第44章

Amelia，withalookoftenderalarminhereyes，listenedtohernobleheroasheutteredtheabovegeneroussentiments，andsittingdownonthebed，readtheletterwhichGeorgegaveherwithsuchapompousmartyr-likeair。Herfaceclearedupasshereadthedocument，however。

Theideaofsharingpovertyandprivationincompanywiththebelovedobjectis，aswehavebeforesaid，farfrombeingdisagreeabletoawarm-heartedwoman。

ThenotionwasactuallypleasanttolittleAmelia。Then，asusual，shewasashamedofherselfforfeelinghappyatsuchanindecorousmoment，andcheckedherpleasure，sayingdemurely，“O，George，howyourpoorheartmustbleedattheideaofbeingseparatedfromyourpapa！”

“Itdoes。”saidGeorge，withanagonisedcountenance。

“Buthecan’tbeangrywithyoulong。”shecontinued。

“Nobodycould，I’msure。Hemustforgiveyou，mydearest，kindesthusband。O，Ishallneverforgivemyselfifhedoesnot。”

“Whatvexesme，mypoorEmmy，isnotmymisfortune，butyours。”Georgesaid。”Idon’tcareforalittlepoverty；andIthink，withoutvanity，I’vetalentsenoughtomakemyownway。”

“Thatyouhave。”interposedhiswife，whothoughtthatwarshouldcease，andherhusbandshouldbemadeageneralinstantly。

“Yes，Ishallmakemywayaswellasanother。”Osbornewenton；“butyou，mydeargirl，howcanIbearyourbeingdeprivedofthecomfortsandstationinsocietywhichmywifehadarighttoexpect？Mydearestgirlinbarracks；thewifeofasoldierinamarchingregiment；subjecttoallsortsofannoyanceandprivation！

Itmakesmemiserable。”

Emmy，quiteatease，asthiswasherhusband’sonlycauseofdisquiet，tookhishand，andwitharadiantfaceandsmilebegantowarblethatstanzafromthefavouritesongof“WappingOldStairs。”inwhichtheheroine，afterrebukingherTomforinattention，promises“histrouserstomend，andhisgrogtootomake。”ifhewillbeconstantandkind，andnotforsakeher。”Besides。”shesaid，afterapause，duringwhichshelookedasprettyandhappyasanyyoungwomanneed，“isn’ttwothousandpoundsanimmensedealofmoney，George？”

Georgelaughedathernaivete；andfinallytheywentdowntodinner，AmeliaclingingtoGeorge’sarm，stillwarblingthetuneof“WappingOldStairs。”andmorepleasedandlightofmindthanshehadbeenforsomedayspast。

Thustherepast，whichatlengthcameoff，insteadofbeingdismal，wasanexceedinglybriskandmerryone。

TheexcitementofthecampaigncounteractedinGeorge’smindthedepressionoccasionedbythedisinheritingletter。

Dobbinstillkeptuphischaracterofrattle。HeamusedthecompanywithaccountsofthearmyinBelgium；

wherenothingbutfetesandgaietyandfashionweregoingon。Then，havingaparticularendinview，thisdexterouscaptainproceededtodescribeMrs。MajorO’DowdpackingherownandherMajor’swardrobe，andhowhisbestepauletshadbeenstowedintoateacanister，whilstherownfamousyellowturban，withthebirdofparadisewrappedinbrownpaper，waslockedupintheMajor’stincocked-hatcase，andwonderedwhateffectitwouldhaveattheFrenchking’scourtatGhent，orthegreatmilitaryballsatBrussels。

“Ghent！Brussels！”criedoutAmeliawithasuddenshockandstart。”Istheregimentorderedaway，George——isitorderedaway？”Alookofterrorcameoverthesweetsmilingface，andsheclungtoGeorgeasbyaninstinct。

“Don’tbeafraid，dear。”hesaidgood-naturedly；“itisbutatwelvehours’passage。Itwon’thurtyou。Youshallgo，too，Emmy。”

“Iintendtogo。”saidBecky。”I’monthestaff。GeneralTuftoisagreatflirtofmine。Isn’the，Rawdon？”

Rawdonlaughedoutwithhisusualroar。WilliamDobbinflushedupquitered。”Shecan’tgo。”hesaid；“thinkofthe——ofthedanger。”hewasgoingtoadd；buthadnotallhisconversationduringdinner-timetendedtoprovetherewasnone？Hebecameveryconfusedandsilent。

“Imustandwillgo。”Ameliacriedwiththegreatestspirit；andGeorge，applaudingherresolution，pattedherunderthechin，andaskedallthepersonspresentiftheyeversawsuchatermagantofawife，andagreedthattheladyshouldbearhimcompany。”We’llhaveMrs。O’Dowdtochaperonyou。”hesaid。Whatcaredshesolongasherhusbandwasnearher？Thussomehowthebitternessofapartingwasjuggledaway。Thoughwaranddangerwereinstore，waranddangermightnotbefallformonthstocome。Therewasarespiteatanyrate，whichmadetheti