butwithgreatgravity，vastemphasis，andwithtolerablecorrectnessinthemain。HowoftenhasmyMicklistenedtothesesermons，shethought，andmereadinginthecabinofacalm！Sheproposedtoresumethisexerciseonthepresentday，withAmeliaandthewoundedensignforacongregation。Thesameservicewasreadonthatdayintwentythousandchurchesatthesamehour；andmillionsofBritishmenandwomen，ontheirknees，imploredprotectionoftheFatherofall。
TheydidnothearthenoisewhichdisturbedourlittlecongregationatBrussels。Muchlouderthanthatwhichhadinterruptedthemtwodayspreviously，asMrs。
O’Dowdwasreadingtheserviceinherbestvoice，thecannonofWaterloobegantoroar。
WhenJosheardthatdreadfulsound，hemadeuphismindthathewouldbearthisperpetualrecurrenceofterrorsnolonger，andwouldflyatonce。Herushedintothesickman’sroom，whereourthreefriendshadpausedintheirprayers，andfurtherinterruptedthembyapassionateappealtoAmelia“Ican’tstanditanymore，Emmy。”hesaid；’Iwon’tstandit；andyoumustcomewithme。Ihaveboughtahorseforyou——nevermindatwhatprice——andyoumustdressandcomewithme，andridebehindIsidor。”
“Godforgiveme，Mr。Sedley，butyouarenobetterthanacoward。”Mrs。O’Dowdsaid，layingdownthebook。
“Isaycome，Amelia。”thecivilianwenton；“nevermindwhatshesays；whyarewetostophereandbebutcheredbytheFrenchmen？”
“Youforgetthe——th，myboy。”saidthelittleStubble，thewoundedhero，fromhisbed——“andandyouwon’tleaveme，willyou，Mrs。O’Dowd？”
“No，mydearfellow。”saidshe，goingupandkissingtheboy。”NoharmshallcometoyouwhileIstandby。
Idon’tbudgetillIgetthewordfromMick。AprettyfigureI’dbe，wouldn’tI，stuckbehindthatchaponapillion？”
Thisimagecausedtheyoungpatienttoburstoutlaughinginhisbed，andevenmadeAmeliasmile。”I
don’taskher。”Josshoutedout——“Idon’taskthat——thatIrishwoman，butyouAmelia；onceforall，willyoucome？”
“Withoutmyhusband，Joseph？”Ameliasaid，withalookofwonder，andgaveherhandtotheMajor’swife。
Jos’spatiencewasexhausted。
“Good-bye，then。”hesaid，shakinghisfistinarage，andslammingthedoorbywhichheretreated。Andthistimehereallygavehisorderformarch：andmountedinthecourt-yard。Mrs。O’Dowdheardtheclatteringhoofsofthehorsesastheyissuedfromthegate；andlookingon，mademanyscornfulremarksonpoorJosephasherodedownthestreetwithIsidorafterhiminthelacedcap。Thehorses，whichhadnotbeenexercisedforsomedays，werelively，andsprangaboutthestreet。Jos，aclumsyandtimidhorseman，didnotlooktoadvantageinthesaddle。”Lookathim，Ameliadear，drivingintotheparlourwindow。Suchabullinachina-shopIneversaw。”AndpresentlythepairofridersdisappearedatacanterdownthestreetleadinginthedirectionoftheGhentroad，Mrs。O’Dowdpursuingthemwithafireofsarcasmsolongastheywereinsight。
Allthatdayfrommorninguntilpastsunset，thecannonneverceasedtoroar。Itwasdarkwhenthecannonadingstoppedallofasudden。
Allofushavereadofwhatoccurredduringthatinterval。ThetaleisineveryEnglishman’smouth；andyouandI，whowerechildrenwhenthegreatbattlewaswonandlost，arenevertiredofhearingandrecountingthehistoryofthatfamousaction。Itsremembranceranklesstillinthebosomsofmillionsofthecountrymenofthosebravemenwholosttheday。Theypantforanopportunityofrevengingthathumiliation；andifacontest，endinginavictoryontheirpart，shouldensue，elatingthemintheirturn，andleavingitscursedlegacyofhatredandragebehindtous，thereisnoendtotheso-calledgloryandshame，andtothealternationsofsuccessfulandunsuccessfulmurder，inwhichtwohigh-spiritednationsmightengage。Centurieshence，weFrenchmenandEnglishmenmightbeboastingandkillingeachotherstill，carryingoutbravelytheDevil’scodeofhonour。
