“Begin’Mydearsir，’or’Dearsir，’thatwillbebetter，andsayyouaredesiredbyMissCrawley——no，byMissCrawley’smedicalman，byMr。Creamer，tostatethatmyhealthissuchthatallstrongemotionswouldbedangerousinmypresentdelicatecondition——andthatImustdeclineanyfamilydiscussionsorinterviewswhatever。
AndthankhimforcomingtoBrighton，andsoforth，andbeghimnottostayanylongeronmyaccount。And，MissBriggs，youmayaddthatIwishhimabonvoyage，andthatifhewilltakethetroubletocalluponmylawyer’sinGray’sInnSquare，hewillfindthereacommunicationforhim。Yes，thatwilldo；andthatwillmakehimleaveBrighton。”ThebenevolentBriggspennedthissentencewiththeutmostsatisfaction。
“ToseizeuponmetheverydayafterMrs。Butewasgone。”theoldladyprattledon；“itwastooindecent。
Briggs，mydear，writetoMrs。Crawley，andsaySHE
needn’tcomeback。No——sheneedn’t——andsheshan’t——
andIwon’tbeaslaveinmyownhouse——andIwon’tbestarvedandchokedwithpoison。Theyallwanttokillme——all——all“——andwiththisthelonelyoldwomanburstintoascreamofhystericaltears。
ThelastsceneofherdismalVanityFaircomedywasfastapproaching；thetawdrylampsweregoingoutonebyone；andthedarkcurtainwasalmostreadytodescend。
Thatfinalparagraph，whichreferredRawdontoMissCrawley’ssolicitorinLondon，andwhichBriggshadwrittensogood-naturedly，consoledthedragoonandhiswifesomewhat，aftertheirfirstblankdisappointment，onreadingthespinster’srefusalofareconciliation。Anditeffectedthepurposeforwhichtheoldladyhadcausedittobewritten，bymakingRawdonveryeagertogettoLondon。
OutofJos’slosingsandGeorgeOsborne’sbank-notes，hepaidhisbillattheinn，thelandlordwhereofdoesnotprobablyknowtothisdayhowdoubtfullyhisaccountoncestood。For，asageneralsendshisbaggagetotherearbeforeanaction，RebeccahadwiselypackedupalltheirchiefvaluablesandsentthemoffundercareofGeorge’sservant，whowentinchargeofthetrunksonthecoachbacktoLondon。Rawdonandhiswifereturnedbythesameconveyancenextday。
“Ishouldhavelikedtoseetheoldgirlbeforewewent。”
Rawdonsaid。”ShelookssocutupandalteredthatI’msureshecan’tlastlong。IwonderwhatsortofachequeIshallhaveatWaxy’s。Twohundred——itcan’tbelessthantwohundred——hey，Becky？”
Inconsequenceoftherepeatedvisitsoftheaides-de-
campoftheSheriffofMiddlesex，RawdonandhiswifedidnotgobacktotheirlodgingsatBrompton，butputupataninn。Earlythenextmorning，RebeccahadanopportunityofseeingthemassheskirtedthatsuburbonherroadtooldMrs。Sedley’shouseatFulham，whithershewenttolookforherdearAmeliaandherBrightonfriends。TheywereallofftoChatham，thencetoHarwich，totakeshippingforBelgiumwiththeregiment——
kindoldMrs。Sedleyverymuchdepressedandtearful，solitary。Returningfromthisvisit，Rebeccafoundherhusband，whohadbeenofftoGray’sInn，andlearnthisfate。Hecamebackfurious。
“ByJove，Becky。”sayshe，“she’sonlygivenmetwentypound！”
Thoughittoldagainstthemselves，thejokewastoogood，andBeckyburstoutlaughingatRawdon’sdiscomfiture。
BetweenLondonandChathamOnquittingBrighton，ourfriendGeorge，asbecameapersonofrankandfashiontravellinginabarouchewithfourhorses，droveinstatetoafinehotelinCavendishSquare，whereasuiteofsplendidrooms，andatablemagnificentlyfurnishedwithplateandsurroundedbyahalf-dozenofblackandsilentwaiters，wasreadytoreceivetheyounggentlemanandhisbride。GeorgedidthehonoursoftheplacewithaprincelyairtoJosandDobbin；andAmelia，forthefirsttime，andwithexceedingshynessandtimidity，presidedatwhatGeorgecalledherowntable。
Georgepooh-poohedthewineandbulliedthewaitersroyally，andJosgobbledtheturtlewithimmensesatisfaction。
Dobbinhelpedhimtoit；fortheladyofthehouse，beforewhomthetureenwasplaced，wassoignorantofthecontents，thatshewasgoingtohelpMr。Sedleywithoutbestowinguponhimeithercalipashorcalipee。
Thesplendouroftheentertainment，andtheapartmentsinwhichitwasgiven，alarmedMr。Dobbin，whoremonstratedafterdinner，whenJoswasasleepinthegreatchair。Butinvainhecriedoutagainsttheenormityofturtleandchampagnethatwasfitforanarchbishop。
