“It’smybelief，sir，thatyouhavenotthepowerortherighttoseparatethosetwo。”Dobbinansweredinalowvoice；“andthatifyoudon’tgiveyourdaughteryourconsentitwillbeherdutytomarrywithoutit。There’snoreasonsheshoulddieorlivemiserablybecauseyouarewrong-headed。Tomythinking，she’sjustasmuchmarriedasifthebannshadbeenreadinallthechurchesinLondon。AndwhatbetteranswercantherebetoOsborne’schargesagainstyou，aschargesthereare，thanthathissonclaimstoenteryourfamilyandmarryyourdaughter？”
AlightofsomethinglikesatisfactionseemedtobreakoveroldSedleyasthispointwasputtohim：buthestillpersistedthatwithhisconsentthemarriagebetweenAmeliaandGeorgeshouldnevertakeplace。
“Wemustdoitwithout。”Dobbinsaid，smiling，andtoldMr。Sedley，ashehadtoldMrs。Sedleyintheday，before，thestoryofRebecca’selopementwithCaptainCrawley。Itevidentlyamusedtheoldgentleman。”You’reterriblefellows，youCaptains。”saidhe，tyinguphispapers；andhisfaceworesomethinglikeasmileuponit，totheastonishmentoftheblear-eyedwaiterwhonowentered，andhadneverseensuchanexpressionuponSedley’scountenancesincehehadusedthedismalcoffee-house。
TheideaofhittinghisenemyOsbornesuchablowsoothed，perhaps，theoldgentleman：and，theircolloquypresentlyending，heandDobbinpartedprettygoodfriends。
“Mysisterssayshehasdiamondsasbigaspigeons’
eggs。”Georgesaid，laughing。”Howtheymustsetoffhercomplexion！Aperfectilluminationitmustbewhenherjewelsareonherneck。Herjet-blackhairisascurlyasSambo’s。Idaresaysheworeanoseringwhenshewenttocourt；andwithaplumeoffeathersinhertop-knotshewouldlookaperfectBelleSauvage。”
George，inconversationwithAmelia，wasrallyingtheappearanceofayoungladyofwhomhisfatherandsistershadlatelymadetheacquaintance，andwhowasanobjectofvastrespecttotheRussellSquarefamily。ShewasreportedtohaveIdon’tknowhowmanyplantationsintheWestIndies；adealofmoneyinthefunds；andthreestarstohernameintheEastIndiastockholders’list。ShehadamansioninSurrey，andahouseinPortlandPlace。
ThenameoftherichWestIndiaheiresshadbeenmentionedwithapplauseintheMorningPost。Mrs。Haggistoun，ColonelHaggistoun’swidow，herrelative，“chaperoned“
her，andkeptherhouse。Shewasjustfromschool，whereshehadcompletedhereducation，andGeorgeandhissistershadmetherataneveningpartyatoldHulker’shouse，DevonshirePlaceHulker，Bullock，andCo。werelongthecorrespondentsofherhouseintheWestIndies，andthegirlshadmadethemostcordialadvancestoher，whichtheheiresshadreceivedwithgreatgoodhumour。
Anorphaninherposition——withhermoney——sointeresting！
theMissesOsbornesaid。TheywerefulloftheirnewfriendwhentheyreturnedfromtheHulkerballtoMissWirt，theircompanion；theyhadmadearrangementsforcontinuallymeeting，andhadthecarriageanddrovetoseehertheverynextday。Mrs。Haggistoun，ColonelHaggistoun’swidow，arelationofLordBinkie，andalwaystalkingofhim，struckthedearunsophisticatedgirlsasratherhaughty，andtoomuchinclinedtotalkabouthergreatrelations：butRhodawaseverythingtheycouldwish——
thefrankest，kindest，mostagreeablecreature——wantingalittlepolish，butsogood-natured。ThegirlsChristian-
namedeachotheratonce。
“Youshouldhaveseenherdressforcourt，Emmy。”
Osbornecried，laughing。”Shecametomysisterstoshowitoff，beforeshewaspresentedinstatebymyLadyBinkie，theHaggistoun’skinswoman。She’srelatedtoeveryone，thatHaggistoun。HerdiamondsblazedoutlikeVauxhallonthenightwewerethere。DoyourememberVauxhall，Emmy，andJossingingtohisdearestdiddlediddledarling？Diamondsandmahogany，mydear！
