第56章

Imean，haveyouenoughgoldtotakeyoubacktoEnglandincaseofamisfortune？”

“Sir。”saidJos，majestically，“whenIwantmoney，I

knowwheretoaskforit。Andasformysister，youneedn’ttellmehowIoughttobehavetoher。”

“Youspeaklikeamanofspirit，Jos。”theotheransweredgood-naturedly，“andIamgladthatGeorgecanleaveherinsuchgoodhands。SoImaygivehimyourwordofhonour，mayI，thatincaseofextremityyouwillstandbyher？”

“Ofcourse，ofcourse。”answeredMr。Jos，whosegenerosityinmoneymattersDobbinestimatedquitecorrectly。

“Andyou’llseehersafeoutofBrusselsintheeventofadefeat？”

“Adefeat！D——it，sir，it’simpossible。Don’ttryandfrightenME。”theherocriedfromhisbed；andDobbin’smindwasthusperfectlysetateasenowthatJoshadspokenoutsoresolutelyrespectinghisconducttohissister。”Atleast。”thoughttheCaptain，“therewillbearetreatsecuredforherincasetheworstshouldensue。”

IfCaptainDobbinexpectedtogetanypersonalcomfortandsatisfactionfromhavingonemoreviewofAmeliabeforetheregimentmarchedaway，hisselfishnesswaspunishedjustassuchodiousegotismdeservedtobe。ThedoorofJos’sbedroomopenedintothesitting-roomwhichwascommontothefamilyparty，andoppositethisdoorwasthatofAmelia’schamber。Thebugleshadwakenedeverybody：therewasnouseinconcealmentnow。George’sservantwaspackinginthisroom：Osbornecominginandoutofthecontiguousbedroom，flingingtothemansucharticlesashethoughtfittocarryonthecampaign。

AndpresentlyDobbinhadtheopportunitywhichhisheartcoveted，andhegotsightofAmelia’sfaceoncemore。Butwhatafaceitwas！Sowhite，sowildanddespair-stricken，thattheremembranceofithauntedhimafterwardslikeacrime，andthesightsmotehimwithinexpressiblepangsoflongingandpity。

Shewaswrappedinawhitemorningdress，herhairfallingonhershoulders，andherlargeeyesfixedandwithoutlight。Bywayofhelpingonthepreparationsforthedeparture，andshowingthatshetoocouldbeusefulatamomentsocritical，thispoorsoulhadtakenupasashofGeorge’sfromthedrawerswhereonitlay，andfollowedhimtoandfrowiththesashinherhand，lookingonmutelyashispackingproceeded。Shecameoutandstood，leaningatthewall，holdingthissashagainstherbosom，fromwhichtheheavynetofcrimsondroppedlikealargestainofblood。Ourgentle-heartedCaptainfeltaguiltyshockashelookedather。”GoodGod。”

thoughthe，“andisitgrieflikethisIdaredtopryinto？”

Andtherewasnohelp：nomeanstosootheandcomfortthishelpless，speechlessmisery。Hestoodforamomentandlookedather，powerlessandtornwithpity，asaparentregardsaninfantinpain。

Atlast，GeorgetookEmmy’shand，andledherbackintothebedroom，fromwhencehecameoutalone。Thepartinghadtakenplaceinthatmoment，andhewasgone。

“ThankHeaventhatisover。”Georgethought，boundingdownthestair，hisswordunderhisarm，asheranswiftlytothealarmground，wheretheregimentwasmustered，andwhithertroopedmenandofficershurryingfromtheirbillets；hispulsewasthrobbingandhischeeksflushed：thegreatgameofwarwasgoingtobeplayed，andheoneoftheplayers。Whatafierceexcitementofdoubt，hope，andpleasure！Whattremendoushazardsoflossorgain！Whatwereallthegamesofchancehehadeverplayedcomparedtothisone？Intoallcontestsrequiringathleticskillandcourage，theyoungman，fromhisboyhoodupwards，hadflunghimselfwithallhismight。

Thechampionofhisschoolandhisregiment，thebravosofhiscompanionshadfollowedhimeverywhere；fromtheboys’cricket-matchtothegarrison-races，hehadwonahundredoftriumphs；andwhereverhewentwomenandmenhadadmiredandenviedhim。Whatqualitiesarethereforwhichamangetssospeedyareturnofapplause，asthoseofbodilysuperiority，activity，andvalour？Timeoutofmindstrengthand