English
ThenewsofthegreatfightsofQuatreBrasandWaterlooreachedEnglandatthesametime.
TheGazettefirstpublishedtheresultofthetwobattles;atwhichgloriousintelligenceallEnglandthrilledwithtriumphandfear.
Particularsthenfollowed;andaftertheannouncementofthevictoriescamethelistofthewoundedandtheslain.
Whocantellthedreadwithwhichthatcataloguewasopenedandread!
Fancy,ateveryvillageandhomesteadalmostthroughthethreekingdoms,thegreatnewscomingofthebattlesinFlanders,andthefeelingsofexultationandgratitude,bereavementandsickeningdismay,whenthelistsoftheregimentallossesweregonethrough,anditbecameknownwhetherthedearfriendandrelativehadescapedorfallen.
Anybodywhowilltakethetroubleoflookingbacktoafileofthenewspapersofthetime,must,evennow,feelatsecond-handthisbreathlesspauseofexpectation.
Thelistsofcasualtiesarecarriedonfromdaytoday:youstopinthemidstasinastorywhichistobecontinuedinournext.
Thinkwhatthefeelingsmusthavebeenasthosepapersfollowedeachotherfreshfromthepress;andifsuchaninterestcouldbefeltinourcountry,andaboutabattlewherebuttwentythousandofourpeoplewereengaged,thinkoftheconditionofEuropefortwentyyearsbefore,wherepeoplewerefighting,notbythousands,butbymillions;eachoneofwhomashestruckhisenemywoundedhorriblysomeotherinnocentheartfaraway.
ThenewswhichthatfamousGazettebroughttotheOsbornesgaveadreadfulshocktothefamilyanditschief.
Thegirlsindulgedunrestrainedintheirgrief.
Thegloom-strickenoldfatherwasstillmorebornedownbyhisfateandsorrow.
Hestrovetothinkthatajudgmentwasontheboyforhisdisobedience.
Hedarednotownthattheseverityofthesentencefrightenedhim,andthatitsfulfilmenthadcometoosoonuponhiscurses.
Sometimesashudderingterrorstruckhim,asifhehadbeentheauthorofthedoomwhichhehadcalleddownonhisson.
Therewasachancebeforeofreconciliation.
Theboy’swifemighthavedied;orhemighthavecomebackandsaid,FatherIhavesinned.Buttherewasnohopenow.
Hestoodontheothersideofthegulfimpassable,hauntinghisparentwithsadeyes.
Herememberedthemoncebeforesoinafever,wheneveryonethoughttheladwasdying,andhelayonhisbedspeechless,andgazingwithadreadfulgloom.GoodGod!
howthefatherclungtothedoctorthen,andwithwhatasickeninganxietyhefollowedhim:whataweightofgriefwasoffhismindwhen,afterthecrisisofthefever,theladrecovered,andlookedathisfatheroncemorewitheyesthatrecognisedhim.
Butnowtherewasnohelporcure,orchanceofreconcilement:aboveall,therewerenohumblewordstosoothevanityoutragedandfurious,orbringtoitsnaturalflowthepoisoned,angryblood.
Anditishardtosaywhichpangitwasthattoretheproudfather’sheartmostkeenly—thathissonshouldhavegoneoutofthereachofhisforgiveness,orthattheapologywhichhisownprideexpectedshouldhaveescapedhim.
Whateverhissensationsmighthavebeen,however,thestemoldmanwouldhavenoconfidant.
Henevermentionedhisson’snametohisdaughters;butorderedtheeldertoplaceallthefemalesoftheestablishmentinmourning;anddesiredthatthemaleservantsshouldbesimilarlyattiredindeepblack.
Allpartiesandentertainments,ofcourse,weretobeputoff.
Nocommunicationsweremadetohisfutureson-in-law,whosemarriage-dayhadbeenfixed:buttherewasenoughinMr.Osborne’sappearancetopreventMr.Bullockfrommakinganyinquiries,orinanywaypressingforwardthatceremony.
Heandtheladieswhisperedaboutitundertheirvoicesinthedrawing-roomsometimes,whitherthefathernevercame.
