“Wife，justmarried，dev’lishprettywoman，Ihear。”
theoldEarlsaid。
“Well，mydearBlanche。”saidthemother，“Isuppose，asPapawantstogo，wemustgo；butweneedn’tknowtheminEngland，youknow。”Andso，determinedtocuttheirnewacquaintanceinBondStreet，thesegreatfolkswenttoeathisdinneratBrussels，andcondescendingtomakehimpayfortheirpleasure，showedtheirdignitybymakinghiswifeuncomfortable，andcarefullyexcludingherfromtheconversation。Thisisaspeciesofdignityinwhichthehigh-bredBritishfemalereignssupreme。Towatchthebehaviourofafineladytootherandhumblerwomen，isaverygoodsportforaphilosophicalfrequenterofVanityFair。
Thisfestival，onwhichhonestGeorgespentagreatdealofmoney，wastheverydismallestofalltheentertainmentswhichAmeliahadinherhoneymoon。Shewrotethemostpiteousaccountsofthefeasthometohermamma：howtheCountessofBareacreswouldnotanswerwhenspokento；howLadyBlanchestaredatherwithhereye-glass；andwhatarageCaptainDobbinwasinattheirbehaviour；andhowmylord，astheycameawayfromthefeast，askedtoseethebill，andpronounceditad——baddinner，andd——dear。ButthoughAmeliatoldallthesestories，andwrotehomeregardingherguests’rudeness，andherowndiscomfiture，oldMrs。Sedleywasmightilypleasednevertheless，andtalkedaboutEmmy’sfriend，theCountessofBareacres，withsuchassiduitythatthenewshowhissonwasentertainingpeersandpeeressesactuallycametoOsborne’searsintheCity。
ThosewhoknowthepresentLieutenant-GeneralSirGeorgeTufto，K。C。B。，andhaveseenhim，astheymayonmostdaysintheseason，paddedandinstays，struttingdownPallMallwitharicketyswaggeronhishigh-heeledlacqueredboots，leeringunderthebonnetsofpassers-
by，orridingashowychestnut，andoglingbroughamsintheParks——thosewhoknowthepresentSirGeorgeTuftowouldhardlyrecognisethedaringPeninsularandWaterlooofficer。Hehasthickcurlingbrownhairandblackeyebrowsnow，andhiswhiskersareofthedeepestpurple。Hewaslight-hairedandbaldin1815，andstouterinthepersonandinthelimbs，whichespeciallyhaveshrunkverymuchoflate。Whenhewasaboutseventyyearsofageheisnownearlyeighty，hishair，whichwasveryscarceandquitewhite，suddenlygrewthick，andbrown，andcurly，andhiswhiskersandeyebrowstooktheirpresentcolour。Ill-naturedpeoplesaythathischestisallwool，andthathishair，becauseitnevergrows，isawig。TomTufto，withwhosefatherhequarrelledeversomanyyearsago，declaresthatMademoiselledeJaisey，oftheFrenchtheatre，pulledhisgrandpapa’shairoffinthegreen-room；butTomisnotoriouslyspitefulandjealous；andtheGeneral’swighasnothingtodowithourstory。
Oneday，assomeofourfriendsofthe——thweresaunteringintheflower-marketofBrussels，havingbeentoseetheHoteldeVille，whichMrs。MajorO’Dowddeclaredwasnotnearsolargeorhandsomeasherfawther’smansionofGlenmalony，anofficerofrank，withanorderlybehindhim，rodeuptothemarket，anddescendingfromhishorse，cameamongsttheflowers，andselectedtheveryfinestbouquetwhichmoneycouldbuy。
Thebeautifulbundlebeingtiedupinapaper，theofficerremounted，givingthenosegayintothechargeofhismilitarygroom，whocarrieditwithagrin，followinghischief，whorodeawayingreatstateandself-satisfaction。
“YoushouldseetheflowersatGlenmalony。”Mrs。
O’Dowdwasremarking。”MefawtherhasthreeScotchgarnerswithninehelpers。Wehaveanacreofhot-houses，andpinesascommonaspaysinthesayson。Ourgreepsweighssixpoundseverybunchof’em，anduponmehonourandconscienceIthinkourmagnoliasisasbigastaykettles。”
Dobbin，whoneverusedto“drawout“Mrs。O’DowdasthatwickedOsbornedelightedindoingmuchtoAmelia’sterror，whoimploredhimtospareher，fellbackinthecrowd，crowingandsputteringuntilhereachedasafedistance，whenheexplodedamongsttheastonishedmarket-peoplewithshrieksofyellinglaughter。
“Hwhat’sthatgawkygugglingabout？”saidMrs。
O’Dowd。”Isithisnosebleedn？Healwaysusedtosay’twashisnosebleedn，tillhemusthavepompedallthebloodoutof’um。An’tthemagnoliasatGlenmalonyasbigastaykettles，O’Dowd？”
