Myhorsesneverwereinharness。”addedthelady。
“Bullfinchwouldkickthecarriagetopieces，ifyouputhiminthetraces。”
“Butheisquiettoride？”askedthecivilian。
“Asquietasalamb，andasfastasahare。”answeredRebecca。
“Doyouthinkheisuptomyweight？”Jossaid。Hewasalreadyonhisback，inimagination，withouteversomuchasathoughtforpoorAmelia。Whatpersonwholovedahorse-speculationcouldresistsuchatemptation？
Inreply，Rebeccaaskedhimtocomeintoherroom，whitherhefollowedherquitebreathlesstoconcludethebargain。Josseldomspentahalf-hourinhislifewhichcosthimsomuchmoney。Rebecca，measuringthevalueofthegoodswhichshehadforsalebyJos’seagernesstopurchase，aswellasbythescarcityofthearticle，putuponherhorsesapricesoprodigiousastomakeeventheciviliandrawback。”Shewouldsellbothorneither。”
shesaid，resolutely。Rawdonhadorderedhernottopartwiththemforapricelessthanthatwhichshespecified。
LordBareacresbelowwouldgiveherthesamemoney——
andwithallherloveandregardfortheSedleyfamily，herdearMr。Josephmustconceivethatpoorpeoplemustlive——nobody，inaword，couldbemoreaffectionate，butmorefirmaboutthematterofbusiness。
Josendedbyagreeing，asmightbesupposedofhim。
Thesumhehadtogiveherwassolargethathewasobligedtoaskfortime；solargeastobealittlefortunetoRebecca，whorapidlycalculatedthatwiththissum，andthesaleoftheresidueofRawdon’seffects，andherpensionasawidowshouldhefall，shewouldnowbeabsolutelyindependentoftheworld，andmightlookherweedssteadilyintheface。
Onceortwiceinthedayshecertainlyhadherselfthoughtaboutflying。Butherreasongaveherbettercounsel。”SupposetheFrenchdocome。”thoughtBecky。”whatcantheydotoapoorofficer’swidow？Bah！thetimesofsacksandsiegesareover。Weshallbelettogohomequietly，orImaylivepleasantlyabroadwithasnuglittleincome。”
MeanwhileJosandIsidorwentofftothestablestoinspectthenewlypurchasedcattle。Josbadehismansaddlethehorsesatonce。Hewouldrideawaythatverynight，thatveryhour。Andheleftthevaletbusyingettingthehorsesready，andwenthomewardshimselftoprepareforhisdeparture。Itmustbesecret。Hewouldgotohischamberbythebackentrance。HedidnotcaretofaceMrs。O’DowdandAmelia，andowntothemthathewasabouttorun。
BythetimeJos’sbargainwithRebeccawascompleted，andhishorseshadbeenvisitedandexamined，itwasalmostmorningoncemore。Butthoughmidnightwaslongpassed，therewasnorestforthecity；thepeoplewereup，thelightsinthehousesflamed，crowdswerestillaboutthedoors，andthestreetswerebusy。Rumoursofvariousnatureswentstillfrommouthtomouth：onereportaverredthatthePrussianshadbeenutterlydefeated；anotherthatitwastheEnglishwhohadbeenattackedandconquered：athirdthatthelatterhadheldtheirground。Thislastrumourgraduallygotstrength。NoFrenchmenhadmadetheirappearance。Stragglershadcomeinfromthearmybringingreportsmoreandmorefavourable：atlastanaide-de-campactuallyreachedBrusselswithdespatchesfortheCommandantoftheplace，whoplacardedpresentlythroughthetownanofficialannouncementofthesuccessofthealliesatQuatreBras，andtheentirerepulseoftheFrenchunderNeyafterasixhours’battle。Theaide-de-campmusthavearrivedsometimewhileJosandRebeccaweremakingtheirbargaintogether，orthelatterwasinspectinghispurchase。Whenhereachedhisownhotel，hefoundascoreofitsnumerousinhabitantsonthethresholddiscoursingofthenews；therewasnodoubtastoitstruth。Andhewentuptocommunicateittotheladiesunderhischarge。
