English
WhenJos’sfinecarriagedroveuptotheinndooratChatham,thefirstfacewhichAmeliarecognizedwasthefriendlycountenanceofCaptainDobbin,whohadbeenpacingthestreetforanhourpastinexpectationofhisfriends’arrival.
TheCaptain,withshellsonhisfrockcoat,andacrimsonsashandsabre,presentedamilitaryappearance,whichmadeJosquiteproudtobeabletoclaimsuchanacquaintance,andthestoutcivilianhailedhimwithacordialityverydifferentfromthereceptionwhichJosvouchsafedtohisfriendinBrightonandBondStreet.
AlongwiththeCaptainwasEnsignStubble;who,asthebarouchenearedtheinn,burstoutwithanexclamationof“ByJove!
whataprettygirl”;highlyapplaudingOsborne’schoice.
Indeed,Ameliadressedinherwedding-pelisseandpinkribbons,withaflushinherface,occasionedbyrapidtravelthroughtheopenair,lookedsofreshandpretty,asfullytojustifytheEnsign’scompliment.Dobbinlikedhimformakingit.
Ashesteppedforwardtohelptheladyoutofthecarriage,Stubblesawwhataprettylittlehandshegavehim,andwhatasweetprettylittlefootcametrippingdownthestep.
Heblushedprofusely,andmadetheverybestbowofwhichhewascapable;towhichAmelia,seeingthenumberofthetheregimentembroideredontheEnsign’scap,repliedwithablushingsmile,andacurtseyonherpart;whichfinishedtheyoungEnsignonthespot.
DobbintookmostkindlytoMr.Stubblefromthatday,andencouragedhimtotalkaboutAmeliaintheirprivatewalks,andateachother’squarters.
Itbecamethefashion,indeed,amongallthehonestyoungfellowsofthe—thtoadoreandadmireMrs.Osborne.
Hersimpleartlessbehaviour,andmodestkindnessofdemeanour,wonalltheirunsophisticatedhearts;allwhichsimplicityandsweetnessarequiteimpossibletodescribeinprint.
Butwhohasnotbeheldtheseamongwomen,andrecognisedthepresenceofallsortsofqualitiesinthem,eventhoughtheysaynomoretoyouthanthattheyareengagedtodancethenextquadrille,orthatitisveryhotweather?
George,alwaysthechampionofhisregiment,roseimmenselyintheopinionoftheyouthofthecorps,byhisgallantryinmarryingthisportionlessyoungcreature,andbyhischoiceofsuchaprettykindpartner.
Inthesitting-roomwhichwasawaitingthetravellers,Amelia,tohersurprise,foundaletteraddressedtoMrs.CaptainOsborne.
Itwasatriangularbillet,onpinkpaper,andsealedwithadoveandanolivebranch,andaprofusionoflightbluesealingwax,anditwaswritteninaverylarge,thoughundecidedfemalehand.
“It’sPeggyO’Dowd’sfist,”saidGeorge,laughing.“Iknowitbythekissesontheseal.”
Andinfact,itwasanotefromMrs.MajorO’Dowd,requestingthepleasureofMrs.Osborne’scompanythatveryeveningtoasmallfriendlyparty.“Youmustgo,”Georgesaid.
“Youwillmakeacquaintancewiththeregimentthere.
O’Dowdgoesincommandoftheregiment,andPeggygoesincommand.”
ButtheyhadnotbeenformanyminutesintheenjoymentofMrs.O’Dowd’sletter,whenthedoorwasflungopen,andastoutjollylady,inariding-habit,followedbyacoupleofofficersofOurs,enteredtheroom.
“Sure,Icouldn’tstoptilltay-time.Presentme,Garge,mydearfellow,toyourlady.
Madam,I’mdeloightedtoseeye;andtopresenttoyoumehusband,MeejorO’Dowd”;andwiththis,thejollyladyintheriding-habitgraspedAmelia’shandverywarmly,andthelatterknewatoncethattheladywasbeforeherwhomherhusbandhadsooftenlaughedat.
“You’veoftenheardofmefromthathusbandofyours,”saidthelady,withgreatvivacity.
“You’veoftenheardofher,”echoedherhusband,theMajor.
Ameliaanswered,smiling,“thatshehad.”
