minded，Sultanashewas，andraiseupthiskneelingEstherandmakeaqueenofher：besides，hersadnessandbeautytouchedhimasmuchashersubmission，andsohecheeredher，andraisedherupandforgaveher，sotospeak。Allherhopesandfeelings，whichweredyingandwithering，thishersunhavingbeenremovedfromher，bloomedagainandatonce，itslightbeingrestored。
YouwouldscarcelyhaverecognisedthebeaminglittlefaceuponAmelia’spillowthatnightastheonethatwaslaidtherethenightbefore，sowan，solifeless，socarelessofallroundabout。ThehonestIrishmaid-servant，delightedwiththechange，askedleavetokissthefacethathadgrownallofasuddensorosy。Ameliaputherarmsroundthegirl’sneckandkissedherwithallherheart，likeachild。Shewaslittlemore。Shehadthatnightasweetrefreshingsleep，likeone——andwhataspringofinexpressiblehappinessasshewokeinthemorningsunshine！
“Hewillbehereagainto-day。”Ameliathought。”Heisthegreatestandbestofmen。”Andthefactis，thatGeorgethoughthewasoneofthegenerousestcreaturesalive：andthathewasmakingatremendoussacrificeinmarryingthisyoungcreature。
WhilesheandOsbornewerehavingtheirdelightfultete-a-teteabovestairs，oldMrs。SedleyandCaptainDobbinwereconversingbelowuponthestateoftheaffairs，andthechancesandfuturearrangementsoftheyoungpeople。Mrs。Sedleyhavingbroughtthetwoloverstogetherandleftthemembracingeachotherwithalltheirmight，likeatruewoman，wasofopinionthatnopoweronearthwouldinduceMr。Sedleytoconsenttothematchbetweenhisdaughterandthesonofamanwhohadsoshamefully，wickedly，andmonstrouslytreatedhim。Andshetoldalongstoryabouthappierdaysandtheirearliersplendours，whenOsbornelivedinaveryhumblewayintheNewRoad，andhiswifewastoogladtoreceivesomeofJos’slittlebabythings，withwhichMrs。SedleyaccommodatedheratthebirthofoneofOsborne’sownchildren。Thefiendishingratitudeofthatman，shewassure，hadbrokenMr。S。’sheart：andasforamarriage，hewouldnever，never，never，neverconsent。
“Theymustrunawaytogether，Ma’am。”Dobbinsaid，laughing，“andfollowtheexampleofCaptainRawdonCrawley，andMissEmmy’sfriendthelittlegoverness。”
Wasitpossible？Wellshenever！Mrs。Sedleywasallexcitementaboutthisnews。ShewishedthatBlenkinsopwereheretohearit：BlenkinsopalwaysmistrustedthatMissSharp——WhatanescapeJoshadhad！andshedescribedthealreadywell-knownlove-passagesbetweenRebeccaandtheCollectorofBoggleyWollah。
Itwasnot，however，Mr。Sedley’swrathwhichDobbinfeared，somuchasthatoftheotherparentconcerned，andheownedthathehadaveryconsiderabledoubtandanxietyrespectingthebehaviouroftheblack-browedoldtyrantofaRussiamerchantinRussellSquare。Hehasforbiddenthematchperemptorily，Dobbinthought。
HeknewwhatasavagedeterminedmanOsbornewas，andhowhestuckbyhisword。TheonlychanceGeorgehasofreconcilement。”arguedhisfriend，“isbydistinguishinghimselfinthecomingcampaign。Ifhediestheybothgotogether。Ifhefailsindistinction——whatthen？Hehassomemoneyfromhismother，Ihaveheardenoughtopurchasehismajority——orhemustselloutandgoanddiginCanada，orroughitinacottageinthecountry。”
WithsuchapartnerDobbinthoughthewouldnotmindSiberia——and，strangetosay，thisabsurdandutterlyimprudentyoungfellowneverforamomentconsideredthatthewantofmeanstokeepanicecarriageandhorses，andofanincomewhichshouldenableitspossessorstoentertaintheirfriendsgenteelly，oughttooperateasbarstotheunionofGeorgeandMissSedley。
Itwastheseweightyconsiderationswhichmadehimthinktoothatthemarriageshouldtakeplaceasquicklyaspossible。Washeanxioushimself，Iwonder，tohaveitover。？——aspeople，whendeathhasoccurred，liketopressforwardthefuneral，orwhenapartingisresolvedupon，hastenit。ItiscertainthatMr。Dobbin，havingtakenthematterinhand，wasmostextraordinarilyeagerintheconductofit。HeurgedonGeorgethenecessityofimmediateaction：heshowedthechancesofreconciliationwithhisfather，whichafavourablementionofhisnameintheGazettemustbringabout。Ifneedwerehewouldgohimselfandbraveboththefathersinthebusiness。Atallevents，hebesoughtGeorgetogothroughwithitbeforetheorderscame，whicheverybodyexpected，forthedepartureoftheregimentfromEnglandonforeignservice。
