Underthememorialinquestionwereemblazonedthewell-knownandpompousOsbornearms；andtheinscriptionsaid，thatthemonumentwas“SacredtothememoryofGeorgeOsborne，Junior，Esq。，lateaCaptaininhisMajesty’s——thregimentoffoot，whofellonthe18thofJune，1815，aged28years，whilefightingforhiskingandcountryinthegloriousvictoryofWaterloo。
Dulceetdecorumestpropatriamori。”
Thesightofthatstoneagitatedthenervesofthesisterssomuch，thatMissMariawascompelledtoleavethechurch。Thecongregationmadewayrespectfullyforthosesobbinggirlsclothedindeepblack，andpitiedthesternoldfatherseatedoppositethememorialofthedeadsoldier。”WillheforgiveMrs。George？”thegirlssaidtothemselvesassoonastheirebullitionofgriefwasover。
MuchconversationpassedtooamongtheacquaintancesoftheOsbornefamily，whoknewoftherupturebetweenthesonandfathercausedbytheformer’smarriage，astothechanceofareconciliationwiththeyoungwidow。
TherewerebetsamongthegentlemenbothaboutRussellSquareandintheCity。
IfthesistershadanyanxietyregardingthepossiblerecognitionofAmeliaasadaughterofthefamily，itwasincreasedpresently，andtowardstheendoftheautumn，bytheirfather’sannouncementthathewasgoingabroad。Hedidnotsaywhither，buttheyknewatoncethathisstepswouldbeturnedtowardsBelgium，andwereawarethatGeorge’swidowwasstillinBrussels。TheyhadprettyaccuratenewsindeedofpoorAmeliafromLadyDobbinandherdaughters。OurhonestCaptainhadbeenpromotedinconsequenceofthedeathofthesecondMajoroftheregimentonthefield；andthebraveO’Dowd，whohaddistinguishedhimselfgreatlyhereasuponalloccasionswherehehadachancetoshowhiscoolnessandvalour，wasaColonelandCompanionoftheBath。
Verymanyofthebrave——th，whohadsufferedseverelyuponbothdaysofaction，werestillatBrusselsintheautumn，recoveringoftheirwounds。Thecitywasavastmilitaryhospitalformonthsafterthegreatbattles；
andasmenandofficersbegantorallyfromtheirhurts，thegardensandplacesofpublicresortswarmedwithmaimedwarriors，oldandyoung，who，justrescuedoutofdeath，felltogambling，andgaiety，andlove-making，aspeopleofVanityFairwilldo。Mr。Osbornefoundoutsomeofthe——theasily。Heknewtheiruniformquitewell，andhadbeenusedtofollowallthepromotionsandexchangesintheregiment，andlovedtotalkaboutitanditsofficersasifhehadbeenoneofthenumber。OnthedayafterhisarrivalatBrussels，andasheissuedfromhishotel，whichfacedthepark，hesawasoldierinthewell-knownfacings，reposingonastonebenchinthegarden，andwentandsatedowntremblingbythewoundedconvalescentman。
“WereyouinCaptainOsborne’scompany？”hesaid，andadded，afterapause，“hewasmyson，sir。”
ThemanwasnotoftheCaptain’scompany，buthelifteduphisunwoundedarmandtouched-hiscapsadlyandrespectfullytothehaggardbroken-spiritedgentlemanwhoquestionedhim。”Thewholearmydidn’tcontainafinerorabetterofficer。”thesoldiersaid。”TheSergeantoftheCaptain’scompanyCaptainRaymondhaditnow，wasintown，though，andwasjustwellofashotintheshoulder。Hishonourmightseehimifheliked，whocouldtellhimanythinghewantedtoknowabout——
aboutthe——th’sactions。ButhishonourhadseenMajorDobbin，nodoubt，thebraveCaptain’sgreatfriend；andMrs。Osborne，whowasheretoo，andhadbeenverybad，heheardeverybodysay。Theysayshewasoutofhermindlikeforsixweeksormore。Butyourhonourknowsallaboutthat——andaskingyourpardon“——
themanadded。
Osborneputaguineaintothesoldier’shand，andtoldhimheshouldhaveanotherifhewouldbringtheSergeanttotheHotelduParc；apromisewhichverysoonbroughtthedesiredofficertoMr。Osborne’spresence。
Andthefirstsoldierwentaway；andaftertellingacomradeortwohowCaptainOsborne’sfatherwasarrived，andwhatafree-handedgenerousgentlemanhewas，theywentandmadegoodcheerwithdrinkandfeasting，aslongastheguineaslastedwhichhadcomefromtheproudpurseofthemourningoldfather。
