Rawdon，finally，wereofcourseinvited；asbecamethefriendsofaGeneralcommandingacavalrybrigade。
Ontheappointednight，George，havingcommandednewdressesandornamentsofallsortsforAmelia，drovetothefamousball，wherehiswifedidnotknowasinglesoul。AfterlookingaboutforLadyBareacres，whocuthim，thinkingthecardwasquiteenough——andafterplacingAmeliaonabench，helefthertoherowncogitationsthere，thinking，onhisownpart，thathehadbehavedveryhandsomelyingettinghernewclothes，andbringinghertotheball，whereshewasfreetoamuseherselfassheliked。Herthoughtswerenotofthepleasantest，andnobodyexcepthonestDobbincametodisturbthem。
Whilstherappearancewasanutterfailureasherhusbandfeltwithasortofrage，Mrs。RawdonCrawley’sdebutwas，onthecontrary，verybrilliant。Shearrivedverylate。Herfacewasradiant；herdressperfection。Inthemidstofthegreatpersonsassembled，andtheeye-
glassesdirectedtoher，RebeccaseemedtobeascoolandcollectedaswhensheusedtomarshalMissPinkerton’slittlegirlstochurch。Numbersofthemensheknewalready，andthedandiesthrongedroundher。Asfortheladies，itwaswhisperedamongthemthatRawdonhadrunawaywithherfromoutofaconvent，andthatshewasarelationoftheMontmorencyfamily。ShespokeFrenchsoperfectlythattheremightbesometruthinthisreport，anditwasagreedthathermannerswerefine，andherairdistingue。Fiftywould-bepartnersthrongedroundheratonce，andpressedtohavethehonourtodancewithher。Butshesaidshewasengaged，andonlygoingtodanceverylittle；andmadeherwayatoncetotheplacewhereEmmysatequiteunnoticed，anddismallyunhappy。Andso，tofinishthepoorchildatonce，Mrs。RawdonranandgreetedaffectionatelyherdearestAmelia，andbeganforthwithtopatroniseher。
Shefoundfaultwithherfriend’sdress，andherhairdresser，andwonderedhowshecouldbesochaussee，andvowedthatshemustsendhercorsetierethenextmorning。Shevowedthatitwasadelightfulball；thattherewaseverybodythateveryoneknew，andonlyaVERYfewnobodiesinthewholeroom。Itisafact，thatinafortnight，andafterthreedinnersingeneralsociety，thisyoungwomanhadgotupthegenteeljargonsowell，thatanativecouldnotspeakitbetter；anditwasonlyfromherFrenchbeingsogood，thatyoucouldknowshewasnotabornwomanoffashion。
George，whohadleftEmmyonherbenchonenteringtheball-room，verysoonfoundhiswaybackwhenRebeccawasbyherdearfriend’sside。BeckywasjustlecturingMrs。Osborneuponthefollieswhichherhusbandwascommitting。”ForGod’ssake，stophimfromgambling，mydear。”shesaid，“orhewillruinhimself。
HeandRawdonareplayingatcardseverynight，andyouknowheisverypoor，andRawdonwillwineveryshillingfromhimifhedoesnottakecare。Whydon’tyoupreventhim，youlittlecarelesscreature？Whydon’tyoucometousofanevening，insteadofmopingathomewiththatCaptainDobbin？Idaresayheistresaimable；
buthowcouldoneloveamanwithfeetofsuchsize？
Yourhusband’sfeetaredarlings——Herehecomes。Wherehaveyoubeen，wretch？HereisEmmycryinghereyesoutforyou。Areyoucomingtofetchmeforthequadrille？”
AndsheleftherbouquetandshawlbyAmelia’sside，andtrippedoffwithGeorgetodance。Womenonlyknowhowtowoundso。Thereisapoisononthetipsoftheirlittleshafts，whichstingsathousandtimesmorethanaman’sblunterweapon。OurpoorEmmy，whohadneverhated，neversneeredallherlife，waspowerlessinthehandsofherremorselesslittleenemy。
GeorgedancedwithRebeccatwiceorthrice——howmanytimesAmeliascarcelyknew。Shesatquiteunnoticedinhercorner，exceptwhenRawdoncameupwithsomewordsofclumsyconversation：andlaterintheevening，whenCaptainDobbinmadesoboldastobringherrefreshmentsandsitbesideher。Hedidnotliketoaskherwhyshewassosad；butasapretextforthetearswhichwerefillinginhereyes，shetoldhimthatMrs。CrawleyhadalarmedherbytellingherthatGeorgewouldgoonplaying。
“Itiscurious，whenamanisbentuponplay，bywhatclumsyrogueshewillallowhimselftobecheated。”
Dobbinsaid；andEmmysaid，“Indeed。”Shewasthinkingofsomethingelse。Itwasnotthelossofthemoneythatgrievedher。
