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OnquittingBrighton,ourfriendGeorge,asbecameapersonofrankandfashiontravellinginabarouchewithfourhorses,droveinstatetoafinehotelinCavendishSquare,whereasuiteofsplendidrooms,andatablemagnificentlyfurnishedwithplateandsurroundedbyahalf-dozenofblackandsilentwaiters,wasreadytoreceivetheyounggentlemanandhisbride.
GeorgedidthehonoursoftheplacewithaprincelyairtoJosandDobbin;andAmelia,forthefirsttime,andwithexceedingshynessandtimidity,presidedatwhatGeorgecalledherowntable.
Georgepooh-poohedthewineandbulliedthewaitersroyally,andJosgobbledtheturtlewithimmensesatisfaction.
Dobbinhelpedhimtoit;fortheladyofthehouse,beforewhomthetureenwasplaced,wassoignorantofthecontents,thatshewasgoingtohelpMr.Sedleywithoutbestowinguponhimeithercalipashorcalipee.
Thesplendouroftheentertainment,andtheapartmentsinwhichitwasgiven,alarmedMr.Dobbin,whoremonstratedafterdinner,whenJoswasasleepinthegreatchair.
Butinvainhecriedoutagainsttheenormityofturtleandchampagnethatwasfitforanarchbishop.
“I’vealwaysbeenaccustomedtotravellikeagentleman,”Georgesaid,“and,damme,mywifeshalltravellikealady.
Aslongasthere’sashotinthelocker,sheshallwantfornothing,”saidthegenerousfellow,quitepleasedwithhimselfforhismagnificenceofspirit.
NordidDobbintryandconvincehimthatAmelia’shappinesswasnotcentredinturtle-soup.
Awhileafterdinner,Ameliatimidlyexpressedawishtogoandseehermamma,atFulham:whichpermissionGeorgegrantedherwithsomegrumbling.
Andshetrippedawaytoherenormousbedroom,inthecentreofwhichstoodtheenormousfunerealbed,“thattheEmperorHalixander’ssisterslepinwhenthealliedsufferingswashere,”andputonherlittlebonnetandshawlwiththeutmosteagernessandpleasure.
Georgewasstilldrinkingclaretwhenshereturnedtothedining-room,andmadenosignsofmoving.“Ar’n’tyoucomingwithme,dearest?”sheaskedhim.
No;the“dearest”had“business”thatnight.
Hismanshouldgetheracoachandgowithher.
Andthecoachbeingatthedoorofthehotel,AmeliamadeGeorgealittledisappointedcurtseyafterlookingvainlyintohisfaceonceortwice,andwentsadlydownthegreatstaircase,CaptainDobbinafter,whohandedherintothevehicle,andsawitdriveawaytoitsdestination.
Theveryvaletwasashamedofmentioningtheaddresstothehackney-coachmanbeforethehotelwaiters,andpromisedtoinstructhimwhentheygotfurtheron.
DobbinwalkedhometohisoldquartersandtheSlaughters’,thinkingverylikelythatitwouldbedelightfultobeinthathackney-coach,alongwithMrs.Osborne.
Georgewasevidentlyofquiteadifferenttaste;forwhenhehadtakenwineenough,hewentofftohalf-priceattheplay,toseeMr.KeanperforminShylock.
CaptainOsbornewasagreatloverofthedrama,andhadhimselfperformedhigh-comedycharacterswithgreatdistinctioninseveralgarrisontheatricalentertainments.
Jossleptonuntillongafterdark,whenhewokeupwithastartatthemotionsofhisservant,whowasremovingandemptyingthedecantersonthetable;andthehackney-coachstandwasagainputintorequisitionforacarriagetoconveythisstoutherotohislodgingsandbed.
Mrs.Sedley,youmaybesure,claspedherdaughtertoherheartwithallmaternaleagernessandaffection,runningoutofthedoorasthecarriagedrewupbeforethelittlegarden-gate,towelcometheweeping,trembling,youngbride.
OldMr.Clapp,whowasinhisshirt-sleeves,trimmingthegarden-plot,shrankbackalarmed.
