Itwasgoneindeed。Williamhadspentitallout。Helovedhernomore，hethought，ashehadlovedher。
Henevercouldagain。Thatsortofregard，whichhehadprofferedtoherforsomanyfaithfulyears，can’tbeflungdownandshatteredandmendedsoastoshownoscars。
Thelittleheedlesstyranthadsodestroyedit。No，Williamthoughtagainandagain，“ItwasmyselfIdeludedandpersistedincajoling；hadshebeenworthyoftheloveIgaveher，shewouldhavereturneditlongago。Itwasafondmistake。Isn’tthewholecourseoflifemadeupofsuch？AndsupposeIhadwonher，shouldInothavebeendisenchantedthedayaftermyvictory？Whypine，orbeashamedofmydefeat？”Themorehethoughtofthislongpassageofhislife，themoreclearlyhesawhisdeception。”I’llgointoharnessagain。”hesaid，“anddomydutyinthatstateoflifeinwhichithaspleasedHeaventoplaceme。Iwillseethatthebuttonsoftherecruitsareproperlybrightandthatthesergeantsmakenomistakesintheiraccounts。IwilldineatmessandlistentotheScotchsurgeontellinghisstories。WhenI
amoldandbroken，Iwillgoonhalf-pay，andmyoldsistersshallscoldme。Ihavegeliebtundgelebet，asthegirlin’Wallenstein’says。Iamdone。Paythebillsandgetmeacigar：findoutwhatthereisattheplayto-night，Francis；to-morrowwecrossbytheBatavier。”Hemadetheabovespeech，whereofFrancisonlyheardthelasttwolines，pacingupanddowntheBoompjesatRotterdam。
TheBatavierwaslyinginthebasin。Hecouldseetheplaceonthequarter-deckwhereheandEmmyhadsatonthehappyvoyageout。WhathadthatlittleMrs。
Crawleytosaytohim？Psha；to-morrowwewillputtosea，andreturntoEngland，home，andduty！
AfterJuneallthelittleCourtSocietyofPumpernickelusedtoseparate，accordingtotheGermanplan，andmakeforahundredwatering-places，wheretheydrankatthewells，rodeupondonkeys，gambledattheredoutesiftheyhadmoneyandamind，rushedwithhundredsoftheirkindtogourmandiseatthetablesd’hote，andidledawaythesummer。TheEnglishdiplomatistswentofftoTeoplitzandKissingen，theirFrenchrivalsshutuptheirchancellerieandwhiskedawaytotheirdarlingBoulevarddeGand。TheTransparentreigningfamilytooktootothewaters，orretiredtotheirhuntinglodges。Everybodywentawayhavinganypretensionstopoliteness，andofcourse，withthem，DoctorvonGlauber，theCourtDoctor，andhisBaroness。TheseasonsforthebathswerethemostproductiveperiodsoftheDoctor’spractice——heunitedbusinesswithpleasure，andhischiefplaceofresortwasOstend，whichismuchfrequentedbyGermans，andwheretheDoctortreatedhimselfandhisspousetowhathecalleda“dib“inthesea。
Hisinterestingpatient，Jos，wasaregularmilch-cowtotheDoctor，andheeasilypersuadedthecivilian，bothforhisownhealth’ssakeandthatofhischarmingsister，whichwasreallyverymuchshattered，topassthesummeratthathideousseaporttown。Emmydidnotcarewhereshewentmuch。Georgyjumpedattheideaofamove。AsforBecky，shecameasamatterofcourseinthefourthplaceinsideofthefinebaroucheMr。Joshadbought，thetwodomesticsbeingontheboxinfront。
ShemighthavesomemisgivingsaboutthefriendswhomsheshouldmeetatOstend，andwhomightbelikelytotelluglystories——butbah！shewasstrongenoughtoholdherown。ShehadcastsuchananchorinJosnowaswouldrequireastrongstormtoshake。Thatincidentofthepicturehadfinishedhim。BeckytookdownherelephantandputitintothelittleboxwhichshehadhadfromAmeliaeversomanyyearsago。EmmyalsocameoffwithherLares——hertwopictures——andtheparty，finally，were，lodgedinanexceedinglydearanduncomfortablehouseatOstend。