IntheSergeant’scompany，whowasalsojustconvalescent，OsbornemadethejourneyofWaterlooandQuatreBras，ajourneywhichthousandsofhiscountrymenwerethentaking。HetooktheSergeantwithhiminhiscarriage，andwentthroughbothfieldsunderhisguidance。Hesawthepointoftheroadwheretheregimentmarchedintoactiononthe16th，andtheslopedownwhichtheydrovetheFrenchcavalrywhowerepressingontheretreatingBelgians。TherewasthespotwherethenobleCaptaincutdowntheFrenchofficerwhowasgrapplingwiththeyoungEnsignforthecolours，theColour-Sergeantshavingbeenshotdown。Alongthisroadtheyretreatedonthenextday，andherewasthebankatwhichtheregimentbivouackedundertherainofthenightoftheseventeenth。Furtheronwasthepositionwhichtheytookandheldduringtheday，formingtimeaftertimetoreceivethechargeoftheenemy’shorsemenandlyingdownundertheshelterofthebankfromthefuriousFrenchcannonade。AnditwasatthisdeclivitywhenateveningthewholeEnglishlinereceivedtheordertoadvance，astheenemyfellbackafterhislastcharge，thattheCaptain，hurrayingandrushingdownthehillwavinghissword，receivedashotandfelldead。”ItwasMajorDobbinwhotookbacktheCaptain’sbodytoBrussels。”theSergeantsaid，inalowvoice，“andhadhimburied，asyourhonourknows。”Thepeasantsandrelic-
huntersabouttheplacewerescreamingroundthepair，asthesoldiertoldhisstory，offeringforsaleallsortsofmementoesofthefight，crosses，andepaulets，andshatteredcuirasses，andeagles。
OsbornegaveasumptuousrewardtotheSergeantwhenhepartedwithhim，afterhavingvisitedthescenesofhisson’slastexploits。Hisburial-placehehadalreadyseen。Indeed，hehaddriventhitherimmediatelyafterhisarrivalatBrussels。George’sbodylayintheprettyburial-
groundofLaeken，nearthecity；inwhichplace，havingoncevisiteditonapartyofpleasure，hehadlightlyexpressedawishtohavehisgravemade。Andtheretheyoungofficerwaslaidbyhisfriend，intheunconsecratedcornerofthegarden，separatedbyalittlehedgefromthetemplesandtowersandplantationsofflowersandshrubs，underwhichtheRomanCatholicdeadrepose。ItseemedahumiliationtooldOsbornetothinkthathisson，anEnglishgentleman，acaptaininthefamousBritisharmy，shouldnotbefoundworthytolieingroundwheremereforeignerswereburied。Whichofusistherecantellhowmuchvanitylurksinourwarmestregardforothers，andhowselfishourloveis？OldOsbornedidnotspeculatemuchupontheminglednatureofhisfeelings，andhowhisinstinctandselfishnesswerecombatingtogether。Hefirmlybelievedthateverythinghedidwasright，thatheoughtonalloccasionstohavehisownway——andlikethestingofawasporserpenthishatredrushedoutarmedandpoisonousagainstanythinglikeopposition。Hewasproudofhishatredasofeverythingelse。Alwaystoberight，alwaystotrampleforward，andnevertodoubt，arenotthesethegreatqualitieswithwhichdullnesstakestheleadintheworld？
AsafterthedrivetoWaterloo，Mr。Osborne’scarriagewasnearingthegatesofthecityatsunset，theymetanotheropenbarouche，inwhichwereacoupleofladiesandagentleman，andbythesideofwhichanofficerwasriding。Osbornegaveastartback，andtheSergeant，seatedwithhim，castalookofsurpriseathisneighbour，ashetouchedhiscaptotheofficer，whomechanicallyreturnedhissalute。ItwasAmelia，withthelameyoungEnsignbyherside，andoppositetoherherfaithfulfriendMrs。O’Dowd。ItwasAmelia，buthowchangedfromthefreshandcomelygirlOsborneknew。Herfacewaswhiteandthin。Herprettybrownhairwaspartedunderawidow’scap——thepoorchild。Hereyeswerefixed，andlookingnowhere。TheystaredblankinthefaceofOsborne，asthecarriagescrossedeachother，butshedidnotknowhim；nordidherecogniseher，untillookingup，hesawDobbinridingbyher：andthenheknewwhoitwas。Hehatedher。Hedidnotknowhowmuchuntilhesawherthere。Whenhercarriagehadpassedon，heturnedandstaredattheSergeant，withacurseanddefianceinhiseyecastathiscompanion，whocouldnothelplookingathim——asmuchastosay“Howdareyoulookatme？Damnyou！Idohateher。Itisshewhohastumbledmyhopesandallmypridedown。”
“Tellthescoundreltodriveonquick。”heshoutedwithanoath，tothelackeyonthebox。Aminuteafterwards，ahorsecameclatteringoverthepavementbehindOsborne’scarriage，andDobbinrodeup。Histhoughtshadbeenelsewhereasthecarriagespassedeachother，anditwasnotuntilhehadriddensomepacesforward，thatheremembereditwasOsbornewhohadjustpassedhim。Thenheturnedtoexamineifthesightofherfather-
in-lawhadmadeanyimpressiononAmelia，butthepoorgirldidnotknowwhohadpassed。ThenWilliam，whodailyusedtoaccompanyherinhisdrives，takingouthiswatch，madesomeexcuseaboutanengagementwhichhesuddenlyrecollected，andsorodeoff。Shedidnotremarkthateither：butsatelookingbeforeher，overthehomelylandscapetowardsthewoodsinthedistance，bywhichGeorgemarchedaway。
