SeveraltimesduringtheforenoonMr。Jos’sIsidorwentfromhislodgingsintothetown，andtothegatesofthehotelsandlodging-housesroundabouttheParc，wheretheEnglishwerecongregated，andtheremingledwithothervalets，couriers，andlackeys，gatheredsuchnewsaswasabroad，andbroughtbackbulletinsforhismaster’sinformation。AlmostallthesegentlemenwereinheartpartisansoftheEmperor，andhadtheiropinionsaboutthespeedyendofthecampaign。TheEmperor’sproclamationfromAvesneshadbeendistributedeverywhereplentifullyinBrussels。”Soldiers！”itsaid，“thisistheanniversaryofMarengoandFriedland，bywhichthedestiniesofEuropeweretwicedecided。Then，asafterAusterlitz，asafterWagram，weweretoogenerous。Webelievedintheoathsandpromisesofprinceswhomwesufferedtoremainupontheirthrones。Letusmarchoncemoretomeetthem。Weandthey，arewenotstillthesamemen？Soldiers！thesesamePrussianswhoaresoarrogantto-day，werethreetooneagainstyouatJena，andsixtooneatMontmirail。ThoseamongyouwhowereprisonersinEnglandcantelltheircomradeswhatfrightfultormentstheysufferedonboardtheEnglishhulks。Madmen！amomentofprosperityhasblindedthem，andiftheyenterintoFranceitwillbetofindagravethere！”ButthepartisansoftheFrenchprophesiedamorespeedyexterminationoftheEmperor’senemiesthanthis；anditwasagreedonallhandsthatPrussiansandBritishwouldneverreturnexceptasprisonersintherearoftheconqueringarmy。
TheseopinionsinthecourseofthedaywerebroughttooperateuponMr。Sedley。HewastoldthattheDukeofWellingtonhadgonetotryandrallyhisarmy，theadvanceofwhichhadbeenutterlycrushedthenightbefore。
“Crushed，psha！”saidJos，whoseheartwasprettystoutatbreakfast-time。”TheDukehasgonetobeattheEmperorashehasbeatenallhisgeneralsbefore。”
“Hispapersareburned，hiseffectsareremoved，andhisquartersarebeinggotreadyfortheDukeofDalmatia。”
Jos’sinformantreplied。”Ihaditfromhisownmaitred’hotel。MilorDucdeRichemont’speoplearepackingupeverything。HisGracehasfledalready，andtheDuchessisonlywaitingtoseetheplatepackedtojointheKingofFranceatOstend。”
“TheKingofFranceisatGhent，fellow。”repliedJos，affectingincredulity。
“HefledlastnighttoBruges，andembarkstodayfromOstend。TheDucdeBerriistakenprisoner。Thosewhowishtobesafehadbettergosoon，forthedykeswillbeopenedto-morrow，andwhocanflywhenthewholecountryisunderwater？”
“Nonsense，sir，wearethreetoone，sir，againstanyforceBoneycanbringintothefield。”Mr。Sedleyobjected；“theAustriansandtheRussiansareontheirmarch。Hemust，heshallbecrushed。”Jossaid，slappinghishandonthetable。
“ThePrussianswerethreetooneatJena，andhetooktheirarmyandkingdominaweek。TheyweresixtooneatMontmirail，andhescatteredthemlikesheep。
TheAustrianarmyiscoming，butwiththeEmpressandtheKingofRomeatitshead；andtheRussians，bah！
theRussianswillwithdraw。NoquarteristobegiventotheEnglish，onaccountoftheircrueltytoourbravesonboardtheinfamouspontoons。Lookhere，hereitisinblackandwhite。Here’stheproclamationofhisMajestytheEmperorandKing。”saidthenowdeclaredpartisanofNapoleon，andtakingthedocumentfromhispocket，Isidorsternlythrustitintohismaster’sface，andalreadylookeduponthefroggedcoatandvaluablesashisownspoil。
