第58章

“Haveyoudonemenowrong，Rebecca？Youdidnotsucceed，butyoutried。Askyourheartifyoudidnot。”

Sheknowsnothing，Rebeccathought。

“Hecamebacktome。Iknewhewould。Iknewthatnofalsehood，noflattery，couldkeephimfrommelong。

Iknewhewouldcome。Iprayedsothatheshould。”

ThepoorgirlspokethesewordswithaspiritandvolubilitywhichRebeccahadneverbeforeseeninher，andbeforewhichthelatterwasquitedumb。”ButwhathaveIdonetoyou。”shecontinuedinamorepitifultone。”thatyoushouldtryandtakehimfromme？Ihadhimbutforsixweeks。Youmighthavesparedmethose，Rebecca。Andyet，fromtheveryfirstdayofourwedding，youcameandblightedit。Nowheisgone，areyoucometoseehowunhappyIam？”shecontinued。”Youmademewretchedenoughforthepastfortnight：youmighthavesparedmeto-day。”

“I——Inevercamehere。”interposedRebecca，withunluckytruth。

“No。Youdidn’tcome。Youtookhimaway。Areyoucometofetchhimfromme？”shecontinuedinawildertone。”Hewashere，butheisgonenow。Thereonthatverysofahesate。Don’ttouchit。Wesateandtalkedthere。Iwasonhisknee，andmyarmswereroundhisneck，andwesaid’OurFather。’Yes，hewashere：andtheycameandtookhimaway，buthepromisedmetocomeback。”

“Hewillcomeback，mydear。”saidRebecca，touchedinspiteofherself。

“Look。”saidAmelia，“thisishissash——isn’titaprettycolour？’’andshetookupthefringeandkissedit。Shehadtieditroundherwaistatsomepartoftheday。Shehadforgottenheranger，herjealousy，theverypresenceofherrivalseemingly。Forshewalkedsilentlyandalmostwithasmileonherface，towardsthebed，andbegantosmoothdownGeorge’spillow。

Rebeccawalked，too，silentlyaway。”HowisAmelia？”

askedJos，whostillheldhispositioninthechair。

“Thereshouldbesomebodywithher。”saidRebecca。

“Ithinksheisveryunwell“：andshewentawaywithaverygraveface，refusingMr。Sedley’sentreatiesthatshewouldstayandpartakeoftheearlydinnerwhichhehadordered。

Rebeccawasofagood-naturedandobligingdisposition；

andshelikedAmeliaratherthanotherwise。Evenherhardwords，reproachfulastheywere，werecomplimentary——thegroansofapersonstingingunderdefeat。

MeetingMrs。O’Dowd，whomtheDean’ssermonshadbynomeanscomforted，andwhowaswalkingverydisconsolatelyintheParc，Rebeccaaccostedthelatter，rathertothesurpriseoftheMajor’swife，whowasnotaccustomedtosuchmarksofpolitenessfromMrs。

RawdonCrawley，andinformingherthatpoorlittleMrs。

Osbornewasinadesperatecondition，andalmostmadwithgrief，sentoffthegood-naturedIrishwomanstraighttoseeifshecouldconsoleheryoungfavourite。

“I’vecaresofmyownenough。”Mrs。O’Dowdsaid，gravely，“andIthoughtpoorAmeliawouldbelittlewantingforcompanythisday。Butifshe’ssobadasyousay，andyoucan’tattendtoher，whousedtobesofondofher，faithI’llseeifIcanbeofservice。Andsogoodmarningtoye，Madam“；withwhichspeechandatossofherhead，theladyoftherepaythertookafarewellofMrs。Crawley，whosecompanyshebynomeanscourted。

Beckywatchedhermarchingoff，withasmileonherlip。Shehadthekeenestsenseofhumour，andtheParthianlookwhichtheretreatingMrs。O’DowdflungoverhershoulderalmostupsetMrs。Crawley’sgravity。

“Myservicetoye，mefineMadam，andI’mgladtoseeyesocheerful。”thoughtPeggy。”It’snotYOUthatwillcryyoureyesoutwithgrief，anyway。”Andwiththisshepassedon，andspeedilyfoundherwaytoMrs。Osborne’slodgings。

Thepoorsoulwasstillatthebedside，whereRebeccahadlefther，andstoodalmostcrazywithgrief。TheMajor’swife，astronger-mindedwoman，endeavouredherbesttocomfortheryoungfriend。”Youmustbearup，Amelia，dear。”shesaidkindly，“forhemustn’tfindyouillwhenhesendsforyouafterthevictory。It’snotyouaretheonlywomanthatareinthehandsofGodthisday。”

“Iknowthat。Iamverywicked，v