Hedidnotthinkitwasnecessarytotellthemhowhehadintendedtotakeleaveofthem，howhehadboughthorses，andwhatapricehehadpaidforthem。
Butsuccessordefeatwasaminormattertothem，whohadonlythoughtforthesafetyofthosetheyloved。
Amelia，atthenewsofthevictory，becamestillmoreagitatedeventhanbefore。Shewasforgoingthatmomenttothearmy。Shebesoughtherbrotherwithtearstoconductherthither。Herdoubtsandterrorsreachedtheirparoxysm；andthepoorgirl，whoformanyhourshadbeenplungedintostupor，ravedandranhitherandthitherinhystericinsanity——apiteoussight。Nomanwrithinginpainonthehard-foughtfieldfifteenmilesoff，wherelay，aftertheirstruggles，somanyofthebrave——nomansufferedmorekeenlythanthispoorharmlessvictimofthewar。Joscouldnotbearthesightofherpain。Helefthissisterinthechargeofherstouterfemalecompanion，anddescendedoncemoretothethresholdofthehotel，whereeverybodystilllingered，andtalked，andwaitedformorenews。
Itgrewtobebroaddaylightastheystoodhere，andfreshnewsbegantoarrivefromthewar，broughtbymenwhohadbeenactorsinthescene。Wagonsandlongcountrycartsladenwithwoundedcamerollingintothetown；ghastlygroanscamefromwithinthem，andhaggardfaceslookedupsadlyfromoutofthestraw。JosSedleywaslookingatoneofthesecarriageswithapainfulcuriosity——themoansofthepeoplewithinwerefrightful——theweariedhorsescouldhardlypullthecart。
“Stop！stop！”afeeblevoicecriedfromthestraw，andthecarriagestoppedoppositeMr。Sedley’shotel。
“ItisGeorge，Iknowitis！”criedAmelia，rushinginamomenttothebalcony，withapallidfaceandlooseflowinghair。ItwasnotGeorge，however，butitwasthenextbestthing：itwasnewsofhim。
ItwaspoorTomStubble，whohadmarchedoutofBrusselssogallantlytwenty-fourhoursbefore，bearingthecoloursoftheregiment，whichhehaddefendedverygallantlyuponthefield。AFrenchlancerhadspearedtheyoungensignintheleg，whofell，stillbravelyholdingtohisflag。Attheconclusionoftheengagement，aplacehadbeenfoundforthepoorboyinacart，andhehadbeenbroughtbacktoBrussels。
“Mr。Sedley，Mr。Sedley！”criedtheboy，faintly，andJoscameupalmostfrightenedattheappeal。Hehadnotatfirstdistinguishedwhoitwasthatcalledhim。
LittleTomStubbleheldouthishotandfeeblehand。
“I’mtobetakeninhere。”hesaid。”Osborne——and——andDobbinsaidIwas；andyouaretogivethemantwonapoleons：mymotherwillpayyou。”Thisyoungfellow’sthoughts，duringthelongfeverishhourspassedinthecart，hadbeenwanderingtohisfather’sparsonagewhichhehadquittedonlyafewmonthsbefore，andhehadsometimesforgottenhispaininthatdelirium。
Thehotelwaslarge，andthepeoplekind，andalltheinmatesofthecartweretakeninandplacedonvariouscouches。TheyoungensignwasconveyedupstairstoOsborne’squarters。AmeliaandtheMajor’swifehadrusheddowntohim，whenthelatterhadrecognisedhimfromthebalcony。Youmayfancythefeelingsofthesewomenwhentheyweretoldthatthedaywasover，andboththeirhusbandsweresafe；inwhatmuteraptureAmeliafellonhergoodfriend’sneck，andembracedher；inwhatagratefulpassionofprayershefellonherknees，andthankedthePowerwhichhadsavedherhusband。
