Imean，haveyouenoughgoldtotakeyoubacktoEnglandincaseofamisfortune？”
“Sir。”saidJos，majestically，“whenIwantmoney，I
knowwheretoaskforit。Andasformysister，youneedn’ttellmehowIoughttobehavetoher。”
“Youspeaklikeamanofspirit，Jos。”theotheransweredgood-naturedly，“andIamgladthatGeorgecanleaveherinsuchgoodhands。SoImaygivehimyourwordofhonour，mayI，thatincaseofextremityyouwillstandbyher？”
“Ofcourse，ofcourse。”answeredMr。Jos，whosegenerosityinmoneymattersDobbinestimatedquitecorrectly。
“Andyou’llseehersafeoutofBrusselsintheeventofadefeat？”
“Adefeat！D——it，sir，it’simpossible。Don’ttryandfrightenME。”theherocriedfromhisbed；andDobbin’smindwasthusperfectlysetateasenowthatJoshadspokenoutsoresolutelyrespectinghisconducttohissister。”Atleast。”thoughttheCaptain，“therewillbearetreatsecuredforherincasetheworstshouldensue。”
IfCaptainDobbinexpectedtogetanypersonalcomfortandsatisfactionfromhavingonemoreviewofAmeliabeforetheregimentmarchedaway，hisselfishnesswaspunishedjustassuchodiousegotismdeservedtobe。ThedoorofJos’sbedroomopenedintothesitting-roomwhichwascommontothefamilyparty，andoppositethisdoorwasthatofAmelia’schamber。Thebugleshadwakenedeverybody：therewasnouseinconcealmentnow。George’sservantwaspackinginthisroom：Osbornecominginandoutofthecontiguousbedroom，flingingtothemansucharticlesashethoughtfittocarryonthecampaign。
AndpresentlyDobbinhadtheopportunitywhichhisheartcoveted，andhegotsightofAmelia’sfaceoncemore。Butwhatafaceitwas！Sowhite，sowildanddespair-stricken，thattheremembranceofithauntedhimafterwardslikeacrime，andthesightsmotehimwithinexpressiblepangsoflongingandpity。
Shewaswrappedinawhitemorningdress，herhairfallingonhershoulders，andherlargeeyesfixedandwithoutlight。Bywayofhelpingonthepreparationsforthedeparture，andshowingthatshetoocouldbeusefulatamomentsocritical，thispoorsoulhadtakenupasashofGeorge’sfromthedrawerswhereonitlay，andfollowedhimtoandfrowiththesashinherhand，lookingonmutelyashispackingproceeded。Shecameoutandstood，leaningatthewall，holdingthissashagainstherbosom，fromwhichtheheavynetofcrimsondroppedlikealargestainofblood。Ourgentle-heartedCaptainfeltaguiltyshockashelookedather。”GoodGod。”
thoughthe，“andisitgrieflikethisIdaredtopryinto？”
Andtherewasnohelp：nomeanstosootheandcomfortthishelpless，speechlessmisery。Hestoodforamomentandlookedather，powerlessandtornwithpity，asaparentregardsaninfantinpain。
Atlast，GeorgetookEmmy’shand，andledherbackintothebedroom，fromwhencehecameoutalone。Thepartinghadtakenplaceinthatmoment，andhewasgone。
“ThankHeaventhatisover。”Georgethought，boundingdownthestair，hisswordunderhisarm，asheranswiftlytothealarmground，wheretheregimentwasmustered，andwhithertroopedmenandofficershurryingfromtheirbillets；hispulsewasthrobbingandhischeeksflushed：thegreatgameofwarwasgoingtobeplayed，andheoneoftheplayers。Whatafierceexcitementofdoubt，hope，andpleasure！Whattremendoushazardsoflossorgain！Whatwereallthegamesofchancehehadeverplayedcomparedtothisone？Intoallcontestsrequiringathleticskillandcourage，theyoungman，fromhisboyhoodupwards，hadflunghimselfwithallhismight。
Thechampionofhisschoolandhisregiment，thebravosofhiscompanionshadfollowedhimeverywhere；fromtheboys’cricket-matchtothegarrison-races，hehadwonahundredoftriumphs；andwhereverhewentwomenandmenhadadmiredandenviedhim。Whatqualitiesarethereforwhichamangetssospeedyareturnofapplause，asthoseofbodilysuperiority，activity，andvalour？Timeoutofmindstrengthandcouragehavebeenthethemeofbardsandromances；andfromthestoryofTroydowntoto-day，poetryhasalwayschosenasoldierforahero。Iwonderisitbecausemenarecowardsinheartthattheyadmirebraverysomuch，andplacemilitaryvaloursofarbeyondeveryotherqualityforrewardandworship？