Heremainedconstantlyinhisownstudy;thewholefrontpartofthehousebeingcloseduntilsometimeafterthecompletionofthegeneralmourning.
Aboutthreeweeksafterthe18thofJune,Mr.Osborne’sacquaintance,SirWilliamDobbin,calledatMr.Osborne’shouseinRussellSquare,withaverypaleandagitatedface,andinsisteduponseeingthatgentleman.
Usheredintohisroom,andafterafewwords,whichneitherthespeakernorthehostunderstood,theformerproducedfromaninclosurealettersealedwithalargeredseal.
“Myson,MajorDobbin,”theAldermansaid,withsomehesitation,“despatchedmealetterbyanofficerofthe—th,whoarrivedintownto-day.
Myson’slettercontainsoneforyou,Osborne.”
TheAldermanplacedtheletteronthetable,andOsbornestaredathimforamomentortwoinsilence.
Hislooksfrightenedtheambassador,whoafterlookingguiltilyforalittletimeatthegrief-strickenman,hurriedawaywithoutanotherword.
TheletterwasinGeorge’swell-knownboldhandwriting.
Itwasthatonewhichhehadwrittenbeforedaybreakonthe16thofJune,andjustbeforehetookleaveofAmelia.
ThegreatredsealwasemblazonedwiththeshamcoatofarmswhichOsbornehadassumedfromthePeerage,with“Paxinbello”foramotto;thatoftheducalhousewithwhichthevainoldmantriedtofancyhimselfconnected.
Thehandthatsigneditwouldneverholdpenorswordmore.
TheverysealthatsealedithadbeenrobbedfromGeorge’sdeadbodyasitlayonthefieldofbattle.
Thefatherknewnothingofthis,butsatandlookedattheletterinterrifiedvacancy.Healmostfellwhenhewenttoopenit.
Haveyoueverhadadifferencewithadearfriend?
Howhisletters,writtenintheperiodofloveandconfidence,sickenandrebukeyou!
Whatadrearymourningitistodwelluponthosevehementprotestsofdeadaffection!
Whatlyingepitaphstheymakeoverthecorpseoflove!
Whatdark,cruelcommentsuponLifeandVanities!
Mostofushavegotorwrittendrawersfullofthem.
Theyarecloset-skeletonswhichwekeepandshun.
Osbornetrembledlongbeforetheletterfromhisdeadson.
Thepoorboy’sletterdidnotsaymuch.Hehadbeentooproudtoacknowledgethetendernesswhichhisheartfelt.
Heonlysaid,thatontheeveofagreatbattle,hewishedtobidhisfatherfarewell,andsolemnlytoimplorehisgoodofficesforthewife—itmightbeforthechild—whomheleftbehindhim.
Heownedwithcontritionthathisirregularitiesandhisextravagancehadalreadywastedalargepartofhismother’slittlefortune.
Hethankedhisfatherforhisformergenerousconduct;andhepromisedhimthatifhefellonthefieldorsurvivedit,hewouldactinamannerworthyofthenameofGeorgeOsborne.
HisEnglishhabit,pride,awkwardnessperhaps,hadpreventedhimfromsayingmore.
HisfathercouldnotseethekissGeorgehadplacedonthesuperscriptionofhisletter.
Mr.Osbornedroppeditwiththebitterest,deadliestpangofbalkedaffectionandrevenge.
Hissonwasstillbelovedandunforgiven.
Abouttwomonthsafterwards,however,astheyoungladiesofthefamilywenttochurchwiththeirfather,theyremarkedhowhetookadifferentseatfromthatwhichheusuallyoccupiedwhenhechosetoattenddivineworship;andthatfromhiscushionopposite,helookedupatthewallovertheirheads.
Thiscausedtheyoungwomenlikewisetogazeinthedirectiontowardswhichtheirfather’sgloomyeyespointed:andtheysawanelaboratemonumentuponthewall,whereBritanniawasrepresentedweepingoveranurn,andabrokenswordandacouchantlionindicatedthatthepieceofsculpturehadbeenerectedinhonourofadeceasedwarrior.
