English
GoodfortunenowbeginstosmileuponAmelia.
Wearegladtogetheroutofthatlowsphereinwhichshehasbeencreepinghithertoandintroduceherintoapolitecircle—notsograndandrefinedasthatinwhichourotherfemalefriend,Mrs.Becky,hasappeared,butstillhavingnosmallpretensionstogentilityandfashion.
Jos’sfriendswereallfromthethreepresidencies,andhisnewhousewasinthecomfortableAnglo-IndiandistrictofwhichMoiraPlaceisthecentre.
MintoSquare,GreatCliveStreet,WarrenStreet,HastingsStreet,OchterlonyPlace,PlassySquare,AssayeTerrace(“gardens”wasafelicitouswordnotappliedtostuccohouseswithasphaltterracesinfront,soearlyas1827)—whodoesnotknowtheserespectableabodesoftheretiredIndianaristocracy,andthequarterwhichMr.WenhamcallstheBlackHole,inaword?
Jos’spositioninlifewasnotgrandenoughtoentitlehimtoahouseinMoiraPlace,wherenonecanlivebutretiredMembersofCouncil,andpartnersofIndianfirms(whobreak,afterhavingsettledahundredthousandpoundsontheirwives,andretireintocomparativepenurytoacountryplaceandfourthousandayear);heengagedacomfortablehouseofasecond-orthird-rateorderinGillespieStreet,purchasingthecarpets,costlymirrors,andhandsomeandappropriateplannedfurniturebySeddonsfromtheassigneesofMr.Scape,latelyadmittedpartnerintothegreatCalcuttaHouseofFogle,Fake,andCracksman,inwhichpoorScapehadembarkedseventythousandpounds,theearningsofalongandhonourablelife,takingFake’splace,whoretiredtoaprincelyparkinSussex(theFogleshavebeenlongoutofthefirm,andSirHoraceFogleisabouttoberaisedtothepeerageasBaronBandanna)—admitted,Isay,partnerintothegreatagencyhouseofFogleandFaketwoyearsbeforeitfailedforamillionandplungedhalftheIndianpublicintomiseryandruin.
Scape,ruined,honest,andbroken-heartedatsixty-fiveyearsofage,wentouttoCalcuttatowinduptheaffairsofthehouse.
WalterScapewaswithdrawnfromEtonandputintoamerchant’shouse.
FlorenceScape,FannyScape,andtheirmotherfadedawaytoBoulogne,andwillbeheardofnomore.
Tobebrief,Jossteppedinandboughttheircarpetsandsideboardsandadmiredhimselfinthemirrorswhichhadreflectedtheirkindhandsomefaces.
TheScapetradesmen,allhonourablypaid,lefttheircards,andwereeagertosupplythenewhousehold.
ThelargemeninwhitewaistcoatswhowaitedatScape’sdinners,greengrocers,bank-porters,andmilkmenintheirprivatecapacity,lefttheiraddressesandingratiatedthemselveswiththebutler.
Mr.Chummy,thechimney-purifier,whohadsweptthelastthreefamilies,triedtocoaxthebutlerandtheboyunderhim,whosedutyitwastogooutcoveredwithbuttonsandwithstripesdownhistrousers,fortheprotectionofMrs.Ameliawhenevershechosetowalkabroad.
Itwasamodestestablishment.ThebutlerwasJos’svaletalso,andneverwasmoredrunkthanabutlerinasmallfamilyshouldbewhohasaproperregardforhismaster’swine.
Emmywassuppliedwithamaid,grownonSirWilliamDobbin’ssuburbanestate;agoodgirl,whosekindnessandhumilitydisarmedMrs.Osborne,whowasatfirstterrifiedattheideaofhavingaservanttowaituponherself,whodidnotintheleastknowhowtouseone,andwhoalwaysspoketodomesticswiththemostreverentialpoliteness.