Allourfriendstooktheirshareandfoughtlikemeninthegreatfield。Alldaylong，whilstthewomenwereprayingtenmilesaway，thelinesofthedauntlessEnglishinfantrywerereceivingandrepellingthefuriouschargesoftheFrenchhorsemen。GunswhichwereheardatBrusselswereploughinguptheirranks，andcomradesfalling，andtheresolutesurvivorsclosingin。Towardsevening，theattackoftheFrench，repeatedandresistedsobravely，slackenedinitsfury。TheyhadotherfoesbesidestheBritishtoengage，orwerepreparingforafinalonset。Itcameatlast：thecolumnsoftheImperialGuardmarchedupthehillofSaintJean，atlengthandatoncetosweeptheEnglishfromtheheightwhichtheyhadmaintainedallday，andspiteofall：unscaredbythethunderoftheartillery，whichhurleddeathfromtheEnglishline——thedarkrollingcolumnpressedonandupthehill。Itseemedalmosttocresttheeminence，whenitbegantowaveandfalter。Thenitstopped，stillfacingtheshot。ThenatlasttheEnglishtroopsrushedfromthepostfromwhichnoenemyhadbeenabletodislodgethem，andtheGuardturnedandfled。
NomorefiringwasheardatBrussels——thepursuitrolledmilesaway。Darknesscamedownonthefieldandcity：andAmeliawasprayingforGeorge，whowaslyingonhisface，dead，withabulletthroughhisheart。
InWhichMissCrawley’sRelationsAreVeryAnxiousAboutHerThekindreadermustpleasetoremember——whilethearmyismarchingfromFlanders，and，afteritsheroicactionsthere，isadvancingtotakethefortificationsonthefrontiersofFrance，previoustoanoccupationofthatcountry——thatthereareanumberofpersonslivingpeaceablyinEnglandwhohavetodowiththehistoryatpresentinhand，andmustcomeinfortheirshareofthechronicle。Duringthetimeofthesebattlesanddangers，oldMissCrawleywaslivingatBrighton，verymoderatelymovedbythegreateventsthatweregoingon。Thegreateventsrenderedthenewspapersratherinteresting，tobesure，andBriggsreadouttheGazette，inwhichRawdonCrawley’sgallantrywasmentionedwithhonour，andhispromotionwaspresentlyrecorded。
“Whatapitythatyoungmanhastakensuchanirretrievablestepintheworld！”hisauntsaid；“withhisrankanddistinctionhemighthavemarriedabrewer’sdaughterwithaquarterofamillion——likeMissGrains；orhavelookedtoallyhimselfwiththebestfamiliesinEngland。
Hewouldhavehadmymoneysomedayorother；orhischildrenwould——forI’mnotinahurrytogo，MissBriggs，althoughyoumaybeinahurrytoberidofme；andinsteadofthat，heisadoomedpauper，withadancing-girlforawife。”
“WillmydearMissCrawleynotcastaneyeofcompassionupontheheroicsoldier，whosenameisinscribedintheannalsofhiscountry’sglory？”saidMissBriggs，whowasgreatlyexcitedbytheWaterlooproceedings，andlovedspeakingromanticallywhentherewasanoccasion。”HasnottheCaptain——ortheColonelasImaynowstylehim——donedeedswhichmakethenameofCrawleyillustrious？”
“Briggs，youareafool。”saidMissCrawley：“ColonelCrawleyhasdraggedthenameofCrawleythroughthemud，MissBriggs。Marryadrawing-master’sdaughter，indeed！——marryadamedecompagnie——forshewasnobetter，Briggs；no，shewasjustwhatyouare——onlyyounger，andagreatdealprettierandcleverer。Wereyouanaccompliceofthatabandonedwretch，Iwonder，ofwhosevileartshebecameavictim，andofwhomyouusedtobesuchanadmirer？Yes，Idaresayyouwereanaccomplice。
Butyouwillfindyourselfdisappointedinmywill，Icantellyou：andyouwillhavethegoodnesstowritetoMr。Waxy，andsaythatIdesiretoseehimimmediately。”
MissCrawleywasnowinthehabitofwritingtoMr。
Waxyhersolicitoralmosteverydayintheweek，forherarrangementsrespectingherpropertywereallrevoked，andherperplexitywasgreatastothefuturedispositionofhermoney。
Thespinsterhad，however，ralliedconsiderably；aswasprovedbytheincreasedvigourandfrequencyofhersarcasmsuponMissBriggs，allwhichattacksthepoorcompanionborewithmeekness，withcowardice，witharesignationthatwashalfgenerousandhalfhypocritical——withtheslavishsubmission，inaword，thatwomenofherdispositionandstationarecompelledtoshow。Whohasnotseenhowwomenbullywomen？Whattortureshavementoendure，comparabletothosedailyrepeatedshaftsofscornandcrueltywithwhichpoorwomenareriddledbythetyrantsoftheirsex？Poorvictims！Butwearestartingfromourproposition，whichis，thatMissCrawleywasalwaysparticularlyannoyingandsavagewhenshewasrallyingfromillness——astheysaywoundstinglemostwhentheyareabouttoheal。