TheIrishservant-lassrushedupfromthekitchenandsmileda“Godblessyou.”
Ameliacouldhardlywalkalongtheflagsandupthestepsintotheparlour.
Howthefloodgateswereopened,andmotheranddaughterwept,whentheyweretogetherembracingeachotherinthissanctuary,mayreadilybeimaginedbyeveryreaderwhopossessestheleastsentimentalturn.Whendon’tladiesweep?
Atwhatoccasionofjoy,sorrow,orotherbusinessoflife,and,aftersuchaneventasamarriage,motheranddaughterweresurelyatlibertytogivewaytoasensibilitywhichisastenderasitisrefreshing.
AboutaquestionofmarriageIhaveseenwomenwhohateeachotherkissandcrytogetherquitefondly.
Howmuchmoredotheyfeelwhentheylove!
Goodmothersaremarriedoveragainattheirdaughters’weddings:andasforsubsequentevents,whodoesnotknowhowultra-maternalgrandmothersare?
—infactawoman,untilsheisagrandmother,doesnotoftenreallyknowwhattobeamotheris.
LetusrespectAmeliaandhermammawhisperingandwhimperingandlaughingandcryingintheparlourandthetwilight.OldMr.Sedleydid.
HEhadnotdivinedwhowasinthecarriagewhenitdroveup.
Hehadnotflownouttomeethisdaughter,thoughhekissedherverywarmlywhensheenteredtheroom(wherehewasoccupied,asusual,withhispapersandtapesandstatementsofaccounts),andaftersittingwiththemotheranddaughterforashorttime,heverywiselyleftthelittleapartmentintheirpossession.
George’svaletwaslookingoninaverysuperciliousmanneratMr.Clappinhisshirt-sleeves,wateringhisrose-bushes.
Hetookoffhishat,however,withmuchcondescensiontoMr.Sedley,whoaskednewsabouthisson-in-law,andaboutJos’scarriage,andwhetherhishorseshadbeendowntoBrighton,andaboutthatinfernaltraitorBonaparty,andthewar;untiltheIrishmaid-servantcamewithaplateandabottleofwine,fromwhichtheoldgentlemaninsisteduponhelpingthevalet.
Hegavehimahalf-guineatoo,whichtheservantpocketedwithamixtureofwonderandcontempt.
“Tothehealthofyourmasterandmistress,Trotter,”Mr.Sedleysaid,“andhere’ssomethingtodrinkyourhealthwhenyougethome,Trotter.”
TherewerebutninedayspastsinceAmeliahadleftthatlittlecottageandhome—andyethowfaroffthetimeseemedsinceshehadbiddenitfarewell.
Whatagulflaybetweenherandthatpastlife.
Shecouldlookbacktoitfromherpresentstanding-place,andcontemplate,almostasanotherbeing,theyoungunmarriedgirlabsorbedinherlove,havingnoeyesbutforonespecialobject,receivingparentalaffectionifnotungratefully,atleastindifferently,andasifitwereherdue—herwholeheartandthoughtsbentontheaccomplishmentofonedesire.
Thereviewofthosedays,solatelygoneyetsofaraway,touchedherwithshame;andtheaspectofthekindparentsfilledherwithtenderremorse.
Wastheprizegained—theheavenoflife—andthewinnerstilldoubtfulandunsatisfied?
Ashisheroandheroinepassthematrimonialbarrier,thenovelistgenerallydropsthecurtain,asifthedramawereoverthen:thedoubtsandstrugglesoflifeended:asif,oncelandedinthemarriagecountry,allweregreenandpleasantthere:andwifeandhusbandhadnothingtodobuttolinkeachother’sarmstogether,andwandergentlydownwardstowardsoldageinhappyandperfectfruition.
ButourlittleAmeliawasjustonthebankofhernewcountry,andwasalreadylookinganxiouslybacktowardsthesadfriendlyfigureswavingfarewelltoheracrossthestream,fromtheotherdistantshore.
