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orders that that meddling scoundrel； Captain Dobbin；
should never be admitted within his doors again； and any
hopes in which she may have indulged privately were thus
abruptly brought to an end。 Mr。 Frederick Bullock came；
and was particularly affectionate to Maria； and attentive
to the broken…spirited old gentleman。 For though he said
his mind would be easy； the means which he had taken to
secure quiet did not seem to have succeeded as yet； and
the events of the past two days had visibly shattered him。
CHAPTER XXV
In Which All the Principal Personages Think Fit
to Leave Brighton
Conducted to the ladies； at the Ship Inn； Dobbin assumed
a jovial and rattling manner； which proved that this
young officer was becoming a more consummate hypocrite
every day of his life。 He was trying to hide his own
private feelings； first upon seeing Mrs。 George Osborne
in her new condition； and secondly to mask the
apprehensions he entertained as to the effect which
the dismal news brought down by him would certainly
have upon her。
〃It is my opinion； George；〃 he said； 〃that the French
Emperor will be upon us； horse and foot； before three
weeks are over； and will give the Duke such a dance as
shall make the Peninsula appear mere child's play。 But
you need not say that to Mrs。 Osborne； you know。 There
mayn't be any fighting on our side after all； and our
business in Belgium may turn out to be a mere military
occupation。 Many persons think so； and Brussels is full
of fine people and ladies of fashion。〃 So it was agreed to
represent the duty of the British army in Belgium in this
harmless light to Amelia。
This plot being arranged； the hypocritical Dobbin saluted
Mrs。 George Osborne quite gaily； tried to pay her
one or two compliments relative to her new position as a
bride （which compliments； it must be confessed； were
exceedingly clumsy and hung fire woefully）； and then fell
to talking about Brighton； and the sea…air； and the gaieties
of the place； and the beauties of the road and the merits
of the Lightning coach and horsesall in a manner
quite incomprehensible to Amelia； and very amusing to
Rebecca； who was watching the Captain； as indeed she
watched every one near whom she came。
Little Amelia； it must be owned； had rather a mean
opinion of her husband's friend； Captain Dobbin。 He lisped
he was very plain and homely…looking： and exceedingly
awkward and ungainly。 She liked him for his attachment
to her husband （to be sure there was very little merit in
that）； and she thought George was most generous and
kind in extending his friendship to his brother officer。
George had mimicked Dobbin's lisp and queer manners
many times to her； though to do him justice； he always
spoke most highly of his friend's good qualities。 In her
little day of triumph； and not knowing him intimately as
yet； she made light of honest Williamand he knew her
opinions of him quite well； and acquiesced in them very
humbly。 A time came when she knew him better； and
changed her notions regarding him； but that was distant as
yet。
As for Rebecca； Captain Dobbin had not been two hours
in the ladies' company before she understood his secret
perfectly。 She did not like him； and feared him privately；
nor was he very much prepossessed in her favour。 He
was so honest； that her arts and cajoleries did not affect
him； and he shrank from her with instinctive repulsion。
And； as she was by no means so far superior to her sex as
to be above jealousy； she disliked him the more for his
adoration of Amelia。 Nevertheless； she was very respectful
and cordial in her manner towards him。 A friend to
the Osbornes！ a friend to her dearest benefactors！ She
vowed she should always love him sincerely： she remembered
him quite well on the Vauxhall night； as she told
Amelia archly； and she made a little fun of him when the
two ladies went to dress for dinner。 Rawdon Crawley paid
scarcely any attention to Dobbin； looking upon him as a
good…natured nincompoop and under…bred City man。 Jos
patronised him with much dignity。
When George and Dobbin were alone in the latter's
room； to which George had followed him； Dobbin took
from his desk the letter which he had been charged by
Mr。 Osborne to deliver to his son。 〃It's not in my father's
handwriting；〃 said George； looking rather alarmed； nor
was it： the letter was from Mr。 Osborne's lawyer； and to
the following effect：
Bedford Row； May 7； 1815。
SIR；
I am commissioned by Mr。 Osborne to inform you；
that he abides by the determination which he before
expressed to you； and that in consequence of the marriage
which you have been pleased to contract； he ceases to
consider you henceforth as a member of his family。
This determination is final and irrevocable。
Although the monies expended upon you in your
minority； and the bills which you have drawn upon
him so unsparingly of late years； far exceed in amount
the sum to which you are entitled in your own right
（being the third part of the fortune of your mother；
the late Mrs。 Osborne and which reverted to you at her
decease； and to Miss Jane Osborne and Miss Maria
Frances Osborne）； yet I am instructed by Mr。 Osborne
to say； that he waives all claim upon your estate； and
that the sum of 2；0001。； 4 per cent。 annuities； at the
value of the day （being your one…third share of the sum
of 6；0001。）； shall be paid over to yourself or your agents
upon your receipt for the same； by
Your obedient Servt。；
S。 HIGGS。
P。S。Mr。 Osborne desires me to say； once for all；
that he declines to receive any messages； letters； or
communications from you on this or any other subject。
〃A pretty way you have managed the affair；〃 said
George； looking savagely at William Dobbin。 〃Look there；
Dobbin；〃 and he flung over to the latter his parent's letter。
〃A beggar； by Jove； and all in consequence of my dd
sentimentality。 Why couldn't we have waited？ A ball might
have done for me in the course of the war； and may still；
and how will Emmy be bettered by being left a beggar's
widow？ It was all your doing。 You were never easy until
you had got me married and ruined。 What the deuce am
I to do with two thousand pounds？ Such a sum won't
last two years。 I've lost a hundred and forty to Crawley at
cards and billiards since I've been down here。 A pretty
manager of a man's matters YOU are； forsooth。〃
〃There's no denying that the position is a hard one；〃
Dobbin replied； after reading over the letter with a blank
countenance； 〃and as you say； it is partly of my making。
There are some men who wouldn't mind changing with
you；〃 he added； with a bitter smile。 〃How many captains
in the regiment have two thousand pounds to the fore；
think you？ You must live on your pay till your father
relents； and if you die； you leave your wife a hundred a
year。〃
〃Do you suppose a man of my habits call live on his
pay and a hundred a year？〃 George cried out in great
anger。 〃You must be a fool to talk so； Dobbin。 How the
deuce am I to keep up my position in the world upon
such a pitiful pittance？ I can't change my habits。 I must
have my comforts。 I wasn't brought up on porridge； like
MacWhirter； or on potatoes； like old O'D