第7章

Osbornehintedthatheshouldlikequiteaswelltositinthedark；butMissSedley，laughing，declinedtobearhimcompanyanyfarther，andthetwoaccordinglyfollowedMr。Joseph。Rebeccasangfarbetterthanherfriend(thoughofcourseOsbornewasfreetokeephisopinion)，andexertedherselftotheutmost，and，indeed，tothewonderofAmelia，whohadneverknownherperformsowell。ShesangaFrenchsong，whichJosephdidnotunderstandintheleast，andwhichGeorgeconfessedhedidnotunderstand，andthenanumberofthosesimpleballadswhichwerethefashionfortyyearsago，andinwhichBritishtars，ourKing，poorSusan，blue-eyedMary，andthelike，weretheprincipalthemes。

Theyarenot，itissaid，verybrilliant，inamusicalpointofview，butcontainnumberlessgood-natured，simpleappealstotheaffections，whichpeopleunderstoodbetterthanthemilk-and-waterlagrime，sospiri，andfelicitaoftheeternalDonizettianmusicwithwhichwearefavourednow-a-days。

Conversationofasentimentalsort，befittingthesubject，wascarriedonbetweenthesongs，towhichSambo，afterhehadbroughtthetea，thedelightedcook，andevenMrs。Blenkinsop，thehousekeeper，condescendedtolistenonthelanding-place。

Amongthesedittieswasone，thelastoftheconcert，andtothefollowingeffect：

Ah！bleakandbarrenwasthemoor，Ah！loudandpiercingwasthestorm，Thecottageroofwasshelter’dsure，Thecottagehearthwasbrightandwarm——

Anorphanboythelatticepass’d，And，ashemark’ditscheerfulglow，Feltdoublykeenthemidnightblast，Anddoublycoldthefallensnow。

Theymark’dhimasheonwardprest，Withfaintingheartandwearylimb；

Kindvoicesbadehimturnandrest，Andgentlefaceswelcomedhim。

Thedawnisup——theguestisgone，Thecottagehearthisblazingstill；

Heavenpityallpoorwandererslone！

Harktothewinduponthehill！

Itwasthesentimentofthebefore-mentionedwords。”WhenI’mgone。”overagain。Asshecametothelastwords，MissSharp’s“deep-tonedvoicefaltered。”

Everybodyfelttheallusiontoherdeparture，andtoherhaplessorphanstate。JosephSedley，whowasfondofmusic，andsoft-hearted，wasinastateofravishmentduringtheperformanceofthesong，andprofoundlytouchedatitsconclusion。Ifhehadhadthecourage；ifGeorgeandMissSedleyhadremained，accordingtotheformer’sproposal，inthefartherroom，JosephSedley’sbachelorhoodwouldhavebeenatanend，andthisworkwouldneverhavebeenwritten。Butatthecloseoftheditty，Rebeccaquittedthepiano，andgivingherhandtoAmelia，walkedawayintothefrontdrawing-roomtwilight；and，atthismoment，Mr。Sambomadehisappearancewithatray，containingsandwiches，jellies，andsomeglitteringglassesanddecanters，onwhichJosephSedley’sattentionwasimmediatelyfixed。WhentheparentsofthehouseofSedleyreturnedfromtheirdinner-party，theyfoundtheyoungpeoplesobusyintalking，thattheyhadnotheardthearrivalofthecarriage，andMr。Josephwasintheactofsaying，“MydearMissSharp，onelittleteaspoonfulofjellytorecruityouafteryourimmense——your——yourdelightfulexertions。”

“Bravo，Jos！”saidMr。Sedley；onhearingthebanteringofwhichwell-knownvoice，Josinstantlyrelapsedintoanalarmedsilence，andquicklytookhisdeparture。

HedidnotlieawakeallnightthinkingwhetherornothewasinlovewithMissSharp；thepassionofloveneverinterferedwiththeappetiteortheslumberofMr。JosephSedley；buthethoughttohimselfhowdelightfulitwouldbetohearsuchsongsasthoseafterCutcherry——whatadistingueegirlshewas——howshecouldspeakFrenchbetterthantheGovernor-General’sladyherself——andwhatasensationshewouldmakeattheCalcuttaballs。

“It’sevidentthepoordevil’sinlovewithme。”thoughthe。”SheisjustasrichasmostofthegirlswhocomeouttoIndia。Imightgofarther，andfareworse，egad！”

Andinthesemeditationshefellasleep。

HowMissSharplayawake，thinking，willhecomeornotto-morrow？neednotbetoldhere。To-morrowcame，and，assureasfate，Mr。JosephSedleymadehisappearancebeforeluncheon。HehadneverbeenknownbeforetoconfersuchanhonouronRussellSquare。GeorgeOsbornewassomehowtherealready(sadly“puttingout“

