Well，althoughLadyO’DowdandGlorvinaquarrelledagreatnumberoftimeseveryday，anduponalmosteveryconceivablesubject——indeed，ifMickO’Dowdhadnotpossessedthetemperofanangeltwosuchwomenconstantlyabouthisearswouldhavedrivenhimoutofhissenses——yettheyagreedbetweenthemselvesonthispoint，thatGlorvinashouldmarryMajorDobbin，andweredeterminedthattheMajorshouldhavenorestuntilthearrangementwasbroughtabout。Undismayedbyfortyorfiftypreviousdefeats，Glorvinalaidsiegetohim。ShesangIrishmelodiesathimunceasingly。Sheaskedhimsofrequentlyandpathetically，Willyecometothebower？
thatitisawonderhowanymanoffeelingcouldhaveresistedtheinvitation。Shewasnevertiredofinquiring，ifSorrowhadhisyoungdaysfaded，andwasreadytolistenandweeplikeDesdemonaatthestoriesofhisdangersandhiscampaigns。Ithasbeensaidthatourhonestanddearoldfriendusedtoperformonthefluteinprivate；Glorvinainsisteduponhavingduetswithhim，andLadyO’Dowdwouldriseandartlesslyquittheroomwhentheyoungcoupleweresoengaged。
GlorvinaforcedtheMajortoridewithherofmornings。Thewholecantonmentsawthemsetoutandreturn。Shewasconstantlywritingnotesovertohimathishouse，borrowinghisbooks，andscoringwithhergreatpencil-markssuchpassagesofsentimentorhumourasawakenedhersympathy。Sheborrowedhishorses，hisservants，hisspoons，andpalanquin——nowonderthatpublicrumourassignedhertohim，andthattheMajor’ssistersinEnglandshouldfancytheywereabouttohaveasister-in-
law。
Dobbin，whowasthusvigorouslybesieged，wasinthemeanwhileinastateofthemostodioustranquillity。HeusedtolaughwhentheyoungfellowsoftheregimentjokedhimaboutGlorvina’smanifestattentionstohim。
“Bah！”saidhe，“sheisonlykeepingherhandin——shepractisesuponmeasshedoesuponMrs。Tozer’spiano，becauseit’sthemosthandyinstrumentinthestation。IammuchtoobatteredandoldforsuchafineyoungladyasGlorvina。”Andsohewentonridingwithher，andcopyingmusicandversesintoheralbums，andplayingatchesswithherverysubmissively；foritiswiththesesimpleamusementsthatsomeofficersinIndiaareaccustomedtowhileawaytheirleisuremoments，whileothersofalessdomesticturnhunthogs，andshootsnipes，orgambleandsmokecheroots，andbetakethemselvestobrandy-and-
water。AsforSirMichaelO’Dowd，thoughhisladyandhersisterbothurgedhimtocallupontheMajortoexplainhimselfandnotkeepontorturingapoorinnocentgirlinthatshamefulway，theoldsoldierrefusedpoint-blanktohaveanythingtodowiththeconspiracy。”Faith，theMajor’sbigenoughtochooseforhimself。”SirMichaelsaid；“he’llaskyewhenhewantsye“；orelsehewouldturnthematteroffjocularly，declaringthat“Dobbinwastooyoungtokeephouse，andhadwrittenhometoasklaveofhismamma。”Nay，hewentfarther，andinprivatecommunicationswithhisMajorwouldcautionandrallyhim，crying，“Mindyouroi，Dob，myboy，themgirlsisbentonmischief——meLadyhasjustgotaboxofgownsfromEurope，andthere’sapinksatinforGlorvina，whichwillfinishye，Dob，ifit’sinthepowerofwomanorsatintomoveye。”
Butthetruthis，neitherbeautynorfashioncouldconquerhim。Ourhonestfriendhadbutoneideaofawomaninhishead，andthatonedidnotintheleastresembleMissGlorvinaO’Dowdinpinksatin。Agentlelittlewomaninblack，withlargeeyesandbrownhair，seldomspeaking，savewhenspokento，andtheninavoicenottheleastresemblingMissGlorvina’s——asoftyoungmothertendinganinfantandbeckoningtheMajorupwithasmiletolookathim——arosy-cheekedlasscomingsingingintotheroominRussellSquareorhangingonGeorgeOsborne’sarm，happyandloving——therewasbutthisimagethatfilledourhonestMajor’smind，bydayandbynight，andreignedoveritalways。VerylikelyAmeliawasnotliketheportraittheMajorhadformedofher：therewasafigureinabookoffashionswhichhissistershadinEngland，andwithwhichWilliamhadmadeawayprivately，pastingitintothelidofhisdesk，andfancyinghesawsomeresemblancetoMrs。Osborneintheprint，whereasIhaveseenit，andcanvouchthatitisbutthepictureofahigh-waistedgownwithanimpossibledoll’sfacesimperingoverit——
