“Themostbeautifulchildeverseen。”Jossaid，whowasveryfat，andeasilymoved，andhadbeentouchedbythestoryBeckytold；“aperfectangel，whoadoredhismother。Theruffianstorehimshriekingoutofherarms，andhaveneverallowedhimtoseeher。”
“DearJoseph。”Emmycriedout，startingupatonce。”letusgoandseeherthisminute。”Andsheranintoheradjoiningbedchamber，tiedonherbonnetinaflutter，cameoutwithhershawlonherarm，andorderedDobbintofollow。
Hewentandputhershawl——itwasawhitecashmere，consignedtoherbytheMajorhimselffromIndia——overhershoulders。Hesawtherewasnothingforitbuttoobey，andsheputherhandintohisarm，andtheywentaway。
“Itisnumber92，upfourpairofstairs。”Jossaid，perhapsnotverywillingtoascendthestepsagain；butheplacedhimselfinthewindowofhisdrawing-room，whichcommandstheplaceonwhichtheElephantstands，andsawthepairmarchingthroughthemarket。
ItwasaswellthatBeckysawthemtoofromhergarret，forsheandthetwostudentswerechatteringandlaughingthere；theyhadbeenjokingabouttheappearanceofBecky’sgrandpapa——whosearrivalanddeparturetheyhadwitnessed——butshehadtimetodismissthem，andhaveherlittleroomclearbeforethelandlordoftheElephant，whoknewthatMrs。OsbornewasagreatfavouriteattheSereneCourt，andrespectedheraccordingly，ledthewayupthestairstotheroofstory，encouragingMiladiandtheHerrMajorastheyachievedtheascent。
“Graciouslady，graciouslady！”saidthelandlord，knockingatBecky’sdoor；hehadcalledherMadamethedaybefore，andwasbynomeanscourteoustoher。
“Whoisit？”Beckysaid，puttingoutherhead，andshegavealittlescream。TherestoodEmmyinatremble，andDobbin，thetallMajor，withhiscane。
Hestoodstillwatching，andverymuchinterestedatthescene；butEmmysprangforwardwithopenarmstowardsRebecca，andforgaveheratthatmoment，andembracedherandkissedherwithallherheart。Ah，poorwretch，whenwasyourlippressedbeforebysuchpurekisses？
CHAPTERLXVI
AmantiumIraeFranknessandkindnesslikeAmelia’swerelikelytotouchevensuchahardenedlittlereprobateasBecky。ShereturnedEmmy’scaressesandkindspeecheswithsomethingverylikegratitude，andanemotionwhich，ifitwasnotlasting，foramomentwasalmostgenuine。Thatwasaluckystrokeofhersaboutthechild“tornfromherarmsshrieking。”ItwasbythatharrowingmisfortunethatBeckyhadwonherfriendback，anditwasoneoftheveryfirstpoints，wemaybecertain，uponwhichourpoorsimplelittleEmmybegantotalktohernew-foundacquaintance。
“Andsotheytookyourdarlingchildfromyou？”oursimpletoncriedout。”Oh，Rebecca，mypoordearsufferingfriend，Iknowwhatitistoloseaboy，andtofeelforthosewhohavelostone。ButpleaseHeavenyourswillberestoredtoyou，asamercifulmercifulProvidencehasbroughtmebackmine。”
“Thechild，mychild？Oh，yes，myagonieswerefrightful。”
Beckyowned，notperhapswithoutatwingeofconscience。
Itjarreduponhertobeobligedtocommenceinstantlytotellliesinreplytosomuchconfidenceandsimplicity。Butthatisthemisfortuneofbeginningwiththiskindofforgery。Whenonefibbecomesdueasitwere，youmustforgeanothertotakeuptheoldacceptance；andsothestockofyourliesincirculationinevitablymultiplies，andthedangerofdetectionincreaseseveryday。
“Myagonies。”Beckycontinued，“wereterribleIhopeshewon’tsitdownonthebottlewhentheytookhimawayfromme；IthoughtIshoulddie；butIfortunatelyhadabrainfever，duringwhichmydoctorgavemeup，and——andIrecovered，and——andhereIam，poorandfriendless。”
“Howoldishe？”Emmyasked。
“Eleven。”saidBecky。
“Eleven！”criedtheother。”Why，hewasbornthesameyearwithGeorgy，whois——“
“Iknow，Iknow。”Beckycriedout，whohadinfactquiteforgottenallaboutlittleRawdon’sage。”Griefhasmademeforgetsomanythings，dearestAmelia。Iamverymuchchanged：half-wildsometimes。Hewaselevenwhentheytookhimawayfromme。Blesshissweetface；Ihaveneverseenitagain。”
“Washefairordark？”wentonthatabsurdlittleEmmy。”Showmehishair。”
Beckyalmostlaughedathersimplicity。”Notto-day，love——someothertime，whenmytrunksarrivefromLeipzig，whenceIcametothisplace——andalittledrawingofhim，whichImadeinhappydays。”
