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brethren。 Captain Dobbin was an especial favourite
of this old General。 Dobbin was versed in the literature
of his profession； and could talk about the great Frederick；
and the Empress Queen； and their wars； almost as well
as the General himself； who was indifferent to the triumphs
of the present day； and whose heart was with the
tacticians of fifty years back。 This officer sent a summons
to Dobbin to come and breakfast with him； on the
morning when Mr。 Osborne altered his will and Mr。 Chopper
put on his best shirt frill； and then informed his young
favourite； a couple of days in advance； of that which they
were all expectinga marching order to go to Belgium。
The order for the regiment to hold itself in readiness
would leave the Horse Guards in a day or two； and as
transports were in plenty； they would get their route
before the week was over。 Recruits had come in during
the stay of the regiment at Chatham； and the old General
hoped that the regiment which had helped to beat
Montcalm in Canada； and to rout Mr。 Washington on
Long Island； would prove itself worthy of its historical
reputation on the oft…trodden battle…grounds of the Low
Countries。 〃And so； my good friend； if you have any
affaire la； said the old General； taking a pinch of snuff
with his trembling white old hand； and then pointing to
the spot of his robe de chambre under which his heart
was still feebly beating； 〃if you have any Phillis to console；
or to bid farewell to papa and mamma； or any will
to make； I recommend you to set about your business
without delay。〃 With which the General gave his young
friend a finger to shake； and a good…natured nod of his
powdered and pigtailed head； and the door being closed
upon Dobbin； sate down to pen a poulet （he was
exceedingly vain of his French） to Mademoiselle
Amenaide of His Majesty's Theatre。
This news made Dobbin grave； and he thought of our
friends at Brighton； and then he was ashamed of himself
that Amelia was always the first thing in his thoughts
（always before anybodybefore father and mother；
sisters and dutyalways at waking and sleeping indeed；
and all day long）； and returning to his hotel； he sent off a
brief note to Mr。 Osborne acquainting him with the
information which he had received； and which might tend
farther； he hoped； to bring about a reconciliation with
George。
This note； despatched by the same messenger who had
carried the invitation to Chopper on the previous day；
alarmed the worthy clerk not a little。 It was inclosed to
him； and as he opened the letter he trembled lest the
dinner should be put off on which he was calculating。 His
mind was inexpressibly relieved when he found that the
envelope was only a reminder for himself。 （〃I shall
expect you at half…past five；〃 Captain Dobbin wrote。） He was
very much interested about his employer's family； but；
que voulez…vous？ a grand dinner was of more concern to
him than the affairs of any other mortal。
Dobbin was quite justified in repeating the General's
information to any officers of the regiment whom he
should see in the course of his peregrinations； accordingly
he imparted it to Ensign Stubble； whom he met at the
agent's； and whosuch was his military ardourwent
off instantly to purchase a new sword at the
accoutrement…maker's。 Here this young fellow； who；
though only seventeen years of age； and about sixty…five
inches high； with a constitution naturally rickety and
much impaired by premature brandy and water； had an
undoubted courage and a lion's heart； poised； tried； bent；
and balanced a weapon such as he thought would do execution
amongst Frenchmen。 Shouting 〃Ha； ha！〃 and stamping his little
feet with tremendous energy； he delivered the point twice
or thrice at Captain Dobbin； who parried the thrust
laughingly with his bamboo walking…stick。
Mr。 Stubble； as may be supposed from his size and
slenderness； was of the Light Bobs。 Ensign Spooney； on
the contrary； was a tall youth； and belonged to （Captain
Dobbin's） the Grenadier Company； and he tried on a new
bearskin cap； under which he looked savage beyond his
years。 Then these two lads went off to the Slaughters'； and
having ordered a famous dinner； sate down and wrote off
letters to the kind anxious parents at homeletters full of
love and heartiness； and pluck and bad spelling。 Ah！ there
were many anxious hearts beating through England at
that time； and mothers' prayers and tears flowing in many
homesteads。
Seeing young Stubble engaged in composition at one of
the coffee…room tables at the Slaughters'； and the tears
trickling down his nose on to the paper （for the youngster
was thinking of his mamma； and that he might never see
her again）； Dobbin； who was going to write off a letter to
George Osborne； relented； and locked up his desk。 〃Why
should I？〃 said he。 〃Let her have this night happy。 I'll go
and see my parents early in the morning； and go down to
Brighton myself to…morrow。〃
So he went up and laid his big hand on young Stubble's
shoulder； and backed up that young champion； and told
him if he would leave off brandy and water he would
be a good soldier； as he always was a gentlemanly good…
hearted fellow。 Young Stubble's eyes brightened up at this；
for Dobbin was greatly respected in the regiment； as the
best officer and the cleverest man in it。
〃Thank you； Dobbin；〃 he said； rubbing his eyes with
his knuckles； 〃I was justjust telling her I would。 And；
O Sir； she's so dam kind to me。〃 The water pumps were
at work again； and I am not sure that the soft…hearted
Captain's eyes did not also twinkle。
The two ensigns； the Captain； and Mr。 Chopper； dined
together in the same box。 Chopper brought the letter from
Mr。 Osborne； in which the latter briefly presented his
compliments to Captain Dobbin； and requested him to
forward the inclosed to Captain George Osborne。 Chopper
knew nothing further； he described Mr。 Osborne's appearance；
it is true； and his interview with his lawyer； wondered
how the governor had sworn at nobody； andespecially
as the wine circled roundabounded in speculations
and conjectures。 But these grew more vague with
every glass； and at length became perfectly unintelligible。
At a late hour Captain Dobbin put his guest into a hackney
coach； in a hiccupping state； and swearing that he would
be the kickthe kickCaptain's friend for ever and ever。
When Captain Dobbin took leave of Miss Osborne we
have said that he asked leave to come and pay her
another visit； and the spinster expected him for some hours
the next day； when； perhaps； had he come； and had he
asked her that question which she was prepared to answer；
she would have declared herself as her brother's
friend； and a reconciliation might have been effected
between George and his angry father。 But though she waited
at home the Captain never came。 He had his own affairs
to pursue； his own parents to visit and console； and at an
early hour of the day to take his place on the Lightning
coach； and go down to his friends at Brighton。 In the
course of the day Miss Osborne heard her father give
orders that that meddling scoundrel； Captain Dobbin；
should never be admitted within his doors again；