“Whynotsheaswellasanother，Mrs。Sedley？Thegirl’sawhitefaceatanyrate。Idon’tcarewhomarrieshim。LetJoepleasehimself。”
Andpresentlythevoicesofthetwospeakerswerehushed，orwerereplacedbythegentlebutunromanticmusicofthenose；andsavewhenthechurchbellstolledthehourandthewatchmancalledit，allwassilentatthehouseofJohnSedley，Esquire，ofRussellSquare，andtheStockExchange。
Whenmorningcame，thegood-naturedMrs。SedleynolongerthoughtofexecutingherthreatswithregardtoMissSharp；forthoughnothingismorekeen，normorecommon，normorejustifiable，thanmaternaljealousy，yetshecouldnotbringherselftosupposethatthelittle，humble，grateful，gentlegovernesswoulddaretolookuptosuchamagnificentpersonageastheCollectorofBoggleyWollah。Thepetition，too，foranextensionoftheyounglady’sleaveofabsencehadalreadybeendespatched，anditwouldbedifficulttofindapretextforabruptlydismissingher。
AndasifallthingsconspiredinfavourofthegentleRebecca，theveryelementsalthoughshewasnotinclinedatfirsttoacknowledgetheiractioninherbehalf
interposedtoaidher。ForontheeveningappointedfortheVauxhallparty，GeorgeOsbornehavingcometodinner，andtheeldersofthehousehavingdeparted，accordingtoinvitation，todinewithAldermanBallsatHighburyBarn，therecameonsuchathunder-stormasonlyhappensonVauxhallnights，andasobligedtheyoungpeople，perforce，toremainathome。Mr。Osbornedidnotseemintheleastdisappointedatthisoccurrence。
HeandJosephSedleydrankafittingquantityofport-wine，tete-a-tete，inthedining-room，duringthedrinkingofwhichSedleytoldanumberofhisbestIndianstories；forhewasextremelytalkativeinman’ssociety；
andafterwardsMissAmeliaSedleydidthehonoursofthedrawing-room；andthesefouryoungpersonspassedsuchacomfortableeveningtogether，thattheydeclaredtheywererathergladofthethunder-stormthanotherwise，whichhadcausedthemtoputofftheirvisittoVauxhall。
OsbornewasSedley’sgodson，andhadbeenoneofthefamilyanytimethesethree-and-twentyyears。Atsixweeksold，hehadreceivedfromJohnSedleyapresentofasilvercup；atsixmonthsold，acoralwithgoldwhistleandbells；fromhisyouthupwardshewas“tipped“regularlybytheoldgentlemanatChristmas：
andongoingbacktoschool，herememberedperfectlywellbeingthrashedbyJosephSedley，whenthelatterwasabig，swaggeringhobbadyhoy，andGeorgeanimpudenturchinoftenyearsold。Inaword，Georgewasasfamiliarwiththefamilyassuchdailyactsofkindnessandintercoursecouldmakehim。
“Doyouremember，Sedley，whatafuryyouwerein，whenIcutoffthetasselsofyourHessianboots，andhowMiss——hem！——howAmeliarescuedmefromabeating，byfallingdownonherkneesandcryingouttoherbrotherJos，nottobeatlittleGeorge？”
Josrememberedthisremarkablecircumstanceperfectlywell，butvowedthathehadtotallyforgottenit。
“Well，doyouremembercomingdowninagigtoDr。
Swishtail’stoseeme，beforeyouwenttoIndia，andgivingmehalfaguineaandapatonthehead？Ialwayshadanideathatyouwereatleastsevenfeethigh，andwasquiteastonishedatyourreturnfromIndiatofindyounotallerthanmyself。”
“HowgoodofMr。Sedleytogotoyourschoolandgiveyouthemoney！”exclaimedRebecca，inaccentsofextremedelight。
“Yes，andafterIhadcutthetasselsofhisbootstoo。
Boysneverforgetthosetipsatschool，northegivers。”
“IdelightinHessianboots。”saidRebecca。JosSedley，whoadmiredhisownlegsprodigiously，andalwaysworethisornamentalchaussure，wasextremelypleasedatthisremark，thoughhedrewhislegsunderhischairasitwasmade。
“MissSharp！”saidGeorgeOsborne，“youwhoaresocleveranartist，youmustmakeagrandhistoricalpictureofthesceneoftheboots。Sedleyshallberepresentedinbuckskins，andholdingoneoftheinjuredbootsinonehand；bytheotherheshallhaveholdofmyshirt-frill。Ameliashallbekneelingnearhim，withherlittlehandsup；andthepictureshallhaveagrandallegoricaltitle，asthefrontispieceshaveintheMedullaandthespelling-book。”
