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at mathematics he was uncommonly quick。 To the
contentment of all he passed third in algebra； and got a
French prize…book at the public Midsummer examination。
You should have seen his mother's face when Telemaque
（that delicious romance） was presented to him by
the Doctor in the face of the whole school and the parents
and company； with an inscription to Gulielmo Dobbin。 All
the boys clapped hands in token of applause and
sympathy。 His blushes； his stumbles； his awkwardness； and
the number of feet which he crushed as he went back to
his place； who shall describe or calculate？ Old Dobbin； his
father； who now respected him for the first time； gave
him two guineas publicly； most of which he spent in a
general tuck…out for the school： and he came back in a
tail…coat after the holidays。
Dobbin was much too modest a young fellow to
suppose that this happy change in all his circumstances
arose from his own generous and manly disposition： he
chose； from some perverseness； to attribute his good
fortune to the sole agency and benevolence of little George
Osborne； to whom henceforth he vowed such a love and
affection as is only felt by childrensuch an affection； as
we read in the charming fairy…book； uncouth Orson had
for splendid young Valentine his conqueror。 He flung
himself down at little Osborne's feet； and loved him。
Even before they were acquainted； he had admired
Osborne in secret。 Now he was his valet； his dog； his man
Friday。 He believed Osborne to be the possessor of
every perfection； to be the handsomest； the bravest； the
most active； the cleverest； the most generous of created
boys。 He shared his money with him： bought him
uncountable presents of knives； pencil…cases； gold seals；
toffee； Little Warblers； and romantic books； with large
coloured pictures of knights and robbers； in many of which
latter you might read inscriptions to George Sedley
Osborne； Esquire； from his attached friend William Dobbin
the which tokens of homage George received very
graciously； as became his superior merit。
So that Lieutenant Osborne； when coming to Russell
Square on the day of the Vauxhall party； said to the
ladies； 〃Mrs。 Sedley； Ma'am； I hope you have room； I've
asked Dobbin of ours to come and dine here； and go with
us to Vauxhall。 He's almost as modest as Jos。〃
〃Modesty！ pooh；〃 said the stout gentleman； casting a
vainqueur look at Miss Sharp。
〃He isbut you are incomparably more graceful；
Sedley；〃 Osborne added； laughing。 〃I met him at the
Bedford； when I went to look for you； and I told him that
Miss Amelia was come home； and that we were all bent
on going out for a night's pleasuring； and that Mrs。 Sedley
had forgiven his breaking the punch…bowl at the child's
party。 Don't you remember the catastrophe； Ma'am； seven
years ago？〃
〃Over Mrs。 Flamingo's crimson silk gown；〃 said good…
natured Mrs。 Sedley。 〃What a gawky it was！ And his
sisters are not much more graceful。 Lady Dobbin was at
Highbury last night with three of them。 Such figures！ my
dears。〃
〃The Alderman's very rich； isn't he？〃 Osborne said
archly。 〃Don't you think one of the daughters would be a
good spec for me； Ma'am？〃
〃You foolish creature！ Who would take you； I should
like to know； with your yellow face？〃
〃Mine a yellow face？ Stop till you see Dobbin。 Why； he
had the yellow fever three times； twice at Nassau； and
once at St。 Kitts。〃
〃Well； well； yours is quite yellow enough for us。 Isn't
it； Emmy？〃 Mrs。 Sedley said： at which speech Miss
Amelia only made a smile and a blush； and looking at Mr。
George Osborne's pale interesting countenance； and those
beautiful black； curling； shining whiskers； which the young
gentleman himself regarded with no ordinary
complacency； she thought in her little heart that in
His Majesty's army； or in the wide world； there never
was such a face or such a hero。 〃I don't care about Captain
Dobbin's complexion；〃 she said； 〃or about his awkwardness。
I shall always like him； I know；〃 her little reason being；
that he was the friend and champion of George。
〃There's not a finer fellow in the service；〃 Osborne
said； 〃nor a better officer； though he is not an Adonis；
certainly。〃 And he looked towards the glass himself with
much naivete； and in so doing； caught Miss Sharp's eye
fixed keenly upon him； at which he blushed a little； and
Rebecca thought in her heart； 〃Ah； mon beau Monsieur！
I think I have YOUR gauge〃the little artful minx！
That evening； when Amelia came tripping into the
drawing…room in a white muslin frock； prepared for
conquest at Vauxhall； singing like a lark； and as fresh as a
rosea very tall ungainly gentleman； with large hands
and feet； and large ears； set off by a closely cropped head
of black hair； and in the hideous military frogged coat
and cocked hat of those times； advanced to meet her； and
made her one of the clumsiest bows that was ever
performed by a mortal。
This was no other than Captain William Dobbin； of
His Majesty's Regiment of Foot； returned from
yellow fever； in the West Indies； to which the fortune
of the service had ordered his regiment； whilst so many
of his gallant comrades were reaping glory in the Peninsula。
He had arrived with a knock so very timid and quiet
that it was inaudible to the ladies upstairs： otherwise； you
may be sure Miss Amelia would never have been so bold
as to come singing into the room。 As it was； the sweet
fresh little voice went right into the Captain's heart； and
nestled there。 When she held out her hand for him to
shake； before he enveloped it in his own； he paused； and
thought〃Well； is it possibleare you the little maid I
remember in the pink frock； such a short time agothe
night I upset the punch…bowl； just after I was gazetted？
Are you the little girl that George Osborne said should
marry him？ What a blooming young creature you seem；
and what a prize the rogue has got！〃 All this he thought；
before he took Amelia's hand into his own； and as he let
his cocked hat fall。
His history since he left school； until the very moment
when we have the pleasure of meeting him again； although
not fully narrated； has yet； I think； been indicated
sufficiently for an ingenious reader by the conversation
in the last page。 Dobbin； the despised grocer； was Alderman
DobbinAlderman Dobbin was Colonel of the City Light
Horse； then burning with military ardour to resist the
French Invasion。 Colonel Dobbin's corps； in which old
Mr。 Osborne himself was but an indifferent corporal； had
been reviewed by the Sovereign and the Duke of York；
and the colonel and alderman had been knighted。 His
son had entered the army： and young Osborne followed
presently in the same regiment。 They had served in the
West Indies and in Canada。 Their regiment had just come
home； and the attachment of Dobbin to George Osborne
was as warm and generous now as it had been when the
two were schoolboys。
So these worthy people sat down to dinner presently。
They talked about war and glory； and Boney and Lord
Wellington； and the last Gazette。 In those famous days
every gazette had a victory in it； and the two gallant young
men longed to see their own names in the glorious list；
and cursed their unluck