Inhonouroftheyoungbride’sarrival,hermotherthoughtitnecessarytoprepareIdon’tknowwhatfestiveentertainment,andafterthefirstebullitionoftalk,tookleaveofMrs.GeorgeOsborneforawhile,anddiveddowntothelowerregionsofthehousetoasortofkitchen-parlour(occupiedbyMr.andMrs.Clapp,andintheevening,whenherdisheswerewashedandhercurl-papersremoved,byMissFlannigan,theIrishservant),theretotakemeasuresforthepreparingofamagnificentornamentedtea.
Allpeoplehavetheirwaysofexpressingkindness,anditseemedtoMrs.Sedleythatamuffinandaquantityoforangemarmaladespreadoutinalittlecut-glasssaucerwouldbepeculiarlyagreeablerefreshmentstoAmeliainhermostinterestingsituation.
Whilethesedelicacieswerebeingtransactedbelow,Amelia,leavingthedrawing-room,walkedupstairsandfoundherself,shescarceknewhow,inthelittleroomwhichshehadoccupiedbeforehermarriage,andinthatverychairinwhichshehadpassedsomanybitterhours.
Shesankbackinitsarmsasifitwereanoldfriend;andfelltothinkingoverthepastweek,andthelifebeyondit.
Alreadytobelookingsadlyandvaguelyback:alwaystobepiningforsomethingwhich,whenobtained,broughtdoubtandsadnessratherthanpleasure;herewasthelotofourpoorlittlecreatureandharmlesslostwandererinthegreatstrugglingcrowdsofVanityFair.
Hereshesate,andrecalledtoherselffondlythatimageofGeorgetowhichshehadkneltbeforemarriage.
Didsheowntoherselfhowdifferenttherealmanwasfromthatsuperbyoungherowhomshehadworshipped?
Itrequiresmany,manyyears—andamanmustbeverybadindeed—beforeawoman’sprideandvanitywillletherowntosuchaconfession.
ThenRebecca’stwinklinggreeneyesandbalefulsmilelighteduponher,andfilledherwithdismay.
Andsoshesateforawhileindulginginherusualmoodofselfishbrooding,inthatverylistlessmelancholyattitudeinwhichthehonestmaid-servanthadfoundher,onthedaywhenshebroughtuptheletterinwhichGeorgerenewedhisofferofmarriage.
Shelookedatthelittlewhitebed,whichhadbeenhersafewdaysbefore,andthoughtshewouldliketosleepinitthatnight,andwake,asformerly,withhermothersmilingoverherinthemorning:Thenshethoughtwithterrorofthegreatfunerealdamaskpavilioninthevastanddingystatebedroom,whichwasawaitingheratthegrandhotelinCavendishSquare.Dearlittlewhitebed!
howmanyalongnighthadsheweptonitspillow!
Howshehaddespairedandhopedtodiethere;andnowwerenotallherwishesaccomplished,andtheloverofwhomshehaddespairedherownforever?Kindmother!
howpatientlyandtenderlyshehadwatchedroundthatbed!
Shewentandkneltdownbythebedside;andtherethiswoundedandtimorous,butgentleandlovingsoul,soughtforconsolation,whereasyet,itmustbeowned,ourlittlegirlhadbutseldomlookedforit.
Lovehadbeenherfaithhitherto;andthesad,bleedingdisappointedheartbegantofeelthewantofanotherconsoler.
Havewearighttorepeatortooverhearherprayers?These,brother,aresecrets,andoutofthedomainofVanityFair,inwhichourstorylies.
Butthismaybesaid,thatwhentheteawasfinallyannounced,ouryoungladycamedownstairsagreatdealmorecheerful;thatshedidnotdespond,ordeploreherfate,orthinkaboutGeorge’scoldness,orRebecca’seyes,asshehadbeenwonttodooflate.
Shewentdownstairs,andkissedherfatherandmother,andtalkedtotheoldgentleman,andmadehimmoremerrythanhehadbeenformanyaday.
ShesatedownatthepianowhichDobbinhadboughtforher,andsangoverallherfather’sfavouriteoldsongs.
Shepronouncedtheteatobeexcellent,andpraisedtheexquisitetasteinwhichthemarmaladewasarrangedinthesaucers.