Bentuponthesehymenealprojects，andwiththeapplauseandconsentofMrs。Sedley，whodidnotcaretobreakthematterpersonallytoherhusband，Mr。DobbinwenttoseekJohnSedleyathishouseofcallintheCity，theTapiocaCoffee-house，where，sincehisownofficeswereshutup，andfatehadovertakenhim，thepoorbroken-downoldgentlemanusedtobetakehimselfdaily，andwritelettersandreceivethem，andtiethemupintomysteriousbundles，severalofwhichhecarriedintheflapsofhiscoat。Idon’tknowanythingmoredismalthanthatbusinessandbustleandmysteryofaruinedman：thoselettersfromthewealthywhichheshowsyou：thoseworngreasydocumentspromisingsupportandofferingcondolencewhichheplaceswistfullybeforeyou，andonwhichhebuildshishopesofrestorationandfuturefortune。
Mybelovedreaderhasnodoubtinthecourseofhisexperiencebeenwaylaidbymanysuchalucklesscompanion。Hetakesyouintothecorner；hehashisbundleofpapersoutofhisgapingcoatpocket；andthetapeoff，andthestringinhismouth，andthefavouritelettersselectedandlaidbeforeyou；andwhodoesnotknowthesadeagerhalf-crazylookwhichhefixesonyouwithhishopelesseyes？
Changedintoamanofthissort，Dobbinfoundtheonceflorid，jovial，andprosperousJohnSedley。Hiscoat，thatusedtobesoglossyandtrim，waswhiteattheseams，andthebuttonsshowedthecopper。Hisfacehadfallenin，andwasunshorn；hisfrillandneckclothhunglimpunderhisbaggingwaistcoat。Whenheusedtotreattheboysinolddaysatacoffee-house，hewouldshoutandlaughlouderthananybodythere，andhaveallthewaitersskippingroundhim；itwasquitepainfultoseehowhumbleandcivilhewastoJohnoftheTapioca，ablear-eyedoldattendantindingystockingsandcrackedpumps，whosebusinessitwastoserveglassesofwafers，andbumpersofinkinpewter，andslicesofpapertothefrequentersofthisdrearyhouseofentertainment，wherenothingelseseemedtobeconsumed。AsforWilliamDobbin，whomhehadtippedrepeatedlyinhisyouth，andwhohadbeentheoldgentleman’sbuttonathousandoccasions，oldSedleygavehishandtohiminaveryhesitatinghumblemannernow，andcalledhim“Sir。”A
feelingofshameandremorsetookpossessionofWilliamDobbinasthebrokenoldmansoreceivedandaddressedhim，asifhehimselfhadbeensomehowguiltyofthemisfortuneswhichhadbroughtSedleysolow。
“Iamverygladtoseeyou，CaptainDobbin，sir。”sayshe，afteraskulkinglookortwoathisvisitorwhoselankyfigureandmilitaryappearancecausedsomeexcitementlikewisetotwinkleinthebleareyesofthewaiterinthecrackeddancingpumps，andawakenedtheoldladyinblack，whodozedamongthemouldyoldcoffee-cupsinthebar。”Howistheworthyalderman，andmylady，yourexcellentmother，sir？”Helookedroundatthewaiterashesaid，“Mylady。”asmuchastosay，“Harkye，John，I
havefriendsstill，andpersonsofrankandreputation，too。”“Areyoucometodoanythinginmyway，sir？MyyoungfriendsDaleandSpiggotdoallmybusinessformenow，untilmynewofficesareready；forI’monlyheretemporarily，youknow，Captain。Whatcanwedoforyou。
sir？Willyouliketotakeanything？”
Dobbin，withagreatdealofhesitationandstuttering，protestedthathewasnotintheleasthungryorthirsty；
thathehadnobusinesstotransact；thatheonlycametoaskifMr。Sedleywaswell，andtoshakehandswithanoldfriend；and，headded，withadesperateperversionoftruth，“Mymotherisverywell——thatis，she’sbeenveryunwell，andisonlywaitingforthefirstfinedaytogooutandcalluponMrs。Sedley。HowisMrs。Sedley，sir？I
hopeshe’squitewell。”Andherehepaused，reflectingonhisownconsummatehypocrisy；forthedaywasasfine，andthesunshineasbrightasiteverisinCoffinCourt，wheretheTapiocaCoffee-houseissituated：andMr。
DobbinrememberedthathehadseenMrs。Sedleyhimselfonlyanhourbefore，havingdrivenOsbornedowntoFulhaminhisgig，andlefthimtheretete-a-tetewithMissAmelia。
“Mywifewillbeveryhappytoseeherladyship。”
