Beforethewinterwasfaradvanced，itisactuallyonrecordthatEmmytookanightandreceivedcompanywithgreatproprietyandmodesty。ShehadaFrenchmaster，whocomplimentedheruponthepurityofheraccentandherfacilityoflearning；thefactisshehadlearnedlongagoandgroundedherselfsubsequentlyinthegrammarsoastobeabletoteachittoGeorge；andMadamStrumpffcametogiveherlessonsinsinging，whichsheperformedsowellandwithsuchatruevoicethattheMajor’swindows，whohadlodgingsoppositeunderthePrimeMinister，werealwaysopentohearthelesson。
SomeoftheGermanladies，whoareverysentimentalandsimpleintheirtastes，fellinlovewithherandbegantocallherduatonce。Thesearetrivialdetails，buttheyrelatetohappytimes。TheMajormadehimselfGeorge’stutorandreadCaesarandmathematicswithhim，andtheyhadaGermanmasterandrodeoutofeveningsbythesideofEmmy’scarriage——shewasalwaystootimid，andmadeadreadfuloutcryattheslightestdisturbanceonhorse-back。SoshedroveaboutwithoneofherdearGermanfriends，andJosasleepontheback-seatofthebarouche。
HewasbecomingverysweetupontheGrafinnFannydeButterbrod，averygentletender-heartedandunassumingyoungcreature，aCanonessandCountessinherownright，butwithscarcelytenpoundsperyeartoherfortune，andFannyforherpartdeclaredthattobeAmelia’ssisterwasthegreatestdelightthatHeavencouldbestowonher，andJosmighthaveputaCountess’sshieldandcoronetbythesideofhisownarmsonhiscarriageandforks；when——wheneventsoccurred，andthosegrandfetesgivenuponthemarriageoftheHereditaryPrinceofPumpernickelwiththelovelyPrincessAmeliaofHumbourg-Schlippenschloppentookplace。
AtthisfestivalthemagnificencedisplayedwassuchashadnotbeenknowninthelittleGermanplacesincethedaysoftheprodigalVictorXIV。AlltheneighbouringPrinces，Princesses，andGrandeeswereinvitedtothefeast。BedsrosetohalfacrownpernightinPumpernickel，andtheArmywasexhaustedinprovidingguardsofhonourfortheHighnesses，Serenities，andExcellencieswhoarrivedfromallquarters。ThePrincesswasmarriedbyproxy，atherfather’sresidence，bytheCountdeSchlusselback。Snuff-boxesweregivenawayinprofusionaswelearnedfromtheCourtjeweller，whosoldandafterwardsboughtthemagain，andbushelsoftheOrderofSaintMichaelofPumpernickelweresenttothenoblesoftheCourt，whilehampersofthecordonsanddecorationsoftheWheelofSt。CatherineofSchlippenschloppenwerebroughttoours。TheFrenchenvoygotboth。”Heiscoveredwithribbonslikeaprizecart-horse。”Tapewormsaid，whowasnotallowedbytherulesofhisservicetotakeanydecorations：“Lethimhavethecordons；butwithwhomisthevictory？”Thefactis，itwasatriumphofBritishdiplomacy，theFrenchpartyhavingproposedandtriedtheirutmosttocarryamarriagewithaPrincessoftheHouseofPotztausend-Donnerwetter，whom，asamatterofcourse，weopposed。
Everybodywasaskedtothefetesofthemarriage。
Garlandsandtriumphalarcheswerehungacrosstheroadtowelcometheyoungbride。ThegreatSaintMichael’sFountainranwithuncommonlysourwine，whilethatintheArtilleryPlacefrothedwithbeer。Thegreatwatersplayed；andpoleswereputupintheparkandgardensforthehappypeasantry，whichtheymightclimbattheirleisure，carryingoffwatches，silverforks，prizesausageshungwithpinkribbon，&c。，atthetop。Georgygotone，wrenchingitoff，havingswarmedupthepoletothedelightofthespectators，andslidingdownwiththerapidityofafallofwater。Butitwasfortheglory’ssakemerely。Theboygavethesausagetoapeasant，whohadverynearlyseizedit，andstoodatthefootofthemast，blubbering，becausehewasunsuccessful。
