“Sothatyouwouldhavemeshownupasacoward，sir，andournamedishonouredforthesakeofMissSwartz’smoney。”Georgeinterposed。
Thisremarkstaggeredtheoldgentleman；butashehadtoreplytoit，andashismindwasneverthelessmadeup，hesaid，“Youwilldinehereto-morrow，sir，andeverydayMissSwartzcomes，youwillbeheretopayyourrespectstoher。Ifyouwantformoney，calluponMr。Chopper。”ThusanewobstaclewasinGeorge’sway，tointerferewithhisplansregardingAmelia；andaboutwhichheandDobbinhadmorethanoneconfidentialconsultation。Hisfriend’sopinionrespectingthelineofconductwhichheoughttopursue，weknowalready。AndasforOsborne，whenhewasoncebentonathing，afreshobstacleortwoonlyrenderedhimthemoreresolute。
ThedarkobjectoftheconspiracyintowhichthechiefsoftheOsbornefamilyhadentered，wasquiteignorantofalltheirplansregardingherwhich，strangetosay，herfriendandchaperondidnotdivulge，and，takingalltheyoungladies’flatteryforgenuinesentiment，andbeing，aswehavebeforehadoccasiontoshow，ofaverywarmandimpetuousnature，respondedtotheiraffectionwithquiteatropicalardour。Andifthetruthmaybetold，IdaresaythatshetoohadsomeselfishattractionintheRussellSquarehouse；andinaword，thoughtGeorgeOsborneaveryniceyoungman。Hiswhiskershadmadeanimpressionuponher，ontheveryfirstnightshebeheldthemattheballatMessrs。Hulkers；and，asweknow，shewasnotthefirstwomanwhohadbeencharmedbythem。Georgehadanairatonceswaggeringandmelancholy，languidandfierce。Helookedlikeamanwhohadpassions，secrets，andprivateharrowinggriefsandadventures。Hisvoicewasrichanddeep。Hewouldsayitwasawarmevening，oraskhispartnertotakeanice，withatoneassadandconfidentialasifhewerebreakinghermother’sdeathtoher，orpreludingadeclarationoflove。Hetrampledoveralltheyoungbucksofhisfather’scircle，andwastheheroamongthosethird-ratemen。Somefewsneeredathimandhatedhim。
Some，likeDobbin，fanaticallyadmiredhim。Andhiswhiskershadbeguntodotheirwork，andtocurlthemselvesroundtheaffectionsofMissSwartz。
WhenevertherewasachanceofmeetinghiminRussellSquare，thatsimpleandgood-naturedyoungwomanwasquiteinaflurrytoseeherdearMissesOsborne。Shewenttogreatexpensesinnewgowns，andbracelets，andbonnets，andinprodigiousfeathers。SheadornedherpersonwithherutmostskilltopleasetheConqueror，andexhibitedallhersimpleaccomplishmentstowinhisfavour。Thegirlswouldaskher，withthegreatestgravity，foralittlemusic，andshewouldsingherthreesongsandplayhertwolittlepiecesasoftenasevertheyasked，andwithanalwaysincreasingpleasuretoherself。Duringthesedelectableentertainments，MissWirtandthechaperonsateby，andconnedoverthepeerage，andtalkedaboutthenobility。
ThedayafterGeorgehadhishintfromhisfather，andashorttimebeforethehourofdinner，hewaslollinguponasofainthedrawing-roominaverybecomingandperfectlynaturalattitudeofmelancholy。Hehadbeen，athisfather’srequest，toMr。ChopperintheCitytheold-gentleman，thoughhegavegreatsumstohisson，wouldneverspecifyanyfixedallowanceforhim，andrewardedhimonlyashewasinthehumour。HehadthenbeentopassthreehourswithAmelia，hisdearlittleAmelia，atFulham；andhecamehometofindhissistersspreadinstarchedmuslininthedrawing-
room，thedowagerscacklinginthebackground，andhonestSwartzinherfavouriteamber-colouredsatin，withturquoisebracelets，countlessrings，flowers，feathers，andallsortsoftagsandgimcracks，aboutaselegantlydecoratedasashechimney-sweeponMay-day。
Thegirls，aftervainattemptstoengagehiminconversation，talkedaboutfashionsandthelastdrawing-roomuntilhewasperfectlysickoftheirchatter。HecontrastedtheirbehaviourwithlittleEmmy’s——theirshrillvoiceswithhertenderringingtones；theirattitudesandtheirelbowsandtheirstarch，withherhumblesoftmovementsandmodestgraces。PoorSwartzwasseatedinaplacewhereEmmyhadbeenaccustomedtosit。
