“IstheMajor’sladyyoungandbeautiful，Captain？”thefairquestionercontinued。”Ah，whataterriblethingitmustbetobeasoldier’swife！Iwondertheyhaveanyspiritstodance，andinthesedreadfultimesofwar，too！
OCaptainDobbin，ItremblesometimeswhenIthinkofourdearestGeorge，andthedangersofthepoorsoldier。
Aretheremanymarriedofficersofthe——th，CaptainDobbin？”
“Uponmyword，she’splayingherhandrathertooopenly。”MissWirtthought；butthisobservationismerelyparenthetic，andwasnotheardthroughthecreviceofthedooratwhichthegovernessutteredit。
“Oneofouryoungmenisjustmarried。”Dobbinsaid，nowcomingtothepoint。”Itwasaveryoldattachment，andtheyoungcoupleareaspooraschurchmice。”
“O，howdelightful！O，howromantic！”MissOsbornecried，astheCaptainsaid“oldattachment“and“poor。”
Hersympathyencouragedhim。
“Thefinestyoungfellowintheregiment。”hecontinued。
“Notabraverorhandsomerofficerinthearmy；andsuchacharmingwife！Howyouwouldlikeher！howyouwilllikeherwhenyouknowher，MissOsborne。”Theyoungladythoughttheactualmomenthadarrived，andthatDobbin’snervousnesswhichnowcameonandwasvisibleinmanytwitchingsofhisface，inhismannerofbeatingthegroundwithhisgreatfeet，intherapidbuttoningandunbuttoningofhisfrock-coat，&c——MissOsborne，Isay，thoughtthatwhenhehadgivenhimselfalittleair，hewouldunbosomhimselfentirely，andpreparedeagerlytolisten。Andtheclock，inthealtaronwhichIphigeniawassituated，beginning，afterapreparatoryconvulsion，totolltwelve，themeretollingseemedasifitwouldlastuntilone——soprolongedwastheknelltotheanxiousspinster。
“Butit’snotaboutmarriagethatIcametospeak——
thatisthatmarriage——thatis——no，Imean——mydearMissOsborne，it’saboutourdearfriendGeorge。”
Dobbinsaid。
“AboutGeorge？”shesaidinatonesodiscomfitedthatMariaandMissWirtlaughedattheothersideofthedoor，andeventhatabandonedwretchofaDobbinfeltinclinedtosmilehimself；forhewasnotaltogetherunconsciousofthestateofaffairs：Georgehavingoftenbanteredhimgracefullyandsaid，“Hangit，Will，whydon’tyoutakeoldJane？She’llhaveyouifyouaskher。
I’llbetyoufivetotwoshewill。”
“Yes，aboutGeorge，then。”hecontinued。”TherehasbeenadifferencebetweenhimandMr。Osborne。AndI
regardhimsomuch——foryouknowwehavebeenlikebrothers——thatIhopeandpraythequarrelmaybesettled。Wemustgoabroad，MissOsborne。Wemaybeorderedoffataday’swarning。Whoknowswhatmayhappeninthecampaign？Don’tbeagitated，dearMissOsborne；andthosetwoatleastshouldpartfriends。”
“Therehasbeennoquarrel，CaptainDobbin，exceptalittleusualscenewithPapa。”theladysaid。”WeareexpectingGeorgebackdaily。WhatPapawantedwasonlyforhisgood。Hehasbuttocomeback，andI’msureallwillbewell；anddearRhoda，whowentawayfromhereinsadsadanger，Iknowwillforgivehim。Womanforgivesbuttooreadily，Captain。”
“SuchanangelasYOUIamsurewould。”Mr。Dobbinsaid，withatrociousastuteness。”Andnomancanpardonhimselfforgivingawomanpain。Whatwouldyoufeel，ifamanwerefaithlesstoyou？”
“Ishouldperish——Ishouldthrowmyselfoutofwindow——
Ishouldtakepoison——Ishouldpineanddie。I
knowIshould。”Misscried，whohadneverthelessgonethroughoneortwoaffairsoftheheartwithoutanyideaofsuicide。
“Andthereareothers。”Dobbincontinued，“astrueandaskind-heartedasyourself。I’mnotspeakingabouttheWestIndianheiress，MissOsborne，butaboutapoorgirlwhomGeorgeonceloved，andwhowasbredfromherchildhoodtothinkofnobodybuthim。I’veseenherinherpovertyuncomplaining，broken-hearted，withoutafault。ItisofMissSedleyIspeak。DearMissOsborne，canyourgenerousheartquarrelwithyourbrotherforbeingfaithfultoher？Couldhisownconscienceeverforgivehimifhedesertedher？Beherfriend——shealwayslovedyou——and——andIamcomeherechargedbyGeorgetotellyouthatheholdshisengagementtoherasthemostsacreddutyhehas；andtoentreatyou，atleast，tobeonhisside。”
