第6章

“Whynotsheaswellasanother，Mrs。Sedley？Thegirl’sawhitefaceatanyrate。Idon’tcarewhomarrieshim。LetJoepleasehimself。”

Andpresentlythevoicesofthetwospeakerswerehushed，orwerereplacedbythegentlebutunromanticmusicofthenose；andsavewhenthechurchbellstolledthehourandthewatchmancalledit，allwassilentatthehouseofJohnSedley，Esquire，ofRussellSquare，andtheStockExchange。

Whenmorningcame，thegood-naturedMrs。SedleynolongerthoughtofexecutingherthreatswithregardtoMissSharp；forthoughnothingismorekeen，normorecommon，normorejustifiable，thanmaternaljealousy，yetshecouldnotbringherselftosupposethatthelittle，humble，grateful，gentlegovernesswoulddaretolookuptosuchamagnificentpersonageastheCollectorofBoggleyWollah。Thepetition，too，foranextensionoftheyounglady’sleaveofabsencehadalreadybeendespatched，anditwouldbedifficulttofindapretextforabruptlydismissingher。

AndasifallthingsconspiredinfavourofthegentleRebecca，theveryelements(althoughshewasnotinclinedatfirsttoacknowledgetheiractioninherbehalf)

interposedtoaidher。ForontheeveningappointedfortheVauxhallparty，GeorgeOsbornehavingcometodinner，andtheeldersofthehousehavingdeparted，accordingtoinvitation，todinewithAldermanBallsatHighburyBarn，therecameonsuchathunder-stormasonlyhappensonVauxhallnights，andasobligedtheyoungpeople，perforce，toremainathome。Mr。Osbornedidnotseemintheleastdisappointedatthisoccurrence。

HeandJosephSedleydrankafittingquantityofport-wine，tete-a-tete，inthedining-room，duringthedrinkingofwhichSedleytoldanumberofhisbestIndianstories；forhewasextremelytalkativeinman’ssociety；

andafterwardsMissAmeliaSedleydidthehonoursofthedrawing-room；andthesefouryoungpersonspassedsuchacomfortableeveningtogether，thattheydeclaredtheywererathergladofthethunder-stormthanotherwise，whichhadcausedthemtoputofftheirvisittoVauxhall。

OsbornewasSedley’sgodson，andhadbeenoneofthefamilyanytimethesethree-and-twentyyears。Atsixweeksold，hehadreceivedfromJohnSedleyapresentofasilvercup；atsixmonthsold，acoralwithgoldwhistleandbells；fromhisyouthupwardshewas“tipped“regularlybytheoldgentlemanatChristmas：

andongoingbacktoschool，herememberedperfectlywellbeingthrashedbyJosephSedley，whenthelatterwasabig，swaggeringhobbadyhoy，andGeorgeanimpudenturchinoftenyearsold。Inaword，Georgewasasfamiliarwiththefamilyassuchdailyactsofkindnessandintercoursecouldmakehim。

“Doyouremember，Sedley，whatafuryyouwerein，whenIcutoffthetasselsofyourHessianboots，andhowMiss——hem！——howAmeliarescuedmefromabeating，byfallingdownonherkneesandcryingouttoherbrotherJos，nottobeatlittleGeorge？”

Josrememberedthisremarkablecircumstanceperfectlywell，butvowedthathehadtotallyforgottenit。

“Well，doyouremembercomingdowninagigtoDr。

Swishtail’stoseeme，beforeyouwenttoIndia，andgivingmehalfaguineaandapatonthehead？Ialwayshadanideathatyouwereatleastsevenfeethigh，andwasquiteastonishedatyourreturnfromIndiatofindyounotallerthanmyself。”

“HowgoodofMr。Sedleytogotoyourschoolandgiveyouthemoney！”exclaimedRebecca，inaccentsofextremedelight。

“Yes，andafterIhadcutthetasselsofhisbootstoo。

Boysneverforgetthosetipsatschool，northegivers。”

“IdelightinHessianboots。”saidRebecca。JosSedley，whoadmiredhisownlegsprodigiously，andalwaysworethisornamentalchaussure，wasextremelypleasedatthisremark，thoughhedrewhislegsunderhischairasitwasmade。

“MissSharp！”saidGeorgeOsborne，“youwhoaresocleveranartist，youmustmakeagrandhistoricalpictureofthesceneoftheboots。Sedleyshallberepresentedinbuckskins，andholdingoneoftheinjuredbootsinonehand；bytheotherheshallhaveholdofmyshirt-frill。Ameliashallbekneelingnearhim，withherlittlehandsup；andthepictureshallhaveagrandallegoricaltitle，asthefrontispieceshaveintheMedullaandthespelling-book。”