and，perhaps，Mr。Dobbin’ssentimentalAmeliawasnomoreliketherealonethanthisabsurdlittleprintwhichhecherished。Butwhatmaninlove，ofus，isbetterinformed？——orishemuchhappierwhenheseesandownshisdelusion？Dobbinwasunderthisspell。Hedidnotbotherhisfriendsandthepublicmuchabouthisfeelings，orindeedlosehisnaturalrestorappetiteonaccountofthem。Hisheadhasgrizzledsincewesawhimlast，andalineortwoofsilvermaybeseeninthesoftbrownhairlikewise。Buthisfeelingsarenotintheleastchangedoroldened，andhisloveremainsasfreshasaman’srecollectionsofboyhoodare。
WehavesaidhowthetwoMissesDobbinandAmelia，theMajor’scorrespondentsinEurope，wrotehimlettersfromEngland，Mrs。OsbornecongratulatinghimwithgreatcandourandcordialityuponhisapproachingnuptialswithMissO’Dowd。
“Yoursisterhasjustkindlyvisitedme。”Ameliawroteinherletter，“andinformedmeofanINTERESTINGEVENT，uponwhichIbegtooffermyMOSTSINCERECONGRATULATIONS。
IhopetheyoungladytowhomIhearyouaretobeUNITEDwillineveryrespectproveworthyofonewhoishimselfallkindnessandgoodness。ThepoorwidowhasonlyherprayerstoofferandhercordialcordialwishesforYOURPROSPERITY！GeorgysendshislovetoHISDEARGODPAPA
andhopesthatyouwillnotforgethim。ItellhimthatyouareabouttoformOTHERTIES，withonewhoIamsuremeritsALLYOURAFFECTION，butthat，althoughsuchtiesmustofcoursebethestrongestandmostsacred，andsupersedeALLOTHERS，yetthatIamsurethewidowandthechildwhomyouhaveeverprotectedandlovedwillalwaysHAVEACORNERINYOURHEART“Theletter，whichhasbeenbeforealludedto，wentoninthisstrain，protestingthroughoutastotheextremesatisfactionofthewriter。
Thisletter，。whicharrivedbytheverysameshipwhichbroughtoutLadyO’Dowd’sboxofmillineryfromLondonandwhichyoumaybesureDobbinopenedbeforeanyoneoftheotherpacketswhichthemailbroughthim，putthereceiverintosuchastateofmindthatGlorvina，andherpinksatin，andeverythingbelongingtoherbecameperfectlyodioustohim。TheMajorcursedthetalkofwomen，andthesexingeneral。Everythingannoyedhimthatday——theparadewasinsufferablyhotandwearisome。Goodheavens！wasamanofintellecttowastehislife，dayafterday，inspectingcross-beltsandputtingfoolsthroughtheirmanoeuvres？Thesenselesschatteroftheyoungmenatmesswasmorethaneverjarring。
Whatcaredhe，amanonthehighroadtoforty，toknowhowmanysnipesLieutenantSmithhadshot，orwhatweretheperformancesofEnsignBrown’smare？Thejokesaboutthetablefilledhimwithshame。Hewastoooldtolistentothebanteroftheassistantsurgeonandtheslangoftheyoungsters，atwhicholdO’Dowd，withhisbaldheadandredface，laughedquiteeasily。Theoldmanhadlistenedtothosejokesanytimethesethirtyyears——Dobbinhimselfhadbeenfifteenyearshearingthem。Andaftertheboisterousdulnessofthemess-table，thequarrelsandscandaloftheladiesoftheregiment！
Itwasunbearable，shameful。”OAmelia，Amelia。”
hethought，“youtowhomIhavebeensofaithful——
youreproachme！ItisbecauseyoucannotfeelformethatIdragonthiswearisomelife。Andyourewardmeafteryearsofdevotionbygivingmeyourblessinguponmymarriage，forsooth，withthisflauntingIrishgirl！”
SickandsorryfeltpoorWilliam；morethaneverwretchedandlonely。Hewouldliketohavedonewithlifeanditsvanityaltogether——sobootlessandunsatisfactorythestruggle，socheerlessanddrearytheprospectseemedtohim。Helayallthatnightsleepless，andyearningtogohome。Amelia’sletterhadfallenasablankuponhim。Nofidelity，noconstanttruthandpassion，couldmoveherintowarmth。Shewouldnotseethathelovedher。Tossinginhisbed，hespokeouttoher。
“GoodGod，Amelia！”hesaid，“don’tyouknowthatI
onlyloveyouintheworld——you，whoareastonetome——you，whomItendedthroughmonthsandmonthsofillnessandgrief，andwhobademefarewellwithasmileonyourface，andforgotmebeforethedoorshutbetweenus！”ThenativeservantslyingoutsidehisverandasbeheldwithwondertheMajor，socoldandquietordinarily，atpresentsopassionatelymovedandcastdown。Wouldshehavepitiedhimhadsheseenhim？Hereadoverandoveralltheletterswhichheeverhadfromher——lettersofbusinessrelativetothelittlepropertywhichhehadmadeherbelieveherhusbandhadlefttoher——briefnotesofinvitation——everyscrapofwritingthatshehadeversenttohim——howcold，howkind，howhopeless，howselfishtheywere！