“Ishan’thavetimetodoithere。”saidRebecca。’I’lldoitwhen——whenI’mgone。”Andshedroppedhervoice，andlookedsosadandpiteous，thateverybodyfelthowcruelherlotwas，andhowsorrytheywouldbetopartwithher。
“Othatyoucouldstaylonger，dearRebecca。”saidAmelia。
“Why？”answeredtheother，stillmoresadly。”ThatImaybeonlythemoreunhap——unwillingtoloseyou？”
Andsheturnedawayherhead。Ameliabegantogivewaytothatnaturalinfirmityoftearswhich，wehavesaid，wasoneofthedefectsofthissillylittlething。GeorgeOsbornelookedatthetwoyoungwomenwithatouchedcuriosity；andJosephSedleyheavedsomethingverylikeasighoutofhisbigchest，ashecasthiseyesdowntowardshisfavouriteHessianboots。
“Letushavesomemusic，MissSedley——Amelia。”saidGeorge，whofeltatthatmomentanextraordinary，almostirresistibleimpulsetoseizetheabove-mentionedyoungwomaninhisarms，andtokissherinthefaceofthecompany；andshelookedathimforamoment，andifIshouldsaythattheyfellinlovewitheachotheratthatsingleinstantoftime，Ishouldperhapsbetellinganuntruth，forthefactisthatthesetwoyoungpeoplehadbeenbredupbytheirparentsforthisverypurpose，andtheirbannshad，asitwere，beenreadintheirrespectivefamiliesanytimethesetenyears。Theywentofftothepiano，whichwassituated，aspianosusuallyare，inthebackdrawing-room；andasitwasratherdark，MissAmelia，inthemostunaffectedwayintheworld，putherhandintoMr。Osborne’s，who，ofcourse，couldseethewayamongthechairsandottomansagreatdealbetterthanshecould。ButthisarrangementleftMr。
JosephSedleytete-a-tetewithRebecca，atthedrawing-roomtable，wherethelatterwasoccupiedinknittingagreensilkpurse。
“Thereisnoneedtoaskfamilysecrets。”saidMissSharp。”Thosetwohavetoldtheirs。”
“Assoonashegetshiscompany。”saidJoseph，“I
believetheaffairissettled。GeorgeOsborneisacapitalfellow。”
“Andyoursisterthedearestcreatureintheworld。”
saidRebecca。”Happythemanwhowinsher！”Withthis，MissSharpgaveagreatsigh。
Whentwounmarriedpersonsgettogether，andtalkuponsuchdelicatesubjectsasthepresent，agreatdealofconfidenceandintimacyispresentlyestablishedbetweenthem。ThereisnoneedofgivingaspecialreportoftheconversationwhichnowtookplacebetweenMr。
Sedleyandtheyounglady；fortheconversation，asmaybejudgedfromtheforegoingspecimen，wasnotespeciallywittyoreloquent；itseldomisinprivatesocieties，oranywhereexceptinveryhigh-flownandingeniousnovels。
Astherewasmusicinthenextroom，thetalkwascarriedon，ofcourse，inalowandbecomingtone，though，forthematterofthat，thecoupleinthenextapartmentwouldnothavebeendisturbedhadthetalkingbeeneversoloud，sooccupiedweretheywiththeirownpursuits。
Almostforthefirsttimeinhislife，Mr。Sedleyfoundhimselftalking，withouttheleasttimidityorhesitation，toapersonoftheothersex。MissRebeccaaskedhimagreatnumberofquestionsaboutIndia，whichgavehimanopportunityofnarratingmanyinterestinganecdotesaboutthatcountryandhimself。HedescribedtheballsatGovernmentHouse，andthemannerinwhichtheykeptthemselvescoolinthehotweather，withpunkahs，tatties，andothercontrivances；andhewasverywittyregardingthenumberofScotchmenwhomLordMinto，theGovernor-General，patronised；andthenhedescribedatiger-hunt；andthemannerinwhichthemahoutofhiselephanthadbeenpulledoffhisseatbyoneoftheinfuriatedanimals。HowdelightedMissRebeccawasattheGovernmentballs，andhowshelaughedatthestoriesoftheScotchaides-de-camp，andcalledMr。Sedleyasadwickedsatiricalcreature；andhowfrightenedshewasJosephSedleytete-a-tetewithRebecca，atthedrawing-roomtable，wherethelatterwasoccupiedinknittingagreensilkpurse。
“Thereisnoneedtoaskfamilysecrets。”saidMissSharp。”Thosetwohavetoldtheirs。”
“Assoonashegetshiscompany。”saidJoseph，“I
believetheaffairissettled。GeorgeOsborneisacapitalfellow。”
“Andyoursisterthedearestcreatureintheworld。”
saidRebecca。”Happythemanwhowinsher！”Withthis，MissSharpgaveagreatsigh。
