somedreadfulquarrel，hewascertain，hadoccurredbetweenMr。O。andtheyoungCaptain。ChopperhadbeeninstructedtomakeoutanaccountofallsumspaidtoCaptainOsbornewithinthelastthreeyears。”Andapreciouslotofmoneyhehashadtoo。”thechiefclerksaid，andrespectedhisoldandyoungmasterthemore，fortheliberalwayinwhichtheguineashadbeenflungabout。
ThedisputewassomethingaboutMissSedley。Mrs。
ChoppervowedanddeclaredshepitiedthatpooryoungladytolosesuchahandsomeyoungfellowastheCapting。
Asthedaughterofanunluckyspeculator，whohadpaidaveryshabbydividend，Mr。ChopperhadnogreatregardforMissSedley。HerespectedthehouseofOsbornebeforeallothersintheCityofLondon：andhishopeandwishwasthatCaptainGeorgeshouldmarryanobleman’sdaughter。Theclerksleptagreatdealsounderthanhisprincipalthatnight；and，cuddlinghischildrenafterbreakfastofwhichhepartookwithaveryheartyappetite，thoughhismodestcupoflifewasonlysweetenedwithbrownsugar，hesetoffinhisbestSundaysuitandfrilledshirtforbusiness，promisinghisadmiringwifenottopunishCaptainD。’sporttooseverelythatevening。
Mr。Osborne’scountenance，whenhearrivedintheCityathisusualtime，struckthosedependantswhowereaccustomed，forgoodreasons，towatchitsexpression，aspeculiarlyghastlyandworn。Attwelveo’clockMr。
HiggsofthefirmofHiggs&Blatherwick，solicitors，BedfordRowcalledbyappointment，andwasusheredintothegovernor’sprivateroom，andclosetedthereformorethananhour。AtaboutoneMr。ChopperreceivedanotebroughtbyCaptainDobbin’sman，andcontaininganinclosureforMr。Osborne，whichtheclerkwentinanddelivered。AshorttimeafterwardsMr。
ChopperandMr。Birch，thenextclerk，weresummoned，andrequestedtowitnessapaper。”I’vebeenmakinganewwill。”Mr。Osbornesaid，towhichthesegentlemenappendedtheirnamesaccordingly。Noconversationpassed。Mr。Higgslookedexceedinglygraveashecameintotheouterrooms，andveryhardinMr。Chopper’sface；buttherewerenotanyexplanations。ItwasremarkedthatMr。Osbornewasparticularlyquietandgentleallday，tothesurpriseofthosewhohadauguredillfromhisdarklingdemeanour。Hecallednomannamesthatday，andwasnotheardtoswearonce。Heleftbusinessearly；andbeforegoingaway，summonedhischiefclerkoncemore，andhavinggivenhimgeneralinstructions，askedhim，aftersomeseeminghesitationandreluctancetospeak，ifheknewwhetherCaptainDobbinwasintown？
Choppersaidhebelievedhewas。Indeedbothofthemknewthefactperfectly。
Osbornetookaletterdirectedtothatofficer，andgivingittotheclerk，requestedthelattertodeliveritintoDobbin’sownhandsimmediately。
“Andnow，Chopper。”sayshe，takinghishat，andwithastrangelook，“mymindwillbeeasy。”ExactlyastheclockstrucktwotherewasnodoubtanappointmentbetweenthepairMr。FrederickBullockcalled，andheandMr。Osbornewalkedawaytogether。
TheColonelofthe——thregiment，inwhichMessieursDobbinandOsbornehadcompanies，wasanoldGeneralwhohadmadehisfirstcampaignunderWolfeatQuebec，andwaslongsincequitetoooldandfeebleforcommand；
buthetooksomeinterestintheregimentofwhichhewasthenominalhead，andmadecertainofhisyoungofficerswelcomeathistable，akindofhospitalitywhichIbelieveisnotnowcommonamongsthisbrethren。CaptainDobbinwasanespecialfavouriteofthisoldGeneral。Dobbinwasversedintheliteratureofhisprofession，andcouldtalkaboutthegreatFrederick，andtheEmpressQueen，andtheirwars，almostaswellastheGeneralhimself，whowasindifferenttothetriumphsofthepresentday，andwhoseheartwaswiththetacticiansoffiftyyearsback。ThisofficersentasummonstoDobbintocomeandbreakfastwithhim，onthemorningwhenMr。OsbornealteredhiswillandMr。Chopperputonhisbestshirtfrill，andtheninformedhisyoungfavourite，acoupleofdaysinadvance，ofthatwhichtheywereallexpecting——amarchingordertogotoBelgium。