Thesculptorsofthosedayshadstocksofsuchfunerealemblemsinhand;asyoumayseestillonthewallsofSt.Paul’s,whicharecoveredwithhundredsofthesebraggartheathenallegories.
Therewasaconstantdemandforthemduringthefirstfifteenyearsofthepresentcentury.
Underthememorialinquestionwereemblazonedthewell-knownandpompousOsbornearms;andtheinscriptionsaid,thatthemonumentwas“SacredtothememoryofGeorgeOsborne,Junior,Esq.,lateaCaptaininhisMajesty’s—thregimentoffoot,whofellonthe18thofJune,1815,aged28years,whilefightingforhiskingandcountryinthegloriousvictoryofWaterloo.Dulceetdecorumestpropatriamori.”
Thesightofthatstoneagitatedthenervesofthesisterssomuch,thatMissMariawascompelledtoleavethechurch.
Thecongregationmadewayrespectfullyforthosesobbinggirlsclothedindeepblack,andpitiedthesternoldfatherseatedoppositethememorialofthedeadsoldier.“WillheforgiveMrs.George?”
thegirlssaidtothemselvesassoonastheirebullitionofgriefwasover.
MuchconversationpassedtooamongtheacquaintancesoftheOsbornefamily,whoknewoftherupturebetweenthesonandfathercausedbytheformer’smarriage,astothechanceofareconciliationwiththeyoungwidow.
TherewerebetsamongthegentlemenbothaboutRussellSquareandintheCity.
IfthesistershadanyanxietyregardingthepossiblerecognitionofAmeliaasadaughterofthefamily,itwasincreasedpresently,andtowardstheendoftheautumn,bytheirfather’sannouncementthathewasgoingabroad.
Hedidnotsaywhither,buttheyknewatoncethathisstepswouldbeturnedtowardsBelgium,andwereawarethatGeorge’swidowwasstillinBrussels.
TheyhadprettyaccuratenewsindeedofpoorAmeliafromLadyDobbinandherdaughters.
OurhonestCaptainhadbeenpromotedinconsequenceofthedeathofthesecondMajoroftheregimentonthefield;andthebraveO’Dowd,whohaddistinguishedhimselfgreatlyhereasuponalloccasionswherehehadachancetoshowhiscoolnessandvalour,wasaColonelandCompanionoftheBath.
Verymanyofthebrave—th,whohadsufferedseverelyuponbothdaysofaction,werestillatBrusselsintheautumn,recoveringoftheirwounds.
Thecitywasavastmilitaryhospitalformonthsafterthegreatbattles;andasmenandofficersbegantorallyfromtheirhurts,thegardensandplacesofpublicresortswarmedwithmaimedwarriors,oldandyoung,who,justrescuedoutofdeath,felltogambling,andgaiety,andlove-making,aspeopleofVanityFairwilldo.
Mr.Osbornefoundoutsomeofthe—theasily.
Heknewtheiruniformquitewell,andhadbeenusedtofollowallthepromotionsandexchangesintheregiment,andlovedtotalkaboutitanditsofficersasifhehadbeenoneofthenumber.
OnthedayafterhisarrivalatBrussels,andasheissuedfromhishotel,whichfacedthepark,hesawasoldierinthewell-knownfacings,reposingonastonebenchinthegarden,andwentandsatedowntremblingbythewoundedconvalescentman.
“WereyouinCaptainOsborne’scompany?”hesaid,andadded,afterapause,“hewasmyson,sir.”
ThemanwasnotoftheCaptain’scompany,buthelifteduphisunwoundedarmandtouched-hiscapsadlyandrespectfullytothehaggardbroken-spiritedgentlemanwhoquestionedhim.
“Thewholearmydidn’tcontainafinerorabetterofficer,”thesoldiersaid.
“TheSergeantoftheCaptain’scompany(CaptainRaymondhaditnow),wasintown,though,andwasjustwellofashotintheshoulder.
Hishonourmightseehimifheliked,whocouldtellhimanythinghewantedtoknowabout—aboutthe—th’sactions.
