blanktocrossthewater。Thisrevolt，whichcameverysuddenly，andonthelastday，soalarmedMr。Sedley，junior，thathewasonthepointofgivinguptheexpedition，butCaptainDobbinwhomadehimselfimmenselyofficiousinthebusiness，Jossaid，ratedhimandlaughedathimsoundly：themustachiosweregrowninadvance，andJosfinallywaspersuadedtoembark。Inplaceofthewell-bredandwell-fedLondondomestics，whocouldonlyspeakEnglish，DobbinprocuredforJos’spartyaswarthylittleBelgianservantwhocouldspeaknolanguageatall；butwho，byhisbustlingbehaviour，andbyinvariablyaddressingMr。Sedleyas“Mylord。”
speedilyacquiredthatgentleman’sfavour。TimesarealteredatOstendnow；oftheBritonswhogothither，veryfewlooklikelords，oractlikethosemembersofourhereditaryaristocracy。Theyseemforthemostpartshabbyinattire，dingyoflinen，loversofbilliardsandbrandy，andcigarsandgreasyordinaries。
Butitmaybesaidasarule，thateveryEnglishmanintheDukeofWellington’sarmypaidhisway。Theremembranceofsuchafactsurelybecomesanationofshopkeepers。Itwasablessingforacommerce-lovingcountrytobeoverrunbysuchanarmyofcustomers：
andtohavesuchcreditablewarriorstofeed。Andthecountrywhichtheycametoprotectisnotmilitary。Foralongperiodofhistorytheyhaveletotherpeoplefightthere。WhenthepresentwriterwenttosurveywitheagleglancethefieldofWaterloo，weaskedtheconductorofthediligence，aportlywarlike-lookingveteran，whetherhehadbeenatthebattle。”Passibete“——suchananswerandsentimentasnoFrenchmanwouldownto——
washisreply。But，ontheotherhand，thepostilionwhodroveuswasaViscount，asonofsomebankruptImperialGeneral，whoacceptedapennyworthofbeerontheroad。Themoralissurelyagoodone。