AttheFrenchChancellerietheyhadsixmorelampionsintheirilluminationthanourshad；butourtransparency，whichrepresentedtheyoungCoupleadvancingandDiscordflyingaway，withthemostludicrouslikenesstotheFrenchAmbassador，beattheFrenchpicturehollow；andIhavenodoubtgotTapewormtheadvancementandtheCrossoftheBathwhichhesubsequentlyattained。
Crowdsofforeignersarrivedforthefetes，andofEnglish，ofcourse。BesidestheCourtballs，publicballsweregivenattheTownHallandtheRedoute，andintheformerplacetherewasaroomfortrente-et-quaranteandrouletteestablished，fortheweekofthefestivitiesonly，andbyoneofthegreatGermancompaniesfromEmsorAix-la-Chapelle。Theofficersorinhabitantsofthetownwerenotallowedtoplayatthesegames，butstrangers，peasants，ladieswereadmitted，andanyonewhochosetoloseorwinmoney。
ThatlittlescapegraceGeorgyOsborneamongstothers，whosepocketswerealwaysfullofdollarsandwhoserelationswereawayatthegrandfestivaloftheCourt，cametotheStadthausBallincompanyofhisuncle’scourier，Mr。Kirsch，andhavingonlypeepedintoaplay-roomatBaden-BadenwhenhehungonDobbin’sarm，andwhere，ofcourse，hewasnotpermittedtogamble，cameeagerlytothispartoftheentertainmentandhankeredroundthetableswherethecroupiersandthepunterswereatwork。Womenwereplaying；theyweremasked，someofthem；thislicensewasallowedinthesewildtimesofcarnival。
Awomanwithlighthair，inalowdressbynomeanssofreshasithadbeen，andwithablackmaskon，throughtheeyeletsofwhichhereyestwinkledstrangely，wasseatedatoneoftheroulette-tableswithacardandapinandacoupleofflorinsbeforeher。Asthecroupiercalledoutthecolourandnumber，sheprickedonthecardwithgreatcareandregularity，andonlyventuredhermoneyonthecoloursaftertheredorblackhadcomeupacertainnumberoftimes。Itwasstrangetolookather。
Butinspiteofhercareandassiduitysheguessedwrongandthelasttwoflorinsfollowedeachotherunderthecroupier’srake，ashecriedoutwithhisinexorablevoicethewinningcolourandnumber。Shegaveasigh，ashrugwithhershoulders，whichwerealreadytoomuchoutofhergown，anddashingthepinthroughthecardontothetable，satthrummingitforawhile。ThenshelookedroundherandsawGeorgy’shonestfacestaringatthescene。Thelittlescamp！Whatbusinesshadhetobethere？
Whenshesawtheboy，atwhosefaceshelookedhardthroughhershiningeyesandmask，shesaid，“Monsieurn’estpasjoueur？”
“Non，Madame。”saidtheboy；butshemusthaveknown，fromhisaccent，ofwhatcountryhewas，forsheansweredhimwithaslightforeigntone。”Youhavenevareplayed——willyoudomealittl’favor？”
“Whatisit？”saidGeorgy，blushingagain。Mr。Kirschwasatworkforhispartattherougeetnoiranddidnotseehisyoungmaster。
“Playthisforme，ifyouplease；putitonanynumber，anynumber。”Andshetookfromherbosomapurse，andoutofitagoldpiece，theonlycointhere，andsheputitintoGeorge’shand。Theboylaughedanddidashewasbid。
Thenumbercameupsureenough。Thereisapowerthatarrangesthat，theysay，forbeginners。
“Thankyou。”saidshe，pullingthemoneytowardsher。”thankyou。Whatisyourname？”
