第9章

Dobbinwasmuchtoomodestayoungfellowtosupposethatthishappychangeinallhiscircumstancesarosefromhisowngenerousandmanlydisposition：hechose，fromsomeperverseness，toattributehisgoodfortunetothesoleagencyandbenevolenceoflittleGeorgeOsborne，towhomhenceforthhevowedsuchaloveandaffectionasisonlyfeltbychildren——suchanaffection，aswereadinthecharmingfairy-book，uncouthOrsonhadforsplendidyoungValentinehisconqueror。HeflunghimselfdownatlittleOsborne’sfeet，andlovedhim。

Evenbeforetheywereacquainted，hehadadmiredOsborneinsecret。Nowhewashisvalet，hisdog，hismanFriday。HebelievedOsbornetobethepossessorofeveryperfection，tobethehandsomest，thebravest，themostactive，thecleverest，themostgenerousofcreatedboys。Hesharedhismoneywithhim：boughthimuncountablepresentsofknives，pencil-cases，goldseals，toffee，LittleWarblers，andromanticbooks，withlargecolouredpicturesofknightsandrobbers，inmanyofwhichlatteryoumightreadinscriptionstoGeorgeSedleyOsborne，Esquire，fromhisattachedfriendWilliamDobbin——thewhichtokensofhomageGeorgereceivedverygraciously，asbecamehissuperiormerit。

SothatLieutenantOsborne，whencomingtoRussellSquareonthedayoftheVauxhallparty，saidtotheladies，“Mrs。Sedley，Ma’am，Ihopeyouhaveroom；I’veaskedDobbinofourstocomeanddinehere，andgowithustoVauxhall。He’salmostasmodestasJos。”

“Modesty！pooh。”saidthestoutgentleman，castingavainqueurlookatMissSharp。

“Heis——butyouareincomparablymoregraceful，Sedley。”Osborneadded，laughing。”ImethimattheBedford，whenIwenttolookforyou；andItoldhimthatMissAmeliawascomehome，andthatwewereallbentongoingoutforanight’spleasuring；andthatMrs。Sedleyhadforgivenhisbreakingthepunch-bowlatthechild’sparty。Don’tyourememberthecatastrophe，Ma’am，sevenyearsago？”

“OverMrs。Flamingo’scrimsonsilkgown。”saidgood-

naturedMrs。Sedley。”Whatagawkyitwas！Andhissistersarenotmuchmoregraceful。LadyDobbinwasatHighburylastnightwiththreeofthem。Suchfigures！mydears。”

“TheAlderman’sveryrich，isn’the？”Osbornesaidarchly。”Don’tyouthinkoneofthedaughterswouldbeagoodspecforme，Ma’am？”

“Youfoolishcreature！Whowouldtakeyou，Ishouldliketoknow，withyouryellowface？”

“Mineayellowface？StoptillyouseeDobbin。Why，hehadtheyellowfeverthreetimes；twiceatNassau，andonceatSt。Kitts。”

“Well，well；yoursisquiteyellowenoughforus。Isn’tit，Emmy？”Mrs。Sedleysaid：atwhichspeechMissAmeliaonlymadeasmileandablush；andlookingatMr。

GeorgeOsborne’spaleinterestingcountenance，andthosebeautifulblack，curling，shiningwhiskers，whichtheyounggentlemanhimselfregardedwithnoordinarycomplacency，shethoughtinherlittleheartthatinHisMajesty’sarmy，orinthewideworld，thereneverwassuchafaceorsuchahero。”Idon’tcareaboutCaptainDobbin’scomplexion。”shesaid，“orabouthisawkwardness。

Ishallalwayslikehim，Iknow。”herlittlereasonbeing，thathewasthefriendandchampionofGeorge。

“There’snotafinerfellowintheservice。”Osbornesaid，“norabetterofficer，thoughheisnotanAdonis，certainly。”Andhelookedtowardstheglasshimselfwithmuchnaivete；andinsodoing，caughtMissSharp’seyefixedkeenlyuponhim，atwhichheblushedalittle，andRebeccathoughtinherheart，“Ah，monbeauMonsieur！

IthinkIhaveYOURgauge“——thelittleartfulminx！

Thatevening，whenAmeliacametrippingintothedrawing-roominawhitemuslinfrock，preparedforconquestatVauxhall，singinglikealark，andasfreshasarose——averytallungainlygentleman，withlargehandsandfeet，andlargeears，setoffbyacloselycroppedheadofblackhair，andinthehideousmilitaryfroggedcoatandcockedhatofthosetimes，advancedtomeether，andmadeheroneoftheclumsiestbowsthatwaseverperformedbyamortal。

ThiswasnootherthanCaptainWilliamDobbin，ofHisMajesty’sRegimentofFoot，returnedfromyellowfever，intheWestIndies，towhichthefortuneoftheservicehadorderedhisregiment，whilstsomanyofhisgallantcomradeswerereapinggloryinthePeninsula。

