English
Enemiesthemostobstinateandcourageouscan’tholdoutagainststarvation;sotheelderOsbornefelthimselfprettyeasyabouthisadversaryintheencounterwehavejustdescribed;andassoonasGeorge’ssuppliesfellshort,confidentlyexpectedhisunconditionalsubmission.
Itwasunlucky,tobesure,thattheladshouldhavesecuredastockofprovisionsontheverydaywhenthefirstencountertookplace;butthisreliefwasonlytemporary,oldOsbornethought,andwouldbutdelayGeorge’ssurrender.
Nocommunicationpassedbetweenfatherandsonforsomedays.
Theformerwassulkyatthissilence,butnotdisquieted;for,ashesaid,heknewwherehecouldputthescrewuponGeorge,andonlywaitedtheresultofthatoperation.
Hetoldthesisterstheupshotofthedisputebetweenthem,butorderedthemtotakenonoticeofthematter,andwelcomeGeorgeonhisreturnasifnothinghadhappened.
Hiscoverwaslaidasusualeveryday,andperhapstheoldgentlemanratheranxiouslyexpectedhim;buthenevercame.
SomeoneinquiredattheSlaughters’regardinghim,whereitwassaidthatheandhisfriendCaptainDobbinhadlefttown.
Onegusty,rawdayattheendofApril—therainwhippingthepavementofthatancientstreetwheretheoldSlaughters’Coffee-housewasoncesituated—GeorgeOsbornecameintothecoffee-room,lookingveryhaggardandpale;althoughdressedrathersmartlyinabluecoatandbrassbuttons,andaneatbuffwaistcoatofthefashionofthosedays.
HerewashisfriendCaptainDobbin,inblueandbrasstoo,havingabandonedthemilitaryfrockandFrench-greytrousers,whichweretheusualcoveringsofhislankyperson.
Dobbinhadbeeninthecoffee-roomforanhourormore.
Hehadtriedallthepapers,butcouldnotreadthem.
Hehadlookedattheclockmanyscoresoftimes;andatthestreet,wheretherainwaspatteringdown,andthepeopleastheyclinkedbyinpattens,leftlongreflectionsontheshiningstone:hetattooedatthetable:hebithisnailsmostcompletely,andnearlytothequick(hewasaccustomedtoornamenthisgreatbighandsinthisway):hebalancedthetea-spoondexterouslyonthemilkjug:upsetit,&c.,&c.;andinfactshowedthosesignsofdisquietude,andpractisedthosedesperateattemptsatamusement,whichmenareaccustomedtoemploywhenveryanxious,andexpectant,andperturbedinmind.
Someofhiscomrades,gentlemenwhousedtheroom,jokedhimaboutthesplendourofhiscostumeandhisagitationofmanner.
Oneaskedhimifhewasgoingtobemarried?
Dobbinlaughed,andsaidhewouldsendhisacquaintance(MajorWagstaffoftheEngineers)apieceofcakewhenthateventtookplace.
AtlengthCaptainOsbornemadehisappearance,verysmartlydressed,butverypaleandagitatedaswehavesaid.
Hewipedhispalefacewithalargeyellowbandannapocket-handkerchiefthatwasprodigiouslyscented.
HeshookhandswithDobbin,lookedattheclock,andtoldJohn,thewaiter,tobringhimsomecuracao.
Ofthiscordialheswallowedoffacoupleofglasseswithnervouseagerness.
Hisfriendaskedwithsomeinterestabouthishealth.
“Couldn’tgetawinkofsleeptilldaylight,Dob,”saidhe.“Infernalheadacheandfever.
Gotupatnine,andwentdowntotheHummumsforabath.
Isay,Dob,IfeeljustasIdidonthemorningIwentoutwithRocketatQuebec.”
“SodoI,”Williamresponded.“Iwasadeuceddealmorenervousthanyouwerethatmorning.Youmadeafamousbreakfast,Iremember.Eatsomethingnow.”