“Myname’sOsborne。”saidGeorgy，andwasfingeringinhisownpocketsfordollars，andjustabouttomakeatrial，whentheMajor，inhisuniform，andJos，enMarquis，fromtheCourtball，madetheirappearance。Otherpeople，findingtheentertainmentstupidandpreferringthefunattheStadthaus，hadquittedthePalaceballearlier；
butitisprobabletheMajorandJoshadgonehomeandfoundtheboy’sabsence，fortheformerinstantlywentuptohimand，takinghimbytheshoulder，pulledhimbrisklybackfromtheplaceoftemptation。Then，lookingroundtheroom，hesawKirschemployedaswehavesaid，andgoinguptohim，askedhowhedaredtobringMr。Georgetosuchaplace。
“Laissez-moitranquille。”saidMr。Kirsch，verymuchexcitedbyplayandwine。”llfauts’amuser，parbleu。
JenesuispasauservicedeMonsieur。”
SeeinghisconditiontheMajordidnotchoosetoarguewiththeman，butcontentedhimselfwithdrawingawayGeorgeandaskingJosifhewouldcomeaway。Hewasstandingclosebytheladyinthemask，whowasplayingwithprettygoodlucknow，andlookingonmuchinterestedatthegame。
“Hadn’tyoubettercome，Jos。”theMajorsaid，“withGeorgeandme？”
“I’llstopandgohomewiththatrascal，Kirsch。”Jossaid；andforthesamereasonofmodesty，whichhethoughtoughttobepreservedbeforetheboy，DobbindidnotcaretoremonstratewithJos，butlefthimandwalkedhomewithGeorgy。
“Didyouplay？”askedtheMajorwhentheywereoutandontheirwayhome。
Theboysaid“No。”
“Givemeyourwordofhonourasagentlemanthatyouneverwill。”
“Why？”saidtheboy；“itseemsverygoodfun。”And，inaveryeloquentandimpressivemanner，theMajorshowedhimwhyheshouldn’t，andwouldhaveenforcedhispreceptsbytheexampleofGeorgy’sownfather，hadhelikedtosayanythingthatshouldreflectontheother’smemory。Whenhehadhousedhim，hewenttobedandsawhislight，inthelittleroomoutsideofAmelia’s，presentlydisappear。Amelia’sfollowedhalfanhourafterwards。Idon’tknowwhatmadetheMajornoteitsoaccurately。
Jos，however，remainedbehindovertheplay-table；hewasnogambler，butnotaversetothelittleexcitementofthesportnowandthen，andhehadsomeNapoleonschinkingintheembroideredpocketsofhiscourtwaistcoat。Heputdownoneoverthefairshoulderofthelittlegamblerbeforehim，andtheywon。Shemadealittlemovementtomakeroomforhimbyherside，andjusttooktheskirtofhergownfromavacantchairthere。
“Comeandgivemegoodluck。”shesaid，stillinaforeignaccent，quitedifferentfromthatfrankandperfectlyEnglish“Thankyou。”withwhichshehadsalutedGeorgy’scoupinherfavour。Theportlygentleman，lookingroundtoseethatnobodyofrankobservedhim，satdown；hemuttered——“Ah，really，wellnow，Godblessmysoul。I’mveryfortunate；I’msuretogiveyougoodfortune。”andotherwordsofcomplimentandconfusion。
“Doyouplaymuch？”theforeignmasksaid。
“IputaNaportwodown。”saidJoswithasuperbair，flingingdownagoldpiece。
“Yes；aynapafterdinner。”saidthemaskarchly。ButJoslookingfrightened，shecontinued，inherprettyFrenchaccent，“Youdonotplaytowin。NomoredoI。
Iplaytoforget，butIcannot。Icannotforgetoldtimes，monsieur。Yourlittlenephewistheimageofhisfather；
andyou——youarenotchanged——butyes，youare。
Everybodychanges，everybodyforgets；nobodyhasanyheart。”
“GoodGod，whoisit？”askedJosinaflutter。
“Can’tyouguess，JosephSedley？”saidthelittlewomaninasadvoice，andundoinghermask，shelookedathim。”Youhaveforgottenme。”