Joswas，ifnotseriouslyalarmedasyet，atleastconsiderablydisturbedinmind。”Givememycoatandcap，sir，saidhe，“andfollowme。Iwillgomyselfandlearnthetruthofthesereports。”IsidorwasfuriousasJosputonthebraidedfrock。”Milorhadbetter。notwearthatmilitarycoat。”saidhe；“theFrenchmenhaveswornnottogivequartertoasingleBritishsoldier。”
“Silence，sirrah！”saidJos，witharesolutecountenancestill，andthrusthisarmintothesleevewithindomitableresolution，intheperformanceofwhichheroicacthewasfoundbyMrs。RawdonCrawley，whoatthisjuncturecameuptovisitAmelia，andenteredwithoutringingattheantechamberdoor。
Rebeccawasdressedveryneatlyandsmartly，asusual：
herquietsleepafterRawdon’sdeparturehadrefreshedher，andherpinksmilingcheekswerequitepleasanttolookat，inatownandonadaywheneverybodyelse’scountenanceworetheappearanceofthedeepestanxietyandgloom。ShelaughedattheattitudeinwhichJoswasdiscovered，andthestrugglesandconvulsionswithwhichthestoutgentlemanthrusthimselfintothebraidedcoat。
“Areyoupreparingtojointhearmy，Mr。Joseph？”
shesaid。”IstheretobenobodyleftinBrusselstoprotectuspoorwomen？”Jossucceededinplungingintothecoat，andcameforwardblushingandstutteringoutexcusestohisfairvisitor。”Howwassheaftertheeventsofthemorning——afterthefatiguesoftheballthenightbefore？”MonsieurIsidordisappearedintohismaster’sadjacentbedroom，bearingofftheflowereddressing-gown。
“Howgoodofyoutoask。”saidshe，pressingoneofhishandsinbothherown。”Howcoolandcollectedyoulookwheneverybodyelseisfrightened！HowisourdearlittleEmmy？Itmusthavebeenanawful，awfulparting。”
“Tremendous。”Jossaid。
“Youmencanbearanything。”repliedthelady。”Partingordangerarenothingtoyou。Ownnowthatyouweregoingtojointhearmyandleaveustoourfate。
Iknowyouwere——somethingtellsmeyouwere。Iwassofrightened，whenthethoughtcameintomyheadforIdosometimesthinkofyouwhenIamalone，Mr。
Joseph，thatIranoffimmediatelytobegandentreatyounottoflyfromus。”
Thisspeechmightbeinterpreted，“Mydearsir，shouldanaccidentbefallthearmy，andaretreatbenecessary，youhaveaverycomfortablecarriage，inwhichI
proposetotakeaseat。”Idon’tknowwhetherJosunderstoodthewordsinthissense。Buthewasprofoundlymortifiedbythelady’sinattentiontohimduringtheirstayatBrussels。HehadneverbeenpresentedtoanyofRawdonCrawley’sgreatacquaintances：hehadscarcelybeeninvitedtoRebecca’sparties；forhewastootimidtoplaymuch，andhispresenceboredGeorgeandRawdonequally，whoneitherofthem，perhaps，likedtohaveawitnessoftheamusementsinwhichthepairchosetoindulge。”Ah！”thoughtJos，“nowshewantsmeshecomestome。WhenthereisnobodyelseinthewayshecanthinkaboutoldJosephSedley！”ButbesidesthesedoubtshefeltflatteredattheideaRebeccaexpressedofhiscourage。
Heblushedagooddeal，andputonanairofimportance。
“Ishouldliketoseetheaction。”hesaid。”Everymanofanyspiritwould，youknow。I’veseenalittleserviceinIndia，butnothingonthisgrandscale。”
“Youmenwouldsacrificeanythingforapleasure。”