“You’reagoodoldfellow,Will.I’lldrinkyourhealth,oldboy,andfarewellto—”
“No,no;twoglassesareenough,”Dobbininterruptedhim.“Here,takeawaytheliqueurs,John.Havesomecayenne-pepperwithyourfowl.Makehastethough,foritistimewewerethere.”
Itwasabouthalfanhourfromtwelvewhenthisbriefmeetingandcolloquytookplacebetweenthetwocaptains.
Acoach,intowhichCaptainOsborne’sservantputhismaster’sdeskanddressing-case,hadbeeninwaitingforsometime;andintothisthetwogentlemenhurriedunderanumbrella,andthevaletmountedonthebox,cursingtherainandthedampnessofthecoachmanwhowassteamingbesidehim.
“Weshallfindabettertrapthanthisatthechurch-door,”sayshe;“that’sacomfort.”
Andthecarriagedroveon,takingtheroaddownPiccadilly,whereApsleyHouseandSt.George’sHospitalworeredjacketsstill;wheretherewereoil-lamps;whereAchilleswasnotyetborn;northePimlicoarchraised;northehideousequestrianmonsterwhichpervadesitandtheneighbourhood;andsotheydrovedownbyBromptontoacertainchapelneartheFulhamRoadthere.
Achariotwasinwaitingwithfourhorses;likewiseacoachofthekindcalledglasscoaches.Onlyaveryfewidlerswerecollectedonaccountofthedismalrain.
“Hangit!”saidGeorge,“Isaidonlyapair.”
“Mymasterwouldhavefour,”saidMr.JosephSedley’sservant,whowasinwaiting;andheandMr.Osborne’smanagreedastheyfollowedGeorgeandWilliamintothechurch,thatitwasa“reg’larshabbyturnhout;andwithscarcesomuchasabreakfastoraweddingfaviour.”
“Hereyouare,”saidouroldfriend,JosSedley,comingforward.
“You’refiveminuteslate,George,myboy.Whataday,eh?
Demmy,it’slikethecommencementoftherainyseasoninBengal.
Butyou’llfindmycarriageiswatertight.
Comealong,mymotherandEmmyareinthevestry.”
JosSedleywassplendid.Hewasfatterthanever.
Hisshirtcollarswerehigher;hisfacewasredder;hisshirt-frillflauntedgorgeouslyoutofhisvariegatedwaistcoat.
Varnishedbootswerenotinventedasyet;buttheHessiansonhisbeautifullegsshoneso,thattheymusthavebeentheidenticalpairinwhichthegentlemanintheoldpictureusedtoshavehimself;andonhislightgreencoattherebloomedafineweddingfavour,likeagreatwhitespreadingmagnolia.
Inaword,Georgehadthrownthegreatcast.Hewasgoingtobemarried.
Hencehispallorandnervousness—hissleeplessnightandagitationinthemorning.
Ihaveheardpeoplewhohavegonethroughthesamethingowntothesameemotion.
Afterthreeorfourceremonies,yougetaccustomedtoit,nodoubt;butthefirstdip,everybodyallows,isawful.
Thebridewasdressedinabrownsilkpelisse(asCaptainDobbinhassinceinformedme),andworeastrawbonnetwithapinkribbon;overthebonnetshehadaveilofwhiteChantillylace,agiftfromMr.JosephSedley,herbrother.
CaptainDobbinhimselfhadaskedleavetopresentherwithagoldchainandwatch,whichshesportedonthisoccasion;andhermothergaveherherdiamondbrooch—almosttheonlytrinketwhichwaslefttotheoldlady.
Astheservicewenton,Mrs.Sedleysatandwhimperedagreatdealinapew,consoledbytheIrishmaid-servantandMrs.Clappfromthelodgings.OldSedleywouldnotbepresent.