AtlastGeorgecamebackforRebecca’sshawlandflowers。Shewasgoingaway。Shedidnotevencondescendtocomebackandsaygood-byetoAmelia。Thepoorgirlletherhusbandcomeandgowithoutsayingaword，andherheadfellonherbreast。Dobbinhadbeencalledaway，andwaswhisperingdeepinconversationwiththeGeneralofthedivision，hisfriend，andhadnotseenthislastparting。Georgewentawaythenwiththebouquet；butwhenhegaveittotheowner，therelayanote，coiledlikeasnakeamongtheflowers。Rebecca’seyecaughtitatonce。Shehadbeenusedtodealwithnotesinearlylife。Sheputoutherhandandtookthenosegay。Hesawbyhereyesastheymet，thatshewasawarewhatsheshouldfindthere。Herhusbandhurriedheraway，stilltoointentuponhisownthoughts，seemingly，totakenoteofanymarksofrecognitionwhichmightpassbetweenhisfriendandhiswife。Thesewere，however，buttrifling。RebeccagaveGeorgeherhandwithoneofherusualquickknowingglances，andmadeacurtseyandwalkedaway。Georgebowedoverthehand，saidnothinginreplytoaremarkofCrawley’s，didnotheariteven，hisbrainwassothrobbingwithtriumphandexcitement，andallowedthemtogoawaywithoutaword。
Hiswifesawtheonepartatleastofthebouquet-scene。
ItwasquitenaturalthatGeorgeshouldcomeatRebecca’srequesttogetherherscarfandflowers：itwasnomorethanhehaddonetwentytimesbeforeinthecourseofthelastfewdays；butnowitwastoomuchforher。
“William。”shesaid，suddenlyclingingtoDobbin，whowasnearher，“you’vealwaysbeenverykindtome——I’m——
I’mnotwell。Takemehome。”ShedidnotknowshecalledhimbyhisChristianname，asGeorgewasaccustomedtodo。Hewentawaywithherquickly。Herlodgingswerehardby；andtheythreadedthroughthecrowdwithout，whereeverythingseemedtobemoreastirthanevenintheball-roomwithin。
Georgehadbeenangrytwiceorthriceatfindinghiswifeuponhisreturnfromthepartieswhichhefrequented：soshewentstraighttobednow；butalthoughshedidnotsleep，andalthoughthedinandclatter，andthegallopingofhorsemenwereincessant，sheneverheardanyofthesenoises，havingquiteotherdisturbancestokeepherawake。
Osbornemeanwhile，wildwithelation，wentofftoaplay-table，andbegantobetfrantically。Hewonrepeatedly。
“Everythingsucceedswithmeto-night。”hesaid。
Buthisluckatplayevendidnotcurehimofhisrestlessness，andhestartedupafterawhile，pocketinghiswinnings，andwenttoabuffet，wherehedrankoffmanybumpersofwine。
Here，ashewasrattlingawaytothepeoplearound，laughingloudlyandwildwithspirits，Dobbinfoundhim。
Hehadbeentothecard-tablestolookthereforhisfriend。Dobbinlookedaspaleandgraveashiscomradewasflushedandjovial。
’’Hullo，Dob！Comeanddrink，oldDob！TheDuke’swineisfamous。Givemesomemore，yousir“；andheheldoutatremblingglassfortheliquor。
“Comeout，George。”saidDobbin，stillgravely；“don’tdrink。”
“Drink！there’snothinglikeit。Drinkyourself，andlightupyourlanternjaws，oldboy。Here’stoyou。”
Dobbinwentupandwhisperedsomethingtohim，atwhichGeorge，givingastartandawildhurray，tossedoffhisglass，clappeditonthetable，andwalkedawayspeedilyonhisfriend’sarm。”TheenemyhaspassedtheSambre。”Williamsaid，“andourleftisalreadyengaged。
Comeaway。Wearetomarchinthreehours。”
AwaywentGeorge，hisnervesquiveringwithexcitementatthenewssolonglookedfor，sosuddenwhenitcame。Whatwereloveandintriguenow？Hethoughtaboutathousandthingsbuttheseinhisrapidwalktohisquarters——hispastlifeandfuturechances——thefatewhichmightbebeforehim——thewife，thechildperhaps，fromwhomunseenhemightbeabouttopart。Oh，howhewishedthatnight’sworkundone！andthatwithaclearconscienceatleasthemightsayfarewelltothetenderandguilelessbeingbywhoselovehehadsetsuchlittlestore！
Hethoughtoverhisbriefmarriedlife。Inthosefewweekshehadfrightfullydissipatedhislittlecapital。Howwildandrecklesshehadbeen！Shouldanymischancebefallhim：whatwasthenleftforher？Howunworthyhewasofher。Whyhadhemarriedher？Hewasnotfitformarriage。Whyhadhedisobeyedhisfather，whohadbeenalwayssogeneroustohim？Hope，remorse，ambition，tenderness，andselfishregretfilledhisheart。Hesatedownandwrotetohisfather，rememberingwhathehadsaidoncebefore，whenhewasengagedtofightaduel。