Whentwounmarriedpersonsgettogether，andtalkuponsuchdelicatesubjectsasthepresent，agreatdealofconfidenceandintimacyispresentlyestablishedbetweenthem。ThereisnoneedofgivingaspecialreportoftheconversationwhichnowtookplacebetweenMr。
Sedleyandtheyounglady；fortheconversation，asmaybejudgedfromtheforegoingspecimen，wasnotespeciallywittyoreloquent；itseldomisinprivatesocieties，oranywhereexceptinveryhigh-flownandingeniousnovels。
Astherewasmusicinthenextroom，thetalkwascarriedon，ofcourse，inalowandbecomingtone，though，forthematterofthat，thecoupleinthenextapartmentwouldnothavebeendisturbedhadthetalkingbeeneversoloud，sooccupiedweretheywiththeirownpursuits。
Almostforthefirsttimeinhislife，Mr。Sedleyfoundhimselftalking，withouttheleasttimidityorhesitation，toapersonoftheothersex。MissRebeccaaskedhimagreatnumberofquestionsaboutIndia，whichgavehimanopportunityofnarratingmanyinterestinganecdotesaboutthatcountryandhimself。HedescribedtheballsatGovernmentHouse，andthemannerinwhichtheykeptthemselvescoolinthehotweather，withpunkahs，tatties，andothercontrivances；andhewasverywittyregardingthenumberofScotchmenwhomLordMinto，theGovernor-General，patronised；andthenhedescribedatiger-hunt；andthemannerinwhichthemahoutofhiselephanthadbeenpulledoffhisseatbyoneoftheinfuriatedanimals。HowdelightedMissRebeccawasattheGovernmentballs，andhowshelaughedatthestoriesoftheScotchaides-de-camp，andcalledMr。Sedleyasadwickedsatiricalcreature；andhowfrightenedshewasatthestoryoftheelephant！“Foryourmother’ssake，dearMr。Sedley。”shesaid，“forthesakeofallyourfriends，promiseNEVERtogoononeofthosehorridexpeditions。”
“Pooh，pooh，MissSharp。”saidhe，pullinguphisshirt-
collars；“thedangermakesthesportonlythepleasanter。”
Hehadneverbeenbutonceatatiger-hunt，whentheaccidentinquestionoccurred，andwhenhewashalfkilled——notbythetiger，butbythefright。Andashetalkedon，hegrewquitebold，andactuallyhadtheaudacitytoaskMissRebeccaforwhomshewasknittingthegreensilkpurse？Hewasquitesurprisedanddelightedathisowngracefulfamiliarmanner。
“Foranyonewhowantsapurse。”repliedMissRebecca，lookingathiminthemostgentlewinningway。
Sedleywasgoingtomakeoneofthemosteloquentspeechespossible，andhadbegun——“OMissSharp，how——“whensomesongwhichwasperformedintheotherroomcametoanend，andcausedhimtohearhisownvoicesodistinctlythathestopped，blushed，andblewhisnoseingreatagitation。
“Didyoueverhearanythinglikeyourbrother’seloquence？”whisperedMr。OsbornetoAmelia。”Why，yourfriendhasworkedmiracles。”
“Themorethebetter。”saidMissAmelia；who，likealmostallwomenwhoareworthapin，wasamatch-
makerinherheart，andwouldhavebeendelightedthatJosephshouldcarrybackawifetoIndia。Shehad，too，inthecourseofthisfewdays’constantintercourse，warmedintoamosttenderfriendshipforRebecca，anddiscoveredamillionofvirtuesandamiablequalitiesinherwhichshehadnotperceivedwhentheywereatChiswicktogether。FortheaffectionofyoungladiesisofasrapidgrowthasJack’sbean-stalk，andreachesuptotheskyinanight。ItisnoblametothemthataftermarriagethisSehnsuchtnachderLiebesubsides。Itiswhatsentimentalists，whodealinverybigwords，callayearningaftertheIdeal，andsimplymeansthatwomenarecommonlynotsatisfieduntiltheyhavehusbandsandchildrenonwhomtheymaycentreaffections，whicharespentelsewhere，asitwere，insmallchange。
Havingexpendedherlittlestoreofsongs，orhavingstayedlongenoughinthebackdrawing-room，itnowappearedpropertoMissAmeliatoaskherfriendtosing。”Youwouldnothavelistenedtome。”shesaidtoMr。Osbornethoughsheknewshewastellingafib。”hadyouheardRebeccafirst。”
“IgiveMissSharpwarning，though。”saidOsborne。”that，rightorwrong，IconsiderMissAmeliaSedleythefirstsingerintheworld。”
“Youshallhear。”saidAmelia；andJosephSedleywasactuallypoliteenoughtocarrythecandlestothepiano。