So，atthesoundofthatstirringcalltobattle，Georgejumpedawayfromthegentlearmsinwhichhehadbeendallying；notwithoutafeelingofshamealthoughhiswife’sholdonhimhadbeenbutfeeble，thatheshouldhavebeendetainedtheresolong。Thesamefeelingofeagernessandexcitementwasamongstallthosefriendsofhisofwhomwehavehadoccasionalglimpses，fromthestoutseniorMajor，wholedtheregimentintoaction，tolittleStubble，theEnsign，whowastobearitscoloursonthatday。
Thesunwasjustrisingasthemarchbegan——itwasagallantsight——thebandledthecolumn，playingtheregimentalmarch——thencametheMajorincommand，ridinguponPyramus，hisstoutcharger——thenmarchedthegrenadiers，theirCaptainattheirhead；inthecentrewerethecolours，bornebytheseniorandjuniorEnsigns——thenGeorgecamemarchingattheheadofhiscompany。
Helookedup，andsmiledatAmelia，andpassedon；andeventhesoundofthemusicdiedaway。
InWhichJosSedleyTakesCareofHisSisterThusallthesuperiorofficersbeingsummonedondutyelsewhere，JosSedleywasleftincommandofthelittlecolonyatBrussels，withAmeliainvalided，Isidor，hisBelgianservant，andthebonne，whowasmaid-of-all-workfortheestablishment，asagarrisonunderhim。Thoughhewasdisturbedinspirit，andhisrestdestroyedbyDobbin’sinterruptionandtheoccurrencesofthemorning，Josneverthelessremainedformanyhoursinbed，wakefulandrollingaboutthereuntilhisusualhourofrisinghadarrived。Thesunwashighintheheavens，andourgallantfriendsofthe——thmilesontheirmarch，beforethecivilianappearedinhisflowereddressing-gownatbreakfast。
AboutGeorge’sabsence，hisbrother-in-lawwasveryeasyinmind。PerhapsJoswasratherpleasedinhisheartthatOsbornewasgone，forduringGeorge’spresence，theotherhadplayedbutaverysecondarypartinthehousehold，andOsbornedidnotscrupletoshowhiscontemptforthestoutcivilian。ButEmmyhadalwaysbeengoodandattentivetohim。Itwasshewhoministeredtohiscomforts，whosuperintendedthedishesthatheliked，whowalkedorrodewithhimasshehadmany，toomany，opportunitiesofdoing，forwherewasGeorge？
andwhointerposedhersweetfacebetweenhisangerandherhusband’sscorn。ManytimidremonstranceshadsheutteredtoGeorgeinbehalfofherbrother，buttheformerinhistrenchantwaycuttheseentreatiesshort。
“I’manhonestman。”hesaid，“andifIhaveafeelingIshowit，asanhonestmanwill。Howthedeuce，mydear，wouldyouhavemebehaverespectfullytosuchafoolasyourbrother？”SoJoswaspleasedwithGeorge’sabsence。Hisplainhat，andglovesonasideboard，andtheideathattheownerwasaway，causedJosIdon’tknowwhatsecretthrillofpleasure。”HEwon’tbetroublingmethismorning。”Josthought，“withhisdandifiedairsandhisimpudence。”
“PuttheCaptain’shatintotheante-room。”hesaidtoIsidor，theservant。
“Perhapshewon’twantitagain。”repliedthelackey，lookingknowinglyathismaster。HehatedGeorgetoo，whoseinsolencetowardshimwasquiteoftheEnglishsort。
“AndaskifMadameiscomingtobreakfast。”Mr。
Sedleysaidwithgreatmajesty，ashamedtoenterwithaservantuponthesubjectofhisdislikeforGeorge。Thetruthis，hehadabusedhisbrothertothevaletascoreoftimesbefore。
Alas！Madamecouldnotcometobreakfast，andcutthetartinesthatMr。Josliked。Madamewasagreatdealtooill，andhadbeeninafrightfulstateeversinceherhusband’sdeparture，soherbonnesaid。JosshowedhissympathybypouringheroutalargecupofteaItwashiswayofexhibitingkindness：andheimprovedonthis；
