Howhappyandgreenthecountrylookedasthechaisewhirledrapidlyfrommile-stonetomile-stone，throughneatcountrytownswherelandlordscameouttowelcomehimwithsmilesandbows；byprettyroadsideinns，wherethesignshungontheelms，andhorsesandwaggonersweredrinkingunderthechequeredshadowofthetrees；byoldhallsandparks；rustichamletsclusteredroundancientgreychurches——andthroughthecharmingfriendlyEnglishlandscape。Isthereanyintheworldlikeit？Toatravellerreturninghomeitlookssokind——
itseemstoshakehandswithyouasyoupassthroughit。
Well，MajorDobbinpassedthroughallthisfromSouthamptontoLondon，andwithoutnotingmuchbeyondthemilestonesalongtheroad。YouseehewassoeagertoseehisparentsatCamberwell。
HegrudgedthetimelostbetweenPiccadillyandhisoldhauntattheSlaughters’，whitherhedrovefaithfully。
Longyearshadpassedsincehesawitlast，sinceheandGeorge，asyoungmen，hadenjoyedmanyafeast，andheldmanyarevelthere。Hehadnowpassedintothestageofold-fellow-hood。Hishairwasgrizzled，andmanyapassionandfeelingofhisyouthhadgrowngreyinthatinterval。There，however，stoodtheoldwaiteratthedoor，inthesamegreasyblacksuit，withthesamedoublechinandflaccidface，withthesamehugebunchofsealsathisfob，rattlinghismoneyinhispocketsasbefore，andreceivingtheMajorasifhehadgoneawayonlyaweekago。”PuttheMajor’sthingsintwenty-three，that’shisroom。”Johnsaid，exhibitingnottheleastsurprise。”Roastfowlforyourdinner，Isuppose。Youain’tgotmarried？Theysaidyouwasmarried——theScotchsurgeonofyourswashere。No，itwasCaptainHumbyofthethirty-third，aswasquarteredwiththe——thinInjee。
Likeanywarmwater？~Whatdoyoucomeinachayfor——
ain’tthecoachgoodenough？”Andwiththis，thefaithfulwaiter，whoknewandrememberedeveryofficerwhousedthehouse，andwithwhomtenyearswerebutasyesterday，ledthewayuptoDobbin’soldroom，wherestoodthegreatmoreenbed，andtheshabbycarpet，athoughtmoredingy，andalltheoldblackfurniturecoveredwithfadedchintz，justastheMajorrecollectedtheminhisyouth。
HerememberedGeorgepacingupanddowntheroom，andbitinghisnails，andswearingthattheGovernormustcomeround，andthatifhedidn’t，hedidn’tcareastraw，onthedaybeforehewasmarried。Hecouldfancyhimwalkingin，bangingthedoorofDobbin’sroom，andhisownhardby——
“Youain’tgotyoung。”Johnsaid，calmlysurveyinghisfriendofformerdays。
Dobbinlaughed。”Tenyearsandafeverdon’tmakeamanyoung，John。”hesaid。”Itisyouthatarealwaysyoung——no，youarealwaysold。”
“WhatbecameofCaptainOsborne’swidow？”Johnsaid。”Fineyoungfellowthat。Lord，howheusedtospendhismoney。Henevercamebackafterthatdayhewasmarchedfromhere。Heowesmethreepoundatthisminute。Lookhere，Ihaveitinmybook。’April10，1815，CaptainOsborne：’3pounds。’Iwonderwhetherhisfatherwouldpayme。”andsosaying，JohnoftheSlaughters’
pulledouttheverymoroccopocket-bookinwhichhehadnotedhisloantotheCaptain，uponagreasyfadedpagestillextant，withmanyotherscrawledmemorandaregardingthebygonefrequentersofthehouse。
Havinginductedhiscustomerintotheroom，Johnretiredwithperfectcalmness；andMajorDobbin，notwithoutablushandagrinathisownabsurdity，choseoutofhiskittheverysmartestandmostbecomingcivilcostumehepossessed，andlaughedathisowntannedfaceandgreyhair，ashesurveyedtheminthedrearylittletoilet-glassonthedressing-table。
“I’mgladoldJohndidn’tforgetme。”hethought。
“She’llknowme，too，Ihope。”Andhesalliedoutoftheinn，bendinghisstepsoncemoreinthedirectionofBrompton。
EveryminuteincidentofhislastmeetingwithAmeliawaspresenttotheconstantman’smindashewalkedtowardsherhouse。ThearchandtheAchillesstatuewereupsincehehadlastbeeninPiccadilly；ahundredchangeshadoccurredwhichhiseyeandmindvaguelynoted。HebegantotrembleashewalkedupthelanefromBrompton，thatwell-rememberedlaneleadingtothestreetwhereshelived。Wasshegoingtobemarriedornot？Ifheweretomeetherwiththelittleboy——GoodGod，whatshouldhedo？Hesawawomancomingtohimwithachildoffiveyearsold——wasthatshe？Hebegantoshakeatthemerepossibility。Whenhecameuptotherowofhouses，atlast，whereshelived，andtothegate，hecaughtholdofitandpaused。Hemighthaveheardthethumpingofhisownheart。”MayGodAlmightyblessher，whateverhashappened。”hethoughttohimself。”Psha！shemaybegonefromhere。”hesaidandwentinthroughthegate。
