第23章

“Notatnoprice。”Mr。Q。said。”Mr。GeorgeOsborne，sir，howwillyoutakeit？”Georgecrammedeagerlyaquantityofnotesintohispockets，andpaidDobbinfiftypoundsthatveryeveningatmess。

ThatveryeveningAmeliawrotehimthetenderestoflongletters。Herheartwasoverflowingwithtenderness，butitstillforebodedevil。WhatwasthecauseofMr。

Osborne’sdarklooks？sheasked。Hadanydifferencearisenbetweenhimandherpapa？HerpoorpapareturnedsomelancholyfromtheCity，thatallwerealarmedabouthimathome——infine，therewerefourpagesoflovesandfearsandhopesandforebodings。

“PoorlittleEmmy——dearlittleEmmy。Howfondsheisofme。”Georgesaid，asheperusedthemissive——“andGad，whataheadachethatmixedpunchhasgivenme！”

PoorlittleEmmy，indeed。

CHAPTERXIV

MissCrawleyatHomeAboutthistimetheredroveuptoanexceedinglysnugandwell-appointedhouseinParkLane，atravellingchariotwithalozengeonthepanels，adiscontentedfemaleinagreenveilandcrimpedcurlsontherumble，andalargeandconfidentialmanonthebox。ItwastheequipageofourfriendMissCrawley，returningfromHants。Thecarriagewindowswereshut；thefatspaniel，whoseheadandtongueordinarilylolledoutofoneofthem，reposedonthelapofthediscontentedfemale。Whenthevehiclestopped，alargeroundbundleofshawlswastakenoutofthecarriagebytheaidofvariousdomesticsandayoungladywhoaccompaniedtheheapofcloaks。ThatbundlecontainedMissCrawley，whowasconveyedupstairsforthwith，andputintoabedandchamberwarmedproperlyasforthereceptionofaninvalid。Messengerswentoffforherphysicianandmedicalman。Theycame，consulted，prescribed，vanished。TheyoungcompanionofMissCrawley，attheconclusionoftheirinterview，cameintoreceivetheirinstructions，andadministeredthoseantiphlogisticmedicineswhichtheeminentmenordered。

CaptainCrawleyoftheLifeGuardsrodeupfromKnightsbridgeBarracksthenextday；hisblackchargerpawedthestrawbeforehisinvalidaunt’sdoor。Hewasmostaffectionateinhisinquiriesregardingthatamiablerelative。Thereseemedtobemuchsourceofapprehension。

HefoundMissCrawley’smaid(thediscontentedfemale)unusuallysulkyanddespondent；hefoundMissBriggs，herdamedecompagnie，intearsaloneinthedrawing-room。Shehadhastenedhome，hearingofherbelovedfriend’sillness。Shewishedtoflytohercouch，thatcouchwhichshe，Briggs，hadsooftensmoothedinthehourofsickness。ShewasdeniedadmissiontoMissCrawley’sapartment。Astrangerwasadministeringhermedicines——astrangerfromthecountry——anodiousMiss——tearschokedtheutteranceofthedamedecompagnie，andsheburiedhercrushedaffectionsandherpooroldrednoseinherpockethandkerchief。

RawdonCrawleysentuphisnamebythesulkyfemmedechambre，andMissCrawley’snewcompanion，comingtrippingdownfromthesick-room，putalittlehandintohisashesteppedforwardeagerlytomeether，gaveaglanceofgreatscornatthebewilderedBriggs，andbeckoningtheyoungGuardsmanoutofthebackdrawing-

room，ledhimdownstairsintothatnowdesolatedining-

parlour，wheresomanyagooddinnerhadbeencelebrated。

Herethesetwotalkedfortenminutes，discussing，nodoubt，thesymptomsoftheoldinvalidabovestairs；attheendofwhichperiodtheparlourbellwasrungbriskly，andansweredonthatinstantbyMr。Bowls，MissCrawley’slargeconfidentialbutler(who，indeed，happenedtobeatthekeyholeduringthemostpartoftheinterview)；

andtheCaptaincomingout，curlinghismustachios，mountedtheblackchargerpawingamongthestraw，totheadmirationofthelittleblackguardboyscollectedinthestreet。Helookedinatthedining-roomwindow，managinghishorse，whichcurvettedandcaperedbeautifully——foroneinstanttheyoungpersonmightbeseenatthewindow，whenherfigurevanished，and，doubtless，shewentupstairsagaintoresumetheaffectingdutiesofbenevolence。

Whocouldthisyoungwomanbe，Iwonder？Thateveningalittledinnerfortwopersonswaslaidinthedining-

room——whenMrs。Firkin，thelady’smaid，pushedintohermistress’sapartment，andbustledaboutthereduringthevacancyoccasionedbythedepart