Hehadarrivedwithaknocksoverytimidandquietthatitwasinaudibletotheladiesupstairs：otherwise，youmaybesureMissAmeliawouldneverhavebeensoboldastocomesingingintotheroom。Asitwas，thesweetfreshlittlevoicewentrightintotheCaptain’sheart，andnestledthere。Whensheheldoutherhandforhimtoshake，beforeheenvelopeditinhisown，hepaused，andthought——“Well，isitpossible——areyouthelittlemaidI

rememberinthepinkfrock，suchashorttimeago——thenightIupsetthepunch-bowl，justafterIwasgazetted？

AreyouthelittlegirlthatGeorgeOsbornesaidshouldmarryhim？Whatabloomingyoungcreatureyouseem，andwhataprizetheroguehasgot！”Allthishethought，beforehetookAmelia’shandintohisown，andashelethiscockedhatfall。

Hishistorysinceheleftschool，untiltheverymomentwhenwehavethepleasureofmeetinghimagain，althoughnotfullynarrated，hasyet，Ithink，beenindicatedsufficientlyforaningeniousreaderbytheconversationinthelastpage。Dobbin，thedespisedgrocer，wasAldermanDobbin——AldermanDobbinwasColoneloftheCityLightHorse，thenburningwithmilitaryardourtoresisttheFrenchInvasion。ColonelDobbin’scorps，inwhicholdMr。Osbornehimselfwasbutanindifferentcorporal，hadbeenreviewedbytheSovereignandtheDukeofYork；

andthecolonelandaldermanhadbeenknighted。Hissonhadenteredthearmy：andyoungOsbornefollowedpresentlyinthesameregiment。TheyhadservedintheWestIndiesandinCanada。Theirregimenthadjustcomehome，andtheattachmentofDobbintoGeorgeOsbornewasaswarmandgenerousnowasithadbeenwhenthetwowereschoolboys。

Sotheseworthypeoplesatdowntodinnerpresently。

Theytalkedaboutwarandglory，andBoneyandLordWellington，andthelastGazette。Inthosefamousdayseverygazettehadavictoryinit，andthetwogallantyoungmenlongedtoseetheirownnamesinthegloriouslist，andcursedtheirunluckyfatetobelongtoaregimentwhichhadbeenawayfromthechancesofhonour。MissSharpkindledwiththisexcitingtalk，butMissSedleytrembledandgrewquitefaintassheheardit。Mr。Jostoldseveralofhistiger-huntingstories，finishedtheoneaboutMissCutlerandLancethesurgeon；helpedRebeccatoeverythingonthetable，andhimselfgobbledanddrankagreatdeal。

Hesprangtoopenthedoorfortheladies，whentheyretired，withthemostkillinggrace——andcomingbacktothetable，filledhimselfbumperafterbumperofclaret，whichheswallowedwithnervousrapidity。

“He’spriminghimself。”OsbornewhisperedtoDobbin，andatlengththehourandthecarriagearrivedforVauxhall。

VauxhallIknowthatthetuneIampipingisaverymildone(althoughtherearesometerrificchapterscomingpresently)，andmustbegthegood-naturedreadertorememberthatweareonlydiscoursingatpresentaboutastockbroker’sfamilyinRussellSquare，whoaretakingwalks，orluncheon，ordinner，ortalkingandmakingloveaspeopledoincommonlife，andwithoutasinglepassionateandwonderfulincidenttomarktheprogressoftheirloves。Theargumentstandsthus——Osborne，inlovewithAmelia，hasaskedanoldfriendtodinnerandtoVauxhall——JosSedleyisinlovewithRebecca。Willhemarryher？

Thatisthegreatsubjectnowinhand。

Wemighthavetreatedthissubjectinthegenteel，orintheromantic，orinthefacetiousmanner。SupposewehadlaidthesceneinGrosvenorSquare，withtheverysameadventures——wouldnotsomepeoplehavelistened？

SupposewehadshownhowLordJosephSedleyfellinlove，andtheMarquisofOsbornebecameattachedtoLadyAmelia，withthefullconsentoftheDuke，hernoblefather：orinsteadofthesupremelygenteel，supposewehadresortedtotheentirelylow，anddescribedwhatwasgoingoninMr。Sedley’skitchen——howblackSambowasinlovewiththecook(asindeedhewas)，andhowhefoughtabattlewiththecoachmaninherbehalf；howtheknife-boywascaughtstealingacoldshoulderofmutton，andMissSedley’snewfemmedechambrerefusedtogotobedwithoutawaxcandle；suchincidentsmightbemadetoprovokemuchdelightfullaughter，andbesupposedtorepresentscenesof“life。”Orif，onthecontrary，wehadtakenafancyfortheterrible，andmadetheloverofthenewfemmedechambreaprofessionalburglar，whoburstsintothehousewithhisband，slaughtersblackSamboatthefeetofhismaster，andcarriesoffAmeliainhernight-dress，nottobeletlooseagaintillthethirdvolume，weshouldeasilyhaveconstructedataleofthrillinginterest，throughthefierychaptersofwhichthereadershouldhurry，panting。Butmyreadersmusthopefornosuchromance，onlyahomelystory，andmustbecontentwithachapteraboutVauxhall，whichissoshortthatitscarcedeservestobecalledachapteratall。Andyetitisachapter，andaveryimportantonetoo。Arenottherelittlechaptersineverybody’slife，thatseemtobenothing，andyetaffectalltherestofthehistory？

