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AIRS （these words were uttered in the elder Osborne's
most sarcastic tones）。 But it wasn't considered the part
of a gentleman； in MY time； for a man to insult his father。
If I'd done any such thing； mine would have kicked me
downstairs； sir。〃
〃I never insulted you； sir。 I said I begged you to
remember your son was a gentleman as well as yourself。
I know very well that you give me plenty of money；〃
said George （fingering a bundle of notes which he had
got in the morning from Mr。 Chopper）。 〃You tell it me
often enough； sir。 There's no fear of my forgetting it。〃
〃I wish you'd remember other things as well； sir；〃 the
sire answered。 〃I wish you'd remember that in this house
so long as you choose to HONOUR it with your COMPANY；
CaptainI'm the master； and that name； and that
thatthat youthat I say〃
〃That what； sir？〃 George asked； with scarcely a sneer；
filling another glass of claret。
〃！〃 burst out his father with a screaming oath
〃that the name of those Sedleys never be mentioned
here； sirnot one of the whole damned lot of 'em； sir。〃
〃It wasn't I； sir； that introduced Miss Sedley's name。 It
was my sisters who spoke ill of her to Miss Swartz； and
by Jove I'll defend her wherever I go。 Nobody shall
speak lightly of that name in my presence。 Our family
has done her quite enough injury already； I think； and
may leave off reviling her now she's down。 I'll shoot any
man but you who says a word against her。〃
〃Go on； sir； go on；〃 the old gentleman said； his eyes
starting out of his head。
〃Go on about what； sir？ about the way in which we've
treated that angel of a girl？ Who told me to love her？ It
was your doing。 I might have chosen elsewhere； and
looked higher； perhaps； than your society： but I obeyed
you。 And now that her heart's mine you give me orders
to fling it away； and punish her； kill her perhapsfor
the faults of other people。 It's a shame； by Heavens；〃
said George； working himself up into passion and
enthusiasm as he proceeded； 〃to play at fast and loose with
a young girl's affectionsand with such an angel as that
one so superior to the people amongst whom she lived；
that she might have excited envy； only she was so good
and gentle； that it's a wonder anybody dared to hate her。
If I desert her； sir； do you suppose she forgets me？〃
〃I ain't going to have any of this dam sentimental nonsense
and humbug here； sir；〃 the father cried out。 〃There
shall be no beggar…marriages in my family。 If you choose
to fling away eight thousand a year； which you may have
for the asking； you may do it： but by Jove you take your
pack and walk out of this house； sir。 Will you do as I tell
you； once for all； sir； or will you not？〃
〃Marry that mulatto woman？〃 George said； pulling up
his shirt…collars。 〃I don't like the colour； sir。 Ask the
black that sweeps opposite Fleet Market； sir。 I'm not
going to marry a Hottentot Venus。〃
Mr。 Osborne pulled frantically at the cord by which he
was accustomed to summon the butler when he wanted
wineand almost black in the face； ordered that functionary
to call a coach for Captain Osborne。
〃I've done it；〃 said George； coming into the Slaughters'
an hour afterwards； looking very pale。
〃What； my boy？〃 says Dobbin。
George told what had passed between his father and
himself。
〃I'll marry her to…morrow；〃 he said with an oath。 〃I
love her more every day； Dobbin。〃
CHAPTER XXII
A Marriage and Part of a Honeymoon
Enemies the most obstinate and courageous can't hold
out against starvation； so the elder Osborne felt himself
pretty easy about his adversary in the encounter we have
just described； and as soon as George's supplies fell
short； confidently expected his unconditional submission。
It was unlucky； to be sure； that the lad should have secured
a stock of provisions on the very day when the first
encounter took place； but this relief was only temporary；
old Osborne thought； and would but delay George's
surrender。 No communication passed between father and
son for some days。 The former was sulky at this silence；
but not disquieted； for； as he said； he knew where he
could put the screw upon George； and only waited the
result of that operation。 He told the sisters the upshot of
the dispute between them； but ordered them to take no
notice of the matter； and welcome George on his return
as if nothing had happened。 His cover was laid as usual
every day； and perhaps the old gentleman rather anxiously
expected him； but he never came。 Some one inquired
at the Slaughters' regarding him； where it was said
that he and his friend Captain Dobbin had left town。
One gusty； raw day at the end of Aprilthe rain whipping
the pavement of that ancient street where the old
Slaughters' Coffee…house was once situatedGeorge Osborne
came into the coffee…room； looking very haggard
and pale； although dressed rather smartly in a blue coat
and brass buttons； and a neat buff waistcoat of the fashion
of those days。 Here was his friend Captain Dobbin；
in blue and brass too； having abandoned the military
frock and French…grey trousers； which were the usual
coverings of his lanky person。
Dobbin had been in the coffee…room for an hour or
more。 He had tried all the papers； but could not read
them。 He had looked at the clock many scores of times；
and at the street； where the rain was pattering down；
and the people as they clinked by in pattens； left long
reflections on the shining stone： he tattooed at the table：
he bit his nails most completely； and nearly to the quick
（he was accustomed to ornament his great big hands in
this way）： he balanced the tea…spoon dexterously on the
milk jug： upset it； &c。； &c。； and in fact showed those
signs of disquietude； and practised those desperate
attempts at amusement； which men are accustomed to
employ when very anxious； and expectant； and perturbed
in mind。
Some of his comrades； gentlemen who used the room；
joked him about the splendour of his costume and his
agitation of manner。 One asked him if he was going to be
married？ Dobbin laughed； and said he would send his
acquaintance （Major Wagstaff of the Engineers） a piece of
cake when that event took place。 At length Captain Osborne
made his appearance； very smartly dressed； but
very pale and agitated as we have said。 He wiped his
pale face with a large yellow bandanna pocket…handkerchief
that was prodigiously scented。 He shook hands with
Dobbin； looked at the clock； and told John； the waiter；
to bring him some curacao。 Of this cordial he swallowed
off a couple of glasses with nervous eagerness。
His friend asked with some interest about his health。
〃Couldn't get a wink of sleep till daylight； Dob；〃 said
he。 〃Infernal headache and fever。 Got up at nine； and
went down to the Hummums for a bath。 I say； Dob； I feel
just as I did on the morning I went out with Rocket at
Quebec。〃
〃So do I；〃 William responded。 〃I was a deuced deal
more nervous than you were that morning。 You made a
famous breakfast； I remember。 Eat something now。〃
〃You're a good old fellow； Will。 I'll drink your health；
old boy； and farewell to〃
〃No； no； two glasses are enough；〃 Dobbin interrupted
him。 〃Here； take away the liqueurs； John。 Have