ButhishonourhadseenMajorDobbin,nodoubt,thebraveCaptain’sgreatfriend;andMrs.Osborne,whowasheretoo,andhadbeenverybad,heheardeverybodysay.
Theysayshewasoutofhermindlikeforsixweeksormore.
Butyourhonourknowsallaboutthat—andaskingyourpardon”—themanadded.
Osborneputaguineaintothesoldier’shand,andtoldhimheshouldhaveanotherifhewouldbringtheSergeanttotheHotelduParc;apromisewhichverysoonbroughtthedesiredofficertoMr.Osborne’spresence.
Andthefirstsoldierwentaway;andaftertellingacomradeortwohowCaptainOsborne’sfatherwasarrived,andwhatafree-handedgenerousgentlemanhewas,theywentandmadegoodcheerwithdrinkandfeasting,aslongastheguineaslastedwhichhadcomefromtheproudpurseofthemourningoldfather.
IntheSergeant’scompany,whowasalsojustconvalescent,OsbornemadethejourneyofWaterlooandQuatreBras,ajourneywhichthousandsofhiscountrymenwerethentaking.
HetooktheSergeantwithhiminhiscarriage,andwentthroughbothfieldsunderhisguidance.
Hesawthepointoftheroadwheretheregimentmarchedintoactiononthe16th,andtheslopedownwhichtheydrovetheFrenchcavalrywhowerepressingontheretreatingBelgians.
TherewasthespotwherethenobleCaptaincutdowntheFrenchofficerwhowasgrapplingwiththeyoungEnsignforthecolours,theColour-Sergeantshavingbeenshotdown.
Alongthisroadtheyretreatedonthenextday,andherewasthebankatwhichtheregimentbivouackedundertherainofthenightoftheseventeenth.
Furtheronwasthepositionwhichtheytookandheldduringtheday,formingtimeaftertimetoreceivethechargeoftheenemy’shorsemenandlyingdownundertheshelterofthebankfromthefuriousFrenchcannonade.
AnditwasatthisdeclivitywhenateveningthewholeEnglishlinereceivedtheordertoadvance,astheenemyfellbackafterhislastcharge,thattheCaptain,hurrayingandrushingdownthehillwavinghissword,receivedashotandfelldead.
“ItwasMajorDobbinwhotookbacktheCaptain’sbodytoBrussels,”theSergeantsaid,inalowvoice,“andhadhimburied,asyourhonourknows.”
Thepeasantsandrelic-huntersabouttheplacewerescreamingroundthepair,asthesoldiertoldhisstory,offeringforsaleallsortsofmementoesofthefight,crosses,andepaulets,andshatteredcuirasses,andeagles.
OsbornegaveasumptuousrewardtotheSergeantwhenhepartedwithhim,afterhavingvisitedthescenesofhisson’slastexploits.Hisburial-placehehadalreadyseen.
Indeed,hehaddriventhitherimmediatelyafterhisarrivalatBrussels.
George’sbodylayintheprettyburial-groundofLaeken,nearthecity;inwhichplace,havingoncevisiteditonapartyofpleasure,hehadlightlyexpressedawishtohavehisgravemade.
Andtheretheyoungofficerwaslaidbyhisfriend,intheunconsecratedcornerofthegarden,separatedbyalittlehedgefromthetemplesandtowersandplantationsofflowersandshrubs,underwhichtheRomanCatholicdeadrepose.
ItseemedahumiliationtooldOsbornetothinkthathisson,anEnglishgentleman,acaptaininthefamousBritisharmy,shouldnotbefoundworthytolieingroundwheremereforeignerswereburied.
Whichofusistherecantellhowmuchvanitylurksinourwarmestregardforothers,andhowselfishourloveis?
OldOsbornedidnotspeculatemuchupontheminglednatureofhisfeelings,andhowhisinstinctandselfishnesswerecombatingtogether.
Hefirmlybelievedthateverythinghedidwasright,thatheoughtonalloccasionstohavehisownway—andlikethestingofawasporserpenthishatredrushedoutarmedandpoisonousagainstanythinglikeopposition.