ThereAmeliabegantotakebathsandgetwhatgoodshecouldfromthem，andthoughscoresofpeopleofBecky’sacquaintancepassedherandcuther，yetMrs。
Osborne，whowalkedaboutwithher，andwhoknewnobody，wasnotawareofthetreatmentexperiencedbythefriendwhomshehadchosensojudiciouslyasacompanion；indeed，Beckyneverthoughtfittotellherwhatwaspassingunderherinnocenteyes。
SomeofMrs。RawdonCrawley’sacquaintances，however，acknowledgedherreadilyenough，——perhapsmorereadilythanshewouldhavedesired。AmongthosewereMajorLoderunattached，andCaptainRooklateoftheRifles，whomightbeseenanydayontheDike，smokingandstaringatthewomen，andwhospeedilygotanintroductiontothehospitableboardandselectcircleofMr。JosephSedley。Infacttheywouldtakenodenial；
theyburstintothehousewhetherBeckywasathomeornot，walkedintoMrs。Osborne’sdrawing-room，whichtheyperfumedwiththeircoatsandmustachios，calledJos“Oldbuck。”andinvadedhisdinner-table，andlaughedanddrankforlonghoursthere。
“Whatcantheymean？”askedGeorgy，whodidnotlikethesegentlemen。”IheardtheMajorsaytoMrs。
Crawleyyesterday，’No，no，Becky，youshan’tkeeptheoldbucktoyourself。Wemusthavethebonesin，or，dammy，I’llsplit。’WhatcouldtheMajormean，Mamma？”
“Major！don’tcallhimMajor！”Emmysaid。”I’msureIcan’ttellwhathemeant。”Hispresenceandthatofhisfriendinspiredthelittleladywithintolerableterrorandaversion。Theypaidhertipsycompliments；theyleeredatheroverthedinner-table。AndtheCaptainmadeheradvancesthatfilledherwithsickeningdismay，norwouldsheeverseehimunlessshehadGeorgebyherside。
Rebecca，todoherjustice，neverwouldleteitherofthesemenremainalonewithAmelia；theMajorwasdisengagedtoo，andsworehewouldbethewinnerofher。
Acoupleofruffianswerefightingforthisinnocentcreature，gamblingforheratherowntable，andthoughshewasnotawareoftherascals’designsuponher，yetshefeltahorroranduneasinessintheirpresenceandlongedtofly。
Shebesought，sheentreatedJostogo。Nothe。Hewasslowofmovement，tiedtohisDoctor，andperhapstosomeotherleading-strings。AtleastBeckywasnotanxioustogotoEngland。
Atlastshetookagreatresolution——madethegreatplunge。Shewroteoffalettertoafriendwhomshehadontheothersideofthewater，aletteraboutwhichshedidnotspeakawordtoanybody，whichshecarriedherselftothepostunderhershawl；norwasanyremarkmadeaboutit，onlythatshelookedverymuchflushedandagitatedwhenGeorgymether，andshekissedhim，andhungoverhimagreatdealthatnight。Shedidnotcomeoutofherroomafterherreturnfromherwalk。
BeckythoughtitwasMajorLoderandtheCaptainwhofrightenedher。
“Shemustn’tstophere。”Beckyreasonedwithherself。
“Shemustgoaway，thesillylittlefool。Sheisstillwhimperingafterthatgabyofahusband——deadandservedright！thesefifteenyears。Sheshan’tmarryeitherofthesemen。It’stoobadofLoder。No；sheshallmarrythebamboocane，I’llsettleitthisverynight。”
SoBeckytookacupofteatoAmeliainherprivateapartmentandfoundthatladyinthecompanyofherminiatures，andinamostmelancholyandnervouscondition。Shelaiddownthecupoftea。