Butthismaidwasveryusefulinthefamily,indexterouslytendingoldMr.Sedley,whokeptalmostentirelytohisownquarterofthehouseandnevermixedinanyofthegaydoingswhichtookplacethere.
NumbersofpeoplecametoseeMrs.Osborne.
LadyDobbinanddaughtersweredelightedatherchangeoffortune,andwaiteduponher.
MissOsbornefromRussellSquarecameinhergrandchariotwiththeflaminghammer-clothemblazonedwiththeLeedsarms.Joswasreportedtobeimmenselyrich.
OldOsbornehadnoobjectionthatGeorgyshouldinherithisuncle’spropertyaswellashisown.
“Damnit,wewillmakeamanofthefeller,”hesaid;“andI’llseehiminParliamentbeforeIdie.
Youmaygoandseehismother,MissO.,thoughI’llneverseteyesonher”:andMissOsbornecame.
Emmy,youmaybesure,wasverygladtoseeher,andsobebroughtnearertoGeorge.
Thatyoungfellowwasallowedtocomemuchmorefrequentlythanbeforetovisithismother.
HedinedonceortwiceaweekinGillespieStreetandbulliedtheservantsandhisrelationsthere,justashedidinRussellSquare.
HewasalwaysrespectfultoMajorDobbin,however,andmoremodestinhisdemeanourwhenthatgentlemanwaspresent.
HewasacleverladandafraidoftheMajor.
Georgecouldnothelpadmiringhisfriend’ssimplicity,hisgoodhumour,hisvariouslearningquietlyimparted,hisgeneralloveoftruthandjustice.
Hehadmetnosuchmanasyetinthecourseofhisexperience,andhehadaninstinctivelikingforagentleman.
Hehungfondlybyhisgodfather’sside,anditwashisdelighttowalkintheparksandhearDobbintalk.
WilliamtoldGeorgeabouthisfather,aboutIndiaandWaterloo,abouteverythingbuthimself.
WhenGeorgewasmorethanusuallypertandconceited,theMajormadejokesathim,whichMrs.Osbornethoughtverycruel.
Oneday,takinghimtotheplay,andtheboydecliningtogointothepitbecauseitwasvulgar,theMajortookhimtotheboxes,lefthimthere,andwentdownhimselftothepit.
Hehadnotbeenseatedthereverylongbeforehefeltanarmthrustunderhisandadandylittlehandinakidglovesqueezinghisarm.
Georgehadseentheabsurdityofhiswaysandcomedownfromtheupperregion.
AtenderlaughofbenevolencelightedupoldDobbin’sfaceandeyesashelookedattherepentantlittleprodigal.
Helovedtheboy,ashedideverythingthatbelongedtoAmelia.
HowcharmedshewaswhensheheardofthisinstanceofGeorge’sgoodness!
HereyeslookedmorekindlyonDobbinthantheyeverhaddone.
Sheblushed,hethought,afterlookingathimso.
GeorgynevertiredofhispraisesoftheMajortohismother.
“Ilikehim,Mamma,becauseheknowssuchlotsofthings;andheain’tlikeoldVeal,whoisalwaysbraggingandusingsuchlongwords,don’tyouknow?
Thechapscallhim‘Longtail’atschool.Igavehimthename;ain’titcapital?
ButDobreadsLatinlikeEnglish,andFrenchandthat;andwhenwegoouttogetherhetellsmestoriesaboutmyPapa,andneverabouthimself;thoughIheardColonelBuckler,atGrandpapa’s,saythathewasoneofthebravestofficersinthearmy,andhaddistinguishedhimselfeversomuch.
Grandpapawasquitesurprised,andsaid,‘THATfeller!
Why,Ididn’tthinkhecouldsayBotoagoose’—butIknowhecould,couldn’the,Mamma?”
Emmylaughed:shethoughtitwasverylikelytheMajorcoulddothusmuch.
IftherewasasincerelikingbetweenGeorgeandtheMajor,itmustbeconfessedthatbetweentheboyandhisunclenogreatloveexisted.