Hewasproudofhishatredasofeverythingelse.
Alwaystoberight,alwaystotrampleforward,andnevertodoubt,arenotthesethegreatqualitieswithwhichdullnesstakestheleadintheworld?
AsafterthedrivetoWaterloo,Mr.Osborne’scarriagewasnearingthegatesofthecityatsunset,theymetanotheropenbarouche,inwhichwereacoupleofladiesandagentleman,andbythesideofwhichanofficerwasriding.
Osbornegaveastartback,andtheSergeant,seatedwithhim,castalookofsurpriseathisneighbour,ashetouchedhiscaptotheofficer,whomechanicallyreturnedhissalute.
ItwasAmelia,withthelameyoungEnsignbyherside,andoppositetoherherfaithfulfriendMrs.O’Dowd.
ItwasAmelia,buthowchangedfromthefreshandcomelygirlOsborneknew.Herfacewaswhiteandthin.
Herprettybrownhairwaspartedunderawidow’scap—thepoorchild.
Hereyeswerefixed,andlookingnowhere.
TheystaredblankinthefaceofOsborne,asthecarriagescrossedeachother,butshedidnotknowhim;nordidherecogniseher,untillookingup,hesawDobbinridingbyher:andthenheknewwhoitwas.Hehatedher.
Hedidnotknowhowmuchuntilhesawherthere.
Whenhercarriagehadpassedon,heturnedandstaredattheSergeant,withacurseanddefianceinhiseyecastathiscompanion,whocouldnothelplookingathim—asmuchastosay“Howdareyoulookatme?Damnyou!Idohateher.
Itisshewhohastumbledmyhopesandallmypridedown.”
“Tellthescoundreltodriveonquick,”heshoutedwithanoath,tothelackeyonthebox.
Aminuteafterwards,ahorsecameclatteringoverthepavementbehindOsborne’scarriage,andDobbinrodeup.
Histhoughtshadbeenelsewhereasthecarriagespassedeachother,anditwasnotuntilhehadriddensomepacesforward,thatheremembereditwasOsbornewhohadjustpassedhim.
Thenheturnedtoexamineifthesightofherfather-in-lawhadmadeanyimpressiononAmelia,butthepoorgirldidnotknowwhohadpassed.
ThenWilliam,whodailyusedtoaccompanyherinhisdrives,takingouthiswatch,madesomeexcuseaboutanengagementwhichhesuddenlyrecollected,andsorodeoff.
Shedidnotremarkthateither:butsatelookingbeforeher,overthehomelylandscapetowardsthewoodsinthedistance,bywhichGeorgemarchedaway.
“Mr.Osborne,Mr.Osborne!”criedDobbin,asherodeupandheldouthishand.Osbornemadenomotiontotakeit,butshoutedoutoncemoreandwithanothercursetohisservanttodriveon.
Dobbinlaidhishandonthecarriageside.“Iwillseeyou,sir,”hesaid.“Ihaveamessageforyou.”
“Fromthatwoman?”saidOsborne,fiercely.
“No,”repliedtheother,“fromyourson”;atwhichOsbornefellbackintothecornerofhiscarriage,andDobbinallowingittopasson,rodeclosebehindit,andsothroughthetownuntiltheyreachedMr.Osborne’shotel,andwithoutaword.
TherehefollowedOsborneuptohisapartments.
Georgehadoftenbeenintherooms;theywerethelodgingswhichtheCrawleyshadoccupiedduringtheirstayinBrussels.
“Pray,haveyouanycommandsforme,CaptainDobbin,or,Ibegyourpardon,IshouldsayMAJORDobbin,sincebettermenthanyouaredead,andyoustepintotheirSHOES?”
saidMr.Osborne,inthatsarcastictonewhichhesometimeswaspleasedtoassume.
“BettermenAREdead,”Dobbinreplied.“Iwanttospeaktoyouaboutone.”
“Makeitshort,sir,”saidtheotherwithanoath,scowlingathisvisitor.
