Letushopeshewaswronginherjudgement。PoorEmmy’sdaysofhappinesshadbeenveryfewinthathumblecot。AgloomyFatehadoppressedherthere。Sheneverlikedtocomebacktothehouseaftershehadleftit，ortofacethelandladywhohadtyrannizedoverherwhenill-humouredandunpaid，orwhenpleasedhadtreatedherwithacoarsefamiliarityscarcelylessodious。
HerservilityandfulsomecomplimentswhenEmmywasinprosperitywerenotmoretothatlady’sliking。Shecastaboutnotesofadmirationalloverthenewhouse，extollingeveryarticleoffurnitureorornament；shefingeredMrs。Osborne’sdressesandcalculatedtheirprice。
Nothingcouldbetoogoodforthatsweetlady，shevowedandprotested。Butinthevulgarsycophantwhonowpaidcourttoher，Emmyalwaysrememberedthecoarsetyrantwhohadmadehermiserablemanyatime，towhomshehadbeenforcedtoputuppetitionsfortime，whentherentwasoverdue；whocriedoutatherextravaganceifsheboughtdelicaciesforherailingmotherorfather；whohadseenherhumbleandtrampleduponher。
Nobodyeverheardofthesegriefs，whichhadbeenpartofourpoorlittlewoman’slotinlife。Shekeptthemsecretfromherfather，whoseimprovidencewasthecauseofmuchofhermisery。Shehadtobearalltheblameofhismisdoings，andindeedwassoutterlygentleandhumbleastobemadebynatureforavictim。
Ihopesheisnottosuffermuchmoreofthathardusage。And，asinallgriefsthereissaidtobesomeconsolation，ImaymentionthatpoorMary，whenleftatherfriend’sdepartureinahystericalcondition，wasplacedunderthemedicaltreatmentoftheyoungfellowfromthesurgery，underwhosecaresheralliedafterashortperiod。Emmy，whenshewentawayfromBrompton，endowedMarywitheveryarticleoffurniturethatthehousecontained，onlytakingawayherpicturesthetwopicturesoverthebedandherpiano——thatlittleoldpianowhichhadnowpassedintoaplaintivejinglingoldage，butwhichshelovedforreasonsofherown。Shewasachildwhenfirstsheplayedonit，andherparentsgaveither。Ithadbeengiventoheragainsince，asthereadermayremember，whenherfather’shousewasgonetoruinandtheinstrumentwasrecoveredoutofthewreck。
MajorDobbinwasexceedinglypleasedwhen，ashewassuperintendingthearrangementsofJos’snewhouse——whichtheMajorinsistedshouldbeveryhandsomeandcomfortable——thecartarrivedfromBrompton，bringingthetrunksandbandboxesoftheemigrantsfromthatvillage，andwiththemtheoldpiano。Ameliawouldhaveitupinhersitting-room，aneatlittleapartmentonthesecondfloor，adjoiningherfather’schamber，andwheretheoldgentlemansatcommonlyofevenings。
Whenthemenappearedthenbearingthisoldmusic-
box，andAmeliagaveordersthatitshouldbeplacedinthechamberaforesaid，Dobbinwasquiteelated。”I’mgladyou’vekeptit。”hesaidinaverysentimentalmanner。”Iwasafraidyoudidn’tcareaboutit。”
“IvalueitmorethananythingIhaveintheworld。”
saidAmelia。
“Doyou，Amelia？”criedtheMajor。Thefactwas，ashehadboughtithimself，thoughheneversaidanythingaboutit，itneverenteredintohisheadtosupposethatEmmyshouldthinkanybodyelsewasthepurchaser，andasamatterofcoursehefanciedthatsheknewthegiftcamefromhim。”Doyou，Amelia？”hesaid；andthequestion，thegreatquestionofall，wastremblingonhislips，whenEmmyreplied——
“CanIdootherwise？——didnothegiveitme？”
“Ididnotknow。”saidpooroldDob，andhiscountenancefell。
Emmydidnotnotethecircumstanceatthetime，nortakeimmediateheedoftheverydismalexpressionwhichhonestDobbin’scountenanceassumed，butshethoughtofitafterwards。Andthenitstruckher，withinexpressiblepainandmortificationtoo，thatitwasWilliamwhowasthegiverofthepiano，andnotGeorge，asshehadfancied。ItwasnotGeorge’sgift；theonlyonewhichshehadreceivedfromherlover，asshethought——thethingshehadcherishedbeyondallothers——herdearestrelicandprize。ShehadspokentoitaboutGeorge；playedhisfavouriteairsuponit；satforlongeveninghours，touching，tothebestofhersimpleart，melancholyharmoniesonthekeys，andweepingovertheminsilence。
ItwasnotGeorge’srelic。Itwasvaluelessnow。ThenexttimethatoldSedleyaskedhertoplay，shesaiditwasshockinglyoutoftune，thatshehadaheadache，thatshecouldn’tplay。