thinkwhatanadvantageouscontrast——andthewhitefeathersinherhair——Imeaninherwool。Shehadearringslikechandeliers；youmighthavelighted’emup，byJove——andayellowsatintrainthatstreeledafterherlikethetailofacornet。”
“Howoldisshe？”askedEmmy，towhomGeorgewasrattlingawayregardingthisdarkparagon，onthemorningoftheirreunion——rattlingawayasnoothermanintheworldsurelycould。
“WhytheBlackPrincess，thoughshehasonlyjustleftschool，mustbetwoorthreeandtwenty。Andyoushouldseethehandshewrites！Mrs。ColonelHaggistounusuallywritesherletters，butinamomentofconfidence，sheputpentopaperformysisters；shespeltsatinsatting，andSaintJames’s，SaintJams。”
“Why，surelyitmustbeMissSwartz，theparlourboarder。”Emmysaid，rememberingthatgood-naturedyoungmulattogirl，whohadbeensohystericallyaffectedwhenAmelialeftMissPinkerton’sacademy“Theveryname。”Georgesaid。”HerfatherwasaGermanJew——aslave-ownertheysay——connectedwiththeCannibalIslandsinsomewayorother。Hediedlastyear，andMissPinkertonhasfinishedhereducation。Shecanplaytwopiecesonthepiano；sheknowsthreesongs；
shecanwritewhenMrs。Haggistounisbytospellforher；
andJaneandMariaalreadyhavegottoloveherasasister。”
“Iwishtheywouldhavelovedme。”saidEmmy，wistfully。
“Theywerealwaysverycoldtome。”
“Mydearchild，theywouldhavelovedyouifyouhadhadtwohundredthousandpounds。”Georgereplied。”Thatisthewayinwhichtheyhavebeenbroughtup。Oursisaready-moneysociety。WeliveamongbankersandCitybig-wigs，andbehangedtothem，andeveryman，ashetalkstoyou，isjinglinghisguineasinhispocket。ThereisthatjackassFredBullockisgoingtomarryMaria——
there’sGoldmore，theEastIndiaDirector，there’sDipley，inthetallowtrade——OURtrade。”Georgesaid，withanuneasylaughandablush。”Cursethewholepackofmoney-
grubbingvulgarians！Ifallasleepattheirgreatheavydinners。Ifeelashamedinmyfather’sgreatstupidparties。I’vebeenaccustomedtolivewithgentlemen，andmenoftheworldandfashion，Emmy，notwithaparcelofturtle-fedtradesmen。Dearlittlewoman，youaretheonlypersonofoursetwhoeverlooked，orthought，orspokelikealady：andyoudoitbecauseyou’reanangelandcan’thelpit。Don’tremonstrate。Youaretheonlylady。
Didn’tMissCrawleyremarkit，whohaslivedinthebestcompanyinEurope？AndasforCrawley，oftheLifeGuards，hangit，he’safinefellow：andIlikehimformarryingthegirlhehadchosen。”
AmeliaadmiredMr。Crawleyverymuch，too，forthis；
andtrustedRebeccawouldbehappywithhim，andhopedwithalaughJoswouldbeconsoled。Andsothepairwentonprattling，asinquiteearlydays。Amelia’sconfidencebeingperfectlyrestoredtoher，thoughsheexpressedagreatdealofprettyjealousyaboutMissSwartz，andprofessedtobedreadfullyfrightened——likeahypocriteasshewas——lestGeorgeshouldforgetherfortheheiressandhermoneyandherestatesinSaintKitt’s。Butthefactis，shewasagreatdealtoohappytohavefearsordoubtsormisgivingsofanysort：andhavingGeorgeathersideagain，wasnotafraidofanyheiressorbeauty，orindeedofanysortofdanger。
WhenCaptainDobbincamebackintheafternoontothesepeople——whichhedidwithagreatdealofsympathyforthem——itdidhisheartgoodtoseehowAmeliahadgrownyoungagain——howshelaughed，andchirped，andsangfamiliaroldsongsatthepiano，whichwereonlyinterruptedbythebellfromwithoutproclaimingMr。