TheorderfortheregimenttoholditselfinreadinesswouldleavetheHorseGuardsinadayortwo；andastransportswereinplenty，theywouldgettheirroutebeforetheweekwasover。RecruitshadcomeinduringthestayoftheregimentatChatham；andtheoldGeneralhopedthattheregimentwhichhadhelpedtobeatMontcalminCanada，andtoroutMr。WashingtononLongIsland，wouldproveitselfworthyofitshistoricalreputationontheoft-troddenbattle-groundsoftheLowCountries。”Andso，mygoodfriend，ifyouhaveanyaffairela，saidtheoldGeneral，takingapinchofsnuffwithhistremblingwhiteoldhand，andthenpointingtothespotofhisrobedechambreunderwhichhisheartwasstillfeeblybeating，“ifyouhaveanyPhillistoconsole，ortobidfarewelltopapaandmamma，oranywilltomake，Irecommendyoutosetaboutyourbusinesswithoutdelay。”WithwhichtheGeneralgavehisyoungfriendafingertoshake，andagood-naturednodofhispowderedandpigtailedhead；andthedoorbeingcloseduponDobbin，satedowntopenapoulethewasexceedinglyvainofhisFrenchtoMademoiselleAmenaideofHisMajesty’sTheatre。
ThisnewsmadeDobbingrave，andhethoughtofourfriendsatBrighton，andthenhewasashamedofhimselfthatAmeliawasalwaysthefirstthinginhisthoughtsalwaysbeforeanybody——beforefatherandmother，sistersandduty——alwaysatwakingandsleepingindeed，andalldaylong；andreturningtohishotel，hesentoffabriefnotetoMr。Osborneacquaintinghimwiththeinformationwhichhehadreceived，andwhichmighttendfarther，hehoped，tobringaboutareconciliationwithGeorge。
Thisnote，despatchedbythesamemessengerwhohadcarriedtheinvitationtoChopperonthepreviousday，alarmedtheworthyclerknotalittle。Itwasinclosedtohim，andasheopenedtheletterhetrembledlestthedinnershouldbeputoffonwhichhewascalculating。Hismindwasinexpressiblyrelievedwhenhefoundthattheenvelopewasonlyareminderforhimself。“Ishallexpectyouathalf-pastfive。”CaptainDobbinwrote。Hewasverymuchinterestedabouthisemployer’sfamily；but，quevoulez-vous？agranddinnerwasofmoreconcerntohimthantheaffairsofanyothermortal。
DobbinwasquitejustifiedinrepeatingtheGeneral’sinformationtoanyofficersoftheregimentwhomheshouldseeinthecourseofhisperegrinations；accordinglyheimpartedittoEnsignStubble，whomhemetattheagent’s，andwho——suchwashismilitaryardour——wentoffinstantlytopurchaseanewswordattheaccoutrement-maker’s。Herethisyoungfellow，who，thoughonlyseventeenyearsofage，andaboutsixty-fiveincheshigh，withaconstitutionnaturallyricketyandmuchimpairedbyprematurebrandyandwater，hadanundoubtedcourageandalion’sheart，poised，tried，bent，andbalancedaweaponsuchashethoughtwoulddoexecutionamongstFrenchmen。Shouting“Ha，ha！”andstampinghislittlefeetwithtremendousenergy，hedeliveredthepointtwiceorthriceatCaptainDobbin，whoparriedthethrustlaughinglywithhisbamboowalking-stick。
Mr。Stubble，asmaybesupposedfromhissizeandslenderness，wasoftheLightBobs。EnsignSpooney，onthecontrary，wasatallyouth，andbelongedtoCaptainDobbin’stheGrenadierCompany，andhetriedonanewbearskincap，underwhichhelookedsavagebeyondhisyears。ThenthesetwoladswentofftotheSlaughters’，andhavingorderedafamousdinner，satedownandwroteoffletterstothekindanxiousparentsathome——lettersfullofloveandheartiness，andpluckandbadspelling。Ah！thereweremanyanxiousheartsbeatingthroughEnglandatthattime；andmothers’prayersandtearsflowinginmanyhomesteads。
SeeingyoungStubbleengagedincompositionatoneofthecoffee-roomtablesattheSlaughters’，andthetearstricklingdownhisnoseontothepaperfortheyoungsterwasthinkingofhismamma，andthathemightneverseeheragain，Dobbin，whowasgoingtowriteoffalettertoGeorgeOsborne，relented，andlockeduphisdesk。”WhyshouldI？”saidhe。”Letherhavethisnighthappy。I’llgoandseemyparentsearlyinthemorning，andgodowntoBrightonmyselfto-morrow。”
SohewentupandlaidhisbighandonyoungStubble’sshoulder，andbackedupthatyoungchampion，andtoldhimifhewouldleaveoffbrandyandwaterhewouldbeagoodsoldier，ashealwayswasagentlemanlygood-
heartedfellow。YoungStubble’seyesbrightenedupatthis，forDobbinwasgreatlyrespectedintheregiment，asthebestofficerandthecleverestmaninit。
“Thankyou，Dobbin。”hesaid，rubbinghiseyeswithhisknuckles，“Iwasjust——justtellingherIwould。And，OSir，she’ssodamkindtome。”Thewaterpumpswereatworkagain，andIamnotsurethatthesoft-heartedCaptain’seyesdidnotalsotwinkle。