“Iamhereashisclosestfriend,”theMajorresumed,“andtheexecutorofhiswill.Hemadeitbeforehewentintoaction.
Areyouawarehowsmallhismeansare,andofthestraitenedcircumstancesofhiswidow?”
“Idon’tknowhiswidow,sir,”Osbornesaid.“Lethergobacktoherfather.”Butthegentlemanwhomheaddressedwasdeterminedtoremainingoodtemper,andwentonwithoutheedingtheinterruption.
“Doyouknow,sir,Mrs.Osborne’scondition?
Herlifeandherreasonalmosthavebeenshakenbytheblowwhichhasfallenonher.
Itisverydoubtfulwhethershewillrally.
Thereisachanceleftforher,however,anditisaboutthisIcametospeaktoyou.Shewillbeamothersoon.
Willyouvisittheparent’soffenceuponthechild’shead?
orwillyouforgivethechildforpoorGeorge’ssake?”
Osbornebrokeoutintoarhapsodyofself-praiseandimprecations;—bythefirst,excusinghimselftohisownconscienceforhisconduct;bythesecond,exaggeratingtheundutifulnessofGeorge.
NofatherinallEnglandcouldhavebehavedmoregenerouslytoason,whohadrebelledagainsthimwickedly.
Hehaddiedwithoutevensomuchasconfessinghewaswrong.
Lethimtaketheconsequencesofhisundutifulnessandfolly.
Asforhimself,Mr.Osborne,hewasamanofhisword.
Hehadswornnevertospeaktothatwoman,ortorecognizeherashisson’swife.
“Andthat’swhatyoumaytellher,”heconcludedwithanoath;“andthat’swhatIwillsticktotothelastdayofmylife.”
Therewasnohopefromthatquarterthen.
Thewidowmustliveonherslenderpittance,oronsuchaidasJoscouldgiveher.
“Imighttellher,andshewouldnotheedit,”thoughtDobbin,sadly:forthepoorgirl’sthoughtswerenothereatallsincehercatastrophe,and,stupefiedunderthepressureofhersorrow,goodandevilwerealikeindifferenttoher.
So,indeed,wereevenfriendshipandkindness.Shereceivedthembothuncomplainingly,andhavingacceptedthem,relapsedintohergrief.
SupposesometwelvemonthsaftertheaboveconversationtookplacetohavepassedinthelifeofourpoorAmelia.
Shehasspentthefirstportionofthattimeinasorrowsoprofoundandpitiable,thatwewhohavebeenwatchinganddescribingsomeoftheemotionsofthatweakandtenderheart,mustdrawbackinthepresenceofthecruelgriefunderwhichitisbleeding.
Treadsilentlyroundthehaplesscouchofthepoorprostratesoul.
Shutgentlythedoorofthedarkchamberwhereinshesuffers,asthosekindpeopledidwhonursedherthroughthefirstmonthsofherpain,andneverleftheruntilheavenhadsentherconsolation.
Adaycame—ofalmostterrifieddelightandwonder—whenthepoorwidowedgirlpressedachilduponherbreast—achild,withtheeyesofGeorgewhowasgone—alittleboy,asbeautifulasacherub.
Whatamiracleitwastohearitsfirstcry!
Howshelaughedandweptoverit—howlove,andhope,andprayerwokeagaininherbosomasthebabynestledthere.Shewassafe.
Thedoctorswhoattendedher,andhadfearedforherlifeorforherbrain,hadwaitedanxiouslyforthiscrisisbeforetheycouldpronouncethateitherwassecure.
Itwasworththelongmonthsofdoubtanddreadwhichthepersonswhohadconstantlybeenwithherhadpassed,toseehereyesoncemorebeamingtenderlyuponthem.
OurfriendDobbinwasoneofthem.ItwashewhobroughtherbacktoEnglandandtohermother’shouse;whenMrs.O’Dowd,receivingaperemptorysummonsfromherColonel,hadbeenforcedtoquitherpatient.
ToseeDobbinholdingtheinfant,andtohearAmelia’slaughoftriumphasshewatchedhim,wouldhavedoneanymangoodwhohadasenseofhumour.