Herbejewelledhandslaysprawlinginherambersatinlap。Hertagsandear-ringstwinkled，andherbigeyesrolledabout。Shewasdoingnothingwithperfectcontentment，andthinkingherselfcharming。Anythingsobecomingasthesatinthesistershadneverseen。
“Dammy。”Georgesaidtoaconfidentialfriend，“shelookedlikeaChinadoll，whichhasnothingtodoalldaybuttogrinandwagitshead。ByJove，Will，itwasallI
Icoulddotopreventmyselffromthrowingthesofa-
cushionather。”Herestrainedthatexhibitionofsentiment，however。
ThesistersbegantoplaytheBattleofPrague。”Stopthatd——thing。”Georgehowledoutinafuryfromthesofa。”Itmakesmemad。Youplayussomething，MissSwartz，do。Singsomething，anythingbuttheBattleofPrague。”
“ShallIsing’BlueEyedMary’ortheairfromtheCabinet？”MissSwartzasked。
“ThatsweetthingfromtheCabinet。”thesisterssaid。
“We’vehadthat。”repliedthemisanthropeonthesofa“Icansing’FluvyduTajy，’“Swartzsaid，inameekvoice，“ifIhadthewords。”Itwasthelastoftheworthyyoungwoman’scollection。
“O，’FleuveduTage，’“MissMariacried；“wehavethesong。”andwentofftofetchthebookinwhichitwas。
Nowithappenedthatthissong，thenintheheightofthefashion，hadbeengiventotheyoungladiesbyayoungfriendoftheirs，whosenamewasonthetitle，andMissSwartz，havingconcludedthedittywithGeorge’sapplauseforherememberedthatitwasafavouriteofAmelia’s，washopingforanencoreperhaps，andfiddlingwiththeleavesofthemusic，whenhereyefelluponthetitle，andshesaw“AmeliaSedley“writteninthecomer。
“Lor！”criedMissSwartz，spinningswiftlyroundonthemusic-stool，“isitmyAmelia？AmeliathatwasatMissP。’satHammersmith？Iknowitis。It’sher。and——
Tellmeabouther——whereisshe？”
“Don’tmentionher。”MissMariaOsbornesaidhastily。”Herfamilyhasdisgraceditself。HerfathercheatedPapa，andasforher，sheisnevertobementionedHERE。”ThiswasMissMaria’sreturnforGeorge’srudenessabouttheBattleofPrague。
“AreyouafriendofAmelia’s？”Georgesaid，bouncingup。”Godblessyouforit，MissSwartz。Don’tbelievewhat，thegirlssay。SHE’Snottoblameatanyrate。
She’sthebest——“
“Youknowyou’renottospeakabouther，George。”
criedJane。”Papaforbidsit。”
“Who’stopreventme？”Georgecriedout。”Iwillspeakofher。Isayshe’sthebest，thekindest，thegentlest，thesweetestgirlinEngland；andthat，bankruptorno，mysistersarenotfittoholdcandlestoher。Ifyoulikeher，goandseeher，MissSwartz；shewantsfriendsnow；andIsay，Godblesseverybodywhobefriendsher。Anybodywhospeakskindlyofherismyfriend；anybodywhospeaksagainstherismyenemy。Thankyou，MissSwartz“；
andhewentupandwrungherhand。
“George！George！”oneofthesisterscriedimploringly。
“Isay。”Georgesaidfiercely，“IthankeverybodywholovesAmeliaSed——“Hestopped。OldOsbornewasintheroomwithafacelividwithrage，andeyeslikehotcoals。
ThoughGeorgehadstoppedinhissentence，yet，hisbloodbeingup，hewasnottobecowedbyallthegenerationsofOsborne；rallyinginstantly，herepliedtothebullyinglookofhisfather，withanothersoindicativeofresolutionanddefiancethattheeldermanquailedinhisturn，andlookedaway。Hefeltthatthetusslewascoming。”Mrs。Haggistoun，letmetakeyoudowntodinner。”
hesaid。”GiveyourarmtoMissSwartz，George。”
andtheymarched。
“MissSwartz，IloveAmelia，andwe’vebeenengagedalmostallourlives。”Osbornesaidtohispartner；andduringallthedinner，Georgerattledonwithavolubilitywhichsurprisedhimself，andmadehisfatherdoublynervousforthefightwhichwastotakeplaceassoonastheladiesweregone。
