“ByGod，youareagoodfeller，sir。”wasallMr。Os-
bornesaid。Ithadneverstruckhimthatthewidowwouldfeelanypainatpartingfromtheboy，orthathishavingafinefortunecouldgrieveher。Areconciliationwasannouncedasspeedyandinevitable，andAmelia’sheartalreadybegantobeatatthenotionoftheawfulmeetingwithGeorge’sfather。
Itwasnever，however，destinedtotakeplace。OldSedley’slingeringillnessanddeathsupervened，afterwhichameetingwasforsometimeimpossible。ThatcatastropheandothereventsmayhaveworkeduponMr。
Osborne。Hewasmuchshakenoflate，andaged，andhismindwasworkinginwardly。Hehadsentforhislawyers，andprobablychangedsomethinginhiswill。Themedicalmanwholookedinpronouncedhimshaky，agitated，andtalkedofalittlebloodandtheseaside；buthetookneitheroftheseremedies。
Onedaywhenheshouldhavecomedowntobreakfast，hisservantmissinghim，wentintohisdressing-roomandfoundhimlyingatthefootofthedressing-tableinafit。MissOsbornewasapprised；thedoctorsweresentfor；Georgystoppedawayfromschool；thebleedersandcupperscame。Osbornepartiallyregainedcognizance，butnevercouldspeakagain，thoughhetrieddreadfullyonceortwice，andinfourdayshedied。Thedoctorswentdown，andtheundertaker’smenwentupthestairs，andalltheshutterswereshuttowardsthegardeninRussellSquare。BullockrushedfromtheCityinahurry。”Howmuchmoneyhadhelefttothatboy？
Nothalf，surely？Surelyshareandsharealikebetweenthethree？”Itwasanagitatingmoment。
Whatwasitthatpooroldmantriedonceortwiceinvaintosay？IhopeitwasthathewantedtoseeAmeliaandbereconciledbeforehelefttheworldtoonedearandfaithfulwifeofhisson：itwasmostlikelythat，forhiswillshowedthatthehatredwhichhehadsolongcherishedhadgoneoutofhisheart。
Theyfoundinthepocketofhisdressing-gowntheletterwiththegreatredsealwhichGeorgehadwrittenhimfromWaterloo。Hehadlookedattheotherpaperstoo，relativetohisson，forthekeyoftheboxinwhichhekeptthemwasalsoinhispocket，anditwasfoundthesealsandenvelopeshadbeenbroken——verylikelyonthenightbeforetheseizure——whenthebutlerhadtakenhimteaintohisstudy，andfoundhimreadinginthegreatredfamilyBible。
Whenthewillwasopened，itwasfoundthathalfthepropertywaslefttoGeorge，andtheremainderbetweenthetwosisters。Mr。Bullocktocontinue，fortheirjointbenefit，theaffairsofthecommercialhouse，ortogoout，ashethoughtfit。Anannuityoffivehundredpounds，chargeableonGeorge’sproperty，waslefttohismother。”thewidowofmybelovedson，GeorgeOsborne。”whowastoresumetheguardianshipoftheboy。
“MajorWilliamDobbin，mybelovedson’sfriend。”wasappointedexecutor；“andasoutofhiskindnessandbounty，andwithhisownprivatefunds，hemaintainedmygrandsonandmyson’swidow，whentheywereotherwisewithoutmeansofsupport“thetestatorwentontosay“Iherebythankhimheartilyforhisloveandregardforthem，andbeseechhimtoacceptsuchasumasmaybesufficienttopurchasehiscommissionasaLieutenant-Colonel，ortobedisposedofinanywayhemaythinkfit。”
WhenAmeliaheardthatherfather-in-lawwasreconciledtoher，herheartmelted，andshewasgratefulforthefortunelefttoher。ButwhensheheardhowGeorgywasrestoredtoher，andknewhowandbywhom，andhowitwasWilliam’sbountythatsupportedherinpoverty，howitwasWilliamwhogaveherherhusbandandherson——oh，thenshesankonherknees，andprayedforblessingsonthatconstantandkindheart；