Williamwasthegodfatherofthechild,andexertedhisingenuityinthepurchaseofcups,spoons,pap-boats,andcoralsforthislittleChristian.
Howhismothernursedhim,anddressedhim,andliveduponhim;howshedroveawayallnurses,andwouldscarceallowanyhandbutherowntotouchhim;howsheconsideredthatthegreatestfavourshecouldconferuponhisgodfather,MajorDobbin,wastoallowtheMajoroccasionallytodandlehim,neednotbetoldhere.Thischildwasherbeing.Herexistencewasamaternalcaress.
Sheenvelopedthefeebleandunconsciouscreaturewithloveandworship.
Itwasherlifewhichthebabydrankinfromherbosom.
Ofnights,andwhenalone,shehadstealthyandintenserapturesofmotherlylove,suchasGod’smarvellouscarehasawardedtothefemaleinstinct—joyshowfarhigherandlowerthanreason—blindbeautifuldevotionswhichonlywomen’sheartsknow.
ItwasWilliamDobbin’stasktomuseuponthesemovementsofAmelia’s,andtowatchherheart;andifhislovemadehimdivinealmostallthefeelingswhichagitatedit,alas!
hecouldseewithafatalperspicuitythattherewasnoplacethereforhim.
Andso,gently,heborehisfate,knowingit,andcontenttobearit.
IsupposeAmelia’sfatherandmothersawthroughtheintentionsoftheMajor,andwerenotill-disposedtoencouragehim;forDobbinvisitedtheirhousedaily,andstayedforhourswiththem,orwithAmelia,orwiththehonestlandlord,Mr.Clapp,andhisfamily.
Hebrought,ononepretextoranother,presentstoeverybody,andalmosteveryday;andwent,withthelandlord’slittlegirl,whowasratherafavouritewithAmelia,bythenameofMajorSugarplums.
ItwasthislittlechildwhocommonlyactedasmistressoftheceremoniestointroducehimtoMrs.Osborne.
ShelaughedonedaywhenMajorSugarplums’cabdroveuptoFulham,andhedescendedfromit,bringingoutawoodenhorse,adrum,atrumpet,andotherwarliketoys,forlittleGeorgy,whowasscarcelysixmonthsold,andforwhomthearticlesinquestionwereentirelypremature.
Thechildwasasleep.“Hush,”saidAmelia,annoyed,perhaps,atthecreakingoftheMajor’sboots;andsheheldoutherhand;smilingbecauseWilliamcouldnottakeituntilhehadridhimselfofhiscargooftoys.
“Godownstairs,littleMary,”saidhepresentlytothechild,“IwanttospeaktoMrs.Osborne.”
Shelookedupratherastonished,andlaiddowntheinfantonitsbed.
“Iamcometosaygood-bye,Amelia,”saidhe,takingherslenderlittlewhitehandgently.
“Good-bye?andwhereareyougoing?”shesaid,withasmile.
“Sendtheletterstotheagents,”hesaid;“theywillforwardthem;foryouwillwritetome,won’tyou?Ishallbeawayalongtime.”
“I’llwritetoyouaboutGeorgy,”shesaid.“Dear’William,howgoodyouhavebeentohimandtome.Lookathim.Isn’thelikeanangel?”
Thelittlepinkhandsofthechildclosedmechanicallyroundthehonestsoldier’sfinger,andAmelialookedupinhisfacewithbrightmaternalpleasure.
Thecruellestlookscouldnothavewoundedhimmorethanthatglanceofhopelesskindness.Hebentoverthechildandmother.Hecouldnotspeakforamoment.
AnditwasonlywithallhisstrengththathecouldforcehimselftosayaGodblessyou.
“Godblessyou,”saidAmelia,andheldupherfaceandkissedhim.
“Hush!Don’twakeGeorgy!”
sheadded,asWilliamDobbinwenttothedoorwithheavysteps.
Shedidnothearthenoiseofhiscab-wheelsashedroveaway:shewaslookingatthechild,whowaslaughinginhissleep.
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