Dobbinwasmuchtoomodestayoungfellowtosupposethatthishappychangeinallhiscircumstancesarosefromhisowngenerousandmanlydisposition：hechose，fromsomeperverseness，toattributehisgoodfortunetothesoleagencyandbenevolenceoflittleGeorgeOsborne，towhomhenceforthhevowedsuchaloveandaffectionasisonlyfeltbychildren——suchanaffection，aswereadinthecharmingfairy-book，uncouthOrsonhadforsplendidyoungValentinehisconqueror。HeflunghimselfdownatlittleOsborne’sfeet，andlovedhim。
Evenbeforetheywereacquainted，hehadadmiredOsborneinsecret。Nowhewashisvalet，hisdog，hismanFriday。HebelievedOsbornetobethepossessorofeveryperfection，tobethehandsomest，thebravest，themostactive，thecleverest，themostgenerousofcreatedboys。Hesharedhismoneywithhim：boughthimuncountablepresentsofknives，pencil-cases，goldseals，toffee，LittleWarblers，andromanticbooks，withlargecolouredpicturesofknightsandrobbers，inmanyofwhichlatteryoumightreadinscriptionstoGeorgeSedleyOsborne，Esquire，fromhisattachedfriendWilliamDobbin——thewhichtokensofhomageGeorgereceivedverygraciously，asbecamehissuperiormerit。
SothatLieutenantOsborne，whencomingtoRussellSquareonthedayoftheVauxhallparty，saidtotheladies，“Mrs。Sedley，Ma’am，Ihopeyouhaveroom；I’veaskedDobbinofourstocomeanddinehere，andgowithustoVauxhall。He’salmostasmodestasJos。”
“Modesty！pooh。”saidthestoutgentleman，castingavainqueurlookatMissSharp。
“Heis——butyouareincomparablymoregraceful，Sedley。”Osborneadded，laughing。”ImethimattheBedford，whenIwenttolookforyou；andItoldhimthatMissAmeliawascomehome，andthatwewereallbentongoingoutforanight’spleasuring；andthatMrs。Sedleyhadforgivenhisbreakingthepunch-bowlatthechild’sparty。Don’tyourememberthecatastrophe，Ma’am，sevenyearsago？”