icanremembertheconsequenceoftwoglasses!twowine-glasses!
buttwo,uponthehonourofagentleman;andJosephSedley,whohadalivercomplaint,hadswallowedatleastaquartoftheabominablemixture.
Thatnextmorning,whichRebeccathoughtwastodawnuponherfortune,foundSedleygroaninginagonieswhichthepenrefusestodescribe.Soda-waterwasnotinventedyet.Smallbeer—willitbebelieved!
—wastheonlydrinkwithwhichunhappygentlemensoothedthefeveroftheirpreviousnight’spotation.
Withthismildbeveragebeforehim,GeorgeOsbornefoundtheex-CollectorofBoggleyWollahgroaningonthesofaathislodgings.
Dobbinwasalreadyintheroom,good-naturedlytendinghispatientofthenightbefore.
Thetwoofficers,lookingattheprostrateBacchanalian,andaskanceateachother,exchangedthemostfrightfulsympatheticgrins.
EvenSedley’svalet,themostsolemnandcorrectofgentlemen,withthemutenessandgravityofanundertaker,couldhardlykeephiscountenanceinorder,ashelookedathisunfortunatemaster.
“Mr.Sedleywasuncommonwildlastnight,sir,”hewhisperedinconfidencetoOsborne,asthelattermountedthestair.
“Hewantedtofightthe‘ackney-coachman,sir.
TheCaptingwasobligedtobringhimupstairsinhisharmslikeababby.”
AmomentarysmileflickeredoverMr.Brush’sfeaturesashespoke;instantly,however,theyrelapsedintotheirusualunfathomablecalm,asheflungopenthedrawing-roomdoor,andannounced“Mr.Hosbin.”
“Howareyou,Sedley?”thatyoungwagbegan,aftersurveyinghisvictim.“Nobonesbroke?There’sahackney-coachmandownstairswithablackeye,andatied-uphead,vowinghe’llhavethelawofyou.”
“Whatdoyoumean—law?”Sedleyfaintlyasked.
“Forthrashinghimlastnight—didn’the,Dobbin?Youhitout,sir,likeMolyneux.Thewatchmansaysheneversawafellowgodownsostraight.AskDobbin.”
“YouDIDhavearoundwiththecoachman,”CaptainDobbinsaid,“andshowedplentyoffighttoo.”
“AndthatfellowwiththewhitecoatatVauxhall!HowJosdroveathim!Howthewomenscreamed!
ByJove,sir,itdidmyheartgoodtoseeyou.
Ithoughtyoucivilianshadnopluck;butI’llnevergetinyourwaywhenyouareinyourcups,Jos.”
“IbelieveI’mveryterrible,whenI’mroused,”ejaculatedJosfromthesofa,andmadeagrimacesodrearyandludicrous,thattheCaptain’spolitenesscouldrestrainhimnolonger,andheandOsbornefiredoffaringingvolleyoflaughter.
Osbornepursuedhisadvantagepitilessly.HethoughtJosamilksop.
HehadbeenrevolvinginhismindthemarriagequestionpendingbetweenJosandRebecca,andwasnotoverwellpleasedthatamemberofafamilyintowhichhe,GeorgeOsborne,ofthe—th,wasgoingtomarry,shouldmakeamesalliancewithalittlenobody—alittleupstartgoverness.“Youhit,youpooroldfellow!”saidOsborne.“Youterrible!
Why,man,youcouldn’tstand—youmadeeverybodylaughintheGardens,thoughyouwerecryingyourself.
Youweremaudlin,Jos.Don’tyouremembersingingasong?”
“Awhat?”Josasked.
“Asentimentalsong,andcallingRosa,Rebecca,what’shername,Amelia’slittlefriend—yourdearestdiddle-diddle-darling?”
Andthisruthlessyoungfellow,seizingholdofDobbin’shand,actedoverthescene,tothehorroroftheoriginalperformer,andinspiteofDobbin’sgood-naturedentreatiestohimtohavemercy.
“WhyshouldIsparehim?”Osbornesaidtohisfriend’sremonstrances,whentheyquittedtheinvalid,leavinghimunderthehandsofDoctorGollop.
“Whatthedeucerighthashetogivehimselfhispatronizingairs,andmakefoolsofusatVauxhall?
Who’sthislittleschoolgirlthatisoglingandmakinglovetohim?
Hangit,thefamily’slowenoughalready,withoutHER.
Agovernessisallverywell,butI’dratherhavealadyformysister-in-law.
I’maliberalman;butI’veproperpride,andknowmyownstation:letherknowhers.
AndI’lltakedownthatgreathectoringNabob,andpreventhimfrombeingmadeagreaterfoolthanheis.