WhenanystrongemotiontookpossessionofMr。Dobbin，andafterthefirstwordortwoofhesitation，hecouldspeakwithperfectfluency，anditwasevidentthathiseloquenceonthisoccasionmadesomeimpressionupontheladywhomheaddressed。
“Well。”saidshe，“thisis——mostsurprising——mostpainful——
mostextraordinary——whatwillPapasay？——thatGeorgeshouldflingawaysuchasuperbestablishmentaswasofferedtohim butatanyratehehasfoundaverybravechampioninyou，CaptainDobbin。Itisofnouse，however。”shecontinued，afterapause；“IfeelforpoorMissSedley，mostcertainly——mostsincerely，youknow。
Weneverthoughtthematchagoodone，thoughwewerealwaysverykindtoherhere——very。ButPapawillneverconsent，Iamsure。Andawellbroughtupyoungwoman，youknow——withawell-regulatedmind，must——Georgemustgiveherup，dearCaptainDobbin，indeedhemust。”
“Oughtamantogiveupthewomanheloved，justwhenmisfortunebefellher？”Dobbinsaid，holdingouthishand。”DearMissOsborne，isthisthecounselIhearfromyou？Mydearyounglady！youmustbefriendher。
Hecan’tgiveherup。Hemustnotgiveherup。Wouldaman，thinkyou，giveYOUupifyouwerepoor？”
ThisadroitquestiontouchedtheheartofMissJaneOsbornenotalittle。”Idon’tknowwhetherwepoorgirlsoughttobelievewhatyoumensay，Captain。”shesaid。
“Thereisthatinwoman’stendernesswhichinduceshertobelievetooeasily。I’mafraidyouarecruel，crueldeceivers。”——andDobbincertainlythoughthefeltapressureofthehandwhichMissOsbornehadextendedtohim。
Hedroppeditinsomealarm。”Deceivers！”saidhe。
“No，dearMissOsborne，allmenarenot；yourbrotherisnot；GeorgehaslovedAmeliaSedleyeversincetheywerechildren；nowealthwouldmakehimmarryanybuther。Oughthetoforsakeher？Wouldyoucounselhimtodoso？”
WhatcouldMissJanesaytosuchaquestion，andwithherownpeculiarviews？Shecouldnotanswerit，sosheparrieditbysaying，“Well，ifyouarenotadeceiver，atleastyouareveryromantic“；andCaptainWilliamletthisobservationpasswithoutchallenge。
Atlengthwhen，bythehelpoffartherpolitespeeches，hedeemedthatMissOsbornewassufficientlypreparedtoreceivethewholenews，hepoureditintoherear。
“GeorgecouldnotgiveupAmelia——Georgewasmarriedtoher“——andthenherelatedthecircumstancesofthemarriageasweknowthemalready：howthepoorgirlwouldhavediedhadnotherloverkepthisfaith：howOldSedleyhadrefusedallconsenttothematch，andalicencehadbeengot：andJosSedleyhadcomefromCheltenhamtogiveawaythebride：howtheyhadgonetoBrightoninJos’schariot-and-fourtopassthehoneymoon：
andhowGeorgecountedonhisdearkindsisterstobefriendhimwiththeirfather，aswomen——sotrueandtenderastheywere——assuredlywoulddo。Andso，askingpermissionreadilygrantedtoseeheragain，andrightlyconjecturingthatthenewshehadbroughtwouldbetoldinthenextfiveminutestotheotherladies，CaptainDobbinmadehisbowandtookhisleave。
Hewasscarcelyoutofthehouse，whenMissMariaandMissWirtrushedintoMissOsborne，andthewholewonderfulsecretwasimpartedtothembythatlady。Todothemjustice，neitherofthesisterswasverymuchdispleased。Thereissomethingaboutarunawaymatchwithwhichfewladiescanbeseriouslyangry，andAmeliaratherroseintheirestimation，fromthespiritwhichshehaddisplayedinconsentingtotheunion。Astheydebatedthestory，andprattledaboutit，andwonderedwhatPapawoulddoandsay，camealoudknock，asofanavengingthunder-clap，atthedoor，whichmadetheseconspiratorsstart。ItmustbePapa，theythought。
Butitwasnothe。ItwasonlyMr。FrederickBullock，whohadcomefromtheCityaccordingtoappointment，toconducttheladiestoaflower-show。
