第110章

“Papa，Papa！”Emmycriedout，“herearenews！MybrotherisinEngland。Heiscometotakecareofyou。

HereisMajorDobbin。”

Mr。Sedleystartedup，shakingagreatdealandgatheringuphisthoughts。Thenhesteppedforwardandmadeanold-fashionedbowtotheMajor，whomhecalledMr。

Dobbin，andhopedhisworthyfather，SirWilliam，wasquitewell。HeproposedtocalluponSirWilliam，whohaddonehimthehonourofavisitashorttimeago。SirWilliamhadnotcalledupontheoldgentlemanforeightyears——itwasthatvisithewasthinkingofreturning。

“Heisverymuchshaken。”EmmywhisperedasDobbinwentupandcordiallyshookhandswiththeoldman。

AlthoughhehadsuchparticularbusinessinLondonthatevening，theMajorconsentedtoforegoituponMr。

Sedley’sinvitationtohimtocomehomeandpartakeoftea。Ameliaputherarmunderthatofheryoungfriendwiththeyellowshawlandheadedthepartyontheirreturnhomewards，sothatMr。SedleyfelltoDobbin’sshare。

TheoldmanwalkedveryslowlyandtoldanumberofancienthistoriesabouthimselfandhispoorBessy，hisformerprosperity，andhisbankruptcy。Histhoughts，asisusualwithfailingoldmen，werequiteinformertimes。

Thepresent，withtheexceptionoftheonecatastrophewhichhefelt，heknewlittleabout。TheMajorwasgladtolethimtalkon。Hiseyeswerefixeduponthefigureinfrontofhim——thedearlittlefigurealwayspresenttohisimaginationandinhisprayers，andvisitinghisdreamswakefulorslumbering。

Ameliawasveryhappy，smiling，andactiveallthatevening，performingherdutiesashostessofthelittleentertainmentwiththeutmostgraceandpropriety，asDobbinthought。Hiseyesfollowedheraboutastheysatinthetwilight。Howmanyatimehadhelongedforthatmomentandthoughtofherfarawayunderhotwindsandinwearymarches，gentleandhappy，kindlyministeringtothewantsofoldage，anddecoratingpovertywithsweetsubmission——ashesawhernow。Idonotsaythathistastewasthehighest，orthatitisthedutyofgreatintellectstobecontentwithabread-and-butterparadise，suchassufficedoursimpleoldfriend；buthisdesireswereofthissort，whetherforgoodorbad，and，withAmeliatohelphim，hewasasreadytodrinkasmanycupsofteaasDoctorJohnson。

Ameliaseeingthispropensity，laughinglyencourageditandlookedexceedinglyroguishassheadministeredtohimcupaftercup。ItistrueshedidnotknowthattheMajorhadhadnodinnerandthattheclothwaslaidforhimattheSlaughters’，andaplatelaidthereontomarkthatthetablewasretained，inthatveryboxinwhichtheMajorandGeorgehadsatmanyatimecarousing，whenshewasachildjustcomehomefromMissPinkerton’sschool。

ThefirstthingMrs。OsborneshowedtheMajorwasGeorgy’sminiature，forwhichsheranupstairsonherarrivalathome。Itwasnothalfhandsomeenoughofcoursefortheboy，butwasn’titnobleofhimtothinkofbringingittohismother？WhilstherpapawasawakeshedidnottalkmuchaboutGeorgy。TohearaboutMr。

OsborneandRussellSquarewasnotagreeabletotheoldman，whoverylikelywasunconsciousthathehadbeenlivingforsomemonthspastmainlyonthebountyofhisricherrival，andlosthistemperifallusionwasmadetotheother。

Dobbintoldhimall，andalittlemoreperhapsthanall，thathadhappenedonboardtheRamchunder，andexaggeratedJos’sbenevolentdispositionstowardshisfatherandresolutiontomakehimcomfortableinhisolddays。ThetruthisthatduringthevoyagetheMajorhadimpressedthisdutymoststronglyuponhisfellow-

passengerandextortedpromisesfromhimthathewouldtakechargeofhissisterandherchild。HesoothedJos’sirritationwithregardtothebillswhichtheoldgentlemanhaddrawnuponhim，gavealaughingaccountofhisownsufferings