Josactedforhisfather,givingawaythebride,whilstCaptainDobbinsteppedupasgroomsmantohisfriendGeorge.
Therewasnobodyinthechurchbesidestheofficiatingpersonsandthesmallmarriagepartyandtheirattendants.
Thetwovaletssataloofsuperciliously.
Theraincamerattlingdownonthewindows.
Intheintervalsoftheserviceyouheardit,andthesobbingofoldMrs.Sedleyinthepew.
Theparson’stonesechoedsadlythroughtheemptywalls.
Osborne’s“Iwill”wassoundedinverydeepbass.
Emmy’sresponsecameflutteringuptoherlipsfromherheart,butwasscarcelyheardbyanybodyexceptCaptainDobbin.
Whentheservicewascompleted,JosSedleycameforwardandkissedhissister,thebride,forthefirsttimeformanymonths—George’slookofgloomhadgone,andheseemedquiteproudandradiant.
“It’syourturn,William,”sayshe,puttinghishandfondlyuponDobbin’sshoulder;andDobbinwentupandtouchedAmeliaonthecheek.
Thentheywentintothevestryandsignedtheregister.
“Godblessyou,OldDobbin,”Georgesaid,graspinghimbythehand,withsomethingverylikemoistureglisteninginhiseyes.
Williamrepliedonlybynoddinghishead.Hisheartwastoofulltosaymuch.
“Writedirectly,andcomedownassoonasyoucan,youknow,”Osbornesaid.
AfterMrs.Sedleyhadtakenanhystericaladieuofherdaughter,thepairwentofftothecarriage.
“Getoutoftheway,youlittledevils,”Georgecriedtoasmallcrowdofdampurchins,thatwerehangingaboutthechapel-door.
Theraindroveintothebrideandbridegroom’sfacesastheypassedtothechariot.
Thepostilions’favoursdraggledontheirdrippingjackets.
Thefewchildrenmadeadismalcheer,asthecarriage,splashingmud,droveaway.
WilliamDobbinstoodinthechurch-porch,lookingatit,aqueerfigure.Thesmallcrewofspectatorsjeeredhim.Hewasnotthinkingaboutthemortheirlaughter.
“Comehomeandhavesometiffin,Dobbin,”avoicecriedbehindhim;asapudgyhandwaslaidonhisshoulder,andthehonestfellow’sreveriewasinterrupted.
ButtheCaptainhadnohearttogoa-feastingwithJosSedley.
HeputtheweepingoldladyandherattendantsintothecarriagealongwithJos,andleftthemwithoutanyfartherwordspassing.
Thiscarriage,too,droveaway,andtheurchinsgaveanothersarcasticalcheer.
“Here,youlittlebeggars,”Dobbinsaid,givingsomesixpencesamongstthem,andthenwentoffbyhimselfthroughtherain.Itwasallover.
Theyweremarried,andhappy,heprayedGod.
Neversincehewasaboyhadhefeltsomiserableandsolonely.
Helongedwithaheart-sickyearningforthefirstfewdaystobeover,thathemightseeheragain.
Sometendaysaftertheaboveceremony,threeyoungmenofouracquaintancewereenjoyingthatbeautifulprospectofbowwindowsontheonesideandblueseaontheother,whichBrightonaffordstothetraveller.
Sometimesitistowardstheocean—smilingwithcountlessdimples,speckledwithwhitesails,withahundredbathing-machineskissingtheskirtofhisbluegarment—thattheLondonerlooksenraptured:sometimes,onthecontrary,aloverofhumannatureratherthanofprospectsofanykind,itistowardsthebowwindowsthatheturns,andthatswarmofhumanlifewhichtheyexhibit.
Fromoneissuethenotesofapiano,whichayoungladyinringletspractisessixhoursdaily,tothedelightofthefellow-lodgers:atanother,lovelyPolly,thenurse-maid,maybeseendandlingMasterOmniuminherarms:whilstJacob,hispapa,isbeheldeatingprawns,anddevouringtheTimesforbreakfast,atthewindowbelow.
