“Whatengagements？Whatthedevildoyoumean？
Youdon’tmean。”Mr。Osbornecontinued，gatheringwrathandastonishmentasthethoughtnowfirstcameuponhim；“youdon’tmeanthathe’ssuchad——foolastobestillhankeringafterthatswindlingoldbankrupt’sdaughter？You’venotcomeherefortomakemesupposethathewantstomarryHER？MarryHER，thatIS
agoodone。Mysonandheirmarryabeggar’sgirloutofagutter。D——him，ifhedoes，lethimbuyabroomandsweepacrossing。Shewasalwaysdanglingandoglingafterhim，Irecollectnow；andI’venodoubtshewasputonbyheroldsharperofafather。”
“Mr。Sedleywasyourverygoodfriend，sir。”Dobbininterposed，almostpleasedatfindinghimselfgrowingangry。”Timewasyoucalledhimbetternamesthanrogueandswindler。Thematchwasofyourmaking。
Georgehadnorighttoplayfastandloose——“
“Fastandloose！”howledoutoldOsborne。”Fastandloose！Why，hangme，thosearetheverywordsmygentlemanusedhimselfwhenhegavehimselfairs，lastThursdaywasafortnight，andtalkedabouttheBritisharmytohisfatherwhomadehim。What，it’syouwhohavebeenasettingofhimup——isit？andmyservicetoyou，CAPTAIN。It’syouwhowanttointroducebeggarsintomyfamily。Thankyoufornothing，Captain。MarryHERindeed——he，he！whyshouldhe？Iwarrantyoushe’dgotohimfastenoughwithout。”
“Sir。”saidDobbin，startingupinundisguisedanger；
“nomanshallabusethatladyinmyhearing，andyouleastofall。”
“O，you’rea-goingtocallmeout，areyou？Stop，letmeringthebellforpistolsfortwo。Mr。Georgesentyouheretoinsulthisfather，didhe？”Osbornesaid，pullingatthebell-cord。
“Mr。Osborne。”saidDobbin，withafalteringvoice。”it’syouwhoareinsultingthebestcreatureintheworld。
Youhadbestspareher，sir，forshe’syourson’swife。”
Andwiththis，feelingthathecouldsaynomore，Dobbinwentaway，Osbornesinkingbackinhischair，andlookingwildlyafterhim。Aclerkcamein，obedienttothebell；andtheCaptainwasscarcelyoutofthecourtwhereMr。Osborne’sofficeswere，whenMr。Chopperthechiefclerkcamerushinghatlessafterhim。
“ForGod’ssake，whatisit？”Mr。Choppersaid，catchingtheCaptainbytheskirt。”Thegovernor’sinafit。
WhathasMr。Georgebeendoing？”
“HemarriedMissSedleyfivedaysago。”Dobbinreplied。
“Iwashisgroomsman，Mr。Chopper，andyoumuststandhisfriend。”
Theoldclerkshookhishead。”Ifthat’syournews，Captain，it’sbad。Thegovernorwillneverforgivehim。”
DobbinbeggedChoppertoreportprogresstohimatthehotelwherehewasstopping，andwalkedoffmoodilywestwards，greatlyperturbedastothepastandthefuture。
WhentheRussellSquarefamilycametodinnerthatevening，theyfoundthefatherofthehouseseatedinhisusualplace，butwiththatairofgloomonhisface，which，wheneveritappearedthere，keptthewholecirclesilent。
Theladies，andMr。Bullockwhodinedwiththem，feltthatthenewshadbeencommunicatedtoMr。Osborne。
HisdarklooksaffectedMr。Bullocksofarastorenderhimstillandquiet：buthewasunusuallyblandandattentivetoMissMaria，bywhomhesat，andtohersisterpresidingattheheadofthetable。
MissWirt，byconsequence，wasaloneonhersideoftheboard，agapbeingleftbetweenherandMissJaneOsborne。NowthiswasGeorge’splacewhenhedinedathome；andhiscover，aswesaid，waslaidforhiminexpectationofthattruant’sreturn。Nothingoccurredduringdinner-timeexceptsmilingMr。Frederick’sflaggingconfidentialwhispers，andtheclinkingofplateandchina，tointerruptthesilenceoftherepast。Theservantswentaboutstealthilydoingtheirduty。MutesatfuneralscouldnotlookmoreglumthanthedomesticsofMr。OsborneTheneckofvenisonofwhichhehadinvitedDobbintopartake，wascarvedbyhiminperfectsilence；buthisownsharewentawayalmostuntasted，thoughhedrankmuch，andthebutlerassiduouslyfilledhisglass。
Atlast，justattheendofthedinner，hiseyes，whichhadbeenstaringateverybodyinturn，fixedthemselvesforawhileupontheplatelaidforGeorge。Hepointedtoitpresentlywithhislefthand。Hisdaughterslookedathimanddidnotcomprehend，orchoosetocomprehend，thesignal；nordidtheservantsatfirstunderstandit。
“Takethatplateaway。”atlasthesaid，gettingupwithanoath——andwiththispushinghischairback，hewalkedintohisownroom。