Thisgentleman，asmaybeimagined，wasnotkeptlonginignoranceofthesecret。Buthisface，whenheheardit，showedanamazementwhichwasverydifferenttothatlookofsentimentalwonderwhichthecountenancesofthesisterswore。Mr。Bullockwasamanoftheworld，andajuniorpartnerofawealthyfirm。Heknewwhatmoneywas，andthevalueofit：andadelightfulthrobofexpectationlighteduphislittleeyes，andcausedhimtosmileonhisMaria，ashethoughtthatbythispieceoffollyofMr。George’sshemightbeworththirtythousandpoundsmorethanhehadeverhopedtogetwithher。
“Gad！Jane。”saidhe，surveyingeventheeldersisterwithsomeinterest，“Eelswillbesorryhecriedoff。Youmaybeafiftythousandpounderyet。”
Thesistershadneverthoughtofthemoneyquestionuptothatmoment，butFredBullockbanteredthemwithgracefulgaietyaboutitduringtheirforenoon’sexcursion；andtheyhadrisennotalittleintheirownesteembythetimewhen，themorningamusementover，theydrovebacktodinner。Anddonotletmyrespectedreaderexclaimagainstthisselfishnessasunnatural。Itwasbutthispresentmorning，asherodeontheomnibusfromRichmond；whileitchangedhorses，thispresentchronicler，beingontheroof，markedthreelittlechildrenplayinginapuddlebelow，verydirty，andfriendly，andhappy。Tothesethreepresentlycameanotherlittleone。
“POLLY。”saysshe，“YOURSISTER’SGOTAPENNY。”Atwhichthechildrengotupfromthepuddleinstantly，andranofftopaytheircourttoPeggy。AndastheomnibusdroveoffIsawPeggywiththeinfantineprocessionathertail，marchingwithgreatdignitytowardsthestallofaneighbouringlollipop-woman。
InWhichMr。OsborneTakesDowntheFamilyBibleSohavingpreparedthesisters，DobbinhastenedawaytotheCitytoperformtherestandmoredifficultpartofthetaskwhichhehadundertaken。TheideaoffacingoldOsbornerenderedhimnotalittlenervous，andmorethanoncehethoughtofleavingtheyoungladiestocommunicatethesecret，which，ashewasaware，theycouldnotlongretain。ButhehadpromisedtoreporttoGeorgeuponthemannerinwhichtheelderOsborneboretheintelligence；sogoingintotheCitytothepaternalcounting-houseinThamesStreet，hedespatchedthenceanotetoMr。Osbornebeggingforahalf-hour’sconversationrelativetotheaffairsofhissonGeorge。Dobbin’smessengerreturnedfromMr。Osborne’shouseofbusiness，withthecomplimentsofthelatter，whowouldbeveryhappytoseetheCaptainimmediately，andawayaccordinglyDobbinwenttoconfronthim。
TheCaptain，withahalf-guiltysecrettoconfess，andwiththeprospectofapainfulandstormyinterviewbeforehim，enteredMr。Osborne’sofficeswithamostdismalcountenanceandabashedgait，and，passingthroughtheouterroomwhereMr。Chopperpresided，wasgreetedbythatfunctionaryfromhisdeskwithawaggishairwhichfartherdiscomfitedhim。Mr。Chopperwinkedandnoddedandpointedhispentowardshispatron’sdoor，andsaid，“You’llfindthegovernorallright。”withthemostprovokinggoodhumour。
Osbornerosetoo，andshookhimheartilybythehand，andsaid，“Howdo，mydearboy？”withacordialitythatmadepoorGeorge’sambassadorfeeldoublyguilty。Hishandlayasifdeadintheoldgentleman’sgrasp。Hefeltthathe，Dobbin，wasmoreorlessthecauseofallthathadhappened。ItwashehadbroughtbackGeorgetoAmelia：itwashehadapplauded，encouraged，transactedalmostthemarriagewhichhewascometorevealtoGeorge’sfather：andthelatterwasreceivinghimwithsmilesofwelcome；pattinghimontheshoulder，andcallinghim“Dobbin，mydearboy。”Theenvoyhadindeedgoodreasontohanghishead。
OsbornefullybelievedthatDobbinhadcometoannouncehisson’ssurrender。Mr。ChopperandhisprincipalweretalkingoverthematterbetweenGeorgeandhisfather，attheverymomentwhenDobbin’smessengerarrived。BothagreedthatGeorgewassendinginhissubmission。Bothhadbeenexpectingitforsomedays——and“Lord！Chopper，whatamarriagewe’llhave！”Mr。
Osbornesaidtohisclerk，snappinghisbigfingers，andjinglingalltheguineasandshillingsinhisgreatpocketsasheeyedhissubordinatewithalookoftriumph。
Withsimilaroperationsconductedinbothpockets，andaknowingjollyair，OsbornefromhischairregardedDobbinseatedblankandsilentoppositetohim。”WhatabumpkinheisforaCaptaininthearmy。”oldOsbornethought。”IwonderGeorgehasn’ttaughthimbettermanners。”
