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！
in the army couldn't ride the horses he had！ He had the
child before his eyes； on a hundred different days when
he remembered George after dinner； when he used
to come in as bold as a lord and drink off his glass by
his father's side； at the head of the tableon the pony
at Brighton； when he cleared the hedge and kept up with
the huntsmanon the day when he was presented to
the Prince Regent at the levee； when all Saint James's
couldn't produce a finer young fellow。 And this； this was
the end of all！to marry a bankrupt and fly in the face
of duty and fortune！ What humiliation and fury： what
pangs of sickening rage； balked ambition and love； what
wounds of outraged vanity； tenderness even； had this
old worldling now to suffer under！
Having examined these papers； and pondered over this
one and the other； in that bitterest of all helpless woe；
with which miserable men think of happy past times
George's father took the whole of the documents out of
the drawer in which he had kept them so long； and locked
them into a writing…box； which he tied； and sealed with
his seal。 Then he opened the book…case； and took down
the great red Bible we have spoken of a pompous
book； seldom looked at； and shining all over with gold。
There was a frontispiece to the volume； representing
Abraham sacrificing Isaac。 Here； according to custom；
Osborne had recorded on the fly…leaf； and in his large
clerk…like hand； the dates of his marriage and his wife's
death； and the births and Christian names of his children。
Jane came first； then George Sedley Osborne； then Maria
Frances； and the days of the christening of each。 Taking
a pen； he carefully obliterated George's names from
the page； and when the leaf was quite dry； restored the
volume to the place from which he had moved it。 Then
he took a document out of another drawer； where his
own private papers were kept； and having read it； crumpled
it up and lighted it at one of the candles； and saw it
burn entirely away in the grate。 It was his will； which
being burned； he sate down and wrote off a letter； and
rang for his servant； whom he charged to deliver it in the
morning。 It was morning already： as he went up to bed；
the whole house was alight with the sunshine； and the
birds were singing among the fresh green leaves in
Russell Square。
Anxious to keep all Mr。 Osborne's family and dependants
in good humour； and to make as many friends as
possible for George in his hour of adversity； William Dobbin；
who knew the effect which good dinners and good
wines have upon the soul of man； wrote off immediately
on his return to his inn the most hospitable of invitations
to Thomas Chopper； Esquire； begging that gentleman to
dine with him at the Slaughters' next day。 The note
reached Mr。 Chopper before he left the City； and the
instant reply was； that 〃Mr。 Chopper presents his
respectful compliments； and will have the honour and
pleasure of waiting on Captain D。〃 The invitation and the
rough draft of the answer were shown to Mrs。 Chopper
and her daughters on his return to Somers' Town that
evening； and they talked about military gents and West
End men with great exultation as the family sate and
partook of tea。 When the girls had gone to rest； Mr。 and
Mrs。 C。 discoursed upon the strange events which were
occurring in the governor's family。 Never had the clerk
seen his principal so moved。 When he went in to Mr。
Osborne； after Captain Dobbin's departure； Mr。 Chopper
found his chief black in the face； and all but in a fit：
some dreadful quarrel； he was certain； had occurred
between Mr。 O。 and the young Captain。 Chopper had been
instructed to make out an account of all sums paid to
Captain Osborne within the last three years。 〃And a
precious lot of money he has had too；〃 the chief clerk said；
and respected his old and young master the more； for
the liberal way in which the guineas had been flung about。
The dispute was something about Miss Sedley。 Mrs。
Chopper vowed and declared she pitied that poor young
lady to lose such a handsome young fellow as the Capting。
As the daughter of an unlucky speculator； who had paid a
very shabby dividend； Mr。 Chopper had no great regard
for Miss Sedley。 He respected the house of Osborne
before all others in the City of London： and his hope and
wish was that Captain George should marry a nobleman's
daughter。 The clerk slept a great deal sounder than
his principal that night； and； cuddling his children after
breakfast （of which he partook with a very hearty
appetite； though his modest cup of life was only
sweetened with brown sugar）； he set off in his best Sunday
suit and frilled shirt for business； promising his admiring
wife not to punish Captain D。's port too severely that
evening。
Mr。 Osborne's countenance； when he arrived in the
City at his usual time； struck those dependants who were
accustomed； for good reasons； to watch its expression；
as peculiarly ghastly and worn。 At twelve o'clock Mr。
Higgs （of the firm of Higgs & Blatherwick； solicitors；
Bedford Row） called by appointment； and was ushered
into the governor's private room； and closeted there for
more than an hour。 At about one Mr。 Chopper
received a note brought by Captain Dobbin's man； and
containing an inclosure for Mr。 Osborne； which the clerk
went in and delivered。 A short time afterwards Mr。
Chopper and Mr。 Birch； the next clerk； were summoned； and
requested to witness a paper。 〃I've been making a new
will；〃 Mr。 Osborne said； to which these gentlemen
appended their names accordingly。 No conversation
passed。 Mr。 Higgs looked exceedingly grave as he came
into the outer rooms； and very hard in Mr。 Chopper's
face； but there were not any explanations。 It was
remarked that Mr。 Osborne was particularly quiet and
gentle all day； to the surprise of those who had augured ill
from his darkling demeanour。 He called no man names
that day； and was not heard to swear once。 He left business
early； and before going away； summoned his chief
clerk once more； and having given him general instructions；
asked him； after some seeming hesitation and reluctance
to speak； if he knew whether Captain Dobbin was in town？
Chopper said he believed he was。 Indeed both of them
knew the fact perfectly。
Osborne took a letter directed to that officer； and
giving it to the clerk； requested the latter to deliver it
into Dobbin's own hands immediately。
〃And now； Chopper；〃 says he； taking his hat； and with
a strange look； 〃my mind will be easy。〃 Exactly as the
clock struck two （there was no doubt an appointment
between the pair） Mr。 Frederick Bullock called； and he
and Mr。 Osborne walked away together。
The Colonel of the th regiment； in which Messieurs
Dobbin and Osborne had companies； was an old General
who had made his first campaign under Wolfe at Quebec；
and was long since quite too old and feeble for command；
but he took some interest in the regiment of which
he was the nominal head； and made certain of his young
officers welcome at his table； a kind of hospitality
which I believe is not now common amongst his
brethren。 Captain Dobbin was an especial favourite
of this old General。 Dobbin was versed in th