Hadtherebeensomekindgentlesoulnearathandwhocouldreadandappreciatethissilentgenerousheart，whoknowsbutthatthereignofAmeliamighthavebeenover，andthatfriendWilliam’slovemighthaveflowedintoakinderchannel？ButtherewasonlyGlorvinaofthejettyringletswithwhomhisintercoursewasfamiliar，andthisdashingyoungwomanwasnotbentuponlovingtheMajor，butratheronmakingtheMajoradmireHER——amostvainandhopelesstask，too，atleastconsideringthemeansthatthepoorgirlpossessedtocarryitout。Shecurledherhairandshowedhershouldersathim，asmuchastosay，didyeeverseesuchjetringletsandsuchacomplexion？Shegrinnedathimsothathemightseethateverytoothinherheadwassound——andheneverheededallthesecharms。Verysoonafterthearrivaloftheboxofmillinery，andperhapsindeedinhonourofit，LadyO’DowdandtheladiesoftheKing’sRegimentgaveaballtotheCompany’sRegimentsandtheciviliansatthestation。Glorvinasportedthekillingpinkfrock，andtheMajor，whoattendedthepartyandwalkedveryruefullyupanddowntherooms，neversomuchasperceivedthepinkgarment。
Glorvinadancedpasthiminafurywithalltheyoungsubalternsofthestation，andtheMajorwasnotintheleastjealousofherperformance，orangrybecauseCaptainBanglesoftheCavalryhandedhertosupper。Itwasnotjealousy，orfrocks，orshouldersthatcouldmovehim，andGlorvinahadnothingmore。
SothesetwowereeachexemplifyingtheVanityofthislife，andeachlongingforwhatheorshecouldnotget。
Glorvinacriedwithrageatthefailure。ShehadsethermindontheMajor“morethanonanyoftheothers。”
sheowned，sobbing。”He’llbreakmyheart，hewill，Peggy。”shewouldwhimpertohersister-in-lawwhentheyweregoodfriends；“sureeveryoneofmefrocksmustbetakenin——it’ssuchaskeletonI’mgrowing。”
Fatorthin，laughingormelancholy，onhorsebackorthemusic-stool，itwasallthesametotheMajor。AndtheColonel，puffinghispipeandlisteningtothesecomplaints，wouldsuggestthatGloryshouldhavesomeblackfrocksoutinthenextboxfromLondon，andtoldamysteriousstoryofaladyinIrelandwhodiedofgriefforthelossofherhusbandbeforeshegotereaone。
WhiletheMajorwasgoingoninthistantalizingway，notproposing，anddecliningtofallinlove，therecameanothershipfromEuropebringinglettersonboard，andamongstthemsomemorefortheheartlessman。Thesewerehomelettersbearinganearlierpostmarkthanthatoftheformerpackets，andasMajorDobbinrecognizedamonghisthehandwritingofhissister，whoalwayscrossedandrecrossedherletterstoherbrother——gatheredtogetherallthepossiblebadnewswhichshecouldcollect，abusedhimandreadhimlectureswithsisterlyfrankness，andalwayslefthimmiserableforthedayafter“dearestWilliam“hadachievedtheperusalofoneofherepistles——thetruthmustbetoldthatdearestWilliamdidnothurryhimselftobreakthesealofMissDobbin’sletter，butwaitedforaparticularlyfavourabledayandmoodfordoingso。Afortnightbefore，moreover，hehadwrittentoscoldherfortellingthoseabsurdstoriestoMrs。Osborne，andhaddespatchedaletterinreplytothatlady，undeceivingherwithrespecttothereportsconcerninghimandassuringherthat“hehadnosortofpresentintentionofalteringhiscondition。”
Twoorthreenightsafterthearrivalofthesecondpackageofletters，theMajorhadpassedtheeveningprettycheerfullyatLadyO’Dowd’shouse，whereGlorvinathoughtthathelistenedwithrathermoreattentionthanusualtotheMeetingoftheWathers，theMinsthrelBoy，andoneortwootherspecimensofsongwithwhichshefavouredhimthetruthis，hewasnomorelisteningtoGlorvinathantothehowlingofthejackalsinthemoonlightoutside，andthedelusionwashersasusual，andhavingplayedhisgameatchesswithhercribbagewiththesurgeonwasLadyO’Dowd’sfavouriteeveningpastime，MajorDobbintookleaveoftheColonel’sfamilyathisusualhourandretiredtohisownhouse。