“I’vealwaysbeenaccustomedtotravellikeagentleman。”
Georgesaid，“and，damme，mywifeshalltravellikealady。Aslongasthere’sashotinthelocker，sheshallwantfornothing。”saidthegenerousfellow，quitepleasedwithhimselfforhismagnificenceofspirit。NordidDobbintryandconvincehimthatAmelia’shappinesswasnotcentredinturtle-soup。
Awhileafterdinner，Ameliatimidlyexpressedawishtogoandseehermamma，atFulham：whichpermissionGeorgegrantedherwithsomegrumbling。Andshetrippedawaytoherenormousbedroom，inthecentreofwhichstoodtheenormousfunerealbed，“thattheEmperorHalixander’ssisterslepinwhenthealliedsufferingswashere。”andputonherlittlebonnetandshawlwiththeutmosteagernessandpleasure。Georgewasstilldrinkingclaretwhenshereturnedtothedining-room，andmadenosignsofmoving。”Ar’n’tyoucomingwithme，dearest？”
sheaskedhim。No；the“dearest“had“business“
thatnight。Hismanshouldgetheracoachandgowithher。Andthecoachbeingatthedoorofthehotel，AmeliamadeGeorgealittledisappointedcurtseyafterlookingvainlyintohisfaceonceortwice，andwentsadlydownthegreatstaircase，CaptainDobbinafter，whohandedherintothevehicle，andsawitdriveawaytoitsdestination。
Theveryvaletwasashamedofmentioningtheaddresstothehackney-coachmanbeforethehotelwaiters，andpromisedtoinstructhimwhentheygotfurtheron。
DobbinwalkedhometohisoldquartersandtheSlaughters’，thinkingverylikelythatitwouldbedelightfultobeinthathackney-coach，alongwithMrs。Osborne。
Georgewasevidentlyofquiteadifferenttaste；forwhenhehadtakenwineenough，hewentofftohalf-priceattheplay，toseeMr。KeanperforminShylock。CaptainOsbornewasagreatloverofthedrama，andhadhimselfperformedhigh-comedycharacterswithgreatdistinctioninseveralgarrisontheatricalentertainments。Jossleptonuntillongafterdark，whenhewokeupwithastartatthemotionsofhisservant，whowasremovingandemptyingthedecantersonthetable；andthehackney-coachstandwasagainputintorequisitionforacarriagetoconveythisstoutherotohislodgingsandbed。
Mrs。Sedley，youmaybesure，claspedherdaughtertoherheartwithallmaternaleagernessandaffection，runningoutofthedoorasthecarriagedrewupbeforethelittlegarden-gate，towelcometheweeping，trembling，youngbride。OldMr。Clapp，whowasinhisshirt-sleeves，trimmingthegarden-plot，shrankbackalarmed。TheIrishservant-lassrushedupfromthekitchenandsmileda“Godblessyou。”Ameliacouldhardlywalkalongtheflagsandupthestepsintotheparlour。
Howthefloodgateswereopened，andmotheranddaughterwept，whentheyweretogetherembracingeachotherinthissanctuary，mayreadilybeimaginedbyeveryreaderwhopossessestheleastsentimentalturn。Whendon’tladiesweep？Atwhatoccasionofjoy，sorrow，orotherbusinessoflife，and，aftersuchaneventasamarriage，motheranddaughterweresurelyatlibertytogivewaytoasensibilitywhichisastenderasitisrefreshing。
AboutaquestionofmarriageIhaveseenwomenwhohateeachotherkissandcrytogetherquitefondly。
Howmuchmoredotheyfeelwhentheylove！Goodmothersaremarriedoveragainattheirdaughters’weddings：
andasforsubsequentevents，whodoesnotknowhowultra-maternalgrandmothersare？——infactawoman，untilsheisagrandmother，doesnotoftenreallyknowwhattobeamotheris。LetusrespectAmeliaandhermammawhisperingandwhimperingandlaughingandcryingintheparlourandthetwilight。OldMr。Sedleydid。HEhadnotdivinedwhowasinthecarriagewhenitdroveup。Hehadnotflownouttomeethisdaughter，thoughhekissedherverywarmlywhensheenteredtheroomwherehewasoccupied，asusual，withhispapersandtapesandstatementsofaccounts，andaftersittingwiththemotheranddaughterforashorttime，heverywiselyleftthelittleapartmentintheirpossession。
George’svaletwaslookingoninaverysuperciliousmanneratMr。Clappinhisshirt-sleeves，wateringhisrose-bushes。Hetookoffhishat，however，withmuchcondescensiontoMr。Sedley，whoaskednewsabouthisson-in-law，andaboutJos’scarriage，andwhetherhishorseshadbeendowntoBrighton，andaboutthatinfernaltraitorBonaparty，andthewar；untiltheIrishmaid-servantcamewithaplateandabottleofwine，fromwhichtheoldgentlemaninsisteduponhelpingthevalet。Hegavehimahalf-guineatoo，whichtheservantpocketedwithamixtureofwonderandcontempt。”Tothehealthofyourmasterandmistress，Trotter。”Mr。
