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。