“PoorBecky，poorBecky！”saidEmmy。”Howthankful，howthankfulIoughttobe“；thoughIdoubtwhetherthatpracticeofpietyinculcateduponusbyourwomankindinearlyyouth，namely，tobethankfulbecausewearebetteroffthansomebodyelse，beaveryrationalreligiousexerciseandthenshebegantothink，asusual，howhersonwasthehandsomest，thebest，andthecleverestboyinthewholeworld。
“YouwillseemyGeorgy。”wasthebestthingEmmycouldthinkoftoconsoleBecky。Ifanythingcouldmakehercomfortablethatwould。
Andsothetwowomencontinuedtalkingforanhourormore，duringwhichBeckyhadtheopportunityofgivinghernewfriendafullandcompleteversionofherprivatehistory。SheshowedhowhermarriagewithRawdonCrawleyhadalwaysbeenviewedbythefamilywithfeelingsoftheutmosthostility；howhersister-in-lawanartfulwomanhadpoisonedherhusband’smindagainsther；howhehadformedodiousconnections，whichhadestrangedhisaffectionsfromher：howshehadborneeverything——poverty，neglect，coldnessfromthebeingwhomshemostloved——andallforthesakeofherchild；how，finally，andbythemostflagrantoutrage，shehadbeendrivenintodemandingaseparationfromherhusband，whenthewretchdidnotscrupletoaskthatsheshouldsacrificeherownfairfamesothathemightprocureadvancementthroughthemeansofaverygreatandpowerfulbutunprincipledman——theMarquisofSteyne，indeed。Theatrociousmonster！
ThispartofhereventfulhistoryBeckygavewiththeutmostfemininedelicacyandthemostindignantvirtue。
Forcedtoflyherhusband’sroofbythisinsult，thecowardhadpursuedhisrevengebytakingherchildfromher。
AndthusBeckysaidshewasawanderer，poor，unprotected，friendless，andwretched。
Emmyreceivedthisstory，whichwastoldatsomelength，asthosepersonswhoareacquaintedwithhercharactermayimaginethatshewould。ShequiveredwithindignationattheaccountoftheconductofthemiserableRawdonandtheunprincipledSteyne。HereyesmadenotesofadmirationforeveryoneofthesentencesinwhichBeckydescribedthepersecutionsofheraristocraticrelativesandthefallingawayofherhusband。
Beckydidnotabusehim。Shespokeratherinsorrowthaninanger。Shehadlovedhimonlytoofondly：andwashenotthefatherofherboy？Andasfortheseparationscenefromthechild，whileBeckywasrecitingit，Emmyretiredaltogetherbehindherpocket-handkerchief，sothattheconsummatelittletragedianmusthavebeencharmedtoseetheeffectwhichherperformanceproducedonheraudience。
Whilsttheladieswerecarryingontheirconversation，Amelia’sconstantescort，theMajorwho，ofcourse，didnotwishtointerrupttheirconference，andfoundhimselfrathertiredofcreakingaboutthenarrowstairpassageofwhichtheroofbrushedthenapfromhishat
descendedtotheground-floorofthehouseandintothegreatroomcommontoallthefrequentersoftheElephant，outofwhichthestairled。Thisapartmentisalwaysinafumeofsmokeandliberallysprinkledwithbeer。Onadirtytablestandscoresofcorrespondingbrasscandlestickswithtallowcandlesforthelodgers，whosekeyshangupinrows。overthecandles。Emmyhadpassedblushingthroughtheroomanon，whereallsortsofpeoplewerecollected；Tyroleseglove-sellersandDanubianlinen-merchants，withtheirpacks；studentsrecruitingthemselveswithbutterbrodsandmeat；idlers，playingcardsordominoesonthesloppy，beerytables；tumblersrefreshingduringthecessationoftheirperformances——
inaword，allthefumumandstrepitusofaGermaninninfairtime。ThewaiterbroughttheMajoramugofbeer，asamatterofcourse，andhetookoutacigarandamusedhimselfwiththatperniciousvegetableandanewspaperuntilhischargeshouldcomedowntoclaimhim。
MaxandFritzcamepresentlydownstairs，theircapsononeside，theirspursjingling，theirpipessplendidwithcoatsofarmsandfull-blowntassels，andtheyhungupthekeyofNo。90ontheboardandcalledfortherationofbutterbrodandbeer。ThepairsatdownbytheMajorandfellintoaconversationofwhichhecouldnothelphearingsomewhat。Itwasmainlyabout“Fuchs“and“Philister。”
andduelsanddrinking-boutsattheneighbouringUniversityofSchoppenhausen，fromwhichrenownedseatoflearningtheyhadjustcomeintheEilwagen，withBecky，asitappeared，bytheirside，andinordertobepresentatthebridalfetesatPumpernickel。