“Ishan’thavetimetodoithere。”saidRebecca。’I’lldoitwhen——whenI’mgone。”Andshedroppedhervoice，andlookedsosadandpiteous，thateverybodyfelthowcruelherlotwas，andhowsorrytheywouldbetopartwithher。

“Othatyoucouldstaylonger，dearRebecca。”saidAmelia。

“Why？”answeredtheother，stillmoresadly。”ThatImaybeonlythemoreunhap——unwillingtoloseyou？”

Andsheturnedawayherhead。Ameliabegantogivewaytothatnaturalinfirmityoftearswhich，wehavesaid，wasoneofthedefectsofthissillylittlething。GeorgeOsbornelookedatthetwoyoungwomenwithatouchedcuriosity；andJosephSedleyheavedsomethingverylikeasighoutofhisbigchest，ashecasthiseyesdowntowardshisfavouriteHessianboots。

“Letushavesomemusic，MissSedley——Amelia。”saidGeorge，whofeltatthatmomentanextraordinary，almostirresistibleimpulsetoseizetheabove-mentionedyoungwomaninhisarms，andtokissherinthefaceofthecompany；andshelookedathimforamoment，andifIshouldsaythattheyfellinlovewitheachotheratthatsingleinstantoftime，Ishouldperhapsbetellinganuntruth，forthefactisthatthesetwoyoungpeoplehadbeenbredupbytheirparentsforthisverypurpose，andtheirbannshad，asitwere，beenreadintheirrespectivefamiliesanytimethesetenyears。Theywentofftothepiano，whichwassituated，aspianosusuallyare，inthebackdrawing-room；andasitwasratherdark，MissAmelia，inthemostunaffectedwayintheworld，putherhandintoMr。Osborne’s，who，ofcourse，couldseethewayamongthechairsandottomansagreatdealbetterthanshecould。ButthisarrangementleftMr。

JosephSedleytete-a-tetewithRebecca，atthedrawing-roomtable，wherethelatterwasoccupiedinknittingagreensilkpurse。

“Thereisnoneedtoaskfamilysecrets。”saidMissSharp。”Thosetwohavetoldtheirs。”

“Assoonashegetshiscompany。”saidJoseph，“I

believetheaffairissettled。GeorgeOsborneisacapitalfellow。”

“Andyoursisterthedearestcreatureintheworld。”

saidRebecca。”Happythemanwhowinsher！”Withthis，MissSharpgaveagreatsigh。

Whentwounmarriedpersonsgettogether，andtalkuponsuchdelicatesubjectsasthepresent，agreatdealofconfidenceandintimacyispresentlyestablishedbetweenthem。ThereisnoneedofgivingaspecialreportoftheconversationwhichnowtookplacebetweenMr。

Sedleyandtheyounglady；fortheconversation，asmaybejudgedfromtheforegoingspecimen，wasnotespeciallywittyoreloquent；itseldomisinprivatesocieties，oranywhereexceptinveryhigh-flownandingeniousnovels。

Astherewasmusicinthenextroom，thetalkwascarriedon，ofcourse，inalowandbecomingtone，though，forthematterofthat，thecoupleinthenextapartmentwouldnothavebeendisturbedhadthetalkingbeeneversoloud，sooccupiedweretheywiththeirownpursuits。

Almostforthefirsttimeinhislife，Mr。Sedleyfoundhimselftalking，withouttheleasttimidityorhesitation，toapersonoftheothersex。MissRebeccaaskedhimagreatnumberofquestionsaboutIndia，whichgavehimanopportunityofnarratingmanyinterestinganecdotesaboutthatcountryandhimself。HedescribedtheballsatGovernmentHouse，andthemannerinwhichtheykeptthemselvescoolinthehotweather，withpunkahs，tatties，andothercontrivances；andhewasverywittyregardingthenumberofScotchmenwhomLordMinto，theGovernor-General，patronised；andthenhedescribedatiger-hunt；andthemannerinwhichthemahoutofhiselephanthadbeenpulledoffhisseatbyoneoftheinfuriatedanimals。HowdelightedMissRebeccawasattheGovernmentballs，andhowshelaughedatthestoriesoftheScotchaides-de-camp，andcalledMr。Sedleyasadwickedsatiricalcreature；andhowfrightenedshewasJosephSedleytete-a-tetewithRebecca，atthedrawing-roomtable，wherethelatterwasoccupiedinknittingagreensilkpurse。

“Thereisnoneedtoaskfamilysecrets。”saidMissSharp。”Thosetwohavetoldtheirs。”

“Assoonashegetshiscompany。”saidJoseph，“I

believetheaffairissettled。GeorgeOsborneisacapitalfellow。”