Thetwoensigns，theCaptain，andMr。Chopper，dinedtogetherinthesamebox。ChopperbroughttheletterfromMr。Osborne，inwhichthelatterbrieflypresentedhiscomplimentstoCaptainDobbin，andrequestedhimtoforwardtheinclosedtoCaptainGeorgeOsborne。Chopperknewnothingfurther；hedescribedMr。Osborne’sappearance，itistrue，andhisinterviewwithhislawyer，wonderedhowthegovernorhadswornatnobody，and——especiallyasthewinecircledround——aboundedinspeculationsandconjectures。Butthesegrewmorevaguewitheveryglass，andatlengthbecameperfectlyunintelligible。
AtalatehourCaptainDobbinputhisguestintoahackneycoach，inahiccuppingstate，andswearingthathewouldbethekick——thekick——Captain’sfriendforeverandever。
WhenCaptainDobbintookleaveofMissOsbornewehavesaidthatheaskedleavetocomeandpayheranothervisit，andthespinsterexpectedhimforsomehoursthenextday，when，perhaps，hadhecome，andhadheaskedherthatquestionwhichshewaspreparedtoanswer，shewouldhavedeclaredherselfasherbrother’sfriend，andareconciliationmighthavebeeneffectedbetweenGeorgeandhisangryfather。ButthoughshewaitedathometheCaptainnevercame。Hehadhisownaffairstopursue；hisownparentstovisitandconsole；andatanearlyhourofthedaytotakehisplaceontheLightningcoach，andgodowntohisfriendsatBrighton。InthecourseofthedayMissOsborneheardherfathergiveordersthatthatmeddlingscoundrel，CaptainDobbin，shouldneverbeadmittedwithinhisdoorsagain，andanyhopesinwhichshemayhaveindulgedprivatelywerethusabruptlybroughttoanend。Mr。FrederickBullockcame，andwasparticularlyaffectionatetoMaria，andattentivetothebroken-spiritedoldgentleman。Forthoughhesaidhismindwouldbeeasy，themeanswhichhehadtakentosecurequietdidnotseemtohavesucceededasyet，andtheeventsofthepasttwodayshadvisiblyshatteredhim。
InWhichAllthePrincipalPersonagesThinkFittoLeaveBrightonConductedtotheladies，attheShipInn，Dobbinassumedajovialandrattlingmanner，whichprovedthatthisyoungofficerwasbecomingamoreconsummatehypocriteeverydayofhislife。Hewastryingtohidehisownprivatefeelings，firstuponseeingMrs。GeorgeOsborneinhernewcondition，andsecondlytomasktheapprehensionsheentertainedastotheeffectwhichthedismalnewsbroughtdownbyhimwouldcertainlyhaveuponher。
“Itismyopinion，George。”hesaid，“thattheFrenchEmperorwillbeuponus，horseandfoot，beforethreeweeksareover，andwillgivetheDukesuchadanceasshallmakethePeninsulaappearmerechild’splay。ButyouneednotsaythattoMrs。Osborne，youknow。Theremayn’tbeanyfightingonoursideafterall，andourbusinessinBelgiummayturnouttobeameremilitaryoccupation。Manypersonsthinkso；andBrusselsisfulloffinepeopleandladiesoffashion。”SoitwasagreedtorepresentthedutyoftheBritisharmyinBelgiuminthisharmlesslighttoAmelia。
Thisplotbeingarranged，thehypocriticalDobbinsalutedMrs。GeorgeOsbornequitegaily，triedtopayheroneortwocomplimentsrelativetohernewpositionasabridewhichcompliments，itmustbeconfessed，wereexceedinglyclumsyandhungfirewoefully，andthenfelltotalkingaboutBrighton，andthesea-air，andthegaietiesoftheplace，andthebeautiesoftheroadandthemeritsoftheLightningcoachandhorses——allinamannerquiteincomprehensibletoAmelia，andveryamusingtoRebecca，whowaswatchingtheCaptain，asindeedshewatchedeveryonenearwhomshecame。
LittleAmelia，itmustbeowned，hadratherameanopinionofherhusband’sfriend，CaptainDobbin。Helisped——hewasveryplainandhomely-looking：andexceedinglyawkwardandungainly。Shelikedhimforhisattachmenttoherhusbandtobesuretherewasverylittlemeritinthat，andshethoughtGeorgewasmostgenerousandkindinextendinghisfriendshiptohisbrotherofficer。
GeorgehadmimickedDobbin’slispandqueermannersmanytimestoher，thoughtodohimjustice，healwaysspokemosthighlyofhisfriend’sgoodqualities。Inherlittledayoftriumph，andnotknowinghimintimatelyasyet，shemadelightofhonestWilliam——andheknewheropinionsofhimquitewell，andacquiescedinthemveryhumbly。Atimecamewhensheknewhimbetter，andchangedhernotionsregardinghim；butthatwasdistantasyet。
AsforRebecca，CaptainDobbinhadnotbeentwohoursintheladies’companybeforesheunderstoodhissecretperfectly。Shedidnotlikehim，andfearedhimprivately；