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〃He was very much affected at seeing you； ma'am；〃 the
companion said； 〃and I am sure； when you remember that
he is going to the field of danger〃
〃How much money has he promised you； Briggs？〃 the
old spinster cried out； working herself into a nervous
rage〃there now； of course you begin to cry。 I hate
scenes。 Why am I always to be worried？ Go and cry up in
your own room； and send Firkin to me no； stop； sit
down and blow your nose； and leave off crying； and write
a letter to Captain Crawley。〃 Poor Briggs went and
placed herself obediently at the writing…book。 Its leaves
were blotted all over with relics of the firm； strong； rapid
handwriting of the spinster's late amanuensis； Mrs。 Bute
Crawley。
〃Begin 'My dear sir；' or 'Dear sir；' that will be better；
and say you are desired by Miss Crawleyno； by Miss
Crawley's medical man； by Mr。 Creamer； to state that
my health is such that all strong emotions would be
dangerous in my present delicate conditionand that I must
decline any family discussions or interviews whatever。
And thank him for coming to Brighton； and so forth； and
beg him not to stay any longer on my account。 And； Miss
Briggs； you may add that I wish him a bon voyage； and
that if he will take the trouble to call upon my lawyer's
in Gray's Inn Square； he will find there a communication
for him。 Yes； that will do； and that will make him leave
Brighton。〃 The benevolent Briggs penned this sentence
with the utmost satisfaction。
〃To seize upon me the very day after Mrs。 Bute was
gone；〃 the old lady prattled on； 〃it was too indecent。
Briggs； my dear； write to Mrs。 Crawley； and say SHE
needn't come back。 Noshe needn'tand she shan't
and I won't be a slave in my own houseand I won't be
starved and choked with poison。 They all want to kill me
allall〃and with this the lonely old woman burst
into a scream of hysterical tears。
The last scene of her dismal Vanity Fair comedy was
fast approaching； the tawdry lamps were going out one
by one； and the dark curtain was almost ready to
descend。
That final paragraph； which referred Rawdon to Miss
Crawley's solicitor in London； and which Briggs had
written so good…naturedly； consoled the dragoon and his
wife somewhat； after their first blank disappointment； on
reading the spinster's refusal of a reconciliation。 And it
effected the purpose for which the old lady had caused it
to be written； by making Rawdon very eager to get to
London。
Out of Jos's losings and George Osborne's bank…notes；
he paid his bill at the inn； the landlord whereof does not
probably know to this day how doubtfully his account
once stood。 For； as a general sends his baggage to the
rear before an action； Rebecca had wisely packed up all
their chief valuables and sent them off under care of
George's servant； who went in charge of the trunks on
the coach back to London。 Rawdon and his wife
returned by the same conveyance next day。
〃I should have liked to see the old girl before we went；〃
Rawdon said。 〃She looks so cut up and altered that I'm
sure she can't last long。 I wonder what sort of a cheque
I shall have at Waxy's。 Two hundredit can't be less
than two hundredhey； Becky？〃
In consequence of the repeated visits of the aides…de…
camp of the Sheriff of Middlesex； Rawdon and his wife
did not go back to their lodgings at Brompton； but put
up at an inn。 Early the next morning； Rebecca had an
opportunity of seeing them as she skirted that suburb
on her road to old Mrs。 Sedley's house at Fulham； whither
she went to look for her dear Amelia and her Brighton
friends。 They were all off to Chatham； thence to Harwich；
to take shipping for Belgium with the regiment
kind old Mrs。 Sedley very much depressed and tearful；
solitary。 Returning from this visit； Rebecca found her
husband； who had been off to Gray's Inn； and learnt his
fate。 He came back furious。
〃By Jove； Becky；〃 says he； 〃she's only given me twenty
pound！〃
Though it told against themselves； the joke was too
good； and Becky burst out laughing at Rawdon's
discomfiture。
CHAPTER XXVI
Between London and Chatham
On quitting Brighton； our friend George； as became a
person of rank and fashion travelling in a barouche with
four horses； drove in state to a fine hotel in Cavendish
Square； where a suite of splendid rooms； and a table
magnificently furnished with plate and surrounded by a
half…dozen of black and silent waiters； was ready to
receive the young gentleman and his bride。 George did the
honours of the place with a princely air to Jos and
Dobbin； and Amelia； for the first time； and with exceeding
shyness and timidity； presided at what George called her
own table。
George pooh…poohed the wine and bullied the waiters
royally； and Jos gobbled the turtle with immense satisfaction。
Dobbin helped him to it； for the lady of the house；
before whom the tureen was placed； was so ignorant of
the contents； that she was going to help Mr。 Sedley without
bestowing upon him either calipash or calipee。
The splendour of the entertainment； and the apartments
in which it was given； alarmed Mr。 Dobbin； who
remonstrated after dinner； when Jos was asleep in the great
chair。 But in vain he cried out against the enormity of
turtle and champagne that was fit for an archbishop。
〃I've always been accustomed to travel like a gentleman；〃
George said； 〃and； damme； my wife shall travel like a
lady。 As long as there's a shot in the locker； she shall
want for nothing；〃 said the generous fellow； quite pleased
with himself for his magnificence of spirit。 Nor did
Dobbin try and convince him that Amelia's happiness was not
centred in turtle…soup。
A while after dinner； Amelia timidly expressed a wish
to go and see her mamma； at Fulham： which permission
George granted her with some grumbling。 And she tripped
away to her enormous bedroom； in the centre of which
stood the enormous funereal bed； 〃that the Emperor
Halixander's sister slep in when the allied sufferings was
here；〃 and put on her little bonnet and shawl with the
utmost eagerness and pleasure。 George was still drinking
claret when she returned to the dining…room； and made
no signs of moving。 〃Ar'n't you coming with me； dearest？〃
she asked him。 No； the 〃dearest〃 had 〃business〃
that night。 His man should get her a coach and go with
her。 And the coach being at the door of the hotel； Amelia
made George a little disappointed curtsey after looking
vainly into his face once or twice； and went sadly down
the great staircase； Captain Dobbin after； who handed her
into the vehicle； and saw it drive away to its destination。
The very valet was ashamed of mentioning the address to
the hackney…coachman before the hotel waiters； and
promised to instruct him when they got further on。
Dobbin walked home to his old quarters and the
Slaughters'； thinking very likely that it would be delightful
to be in that hackney…coach； along with Mrs。 Osborne。
George was evidently of quite a different taste； for when
he had taken wine enough； he went off to half…price at
the play； to see Mr。 Kean perform in Shylock。 Captain
Osborne was a great lover of the drama； and had himself
performed high…comedy characters with great distinction