Rebeccaanswered。”CaptainCrawleyleftmethismorningasgayasifheweregoingtoahuntingparty。Whatdoeshecare？Whatdoanyofyoucarefortheagoniesandtorturesofapoorforsakenwoman？Iwonderwhetherhecouldreallyhavebeengoingtothetroops，thisgreatlazygourmand？Oh！dearMr。Sedley，Ihavecometoyouforcomfort——forconsolation。Ihavebeenonmykneesallthemorning。Itrembleatthefrightfuldangerintowhichourhusbands，ourfriends，ourbravetroopsandallies，arerushing。AndIcomehereforshelter，andfindanotherofmyfriends——thelastremainingtome——bentuponplungingintothedreadfulscene！”
“Mydearmadam。”Josreplied，nowbeginningtobequitesoothed，“don’tbealarmed。IonlysaidIshouldliketogo——whatBritonwouldnot？Butmydutykeepsmehere：Ican’tleavethatpoorcreatureinthenextroom。”AndhepointedwithhisfingertothedoorofthechamberinwhichAmeliawas。
“Goodnoblebrother！”Rebeccasaid，puttingherhandkerchieftohereyes，andsmellingtheeau-de-colognewithwhichitwasscented。”Ihavedoneyouinjustice：
youhavegotaheart。Ithoughtyouhadnot。”
“O，uponmyhonour！”Jossaid，makingamotionasifhewouldlayhishanduponthespotinquestion。”Youdomeinjustice，indeedyoudo——mydearMrs。Crawley。”
“Ido，nowyourheartistruetoyoursister。ButI
remembertwoyearsago——whenitwasfalsetome！”
Rebeccasaid，fixinghereyesuponhimforaninstant，andthenturningawayintothewindow。
Josblushedviolently。ThatorganwhichhewasaccusedbyRebeccaofnotpossessingbegantothumptumultuously。Herecalledthedayswhenhehadfledfromher，andthepassionwhichhadonceinflamedhim——thedayswhenhehaddrivenherinhiscurricle：whenshehadknitthegreenpurseforhim：whenhehadsateenrapturedgazingatherwhitearmsandbrighteyes。
“Iknowyouthinkmeungrateful。”Rebeccacontinued，comingoutofthewindow，andoncemorelookingathimandaddressinghiminalowtremulousvoice。”Yourcoldness，youravertedlooks，yourmannerwhenwehavemetoflate——whenIcameinjustnow，allprovedittome。ButweretherenoreasonswhyIshouldavoidyou？
Letyourownheartanswerthatquestion。Doyouthinkmyhusbandwastoomuchinclinedtowelcomeyou？
TheonlyunkindwordsIhaveeverhadfromhimI
willdoCaptainCrawleythatjusticehavebeenaboutyou——andmostcruel，cruelwordstheywere。”
“Goodgracious！whathaveIdone？”askedJosinaflurryofpleasureandperplexity；“whathaveIdone——
to——to——？”
“Isjealousynothing？”saidRebecca。”Hemakesmemiserableaboutyou。Andwhateveritmighthavebeenonce——myheartisallhis。Iaminnocentnow。AmI
not，Mr。Sedley？”
AllJos’sbloodtingledwithdelight，ashesurveyedthisvictimtohisattractions。Afewadroitwords，oneortwoknowingtenderglancesoftheeyes，andhisheartwasinflamedagainandhisdoubtsandsuspicionsforgotten。FromSolomondownwards，havenotwisermenthanhebeencajoledandbefooledbywomen？”Iftheworstcomestotheworst。”Beckythought，“myretreatissecure；andIhavearight-handseatinthebarouche。”
ThereisnoknowingintowhatdeclarationsofloveandardourthetumultuouspassionsofMr。Josephmighthaveledhim，ifIsidorthevalethadnotmadehisreappearanceatthisminute，andbeguntobusyhimselfaboutthedomesticaffairs。Jos，whowasjustgoingtogaspoutanavowal，chokedalmostwiththeemotionthathewasobligedtorestrain。RebeccatoobethoughtherthatitwastimesheshouldgoinandcomfortherdearestAmelia。”Aurevoir。”shesaid，kissingherhandtoMr。Joseph，andtappedgentlyatthedoorofhissister’sapartment。Assheenteredandclosedthedooronherself，hesankdowninachair，andgazedandsighedandpuffedportentously。”ThatcoatisverytightforMilor。”Isidorsaid，stillhavinghiseyeonthefrogs；