That’swhyItoldhimtolookout,lestshebroughtanactionagainsthim.”
“Isupposeyouknowbest,”Dobbinsaid,thoughratherdubiously.“YoualwayswereaTory,andyourfamily’soneoftheoldestinEngland.But—”
“Comeandseethegirls,andmakelovetoMissSharpyourself,”thelieutenanthereinterruptedhisfriend;butCaptainDobbindeclinedtojoinOsborneinhisdailyvisittotheyoungladiesinRussellSquare.
AsGeorgewalkeddownSouthamptonRow,fromHolborn,helaughedashesaw,attheSedleyMansion,intwodifferentstoriestwoheadsonthelook-out.
Thefactis,MissAmelia,inthedrawing-roombalcony,waslookingveryeagerlytowardstheoppositesideoftheSquare,whereMr.Osbornedwelt,onthewatchforthelieutenanthimself;andMissSharp,fromherlittlebed-roomonthesecondfloor,wasinobservationuntilMr.Joseph’sgreatformshouldheaveinsight.
“SisterAnneisonthewatch-tower,”saidhetoAmelia,“butthere’snobodycoming”;andlaughingandenjoyingthejokehugely,hedescribedinthemostludicroustermstoMissSedley,thedismalconditionofherbrother.
“Ithinkit’sverycruelofyoutolaugh,George,”shesaid,lookingparticularlyunhappy;butGeorgeonlylaughedthemoreatherpiteousanddiscomfitedmien,persistedinthinkingthejokeamostdivertingone,andwhenMissSharpcamedownstairs,banteredherwithagreatdealoflivelinessupontheeffectofhercharmsonthefatcivilian.
“OMissSharp!ifyoucouldbutseehimthismorning,”hesaid—“moaninginhisflowereddressing-gown—writhingonhissofa;ifyoucouldbuthaveseenhimlollingouthistonguetoGolloptheapothecary.”
“Seewhom?”saidMissSharp.
“Whom?Owhom?CaptainDobbin,ofcourse,towhomwewereallsoattentive,bytheway,lastnight.”
“Wewereveryunkindtohim,”Emmysaid,blushingverymuch.“I—Iquiteforgothim.”
“Ofcourseyoudid,”criedOsborne,stillonthelaugh.
“Onecan’tbeALWAYSthinkingaboutDobbin,youknow,Amelia.Canone,MissSharp?”
“Exceptwhenheoversettheglassofwineatdinner,”MissSharpsaid,withahaughtyairandatossofthehead,“InevergavetheexistenceofCaptainDobbinonesinglemoment’sconsideration.”
“Verygood,MissSharp,I’lltellhim,”Osbornesaid;andashespokeMissSharpbegantohaveafeelingofdistrustandhatredtowardsthisyoungofficer,whichhewasquiteunconsciousofhavinginspired.“Heistomakefunofme,ishe?”thoughtRebecca.
“HashebeenlaughingaboutmetoJoseph?Hashefrightenedhim?Perhapshewon’tcome.”
—Afilmpassedoverhereyes,andherheartbeatquitequick.
“You’realwaysjoking,”saidshe,smilingasinnocentlyasshecould.
“Jokeaway,Mr.George;there’snobodytodefendME.”
AndGeorgeOsborne,asshewalkedaway—andAmelialookedreprovinglyathim—feltsomelittlemanlycompunctionforhavinginflictedanyunnecessaryunkindnessuponthishelplesscreature.
“MydearestAmelia,”saidhe,“youaretoogood—tookind.Youdon’tknowtheworld.Ido.
AndyourlittlefriendMissSharpmustlearnherstation.”
“Don’tyouthinkJoswill—”
“Uponmyword,mydear,Idon’tknow.Hemay,ormaynot.I’mnothismaster.
Ionlyknowheisaveryfoolishvainfellow,andputmydearlittlegirlintoaverypainfulandawkwardpositionlastnight.Mydearestdiddle-diddle-darling!”
Hewasofflaughingagain,andhediditsodrollythatEmmylaughedtoo.
AllthatdayJosnevercame.ButAmeliahadnofearaboutthis;forthelittleschemerhadactuallysentawaythepage,Mr.Sambo’saide-de-camp,toMr.Joseph’slodgings,toaskforsomebookhehadpromised,andhowhewas;andthereplythroughJos’sman,Mr.Brush,was,thathismasterwasillinbed,andhadjusthadthedoctorwithhim.
Hemustcometo-morrow,shethought,butsheneverhadthecouragetospeakawordonthesubjecttoRebecca;nordidthatyoungwomanherselfalludetoitinanywayduringthewholeeveningafterthenightatVauxhall.