Then，accordingtohercustom，sherebukedherselfforherpettishnessandingratitudeanddeterminedtomakeareparationtohonestWilliamfortheslightshehadnotexpressedtohim，buthadfeltforhispiano。
Afewdaysafterwards，astheywereseatedinthedrawing-room，whereJoshadfallenasleepwithgreatcomfortafterdinner，AmeliasaidwithratherafalteringvoicetoMajorDobbin——
“Ihavetobegyourpardonforsomething。”
“Aboutwhat？”saidhe。
“About——aboutthatlittlesquarepiano。Ineverthankedyouforitwhenyougaveitme，many，manyyearsago，beforeIwasmarried。Ithoughtsomebodyelsehadgivenit。Thankyou，William。”Sheheldoutherhand，butthepoorlittlewoman’sheartwasbleeding；andasforhereyes，ofcoursetheywereattheirwork。
ButWilliamcouldholdnomore。”Amelia，Amelia。”
hesaid，“Ididbuyitforyou。IlovedyouthenasI
donow。Imusttellyou。IthinkIlovedyoufromthefirstminutethatIsawyou，whenGeorgebroughtmetoyourhouse，toshowmetheAmeliawhomhewasengagedto。Youwerebutagirl，inwhite，withlargeringlets；youcamedownsinging——doyouremember？——
andwewenttoVauxhall。SincethenIhavethoughtofbutonewomanintheworld，andthatwasyou。I
thinkthereisnohourinthedayhaspassedfortwelveyearsthatIhaven’tthoughtofyou。IcametotellyouthisbeforeIwenttoIndia，butyoudidnotcare，andIhadn’tthehearttospeak。YoudidnotcarewhetherIstayedorwent。”
“Iwasveryungrateful。”Ameliasaid。
“No，onlyindifferent。”Dobbincontinueddesperately。
“Ihavenothingtomakeawomantobeotherwise。I
knowwhatyouarefeelingnow。Youarehurtinyourheartatthediscoveryaboutthepiano，andthatitcamefrommeandnotfromGeorge。Iforgot，orIshouldneverhavespokenofitso。Itisformetoaskyourpardonforbeingafoolforamoment，andthinkingthatyearsofconstancyanddevotionmighthavepleadedwithyou。”
“Itisyouwhoarecruelnow。”Ameliasaidwithsomespirit。”Georgeismyhusband，hereandinheaven。HowcouldIloveanyotherbuthim？Iamhisnowaswhenyoufirstsawme，dearWilliam。Itwashewhotoldmehowgoodandgenerousyouwere，andwhotaughtmetoloveyouasabrother。Haveyounotbeeneverythingtomeandmyboy？Ourdearest，truest，kindestfriendandprotector？Hadyoucomeafewmonthssoonerperhapsyoumighthavesparedmethat——thatdreadfulparting。Oh，itnearlykilledme，William——butyoudidn’tcome，thoughIwishedandprayedforyoutocome，andtheytookhimtooawayfromme。Isn’theanobleboy，William？Behisfriendstillandmine“——andherehervoicebroke，andshehidherfaceonhisshoulder。
TheMajorfoldedhisarmsroundher，holdinghertohimasifshewasachild，andkissedherhead。”Iwillnotchange，dearAmelia。”hesaid。”Iaskfornomorethanyourlove。IthinkIwouldnothaveitotherwise。
Onlyletmestaynearyouandseeyouoften。”
“Yes，often。”Ameliasaid。AndsoWilliamwasatlibertytolookandlong——asthepoorboyatschoolwhohasnomoneymaysighafterthecontentsofthetart-woman’stray。
CHAPTERLX
ReturnstotheGenteelWorldGoodfortunenowbeginstosmileuponAmelia。Wearegladtogetheroutofthatlowsphereinwhichshehasbeencreepinghithertoandintroduceherintoapolitecircle——notsograndandrefinedasthatinwhichourotherfemalefriend，Mrs。Becky，hasappeared，butstillhavingnosmallpretensionstogentilityandfashion。Jos’sfriendswereallfromthethreepresidencies，andhisnewhousewasinthecomfortableAnglo-IndiandistrictofwhichMoiraPlaceisthecentre。MintoSquare，GreatCliveStreet，WarrenStreet，HastingsStreet，OchterlonyPlace，PlassySquare，AssayeTerrace“gardens“wasafelicitouswordnotappliedtostuccohouseswithasphaltterracesinfront，soearlyas1827——whodoesnotknowtheserespectableabodesoftheretiredIndianaristocracy，andthequarterwhichMr。WenhamcallstheBlackHole，inaword？Jos’spositioninlifewasnotgrandenoughtoentitlehimtoahouseinMoiraPlace，wherenonecanlivebutretiredMembersofCouncil，andpartnersofIndianfirmswhobreak，afterhavingsettledahundredthousandpoundsontheirwives，andretireintocomparativepenurytoacountryplaceandfourthousandayear；heengagedacomfortablehouseofasecond-orthird-rateorderinGillespieStreet，purchasingthecarpets，costlymirrors，andhandsomeandappropriateplannedfurniturebySeddonsfromtheassigneesofMr。
