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drink； which he only took； he said； because he was
deuced low； but when his friend began to put to him
clumsy inquiries； and asked him for news in a significant
manner； Osborne declined entering into conversation with
him； avowing； however； that he was devilish disturbed
and unhappy。
Three days afterwards； Dobbin found Osborne in his
room at the barrackshis head on the table； a number
of papers about； the young Captain evidently in a state
of great despondency。 〃Sheshe's sent me back some
things I gave hersome damned trinkets。 Look here！〃
There was a little packet directed in the well…known hand
to Captain George Osborne； and some things lying about
a ring； a silver knife he had bought； as a boy； for her
at a fair； a gold chain； and a locket with hair in it。 〃It's
all over；〃 said he； with a groan of sickening remorse。
〃Look； Will； you may read it if you like。〃
There was a little letter of a few lines； to which he
pointed； which said：
My papa has ordered me to return to you these
presents； which you made in happier days to me； and I
am to write to you for the last time。 I think； I know you
feel as much as I do the blow which has come upon us。
It is I that absolve you from an engagement which is
impossible in our present misery。 I am sure you had no
share in it； or in the cruel suspicions of Mr。 Osborne；
which are the hardest of all our griefs to bear。 Farewell。
Farewell。 I pray God to strengthen me to bear this and
other calamities； and to bless you always。 A。
I shall often play upon the pianoyour piano。 It was
like you to send it。
Dobbin was very soft…hearted。 The sight of women
and children in pain always used to melt him。 The idea
of Amelia broken…hearted and lonely tore that good…
natured soul with anguish。 And he broke out into an
emotion； which anybody who likes may consider unmanly。
He swore that Amelia was an angel； to which Osborne
said aye with all his heart。 He； too； had been reviewing
the history of their livesand had seen her from her
childhood to her present age； so sweet； so innocent；
so charmingly simple； and artlessly fond and tender。
What a pang it was to lose all that： to have had it and
not prized it！ A thousand homely scenes and recollections
crowded on himin which he always saw her good
and beautiful。 And for himself； he blushed with remorse
and shame； as the remembrance of his own selfishness
and indifference contrasted with that perfect purity。 For
a while； glory； war； everything was forgotten； and the
pair of friends talked about her only。
〃Where are they？〃 Osborne asked； after a long talk；
and a long pauseand； in truth； with no little shame at
thinking that he had taken no steps to follow her。 〃Where
are they？ There's no address to the note。〃
Dobbin knew。 He had not merely sent the piano； but
had written a note to Mrs。 Sedley； and asked permission
to come and see herand he had seen her； and Amelia
too； yesterday； before he came down to Chatham； and；
what is more； he had brought that farewell letter and
packet which had so moved them。
The good…natured fellow had found Mrs。 Sedley only
too willing to receive him； and greatly agitated by the
arrival of the piano； which； as she conjectured； MUST have
come from George； and was a signal of amity on his
part。 Captain Dobbin did not correct this error of the
worthy lady； but listened to all her story of complaints
and misfortunes with great sympathycondoled with
her losses and privations； and agreed in reprehending the
cruel conduct of Mr。 Osborne towards his first benefactor。
When she had eased her overflowing bosom somewhat；
and poured forth many of her sorrows； he had the
courage to ask actually to see Amelia； who was above in
her room as usual； and whom her mother led trembling
downstairs。
Her appearance was so ghastly； and her look of despair
so pathetic； that honest William Dobbin was frightened
as he beheld it； and read the most fatal forebodings in
that pale fixed face。 After sitting in his company a minute
or two； she put the packet into his hand； and said；
〃Take this to Captain Osborne； if you please； andand I
hope he's quite welland it was very kind of you to
come and see usand we like our new house very much。
And II think I'll go upstairs； Mamma； for I'm not very
strong。〃 And with this； and a curtsey and a smile； the
poor child went her way。 The mother； as she led her up；
cast back looks of anguish towards Dobbin。 The good
fellow wanted no such appeal。 He loved her himself too
fondly for that。 Inexpressible grief； and pity； and terror
pursued him； and he came away as if he was a criminal
after seeing her。
When Osborne heard that his friend had found her；
he made hot and anxious inquiries regarding the poor
child。 How was she？ How did she look？ What did she
say？ His comrade took his hand； and looked him in the
face。
〃George； she's dying；〃 William Dobbin saidand could
speak no more。
There was a buxom Irish servant…girl； who performed
all the duties of the little house where the Sedley family
had found refuge： and this girl had in vain； on many
previous days； striven to give Amelia aid or consolation。
Emmy was much too sad to answer； or even to be aware
of the attempts the other was making in her favour。
Four hours after the talk between Dobbin and Osborne；
this servant…maid came into Amelia's room； where she
sate as usual； brooding silently over her lettersher
little treasures。 The girl； smiling； and looking arch and
happy； made many trials to attract poor Emmy's
attention； who； however； took no heed of her。
〃Miss Emmy；〃 said the girl。
〃I'm coming；〃 Emmy said； not looking round。
〃There's a message；〃 the maid went on。 〃There's
somethingsomebodysure； here's a new letter for you
don't be reading them old ones any more。〃 And she gave
her a letter； which Emmy took； and read。
〃I must see you；〃 the letter said。 〃Dearest Emmy
dearest lovedearest wife； come to me。〃
George and her mother were outside； waiting until she
had read the letter。
CHAPTER XXX
〃The Girl I Left Behind Me〃
We do not claim to rank among the military novelists。
Our place is with the non…combatants。 When the decks
are cleared for action we go below and wait meekly。 We
should only be in the way of the manoeuvres that the
gallant fellows are performing overhead。 We shall go no
farther with the th than to the city gate： and leaving
Major O'Dowd to his duty； come back to the Major's
wife； and the ladies and the baggage。
Now the Major and his lady； who had not been invited
to the ball at which in our last chapter other of our
friends figured； had much more time to take their
wholesome natural rest in bed； than was accorded to people
who wished to enjoy pleasure as well as to do duty。 〃It's
my belief； Peggy； my dear；〃 said he； as he placidly pulled
his nightcap over his ears； 〃that there will be such a ball
danced in a day or two as some of 'em has never heard
the chune of〃； and he was much more happy to retire to
rest after partaking of a quiet tumbler； than to figure at
any other sort of amusement。 Peggy； for her part； would
have liked to have shown her turban and bird of
paradise at the ball； but for the information