norwasheverymuchprepossessedinherfavour。Hewassohonest，thatherartsandcajoleriesdidnotaffecthim，andheshrankfromherwithinstinctiverepulsion。
And，asshewasbynomeanssofarsuperiortohersexastobeabovejealousy，shedislikedhimthemoreforhisadorationofAmelia。Nevertheless，shewasveryrespectfulandcordialinhermannertowardshim。AfriendtotheOsbornes！afriendtoherdearestbenefactors！Shevowedsheshouldalwayslovehimsincerely：sherememberedhimquitewellontheVauxhallnight，asshetoldAmeliaarchly，andshemadealittlefunofhimwhenthetwoladieswenttodressfordinner。RawdonCrawleypaidscarcelyanyattentiontoDobbin，lookinguponhimasagood-naturednincompoopandunder-bredCityman。Jospatronisedhimwithmuchdignity。
WhenGeorgeandDobbinwerealoneinthelatter’sroom，towhichGeorgehadfollowedhim，DobbintookfromhisdesktheletterwhichhehadbeenchargedbyMr。Osbornetodelivertohisson。”It’snotinmyfather’shandwriting。”saidGeorge，lookingratheralarmed；norwasit：theletterwasfromMr。Osborne’slawyer，andtothefollowingeffect：
BedfordRow，May7，1815。
SIR，IamcommissionedbyMr。Osbornetoinformyou，thatheabidesbythedeterminationwhichhebeforeexpressedtoyou，andthatinconsequenceofthemarriagewhichyouhavebeenpleasedtocontract，heceasestoconsideryouhenceforthasamemberofhisfamily。