“Thankyou。”saidAmelia。
“Listentome，Amelia。”saidBecky，marchingupanddowntheroombeforetheotherandsurveyingherwithasortofcontemptuouskindness。”Iwanttotalktoyou。
Youmustgoawayfromhereandfromtheimpertinencesofthesemen。Iwon’thaveyouharassedbythem：andtheywillinsultyouifyoustay。Itellyoutheyarerascals：
menfittosendtothehulks。NevermindhowIknowthem。Iknoweverybody。Joscan’tprotectyou；heistooweakandwantsaprotectorhimself。Youarenomorefittoliveintheworldthanababyinarms。Youmustmarry，oryouandyourpreciousboywillgotoruin。Youmusthaveahusband，youfool；andoneofthebestgentlemenIeversawhasofferedyouahundredtimes，andyouhaverejectedhim，yousilly，heartless，ungratefullittlecreature！”
“Itried——Itriedmybest，indeedIdid，Rebecca。”saidAmeliadeprecatingly，“butIcouldn’tforget——“；andshefinishedthesentencebylookingupattheportrait。
“Couldn’tforgetHIM！”criedoutBecky，“thatselfishhumbug，thatlow-bredcockneydandy，thatpaddedbooby，whohadneitherwit，normanners，norheart，andwasnomoretobecomparedtoyourfriendwiththebamboocanethanyouaretoQueenElizabeth。Why，themanwaswearyofyou，andwouldhavejiltedyou，butthatDobbinforcedhimtokeephisword。Heownedittome。Henevercaredforyou。Heusedtosneeraboutyoutome，timeaftertime，andmadelovetometheweekafterhemarriedyou。”
“It’sfalse！It’sfalse！Rebecca。”criedoutAmelia，startingup。
“Lookthere，youfool。”Beckysaid，stillwithprovokinggoodhumour，andtakingalittlepaperoutofherbelt，sheopeneditandflungitintoEmmy’slap。”Youknowhishandwriting。Hewrotethattome——wantedmetorunawaywithhim——gaveitmeunderyournose，thedaybeforehewasshot——andservedhimright！”Beckyrepeated。
Emmydidnothearher；shewaslookingattheletter。
ItwasthatwhichGeorgehadputintothebouquetandgiventoBeckyonthenightoftheDuchessofRichmond’sball。Itwasasshesaid：thefoolishyoungmanhadaskedhertofly。
Emmy’sheadsankdown，andforalmostthelasttimeinwhichsheshallbecalledupontoweepinthishistory，shecommencedthatwork。Herheadfelltoherbosom，andherhandswentuptohereyes；andthereforawhile，shegavewaytoheremotions，asBeckystoodonandregardedher。Whoshallanalysethosetearsandsaywhethertheyweresweetorbitter？Wasshemostgrievedbecausetheidolofherlifewastumbleddownandshiveredatherfeet，orindignantthatherlovehadbeensodespised，orgladbecausethebarrierwasremovedwhichmodestyhadplacedbetweenherandanew，arealaffection？
“Thereisnothingtoforbidmenow。”shethought。
“Imaylovehimwithallmyheartnow。Oh，Iwill，Iwill，ifhewillbutletmeandforgiveme。”Ibelieveitwasthisfeelingrushedoveralltheotherswhichagitatedthatgentlelittlebosom。
Indeed，shedidnotcrysomuchasBeckyexpected——
theothersoothedandkissedher——araremarkofsympathywithMrs。Becky。ShetreatedEmmylikeachildandpattedherhead。”Andnowletusgetpenandinkandwritetohimtocomethisminute。”shesaid。
“I——Iwrotetohimthismorning。”Emmysaid，blushingexceedingly。Beckyscreamedwithlaughter——“Unbiglietto。”shesangoutwithRosina，“eccoloqua！”——thewholehouseechoedwithhershrillsinging。
Twomorningsafterthislittlescene，althoughthedaywasrainyandgusty，andAmeliahadhadanexceedinglywakefulnight，listeningtothewindroaring，andpityingalltravellersbylandandbywater，yetshegotupearlyandinsistedupontakingawalkontheDikewithGeorgy；