“Andyoursisterthedearestcreatureintheworld。”

saidRebecca。”Happythemanwhowinsher！”Withthis，MissSharpgaveagreatsigh。

Whentwounmarriedpersonsgettogether，andtalkuponsuchdelicatesubjectsasthepresent，agreatdealofconfidenceandintimacyispresentlyestablishedbetweenthem。ThereisnoneedofgivingaspecialreportoftheconversationwhichnowtookplacebetweenMr。

Sedleyandtheyounglady；fortheconversation，asmaybejudgedfromtheforegoingspecimen，wasnotespeciallywittyoreloquent；itseldomisinprivatesocieties，oranywhereexceptinveryhigh-flownandingeniousnovels。

Astherewasmusicinthenextroom，thetalkwascarriedon，ofcourse，inalowandbecomingtone，though，forthematterofthat，thecoupleinthenextapartmentwouldnothavebeendisturbedhadthetalkingbeeneversoloud，sooccupiedweretheywiththeirownpursuits。

Almostforthefirsttimeinhislife，Mr。Sedleyfoundhimselftalking，withouttheleasttimidityorhesitation，toapersonoftheothersex。MissRebeccaaskedhimagreatnumberofquestionsaboutIndia，whichgavehimanopportunityofnarratingmanyinterestinganecdotesaboutthatcountryandhimself。HedescribedtheballsatGovernmentHouse，andthemannerinwhichtheykeptthemselvescoolinthehotweather，withpunkahs，tatties，andothercontrivances；andhewasverywittyregardingthenumberofScotchmenwhomLordMinto，theGovernor-General，patronised；andthenhedescribedatiger-hunt；andthemannerinwhichthemahoutofhiselephanthadbeenpulledoffhisseatbyoneoftheinfuriatedanimals。HowdelightedMissRebeccawasattheGovernmentballs，andhowshelaughedatthestoriesoftheScotchaides-de-camp，andcalledMr。Sedleyasadwickedsatiricalcreature；andhowfrightenedshewasatthestoryoftheelephant！“Foryourmother’ssake，dearMr。Sedley。”shesaid，“forthesakeofallyourfriends，promiseNEVERtogoononeofthosehorridexpeditions。”

“Pooh，pooh，MissSharp。”saidhe，pullinguphisshirt-

collars；“thedangermakesthesportonlythepleasanter。”

Hehadneverbeenbutonceatatiger-hunt，whentheaccidentinquestionoccurred，andwhenhewashalfkilled——notbythetiger，butbythefright。Andashetalkedon，hegrewquitebold，andactuallyhadtheaudacitytoaskMissRebeccaforwhomshewasknittingthegreensilkpurse？Hewasquitesurprisedanddelightedathisowngracefulfamiliarmanner。

“Foranyonewhowantsapurse。”repliedMissRebecca，lookingathiminthemostgentlewinningway。

Sedleywasgoingtomakeoneofthemosteloquentspeechespossible，andhadbegun——“OMissSharp，how——“whensomesongwhichwasperformedintheotherroomcametoanend，andcausedhimtohearhisownvoicesodistinctlythathestopped，blushed，andblewhisnoseingreatagitation。

“Didyoueverhearanythinglikeyourbrother’seloquence？”whisperedMr。OsbornetoAmelia。”Why，yourfriendhasworkedmiracles。”

“Themorethebetter。”saidMissAmelia；who，likealmostallwomenwhoareworthapin，wasamatch-

makerinherheart，andwouldhavebeendelightedthatJosephshouldcarrybackawifetoIndia。Shehad，too，inthecourseofthisfewdays’constantintercourse，warmedintoamosttenderfriendshipforRebecca，anddiscoveredamillionofvirtuesandamiablequalitiesinherwhichshehadnotperceivedwhentheywereatChiswicktogether。FortheaffectionofyoungladiesisofasrapidgrowthasJack’sbean-stalk，andreachesuptotheskyinanight。ItisnoblametothemthataftermarriagethisSehnsuchtnachderLiebesubsides。Itiswhatsentimentalists，whodealinverybigwords，callayearningaftertheIdeal，andsimplymeansthatwomenarecommonlynotsatisfieduntiltheyhavehusbandsandchildrenonwhomtheymaycentreaffections，whicharespentelsewhere，asitwere，insmallchange。

Havingexpendedherlittlestoreofsongs，orhavingstayedlongenoughinthebackdrawing-room，itnowappearedpropertoMissAmeliatoaskherfriendtosing。”Youwouldnothavelistenedtome。”shesaidtoMr。Osborne(thoughsheknewshewastellingafib)。”hadyouheardRebeccafirst。”

“IgiveMissSharpwarning，though。”saidOsborne。”that，rightorwrong，IconsiderMissAmeliaSedleythefirstsingerintheworld。”

“Youshallhear。”saidAmelia；andJosephSedleywasactuallypoliteenoughtocarrythecandlestothepiano。