Ouryounglady，inherfeveredandnervouscondition，couldhavehadnomoresalutarymedicineprescribedforherbyanyphysicianthanthatwhichchanceputinherway。SheandMrs。O’Dowdwatchedincessantlybythewoundedlad，whosepainswereverysevere，andinthedutythusforceduponher，Ameliahadnottimetobroodoverherpersonalanxieties，ortogiveherselfuptoherownfearsandforebodingsafterherwont。Theyoungpatienttoldinhissimplefashiontheeventsoftheday，andtheactionsofourfriendsofthegallant——th。Theyhadsufferedseverely。Theyhadlostverymanyofficersandmen。TheMajor’shorsehadbeenshotunderhimastheregimentcharged，andtheyallthoughtthatO’Dowdwasgone，andthatDobbinhadgothismajority，untilontheirreturnfromthechargetotheiroldground，theMajorwasdiscoveredseatedonPyramus’scarcase，refreshinghim-
selffromacase-bottle。ItwasCaptainOsbornethatcutdowntheFrenchlancerwhohadspearedtheensign。
Ameliaturnedsopaleatthenotion，thatMrs。O’Dowdstoppedtheyoungensigninthisstory。AnditwasCaptainDobbinwhoattheendoftheday，thoughwoundedhimself，tookuptheladinhisarmsandcarriedhimtothesurgeon，andthencetothecartwhichwastobringhimbacktoBrussels。AnditwashewhopromisedthedrivertwolouisifhewouldmakehiswaytoMr。Sedley’shotelinthecity；andtellMrs。CaptainOsbornethattheactionwasover，andthatherhusbandwasunhurtandwell。
“Indeed，buthehasagoodheartthatWilliamDobbin。”Mrs。O’Dowdsaid，“thoughheisalwayslaughingatme。”
YoungStubblevowedtherewasnotsuchanotherofficerinthearmy，andneverceasedhispraisesoftheseniorcaptain，hismodesty，hiskindness，andhisadmirablecoolnessinthefield。Tothesepartsoftheconversation，Amelialentaverydistractedattention：itwasonlywhenGeorgewasspokenofthatshelistened，andwhenhewasnotmentioned，shethoughtabouthim。
Intendingherpatient，andinthinkingofthewonderfulescapesofthedaybefore，herseconddaypassedawaynottooslowlywithAmelia。Therewasonlyonemaninthearmyforher：andaslongashewaswell，itmustbeownedthatitsmovementsinterestedherlittle。
AllthereportswhichJosbroughtfromthestreetsfellveryvaguelyonherears；thoughtheyweresufficienttogivethattimorousgentleman，andmanyotherpeopletheninBrussels，everydisquiet。TheFrenchhadbeenrepulsedcertainly，butitwasafterasevereanddoubtfulstruggle，andwithonlyadivisionoftheFrencharmy。
TheEmperor，withthemainbody，wasawayatLigny，wherehehadutterlyannihilatedthePrussians，andwasnowfreetobringhiswholeforcetobearupontheallies。
TheDukeofWellingtonwasretreatinguponthecapital，andagreatbattlemustbefoughtunderitswallsprobably，ofwhichthechancesweremorethandoubtful。
TheDukeofWellingtonhadbuttwentythousandBritishtroopsonwhomhecouldrely，fortheGermanswererawmilitia，theBelgiansdisaffected，andwiththishandfulhisGracehadtoresistahundredandfiftythousandmenthathadbrokenintoBelgiumunderNapoleon。UnderNapoleon！Whatwarriorwasthere，howeverfamousandskilful，thatcouldfightatoddswithhim？
Josthoughtofallthesethings，andtrembled。SodidalltherestofBrussels——wherepeoplefeltthatthefightofthedaybeforewasbutthepreludetothegreatercombatwhichwasimminent。OneofthearmiesopposedtotheEmperorwasscatteredtothewindsalready。ThefewEnglishthatcouldbebroughttoresisthimwouldperishattheirposts，andtheconquerorwouldpassovertheirbodiesintothecity。Woebetothosewhomhefoundthere！Addresseswereprepared，publicfunctionariesassembledanddebatedsecretly，apartmentsweregotready，andtricolouredbannersandtriumphalemblemsmanufactured，towelcomethearrivalofHisMajestytheEmperorandKing。