Thewindowoftheparlourwhichsheusedtooccupywasopen，andtherewerenoinmatesintheroom。TheMajorthoughtherecognizedthepiano，though，withthepictureoverit，asitusedtobeinformerdays，andhisperturbationswererenewed。Mr。Clapp’sbrassplatewasstillonthedoor，attheknockerofwhichDobbinperformedasummons。
Abuxom-lookinglassofsixteen，withbrighteyesandpurplecheeks，cametoanswertheknockandlookedhardattheMajorasheleantbackagainstthelittleporch。
Hewasaspaleasaghostandcouldhardlyfalteroutthewords——“DoesMrs。Osbornelivehere？”
Shelookedhimhardinthefaceforamoment——andthenturningwhitetoo——said，“Lordblessme——it’sMajorDobbin。”Sheheldoutbothherhandsshaking——
“Don’tyourememberme？”shesaid。”IusedtocallyouMajorSugarplums。”Onwhich，andIbelieveitwasforthefirsttimethatheeversoconductedhimselfinhislife，theMajortookthegirlinhisarmsandkissedher。
Shebegantolaughandcryhysterically，andcallingout“Ma，Pa！”withallhervoice，broughtupthoseworthypeople，whohadalreadybeensurveyingtheMajorfromthecasementoftheornamentalkitchen，andwereastonishedtofindtheirdaughterinthelittlepassageintheembraceofagreattallmaninabluefrock-coatandwhiteducktrousers。
“I’manoldfriend。”hesaid——notwithoutblushingthough。”Don’tyourememberme，Mrs。Clapp，andthosegoodcakesyouusedtomakefortea？Don’tyourecollectme，Clapp？I’mGeorge’sgodfather，andjustcomebackfromIndia。”Agreatshakingofhandsensued——
Mrs。Clappwasgreatlyaffectedanddelighted；shecalleduponheaventointerposeavastmanytimesinthatpassage。
ThelandlordandlandladyofthehouseledtheworthyMajorintotheSedleys’roomwhereofherememberedeverysinglearticleoffurniture，fromtheoldbrassornamentedpiano，onceanattylittleinstrument，Stothardmaker，tothescreensandthealabasterminiaturetombstone，inthemidstofwhichtickedMr。Sedley’sgoldwatch，andthere，ashesatdowninthelodger’svacantarm-chair，thefather，themother，andthedaughter，withathousandejaculatorybreaksinthenarrative，informedMajorDobbinofwhatweknowalready，butofparticularsinAmelia’shistoryofwhichhewasnotaware——namelyofMrs。Sedley’sdeath，ofGeorge’sreconcilementwithhisgrandfatherOsborne，ofthewayinwhichthewidowtookonatleavinghim，andofotherparticularsofherlife。Twiceorthricehewasgoingtoaskaboutthemarriagequestion，buthisheartfailedhim。
Hedidnotcaretolayitbaretothesepeople。Finally，hewasinformedthatMrs。O。wasgonetowalkwithherpainKensingtonGardens，whithershealwayswentwiththeoldgentlemanwhowasveryweakandpeevishnow，andledherasadlife，thoughshebehavedtohimlikeanangel，tobesure，ofafineafternoon，afterdinner。
“I’mverymuchpressedfortime。”theMajorsaid。”andhavebusinessto-nightofimportance。IshouldliketoseeMrs。Osbornetho’。SupposeMissPollywouldcomewithmeandshowmetheway？”
MissPollywascharmedandastonishedatthisproposal。Sheknewtheway。ShewouldshowMajorDobbin。ShehadoftenbeenwithMr。SedleywhenMrs。O。
wasgone——wasgoneRussellSquareway——andknewthebenchwherehelikedtosit。Shebouncedawaytoherapartmentandappearedpresentlyinherbestbonnetandhermamma’syellowshawlandlargepebblebrooch，ofwhichsheassumedtheloaninordertomakeherselfaworthycompanionfortheMajor。
Thatofficer，then，inhisbluefrock-coatandbuckskingloves，gavetheyoungladyhisarm，andtheywalkedawayverygaily。Hewasgladtohaveafriendathandforthescenewhichhedreadedsomehow。HeaskedathousandmorequestionsfromhiscompanionaboutAmelia：hiskindheartgrievedtothinkthatsheshouldhavehadtopartwithherson。Howdidshebearit？Didsheseehimoften？WasMr。Sedleyprettycomfortablenowinaworldlypointofview？PollyansweredallthesequestionsofMajorSugarplumstotheverybestofherpower。
Andinthemidstoftheirwalkanincidentoccurredwhich，thoughverysimpleinitsnature，wasproductiveofthegreatestdelighttoMajorDobbin。Apaleyoungmanwithfeeblewhiskersandastiffwhiteneckclothcamewalkingdownthelane，ensandwich——havingalady，thatis，oneacharm。Onewasatallandcommandingmiddle-