“’Deedthentheyare，andbigger，Peggy。”theMajorsaid。Whentheconversationwasinterruptedinthemannerstatedbythearrivaloftheofficerwhopurchasedthebouquet。
“Devlishfinehorse——whoisit？”Georgeasked。
“YoushouldseemebrotherMolloyMalony’shorse，Molasses，thatwonthecopattheCurragh。”theMajor’swifewasexclaiming，andwascontinuingthefamilyhistory，whenherhusbandinterruptedherbysaying——
“It’sGeneralTufto，whocommandsthe——cavalrydivision“；addingquietly，“heandIwerebothshotinthesamelegatTalavera。”
“Whereyougotyourstep。”saidGeorgewithalaugh。
“GeneralTufto！Then，mydear，theCrawleysarecome。”
Amelia’sheartfell——sheknewnotwhy。Thesundidnotseemtoshinesobright。Thetalloldroofsandgableslookedlesspicturesqueallofasudden，thoughitwasabrilliantsunset，andoneofthebrightestandmostbeautifuldaysattheendofMay。
BrusselsMr。Joshadhiredapairofhorsesforhisopencarriage，withwhichcattle，andthesmartLondonvehicle，hemadeaverytolerablefigureinthedrivesaboutBrussels。
Georgepurchasedahorseforhisprivateriding，andheandCaptainDobbinwouldoftenaccompanythecarriageinwhichJosandhissistertookdailyexcursionsofpleasure。Theywentoutthatdayintheparkfortheiraccustomeddiversion，andthere，sureenough，George’sremarkwithregardtothearrivalofRawdonCrawleyandhiswifeprovedtobecorrect。Inthemidstofalittletroopofhorsemen，consistingofsomeoftheverygreatestpersonsinBrussels，Rebeccawasseenintheprettiestandtightestofriding-habits，mountedonabeautifullittleArab，whichsherodetoperfectionhavingacquiredtheartatQueen’sCrawley，wheretheBaronet，Mr。
Pitt，andRawdonhimselfhadgivenhermanylessons，andbythesideofthegallantGeneralTufto。
“Sureit’stheJukehimself。”criedMrs。MajorO’DowdtoJos，whobegantoblushviolently；“andthat’sLordUxbridgeonthebay。Howeleganthelooks！Mebrother，MolloyMalony，isaslikehimastwopays。”
Rebeccadidnotmakeforthecarriage；butassoonassheperceivedheroldacquaintanceAmeliaseatedinit，acknowledgedherpresencebyagraciousnodandsmile，andbykissingandshakingherfingersplayfullyinthedirectionofthevehicle。ThensheresumedherconversationwithGeneralTufto，whoasked“whothefatofficerwasinthegold-lacedcap？”onwhichBeckyreplied，“thathewasanofficerintheEastIndianservice。”
ButRawdonCrawleyrodeoutoftheranksofhiscompany，andcameupandshookhandsheartilywithAmelia，andsaidtoJos，“Well，oldboy，howareyou？”
andstaredinMrs。O’Dowd’sfaceandat。theblackcock’sfeathersuntilshebegantothinkshehadmadeaconquestofhim。
George，whohadbeendelayedbehind，rodeupalmostimmediatelywithDobbin，andtheytouchedtheircapstotheaugustpersonages，amongwhomOsborneatonceperceivedMrs。Crawley。HewasdelightedtoseeRawdonleaningoverhiscarriagefamiliarlyandtalkingtoAmelia，andmettheaide-de-camp’scordialgreetingwithmorethancorrespondingwarmth。ThenodsbetweenRawdonandDobbinwereoftheveryfaintestspecimensofpoliteness。
CrawleytoldGeorgewheretheywerestoppingwithGeneralTuftoattheHotelduParc，andGeorgemadehisfriendpromisetocomespeedilytoOsborne’sownresidence。”SorryIhadn’tseenyouthreedaysago。”
Georgesaid。”HadadinnerattheRestaurateur’s——ratheranicething。LordBareacres，andtheCountess，andLadyBlanche，weregoodenoughtodinewithus——wishwe’dhadyou。”Havingthuslethisfriendknowhisclaimstobeamanoffashion，OsbornepartedfromRawdon，whofollowedtheaugustsquadrondownanalleyintowhichtheycantered，whileGeorgeandDobbinresumedtheirplaces，oneoneachsideofAmelia’scarriage。
“HowwelltheJukelooked。”Mrs。O’Dowdremarked。
“TheWellesleysandMalonysarerelated；but，ofcourse，poorIwouldneverdreamofintrojuicingmyselfunlesshisGracethoughtpropertorememberourfamily-tie。”
“He’sagreatsoldier。”Jossaid，muchmoreateasenowthegreatmanwasgone。”WasthereeverabattlewonlikeSalamanca？Hey，Dobbin？Butwherewasithelearnthisart？InIndia，myboy！Thejungle’stheschoolforageneral，markmethat。Iknewhimmyself，too，Mrs。O’Dowd：webothofusdancedthesameeveningwithMissCutler，daughterofCutleroftheArtillery，andadevilishfinegirl，atDumdum。”