“ThetitleEnglanderinnseemstobeenbaysdegonnoisance。”saidMax，whoknewtheFrenchlanguage，toFritz，hiscomrade。”Afterthefatgrandfatherwentaway，therecameaprettylittlecompatriot。Iheardthemchatteringandwhimperingtogetherinthelittlewoman’schamber。”
“Wemusttaketheticketsforherconcert。”Fritzsaid。
“Hastthouanymoney，Max？”
“Bah。”saidtheother，“theconcertisaconcertinnubibus。HanssaidthatsheadvertisedoneatLeipzig，andtheBurschentookmanytickets。Butshewentoffwithoutsinging。ShesaidinthecoachyesterdaythatherpianisthadfallenillatDresden。Shecannotsing，itismybelief：
hervoiceisascrackedasthine，Othoubeer-soakingRenowner！”
“Itiscracked；Ihearhertryingoutofherwindowaschrecklich。Englishballad，called’DeRoseupondeBalgony。’“
“Saufenandsingengonottogether。”observedFritzwiththerednose，whoevidentlypreferredtheformeramusement。”No，thoushalttakenoneofhertickets。
Shewonmoneyatthetrenteandquarantelastnight。I
sawher：shemadealittleEnglishboyplayforher。Wewillspendthymoneythereoratthetheatre，orwewilltreathertoFrenchwineorCognacintheAureliusGarden，buttheticketswewillnotbuy。Whatsayestthou？Yet，anothermugofbeer？”andoneandanothersuccessivelyhavingburiedtheirblondwhiskersinthemawkishdraught，curledthemandswaggeredoffintothefair。
TheMajor，whohadseenthekeyofNo。90putuponitshookandhadheardtheconversationofthetwoyoungUniversitybloods，wasnotatalosstounderstandthattheirtalkrelatedtoBecky。”Thelittledevilisatheroldtricks。”hethought，andhesmiledasherecalledolddays，whenhehadwitnessedthedesperateflirtationwithJosandtheludicrousendofthatadventure。
HeandGeorgehadoftenlaughedoveritsubsequently，anduntilafewweeksafterGeorge’smarriage，whenhealsowascaughtinthelittleCirce’stoils，andhadanunderstandingwithherwhichhiscomradecertainlysuspected，butpreferredtoignore。Williamwastoomuchhurtorashamedtoasktofathomthatdisgracefulmystery，althoughonce，andevidentlywithremorseonhismind，Georgehadalludedtoit。ItwasonthemorningofWaterloo，astheyoungmenstoodtogetherinfrontoftheirline，surveyingtheblackmassesofFrenchmenwhocrownedtheoppositeheights，andastherainwascomingdown，“Ihavebeenmixinginafoolishintriguewithawoman。”Georgesaid。”Iamgladweweremarchedaway。IfIdrop，IhopeEmmywillneverknowofthatbusiness。IwishtoGodithadneverbeenbegun！”AndWilliamwaspleasedtothink，andhadmorethanoncesoothedpoorGeorge’swidowwiththenarrative，thatOsborne，afterquittinghiswife，andaftertheactionofQuatreBras，onthefirstday，spokegravelyandaffectionatelytohiscomradeofhisfatherandhiswife。Onthesefacts，too，WilliamhadinsistedverystronglyinhisconversationswiththeelderOsborne，andhadthusbeenthemeansofreconcilingtheoldgentlemantohisson’smemory，justatthecloseoftheelderman’slife。
“Andsothisdevilisstillgoingonwithherintrigues。”
thoughtWilliam。”Iwishshewereahundredmilesfromhere。Shebringsmischiefwherevershegoes。”Andhewaspursuingtheseforebodingsandthisuncomfortabletrainofthought，withhisheadbetweenhishands，andthePumpernickelGazetteoflastweekunreadunderhisnose，whensomebodytappedhisshoulderwithaparasol，andhelookedupandsawMrs。Amelia。
ThiswomanhadawayoftyrannizingoverMajorDobbinfortheweakestofallpeoplewilldomineeroversomebody，andsheorderedhimabout，andpattedhim，andmadehimfetchandcarryjustasifhewasagreatNewfoundlanddog。Heliked，sotospeak，tojumpintothewaterifshesaid“High，Dobbin！”andtotrotbehindherwithherreticuleinhismouth。ThishistoryhasbeenwrittentoverylittlepurposeifthereaderhasnotperceivedthattheMajorwasaspooney。
“Whydidyounotwaitforme，sir，toescortmedownstairs？”shesaid，givingalittletossofherheadandamostsarcasticcurtsey。
“Icouldn’tstandupinthepassage。”heansweredwithacomicaldeprecatorylook；and，delightedtogiveherhisarmandtotakeheroutofthehorridsmokyplace，hewouldhavewalkedoffwithoutevensomuchasrememberingthewaiter，hadnottheyoungfellowrunafterhimandstoppedhimonthethresholdoftheElephanttomakehimpayforthebeerwhichhehadnotconsumed。Emmylaughed：shecalledhimanaughtyman，whowantedtorunawayindebt，and，infact，madesomejokessuitabletotheoccasionandthesmall-beer。