agedfemale，withfeaturesandacomplexionsimilartothoseoftheclergymanoftheChurchofEnglandbywhosesideshemarched，andtheotherastuntedlittlewomanwithadarkface，ornamentedbyafinenewbonnetandwhiteribbons，andinasmartpelisse，witharichgoldwatchinthemidstofherperson。Thegentleman，pinionedashewasbythesetwoladies，carriedfurtheraparasol，shawl，andbasket，sothathisarmswereentirelyengaged，andofcoursehewasunabletotouchhishatinacknowledgementofthecurtseywithwhichMissMaryClappgreetedhim。
Hemerelybowedhisheadinreplytohersalutation，whichthetwoladiesreturnedwithapatronizingair，andatthesametimelookingseverelyattheindividualinthebluecoatandbamboocanewhoaccompaniedMissPolly。
“Who’sthat？”askedtheMajor，amusedbythegroup，andafterhehadmadewayforthethreetopassupthelane。Marylookedathimratherroguishly。
“Thatisourcurate，theReverendMr。BinnyatwitchfromMajorDobbin，andhissisterMissB。Lordblessus，howshedidusetoworretusatSunday-school；andtheotherlady，thelittleonewithacastinhereyeandthehandsomewatch，isMrs。Binny——MissGritsthatwas；
herpawasagrocer，andkepttheLittleOriginalGoldTeaPotinKensingtonGravelPits。Theyweremarriedlastmonth，andarejustcomebackfromMargate。She’sfivethousandpoundtoherfortune；butherandMissB。，whomadethematch，havequarrelledalready。”
IftheMajorhadtwitchedbefore，hestartednow，andslappedthebambooonthegroundwithanemphasiswhichmadeMissClappcry，“Law。”andlaughtoo。Hestoodforamoment，silent，withopenmouth，lookingaftertheretreatingyoungcouple，whileMissMarytoldtheirhistory；buthedidnothearbeyondtheannouncementofthereverendgentleman’smarriage；hisheadwasswimmingwithfelicity。Afterthisrencontrehebegantowalkdoublequicktowardstheplaceofhisdestination——andyettheyweretoosoonforhewasinagreattremorattheideaofameetingforwhichhehadbeenlonginganytimethesetenyears——throughtheBromptonlanes，andenteringatthelittleoldportalinKensingtonGardenwall。
“Theretheyare。”saidMissPolly，andshefelthimagainstartbackonherarm。Shewasaconfidanteatonceofthewholebusiness。Sheknewthestoryaswellasifshehadreaditinoneofherfavouritenovel-books——
FatherlessFanny，ortheScottishChiefs。
“Supposeyouweretorunonandtellher。”theMajorsaid。Pollyranforward，heryellowshawlstreaminginthebreeze。
OldSedleywasseatedonabench，hishandkerchiefplacedoverhisknees，prattlingaway，accordingtohiswont，withsomeoldstoryaboutoldtimestowhichAmeliahadlistenedandawardedapatientsmilemanyatimebefore。Shecouldoflatethinkofherownaffairs，andsmileormakeothermarksofrecognitionofherfather’sstories，scarcelyhearingawordoftheoldman’stales。AsMarycamebouncingalong，andAmeliacaughtsightofher，shestartedupfromherbench。HerfirstthoughtwasthatsomethinghadhappenedtoGeorgy，butthesightofthemessenger’seagerandhappyfacedissipatedthatfearinthetimorousmother’sbosom。
“News！News！”criedtheemissaryofMajorDobbin。
“He’scome！He’scome！”
“Whoiscome？”saidEmmy，stillthinkingofherson。
“Lookthere。”answeredMissClapp，turningroundandpointing；inwhichdirectionAmelialooking，sawDobbin’sleanfigureandlongshadowstalkingacrossthegrass。Ameliastartedinherturn，blushedup，and，ofcourse，begantocry。Atallthissimplelittlecreature’sfetes，thegrandeseauxwereaccustomedtoplay。
Helookedather——oh，howfondly——asshecamerunningtowardshim，herhandsbeforeher，readytogivethemtohim。Shewasn’tchanged。Shewasalittlepale，alittlestouterinfigure。Hereyeswerethesame，thekindtrustfuleyes。Therewerescarcethreelinesofsilverinhersoftbrownhair。Shegavehimbothherhandsasshelookedupflushingandsmilingthroughhertearsintohishonesthomelyface。Hetookthetwolittlehandsbetweenhistwoandheldthemthere。Hewasspeechlessforamoment。Whydidhenottakeherinhisarmsandswearthathewouldneverleaveher？Shemusthaveyielded：shecouldnotbuthaveobeyedhim。
“I——I’veanotherarrivaltoannounce。”hesaidafterapause。
“Mrs。Dobbin？”Ameliasaid，makingamovementback——whydidn’thespeak？
“No。”hesaid，lettingherhandsgo：“Whohastoldyouthoselies？Imean，yourbrotherJoscameinthesameshipwithme，andiscomehometomakeyouallhappy。”