Sedleyreplied，pullingouthispapers。”I’veaverykindletterherefromyourfather，sir，andbegmyrespectfulcomplimentstohim。LadyD。willfindusinratherasmallerhousethanwewereaccustomedtoreceiveourfriendsin；butit’ssnug，andthechangeofairdoesgoodtomydaughter，whowassufferingintownrather——yourememberlittleEmmy，sir？——yes，sufferingagooddeal。”
Theoldgentleman’seyeswerewanderingashespoke，andhewasthinkingofsomethingelse，ashesatethrummingonhispapersandfumblingatthewornredtape。
“You’reamilitaryman。”hewenton；“Iaskyou，BillDobbin，couldanymaneverhavespeculateduponthereturnofthatCorsicanscoundrelfromElba？Whenthealliedsovereignswereherelastyear，andwegave’emthatdinnerintheCity，sir，andwesawtheTempleofConcord，andthefireworks，andtheChinesebridgeinSt。James’sPark，couldanysensiblemansupposethatpeacewasn’treallyconcluded，afterwe’dactuallysungTeDeumforit，sir？Iaskyou，William，couldIsupposethattheEmperorofAustriawasadamnedtraitor——atraitor，andnothingmore？Idon’tmincewords——adouble-facedinfernaltraitorandschemer，whomeanttohavehisson-
in-lawbackallalong。AndIsaythattheescapeofBoneyfromElbawasadamnedimpositionandplot，sir，inwhichhalfthepowersofEuropewereconcerned，tobringthefundsdown，andtoruinthiscountry。That’swhyI’mhere，William。That’swhymyname’sintheGazette。Why，sir？——becauseItrustedtheEmperorofRussiaandthePrinceRegent。Lookhere。Lookatmypapers。Lookwhatthefundswereonthe1stofMarch——whattheFrenchfiveswerewhenIboughtforthecount。Andwhatthey’reatnow。Therewascollusion，sir，orthatvillainneverwouldhaveescaped。WherewastheEnglishCommissionerwhoallowedhimtogetaway？Heoughttobeshot，sir——broughttoacourt-martial，andshot，byJove。”
“We’regoingtohuntBoneyout，sir。”Dobbinsaid，ratheralarmedatthefuryoftheoldman，theveinsofwhoseforeheadbegantoswell，andwhosatedrumminghispaperswithhisclenchedfist。”Wearegoingtohunthimout，sir——theDuke’sinBelgiumalready，andweexpectmarchingorderseveryday。”
“Givehimnoquarter。Bringbackthevillain’shead，sir。
Shootthecowarddown，sir。”Sedleyroared。”I’denlistmyself，by——；butI’mabrokenoldman——ruinedbythatdamnedscoundrel——andbyaparcelofswindlingthievesinthiscountrywhomImade，sir，andwhoarerollingintheircarriagesnow。”headded，withabreakinhisvoice。
Dobbinwasnotalittleaffectedbythesightofthisoncekindoldfriend，crazedalmostwithmisfortuneandravingwithsenileanger。Pitythefallengentleman：youtowhommoneyandfairreputearethechiefestgood；andso，surely，aretheyinVanityFair。
“Yes。”hecontinued，“therearesomevipersthatyouwarm，andtheystingyouafterwards。Therearesomebeggarsthatyouputonhorseback，andthey’rethefirsttorideyoudown。YouknowwhomImean，WilliamDobbin，myboy。Imeanapurse-proudvillaininRussellSquare，whomIknewwithoutashilling，andwhomI
prayandhopetoseeabeggarashewaswhenI
befriendedhim。”
“Ihaveheardsomethingofthis，sir，frommyfriendGeorge。”Dobbinsaid，anxioustocometohispoint。”Thequarrelbetweenyouandhisfatherhascuthimupagreatdeal，sir。Indeed，I’mthebearerofamessagefromhim。”
“O，THAT’Syourerrand，isit？”criedtheoldman，jumpingup。”What！perhapshecondoleswithme，doeshe？
Verykindofhim，thestiff-backedprig，withhisdandifiedairsandWestEndswagger。He’shankeringaboutmyhouse，ishestill？Ifmysonhadthecourageofaman，he’dshoothim。He’sasbigavillainashisfather。Iwon’thavehisnamementionedinmyhouse。IcursethedaythateverIlethimintoit；andI’dratherseemydaughterdeadatmyfeetthanmarriedtohim。”
“Hisfather’sharshnessisnotGeorge’sfault，sir。Yourdaughter’sloveforhimisasmuchyourdoingashis。Whoareyou，thatyouaretoplaywithtwoyoungpeople’saffectionsandbreaktheirheartsatyourwill？”
“Recollectit’snothisfatherthatbreaksthematchoff。”
oldSedleycriedout。”It’sIthatforbidit。Thatfamilyandmineareseparatedforever。I’mfallenlow，butnotsolowasthat：no，no。Andsoyoumaytellthewholerace——
son，andfatherandsisters，andall。”