“Goodheavens！Mrs。Crawley！”gaspedoutJos。
“Rebecca。”saidtheother，puttingherhandonhis；
butshefollowedthegamestill，allthetimeshewaslookingathim。
“IamstoppingattheElephant。”shecontinued。”AskforMadamedeRaudon。IsawmydearAmeliato-day；
howprettyshelooked，andhowhappy！Sodoyou！
Everybodybutme，whoamwretched，JosephSedley。”
Andsheputhermoneyoverfromtheredtotheblack，asifbyachancemovementofherhand，andwhileshewaswipinghereyeswithapocket-handkerchieffringedwithtornlace。
Theredcameupagain，andshelostthewholeofthatstake。~“Comeaway。”shesaid。”Comewithmealittle——weareoldfriends，arewenot，dearMr。Sedley？”
AndMr。Kirschhavinglostallhismoneybythistime，followedhismasteroutintothemoonlight，wheretheilluminationswerewinkingoutandthetransparencyoverourmissionwasscarcelyvisible。
CHAPTERLXIV
AVagabondChapterWemustpassoverapartofMrs。RebeccaCrawley’sbiographywiththatlightnessanddelicacywhichtheworlddemands——themoralworld，thathas，perhaps，noparticularobjectiontovice，butaninsuperablerepugnancetohearingvicecalledbyitspropername。TherearethingswedoandknowperfectlywellinVanityFair，thoughweneverspeakofthem：astheAhrimaniansworshipthedevil，butdon’tmentionhim：andapolitepublicwillnomorebeartoreadanauthenticdescriptionofvicethanatrulyrefinedEnglishorAmericanfemalewillpermitthewordbreechestobepronouncedinherchastehearing。Andyet，madam，botharewalkingtheworldbeforeourfaceseveryday，withoutmuchshockingus。Ifyouweretoblusheverytimetheywentby，whatcomplexionsyouwouldhave！Itisonlywhentheirnaughtynamesarecalledoutthatyourmodestyhasanyoccasiontoshowalarmorsenseofoutrage，andithasbeenthewishofthepresentwriter，allthroughthisstory，deferentiallytosubmittothefashionatpresentprevailing，andonlytohintattheexistenceofwickednessinalight，easy，andagreeablemanner，sothatnobody’sfinefeelingsmaybeoffended。IdefyanyonetosaythatourBecky，whohascertainlysomevices，hasnotbeenpresentedtothepublicinaperfectlygenteelandinoffensivemanner。IndescribingthisSiren，singingandsmiling，coaxingandcajoling，theauthor，withmodestpride，askshisreadersallround，hasheonceforgottenthelawsofpoliteness，andshowedthemonster’shideoustailabovewater？No！Thosewholikemaypeepdownunderwavesthatareprettytransparentandseeitwrithingandtwirling，diabolicallyhideousandslimy，flappingamongstbones，orcurlingroundcorpses；butabovethewaterline，Iask，hasnoteverythingbeenproper，agreeable，anddecorous，andhasanythemostsqueamishimmoralistinVanityFairarighttocryfie？When，however，theSirendisappearsanddivesbelow，downamongthedeadmen，thewaterofcoursegrowsturbidoverher，anditislabourlosttolookintoiteversocuriously。Theylookprettyenoughwhentheysituponarock，twangingtheirharpsandcombingtheirhair，andsing，andbeckontoyoutocomeandholdthelooking-glass；butwhentheysinkintotheirnativeelement，dependonit，thosemermaidsareaboutnogood，andwehadbestnotexaminethefiendishmarinecannibals，revellingandfeastingontheirwretchedpickledvictims。Andso，whenBeckyisoutoftheway，besurethatsheisnotparticularlywellemployed，andthatthelessthatissaidaboutherdoingsisinfactthebetter。