Sedley’sreturnfromtheCity，beforewhomGeorgereceivedasignaltoretreat。
Beyondthefirstsmileofrecognition——andeventhatwasanhypocrisy，forshethoughthisarrivalratherprovoking——MissSedleydidnotoncenoticeDobbinduringhisvisit。Buthewascontent，sothathesawherhappy；andthankfultohavebeenthemeansofmakingherso。
AQuarrelAboutanHeiressLovemaybefeltforanyyoungladyendowedwithsuchqualitiesasMissSwartzpossessed；andagreatdreamofambitionenteredintooldMr。Osborne’ssoul，whichshewastorealize。Heencouraged，withtheutmostenthusiasmandfriendliness，hisdaughters’amiableattachmenttotheyoungheiress，andprotestedthatitgavehimthesincerestpleasureasafathertoseetheloveofhisgirlssowelldisposed。
“Youwon’tfind。”hewouldsaytoMissRhoda，“thatsplendourandranktowhichyouareaccustomedattheWestEnd，mydearMiss，atourhumblemansioninRussellSquare。Mydaughtersareplain，disinterestedgirls，buttheirheartsareintherightplace，andthey’veconceivedanattachmentforyouwhichdoesthemhonour——Isay，whichdoesthemhonour。I’maplain，simple，humbleBritishmerchant——anhonestone，asmyrespectedfriendsHulkerandBullockwillvouch，whowerethecorrespondentsofyourlatelamentedfather。You’llfindusaunited，simple，happy，andIthinkImaysayrespected，family——aplaintable，aplainpeople，butawarmwelcome，mydearMissRhoda——Rhoda，letmesay，formyheartwarmstoyou，itdoesreally。I’mafrankman，andIlikeyou。AglassofChampagne！Hicks，ChampagnetoMissSwartz。”
ThereislittledoubtthatoldOsbornebelievedallhesaid，andthatthegirlswerequiteearnestintheirprotestationsofaffectionforMissSwartz。PeopleinVanityFairfastenontorichfolksquitenaturally。IfthesimplestpeoplearedisposedtolooknotalittlekindlyongreatProsperityforIdefyanymemberoftheBritishpublictosaythatthenotionofWealthhasnotsomethingawfulandpleasingtohim；andyou，ifyouaretoldthatthemannextyouatdinnerhasgothalfamillion，nottolookathimwithacertaininterest——ifthesimplelookbenevolentlyonmoney，howmuchmoredoyouroldworldlingsregardit！Theiraffectionsrushouttomeetandwelcomemoney。Theirkindsentimentsawakenspontaneouslytowardstheinterestingpossessorsofit。Iknowsomerespectablepeoplewhodon’tconsiderthemselvesatlibertytoindulgeinfriendshipforanyindividualwhohasnotacertaincompetency，orplaceinsociety。Theygivealoosetotheirfeelingsonproperoccasions。Andtheproofis，thatthemajorpartoftheOsbornefamily，whohadnot，infifteenyears，beenabletogetupaheartyregardforAmeliaSedley，becameasfondofMissSwartzinthecourseofasingleeveningasthemostromanticadvocateoffriendshipatfirstsightcoulddesire。
WhatamatchforGeorgeshe’dbethesistersandMissWirtagreed，andhowmuchbetterthanthatinsignificantlittleAmelia！Suchadashingyoungfellowasheis，withhisgoodlooks，rank，andaccomplishments，wouldbetheveryhusbandforher。VisionsofballsinPortlandPlace，presentationsatCourt，andintroductionstohalfthepeerage，filledthemindsoftheyoungladies；
whotalkedofnothingbutGeorgeandhisgrandacquaintancestotheirbelovednewfriend。