Dawnfaintlystreakedtheskyasheclosedthisfarewellletter。Hesealedit，andkissedthesuperscription。Hethoughthowhehaddesertedthatgenerousfather，andofthethousandkindnesseswhichthesternoldmanhaddonehim。
HehadlookedintoAmelia’sbedroomwhenheentered；
shelayquiet，andhereyesseemedclosed，andhewasgladthatshewasasleep。Onarrivingathisquartersfromtheball，hehadfoundhisregimentalservantalreadymakingpreparationsforhisdeparture：themanhadunderstoodhissignaltobestill，andthesearrangementswereveryquicklyandsilentlymade。ShouldhegoinandwakeAmelia，hethought，orleaveanoteforherbrothertobreakthenewsofdeparturetoher？Hewentintolookatheronceagain。
Shehadbeenawakewhenhefirstenteredherroom，buthadkepthereyesclosed，sothatevenherwakefulnessshouldnotseemtoreproachhim。Butwhenhehadreturned，sosoonafterherself，too，thistimidlittlehearthadfeltmoreatease，andturningtowardshimashesteptsoftlyoutoftheroom，shehadfallenintoalightsleep。Georgecameinandlookedatheragain，enteringstillmoresoftly。Bythepalenight-lamphecouldseehersweet，paleface——thepurpleeyelidswerefringedandclosed，andoneroundarm，smoothandwhite，layoutsideofthecoverlet。GoodGod！howpureshewas；howgentle，howtender，andhowfriendless！andhe，howselfish，brutal，andblackwithcrime！Heart-stained，andshame-stricken，hestoodatthebed’sfoot，andlookedatthesleepinggirl。Howdaredhe——whowashe，toprayforonesospotless！Godblessher！Godblessher！Hecametothebedside，andlookedatthehand，thelittlesofthand，lyingasleep；andhebentoverthepillownoiselesslytowardsthegentlepaleface。
Twofairarmsclosedtenderlyroundhisneckashestoopeddown。”Iamawake，George。”thepoorchildsaid，withasobfittobreakthelittleheartthatnestledsocloselybyhisown。Shewasawake，poorsoul，andtorailingsandthebeadle：who，ifshewalkedeversoshortadistancetobuyaribboninSouthamptonRow，wasfollowedbyBlackSambowithanenormouscane：whowasalwayscaredfor，dressed，puttobed，andwatchedoverbyeversomanyguardianangels，withandwithoutwages？BonDieu，Isay，isitnothardthatthefatefulrushofthegreatImperialstrugglecan’ttakeplacewithoutaffectingapoorlittleharmlessgirlofeighteen，whoisoccupiedinbillingandcooing，orworkingmuslincollarsinRussellSquare？Youtoo，kindly，homelyflower！——
isthegreatroaringwartempestcomingtosweepyoudown，here，althoughcoweringundertheshelterofHolborn？Yes；Napoleonisflinginghislaststake，andpoorlittleEmmySedley’shappinessforms，somehow，partofit。
Inthefirstplace，herfather’sfortunewassweptdownwiththatfatalnews。Allhisspeculationshadoflategonewrongwiththelucklessoldgentleman。Ventureshadfailed；merchantshadbroken；fundshadrisenwhenhecalculatedtheywouldfall。Whatneedtoparticularize？
Ifsuccessisrareandslow，everybodyknowshowquickandeasyruinis。OldSedleyhadkepthisownsadcounsel。
Everythingseemedtogoonasusualinthequiet，opulenthouse；thegood-naturedmistresspursuing，quiteunsuspiciously，herbustlingidleness，anddailyeasyavocations；thedaughterabsorbedstillinoneselfish，tenderthought，andquiteregardlessofalltheworldbesides，whenthatfinalcrashcame，underwhichtheworthyfamilyfell。
OnenightMrs。Sedleywaswritingcardsforaparty；
theOsborneshadgivenone，andshemustnotbebehindhand；JohnSedley，whohadcomehomeverylatefromtheCity，satesilentatthechimneyside，whilehiswifewasprattlingtohim；Emmyhadgoneuptoherroomailingandlow-spirited。”She’snothappy。”themotherwenton。”GeorgeOsborneneglectsher。I’venopatiencewiththeairsofthosepeople。Thegirlshavenotbeeninthehousethesethreeweeks；andGeorgehasbeentwiceintownwithoutcoming。EdwardDalesawhimattheOpera。EdwardwouldmarryherI’msure：andthere’sCaptainDobbinwho，Ithink，would——onlyIhateallarmymen。SuchadandyasGeorgehasbecome。Withhismilitaryairs，indeed！Wemustshowsomefolksthatwe’reasgoodasthey。OnlygiveEdwardDaleanyencouragement，andyou’llsee。Wemusthaveaparty，Mr。