BehindMr。Osborne’sdining-roomwastheusualapartmentwhichwentinhishousebythenameofthestudy；andwassacredtothemasterofthehouse。HitherMr。OsbornewouldretireofaSundayforenoonwhennotmindedtogotochurch；andherepassthemorninginhiscrimsonleatherchair，readingthepaper。Acoupleofglazedbook-caseswerehere，containingstandardworksinstoutgiltbindings。The“AnnualRegister。”the“Gentleman’sMagazine。”“Blair’sSermons。”and“HumeandSmollett。”Fromyear’sendtoyear’sendhenevertookoneofthesevolumesfromtheshelf；buttherewasnomemberofthefamilythatwoulddareforhislifetotouchoneofthebooks，exceptuponthoserareSundayeveningswhentherewasnodinner-party，andwhenthegreatscarletBibleandPrayer-bookweretakenoutfromthecornerwheretheystoodbesidehiscopyofthePeerage，andtheservantsbeingrunguptothediningparlour，Osbornereadtheeveningservicetohisfamilyinaloudgratingpompousvoice。Nomemberofthehousehold，child，ordomestic，everenteredthatroomwithoutacertainterror。Herehecheckedthehousekeeper’saccounts，andoverhauledthebutler’scellar-book。Hencehecouldcommand，acrossthecleangravelcourt-yard，thebackentranceofthestableswithwhichoneofhisbellscommunicated，andintothisyardthecoachmanissuedfromhispremisesasintoadock，andOsbornesworeathimfromthestudywindow。FourtimesayearMissWirtenteredthisapartmenttogethersalary；andhisdaughterstoreceivetheirquarterlyallowance。Georgeasaboyhadbeenhorsewhippedinthisroommanytimes；hismothersittingsickonthestairlisteningtothecutsofthewhip。Theboywasscarcelyeverknowntocryunderthepunishment；thepoorwomanusedtofondleandkisshimsecretly，andgivehimmoneytosoothehimwhenhecameout。
Therewasapictureofthefamilyoverthemantelpiece，removedthitherfromthefrontroomafterMrs。Osborne’sdeath——Georgewasonapony，theeldersisterholdinghimupabunchofflowers；theyoungerledbyhermother’shand；allwithredcheeksandlargeredmouths，simperingoneachotherintheapprovedfamily-
portraitmanner。Themotherlayundergroundnow，longsinceforgotten——thesistersandbrotherhadahundreddifferentinterestsoftheirown，and，familiarstill，wereutterlyestrangedfromeachother。Somefewscoreofyearsafterwards，whenallthepartiesrepresentedaregrownold，whatbittersatirethereisinthoseflauntingchildishfamily-portraits，withtheirfarceofsentimentandsmilinglies，andinnocencesoself-consciousandself-
satisfied。Osborne’sownstateportrait，withthatofhisgreatsilverinkstandandarm-chair，hadtakentheplaceofhonourinthedining-room，vacatedbythefamily-
piece。
TothisstudyoldOsborneretiredthen，greatlytothereliefofthesmallpartywhomheleft。Whentheservantshadwithdrawn，theybegantotalkforawhilevolublybutverylow；thentheywentupstairsquietly，Mr。Bullockaccompanyingthemstealthilyonhiscreakingshoes。Hehadnohearttositalonedrinkingwine，andsoclosetotheterribleoldgentlemaninthestudyhardathand。
Anhouratleastafterdark，thebutler，nothavingreceivedanysummons，venturedtotapathisdoorandtakehiminwaxcandlesandtea。Themasterofthehousesateinhischair，pretendingtoreadthepaper，andwhentheservant，placingthelightsandrefreshmentonthetablebyhim，retired，Mr。Osbornegotupandlockedthedoorafterhim。Thistimetherewasnomistakingthematter；allthehouseholdknewthatsomegreatcatastrophewasgoingtohappenwhichwaslikelydirelytoaffectMasterGeorge。
InthelargeshiningmahoganyescritoireMr。Osbornehadadrawerespeciallydevotedtohisson’saffairsandpapers。Herehekeptallthedocumentsrelatingtohimeversincehehadbeenaboy：herewerehisprizecopy-
booksanddrawing-books，allbearingGeorge’shand，andthatofthemaster：herewerehisfirstlettersinlargeround-handsendinghislovetopapaandmamma，andconveyinghispetitionsforacake。HisdeargodpapaSedleywasmorethanoncementionedinthem。CursesquiveredonoldOsborne’slividlips，andhorridhatredanddisappointmentwrithedinhisheart，aslookingthroughsomeofthesepapershecameonthatname。
Theywereallmarkedanddocketed，andtiedwithredtape。
Itwas——FromGeorgy，requesting5s。，April23，18——；
answered，April25“——or“Georgyaboutapony，October13“——andsoforth。Inanotherpacketwere“Dr。S。’saccounts“——
