第68章

OurfriendDobbinwasoneofthem。ItwashewhobroughtherbacktoEnglandandtohermother’shouse；

whenMrs。O’Dowd，receivingaperemptorysummonsfromherColonel，hadbeenforcedtoquitherpatient。

ToseeDobbinholdingtheinfant，andtohearAmelia’slaughoftriumphasshewatchedhim，wouldhavedoneanymangoodwhohadasenseofhumour。Williamwasthegodfatherofthechild，andexertedhisingenuityinthepurchaseofcups，spoons，pap-boats，andcoralsforthislittleChristian。

Howhismothernursedhim，anddressedhim，andliveduponhim；howshedroveawayallnurses，andwouldscarceallowanyhandbutherowntotouchhim；

howsheconsideredthatthegreatestfavourshecouldconferuponhisgodfather，MajorDobbin，wastoallowtheMajoroccasionallytodandlehim，neednotbetoldhere。Thischildwasherbeing。Herexistencewasamaternalcaress。Sheenvelopedthefeebleandunconsciouscreaturewithloveandworship。Itwasherlifewhichthebabydrankinfromherbosom。Ofnights，andwhenalone，shehadstealthyandintenserapturesofmotherlylove，suchasGod’smarvellouscarehasawardedtothefemaleinstinct——joyshowfarhigherandlowerthanreason——blindbeautifuldevotionswhichonlywomen’sheartsknow。ItwasWilliamDobbin’stasktomuseuponthesemovementsofAmelia’s，andtowatchherheart；andifhislovemadehimdivinealmostallthefeelingswhichagitatedit，alas！hecouldseewithafatalperspicuitythattherewasnoplacethereforhim。Andso，gently，heborehisfate，knowingit，andcontenttobearit。

IsupposeAmelia’sfatherandmothersawthroughtheintentionsoftheMajor，andwerenotill-disposedtoencouragehim；forDobbinvisitedtheirhousedaily，andstayedforhourswiththem，orwithAmelia，orwiththehonestlandlord，Mr。Clapp，andhisfamily。Hebrought，ononepretextoranother，presentstoeverybody，andalmosteveryday；andwent，withthelandlord’slittlegirl，whowasratherafavouritewithAmelia，bythenameofMajorSugarplums。ItwasthislittlechildwhocommonlyactedasmistressoftheceremoniestointroducehimtoMrs。Osborne。ShelaughedonedaywhenMajorSugarplums’

cabdroveuptoFulham，andhedescendedfromit，bringingoutawoodenhorse，adrum，atrumpet，andotherwarliketoys，forlittleGeorgy，whowasscarcelysixmonthsold，andforwhomthearticlesinquestionwereentirelypremature。

Thechildwasasleep。”Hush。”saidAmelia，annoyed，perhaps，atthecreakingoftheMajor’sboots；andsheheldoutherhand；smilingbecauseWilliamcouldnottakeituntilhehadridhimselfofhiscargooftoys。”Godownstairs，littleMary。”saidhepresentlytothechild。”IwanttospeaktoMrs。Osborne。”Shelookedupratherastonished，andlaiddowntheinfantonitsbed。

“Iamcometosaygood-bye，Amelia。”saidhe，takingherslenderlittlewhitehandgently。

“Good-bye？andwhereareyougoing？”shesaid，withasmile。

“Sendtheletterstotheagents。”hesaid；“theywillforwardthem；foryouwillwritetome，won’tyou？I

shallbeawayalongtime。”

“I’llwritetoyouaboutGeorgy。”shesaid。”Dear’William，howgoodyouhavebeentohimandtome。Lookathim。Isn’thelikeanangel？”

Thelittlepinkhandsofthechildclosedmechanicallyroundthehonestsoldier’sfinger，andAmelialookedupinhisfacewithbrightmaternalpleasure。Thecruellestlookscouldnothavewoundedhimmorethanthatglanceofhopelesskindness。Hebentoverthechildandmother。

Hecouldnotspeakforamoment。AnditwasonlywithallhisstrengththathecouldforcehimselftosayaGodblessyou。”Godblessyou。”saidAmelia，andheldupherfaceandkissedhim。

“Hush！Don’twakeGeorgy！”sheadded，asWilliamDobbinwenttothedoorwithheavysteps。Shedidnothearthenoiseofhiscab-wheelsashedroveaway：shewaslookingatthechild，whowaslaughinginhissleep。

HowtoLiveWellonNothingaYearIsupposethereisnomaninthisVanityFairofourssolittleobservantasnottothinksometimesabouttheworldlyaffairsofhisacquaintances，orsoextremelycharitableasnottowonderhowhisneighbourJones，orhisneighbourSmith，canmakebothendsmeetattheendoftheyear。Withtheutmostregardforthefamily，forinstance(forIdinewiththemtwiceorthriceintheseason)，IcannotbutownthattheappearanceoftheJenkinsesinthepark，inthelargebarouchewiththegrenadier-footmen，willsurpriseand