Scape，latelyadmittedpartnerintothegreatCalcuttaHouseofFogle，Fake，andCracksman，inwhichpoorScapehadembarkedseventythousandpounds，theearningsofalongandhonourablelife，takingFake’splace，whoretiredtoaprincelyparkinSussextheFogleshavebeenlongoutofthefirm，andSirHoraceFogleisabouttoberaisedtothepeerageasBaronBandanna——admitted，Isay，partnerintothegreatagencyhouseofFogleandFaketwoyearsbeforeitfailedforamillionandplungedhalftheIndianpublicintomiseryandruin。
Scape，ruined，honest，andbroken-heartedatsixty-fiveyearsofage，wentouttoCalcuttatowinduptheaffairsofthehouse。WalterScapewaswithdrawnfromEtonandputintoamerchant’shouse。FlorenceScape，FannyScape，andtheirmotherfadedawaytoBoulogne，andwillbeheardofnomore。Tobebrief，Jossteppedinandboughttheircarpetsandsideboardsandadmiredhimselfinthemirrorswhichhadreflectedtheirkindhandsomefaces。TheScapetradesmen，allhonourablypaid，lefttheircards，andwereeagertosupplythenewhousehold。ThelargemeninwhitewaistcoatswhowaitedatScape’sdinners，greengrocers，bank-porters，andmilkmenintheirprivatecapacity，lefttheiraddressesandingratiatedthemselveswiththebutler。Mr。Chummy，thechimney-purifier，whohadsweptthelastthreefamilies，triedtocoaxthebutlerandtheboyunderhim，whosedutyitwastogooutcoveredwithbuttonsandwithstripesdownhistrousers，fortheprotectionofMrs。
Ameliawhenevershechosetowalkabroad。
Itwasamodestestablishment。ThebutlerwasJos’svaletalso，andneverwasmoredrunkthanabutlerinasmallfamilyshouldbewhohasaproperregardforhismaster’swine。Emmywassuppliedwithamaid，grownonSirWilliamDobbin’ssuburbanestate；agoodgirl，whosekindnessandhumilitydisarmedMrs。Osborne，whowasatfirstterrifiedattheideaofhavingaservanttowaituponherself，whodidnotintheleastknowhowtouseone，andwhoalwaysspoketodomesticswiththemostreverentialpoliteness。Butthismaidwasveryusefulinthefamily，indexterouslytendingoldMr。Sedley，whokeptalmostentirelytohisownquarterofthehouseandnevermixedinanyofthegaydoingswhichtookplacethere。
NumbersofpeoplecametoseeMrs。Osborne。LadyDobbinanddaughtersweredelightedatherchangeoffortune，andwaiteduponher。MissOsbornefromRussellSquarecameinhergrandchariotwiththeflaminghammer-clothemblazonedwiththeLeedsarms。Joswasreportedtobeimmenselyrich。OldOsbornehadnoobjectionthatGeorgyshouldinherithisuncle’spropertyaswellashisown。”Damnit，wewillmakeamanofthefeller。”hesaid；“andI’llseehiminParliamentbeforeI
die。Youmaygoandseehismother，MissO。，thoughI’llneverseteyesonher“：andMissOsbornecame。Emmy，youmaybesure，wasverygladtoseeher，andsobebroughtnearertoGeorge。Thatyoungfellowwasallowedtocomemuchmorefrequentlythanbeforetovisithismother。HedinedonceortwiceaweekinGillespieStreetandbulliedtheservantsandhisrelationsthere，justashedidinRussellSquare。
HewasalwaysrespectfultoMajorDobbin，however，andmoremodestinhisdemeanourwhenthatgentlemanwaspresent。HewasacleverladandafraidoftheMajor。Georgecouldnothelpadmiringhisfriend’ssimplicity，hisgoodhumour，hisvariouslearningquietlyimparted，hisgeneralloveoftruthandjustice。Hehadmetnosuchmanasyetinthecourseofhisexperience，andhehadaninstinctivelikingforagentleman。Hehungfondlybyhisgodfather’sside，anditwashisdelighttowalkintheparksandhearDobbintalk。WilliamtoldGeorgeabouthisfather，aboutIndiaandWaterloo，abouteverythingbuthimself。WhenGeorgewasmorethanusuallypertandconceited，theMajormadejokesathim，whichMrs。Osbornethoughtverycruel。Oneday，takinghimtotheplay，andtheboydecliningtogointothepitbecauseitwasvulgar，theMajortookhimtotheboxes，lefthimthere，andwentdownhimselftothepit。Hehadnotbeenseatedthereverylongbeforehefeltanarmthrustunderhisandadandylittlehandinakidglovesqueezinghisarm。Georgehadseentheabsurdityofhiswaysandcomedownfromtheupperregion。AtenderlaughofbenevolencelightedupoldDobbin’sfaceandeyesashelookedattherepentantlittleprodigal。Helovedtheboy，ashedideverythingthatbelongedtoAmelia。HowcharmedshewaswhensheheardofthisinstanceofGeorge’sgoodness！HereyeslookedmorekindlyonDobbinthantheyeverhaddone。Sheblushed，hethought，afterlookingathimso。