Amelia，whowaswritingtohertwelvedearestfriendsatChiswickMall)，andRebeccawasemployeduponheryesterday’swork。AsJoe’sbuggydroveup，andwhile，afterhisusualthunderingknockandpompousbustleatthedoor，theex-CollectorofBoggleyWollahlabouredupstairstothedrawing-room，knowingglancesweretelegraphedbetweenOsborneandMissSedley，andthepair，smilingarchly，lookedatRebecca，whoactuallyblushedasshebentherfairringletsoverherknitting。HowherheartbeatasJosephappeared——Joseph，puffingfromthestaircaseinshiningcreakingboots——Joseph，inanewwaistcoat，redwithheatandnervousness，andblushingbehindhiswaddedneckcloth。Itwasanervousmomentforall；andasforAmelia，Ithinkshewasmorefrightenedthaneventhepeoplemostconcerned。

Sambo，whoflungopenthedoorandannouncedMr。

Joseph，followedgrinning，intheCollector’srear，andbearingtwohandsomenosegaysofflowers，whichthemonsterhadactuallyhadthegallantrytopurchaseinCoventGardenMarketthatmorning——theywerenotasbigasthehaystackswhichladiescarryaboutwiththemnow-a-days，inconesoffiligreepaper；buttheyoungwomenweredelightedwiththegift，asJosephpresentedonetoeach，withanexceedinglysolemnbow。

“Bravo，Jos！”criedOsborne。

“Thankyou，dearJoseph。”saidAmelia，quitereadytokissherbrother，ifheweresominded。(AndIthinkforakissfromsuchadearcreatureasAmelia，IwouldpurchaseallMr。Lee’sconservatoriesoutofhand。)

“Oheavenly，heavenlyflowers！”exclaimedMissSharp，andsmeltthemdelicately，andheldthemtoherbosom，andcastuphereyestotheceiling，inanecstasyofadmiration。Perhapsshejustlookedfirstintothebouquet，toseewhethertherewasabillet-douxhiddenamongtheflowers；buttherewasnoletter。

“DotheytalkthelanguageofflowersatBoggleyWollah，Sedley？”askedOsborne，laughing。

“Pooh，nonsense！”repliedthesentimentalyouth。

“Bought’ematNathan’s；verygladyoulike’em；andeh，Amelia，mydear，Iboughtapine-appleatthesametime，whichIgavetoSambo。Let’shaveitfortiffin；

verycoolandnicethishotweather。”Rebeccasaidshehadnevertastedapine，andlongedbeyondeverythingtotasteone。

Sotheconversationwenton。Idon’tknowonwhatpretextOsbornelefttheroom，orwhy，presently，Ameliawentaway，perhapstosuperintendtheslicingofthepine-apple；butJoswasleftalonewithRebecca，whohadresumedherwork，andthegreensilkandtheshiningneedleswerequiveringrapidlyunderherwhiteslenderfingers。

“Whatabeautiful，BYOO-OOTIFULsongthatwasyousanglastnight，dearMissSharp。”saidtheCollector。”Itmademecryalmost；’ponmyhonouritdid。”

“Becauseyouhaveakindheart，Mr。Joseph；alltheSedleyshave，Ithink。”

“Itkeptmeawakelastnight，andIwastryingtohumitthismorning，inbed；Iwas，uponmyhonour。Gollop，mydoctor，cameinateleven(forI’masadinvalid，youknow，andseeGollopeveryday)，and，’gad！thereI

was，singingawaylike——arobin。”

“Oyoudrollcreature！Doletmehearyousingit。”

“Me？No，you，MissSharp；mydearMissSharp，dosingit。

“Notnow，Mr。Sedley。”saidRebecca，withasigh。”Myspiritsarenotequaltoit；besides，Imustfinishthepurse。Willyouhelpme，Mr。Sedley？”Andbeforehehadtimetoaskhow，Mr。JosephSedley，oftheEastIndiaCompany’sservice，wasactuallyseatedtete-a-tetewithayounglady，lookingatherwithamostkillingexpression；

hisarmsstretchedoutbeforeherinanimploringattitude，andhishandsboundinawebofgreensilk，whichshewasunwinding。

InthisromanticpositionOsborneandAmeliafoundtheinterestingpair，whentheyenteredtoannouncethattiffinwasready。Theskeinofsilkwasjustwoundroundthecard；butMr。Joshadneverspoken。

“Iamsurehewillto-night，dear。”Ameliasaid，asshepressedRebecca’shand；andSedley，too，hadcommunedwithhissoul，andsaidtohimself，“’Gad，I’llpopthequestionatVauxhall。”

CHAPTERV

DobbinofOursCuff’sfightwithDobbin，andtheunexpectedissueofthatcontest，willlongberememberedbyeverymanwhowaseducatedatDr。Swishtail’sfamousschool。ThelatterYouth(whousedtobecalledHeigh-hoDobbin，Gee-hoDobbin，andbymanyothernamesindicativeofpuerilecontempt)wasthequietest，theclumsiest，and，asitseemed，thedullestofallDr。Swishtail’syounggentlemen。

