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and consulting as to the best means of being useful to
Mrs。 Becky； while she was finishing her interrupted
dejeuner a la fourchette。
How was it that she had come to that little town？
How was it that she had no friends and was wandering
about alone？ Little boys at school are taught in their
earliest Latin book that the path of Avernus is very easy
of descent。 Let us skip over the interval in the history of
her downward progress。 She was not worse now than she
had been in the days of her prosperityonly a little
down on her luck。
As for Mrs。 Amelia； she was a woman of such a soft
and foolish disposition that when she heard of anybody
unhappy； her heart straightway melted towards the
sufferer； and as she had never thought or done anything
mortally guilty herself； she had not that abhorrence for
wickedness which distinguishes moralists much more
knowing。 If she spoiled everybody who came near her
with kindness and complimentsif she begged pardon
of all her servants for troubling them to answer the bell
if she apologized to a shopboy who showed her a piece
of silk； or made a curtsey to a street…sweeper with a
complimentary remark upon the elegant state of his crossing
and she was almost capable of every one of these
folliesthe notion that an old acquaintance was miserable
was sure to soften her heart； nor would she hear of
anybody's being deservedly unhappy。 A world under such
legislation as hers would not be a very orderly place of
abode； but there are not many women； at least not of the
rulers； who are of her sort。 This lady； I believe； would
have abolished all gaols； punishments； handcuffs；
whippings； poverty； sickness； hunger； in the world； and was
such a mean…spirited creature thatwe are obliged to
confess itshe could even forget a mortal injury。
When the Major heard from Jos of the sentimental
adventure which had just befallen the latter； he was not；
it must be owned； nearly as much interested as the
gentleman from Bengal。 On the contrary； his excitement was
quite the reverse from a pleasurable one； he made use of
a brief but improper expression regarding a poor woman
in distress； saying； in fact； 〃The little minx； has she
come to light again？〃 He never had had the slightest liking
for her； but had heartily mistrusted her from the very
first moment when her green eyes had looked at； and
turned away from； his own。
〃That little devil brings mischief wherever she goes；〃
the Major said disrespectfully。 〃Who knows what sort of
life she has been leading？ And what business has she
here abroad and alone？ Don't tell me about persecutors
and enemies； an honest woman always has friends and
never is separated from her family。 Why has she left her
husband？ He may have been disreputable and wicked； as
you say。 He always was。 I remember the confounded
blackleg and the way in which he used to cheat and
hoodwink poor George。 Wasn't there a scandal about their
separation？ I think I heard something；〃 cried out Major
Dobbin； who did not care much about gossip； and whom
Jos tried in vain to convince that Mrs。 Becky was in all
respects a most injured and virtuous female。
〃Well； well； let's ask Mrs。 George；〃 said that arch…
diplomatist of a Major。 〃Only let us go and consult her。
I suppose you will allow that she is a good judge at any
rate； and knows what is right in such matters。〃
〃Hm！ Emmy is very well；〃 said Jos； who did not
happen to be in love with his sister。
〃Very well？ By Gad； sir； she's the finest lady I ever
met in my life；〃 bounced out the Major。 〃I say at once；
let us go and ask her if this woman ought to be visited
or notI will be content with her verdict。〃 Now this
odious； artful rogue of a Major was thinking in his own
mind that he was sure of his case。 Emmy； he remembered；
was at one time cruelly and deservedly jealous of
Rebecca； never mentioned her name but with a shrinking
and terrora jealous woman never forgives； thought
Dobbin： and so the pair went across the street to Mrs。
George's house； where she was contentedly warbling at
a music lesson with Madame Strumpff。
When that lady took her leave； Jos opened the business
with his usual pomp of words。 〃Amelia； my dear；〃
said he； 〃I have just had the most extraordinaryyes
God bless my soul！ the most extraordinary adventure
an old friendyes； a most interesting old friend of
yours； and I may say in old times； has just arrived here；
and I should like you to see her。〃
〃Her！〃 said Amelia； 〃who is it？ Major Dobbin； if you
please not to break my scissors。〃 The Major was twirling
them round by the little chain from which they sometimes
hung to their lady's waist； and was thereby endangering
his own eye。
It is a woman whom I dislike very much；〃 said the
Major； doggedly； 〃and whom you have no cause to love。〃
〃It is Rebecca； I'm sure it is Rebecca；〃 Amelia said；
blushing and being very much agitated。
〃You are right； you always are；〃 Dobbin answered。
Brussels； Waterloo； old； old times； griefs； pangs；
remembrances； rushed back into Amelia's gentle
heart and caused a cruel agitation there。
〃Don't let me see her；〃 Emmy continued。 〃I couldn't
see her。〃
〃I told you so；〃 Dobbin said to Jos。
〃She is very unhappy； andand that sort of thing；〃
Jos urged。 〃She is very poor and unprotected； and has
been illexceedingly illand that scoundrel of a
husband has deserted her。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Amelia
〃She hasn't a friend in the world；〃 Jos went on； not
undexterously； 〃and she said she thought she might trust in
you。 She's so miserable； Emmy。 She has been almost mad
with grief。 Her story quite affected me'pon my word
and honour； it didnever was such a cruel persecution
borne so angelically； I may say。 Her family has been
most cruel to her。〃
〃Poor creature！〃 Amelia said。
〃And if she can get no friend； she says she thinks she'll
die；〃 Jos proceeded in a low tremulous voice。 〃God bless
my soul！ do you know that she tried to kill herself？ She
carries laudanum with herI saw the bottle in her room
such a miserable little roomat a third…rate house；
the Elephant； up in the roof at the top of all。 I went
there。〃
This did not seem to affect Emmy。 She even smiled a
little。 Perhaps she figured Jos to herself panting up the
stair。
〃She's beside herself with grief；〃 he resumed。 〃The
agonies that woman has endured are quite frightful to
hear of。 She had a little boy； of the same age as Georgy。〃
〃Yes； yes； I think I remember；〃 Emmy remarked。
〃Well？〃
〃The most beautiful child ever seen；〃 Jos said； who
was very fat； and easily moved； and had been touched by
the story Becky told； 〃a perfect angel； who adored his
mother。 The ruffians tore him shrieking out of her arms；
and have never allowed him to see her。〃
〃Dear Joseph；〃 Emmy cried out； starting up at once；
〃let us go and see her this minute。〃 And she ran into her
adjoining bedchamber； tied on her bonnet in a flutter；
came out with her shawl on her arm； and ordered
Dobbin to follow。
He went and put her shawlit was a white cashmere；
consigned to her by the Major himself from Indiaover
her shoulders。 He saw there was nothing for it but to
obey； and she put her hand into his arm； and they went
away。
〃It is number 92； u