Whilethusapproaching，asallhoped，toconvalescence，MissBriggswastheonlyvictimadmittedintothepresenceoftheinvalid；yetMissCrawley’srelativesafaroffdidnotforgettheirbelovedkinswoman，andbyanumberoftokens，presents，andkindaffectionatemessages，strovetokeepthemselvesaliveinherrecollection。
Inthefirstplace，letusmentionhernephew，RawdonCrawley。AfewweeksafterthefamousfightofWaterloo，andaftertheGazettehadmadeknowntoherthepromotionandgallantryofthatdistinguishedofficer，theDieppepacketbroughtovertoMissCrawleyatBrighton，aboxcontainingpresents，andadutifulletter，fromtheColonelhernephew。IntheboxwereapairofFrenchepaulets，aCrossoftheLegionofHonour，andthehiltofasword——relicsfromthefieldofbattle：andtheletterdescribedwithagooddealofhumourhowthelatterbelongedtoacommandingofficeroftheGuard，whohavingswornthat“theGuarddied，butneversurrendered。”
wastakenprisonerthenextminutebyaprivatesoldier，whobroketheFrenchman’sswordwiththebuttofhismusket，whenRawdonmadehimselfmasteroftheshatteredweapon。Asforthecrossandepaulets，theycamefromaColonelofFrenchcavalry，whohadfallenundertheaide-de-camp’sarminthebattle：andRawdonCrawleydidnotknowwhatbettertodowiththespoilsthantosendthemtohiskindestandmostaffectionateoldfriend。ShouldhecontinuetowritetoherfromParis，whitherthearmywasmarching？Hemightbeabletogiveherinterestingnewsfromthatcapital，andofsomeofMissCrawley’soldfriendsoftheemigration，towhomshehadshownsomuchkindnessduringtheirdistress。
ThespinstercausedBriggstowritebacktotheColonelagraciousandcomplimentaryletter，encouraginghimtocontinuehiscorrespondence。Hisfirstletterwassoexcessivelylivelyandamusingthatsheshouldlookwithpleasureforitssuccessors——“Ofcourse，Iknow。”
sheexplainedto，MissBriggs，“thatRawdoncouldnotwritesuchagoodletteranymorethanyoucould，mypoorBriggs，andthatitisthatcleverlittlewretchofaRebecca，whodictateseverywordtohim；butthatisnoreasonwhymynephewshouldnotamuseme；andsoI
wishtolethimunderstandthatIaminhighgoodhumour。”
IwonderwhethersheknewthatitwasnotonlyBeckywhowrotetheletters，butthatMrs。Rawdonactuallytookandsenthomethetrophieswhichsheboughtforafewfrancs，fromoneoftheinnumerablepedlarswhoimmediatelybegantodealinrelicsofthewar。Thenovelist，whoknowseverything，knowsthisalso。Bethis，however，asitmay，MissCrawley’sgraciousreplygreatlyencouragedouryoungfriends，Rawdonandhislady，whohopedforthebestfromtheiraunt’sevidentlypacifiedhumour：andtheytookcaretoentertainherwithmanydelightfullettersfromParis，whither，asRawdonsaid，theyhadthegoodlucktogointhetrackoftheconqueringarmy。
Totherector’slady，whowentofftotendherhusband’sbrokencollar-boneattheRectoryatQueen’sCrawley，thespinster’scommunicationswerebynomeanssogracious。Mrs。Bute，thatbrisk，managing，lively，imperiouswoman，hadcommittedthemostfatalofallerrorswithregardtohersister-in-law。Shehadnotmerelyoppressedherandherhousehold——shehadboredMissCrawley；andifpoorMissBriggshadbeenawomanofanyspirit，shemighthavebeenmadehappybythecommissionwhichherprincipalgavehertowritealettertoMrs。ButeCrawley，sayingthatMissCrawley’shealthwasgreatlyimprovedsinceMrs。Butehadlefther，andbeggingthelatteronnoaccounttoputherselftotrouble，orquitherfamilyforMissCrawley’ssake。ThistriumphoveraladywhohadbeenveryhaughtyandcruelinherbehaviourtoMissBriggs，wouldhaverejoicedmostwomen；butthetruthis，Briggswasawomanofnospiritatall，andthemomentherenemywasdiscomfited，shebegantofeelcompassioninherfavour。
“HowsillyIwas。”Mrs。Butethought，andwithreason，“evertohintthatIwascoming，asIdid，inthatfoolishletterwhenwesentMissCrawleytheguinea-
fowls。Ioughttohavegonewithoutawordtothepoordeardotingoldcreature，andtakenheroutofthehandsofthatninnyBriggs，andthatharpyofafemmedechambre。Oh！Bute，Bute，whydidyoubreakyourcollar-
bone？”