Thedifferencebetweenthepairwas，thatwhilethefatherwasviolentandabully，thesonhadthricethenerveandcourageoftheparent，andcouldnotmerelymakeanattack，butresistit；andfindingthatthemomentwasnowcomewhenthecontestbetweenhimandhisfatherwastobedecided，hetookhisdinnerwithperfectcoolnessandappetitebeforetheengagementbegan。OldOsborne，onthecontrary，wasnervous，anddrankmuch。Heflounderedinhisconversationwiththeladies，hisneighbours：George’scoolnessonlyrenderinghimmoreangry。ItmadehimhalfmadtoseethecalmwayinwhichGeorge，flappinghisnapkin，andwithaswaggeringbow，openedthedoorfortheladiestoleavetheroom；andfillinghimselfaglassofwine，smackedit，andlookedhisfatherfullintheface，asiftosay。”GentlemenoftheGuard，firefirst。”Theoldmanalsotookasupplyofammunition，buthisdecanterclinkedagainsttheglassashetriedtofillit。
Aftergivingagreatheave，andwithapurplechokingface，hethenbegan。”Howdareyou，sir，mentionthatperson’snamebeforeMissSwartzto-day，inmydrawing-
room？Iaskyou，sir，howdareyoudoit？”
“Stop，sir。”saysGeorge，“don’tsaydare，sir。Dareisn’tawordtobeusedtoaCaptainintheBritishArmy。”
“IshallsaywhatIliketomyson，sir。IcancuthimoffwithashillingifIlike。IcanmakehimabeggarifIlike。
IWILLsaywhatIlike。”theeldersaid。
“I’magentlemanthoughIAMyourson，sir。”Georgeansweredhaughtily。”Anycommunicationswhichyouhavetomaketome，oranyorderswhichyoumaypleasetogive，IbegmaybecouchedinthatkindoflanguagewhichIamaccustomedtohear。”
Whenevertheladassumedhishaughtymanner，italwayscreatedeithergreataweorgreatirritationintheparent。OldOsbornestoodinsecretterrorofhissonasabettergentlemanthanhimself；andperhapsmyreadersmayhaveremarkedintheirexperienceofthisVanityFairofours，thatthereisnocharacterwhichalow-mindedmansomuchmistrustsasthatofagentleman。
“Myfatherdidn’tgivemetheeducationyouhavehad，northeadvantagesyouhavehad，northemoneyyouhavehad。IfIhadkeptthecompanySOMEFOLKShavehadthroughMYMEANS，perhapsmysonwouldn’thaveanyreasontobrag，sir，ofhisSUPERIORITYandWESTEND
AIRSthesewordswereutteredintheelderOsborne’smostsarcastictones。Butitwasn’tconsideredthepartofagentleman，inMYtime，foramantoinsulthisfather。
IfI’ddoneanysuchthing，minewouldhavekickedmedownstairs，sir。”
“Ineverinsultedyou，sir。IsaidIbeggedyoutorememberyoursonwasagentlemanaswellasyourself。
Iknowverywellthatyougivemeplentyofmoney。”
saidGeorgefingeringabundleofnoteswhichhehadgotinthemorningfromMr。Chopper。”Youtellitmeoftenenough，sir。There’snofearofmyforgettingit。”
“Iwishyou’drememberotherthingsaswell，sir。”thesireanswered。”Iwishyou’drememberthatinthishouse——solongasyouchoosetoHONOURitwithyourCOMPANY，Captain——I’mthemaster，andthatname，andthatthat——thatyou——thatIsay——“
“Thatwhat，sir？”Georgeasked，withscarcelyasneer，fillinganotherglassofclaret。
“——！”burstouthisfatherwithascreamingoath——
“thatthenameofthoseSedleysneverbementionedhere，sir——notoneofthewholedamnedlotof’em，sir。”
“Itwasn’tI，sir，thatintroducedMissSedley’sname。ItwasmysisterswhospokeillofhertoMissSwartz；andbyJoveI’lldefendherwhereverIgo。Nobodyshallspeaklightlyofthatnameinmypresence。Ourfamilyhasdoneherquiteenoughinjuryalready，Ithink，andmayleaveoffrevilinghernowshe’sdown。I’llshootanymanbutyouwhosaysawordagainsther。”
“Goon，sir，goon。”theoldgentlemansaid，hiseyesstartingoutofhishead。
“Goonaboutwhat，sir？aboutthewayinwhichwe’vetreatedthatangelofagirl？Whotoldmetoloveher？Itwasyourdoing。Imighthavechosenelsewhere，andlookedhigher，perhaps，thanyoursociety：butIobeyedyou。Andnowthatherheart’smineyougivemeorderstoflingitaway，andpunishher，killherperhaps——forthefaultsofotherpeople。It’sashame，byHeavens。”
saidGeorge，workinghimselfupintopassionandenthusiasmasheproceeded，“toplayatfastandloosewithayounggirl’saffections——andwithsuchanangelasthat——onesosuperiortothepeopleamongstwhomshelived，thatshemighthaveexcitedenvy，onlyshewassogoodandgentle，thatit’sawonderanybodydaredtohateher。