Sedleysaid，“andhere’ssomethingtodrinkyourhealthwhenyougethome，Trotter。”
TherewerebutninedayspastsinceAmeliahadleftthatlittlecottageandhome——andyethowfaroffthetimeseemedsinceshehadbiddenitfarewell。Whatagulflaybetweenherandthatpastlife。Shecouldlookbacktoitfromherpresentstanding-place，andcontemplate，almostasanotherbeing，theyoungunmarriedgirlabsorbedinherlove，havingnoeyesbutforonespecialobject，receivingparentalaffectionifnotungratefully，atleastindifferently，andasifitwereherdue——herwholeheartandthoughtsbentontheaccomplishmentofonedesire。Thereviewofthosedays，solatelygoneyetsofaraway，touchedherwithshame；andtheaspectofthekindparentsfilledherwithtenderremorse。Wastheprizegained——theheavenoflife——andthewinnerstilldoubtfulandunsatisfied？Ashisheroandheroinepassthematrimonialbarrier，thenovelistgenerallydropsthecurtain，asifthedramawereoverthen：thedoubtsandstrugglesoflifeended：asif，oncelandedinthemarriagecountry，allweregreenandpleasantthere：andwifeandhusbandhadnothingtodobuttolinkeachother’sarmstogether，andwandergentlydownwardstowardsoldageinhappyandperfectfruition。ButourlittleAmeliawasjustonthebankofhernewcountry，andwasalreadylookinganxiouslybacktowardsthesadfriendlyfigureswavingfarewelltoheracrossthestream，fromtheotherdistantshore。
Inhonouroftheyoungbride’sarrival，hermotherthoughtitnecessarytoprepareIdon’tknowwhatfestiveentertainment，andafterthefirstebullitionoftalk，tookleaveofMrs。GeorgeOsborneforawhile，anddiveddowntothelowerregionsofthehousetoasortofkitchen-parlouroccupiedbyMr。andMrs。Clapp，andintheevening，whenherdisheswerewashedandhercurl-papersremoved，byMissFlannigan，theIrishservant，theretotakemeasuresforthepreparingofamagnificentornamentedtea。Allpeoplehavetheirwaysofexpressingkindness，anditseemedtoMrs。Sedleythatamuffinandaquantityoforangemarmaladespreadoutinalittlecut-glasssaucerwouldbepeculiarlyagreeablerefreshmentstoAmeliainhermostinterestingsituation。
Whilethesedelicacieswerebeingtransactedbelow，Amelia，leavingthedrawing-room，walkedupstairsandfoundherself，shescarceknewhow，inthelittleroomwhichshehadoccupiedbeforehermarriage，andinthatverychairinwhichshehadpassedsomanybitterhours。
Shesankbackinitsarmsasifitwereanoldfriend；
andfelltothinkingoverthepastweek，andthelifebeyondit。Alreadytobelookingsadlyandvaguelyback：
alwaystobepiningforsomethingwhich，whenobtained，broughtdoubtandsadnessratherthanpleasure；herewasthelotofourpoorlittlecreatureandharmlesslostwandererinthegreatstrugglingcrowdsofVanityFair。
Hereshesate，andrecalledtoherselffondlythatimageofGeorgetowhichshehadkneltbeforemarriage。Didsheowntoherselfhowdifferenttherealmanwasfromthatsuperbyoungherowhomshehadworshipped？Itrequiresmany，manyyears——andamanmustbeverybadindeed——beforeawoman’sprideandvanitywillletherowntosuchaconfession。ThenRebecca’stwinklinggreeneyesandbalefulsmilelighteduponher，andfilledherwithdismay。Andsoshesateforawhileindulginginherusualmoodofselfishbrooding，inthatverylistlessmelancholyattitudeinwhichthehonestmaid-servanthadfoundher，onthedaywhenshebroughtuptheletterinwhichGeorgerenewedhisofferofmarriage。
Shelookedatthelittlewhitebed，whichhadbeenhersafewdaysbefore，andthoughtshewouldliketosleepinitthatnight，andwake，asformerly，withhermothersmilingoverherinthemorning：Thenshethoughtwithterrorofthegreatfunerealdamaskpavilioninthevastanddingystatebedroom，whichwasawaitingheratthegrandhotelinCavendishSquare。Dearlittlewhitebed！
howmanyalongnighthadsheweptonitspillow！
Howshehaddespairedandhopedtodiethere；andnowwerenotallherwishesaccomplished，andtheloverofwhomshehaddespairedherownforever？Kindmother！