Thenextday,however,asthetwoyoungladiessateonthesofa,pretendingtowork,ortowriteletters,ortoreadnovels,Sambocameintotheroomwithhisusualengaginggrin,withapacketunderhisarm,andanoteonatray.“NotefromMr.Jos,Miss,”saysSambo.
HowAmeliatrembledassheopenedit!
Soitran:
DearAmelia,—Isendyouthe“OrphanoftheForest.”Iwastooilltocomeyesterday.Ileavetownto-dayforCheltenham.
Prayexcuseme,ifyoucan,totheamiableMissSharp,formyconductatVauxhall,andentreathertopardonandforgeteverywordImayhaveutteredwhenexcitedbythatfatalsupper.
AssoonasIhaverecovered,formyhealthisverymuchshaken,IshallgotoScotlandforsomemonths,andam
Trulyyours,JosSedley
Itwasthedeath-warrant.Allwasover.
AmeliadidnotdaretolookatRebecca’spalefaceandburningeyes,butshedropttheletterintoherfriend’slap;andgotup,andwentupstairstoherroom,andcriedherlittleheartout.
Blenkinsop,thehousekeeper,theresoughtherpresentlywithconsolation,onwhoseshoulderAmeliaweptconfidentially,andrelievedherselfagooddeal.“Don’ttakeon,Miss.Ididn’tliketotellyou.
Butnoneofusinthehousehavelikedherexceptatfust.
IsorherwithmyowneyesreadingyourMa’sletters.
Pinnersaysshe’salwaysaboutyourtrinket-boxanddrawers,andeverybody’sdrawers,andshe’ssureshe’sputyourwhiteribbingintoherbox.”
“Igaveither,Igaveither,”Ameliasaid.
ButthisdidnotalterMrs.Blenkinsop’sopinionofMissSharp.
“Idon’ttrustthemgovernesses,Pinner,”sheremarkedtothemaid.
“Theygivethemselvesthehairsandhupstartsofladies,andtheirwagesisnobetterthanyounorme.”
Itnowbecamecleartoeverysoulinthehouse,exceptpoorAmelia,thatRebeccashouldtakeherdeparture,andhighandlow(alwayswiththeoneexception)agreedthatthateventshouldtakeplaceasspeedilyaspossible.
Ourgoodchildransackedallherdrawers,cupboards,reticules,andgimcrackboxes—passedinreviewallhergowns,fichus,tags,bobbins,laces,silkstockings,andfallals—selectingthisthingandthatandtheother,tomakealittleheapforRebecca.
AndgoingtoherPapa,thatgenerousBritishmerchant,whohadpromisedtogiveherasmanyguineasasshewasyearsold—shebeggedtheoldgentlemantogivethemoneytodearRebecca,whomustwantit,whileshelackedfornothing.
SheevenmadeGeorgeOsbornecontribute,andnothingloth(forhewasasfree-handedayoungfellowasanyinthearmy),hewenttoBondStreet,andboughtthebesthatandspenserthatmoneycouldbuy.
“That’sGeorge’spresenttoyou,Rebecca,dear,”saidAmelia,quiteproudofthebandboxconveyingthesegifts.“Whatatastehehas!There’snobodylikehim.”
“Nobody,”Rebeccaanswered.“HowthankfulIamtohim!”Shewasthinkinginherheart,“ItwasGeorgeOsbornewhopreventedmymarriage.”—AndshelovedGeorgeOsborneaccordingly.
Shemadeherpreparationsfordeparturewithgreatequanimity;andacceptedallthekindlittleAmelia’spresents,afterjusttheproperdegreeofhesitationandreluctance.
ShevowedeternalgratitudetoMrs.Sedley,ofcourse;butdidnotintrudeherselfuponthatgoodladytoomuch,whowasembarrassed,andevidentlywishingtoavoidher.
ShekissedMr.Sedley’shand,whenhepresentedherwiththepurse;andaskedpermissiontoconsiderhimforthefutureasherkind,kindfriendandprotector.
Herbehaviourwassoaffectingthathewasgoingtowriteherachequefortwentypoundsmore;butherestrainedhisfeelings:thecarriagewasinwaitingtotakehimtodinner,sohetrippedawaywitha“Godblessyou,mydear,alwayscomeherewhenyoucometotown,youknow.—DrivetotheMansionHouse,James.”
FinallycamethepartingwithMissAmelia,overwhichpictureIintendtothrowaveil.
Butafterasceneinwhichonepersonwasinearnestandtheotheraperfectperformer—afterthetenderestcaresses,themostpathetictears,thesmelling-bottle,andsomeoftheverybestfeelingsoftheheart,hadbeencalledintorequisition—RebeccaandAmeliaparted,theformervowingtoloveherfriendforeverandeverandever.
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