sheboweddownandhumbledherself，andkissedthefeet，asitwere，ofthatbeautifulandgenerousaffection。
Andgratitudewasallthatshehadtopaybackforsuchadmirabledevotionandbenefits——onlygratitude！Ifshethoughtofanyotherreturn，theimageofGeorgestoodupoutofthegraveandsaid，“Youaremine，andmineonly，nowandforever。”
Williamknewherfeelings：hadhenotpassedhiswholelifeindiviningthem？
WhenthenatureofMr。Osborne’swillbecameknowntotheworld，itwasedifyingtoremarkhowMrs。GeorgeOsborneroseintheestimationofthepeopleforminghercircleofacquaintance。TheservantsofJos’sestablishment，whousedtoquestionherhumbleordersandsaytheywould“askMaster“whetherornottheycouldobey，neverthoughtnowofthatsortofappeal。Thecookforgottosneerathershabbyoldgownswhich，indeed，werequiteeclipsedbythatlady’sfinerywhenshewasdressedtogotochurchofaSundayevening，theothersnolongergrumbledatthesoundofherbell，ordelayedtoanswerthatsummons。Thecoachman，whogrumbledthathis’ossesshouldbebroughtoutandhiscarriagemadeintoanhospitalforthatoldfellerandMrs。O。，droveherwiththeutmostalacritynow，andtremblinglestheshouldbesupersededbyMr。Osborne’scoachman，asked“whatthemthereRussellSquarecoachmenknewabouttown，andwhethertheywasfittositonaboxbeforealady？”Jos’sfriends，maleandfemale，suddenlybecameinterestedaboutEmmy，andcardsofcondolencemultipliedonherhalltable。Joshimself，whohadlookedonherasagood-naturedharmlesspauper，towhomitwashisdutytogivevictualsandshelter，paidherandtherichlittleboy，hisnephew，thegreatestrespect——wasanxiousthatsheshouldhavechangeandamusementafterhertroublesandtrials。”poordeargirl“——andbegantoappearatthebreakfast-
table，andmostparticularlytoaskhowshewouldliketodisposeoftheday。
InhercapacityofguardiantoGeorgy，she，withtheconsentoftheMajor，herfellow-trustee，beggedMissOsbornetoliveintheRussellSquarehouseaslongasevershechosetodwellthere；butthatlady，withthanks，declaredthatshenevercouldthinkofremainingaloneinthatmelancholymansion，anddepartedindeepmourningtoCheltenham，withacoupleofherolddomestics。
Therestwereliberallypaidanddismissed，thefaithfuloldbutler，whomMrs。Osborneproposedtoretain，resigningandpreferringtoinvesthissavingsinapublic-
house，where，letushope，hewasnotunprosperous。
MissOsbornenotchoosingtoliveinRussellSquare，Mrs。
Osbornealso，afterconsultation，declinedtooccupythegloomyoldmansionthere。Thehousewasdismantled；
therichfurnitureandeffects，theawfulchandeliersanddrearyblankmirrorspackedawayandhidden，therichrosewooddrawing-roomsuitewasmuffledinstraw，thecarpetswererolledupandcorded，thesmallselectlibraryofwell-boundbookswasstowedintotwowine-
chests，andthewholeparaphernaliarolledawayinseveralenormousvanstothePantechnicon，wheretheyweretolieuntilGeorgy’smajority。Andthegreatheavydarkplate-chestswentofftoMessrs。StumpyandRowdy，tolieinthecellarsofthoseeminentbankersuntilthesameperiodshouldarrive。
