按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
her own peculiar views？ She could not answer it； so she
parried it by saying； 〃Well； if you are not a deceiver； at
least you are very romantic〃； and Captain William let
this observation pass without challenge。
At length when； by the help of farther polite speeches；
he deemed that Miss Osborne was sufficiently prepared to
receive the whole news； he poured it into her ear。
〃George could not give up AmeliaGeorge was married
to her〃and then he related the circumstances of the
marriage as we know them already： how the poor girl
would have died had not her lover kept his faith： how
Old Sedley had refused all consent to the match； and a
licence had been got： and Jos Sedley had come from
Cheltenham to give away the bride： how they had gone
to Brighton in Jos's chariot…and…four to pass the honeymoon：
and how George counted on his dear kind sisters to
befriend him with their father； as womenso true
and tender as they wereassuredly would do。 And so；
asking permission （readily granted） to see her again； and
rightly conjecturing that the news he had brought would
be told in the next five minutes to the other ladies；
Captain Dobbin made his bow and took his leave。
He was scarcely out of the house； when Miss Maria
and Miss Wirt rushed in to Miss Osborne； and the
whole wonderful secret was imparted to them by that
lady。 To do them justice； neither of the sisters was very
much displeased。 There is something about a runaway
match with which few ladies can be seriously angry； and
Amelia rather rose in their estimation； from the spirit
which she had displayed in consenting to the union。 As
they debated the story； and prattled about it； and wondered
what Papa would do and say； came a loud knock；
as of an avenging thunder…clap； at the door； which made
these conspirators start。 It must be Papa； they thought。
But it was not he。 It was only Mr。 Frederick Bullock；
who had come from the City according to appointment；
to conduct the ladies to a flower…show。
This gentleman； as may be imagined； was not kept
long in ignorance of the secret。 But his face； when he
heard it； showed an amazement which was very different
to that look of sentimental wonder which the countenances
of the sisters wore。 Mr。 Bullock was a man of the world；
and a junior partner of a wealthy firm。 He knew what
money was； and the value of it： and a delightful throb
of expectation lighted up his little eyes； and caused him
to smile on his Maria； as he thought that by this piece
of folly of Mr。 George's she might be worth thirty
thousand pounds more than he had ever hoped to
get with her。
〃Gad！ Jane；〃 said he； surveying even the elder sister
with some interest； 〃Eels will be sorry he cried off。 You
may be a fifty thousand pounder yet。〃
The sisters had never thought of the money question
up to that moment； but Fred Bullock bantered them
with graceful gaiety about it during their forenoon's
excursion； and they had risen not a little in their own
esteem by the time when； the morning amusement over；
they drove back to dinner。 And do not let my respected
reader exclaim against this selfishness as unnatural。 It
was but this present morning； as he rode on the omnibus
from Richmond； while it changed horses； this present
chronicler； being on the roof； marked three little children
playing in a puddle below； very dirty； and friendly； and
happy。 To these three presently came another little one。
〃POLLY；〃 says she； 〃YOUR SISTER'S GOT A PENNY。〃 At which
the children got up from the puddle instantly； and ran
off to pay their court to Peggy。 And as the omnibus drove
off I saw Peggy with the infantine procession at her
tail； marching with great dignity towards the stall of a
neighbouring lollipop…woman。
CHAPTER XXIV
In Which Mr。 Osborne Takes Down the Family Bible
So having prepared the sisters； Dobbin hastened away
to the City to perform the rest and more difficult part
of the task which he had undertaken。 The idea of facing
old Osborne rendered him not a little nervous； and more
than once he thought of leaving the young ladies to
communicate the secret； which； as he was aware； they could
not long retain。 But he had promised to report to George
upon the manner in which the elder Osborne bore the
intelligence； so going into the City to the paternal
counting…house in Thames Street； he despatched thence
a note to Mr。 Osborne begging for a half…hour's conversation
relative to the affairs of his son George。 Dobbin's messenger
returned from Mr。 Osborne's house of business； with the
compliments of the latter； who would be very happy to see the
Captain immediately； and away accordingly Dobbin went
to confront him。
The Captain； with a half…guilty secret to confess； and
with the prospect of a painful and stormy interview
before him； entered Mr。 Osborne's offices with a most
dismal countenance and abashed gait； and； passing through
the outer room where Mr。 Chopper presided； was greeted
by that functionary from his desk with a waggish air
which farther discomfited him。 Mr。 Chopper winked and
nodded and pointed his pen towards his patron's door；
and said； 〃You'll find the governor all right；〃 with the
most provoking good humour。
Osborne rose too； and shook him heartily by the hand；
and said； 〃How do； my dear boy？〃 with a cordiality that
made poor George's ambassador feel doubly guilty。 His
hand lay as if dead in the old gentleman's grasp。 He felt
that he； Dobbin； was more or less the cause of all that
had happened。 It was he had brought back George to
Amelia： it was he had applauded； encouraged； transacted
almost the marriage which he was come to reveal to
George's father： and the latter was receiving him with
smiles of welcome； patting him on the shoulder； and calling
him 〃Dobbin； my dear boy。〃 The envoy had indeed
good reason to hang his head。
Osborne fully believed that Dobbin had come to
announce his son's surrender。 Mr。 Chopper and his
principal were talking over the matter between George and
his father； at the very moment when Dobbin's messenger
arrived。 Both agreed that George was sending in his
submission。 Both had been expecting it for some daysand
〃Lord！ Chopper； what a marriage we'll have！〃 Mr。
Osborne said to his clerk； snapping his big fingers； and
jingling all the guineas and shillings in his great pockets
as he eyed his subordinate with a look of triumph。
With similar operations conducted in both pockets；
and a knowing jolly air； Osborne from his chair regarded
Dobbin seated blank and silent opposite to him。 〃What
a bumpkin he is for a Captain in the army；〃 old Osborne
thought。 〃I wonder George hasn't taught him better
manners。〃
At last Dobbin summoned courage to begin。 〃Sir；〃 said
he； 〃I've brought you some very grave news。 I have been
at the Horse Guards this morning； and there's no doubt
that our regiment will be ordered abroad； and on its
way to Belgium before the week is over。 And you know；
sir； that we shan't be home again before a tussle which
may be fatal to many of us。〃
Osborne looked grave。 〃My s ； the regiment will
do its duty； sir； I daresay；〃 he said。
〃The French are very strong； sir；〃 Dobbin went on。
〃The Russians and Aus