YonderaretheMissesLeery,whoarelookingoutfortheyoungofficersoftheHeavies,whoareprettysuretobepacingthecliff;oragainitisaCityman,withanauticalturn,andatelescope,thesizeofasix-pounder,whohashisinstrumentpointedseawards,soastocommandeverypleasure-boat,herring-boat,orbathing-machinethatcomesto,orquits,theshore,&c.,&c.
ButhaveweanyleisureforadescriptionofBrighton?
—forBrighton,acleanNapleswithgenteellazzaroni—forBrighton,thatalwayslooksbrisk,gay,andgaudy,likeaharlequin’sjacket—forBrighton,whichusedtobesevenhoursdistantfromLondonatthetimeofourstory;whichisnowonlyahundredminutesoff;andwhichmayapproachwhoknowshowmuchnearer,unlessJoinvillecomesanduntimelybombardsit?
“Whatamonstrousfinegirlthatisinthelodgingsoverthemilliner’s,”oneofthesethreepromenadersremarkedtotheother;“Gad,Crawley,didyouseewhatawinkshegavemeasIpassed?”
“Don’tbreakherheart,Jos,yourascal,”saidanother.“Don’ttriflewithheraffections,youDonJuan!”
“Getaway,”saidJosSedley,quitepleased,andleeringupatthemaid-servantinquestionwithamostkillingogle.
JoswasevenmoresplendidatBrightonthanhehadbeenathissister’smarriage.
Hehadbrilliantunder-waistcoats,anyoneofwhichwouldhavesetupamoderatebuck.
Hesportedamilitaryfrock-coat,ornamentedwithfrogs,knobs,blackbuttons,andmeanderingembroidery.
Hehadaffectedamilitaryappearanceandhabitsoflate;andhewalkedwithhistwofriends,whowereofthatprofession,clinkinghisboot-spurs,swaggeringprodigiously,andshootingdeath-glancesatalltheservantgirlswhowereworthytobeslain.
“Whatshallwedo,boys,tilltheladiesreturn?”thebuckasked.TheladieswereouttoRottingdeaninhiscarriageonadrive.
“Let’shaveagameatbilliards,”oneofhisfriendssaid—thetallone,withlacqueredmustachios.
“No,dammy;no,Captain,”Josreplied,ratheralarmed.“Nobilliardsto-day,Crawley,myboy;yesterdaywasenough.”
“Youplayverywell,”saidCrawley,laughing.“Don’the,Osborne?Howwellhemadethat-fivestroke,eh?”
“Famous,”Osbornesaid.“Josisadevilofafellowatbilliards,andateverythingelse,too.
Iwishtherewereanytiger-huntingabouthere!
wemightgoandkillafewbeforedinner.(Theregoesafinegirl!whatanankle,eh,Jos?)
Tellusthatstoryaboutthetiger-hunt,andthewayyoudidforhiminthejungle—it’sawonderfulstorythat,Crawley.”HereGeorgeOsbornegaveayawn.
“It’sratherslowwork,”saidhe,“downhere;whatshallwedo?”
“ShallwegoandlookatsomehorsesthatSnaffler’sjustbroughtfromLewesfair?”Crawleysaid.
“SupposewegoandhavesomejelliesatDutton’s,”andtherogueJos,willingtokilltwobirdswithonestone.“DevilishfinegalatDutton’s.”
“SupposewegoandseetheLightningcomein,it’sjustabouttime?”Georgesaid.
Thisadviceprevailingoverthestablesandthejelly,theyturnedtowardsthecoach-officetowitnesstheLightning’sarrival.
Astheypassed,theymetthecarriage—JosSedley’sopencarriage,withitsmagnificentarmorialbearings—thatsplendidconveyanceinwhichheusedtodrive,aboutatCheltonham,majesticandsolitary,withhisarmsfolded,andhishatcocked;or,morehappy,withladiesbyhisside.
