第31章

——isthegreatroaringwartempestcomingtosweepyoudown，here，althoughcoweringundertheshelterofHolborn？Yes；Napoleonisflinginghislaststake，andpoorlittleEmmySedley’shappinessforms，somehow，partofit。

Inthefirstplace，herfather’sfortunewassweptdownwiththatfatalnews。Allhisspeculationshadoflategonewrongwiththelucklessoldgentleman。Ventureshadfailed；merchantshadbroken；fundshadrisenwhenhecalculatedtheywouldfall。Whatneedtoparticularize？

Ifsuccessisrareandslow，everybodyknowshowquickandeasyruinis。OldSedleyhadkepthisownsadcounsel。

Everythingseemedtogoonasusualinthequiet，opulenthouse；thegood-naturedmistresspursuing，quiteunsuspiciously，herbustlingidleness，anddailyeasyavocations；thedaughterabsorbedstillinoneselfish，tenderthought，andquiteregardlessofalltheworldbesides，whenthatfinalcrashcame，underwhichtheworthyfamilyfell。

OnenightMrs。Sedleywaswritingcardsforaparty；

theOsborneshadgivenone，andshemustnotbebehindhand；JohnSedley，whohadcomehomeverylatefromtheCity，satesilentatthechimneyside，whilehiswifewasprattlingtohim；Emmyhadgoneuptoherroomailingandlow-spirited。”She’snothappy。”themotherwenton。”GeorgeOsborneneglectsher。I’venopatiencewiththeairsofthosepeople。Thegirlshavenotbeeninthehousethesethreeweeks；andGeorgehasbeentwiceintownwithoutcoming。EdwardDalesawhimattheOpera。EdwardwouldmarryherI’msure：andthere’sCaptainDobbinwho，Ithink，would——onlyIhateallarmymen。SuchadandyasGeorgehasbecome。Withhismilitaryairs，indeed！Wemustshowsomefolksthatwe’reasgoodasthey。OnlygiveEdwardDaleanyencouragement，andyou’llsee。Wemusthaveaparty，Mr。

S。Whydon’tyouspeak，John？ShallIsayTuesdayfortnight？

Whydon’tyouanswer？GoodGod，John，whathashappened？”

JohnSedleysprangupoutofhischairtomeethiswife，whorantohim。Heseizedherinhisarms，andsaidwithahastyvoice，“We’reruined，Mary。We’vegottheworldtobeginoveragain，dear。It’sbestthatyoushouldknowall，andatonce。”Ashespoke，hetrembledineverylimb，andalmostfell。Hethoughtthenewswouldhaveoverpoweredhiswife——hiswife，towhomhehadneversaidahardword。Butitwashethatwasthemostmoved，suddenastheshockwastoher。Whenhesankbackintohisseat，itwasthewifethattooktheofficeofconsoler。Shetookhistremblinghand，andkissedit，andputitroundherneck：shecalledhimherJohn——herdearJohn——heroldman——herkindoldman；shepouredoutahundredwordsofincoherentloveandtenderness；herfaithfulvoiceandsimplecaresseswroughtthissadheartuptoaninexpressibledelightandanguish，andcheeredandsolacedhisover-burdenedsoul。

Onlyonceinthecourseofthelongnightastheysatetogether，andpoorSedleyopenedhispent-upsoul，andtoldthestoryofhislossesandembarrassments——thetreasonofsomeofhisoldestfriends，themanlykindnessofsome，fromwhomhenevercouldhaveexpectedit——inageneralconfession——onlyoncedidthefaithfulwifegivewaytoemotion。

“MyGod，myGod，itwillbreakEmmy’sheart。”shesaid。

Thefatherhadforgottenthepoorgirl。Shewaslying，awakeandunhappy，overhead。Inthemidstoffriends，home，andkindparents，shewasalone。Tohowmanypeoplecananyonetellall？Whowillbeopenwherethereisnosympathy，orhascalltospeaktothosewhonevercanunderstand？OurgentleAmeliawasthussolitary。Shehadnoconfidante，sotospeak，eversinceshehadanythingtoconfide。Shecouldnottelltheoldmotherherdoubtsandcares；thewould-besistersseemedeverydaymorestrangetoher。Andshehadmisgivingsandfearswhichshedarednotacknowledgetoherself，thoughshewasalwayssecretlybroodingoverthem。

HerhearttriedtopersistinassertingthatGeorgeOsbornewasworthyandfaithfultoher，thoughsheknewotherwise。Howmanyathinghadshesaid，andgotnoechofromhim。Howmanysuspicionsofselfishnessandindifferencehadshetoencounterandobstinatelyovercome。Towhomcouldthepoorlittlemartyrtellthesedailystrugglesandtortures？Herherohimselfonlyhalfunderstoodher。Shedidnotdaretoownthatthemanshelovedwasherinferior；ortofeelthatshehadgivenherheartawaytoosoon。Givenonce，thepurebashfulmaidenwastoomodest，tootender，tootrustful，tooweak，toomuchwomantorecallit。WeareTurkswiththeaffectionsofourwomen；andhavemadethemsub