第113章

GeorgynevertiredofhispraisesoftheMajortohismother。”Ilikehim，Mamma，becauseheknowssuchlotsofthings；andheain’tlikeoldVeal，whoisalwaysbraggingandusingsuchlongwords，don’tyouknow？Thechapscallhim’Longtail’atschool。Igavehimthename；

ain’titcapital？ButDobreadsLatinlikeEnglish，andFrenchandthat；andwhenwegoouttogetherhetellsmestoriesaboutmyPapa，andneverabouthimself；thoughI

heardColonelBuckler，atGrandpapa’s，saythathewasoneofthebravestofficersinthearmy，andhaddistinguishedhimselfeversomuch。Grandpapawasquitesurprised，andsaid，’THATfeller！Why，Ididn’tthinkhecouldsayBotoagoose’——butlknowhecould，couldn’the，Mamma？”

Emmylaughed：shethoughtitwasverylikelytheMajorcoulddothusmuch。

IftherewasasincerelikingbetweenGeorgeandtheMajor，itmustbeconfessedthatbetweentheboyandhisunclenogreatloveexisted。Georgehadgotawayofblowingouthischeeks，andputtinghishandsinhiswaistcoatpockets，andsaying，“Godblessmysoul，youdon’tsayso。”soexactlyafterthefashionofoldJosthatitwasimpossibletorefrainfromlaughter。Theservantswouldexplodeatdinnerifthelad，askingforsomethingwhichwasn’tattable，putonthatcountenanceandusedthatfavouritephrase。EvenDobbinwouldshootoutasuddenpealattheboy’smimicry。IfGeorgedidnotmimichisuncletohisface，itwasonlybyDobbin’srebukesandAmelia’sterrifiedentreatiesthatthelittlescapegracewasinducedtodesist。Andtheworthycivilianbeinghauntedbyadimconsciousnessthattheladthoughthimanass，andwasinclinedtoturnhimintoridicule，usedtobeextremelytimorousand，ofcourse，doublypompousanddignifiedinthepresenceofMasterGeorgy。WhenitwasannouncedthattheyounggentlemanwasexpectedinGillespieStreettodinewithhismother，Mr。JoscommonlyfoundthathehadanengagementattheClub。

Perhapsnobodywasmuchgrievedathisabsence。OnthosedaysMr。Sedleywouldcommonlybeinducedtocomeoutfromhisplaceofrefugeintheupperstories，andtherewouldbeasmallfamilyparty，whereofMajorDobbinprettygenerallyformedone。Hewastheamidelamaison——oldSedley’sfriend，Emmy’sfriend，Georgy’sfriend，Jos’scounselandadviser。”HemightalmostaswellbeatMadrasforanythingWEseeofhim。”MissAnnDobbinremarkedatCamberwell。Ah！MissAnn，diditnotstrikeyouthatitwasnotYOUwhomtheMajorwantedtomarry？

JosephSedleythenledalifeofdignifiedotiositysuchasbecameapersonofhiseminence。Hisveryfirstpoint，ofcourse，wastobecomeamemberoftheOrientalClub，wherehespenthismorningsinthecompanyofhisbrotherIndians，wherehedined，orwhencehebroughthomementodine。

Ameliahadtoreceiveandentertainthesegentlemenandtheirladies。FromthesesheheardhowsoonSmithwouldbeinCouncil；howmanylacsJoneshadbroughthomewithhim，howThomson’sHouseinLondonhadrefusedthebillsdrawnbyThomson，Kibobjee，andCo。，theBombayHouse，andhowitwasthoughttheCalcuttaHousemustgotoo；howveryimprudent，tosaytheleastofit，Mrs。Brown’sconduct(wifeofBrownoftheAhmednuggurIrregulars)hadbeenwithyoungSwankeyoftheBodyGuard，sittingupwithhimondeckuntilallhours，andlosingthemselvesastheywereridingoutattheCape；howMrs。Hardymanhadhadoutherthirteensisters，daughtersofacountrycurate，theRev：FelixRabbits，andmarriedelevenofthem，sevenhighupintheservice；howHornbywaswildbecausehiswifewouldstayinEurope，andTrotterwasappointedCollectoratUmmerapoora。Thisandsimilartalktookplaceatthegranddinnersallround。Theyhadthesameconversation；thesamesilverdishes；thesamesaddlesofmutton，boiledturkeys，andentrees。Politicssetinashorttimeafterdessert，whentheladiesretiredupstairsandtalkedabouttheircomplaintsandtheirchildren。

Mutatonomine，itisallthesame。Don’tthebarristers’

wivestalkaboutCircuit？Don’tthesoldiers’ladiesgossipabouttheRegiment？Don’ttheclergymen’sladiesdiscourseaboutSunday-schoolsandwhotakeswhoseduty？

Don’ttheverygreatestladiesofalltalkaboutthatsmallcliqueofpersonstowhomtheybelong？AndwhyshouldourIndianfriendsnothavetheirownconversation？——

onlyIadmititisslowforthe