Twowereinthecarriagenow:onealittleperson,withlighthair,anddressedintheheightofthefashion;theotherinabrownsilkpelisse,andastrawbonnetwithpinkribbons,witharosy,round,happyface,thatdidyougoodtobehold.
Shecheckedthecarriageasitnearedthethreegentlemen,afterwhichexerciseofauthorityshelookedrathernervous,andthenbegantoblushmostabsurdly.
“Wehavehadadelightfuldrive,George,”shesaid,“and—andwe’resogladtocomeback;and,Joseph,don’tlethimbelate.”
“Don’tbeleadingourhusbandsintomischief,Mr.Sedley,youwicked,wickedmanyou,”Rebeccasaid,shakingatJosaprettylittlefingercoveredwiththeneatestFrenchkidglove.
“Nobilliards,nosmoking,nonaughtiness!”
“MydearMrs.Crawley—Ahnow!uponmyhonour!”
wasallJoscouldejaculatebywayofreply;buthemanagedtofallintoatolerableattitude,withhisheadlyingonhisshoulder,grinningupwardsathisvictim,withonehandathisback,whichhesupportedonhiscane,andtheotherhand(theonewiththediamondring)fumblinginhisshirt-frillandamonghisunder-waistcoats.
Asthecarriagedroveoffhekissedthediamondhandtothefairladieswithin.
HewishedallCheltenham,allChowringhee,allCalcutta,couldseehiminthatposition,wavinghishandtosuchabeauty,andincompanywithsuchafamousbuckasRawdonCrawleyoftheGuards.
OuryoungbrideandbridegroomhadchosenBrightonastheplacewheretheywouldpassthefirstfewdaysaftertheirmarriage;andhavingengagedapartmentsattheShipInn,enjoyedthemselvesthereingreatcomfortandquietude,untilJospresentlyjoinedthem.
Norwashetheonlycompaniontheyfoundthere.
Astheywerecomingintothehotelfromasea-sidewalkoneafternoon,onwhomshouldtheylightbutRebeccaandherhusband.Therecognitionwasimmediate.
Rebeccaflewintothearmsofherdearestfriend.
CrawleyandOsborneshookhandstogethercordiallyenough:andBecky,inthecourseofaveryfewhours,foundmeanstomakethelatterforgetthatlittleunpleasantpassageofwordswhichhadhappenedbetweenthem.
“DoyourememberthelasttimewemetatMissCrawley’s,whenIwassorudetoyou,dearCaptainOsborne?
IthoughtyouseemedcarelessaboutdearAmelia.
Itwasthatmademeangry:andsopert:andsounkind:andsoungrateful.Doforgiveme!”
Rebeccasaid,andsheheldoutherhandwithsofrankandwinningagrace,thatOsbornecouldnotbuttakeit.
Byhumblyandfranklyacknowledgingyourselftobeinthewrong,thereisnoknowing,myson,whatgoodyoumaydo.
IknewonceagentlemanandveryworthypractitionerinVanityFair,whousedtodolittlewrongstohisneighboursonpurpose,andinordertoapologisefortheminanopenandmanlywayafterwards—andwhatensued?
MyfriendCrockyDoylewaslikedeverywhere,anddeemedtoberatherimpetuous—butthehonestestfellow.
Becky’shumilitypassedforsinceritywithGeorgeOsborne.
Thesetwoyoungcoupleshadplentyoftalestorelatetoeachother.
Themarriagesofeitherwerediscussed;andtheirprospectsinlifecanvassedwiththegreatestfranknessandinterestonbothsides.
George’smarriagewastobemadeknowntohisfatherbyhisfriendCaptainDobbin;andyoungOsbornetrembledratherfortheresultofthatcommunication.
MissCrawley,onwhomallRawdon’shopesdepended,stillheldout.