AtlastDobbinsummonedcouragetobegin。”Sir。”saidhe，“I’vebroughtyousomeverygravenews。IhavebeenattheHorseGuardsthismorning，andthere’snodoubtthatourregimentwillbeorderedabroad，andonitswaytoBelgiumbeforetheweekisover。Andyouknow，sir，thatweshan’tbehomeagainbeforeatusslewhichmaybefataltomanyofus。”
Osbornelookedgrave。”Mys——，theregimentwilldoitsduty，sir，Idaresay。”hesaid。
“TheFrenchareverystrong，sir。”Dobbinwenton。
“TheRussiansandAustrianswillbealongtimebeforetheycanbringtheirtroopsdown。Weshallhavethefirstofthefight，sir；anddependonitBoneywilltakecarethatitshallbeahardone。”
“Whatareyoudrivingat，Dobbin？”hisinterlocutorsaid，uneasyandwithascowl。”IsupposenoBriton’safraidofanyd——Frenchman，hey？”
“Ionlymean，thatbeforewego，andconsideringthegreatandcertainriskthathangsovereveryoneofus——
ifthereareanydifferencesbetweenyouandGeorge——itwouldbeaswell，sir，that——thatyoushouldshakehands：
wouldn’tit？Shouldanythinghappentohim，Ithinkyouwouldneverforgiveyourselfifyouhadn’tpartedincharity。”
Ashesaidthis，poorWilliamDobbinblushedcrimson，andfeltandownedthathehimselfwasatraitor。Butforhim，perhaps，thisseveranceneedneverhavetakenplace。WhyhadnotGeorge’smarriagebeendelayed？
Whatcallwastheretopressitonsoeagerly？HefeltthatGeorgewouldhavepartedfromAmeliaatanyratewithoutamortalpang。Amelia，too，MIGHThaverecoveredtheshockoflosinghim。Itwashiscounselhadbroughtaboutthismarriage，andallthatwastoensuefromit。
Andwhywasit？Becausehelovedhersomuchthathecouldnotbeartoseeherunhappy：orbecausehisownsufferingsofsuspenseweresounendurablethathewasgladtocrushthematonce——aswehastenafuneralafteradeath，or，whenaseparationfromthoseweloveisimminent，cannotrestuntilthepartingbeover。
“Youareagoodfellow，William。”saidMr。Osborneinasoftenedvoice；“andmeandGeorgeshouldn’tpartinanger，thatistrue。Lookhere。I’vedoneforhimasmuchasanyfathereverdid。He’shadthreetimesasmuchmoneyfromme，asIwarrantyourfatherevergaveyou。ButIdon’tbragaboutthat。HowI’vetoiledforhim，andworkedandemployedmytalentsandenergy，Iwon’tsay。AskChopper。Askhimself。AsktheCityofLondon。Well，Iproposetohimsuchamarriageasanynoblemaninthelandmightbeproudof——theonlythinginlifeIeveraskedhim——andherefusesme。AmIwrong？
IsthequarrelofMYmaking？WhatdoIseekbuthisgood，forwhichI’vebeentoilinglikeaconvicteversincehewasborn？Nobodycansaythere’sanythingselfishinme。Lethimcomeback。Isay，here’smyhand。Isay，forgetandforgive。Asformarryingnow，it’soutofthequestion。LethimandMissS。makeitup，andmakeoutthemarriageafterwards，whenhecomesbackaColonel；
forheshallbeaColonel，byG——heshall，ifmoneycandoit。I’mgladyou’vebroughthimround。Iknowit’syou，Dobbin。You’vetookhimoutofmanyascrapebefore。Lethimcome。Ishan’tbehard。Comealong，anddineinRussellSquareto-day：bothofyou。Theoldshop，theoldhour。You’llfindaneckofvenison，andnoquestionsasked。”
ThispraiseandconfidencesmoteDobbin’sheartverykeenly。Everymomentthecolloquycontinuedinthistone，hefeltmoreandmoreguilty。”Sir。”saidhe，“I
fearyoudeceiveyourself。Iamsureyoudo。Georgeismuchtoohigh-mindedamanevertomarryformoney。A
threatonyourpartthatyouwoulddisinherithimincaseofdisobediencewouldonlybefollowedbyresistanceonhis。”
“Why，hangit，man，youdon’tcallofferinghimeightortenthousandayearthreateninghim？’’Mr。Osbornesaid，withstillprovokinggoodhumour。”’Gad，ifMissS。willhaveme，I’mherman。Iain’tparticularaboutashadeorsooftawny。”Andtheoldgentlemangavehisknowinggrinandcoarselaugh。
“Youforget，sir，previousengagementsintowhichCaptainOsbornehadentered。”theambassadorsaid，gravely。