Theemigrationstillcontinued，andwhereverfamiliescouldfindmeansofdeparture，theyfled。WhenJos，ontheafternoonofthe17thofJune，wenttoRebecca’shotel，hefoundthatthegreatBareacres’carriagehadatlengthrolledawayfromtheporte-cochere。TheEarlhadprocuredapairofhorsessomehow，inspiteofMrs。
Crawley，andwasrollingontheroadtoGhent。LouistheDesiredwasgettingreadyhisportmanteauinthatcity，too。ItseemedasifMisfortunewasnevertiredofworryingintomotionthatunwieldyexile。
Josfeltthatthedelayofyesterdayhadbeenonlyarespite，andthathisdearlyboughthorsesmustofasuretybeputintorequisition。Hisagonieswereverysevereallthisday。AslongastherewasanEnglisharmybetweenBrusselsandNapoleon，therewasnoneedofimmediateflight；buthehadhishorsesbroughtfromtheirdistantstables，tothestablesinthecourt-yardofthehotelwherehelived；sothattheymightbeunderhisowneyes，andbeyondtheriskofviolentabduction。
Isidorwatchedthestable-doorconstantly，andhadthehorsessaddled，tobereadyforthestart。Helongedintenselyforthatevent。
Afterthereceptionofthepreviousday，RebeccadidnotcaretocomenearherdearAmelia。SheclippedthebouquetwhichGeorgehadbroughther，andgavefreshwatertotheflowers，andreadovertheletterwhichhehadsenther。”Poorwretch。”shesaid，twirlingroundthelittlebitofpaperinherfingers，“howIcouldcrushherwiththis！——anditisforathinglikethisthatshemustbreakherheart，forsooth——foramanwhoisstupid——acoxcomb——andwhodoesnotcareforher。MypoorgoodRawdonisworthtenofthiscreature。”Andthenshefelltothinkingwhatsheshoulddoif——ifanythinghappenedtopoorgoodRawdon，andwhatagreatpieceofluckitwasthathehadlefthishorsesbehind。
Inthecourseofthisdaytoo，Mrs。Crawley，whosawnotwithoutangertheBareacrespartydriveoff，bethoughtheroftheprecautionwhichtheCountesshadtaken，anddidalittleneedleworkforherownadvantage；
shestitchedawaythemajorpartofhertrinkets，bills，andbank-notesaboutherperson，andsoprepared，wasreadyforanyevent——toflyifshethoughtfit，ortostayandwelcometheconqueror，wereheEnglishmanorFrenchman。AndIamnotsurethatshedidnotdreamthatnightofbecomingaduchessandMadamelaMarechale，whileRawdonwrappedinhiscloak，andmakinghisbivouacundertherainatMountSaintJohn，wasthinking，withalltheforceofhisheart，aboutthelittlewifewhomhehadleftbehindhim。
ThenextdaywasaSunday。AndMrs。MajorO’Dowdhadthesatisfactionofseeingbothherpatientsrefreshedinhealthandspiritsbysomerestwhichtheyhadtakenduringthenight。SheherselfhadsleptonagreatchairinAmelia’sroom，readytowaituponherpoorfriendortheensign，shouldeitherneedhernursing。Whenmorningcame，thisrobustwomanwentbacktothehousewheresheandherMajorhadtheirbillet；andhereperformedanelaborateandsplendidtoilette，befittingtheday。Anditisverypossiblethatwhilstaloneinthatchamber，whichherhusbandhadinhabited，andwherehiscapstilllayonthepillow，andhiscanestoodinthecorner，oneprayeratleastwassentuptoHeavenforthewelfareofthebravesoldier，MichaelO’Dowd。
Whenshereturnedshebroughtherprayer-bookwithher，andheruncletheDean’sfamousbookofsermons，outofwhichsheneverfailedtoreadeverySabbath；notunderstandingall，haply，notpronouncingmanyofthewordsaright，whichwerelongandabstruse——fortheDeanwasalearnedman，andlovedlongLatinwords