UnabletomakeanentryintoherhouseinParkLane,heraffectionatenephewandniecehadfollowedhertoBrighton,wheretheyhademissariescontinuallyplantedatherdoor.
“IwishyoucouldseesomeofRawdon’sfriendswhoarealwaysaboutourdoor,”Rebeccasaid,laughing.
“Didyoueverseeadun,mydear;orabailiffandhisman?
Twooftheabominablewretcheswatchedalllastweekatthegreengrocer’sopposite,andwecouldnotgetawayuntilSunday.
IfAuntydoesnotrelent,whatshallwedo?”
Rawdon,withroarsoflaughter,relatedadozenamusinganecdotesofhisduns,andRebecca’sadroittreatmentofthem.
HevowedwithagreatoaththattherewasnowomaninEuropewhocouldtalkacreditoroverasshecould.
Almostimmediatelyaftertheirmarriage,herpracticehadbegun,andherhusbandfoundtheimmensevalueofsuchawife.
Theyhadcreditinplenty,buttheyhadbillsalsoinabundance,andlabouredunderascarcityofreadymoney.
Didthesedebt-difficultiesaffectRawdon’sgoodspirits?No.
EverybodyinVanityFairmusthaveremarkedhowwellthoselivewhoarecomfortablyandthoroughlyindebt:howtheydenythemselvesnothing;howjollyandeasytheyareintheirminds.
RawdonandhiswifehadtheverybestapartmentsattheinnatBrighton;thelandlord,ashebroughtinthefirstdish,bowedbeforethemastohisgreatestcustomers:andRawdonabusedthedinnersandwinewithanaudacitywhichnograndeeinthelandcouldsurpass.
Longcustom,amanlyappearance,faultlessbootsandclothes,andahappyfiercenessofmanner,willoftenhelpamanasmuchasagreatbalanceatthebanker’s.
Thetwoweddingpartiesmetconstantlyineachother’sapartments.
Aftertwoorthreenightsthegentlemenofaneveninghadalittlepiquet,astheirwivessateandchattedapart.
Thispastime,andthearrivalofJosSedley,whomadehisappearanceinhisgrandopencarriage,andwhoplayedafewgamesatbilliardswithCaptainCrawley,replenishedRawdon’spursesomewhat,andgavehimthebenefitofthatreadymoneyforwhichthegreatestspiritsaresometimesatastand-still.
SothethreegentlemenwalkeddowntoseetheLightningcoachcomein.
Punctualtotheminute,thecoachcrowdedinsideandout,theguardblowinghisaccustomedtuneonthehorn—theLightningcametearingdownthestreet,andpulledupatthecoach-office.
“Hullo!there’soldDobbin,”Georgecried,quitedelightedtoseehisoldfriendperchedontheroof;andwhosepromisedvisittoBrightonhadbeendelayeduntilnow.“Howareyou,oldfellow?Gladyou’recomedown.
Emmy’llbedelightedtoseeyou,”Osbornesaid,shakinghiscomradewarmlybythehandassoonashisdescentfromthevehiclewaseffected—andthenheadded,inalowerandagitatedvoice,“What’sthenews?HaveyoubeeninRussellSquare?Whatdoesthegovernorsay?Tellmeeverything.”
Dobbinlookedverypaleandgrave.“I’veseenyourfather,”saidhe.“How’sAmelia—Mrs.George?I’lltellyouallthenewspresently:butI’vebroughtthegreatnewsofall:andthatis—”
“Outwithit,oldfellow,”Georgesaid.
“We’reorderedtoBelgium.Allthearmygoes—guardsandall.
Heavytop’sgotthegout,andismadatnotbeingabletomove.
O’Dowdgoesincommand,andweembarkfromChathamnextweek.”
Thisnewsofwarcouldnotbutcomewithashockuponourlovers,andcausedallthesegentlementolookveryserious.
Share this article to
FINISH