“Andsmallgoodhe’stoldyouofme,”Mrs.O’Dowdreplied;addingthat“Georgewasawickeddivvle.”
“ThatI’llgobailfor,”saidtheMajor,tryingtolookknowing,atwhichGeorgelaughed;andMrs.O’Dowd,withatapofherwhip,toldtheMajortobequiet;andthenrequestedtobepresentedinformtoMrs.CaptainOsborne.
“This,mydear,”saidGeorgewithgreatgravity,“ismyverygood,kind,andexcellentfriend,AuraliaMargaretta,otherwisecalledPeggy.”
“Faith,you’reright,”interposedtheMajor.
“OtherwisecalledPeggy,ladyofMajorMichaelO’Dowd,ofourregiment,anddaughterofFitzjurldBer’sforddeBurgoMalonyofGlenmalony,CountyKildare.”
“AndMuryanSqueer,Doblin,”saidtheladywithcalmsuperiority.
“AndMuryanSquare,sureenough,”theMajorwhispered.
”’Twasthereyecoortedme,Meejordear,”theladysaid;andtheMajorassentedtothisastoeveryotherpropositionwhichwasmadegenerallyincompany.
MajorO’Dowd,whohadservedhissovereignineveryquarteroftheworld,andhadpaidforeverystepinhisprofessionbysomemorethanequivalentactofdaringandgallantry,wasthemostmodest,silent,sheep-facedandmeekoflittlemen,andasobedienttohiswifeasifhehadbeenhertay-boy.
Atthemess-tablehesatsilently,anddrankagreatdeal.
Whenfullofliquor,hereeledsilentlyhome.
Whenhespoke,itwastoagreewitheverybodyoneveryconceivablepoint;andhepassedthroughlifeinperfecteaseandgood-humour.
ThehottestsunsofIndianeverheatedhistemper;andtheWalcherenaguenevershookit.
Hewalkeduptoabatterywithjustasmuchindifferenceastoadinner-table;haddinedonhorse-fleshandturtlewithequalrelishandappetite;andhadanoldmother,Mrs.O’DowdofO’Dowdstownindeed,whomhehadneverdisobeyedbutwhenheranawayandenlisted,andwhenhepersistedinmarryingthatodiousPeggyMalony.
Peggywasoneoffivesisters,andelevenchildrenofthenoblehouseofGlenmalony;butherhusband,thoughherowncousin,wasofthemother’sside,andsohadnottheinestimableadvantageofbeingalliedtotheMalonys,whomshebelievedtobethemostfamousfamilyintheworld.
HavingtriednineseasonsatDublinandtwoatBathandCheltenham,andnotfindingapartnerforlife,MissMalonyorderedhercousinMicktomarryherwhenshewasaboutthirty-threeyearsofage;andthehonestfellowobeying,carriedherofftotheWestIndies,topresideovertheladiesofthe—thregiment,intowhichhehadjustexchanged.
BeforeMrs.O’DowdwashalfanhourinAmelia’s(orindeedinanybodyelse’s)company,thisamiableladytoldallherbirthandpedigreetohernewfriend.
“Mydear,”saidshe,good-naturedly,“itwasmyintentionthatGargeshouldbeabrotherofmyown,andmysisterGlorvinawouldhavesuitedhimentirely.
Butasbygonesarebygones,andhewasengagedtoyourself,why,I’mdeterminedtotakeyouasasisterinstead,andtolookuponyouassuch,andtoloveyouasoneofthefamily.
Faith,you’vegotsuchanicegood-naturedfaceandwaywidgyou,thatI’msurewe’llagree;andthatyou’llbeanadditiontoourfamilyanyway.”
”’Deedandshewill,”saidO’Dowd,withanapprovingair,andAmeliafeltherselfnotalittleamusedandgratefultobethussuddenlyintroducedtosolargeapartyofrelations.
“We’reallgoodfellowshere,”theMajor’sladycontinued.
“There’snotaregimentintheservicewhereyou’llfindamoreunitedsocietynoramoreagreeablemess-room.
There’snoquarrelling,bickering,slandthering,norsmalltalkamongstus.Weallloveeachother.”
“EspeciallyMrs.Magenis,”saidGeorge,laughing.
“Mrs.CaptainMagenisandmehasmadeup,thoughhertreatmentofmewouldbringmegrayhairswithsorrowtothegrave.”