buthismasterheardhimnot：histhoughtswereelsewhere：nowglowing，maddening，uponthecontemplationoftheenchantingRebecca：anonshrinkingguiltilybeforethevisionofthejealousRawdonCrawley，withhiscurling，fiercemustachios，andhisterribleduellingpistolsloadedandcocked。
Rebecca’sappearancestruckAmeliawithterror，andmadehershrinkback。Itrecalledhertotheworldandtheremembranceofyesterday。Intheoverpoweringfearsaboutto-morrowshehadforgottenRebecca——jealousy——
everythingexceptthatherhusbandwasgoneandwasindanger。Untilthisdauntlessworldlingcameinandbrokethespell，andliftedthelatch，wetoohaveforbornetoenterintothatsadchamber。Howlonghadthatpoorgirlbeenonherknees！whathoursofspeechlessprayerandbitterprostrationhadshepassedthere！Thewar-chroniclerswhowritebrilliantstoriesoffightandtriumphscarcelytellusofthese。Thesearetoomeanpartsofthepageant：andyoudon’thearwidows’criesormothers’sobsinthemidstoftheshoutsandjubilationinthegreatChorusofVictory。Andyetwhenwasthetimethatsuchhavenotcriedout：heart-broken，humbleprotestants，unheardintheuproarofthetriumph！
AfterthefirstmovementofterrorinAmelia’smind——whenRebecca’sgreeneyeslighteduponher，andrustlinginherfreshsilksandbrilliantornaments，thelattertrippedupwithextendedarmstoembraceher——afeelingofangersucceeded，andfrombeingdeadlypalebefore，herfaceflushedupred，andshereturnedRebecca’slookafteramomentwithasteadinesswhichsurprisedandsomewhatabashedherrival。
“DearestAmelia，youareveryunwell。”thevisitorsaid，puttingforthherhandtotakeAmelia’s。”Whatisit？
IcouldnotrestuntilIknewhowyouwere。”
Ameliadrewbackherhand——neversinceherlifebeganhadthatgentlesoulrefusedtobelieveortoansweranydemonstrationofgood-willoraffection。Butshedrewbackherhand，andtrembledallover。”Whyareyouhere，Rebecca？”shesaid，stilllookingathersolemnlywithherlargeeyes。Theseglancestroubledhervisitor。
“Shemusthaveseenhimgivemetheletterattheball。”Rebeccathought。”Don’tbeagitated，dearAmelia。”
shesaid，lookingdown。”IcamebuttoseeifIcould——
ifyouwerewell。”
“Areyouwell？”saidAmelia。”Idaresayyouare。
Youdon’tloveyourhusband。Youwouldnotbehereifyoudid。Tellme，Rebecca，didIeverdoyouanythingbutkindness？”
“Indeed，Amelia，no。”theothersaid，stillhangingdownherhead。
“Whenyouwerequitepoor，whowasitthatbefriendedyou？WasInotasistertoyou？Yousawusallinhappierdaysbeforehemarriedme。Iwasallinallthentohim；orwouldhehavegivenuphisfortune，hisfamily，ashenoblydidtomakemehappy？Whydidyoucomebetweenmyloveandme？WhosentyoutoseparatethosewhomGodjoined，andtakemydarling’sheartfromme——myownhusband？DoyouthinkyoucouldIlovehimasIdid？Hislovewaseverythingtome。
Youknewit，andwantedtorobmeofit。Forshame，Rebecca；badandwickedwoman——falsefriendandfalsewife。”
“Amelia，IprotestbeforeGod，Ihavedonemyhusbandnowrong。”Rebeccasaid，turningfromher。