Georgehadgotawayofblowingouthischeeks,andputtinghishandsinhiswaistcoatpockets,andsaying,“Godblessmysoul,youdon’tsayso,”soexactlyafterthefashionofoldJosthatitwasimpossibletorefrainfromlaughter.
Theservantswouldexplodeatdinnerifthelad,askingforsomethingwhichwasn’tattable,putonthatcountenanceandusedthatfavouritephrase.
EvenDobbinwouldshootoutasuddenpealattheboy’smimicry.
IfGeorgedidnotmimichisuncletohisface,itwasonlybyDobbin’srebukesandAmelia’sterrifiedentreatiesthatthelittlescapegracewasinducedtodesist.
Andtheworthycivilianbeinghauntedbyadimconsciousnessthattheladthoughthimanass,andwasinclinedtoturnhimintoridicule,usedtobeextremelytimorousand,ofcourse,doublypompousanddignifiedinthepresenceofMasterGeorgy.
WhenitwasannouncedthattheyounggentlemanwasexpectedinGillespieStreettodinewithhismother,Mr.JoscommonlyfoundthathehadanengagementattheClub.
Perhapsnobodywasmuchgrievedathisabsence.
OnthosedaysMr.Sedleywouldcommonlybeinducedtocomeoutfromhisplaceofrefugeintheupperstories,andtherewouldbeasmallfamilyparty,whereofMajorDobbinprettygenerallyformedone.
Hewastheamidelamaison—oldSedley’sfriend,Emmy’sfriend,Georgy’sfriend,Jos’scounselandadviser.
“HemightalmostaswellbeatMadrasforanythingWEseeofhim,”MissAnnDobbinremarkedatCamberwell.Ah!
MissAnn,diditnotstrikeyouthatitwasnotYOUwhomtheMajorwantedtomarry?
JosephSedleythenledalifeofdignifiedotiositysuchasbecameapersonofhiseminence.
Hisveryfirstpoint,ofcourse,wastobecomeamemberoftheOrientalClub,wherehespenthismorningsinthecompanyofhisbrotherIndians,wherehedined,orwhencehebroughthomementodine.
Ameliahadtoreceiveandentertainthesegentlemenandtheirladies.
FromthesesheheardhowsoonSmithwouldbeinCouncil;howmanylacsJoneshadbroughthomewithhim,howThomson’sHouseinLondonhadrefusedthebillsdrawnbyThomson,Kibobjee,andCo.,theBombayHouse,andhowitwasthoughttheCalcuttaHousemustgotoo;howveryimprudent,tosaytheleastofit,Mrs.Brown’sconduct(wifeofBrownoftheAhmednuggurIrregulars)hadbeenwithyoungSwankeyoftheBodyGuard,sittingupwithhimondeckuntilallhours,andlosingthemselvesastheywereridingoutattheCape;howMrs.Hardymanhadhadoutherthirteensisters,daughtersofacountrycurate,theRev:FelixRabbits,andmarriedelevenofthem,sevenhighupintheservice;howHornbywaswildbecausehiswifewouldstayinEurope,andTrotterwasappointedCollectoratUmmerapoora.
Thisandsimilartalktookplaceatthegranddinnersallround.
Theyhadthesameconversation;thesamesilverdishes;thesamesaddlesofmutton,boiledturkeys,andentrees.
Politicssetinashorttimeafterdessert,whentheladiesretiredupstairsandtalkedabouttheircomplaintsandtheirchildren.
Mutatonomine,itisallthesame.Don’tthebarristers’wivestalkaboutCircuit?
Don’tthesoldiers’ladiesgossipabouttheRegiment?
Don’ttheclergymen’sladiesdiscourseaboutSunday-schoolsandwhotakeswhoseduty?
Don’ttheverygreatestladiesofalltalkaboutthatsmallcliqueofpersonstowhomtheybelong?
AndwhyshouldourIndianfriendsnothavetheirownconversation?