OldOsbornethoughtshewouldbeagreatmatch，too，forhisson。Heshouldleavethearmy；heshouldgointoParliament；heshouldcutafigureinthefashionandinthestate。HisbloodboiledwithhonestBritishexultation，ashesawthenameofOsborneennobledinthepersonofhisson，andthoughtthathemightbetheprogenitorofagloriouslineofbaronets。HeworkedintheCityandon’Change，untilhekneweverythingrelatingtothefortuneoftheheiress，howhermoneywasplaced，andwhereherestateslay。YoungFredBullock，oneofhischiefinformants，wouldhavelikedtomakeabidforherhimselfitwassotheyoungbankerexpressedit，onlyhewasbookedtoMariaOsborne。Butnotbeingabletosecureherasawife，thedisinterestedFredquiteapprovedofherasasister-in-law。”LetGeorgecutindirectlyandwinher。”washisadvice。”Strikewhiletheiron’shot，youknow——whileshe’sfreshtothetown：inafewweekssomed——fellowfromtheWestEndwillcomeinwithatitleandarottenrent-rollandcutallusCitymenout，asLordFitzrufusdidlastyearwithMissGrogram，whowasactuallyengagedtoPodder，ofPodder&Brown’s。Thesooneritisdonethebetter，Mr。Osborne；them’smysentiments。”thewagsaid；though，whenOsbornehadleftthebankparlour，Mr。BullockrememberedAmelia，andwhataprettygirlshewas，andhowattachedtoGeorgeOsborne；andhegaveupatleasttensecondsofhisvaluabletimetoregrettingthemisfortunewhichhadbefallenthatunluckyyoungwoman。
WhilethusGeorgeOsborne’sgoodfeelings，andhisgoodfriendandgenius，Dobbin，werecarryingbackthetruanttoAmelia’sfeet，George’sparentandsisterswerearrangingthissplendidmatchforhim，whichtheyneverdreamedhewouldresist。
WhentheelderOsbornegavewhathecalled“ahint。”
therewasnopossibilityforthemostobtusetomistakehismeaning。Hecalledkickingafootmandownstairsahinttothelattertoleavehisservice。WithhisusualfranknessanddelicacyhetoldMrs。Haggistounthathewouldgiveherachequeforfivethousandpoundsonthedayhissonwasmarriedtoherward；andcalledthatproposalahint，andconsidereditaverydexterouspieceofdiplomacy。HegaveGeorgefinallysuchanotherhintregardingtheheiress；andorderedhimtomarryheroutofhand，ashewouldhaveorderedhisbutlertodrawacork，orhisclerktowritealetter。
ThisimperativehintdisturbedGeorgeagooddeal。HewasintheveryfirstenthusiasmanddelightofhissecondcourtshipofAmelia，whichwasinexpressiblysweettohim。Thecontrastofhermannersandappearancewiththoseoftheheiress，madetheideaofaunionwiththelatterappeardoublyludicrousandodious。Carriagesandopera-boxes，thoughthe；fancybeingseeninthembythesideofsuchamahoganycharmerasthat！AddtoallthatthejuniorOsbornewasquiteasobstinateasthesenior：whenhewantedathing，quiteasfirminhisresolutiontogetit；andquiteasviolentwhenangered，ashisfatherinhismoststernmoments。
OnthefirstdaywhenhisfatherformallygavehimthehintthathewastoplacehisaffectionsatMissSwartz’sfeet，Georgetemporisedwiththeoldgentleman。”Youshouldhavethoughtofthemattersooner，sir。”hesaid。
“Itcan’tbedonenow，whenwe’reexpectingeverydaytogoonforeignservice。Waittillmyreturn，ifIdoreturn“；andthenherepresented，thatthetimewhentheregimentwasdailyexpectingtoquitEngland，wasexceedinglyill-chosen：thatthefewdaysorweeksduringwhichtheywerestilltoremainathome，mustbedevotedtobusinessandnottolove-making：timeenoughforthatwhenhecamehomewithhismajority；“for，I
promiseyou。”saidhe，withasatisfiedair，“thatonewayorotheryoushallreadthenameofGeorgeOsborneintheGazette。”
Thefather’sreplytothiswasfoundedupontheinformationwhichhehadgotintheCity：thattheWestEndchapswouldinfalliblycatchholdoftheheiressifanydelaytookplace：thatifhedidn’tmarryMissS。，hemightatleasthaveanengagementinwriting，tocomeintoeffectwhenhereturnedtoEngland；andthatamanwhocouldgettenthousandayearbystayingathome，wasafooltoriskhislifeabroad。