Theapparitionofthegreatpersonagesheldthemallintalkduringthedrive；andatdinner；anduntilthehourcamewhentheywerealltogototheOpera。
ItwasalmostlikeOldEngland。ThehousewasfilledwithfamiliarBritishfaces，andthosetoilettesforwhichtheBritishfemalehaslongbeencelebrated。Mrs。
O’Dowd’swasnottheleastsplendidamongstthese，andshehadacurlonherforehead，andasetofIrishdiamondsandCairngorms，whichoutshoneallthedecorationsinthehouse，inhernotion。HerpresenceusedtoexcruciateOsborne；butgoshewoulduponallpartiesofpleasureonwhichsheheardheryoungfriendswerebent。
Itneverenteredintoherthoughtbutthattheymustbecharmedwithhercompany。
“She’sbeenusefultoyou，mydear。”Georgesaidtohiswife，whomhecouldleavealonewithlessscruplewhenshehadthissociety。”ButwhatacomfortitisthatRebecca’scome：youwillhaveherforafriend，andwemaygetridnowofthisdamn’dIrishwoman。”TothisAmeliadidnotanswer，yesorno：andhowdoweknowwhatherthoughtswere？
Thecoupd’oeiloftheBrusselsopera-housedidnotstrikeMrs。O’DowdasbeingsofineasthetheatreinFishambleStreet，Dublin，norwasFrenchmusicatallequal，inheropinion，tothemelodiesofhernativecountry。
Shefavouredherfriendswiththeseandotheropinionsinaveryloudtoneofvoice，andtossedaboutagreatclatteringfanshesported，withthemostsplendidcomplacency。
“WhoisthatwonderfulwomanwithAmelia，Rawdon，love？”saidaladyinanoppositeboxwho，almostalwaysciviltoherhusbandinprivate，wasmorefondthaneverofhimincompany。
“Don’tyouseethatcreaturewithayellowthinginherturban，andaredsatingown，andagreatwatch？”
“Neartheprettylittlewomaninwhite？”askedamiddle-agedgentlemanseatedbythequerist’sside，withordersinhisbutton，andseveralunder-waistcoats，andagreat，choky，whitestock。
“ThatprettywomaninwhiteisAmelia，General：youareremarkingalltheprettywomen，younaughtyman。”
“Onlyone，begad，intheworld！”saidtheGeneral，delighted，andtheladygavehimatapwithalargebouquetwhichshehad。
“Bedadit’shim。”saidMrs。O’Dowd；“andthat’stheverybokayheboughtintheMarshyauxFlures！”andwhenRebecca，havingcaughtherfriend’seye，performedthelittlehand-kissingoperationoncemore，Mrs。MajorO’D。，takingthecomplimenttoherself，returnedthesalutewithagracioussmile，whichsentthatunfortunateDobbinshriekingoutoftheboxagain。
Attheendoftheact，Georgewasoutoftheboxinamoment，andhewasevengoingtopayhisrespectstoRebeccainherloge。HemetCrawleyinthelobby，however，wheretheyexchangedafewsentencesupontheoccurrencesofthelastfortnight。
“Youfoundmychequeallrightattheagent’s？
Georgesaid，withaknowingair。
“Allright，myboy。”Rawdonanswered。”Happytogiveyouyourrevenge。Governorcomeround？”
“Notyet。”saidGeorge，“buthewill；andyouknowI’vesomeprivatefortunethroughmymother。HasAuntyrelented？”
“Sentmetwentypound，damnedoldscrew。Whenshallwehaveameet？TheGeneraldinesoutonTuesday。
Can’tyoucomeTuesday？Isay，makeSedleycutoffhismoustache。Whatthedevildoesacivilianmeanwithamoustacheandthoseinfernalfrogstohiscoat！By-bye。
TryandcomeonTuesday“；andRawdonwasgoing-offwithtwobrilliantyounggentlemenoffashion，whowere，likehimself，onthestaffofageneralofficer。
GeorgewasonlyhalfpleasedtobeaskedtodinneronthatparticulardaywhentheGeneralwasnottodine。”I
willgoinandpaymyrespectstoyourwife。”saidhe；atwhichRawdonsaid，“Hm，asyouplease。”lookingveryglum，andatwhichthetwoyoungofficersexchangedknowingglances。GeorgepartedfromthemandstrutteddownthelobbytotheGeneral’sbox，thenumberofwhichhehadcarefullycounted。
“Entrez。”saidaclearlittlevoice，andourfriendfoundhimselfinRebecca’spresence；whojumpedup，clappedherhandstogether，andheldoutbothofthemtoGeorge，socharmedwasshetoseehim。TheGeneral，withtheordersinhisbutton，staredatthenewcomerwithasulkyscowl，asmuchastosay，whothedevilareyou？