andthereshepacedastherainbeatintoherface，andshelookedoutwestwardacrossthedarksealineandovertheswollenbillowswhichcametumblingandfrothingtotheshore。Neitherspokemuch，exceptnowandthen，whentheboysaidafewwordstohistimidcompanion，indicativeofsympathyandprotection。
“Ihopehewon’tcrossinsuchweather。”Emmysaid。
“Ibettentoonehedoes。”theboyanswered。”Look，Mother，there’sthesmokeofthesteamer。”Itwasthatsignal，sureenough。
Butthoughthesteamerwasunderway，hemightnotbeonboard；hemightnothavegottheletter；hemightnotchoosetocome。Ahundredfearspouredoneovertheotherintothelittleheart，asfastasthewavesontotheDike。
Theboatfollowedthesmokeintosight。Georgyhadadandytelescopeandgotthevesselunderviewinthemostskilfulmanner。Andhemadeappropriatenauticalcommentsuponthemanneroftheapproachofthesteamerasshecamenearerandnearer，dippingandrisinginthewater。ThesignalofanEnglishsteamerinsightwentflutteringuptothemastonthepier。IdaresayMrs。
Amelia’sheartwasinasimilarflutter。
EmmytriedtolookthroughthetelescopeoverGeorge’sshoulder，butshecouldmakenothingofit。
Sheonlysawablackeclipsebobbingupanddownbeforehereyes。
Georgetooktheglassagainandrakedthevessel。
“Howshedoespitch！”hesaid。”Theregoesawaveslapoverherbows。There’sonlytwopeopleondeckbesidesthesteersman。There’samanlyingdown，anda——chapina——cloakwitha——Hooray！——it’sDob，byJingo！”
Heclappedtothetelescopeandflunghisarmsroundhismother。Asforthatlady，letussaywhatshedidinthewordsofafavouritepoet——“Dakruoengelasasa。”ShewassureitwasWilliam。Itcouldbenoother。Whatshehadsaidabouthopingthathewouldnotcomewasallhypocrisy。Ofcoursehewouldcome；whatcouldhedoelsebutcome？Sheknewhewouldcome。
Theshipcameswiftlynearerandnearer。Astheywentintomeetheratthelanding-placeatthequay，Emmy’skneestrembledsothatshescarcelycouldrun。Shewouldhavelikedtokneeldownandsayherprayersofthanksthere。Oh，shethought，shewouldbeallherlifesayingthem！
Itwassuchabaddaythatasthevesselcamealongsideofthequaytherewerenoidlersabroad，scarcelyevenacommissioneronthelookoutforthefewpassengersinthesteamer。ThatyoungscapegraceGeorgehadfledtoo，andasthegentlemanintheoldcloaklinedwithredstuffsteppedontotheshore，therewasscarcelyanyonepresenttoseewhattookplace，whichwasbrieflythis：
Aladyinadrippingwhitebonnetandshawl，withhertwolittlehandsoutbeforeher，wentuptohim，andinthenextminuteshehadaltogetherdisappearedunderthefoldsoftheoldcloak，andwaskissingoneofhishandswithallhermight；whilsttheother，Isuppose，wasengagedinholdinghertohisheartwhichherheadjustaboutreachedandinpreventingherfromtumblingdown。Shewasmurmuringsomethingabout——forgive——
dearWilliam——dear，dear，dearestfriend——kiss，kiss，kiss，andsoforth——andinfactwentonunderthecloakinanabsurdmanner。
WhenEmmyemergedfromit，shestillkepttightholdofoneofWilliam’shands，andlookedupinhisface。Itwasfullofsadnessandtenderloveandpity。Sheunderstooditsreproachandhungdownherhead。
“Itwastimeyousentforme，dearAmelia。”hesaid。
“Youwillnevergoagain，William？”
“No，never。”heanswered，andpressedthedearlittlesouloncemoretohisheart。