Mr。Osborne，Mr。Osborne！”criedDobbin，asherodeupandheldouthishand。Osbornemadenomotiontotakeit，butshoutedoutoncemoreandwithanothercursetohisservanttodriveon。
Dobbinlaidhishandonthecarriageside。”Iwillseeyou，sir。”hesaid。”Ihaveamessageforyou。”
“Fromthatwoman？”saidOsborne，fiercely。
“No。”repliedtheother，“fromyourson“；atwhichOsbornefellbackintothecornerofhiscarriage，andDobbinallowingittopasson，rodeclosebehindit，andsothroughthetownuntiltheyreachedMr。Osborne’shotel，andwithoutaword。TherehefollowedOsborneuptohisapartments。Georgehadoftenbeenintherooms；theywerethelodgingswhichtheCrawleyshadoccupiedduringtheirstayinBrussels。
“Pray，haveyouanycommandsforme，CaptainDobbin，or，Ibegyourpardon，IshouldsayMAJORDobbin，sincebettermenthanyouaredead，andyoustepintotheirSHOES？”saidMr。Osborne，inthatsarcastictonewhichhesometimeswaspleasedtoassume。
“BettermenAREdead。”Dobbinreplied。”Iwanttospeaktoyouaboutone。”
“Makeitshort，sir。”saidtheotherwithanoath，scowlingathisvisitor。
“Iamhereashisclosestfriend。”theMajorresumed。”andtheexecutorofhiswill。Hemadeitbeforehewentintoaction。Areyouawarehowsmallhismeansare，andofthestraitenedcircumstancesofhiswidow？”
“Idon’tknowhiswidow，sir。”Osbornesaid。”Lethergobacktoherfather。”Butthegentlemanwhomheaddressedwasdeterminedtoremainingoodtemper，andwentonwithoutheedingtheinterruption。
“Doyouknow，sir，Mrs。Osborne’scondition？Herlifeandherreasonalmosthavebeenshakenbytheblowwhichhasfallenonher。Itisverydoubtfulwhethershewillrally。Thereisachanceleftforher，however，anditisaboutthisIcametospeaktoyou。Shewillbeamothersoon。Willyouvisittheparent’soffenceuponthechild’shead？orwillyouforgivethechildforpoorGeorge’ssake？”
Osbornebrokeoutintoarhapsodyofself-praiseandimprecations；——bythefirst，excusinghimselftohisownconscienceforhisconduct；bythesecond，exaggeratingtheundutifulnessofGeorge。NofatherinallEnglandcouldhavebehavedmoregenerouslytoason，whohadrebelledagainsthimwickedly。Hehaddiedwithoutevensomuchasconfessinghewaswrong。Lethimtaketheconsequencesofhisundutifulnessandfolly。Asforhimself，Mr。Osborne，hewasamanofhisword。Hehadswornnevertospeaktothatwoman，ortorecognizeherashisson’swife。”Andthat’swhatyoumaytellher。”heconcludedwithanoath；“andthat’swhatIwillsticktotothelastdayofmylife。”
Therewasnohopefromthatquarterthen。Thewidowmustliveonherslenderpittance，oronsuchaidasJoscouldgiveher。”Imighttellher，andshewouldnotheedit。”thoughtDobbin，sadly：forthepoorgirl’sthoughtswerenothereatallsincehercatastrophe，and，stupefiedunderthepressureofhersorrow，goodandevilwerealikeindifferenttoher。
So，indeed，wereevenfriendshipandkindness。Shereceivedthembothuncomplainingly，andhavingacceptedthem，relapsedintohergrief。
SupposesometwelvemonthsaftertheaboveconversationtookplacetohavepassedinthelifeofourpoorAmelia。Shehasspentthefirstportionofthattimeinasorrowsoprofoundandpitiable，thatwewhohavebeenwatchinganddescribingsomeoftheemotionsofthatweakandtenderheart，mustdrawbackinthepresenceofthecruelgriefunderwhichitisbleeding。Treadsilentlyroundthehaplesscouchofthepoorprostratesoul。
Shutgentlythedoorofthedarkchamberwhereinshesuffers，asthosekindpeopledidwhonursedherthroughthefirstmonthsofherpain，andneverleftheruntilheavenhadsentherconsolation。Adaycame——ofalmostterrifieddelightandwonder——whenthepoorwidowedgirlpressedachilduponherbreast——achild，withtheeyesofGeorgewhowasgone——alittleboy，asbeautifulasacherub。Whatamiracleitwastohearitsfirstcry！Howshelaughedandweptoverit——howlove，andhope，andprayerwokeagaininherbosomasthebabynestledthere。Shewassafe。Thedoctorswhoattendedher，andhadfearedforherlifeorforherbrain，hadwaitedanxiouslyforthiscrisisbeforetheycouldpronouncethateitherwassecure。Itwasworththelongmonthsofdoubtanddreadwhichthepersonswhohadconstantlybeenwithherhadpassed，toseehereyesoncemorebeamingtenderlyuponthem。