“Andyouwithsuchabeautifulfrontofblack,Peggy,mydear,”theMajorcried.
“Houldyourtongue,Mick,youbooby.Themhusbandsarealwaysintheway,Mrs.Osborne,mydear;andasformyMick,Ioftentellhimheshouldneveropenhismouthbuttogivethewordofcommand,ortoputmeatanddrinkintoit.
I’lltellyouabouttheregiment,andwarnyouwhenwe’realone.
Introducemetoyourbrothernow;surehe’samightyfineman,andremindsmeofmecousin,DanMalony(MalonyofBallymalony,mydear,youknowwhomar’iedOphaliaScully,ofOystherstown,owncousintoLordPoldoody).
Mr.Sedley,sir,I’mdeloightedtobemadeknownteye.
Isupposeyou’lldineatthemessto-day.
(Mindthatdivvleofadocther,Mick,andwhateveryedu,keepyourselfsoberformepartythisevening.)”
“It’sthe150thgivesusafarewelldinner,mylove,”interposedtheMajor,“butwe’lleasygetacardforMr.Sedley.”
“RunSimple(EnsignSimple,ofOurs,mydearAmelia.Iforgottointrojuicehimtoye).
Runinahurry,withMrs.MajorO’Dowd’scomplimentstoColonelTavish,andCaptainOsbornehasbroughthisbrothernlawdown,andwillbringhimtothe150thmessatfiveo’clocksharp—whenyouandI,mydear,willtakeasnackhere,ifyoulike.”
BeforeMrs.O’Dowd’sspeechwasconcluded,theyoungEnsignwastrottingdownstairsonhiscommission.
“Obedienceisthesoulofthearmy.WewillgotoourdutywhileMrs.O’Dowdwillstayandenlightenyou,Emmy,”CaptainOsbornesaid;andthetwogentlemen,takingeachawingoftheMajor,walkedoutwiththatofficer,grinningateachotheroverhishead.
And,nowhavinghernewfriendtoherself,theimpetuousMrs:O’Dowdproceededtopouroutsuchaquantityofinformationasnopoorlittlewoman’smemorycouldevertaxitselftobear.
ShetoldAmeliaathousandparticularsrelativetotheverynumerousfamilyofwhichtheamazedyoungladyfoundherselfamember.
“Mrs.Heavytop,theColonel’swife,diedinJamaicaoftheyellowfaverandabrokenheartcomboined,forthehorrudoldColonel,withaheadasbaldasacannon-ball,wasmakingsheep’seyesatahalf-castegirlthere.
Mrs.Magenis,thoughwithouteducation,wasagoodwoman,butshehadthedivvle’stongue,andwouldcheatherownmotheratwhist.
Mrs.CaptainKirkmustturnupherlobstereyesforsoothattheideaofanhonestroundgame(whereinmefawther,aspiousamanaseverwenttochurch,meuncleDaneMalony,andourcousintheBishop,tookahandatloo,orwhist,everynightoftheirlives).
Naytherof‘em’sgoin’withtheregimentthistime,”Mrs.O’Dowdadded.
“FannyMagenisstopswithhermother,whosellssmallcoalandpotatoes,mostlikely,inIslington-town,hardbyLondon,thoughshe’salwaysbraggingofherfather’sships,andpointingthemouttousastheygouptheriver:andMrs.KirkandherchildrenwillstophereinBethesdaPlace,tobenightoherfavouritepreacher,Dr.Ramshorn.
Mrs.Bunny’sinaninterestingsituation—faith,andshealwaysis,then—andhasgiventheLieutenantsevenalready.
AndEnsignPosky’swife,whojoinedtwomonthsbeforeyou,mydear,hasquarl’dwithTomPoskyascoreoftimes,tillyoucanhear’malloverthebar’ck(theysaythey’recometobrokenpleets,andTomneveraccountedforhisblackoi),andshe’llgobacktohermother,whokeepsaladies’siminaryatRichmond—badlucktoherforrunningawayfromit!
Wheredidyegetyourfinishing,mydear?
Ihadmoin,andnoexpincespared,atMadameFlanahan’s,atIlyssusGrove,Booterstown,nearDublin,widaMarchionesstoteachusthetrueParisianpronunciation,andaretiredMejor-GeneraloftheFrenchservicetoputusthroughtheexercise.”
