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young officers of the Heavies； who are pretty sure to be
pacing the cliff； or again it is a City man； with a nautical
turn； and a telescope； the size of a six…pounder； who has
his instrument pointed seawards； so as to command every
pleasure…boat； herring…boat； or bathing…machine that
comes to； or quits； the shore； &c。； &c。 But have we any
leisure for a description of Brighton？for Brighton； a
clean Naples with genteel lazzaronifor Brighton； that
always looks brisk； gay； and gaudy； like a harlequin's
jacketfor Brighton； which used to be seven hours
distant from London at the time of our story； which is now
only a hundred minutes off； and which may approach
who knows how much nearer； unless Joinville comes and
untimely bombards it？
〃What a monstrous fine girl that is in the lodgings
over the milliner's；〃 one of these three promenaders
remarked to the other； 〃Gad； Crawley； did you see what a
wink she gave me as I passed？〃
〃Don't break her heart； Jos； you rascal；〃 said another。
〃Don't trifle with her affections； you Don Juan！〃
〃Get away；〃 said Jos Sedley； quite pleased； and leering up
at the maid…servant in question with a most killing
ogle。 Jos was even more splendid at Brighton than he had
been at his sister's marriage。 He had brilliant under…waistcoats；
any one of which would have set up a moderate buck。
He sported a military frock…coat； ornamented with
frogs； knobs； black buttons； and meandering embroidery。
He had affected a military appearance and habits of late；
and he walked with his two friends； who were of that
profession； clinking his boot…spurs； swaggering prodigiously；
and shooting death…glances at all the servant girls
who were worthy to be slain。
〃What shall we do； boys； till the ladies return？〃 the
buck asked。 The ladies were out to Rottingdean in his
carriage on a drive。
〃Let's have a game at billiards；〃 one of his friends
saidthe tall one； with lacquered mustachios。
〃No； dammy； no； Captain；〃 Jos replied； rather
alarmed。 〃No billiards to…day； Crawley； my boy；
yesterday was enough。〃
〃You play very well；〃 said Crawley； laughing。 〃Don't
he； Osborne？ How well he made that…five stroke； eh？〃
〃Famous；〃 Osborne said。 〃Jos is a devil of a fellow
at billiards； and at everything else； too。 I wish there were
any tiger…hunting about here！ we might go and kill a few
before dinner。 （There goes a fine girl！ what an ankle； eh；
Jos？） Tell us that story about the tiger…hunt； and the
way you did for him in the jungleit's a wonderful story
that； Crawley。〃 Here George Osborne gave a yawn。 〃It's
rather slow work；〃 said he； 〃down here； what shall we
do？〃
〃Shall we go and look at some horses that Snaffler's
just brought from Lewes fair？〃 Crawley said。
〃Suppose we go and have some jellies at Dutton's；〃
and the rogue Jos； willing to kill two birds with one
stone。 〃Devilish fine gal at Dutton's。〃
〃Suppose we go and see the Lightning come in； it's
just about time？〃 George said。 This advice prevailing
over the stables and the jelly； they turned towards the
coach…office to witness the Lightning's arrival。
As they passed； they met the carriageJos Sedley's
open carriage； with its magnificent armorial bearings
that splendid conveyance in which he used to drive； about
at Cheltonham； majestic and solitary； with his arms
folded； and his hat cocked； or； more happy； with ladies
by his side。
Two were in the carriage now： one a little person； with
light hair； and dressed in the height of the fashion； the
other in a brown silk pelisse； and a straw bonnet with
pink ribbons； with a rosy； round； happy face； that did
you good to behold。 She checked the carriage as it
neared the three gentlemen； after which exercise of
authority she looked rather nervous； and then began to
blush most absurdly。 〃We have had a delightful drive；
George；〃 she said； 〃andand we're so glad to come back；
and； Joseph； don't let him be late。〃
〃Don't be leading our husbands into mischief； Mr。
Sedley； you wicked； wicked man you；〃 Rebecca said；
shaking at Jos a pretty little finger covered with the
neatest French kid glove。 〃No billiards； no smoking； no
naughtiness！〃
〃My dear Mrs。 CrawleyAh now！ upon my honour！〃
was all Jos could ejaculate by way of reply； but he managed
to fall into a tolerable attitude； with his head lying
on his shoulder； grinning upwards at his victim； with one
hand at his back； which he supported on his cane； and
the other hand （the one with the diamond ring） fumbling
in his shirt…frill and among his under…waistcoats。 As the
carriage drove off he kissed the diamond hand to the fair
ladies within。 He wished all Cheltenham； all Chowringhee；
all Calcutta； could see him in that position； waving his
hand to such a beauty； and in company with such a
famous buck as Rawdon Crawley of the Guards。
Our young bride and bridegroom had chosen Brighton
as the place where they would pass the first few days after
their marriage； and having engaged apartments at the
Ship Inn； enjoyed themselves there in great comfort and
quietude； until Jos presently joined them。 Nor was he
the only companion they found there。 As they were
coming into the hotel from a sea…side walk one afternoon；
on whom should they light but Rebecca and her
husband。 The recognition was immediate。 Rebecca flew
into the arms of her dearest friend。 Crawley and Osborne
shook hands together cordially enough： and Becky； in
the course of a very few hours； found means to make the
latter forget that little unpleasant passage of words which
had happened between them。 〃Do you remember the last
time we met at Miss Crawley's； when I was so rude to
you； dear Captain Osborne？ I thought you seemed careless
about dear Amelia。 It was that made me angry： and
so pert： and so unkind： and so ungrateful。 Do forgive
me！〃 Rebecca said； and she held out her hand with so
frank and winning a grace； that Osborne could not but
take it。 By humbly and frankly acknowledging yourself to
be in the wrong； there is no knowing； my son； what good
you may do。 I knew once a gentleman and very worthy
practitioner in Vanity Fair； who used to do little wrongs
to his neighbours on purpose； and in order to apologise
for them in an open and manly way afterwardsand
what ensued？ My friend Crocky Doyle was liked everywhere；
and deemed to be rather impetuousbut the honestest
fellow。 Becky's humility passed for sincerity with
George Osborne。
These two young couples had plenty of tales to relate
to each other。 The marriages of either were discussed；
and their prospects in life canvassed with the greatest
frankness and interest on both sides。 George's marriage
was to be made known to his father by his friend
Captain Dobbin； and young Osborne trembled rather for the
result of that communication。 Miss Crawley； on whom
all Rawdon's hopes depended； still held out。 Unable to
make an entry into her house in Park Lane； her
affectionate nephew and niece had followed her to
Brighton； where they had emissaries continually planted
at her door。
〃I wish you could see some of Rawdon's friends who
are always about our door；〃 Rebecca said； laughing。 〃Did
you ever see a dun； my dear； or a bailiff and his man？
Two of the abom