Andindeterminingtomakeeverybodyelsehappy,shefoundherselfso;andwassoundasleepinthegreatfunerealpavilion,andonlywokeupwithasmilewhenGeorgearrivedfromthetheatre.
Forthenextday,Georgehadmoreimportant“business”totransactthanthatwhichtookhimtoseeMr.KeaninShylock.
ImmediatelyonhisarrivalinLondonhehadwrittenofftohisfather’ssolicitors,signifyinghisroyalpleasurethataninterviewshouldtakeplacebetweenthemonthemorrow.
Hishotelbill,lossesatbilliardsandcardstoCaptainCrawleyhadalmostdrainedtheyoungman’spurse,whichwantedreplenishingbeforehesetoutonhistravels,andhehadnoresourcebuttoinfringeuponthetwothousandpoundswhichtheattorneyswerecommissionedtopayovertohim.
Hehadaperfectbeliefinhisownmindthathisfatherwouldrelentbeforeverylong.
Howcouldanyparentbeobdurateforalengthoftimeagainstsuchaparagonashewas?
Ifhismerepastandpersonalmeritsdidnotsucceedinmollifyinghisfather,Georgedeterminedthathewoulddistinguishhimselfsoprodigiouslyintheensuingcampaignthattheoldgentlemanmustgiveintohim.Andifnot?Bah!theworldwasbeforehim.
Hisluckmightchangeatcards,andtherewasadealofspendingintwothousandpounds.
SohesentoffAmeliaoncemoreinacarriagetohermamma,withstrictordersandcarteblanchetothetwoladiestopurchaseeverythingrequisiteforaladyofMrs.GeorgeOsborne’sfashion,whowasgoingonaforeigntour.
Theyhadbutonedaytocompletetheoutfit,anditmaybeimaginedthattheirbusinessthereforeoccupiedthemprettyfully.
Inacarriageoncemore,bustlingaboutfrommillinertolinen-draper,escortedbacktothecarriagebyobsequiousshopmenorpoliteowners,Mrs.Sedleywasherselfagainalmost,andsincerelyhappyforthefirsttimesincetheirmisfortunes.
NorwasMrs.Ameliaatallabovethepleasureofshopping,andbargaining,andseeingandbuyingprettythings.
(Wouldanyman,themostphilosophic,givetwopenceforawomanwhowas?)
Shegaveherselfalittletreat,obedienttoherhusband’sorders,andpurchasedaquantityoflady’sgear,showingagreatdealoftasteandelegantdiscernment,asalltheshopfolkssaid.
Andaboutthewarthatwasensuing,Mrs.Osbornewasnotmuchalarmed;Bonapartywastobecrushedalmostwithoutastruggle.
Margatepacketsweresailingeveryday,filledwithmenoffashionandladiesofnote,ontheirwaytoBrusselsandGhent.
Peopleweregoingnotsomuchtoawarastoafashionabletour.
Thenewspaperslaughedthewretchedupstartandswindlertoscorn.
SuchaCorsicanwretchasthatwithstandthearmiesofEuropeandthegeniusoftheimmortalWellington!
Ameliaheldhiminuttercontempt;foritneedsnottobesaidthatthissoftandgentlecreaturetookheropinionsfromthosepeoplewhosurroundedher,suchfidelitybeingmuchtoohumble-mindedtothinkforitself.
Well,inaword,sheandhermotherperformedagreatday’sshopping,andsheacquittedherselfwithconsiderablelivelinessandcreditonthisherfirstappearanceinthegenteelworldofLondon.
Georgemeanwhile,withhishatononeside,hiselbowssquared,andhisswaggeringmartialair,madeforBedfordRow,andstalkedintotheattorney’sofficesasifhewaslordofeverypale-facedclerkwhowasscribblingthere.
HeorderedsomebodytoinformMr.HiggsthatCaptainOsbornewaswaiting,inafierceandpatronizingway,asifthepekinofanattorney,whohadthricehisbrains,fiftytimeshismoney,andathousandtimeshisexperience,wasawretchedunderlingwhoshouldinstantlyleaveallhisbusinessinlifetoattendontheCaptain’spleasure.