Hisparentwasagrocerinthecity：anditwasbruitedabroadthathewasadmittedintoDr。Swishtail’sacademyuponwhatarecalled“mutualprinciples“——thatistosay，theexpensesofhisboardandschoolingweredefrayedbyhisfatheringoods，notmoney；andhestoodthere——mostatthebottomoftheschool——inhisscraggycorduroysandjacket，throughtheseamsofwhichhisgreatbigboneswerebursting——astherepresentativeofsomanypoundsoftea，candles，sugar，mottled-soap，plums(ofwhichaverymildproportionwassuppliedforthepuddingsoftheestablishment)，andothercommodities。AdreadfuldayitwasforyoungDobbinwhenoneoftheyoungstersoftheschool，havingrunintothetownuponapoachingexcursionforhardbakeandpolonies，espiedthecartofDobbin&Rudge，GrocersandOilmen，ThamesStreet，London，attheDoctor’sdoor，dischargingacargoofthewaresinwhichthefirmdealt。

YoungDobbinhadnopeaceafterthat。Thejokeswerefrightful，andmercilessagainsthim。”Hullo，Dobbin。”onewagwouldsay，“here’sgoodnewsinthepaper。Sugarsisris’，myboy。”Anotherwouldsetasum——“Ifapoundofmutton-candlescostsevenpence-halfpenny，howmuchmustDobbincost？”andaroarwouldfollowfromallthecircleofyoungknaves，usherandall，whorightlyconsideredthatthesellingofgoodsbyretailisashamefulandinfamouspractice，meritingthecontemptandscornofallrealgentlemen。

“Yourfather’sonlyamerchant，Osborne。”Dobbinsaidinprivatetothelittleboywhohadbroughtdownthestormuponhim。Atwhichthelatterrepliedhaughtily。”Myfather’sagentleman，andkeepshiscarriage“；andMr。WilliamDobbinretreatedtoaremoteouthouseintheplayground，wherehepassedahalf-holidayinthebitterestsadnessandwoe。Whoamongstusistherethatdoesnotrecollectsimilarhoursofbitter，bitterchildishgrief？Whofeelsinjustice；whoshrinksbeforeaslight；

whohasasenseofwrongsoacute，andsoglowingagratitudeforkindness，asagenerousboy？andhowmanyofthosegentlesoulsdoyoudegrade，estrange，torture，forthesakeofalittleloosearithmetic，andmiserabledog-latin？

Now，WilliamDobbin，fromanincapacitytoacquiretherudimentsoftheabovelanguage，astheyarepropoundedinthatwonderfulbooktheEtonLatinGrammar，wascompelledtoremainamongtheverylastofDoctorSwishtail’sscholars，andwas“takendown“continuallybylittlefellowswithpinkfacesandpinaforeswhenhemarchedupwiththelowerform，agiantamongstthem，withhisdowncast，stupefiedlook，hisdog’s-earedprimer，andhistightcorduroys。Highandlow，allmadefunofhim。Theysewedupthosecorduroys，tightastheywere。

Theycuthisbed-strings。Theyupsetbucketsandbenches，sothathemightbreakhisshinsoverthem，whichheneverfailedtodo。Theysenthimparcels，which，whenopened，werefoundtocontainthepaternalsoapandcandles。TherewasnolittlefellowbuthadhisjeerandjokeatDobbin；andheboreeverythingquitepatiently，andwasentirelydumbandmiserable。

Cuff，onthecontrary，wasthegreatchiefanddandyoftheSwishtailSeminary。Hesmuggledwinein。Hefoughtthetown-boys。PoniesusedtocomeforhimtoridehomeonSaturdays。Hehadhistop-bootsinhisroom，inwhichheusedtohuntintheholidays。Hehadagoldrepeater：

andtooksnuffliketheDoctor。HehadbeentotheOpera，andknewthemeritsoftheprincipalactors，preferringMr。KeantoMr。Kemble。HecouldknockyouofffortyLatinversesinanhour。HecouldmakeFrenchpoetry。

Whatelsedidn’theknow，orcouldn’thedo？TheysaideventheDoctorhimselfwasafraidofhim。

Cuff，theunquestionedkingoftheschool，ruledoverhissubjects，andbulliedthem，withsplendidsuperiority。

Thisoneblackedhisshoes：thattoastedhisbread，otherswouldfagout，andgivehimballsatcricketduringwholesummerafternoons。”Figs“wasthefellowwhomhedespisedmost，andwithwhom，thoughalwaysabusinghim，andsneeringathim，hescarcelyevercondescendedtoholdpersonalcommunication。

Onedayinprivate，thetwoyounggentlemenhadhadadifference。Figs，aloneintheschoolroom，wasblunderingoverahomeletter；whenCuff，entering，badehimgouponsomemessage，ofwhichtartswereprobablythesubject。

“Ican’t。”saysDobbin；“Iwanttofinishmyletter。”