第40章

“IstheMajor’sladyyoungandbeautiful，Captain？”thefairquestionercontinued。”Ah，whataterriblethingitmustbetobeasoldier’swife！Iwondertheyhaveanyspiritstodance，andinthesedreadfultimesofwar，too！

OCaptainDobbin，ItremblesometimeswhenIthinkofourdearestGeorge，andthedangersofthepoorsoldier。

Aretheremanymarriedofficersofthe——th，CaptainDobbin？”

“Uponmyword，she’splayingherhandrathertooopenly。”MissWirtthought；butthisobservationismerelyparenthetic，andwasnotheardthroughthecreviceofthedooratwhichthegovernessutteredit。

“Oneofouryoungmenisjustmarried。”Dobbinsaid，nowcomingtothepoint。”Itwasaveryoldattachment，andtheyoungcoupleareaspooraschurchmice。”

“O，howdelightful！O，howromantic！”MissOsbornecried，astheCaptainsaid“oldattachment“and“poor。”

Hersympathyencouragedhim。

“Thefinestyoungfellowintheregiment。”hecontinued。

“Notabraverorhandsomerofficerinthearmy；andsuchacharmingwife！Howyouwouldlikeher！howyouwilllikeherwhenyouknowher，MissOsborne。”Theyoungladythoughttheactualmomenthadarrived，andthatDobbin’snervousnesswhichnowcameonandwasvisibleinmanytwitchingsofhisface，inhismannerofbeatingthegroundwithhisgreatfeet，intherapidbuttoningandunbuttoningofhisfrock-coat，&c——MissOsborne，Isay，thoughtthatwhenhehadgivenhimselfalittleair，hewouldunbosomhimselfentirely，andpreparedeagerlytolisten。Andtheclock，inthealtaronwhichIphigeniawassituated，beginning，afterapreparatoryconvulsion，totolltwelve，themeretollingseemedasifitwouldlastuntilone——soprolongedwastheknelltotheanxiousspinster。

“Butit’snotaboutmarriagethatIcametospeak——

thatisthatmarriage——thatis——no，Imean——mydearMissOsborne，it’saboutourdearfriendGeorge。”

Dobbinsaid。

“AboutGeorge？”shesaidinatonesodiscomfitedthatMariaandMissWirtlaughedattheothersideofthedoor，andeventhatabandonedwretchofaDobbinfeltinclinedtosmilehimself；forhewasnotaltogetherunconsciousofthestateofaffairs：Georgehavingoftenbanteredhimgracefullyandsaid，“Hangit，Will，whydon’tyoutakeoldJane？She’llhaveyouifyouaskher。

I’llbetyoufivetotwoshewill。”

“Yes，aboutGeorge，then。”hecontinued。”TherehasbeenadifferencebetweenhimandMr。Osborne。AndI

regardhimsomuch——foryouknowwehavebeenlikebrothers——thatIhopeandpraythequarrelmaybesettled。Wemustgoabroad，MissOsborne。Wemaybeorderedoffataday’swarning。Whoknowswhatmayhappeninthecampaign？Don’tbeagitated，dearMissOsborne；andthosetwoatleastshouldpartfriends。”

“Therehasbeennoquarrel，CaptainDobbin，exceptalittleusualscenewithPapa。”theladysaid。”WeareexpectingGeorgebackdaily。WhatPapawantedwasonlyforhisgood。Hehasbuttocomeback，andI’msureallwillbewell；anddearRhoda，whowentawayfromhereinsadsadanger，Iknowwillforgivehim。Womanforgivesbuttooreadily，Captain。”

“SuchanangelasYOUIamsurewould。”Mr。Dobbinsaid，withatrociousastuteness。”Andnomancanpardonhimselfforgivingawomanpain。Whatwouldyoufeel，ifamanwerefaithlesstoyou？”

“Ishouldperish——Ishouldthrowmyselfoutofwindow——

Ishouldtakepoison——Ishouldpineanddie。I

knowIshould。”Misscried，whohadneverthelessgonethroughoneortwoaffairsoftheheartwithoutanyideaofsuicide。

“Andthereareothers。”Dobbincontinued，“astrueandaskind-heartedasyourself。I’mnotspeakingabouttheWestIndianheiress，MissOsborne，butaboutapoorgirlwhomGeorgeonceloved，andwhowasbredfromherchildhoodtothinkofnobodybuthim。I’veseenherinherpovertyuncomplaining，broken-hearted，withoutafault。ItisofMissSedleyIspeak。DearMissOsborne，canyourgenerousheartquarrelwithyourbrotherforbeingfaithfultoher？Couldhisownconscienceeverforgivehimifhedesertedher？Beherfriend——shealwayslovedyou——and——andIamcomeherechargedbyGeorgetotellyouthatheholdshisengagementtoherasthemostsacreddutyhehas；andtoentreatyou，atleast，tobeonhisside。”

WhenanystrongemotiontookpossessionofMr。Dobbin，andafterthefirstwordortwoofhesitation，hecouldspeakwithperfectfluency，anditwasevidentthathiseloquenceonthisoccasionmadesomeimpressionupontheladywhomheaddressed。

“Well。”saidshe，“thisis——mostsurprising——mostpainful——

mostextraordinary——whatwillPapasay？——thatGeorgeshouldflingawaysuchasuperbestablishmentaswasofferedtohim butatanyratehehasfoundaverybravechampioninyou，CaptainDobbin。Itisofnouse，however。”shecontinued，afterapause；“IfeelforpoorMissSedley，mostcertainly——mostsincerely，youknow。

Weneverthoughtthematchagoodone，thoughwewerealwaysverykindtoherhere——very。ButPapawillneverconsent，Iamsure。Andawellbroughtupyoungwoman，youknow——withawell-regulatedmind，must——Georgemustgiveherup，dearCaptainDobbin，indeedhemust。”

“Oughtamantogiveupthewomanheloved，justwhenmisfortunebefellher？”Dobbinsaid，holdingouthishand。”DearMissOsborne，isthisthecounselIhearfromyou？Mydearyounglady！youmustbefriendher。

Hecan’tgiveherup。Hemustnotgiveherup。Wouldaman，thinkyou，giveYOUupifyouwerepoor？”

ThisadroitquestiontouchedtheheartofMissJaneOsbornenotalittle。”Idon’tknowwhetherwepoorgirlsoughttobelievewh