OfthisincongruousfamilyourastonishedAmeliafoundherselfallofasuddenamember:withMrs.O’Dowdasaneldersister.
Shewaspresentedtoherotherfemalerelationsattea-time,onwhom,asshewasquiet,good-natured,andnottoohandsome,shemaderatheranagreeableimpressionuntilthearrivalofthegentlemenfromthemessofthe150th,whoalladmiredherso,thathersistersbegan,ofcourse,tofindfaultwithher.
“IhopeOsbornehassownhiswildoats,”saidMrs.MagenistoMrs.Bunny.
“Ifareformedrakemakesagoodhusband,sureit’sshewillhavethefinechancewithGarge,”Mrs.O’DowdremarkedtoPosky,whohadlostherpositionasbrideintheregiment,andwasquiteangrywiththeusurper.
AndasforMrs.Kirk:thatdiscipleofDr.RamshornputoneortwoleadingprofessionalquestionstoAmelia,toseewhethershewasawakened,whethershewasaprofessingChristianandsoforth,andfindingfromthesimplicityofMrs.Osborne’srepliesthatshewasyetinutterdarkness,putintoherhandsthreelittlepennybookswithpictures,viz.,the“HowlingWilderness,”the“WasherwomanofWandsworthCommon,”andthe“BritishSoldier’sbestBayonet,”which,bentuponawakeningherbeforesheslept,Mrs.KirkbeggedAmeliatoreadthatnightereshewenttobed.
Butallthemen,likegoodfellowsastheywere,ralliedroundtheircomrade’sprettywife,andpaidhertheircourtwithsoldierlygallantry.
Shehadalittletriumph,whichflushedherspiritsandmadehereyessparkle.
Georgewasproudofherpopularity,andpleasedwiththemanner(whichwasverygayandgraceful,thoughnaiveandalittletimid)withwhichshereceivedthegentlemen’sattentions,andansweredtheircompliments.
Andheinhisuniform—howmuchhandsomerhewasthananymanintheroom!
Shefeltthathewasaffectionatelywatchingher,andglowedwithpleasureathiskindness.
“Iwillmakeallhisfriendswelcome,”sheresolvedinherheart.“IwillloveallasIlovehim.
Iwillalwaystryandbegayandgood-humouredandmakehishomehappy.”
Theregimentindeedadoptedherwithacclamation.
TheCaptainsapproved,theLieutenantsapplauded,theEnsignsadmired.
OldCutler,theDoctor,madeoneortwojokes,which,beingprofessional,neednotberepeated;andCackle,theAssistantM.D.ofEdinburgh,condescendedtoexamineheruponleeterature,andtriedherwithhisthreebestFrenchquotations.
YoungStubblewentaboutfrommantomanwhispering,“Jove,isn’tsheaprettygal?”
andnevertookhiseyesoffherexceptwhentheneguscamein.
AsforCaptainDobbin,heneversomuchasspoketoherduringthewholeevening.
ButheandCaptainPorterofthe150thtookhomeJostothehotel,whowasinaverymaudlinstate,andhadtoldhistiger-huntstorywithgreateffect,bothatthemess-tableandatthesoiree,toMrs.O’Dowdinherturbanandbirdofparadise.
HavingputtheCollectorintothehandsofhisservant,Dobbinloiteredabout,smokinghiscigarbeforetheinndoor.
Georgehadmeanwhileverycarefullyshawledhiswife,andbroughtherawayfromMrs.O’Dowd’safterageneralhandshakingfromtheyoungofficers,whoaccompaniedhertothefly,andcheeredthatvehicleasitdroveoff.
SoAmeliagaveDobbinherlittlehandasshegotoutofthecarriage,andrebukedhimsmilinglyfornothavingtakenanynoticeofherallnight.
TheCaptaincontinuedthatdeleteriousamusementofsmoking,longaftertheinnandthestreetweregonetobed.
HewatchedthelightsvanishfromGeorge’ssitting-roomwindows,andshineoutinthebedroomcloseathand.
Itwasalmostmorningwhenhereturnedtohisownquarters.
Hecouldhearthecheeringfromtheshipsintheriver,wherethetransportswerealreadytakingintheircargoespreparatorytodroppingdowntheThames.
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