OnedayEmmy，withGeorgeinherhandandcladindeepsables，wenttovisitthedesertedmansionwhichshehadnotenteredsinceshewasagirl。Theplaceinfrontwaslitteredwithstrawwherethevanshadbeenladenandrolledoff。Theywentintothegreatblankrooms，thewallsofwhichborethemarkswherethepicturesandmirrorshadhung。Thentheywentupthegreatblankstonestaircasesintotheupperrooms，intothatwheregrandpapadied，asGeorgesaidinawhisper，andthenhigherstillintoGeorge’sownroom。Theboywasstillclingingbyherside，butshethoughtofanotherbesideshim。Sheknewthatithadbeenhisfather’sroomaswellashisown。
Shewentuptooneoftheopenwindowsoneofthoseatwhichsheusedtogazewithasickheartwhenthechildwasfirsttakenfromher，andthenceasshelookedoutshecouldsee，overthetreesofRussellSquare，theoldhouseinwhichsheherselfwasborn，andwhereshehadpassedsomanyhappydaysofsacredyouth。
Theyallcamebacktoher，thepleasantholidays，thekindfaces，thecareless，joyfulpasttimes，andthelongpainsandtrialsthathadsincecastherdown。
Shethoughtoftheseandofthemanwhohadbeenherconstantprotector，hergoodgenius，hersolebenefactor，hertenderandgenerousfriend。
“Lookhere，Mother。”saidGeorgy，“here’saG。O。
scratchedontheglasswithadiamond，Ineversawitbefore，Ineverdidit。”
“Itwasyourfather’sroomlongbeforeyouwereborn，George。”shesaid，andsheblushedasshekissedtheboy。
ShewasverysilentastheydrovebacktoRichmond，wheretheyhadtakenatemporaryhouse：wherethesmilinglawyersusedtocomebustlingovertoseeherandwemaybesurenotedthevisitinthebill：andwhereofcoursetherewasaroomforMajorDobbintoo，whorodeoverfrequently，havingmuchbusinesstotransactonbehalfofhislittleward。
GeorgyatthistimewasremovedfromMr。Veal’sonanunlimitedholiday，andthatgentlemanwasengagedtoprepareaninscriptionforafinemarbleslab，tobeplacedupintheFoundlingunderthemonumentofCaptainGeorgeOsborne。
ThefemaleBullock，auntofGeorgy，althoughdespoiledbythatlittlemonsterofone-halfofthesumwhichsheexpectedfromherfather，neverthelessshowedhercharitablenessofspiritbybeingreconciledtothemotherandtheboy。RoehamptonisnotfarfromRichmond，andonedaythechariot，withthegoldenbullocksemblazonedonthepanels，andtheflaccidchildrenwithin，drovetoAmelia’shouseatRichmond；andtheBullockfamilymadeanirruptionintothegarden，whereAmeliawasreadingabook，Joswasinanarbourplacidlydippingstrawberriesintowine，andtheMajorinoneofhisIndianjacketswasgivingabacktoGeorgy，whochosetojumpoverhim。HewentoverhisheadandboundedintothelittleadvanceofBullocks，withimmenseblackbowsintheirhats，andhugeblacksashes，accompanyingtheirmourningmamma。
“HeisjustoftheageforRosa。”thefondparentthought，andglancedtowardsthatdearchild，anunwholesomelittlemissofsevenyearsofage。
“Rosa，goandkissyourdearcousin。”Mrs。Fredericksaid。”Don’tyouknowme，George？Iamyouraunt。”
“Iknowyouwellenough。”Georgesaid；“butIdon’tlikekissing，please“；andheretreatedfromtheobedientcaressesofhiscousin。
“Takemetoyourdearmamma，youdrollchild。”Mrs。
Fredericksaid，andthoseladiesaccordinglymet，afteranabsenceofmorethanfifteenyears。DuringEmmy’scaresandpovertytheotherhadneveroncethoughtaboutcomingtoseeher，butnowthatshewasdecentlyprosperousintheworld，hersister-in-lawcametoherasamatterofcourse。
