第47章

howpatientlyandtenderlyshehadwatchedroundthatbed！Shewentandkneltdownbythebedside；andtherethiswoundedandtimorous，butgentleandlovingsoul，soughtforconsolation，whereasyet，itmustbeowned，ourlittlegirlhadbutseldomlookedforit。Lovehadbeenherfaithhitherto；andthesad，bleedingdisappointedheartbegantofeelthewantofanotherconsoler。

Havewearighttorepeatortooverhearherprayers？

These，brother，aresecrets，andoutofthedomainofVanityFair，inwhichourstorylies。

Butthismaybesaid，thatwhentheteawasfinallyannounced，ouryoungladycamedownstairsagreatdealmorecheerful；thatshedidnotdespond，ordeploreherfate，orthinkaboutGeorge’scoldness，orRebecca’seyes，asshehadbeenwonttodooflate。Shewentdownstairs，andkissedherfatherandmother，andtalkedtotheoldgentleman，andmadehimmoremerrythanhehadbeenformanyaday。ShesatedownatthepianowhichDobbinhadboughtforher，andsangoverallherfather’sfavouriteoldsongs。Shepronouncedtheteatobeexcellent，andpraisedtheexquisitetasteinwhichthemarmaladewasarrangedinthesaucers。Andindeterminingtomakeeverybodyelsehappy，shefoundherselfso；andwassoundasleepinthegreatfunerealpavilion，andonlywokeupwithasmilewhenGeorgearrivedfromthetheatre。

Forthenextday，Georgehadmoreimportant“business“

totransactthanthatwhichtookhimtoseeMr。

KeaninShylock。ImmediatelyonhisarrivalinLondonhehadwrittenofftohisfather’ssolicitors，signifyinghisroyalpleasurethataninterviewshouldtakeplacebetweenthemonthemorrow。Hishotelbill，lossesatbilliardsandcardstoCaptainCrawleyhadalmostdrainedtheyoungman’spurse，whichwantedreplenishingbeforehesetoutonhistravels，andhehadnoresourcebuttoinfringeuponthetwothousandpoundswhichtheattorneyswerecommissionedtopayovertohim。Hehadaperfectbeliefinhisownmindthathisfatherwouldrelentbeforeverylong。Howcouldanyparentbeobdurateforalengthoftimeagainstsuchaparagonashewas？Ifhismerepastandpersonalmeritsdidnotsucceedinmollifyinghisfather，Georgedeterminedthathewoulddistinguishhimselfsoprodigiouslyintheensuingcampaignthattheoldgentlemanmustgiveintohim。Andifnot？Bah！theworldwasbeforehim。Hisluckmightchangeatcards，andtherewasadealofspendingintwothousandpounds。

SohesentoffAmeliaoncemoreinacarriagetohermamma，withstrictordersandcarteblanchetothetwoladiestopurchaseeverythingrequisiteforaladyofMrs。

GeorgeOsborne’sfashion，whowasgoingonaforeigntour。Theyhadbutonedaytocompletetheoutfit，anditmaybeimaginedthattheirbusinessthereforeoccupiedthemprettyfully。Inacarriageoncemore，bustlingaboutfrommillinertolinen-draper，escortedbacktothecarriagebyobsequiousshopmenorpoliteowners，Mrs。

Sedleywasherselfagainalmost，andsincerelyhappyforthefirsttimesincetheirmisfortunes。NorwasMrs。

Ameliaatallabovethepleasureofshopping，andbargaining，andseeingandbuyingprettythings。(Wouldanyman，themostphilosophic，givetwopenceforawomanwhowas？)Shegaveherselfalittletreat，obedienttoherhusband’sorders，andpurchasedaquantityoflady’sgear，showingagreatdealoftasteandelegantdiscernment，asalltheshopfolkssaid。

Andaboutthewarthatwasensuing，Mrs。Osbornewasnotmuchalarmed；Bonapartywastobecrushedalmostwithoutastruggle。Margatepacketsweresailingeveryday，filledwithmenoffashionandladiesofnote，ontheirwaytoBrusselsandGhent。Peopleweregoingnotsomuchtoawarastoafashionabletour。Thenewspaperslaughedthewretchedupstartandswindlertoscorn。SuchaCorsicanwretchasthatwithstandthearmiesofEuropeandthegeniusoftheimmortalWellington！Ameliaheldhiminuttercontempt；foritneedsnottobesaidthatthissoftandgentlecreaturetookheropinionsfromthosepeoplewhosurroundedher，suchfidelitybeingmuchtoohumble-mindedtothinkforitself。

Well，inaword，sheandhermotherperformedagreatday’sshopping，andsheacquittedherselfwithconsiderablelivelinessandcreditonthisherfirstappearancei