“G。’stailor’sbillsandoutfits，draftsonmebyG。Osborne，jun……”&c——hislettersfromtheWestIndies——hisagent’sletters，andthenewspaperscontaininghiscommissions：herewasawhiphehadwhenaboy，andinapaperalocketcontaininghishair，whichhismotherusedtowear。
Turningoneoverafteranother，andmusingoverthesememorials，theunhappymanpassedmanyhours。Hisdearestvanities，ambitioushopes，hadallbeenhere。Whatpridehehadinhisboy！Hewasthehandsomestchildeverseen。Everybodysaidhewaslikeanobleman’sson。Aroyalprincesshadremarkedhim，andkissedhim，andaskedhisnameinKewGardens。WhatCitymancouldshowsuchanother？Couldaprincehavebeenbettercaredfor？Anythingthatmoneycouldbuyhadbeenhisson’s。Heusedtogodownonspeech-dayswithfourhorsesandnewliveries，andscatternewshillingsamongtheboysattheschoolwhereGeorgewas：whenhewentwithGeorgetothedepotofhisregiment，beforetheboyembarkedforCanada，hegavetheofficerssuchadinnerastheDukeofYorkmighthavesatdownto。HadheeverrefusedabillwhenGeorgedrewone？
Theretheywere——paidwithoutaword。Manyageneralinthearmycouldn’tridethehorseshehad！Hehadthechildbeforehiseyes，onahundreddifferentdayswhenherememberedGeorgeafterdinner，whenheusedtocomeinasboldasalordanddrinkoffhisglassbyhisfather’sside，attheheadofthetable——ontheponyatBrighton，whenheclearedthehedgeandkeptupwiththehuntsman——onthedaywhenhewaspresentedtothePrinceRegentatthelevee，whenallSaintJames’scouldn’tproduceafineryoungfellow。Andthis，thiswastheendofall！——tomarryabankruptandflyinthefaceofdutyandfortune！Whathumiliationandfury：whatpangsofsickeningrage，balkedambitionandlove；whatwoundsofoutragedvanity，tendernesseven，hadthisoldworldlingnowtosufferunder！
Havingexaminedthesepapers，andponderedoverthisoneandtheother，inthatbitterestofallhelplesswoe，withwhichmiserablementhinkofhappypasttimes——
George’sfathertookthewholeofthedocumentsoutofthedrawerinwhichhehadkeptthemsolong，andlockedthemintoawriting-box，whichhetied，andsealedwithhisseal。Thenheopenedthebook-case，andtookdownthegreatredBiblewehavespokenofapompousbook，seldomlookedat，andshiningalloverwithgold。
Therewasafrontispiecetothevolume，representingAbrahamsacrificingIsaac。Here，accordingtocustom，Osbornehadrecordedonthefly-leaf，andinhislargeclerk-likehand，thedatesofhismarriageandhiswife’sdeath，andthebirthsandChristiannamesofhischildren。
Janecamefirst，thenGeorgeSedleyOsborne，thenMariaFrances，andthedaysofthechristeningofeach。Takingapen，hecarefullyobliteratedGeorge’snamesfromthepage；andwhentheleafwasquitedry，restoredthevolumetotheplacefromwhichhehadmovedit。Thenhetookadocumentoutofanotherdrawer，wherehisownprivatepaperswerekept；andhavingreadit，crumpleditupandlighteditatoneofthecandles，andsawitburnentirelyawayinthegrate。Itwashiswill；whichbeingburned，hesatedownandwroteoffaletter，andrangforhisservant，whomhechargedtodeliveritinthemorning。Itwasmorningalready：ashewentuptobed，thewholehousewasalightwiththesunshine；andthebirdsweresingingamongthefreshgreenleavesinRussellSquare。
AnxioustokeepallMr。Osborne’sfamilyanddependantsingoodhumour，andtomakeasmanyfriendsaspossibleforGeorgeinhishourofadversity，WilliamDobbin，whoknewtheeffectwhichgooddinnersandgoodwineshaveuponthesoulofman，wroteoffimmediatelyonhisreturntohisinnthemosthospitableofinvitationstoThomasChopper，Esquire，beggingthatgentlemantodinewithhimattheSlaughters’nextday。ThenotereachedMr。ChopperbeforehelefttheCity，andtheinstantreplywas，that“Mr。Chopperpresentshisrespectfulcompliments，andwillhavethehonourandpleasureofwaitingonCaptainD。”TheinvitationandtheroughdraftoftheanswerwereshowntoMrs。ChopperandherdaughtersonhisreturntoSomers’Townthatevening，andtheytalkedaboutmilitarygentsandWestEndmenwithgreatexultationasthefamilysateandpartookoftea。Whenthegirlshadgonetorest，Mr。andMrs。C。discourseduponthestrangeeventswhichwereoccurringinthegovernor’sfamily。Neverhadtheclerkseenhisprincipalsomoved。WhenhewentintoMr。
Osborne，afterCaptainDobbin’sdeparture，Mr。Chopperfoundhischiefblackintheface，andallbutinafit：