Hedidnotseethesneerofcontemptwhichpassedallroundtheroom,fromthefirstclerktothearticledgents,fromthearticledgentstotheraggedwritersandwhite-facedrunners,inclothestootightforthem,ashesatetheretappinghisbootwithhiscane,andthinkingwhataparcelofmiserablepoordevilsthesewere.
Themiserablepoordevilsknewallabouthisaffairs.
Theytalkedaboutthemovertheirpintsofbeerattheirpublic-houseclubstootherclerksofanight.
Yegods,whatdonotattorneysandattorneys’clerksknowinLondon!
Nothingishiddenfromtheirinquisition,andtheirfamiliesmutelyruleourcity.
PerhapsGeorgeexpected,whenheenteredMr.Higgs’sapartment,tofindthatgentlemancommissionedtogivehimsomemessageofcompromiseorconciliationfromhisfather;perhapshishaughtyandcolddemeanourwasadoptedasasignofhisspiritandresolution:butifso,hisfiercenesswasmetbyachillingcoolnessandindifferenceontheattorney’spart,thatrenderedswaggeringabsurd.
Hepretendedtobewritingatapaper,whentheCaptainentered.
“Pray,sitdown,sir,”saidhe,“andIwillattendtoyourlittleaffairinamoment.
Mr.Poe,getthereleasepapers,ifyouplease”;andthenhefelltowritingagain.
Poehavingproducedthosepapers,hischiefcalculatedtheamountoftwothousandpoundsstockattherateoftheday;andaskedCaptainOsbornewhetherhewouldtakethesuminachequeuponthebankers,orwhetherheshoulddirectthelattertopurchasestocktothatamount.
“OneofthelateMrs.Osborne’strusteesisoutoftown,”hesaidindifferently,“butmyclientwishestomeetyourwishes,andhavedonewiththebusinessasquickaspossible.”
“Givemeacheque,sir,”saidtheCaptainverysurlily.
“Damntheshillingsandhalfpence,sir,”headded,asthelawyerwasmakingouttheamountofthedraft;and,flatteringhimselfthatbythisstrokeofmagnanimityhehadputtheoldquiztotheblush,hestalkedoutoftheofficewiththepaperinhispocket.
“Thatchapwillbeingaolintwoyears,”Mr.HiggssaidtoMr.Poe.
“Won’tO.comeround,sir,don’tyouthink?”
“Won’tthemonumentcomeround,”Mr.Higgsreplied.
“He’sgoingitprettyfast,”saidtheclerk.
“He’sonlymarriedaweek,andIsawhimandsomeothermilitarychapshandingMrs.Highflyertohercarriageaftertheplay.”
Andthenanothercasewascalled,andMr.GeorgeOsbornethenceforthdismissedfromtheseworthygentlemen’smemory.
ThedraftwasuponourfriendsHulkerandBullockofLombardStreet,towhosehouse,stillthinkinghewasdoingbusiness,Georgebenthisway,andfromwhomhereceivedhismoney.
FrederickBullock,Esq.,whoseyellowfacewasoveraledger,atwhichsateademureclerk,happenedtobeinthebanking-roomwhenGeorgeentered.
HisyellowfaceturnedtoamoredeadlycolourwhenhesawtheCaptain,andheslunkbackguiltilyintotheinmostparlour.
Georgewastoobusygloatingoverthemoney(forhehadneverhadsuchasumbefore),tomarkthecountenanceorflightofthecadaveroussuitorofhissister.
FredBullocktoldoldOsborneofhisson’sappearanceandconduct.
“Hecameinasboldasbrass,”saidFrederick.“Hehasdrawnouteveryshilling.
Howlongwillafewhundredpoundslastsuchachapasthat?”
Osbornesworewithagreatoaththathelittlecaredwhenorhowsoonhespentit.
FreddinedeverydayinRussellSquarenow.
Butaltogether,Georgewashighlypleasedwithhisday’sbusiness.
Allhisownbaggageandoutfitwasputintoastateofspeedypreparation,andhepaidAmelia’spurchaseswithchequesonhisagents,andwiththesplendourofalord.
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