LetusthenstepintothecoachwiththeRussellSquareparty，andbeofftotheGardens。ThereisbarelyroombetweenJosandMissSharp，whoareonthefrontseat。Mr。

Osbornesittingbodkinopposite，betweenCaptainDobbinandAmelia。

EverysoulinthecoachagreedthatonthatnightJoswouldproposetomakeRebeccaSharpMrs。Sedley。Theparentsathomehadacquiescedinthearrangement，though，betweenourselves，oldMr。Sedleyhadafeelingverymuchakintocontemptforhisson。Hesaidhewasvain，selfish，lazy，andeffeminate。Hecouldnotendurehisairsasamanoffashion，andlaughedheartilyathispompousbraggadociostories。”Ishallleavethefellowhalfmyproperty。”hesaid；“andhewillhave，besides，plentyofhisown；butasIamperfectlysurethatifyou，andI，andhissisterweretodieto-morrow，hewouldsay’GoodGad！’andeathisdinnerjustaswellasusual，Iamnotgoingtomakemyselfanxiousabouthim。Lethimmarrywhomhelikes。It’snoaffairofmine。”

Amelia，ontheotherhand，asbecameayoungwomanofherprudenceandtemperament，wasquiteenthusiasticforthematch。OnceortwiceJoshadbeenonthepointofsayingsomethingveryimportanttoher，towhichshewasmostwillingtolendanear，butthefatfellowcouldnotbebroughttounbosomhimselfofhisgreatsecret，andverymuchtohissister’sdisappointmentheonlyridhimselfofalargesighandturnedaway。

ThismysteryservedtokeepAmelia’sgentlebosominaperpetualflutterofexcitement。IfshedidnotspeakwithRebeccaonthetendersubject，shecompensatedherselfwithlongandintimateconversationswithMrs。Blenkinsop，thehousekeeper，whodroppedsomehintstothelady’s-maid，whomayhavecursorilymentionedthemattertothecook，whocarriedthenews，Ihavenodoubt，toallthetradesmen，sothatMr。Jos’smarriagewasnowtalkedofbyaveryconsiderablenumberofpersonsintheRussellSquareworld。

Itwas，ofcourse，Mrs。Sedley’sopinionthathersonwoulddemeanhimselfbyamarriagewithanartist’sdaughter。”But，lor’，Ma’am。”ejaculatedMrs。Blenkinsop。”wewasonlygrocerswhenwemarriedMr。S。，whowasastock-broker’sclerk，andwehadn’tfivehundredpoundsamongus，andwe’rerichenoughnow。”AndAmeliawasentirelyofthisopinion，towhich，gradually，thegood-naturedMrs。Sedleywasbrought。

Mr。Sedleywasneutral。”LetJosmarrywhomhelikes。”

hesaid；“it’snoaffairofmine。Thisgirlhasnofortune；

nomorehadMrs。Sedley。Sheseemsgood-humouredandclever，andwillkeephiminorder，perhaps。Bettershe，mydear，thanablackMrs。Sedley，andadozenofmahoganygrandchildren。”

SothateverythingseemedtosmileuponRebecca’sfortunes。ShetookJos’sarm，asamatterofcourse，ongoingtodinner；shehadsatebyhimontheboxofhisopencarriage(amosttremendous“buck“hewas，ashesatthere，serene，instate，drivinghisgreys)，andthoughnobodysaidawordonthesubjectofthemarriage，everybodyseemedtounderstandit。Allshewantedwastheproposal，andah！howRebeccanowfeltthewantofamother！——adear，tendermother，whowouldhavemanagedthebusinessintenminutes，and，inthecourseofalittledelicateconfidentialconversation，wouldhaveextractedtheinterestingavowalfromthebashfullipsoftheyoungman！

SuchwasthestateofaffairsasthecarriagecrossedWestminsterbridge。

ThepartywaslandedattheRoyalGardensinduetime。

AsthemajesticJossteppedoutofthecreakingvehiclethecrowdgaveacheerforthefatgentleman，whoblushedandlookedverybigandmighty，ashewalkedawaywithRebeccaunderhisarm。George，ofcourse，tookchargeofAmelia。Shelookedashappyasarose-treeinsunshine。

“Isay，Dobbin。”saysGeorge，“justlooktotheshawlsandthings，there’sagoodfellow。”AndsowhilehepairedoffwithMissSedley，andJossqueezedthroughthegateintothegardenswithRebeccaathisside，honestDobbincontentedhimselfbygivinganarmtotheshawls，andbypayingatthedoorforthewholeparty。