henotonlysentherbreakfast，buthebethoughthimwhatdelicaciesshewouldmostlikefordinner。
Isidor，thevalet，hadlookedonverysulkily，whileOsborne’sservantwasdisposingofhismaster’sbaggageprevioustotheCaptain’sdeparture：forinthefirstplacehehatedMr。Osborne，whoseconducttohim，andtoallinferiors，wasgenerallyoverbearingnordoesthecontinentaldomesticliketobetreatedwithinsolenceasourownbetter-temperedservantsdo，andsecondly，hewasangrythatsomanyvaluablesshouldberemovedfromunderhishands，tofallintootherpeople’spossessionwhentheEnglishdiscomfitureshouldarrive。OfthisdefeatheandavastnumberofotherpersonsinBrusselsandBelgiumdidnotmaketheslightestdoubt。Thealmostuniversalbeliefwas，thattheEmperorwoulddividethePrussianandEnglisharmies，annihilateoneaftertheother，andmarchintoBrusselsbeforethreedayswereover：whenallthemovablesofhispresentmasters，whowouldbekilled，orfugitives，orprisoners，wouldlawfullybecomethepropertyofMonsieurIsidor。
AshehelpedJosthroughhistoilsomeandcomplicateddailytoilette，thisfaithfulservantwouldcalculatewhatheshoulddowiththeveryarticleswithwhichhewasdecoratinghismaster’sperson。Hewouldmakeapresentofthesilveressence-bottlesandtoiletknicknackstoayoungladyofwhomhewasfond；andkeeptheEnglishcutleryandthelargerubypinforhimself。Itwouldlookverysmartupononeofthefinefrilledshirts，which，withthegold-lacedcapandthefroggedfrockcoat，thatmighteasilybecutdowntosuithisshape，andtheCaptain’sgold-headedcane，andthegreatdoubleringwiththerubies，whichhewouldhavemadeintoapairofbeautifulearrings，hecalculatedwouldmakeaperfectAdonisofhimself，andrenderMademoiselleReineaneasyprey。”Howthosesleeve-buttonswillsuitme！”
thoughthe，ashefixedapaironthefatpudgywristsofMr。Sedley。”Ilongforsleeve-buttons；andtheCaptain’sbootswithbrassspurs，inthenextroom，corbleu！whataneffecttheywillmakeintheAlleeVerte！”SowhileMonsieurIsidorwithbodilyfingerswasholdingontohismaster’snose，andshavingthelowerpartofJos’sface，hisimaginationwasramblingalongtheGreenAvenue，dressedoutinafroggedcoatandlace，andincompanywithMademoiselleReine；hewasloiteringinspiritonthebanks，andexaminingthebargessailingslowlyunderthecoolshadowsofthetreesbythecanal，orrefreshinghimselfwithamugofFaroatthebenchofabeer-houseontheroadtoLaeken。
ButMr。JosephSedley，luckilyforhisownpeace，nomoreknewwhatwaspassinginhisdomestic’smindthantherespectedreader，andIsuspectwhatJohnorMary，whosewageswepay，thinkofourselves。Whatourservantsthinkofus！——Didweknowwhatourintimatesanddearrelationsthoughtofus，weshouldliveinaworldthatweshouldbegladtoquit，andinaframeofmindandaconstantterror，thatwouldbeperfectlyunbearable。
SoJos’smanwasmarkinghisvictimdown，asyouseeoneofMr。Paynter’sassistantsinLeadenhallStreetornamentanunconsciousturtlewithaplacardonwhichiswritten，“Soupto-morrow。”
Amelia’sattendantwasmuchlessselfishlydisposed。
Fewdependentscouldcomenearthatkindandgentlecreaturewithoutpayingtheirusualtributeofloyaltyandaffectiontohersweetandaffectionatenature。AnditisafactthatPauline，thecook，consoledhermistressmorethananybodywhomshesawonthiswretchedmorning；forwhenshefoundhowAmeliaremainedforhours，silent，motionless，andhaggard，bythewindowsinwhichshehadplacedherselftowatchthelastbayonetsofthecolumnasitmarchedaway，thehonestgirltookthelady’shand，andsaid，Tenez，Madame，est-cequ’iln’estpasaussial’armee，monhommeamoi？withwhichsheburstintotears，andAmeliafallingintoherarms，didlikewise，andsoeachpitiedandsoothedtheother。