Sodidnumbersmore。Ouroldfriend，MissSwartz，andherhusbandcamethunderingoverfromHamptonCourt，withflamingyellowliveries，andwasasimpetuouslyfondofAmeliaasever。MissSwartzwouldhavelikedheralwaysifshecouldhaveseenher。Onemustdoherthatjustice。But，quevoulezvous？——inthisvasttownonehasnotthetimetogoandseekone’sfriends；iftheydropoutoftheranktheydisappear，andwemarchonwithoutthem。WhoisevermissedinVanityFair？
Butso，inaword，andbeforetheperiodofgriefforMr。Osborne’sdeathhadsubsided，Emmyfoundherselfinthecentreofaverygenteelcircleindeed，themembersofwhichcouldnotconceivethatanybodybelongingtoitwasnotverylucky。Therewasscarceoneoftheladiesthathadn’tarelationaPeer，thoughthehusbandmightbeadrysalterintheCity。Someoftheladieswereveryblueandwellinformed，readingMrs。
SomervilleandfrequentingtheRoyalInstitution；othersweresevereandEvangelical，andheldbyExeterHall。
Emmy，itmustbeowned，foundherselfentirelyatalossinthemidstoftheirclavers，andsufferedwoefullyontheoneortwooccasionsonwhichshewascompelledtoacceptMrs。FrederickBullock’shospitalities。Thatladypersistedinpatronizingheranddeterminedmostgraciouslytoformher。ShefoundAmelia’smillinersforherandregulatedherhouseholdandhermanners。ShedroveoverconstantlyfromRoehamptonandentertainedherfriendwithfaintfashionablefiddle-faddleandfeebleCourtslip-slop。Joslikedtohearit，buttheMajorusedtogooffgrowlingattheappearanceofthiswoman，withhertwopennygentility。HewenttosleepunderFrederickBullock’sbaldhead，afterdinner，atoneofthebanker’sbestpartiesFredwasstillanxiousthatthebalanceoftheOsbornepropertyshouldbetransferredfromStumpyandRowdy’stothem，andwhilstAmelia，whodidnotknowLatin，orwhowrotethelastcrackarticleintheEdinburgh，anddidnotintheleastdeplore，orotherwise，Mr。Peel’slateextraordinarytergiversationonthefatalCatholicReliefBill，satdumbamongsttheladiesinthegranddrawing-room，lookingoutuponvelvetlawns，trimgravelwalks，andglisteninghot-houses。
“Sheseemsgood-naturedbutinsipid。”saidMrs。
Rowdy；“thatMajorseemstobeparticularlyepris。”
“Shewantstonsadly。”saidMrs。Hollyock。”Mydearcreature，youneverwillbeabletoformher。”
“Sheisdreadfullyignorantorindifferent。”saidMrs。
Glowrywithavoiceasiffromthegrave，andasadshakeoftheheadandturban。”Iaskedherifshethoughtthatitwasin1836，accordingtoMr。Jowls，orin1839，accordingtoMr。Wapshot，thatthePopewastofall：
andshesaid——’PoorPope！Ihopenot——Whathashedone？’“
“Sheismybrother’swidow，mydearfriends。”Mrs。
Frederickreplied，“andassuchIthinkwe’reallboundtogivehereveryattentionandinstructiononenteringintotheworld。YoumayfancytherecanbenoMERCENARY
motivesinthosewhoseDISAPPOINTMENTSarewellknown。”
“ThatpoordearMrs。Bullock。”saidRowdytoHollyock，astheydroveawaytogether——“sheisalwaysschemingandmanaging。ShewantsMrs。Osborne’saccounttobetakenfromourhousetohers——andthewayinwhichshecoaxesthatboyandmakeshimsitbythatblear-eyedlittleRosaisperfectlyridiculous。”
“IwishGlowrywaschokedwithherManofSinandherBattleofArmageddon。”criedtheother，andthecarriagerolledawayoverPutneyBridge。
ButthissortofsocietywastoocruellygenteelforEmmy，andalljumpedforjoywhenaforeigntourwasproposed。