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was the way in which Miss Amelia reasoned。 The fate of
Europe was Lieutenant George Osborne to her。 His
dangers being over； she sang Te Deum。 He was her Europe：
her emperor： her allied monarchs and august prince
regent。 He was her sun and moon； and I believe she
thought the grand illumination and ball at the Mansion
House； given to the sovereigns； were especially in honour
of George Osborne。
We have talked of shift； self； and poverty； as those
dismal instructors under whom poor Miss Becky Sharp
got her education。 Now； love was Miss Amelia Sedley's
last tutoress； and it was amazing what progress our young
lady made under that popular teacher。 In the course of
fifteen or eighteen months' daily and constant attention to
this eminent finishing governess； what a deal of secrets
Amelia learned； which Miss Wirt and the black…eyed
young ladies over the way； which old Miss Pinkerton of
Chiswick herself； had no cognizance of！ As； indeed； how
should any of those prim and reputable virgins？ With
Misses P。 and W。 the tender passion is out of the
question： I would not dare to breathe such an idea regarding
them。 Miss Maria Osborne； it is true； was 〃attached〃 to
Mr。 Frederick Augustus Bullock； of the firm of Hulker；
Bullock & Bullock； but hers was a most respectable
attachment； and she would have taken Bullock Senior just
the same； her mind being fixedas that of a well…bred
young woman should beupon a house in Park Lane；
a country house at Wimbledon； a handsome chariot； and
two prodigious tall horses and footmen； and a fourth of
the annual profits of the eminent firm of Hulker &
Bullock； all of which advantages were represented in the
person of Frederick Augustus。 Had orange blossoms been
invented then （those touching emblems of female purity
imported by us from France； where people's daughters
are universally sold in marriage）； Miss Maria； I say；
would have assumed the spotless wreath； and stepped into
the travelling carriage by the side of gouty； old； bald…
headed； bottle…nosed Bullock Senior； and devoted her
beautiful existence to his happiness with perfect modesty
only the old gentleman was married already； so she
bestowed her young affections on the junior partner。
Sweet； blooming； orange flowers！ The other day I saw
Miss Trotter （that was）； arrayed in them； trip into the
travelling carriage at St。 George's； Hanover Square； and
Lord Methuselah hobbled in after。 With what an engaging
modesty she pulled down the blinds of the chariotthe
dear innocent！ There were half the carriages of Vanity
Fair at the wedding。
This was not the sort of love that finished Amelia's
education； and in the course of a year turned a good young
girl into a good young womanto be a good wife
presently； when the happy time should come。 This young
person （perhaps it was very imprudent in her parents to
encourage her； and abet her in such idolatry and silly
romantic ideas） loved； with all her heart； the young
officer in His Majesty's service with whom we have made a
brief acquaintance。 She thought about him the very first
moment on waking； and his was the very last name
mentioned m her prayers。 She never had seen a man so
beautiful or so clever： such a figure on horseback： such
a dancer： such a hero in general。 Talk of the Prince's
bow！ what was it to George's？ She had seen Mr。
Brummell； whom everybody praised so。 Compare such a person
as that to her George！ Not amongst all the beaux at the
Opera （and there were beaux in those days with actual
opera hats） was there any one to equal him。 He was only
good enough to be a fairy prince； and oh； what
magnanimity to stoop to such a humble Cinderella！ Miss
Pinkerton would have tried to check this blind devotion
very likely； had she been Amelia's confidante； but not
with much success； depend upon it。 It is in the nature and
instinct of some women。 Some are made to scheme； and
some to love； and I wish any respected bachelor that
reads this may take the sort that best likes him。
While under this overpowering impression； Miss Amelia
neglected her twelve dear friends at Chiswick most
cruelly； as such selfish people commonly will do。 She had
but this subject； of course； to think about； and Miss
Saltire was too cold for a confidante； and she couldn't
bring her mind to tell Miss Swartz； the woolly…haired
young heiress from St。 Kitt's。 She had little Laura Martin
home for the holidays； and my belief is； she made a
confidante of her； and promised that Laura should come
and live with her when she was married； and gave Laura
a great deal of information regarding the passion of
love； which must have been singularly useful and novel
to that little person。 Alas； alas！ I fear poor Emmy had
not a well…regulated mind。
What were her parents doing； not to keep this little
heart from beating so fast？ Old Sedley did not seem much
to notice matters。 He was graver of late； and his City
affairs absorbed him。 Mrs。 Sedley was of so easy and
uninquisitive a nature that she wasn't even jealous。 Mr。
Jos was away； being besieged by an Irish widow at
Cheltenham。 Amelia had the house to herselfah！ too
much to herself sometimesnot that she ever doubted；
for； to be sure； George must be at the Horse Guards；
and he can't always get leave from Chatham； and he must
see his friends and sisters； and mingle in society when
in town （he； such an ornament to every society！）； and
when he is with the regiment； he is too tired to write long
letters。 I know where she kept that packet she hadand
can steal in and out of her chamber like Iachimolike
Iachimo？ Nothat is a bad part。 I will only act
Moonshine； and peep harmless into the bed where faith and
beauty and innocence lie dreaming。
But if Osborne's were short and soldierlike letters； it
must be confessed； that were Miss Sedley's letters to Mr。
Osborne to be published； we should have to extend this
novel to such a multiplicity of volumes as not the most
sentimental reader could support； that she not only filled
sheets of large paper； but crossed them with the most
astonishing perverseness； that she wrote whole pages out
of poetry…books without the least pity； that she
underlined words and passages with quite a frantic emphasis；
and； in fine； gave the usual tokens of her condition。 She
wasn't a heroine。 Her letters were full of repetition。 She
wrote rather doubtful grammar sometimes； and in her
verses took all sorts of liberties with the metre。 But oh；
mesdames； if you are not allowed to touch the heart
sometimes in spite of syntax； and are not to be loved
until you all know the difference between trimeter and
tetrameter； may all Poetry go to the deuce； and every
schoolmaster perish miserably！
CHAPTER XIII
Sentimental and Otherwise
I fear the gentleman to whom Miss Amelia's letters were
addressed was rather an obdurate critic。 Such a number
of notes followed Lieutenant Osborne about the country；
that he became almost ashamed of the jokes of his
mess…room companions regarding them； and ordered his
servant never to deliver them except at his private apartment。
He was seen lighting his cigar with one； to the horror of
Captain Dobbin； who；