按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
pencil…marks such passages of sentiment or humour as
awakened her sympathy。 She borrowed his horses； his
servants； his spoons； and palanquinno wonder that public
rumour assigned her to him； and that the Major's sisters in
England should fancy they were about to have a sister…in…
law。
Dobbin； who was thus vigorously besieged； was in the
meanwhile in a state of the most odious tranquillity。 He
used to laugh when the young fellows of the regiment
joked him about Glorvina's manifest attentions to him。
〃Bah！〃 said he； 〃she is only keeping her hand inshe
practises upon me as she does upon Mrs。 Tozer's piano；
because it's the most handy instrument in the station。 I am
much too battered and old for such a fine young lady as
Glorvina。〃 And so he went on riding with her； and copying
music and verses into her albums； and playing at chess
with her very submissively； for it is with these simple
amusements that some officers in India are accustomed to
while away their leisure moments； while others of a less
domestic turn hunt hogs； and shoot snipes； or gamble and
smoke cheroots； and betake themselves to brandy…and…
water。 As for Sir Michael O'Dowd； though his lady and her
sister both urged him to call upon the Major to explain
himself and not keep on torturing a poor innocent girl in
that shameful way； the old soldier refused point…blank to
have anything to do with the conspiracy。 〃Faith； the Major's
big enough to choose for himself；〃 Sir Michael said； 〃he'll
ask ye when he wants ye〃； or else he would turn the
matter off jocularly； declaring that 〃Dobbin was too young
to keep house； and had written home to ask lave of his
mamma。〃 Nay； he went farther； and in private
communications with his Major would caution and rally
him； crying； 〃Mind your oi； Dob； my boy； them girls is bent
on mischiefme Lady has just got a box of gowns from Europe；
and there's a pink satin for Glorvina； which will finish ye；
Dob； if it's in the power of woman or satin to move ye。〃
But the truth is； neither beauty nor fashion could conquer
him。 Our honest friend had but one idea of a woman in his
head； and that one did not in the least resemble Miss
Glorvina O'Dowd in pink satin。 A gentle little woman in black；
with large eyes and brown hair； seldom speaking； save when
spoken to； and then in a voice not the least resembling
Miss Glorvina'sa soft young mother tending an infant
and beckoning the Major up with a smile to look at hima
rosy…cheeked lass coming singing into the room in Russell
Square or hanging on George Osborne's arm； happy and
lovingthere was but this image that filled our honest
Major's mind； by day and by night； and reigned over it
always。 Very likely Amelia was not like the portrait the
Major had formed of her： there was a figure in a book of
fashions which his sisters had in England； and with which
William had made away privately； pasting it into the lid
of his desk； and fancying he saw some resemblance to
Mrs。 Osborne in the print； whereas I have seen it； and
can vouch that it is but the picture of a high…waisted
gown with an impossible doll's face simpering over it
and； perhaps； Mr。 Dobbin's sentimental Amelia was no
more like the real one than this absurd little print which
he cherished。 But what man in love； of us； is better
informed？or is he much happier when he sees and owns his
delusion？ Dobbin was under this spell。 He did not bother
his friends and the public much about his feelings； or
indeed lose his natural rest or appetite on account
of them。 His head has grizzled since we saw him last； and
a line or two of silver may be seen in the soft brown hair
likewise。 But his feelings are not in the least changed or
oldened； and his love remains as fresh as a man's
recollections of boyhood are。
We have said how the two Misses Dobbin and Amelia； the
Major's correspondents in Europe； wrote him letters from
England； Mrs。 Osborne congratulating him with great candour
and cordiality upon his approaching nuptials with Miss O'Dowd。
〃Your sister has just kindly visited me；〃 Amelia wrote
in her letter； 〃and informed me of an INTERESTING EVENT；
upon which I beg to offer my MOST SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS。
I hope the young lady to whom I hear you are to
be UNITED will in every respect prove worthy of one who
is himself all kindness and goodness。 The poor widow has
only her prayers to offer and her cordial cordial wishes
for YOUR PROSPERITY！ Georgy sends his love to HIS DEAR GODPAPA
and hopes that you will not forget him。 I tell
him that you are about to form OTHER TIES； with one who
I am sure merits ALL YOUR AFFECTION； but that； although
such ties must of course be the strongest and most
sacred； and supersede ALL OTHERS； yet that I am sure the
widow and the child whom you have ever protected and
loved will always HAVE A CORNER IN YOUR HEART〃 The letter；
which has been before alluded to； went on in this
strain； protesting throughout as to the extreme satisfaction
of the writer。
This letter； 。which arrived by the very same ship which
brought out Lady O'Dowd's box of millinery from London
（and which you may be sure Dobbin opened before any
one of the other packets which the mail brought him）；
put the receiver into such a state of mind that Glorvina；
and her pink satin； and everything belonging to her became
perfectly odious to him。 The Major cursed the talk
of women； and the sex in general。 Everything annoyed
him that daythe parade was insufferably hot and
wearisome。 Good heavens！ was a man of intellect to waste
his life； day after day； inspecting cross…belts and putting
fools through their manoeuvres？ The senseless chatter
of the young men at mess was more than ever jarring。
What cared he； a man on the high road to forty； to
know how many snipes Lieutenant Smith had shot； or
what were the performances of Ensign Brown's mare？ The
jokes about the table filled him with shame。 He was too
old to listen to the banter of the assistant surgeon and
the slang of the youngsters； at which old O'Dowd； with
his bald head and red face； laughed quite easily。 The
old man had listened to those jokes any time these
thirty yearsDobbin himself had been fifteen years hearing
them。 And after the boisterous dulness of the mess…table；
the quarrels and scandal of the ladies of the regiment！
It was unbearable； shameful。 〃O Amelia； Amelia；〃
he thought； 〃you to whom I have been so faithful
you reproach me！ It is because you cannot feel for me
that I drag on this wearisome life。 And you reward me
after years of devotion by giving me your blessing upon
my marriage； forsooth； with this flaunting Irish girl！〃
Sick and sorry felt poor William； more than ever
wretched and lonely。 He would like to have done with
life and its vanity altogetherso bootless and unsatisfactory
the struggle； so cheerless and dreary the prospect
seemed to him。 He lay all that night sleepless； and
yearning to go home。 Amelia's letter had fallen as a
blank upon him。 No fidelity； no constant truth and passion；
could move her into warmth。 She would not see
that he loved her。 Tossing in his bed； he spoke out to her。
〃Good God； Amelia！〃 he said； 〃don't you know that I
only lo