—onlyIadmititisslowforthelaymenwhosefateitsometimesistositbyandlisten.
BeforelongEmmyhadavisiting-book,andwasdrivingaboutregularlyinacarriage,callinguponLadyBludyer(wifeofMajor-GeneralSirRogerBludyer,K.C.B.,BengalArmy);LadyHuff,wifeofSirG.Huff,Bombayditto;Mrs.Pice,theLadyofPicetheDirector,&c.
Wearenotlonginusingourselvestochangesinlife.
ThatcarriagecameroundtoGillespieStreeteveryday;thatbuttonyboysprangupanddownfromtheboxwithEmmy’sandJos’svisiting-cards;atstatedhoursEmmyandthecarriagewentforJostotheClubandtookhimanairing;or,puttingoldSedleyintothevehicle,shedrovetheoldmanroundtheRegent’sPark.
Thelady’smaidandthechariot,thevisiting-bookandthebuttonypage,becamesoonasfamiliartoAmeliaasthehumbleroutineofBrompton.
Sheaccommodatedherselftooneastotheother.
IfFatehadordainedthatsheshouldbeaDuchess,shewouldevenhavedonethatdutytoo.
Shewasvoted,inJos’sfemalesociety,ratherapleasingyoungperson—notmuchinher,butpleasing,andthatsortofthing.
Themen,asusual,likedherartlesskindnessandsimplerefineddemeanour.
ThegallantyoungIndiandandiesathomeonfurlough—immensedandiesthese—chainedandmoustached—drivingintearingcabs,thepillarsofthetheatres,livingatWestEndhotels—neverthelessadmiredMrs.Osborne,likedtobowtohercarriageinthepark,andtobeadmittedtohavethehonourofpayingheramorningvisit.
SwankeyoftheBodyGuardhimself,thatdangerousyouth,andthegreatestbuckofalltheIndianarmynowonleave,wasonedaydiscoveredbyMajorDobbintete-a-tetewithAmelia,anddescribingthesportofpig-stickingtoherwithgreathumourandeloquence;andhespokeafterwardsofad—dking’sofficerthat’salwayshangingaboutthehouse—along,thin,queer-looking,oldishfellow—adryfellowthough,thattooktheshineoutofamaninthetalkingline.
HadtheMajorpossessedalittlemorepersonalvanityhewouldhavebeenjealousofsodangerousayoungbuckasthatfascinatingBengalCaptain.
ButDobbinwasoftoosimpleandgenerousanaturetohaveanydoubtsaboutAmelia.
Hewasgladthattheyoungmenshouldpayherrespect,andthatothersshouldadmireher.
Eversinceherwomanhoodalmost,hadshenotbeenpersecutedandundervalued?
Itpleasedhimtoseehowkindnessboughtouthergoodqualitiesandhowherspiritsgentlyrosewithherprosperity.
AnypersonwhoappreciatedherpaidacomplimenttotheMajor’sgoodjudgement—thatis,ifamanmaybesaidtohavegoodjudgementwhoisundertheinfluenceofLove’sdelusion.
AfterJoswenttoCourt,whichwemaybesurehedidasaloyalsubjectofhisSovereign(showinghimselfinhisfullcourtsuitattheClub,whitherDobbincametofetchhiminaveryshabbyolduniform)hewhohadalwaysbeenastaunchLoyalistandadmirerofGeorgeIV,becamesuchatremendousToryandpillaroftheStatethathewasforhavingAmeliatogotoaDrawing-room,too.
HesomehowhadworkedhimselfuptobelievethathewasimplicatedinthemaintenanceofthepublicwelfareandthattheSovereignwouldnotbehappyunlessJosSedleyandhisfamilyappearedtorallyroundhimatSt.James’s.
Emmylaughed.“ShallIwearthefamilydiamonds,Jos?”shesaid.
“Iwishyouwouldletmebuyyousome,”thoughttheMajor.“Ishouldliketoseeanythatweretoogoodforyou.”
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