第117章

Weallknowahundredwhosecoatsareverywellmade，andascorewhohaveexcellentmanners，andoneortwohappybeingswhoarewhattheycallintheinnercircles，andhaveshotintotheverycentreandbull’s-eyeofthefashion；butofgentlemenhowmany？Letustakealittlescrapofpaperandeachmakeouthislist。

MyfriendtheMajorIwrite，withoutanydoubt，inmine。Hehadverylonglegs，ayellowface，andaslightlisp，whichatfirstwasratherridiculous。Buthisthoughtswerejust，hisbrainswerefairlygood，hislifewashonestandpure，andhisheartwarmandhumble。Hecertainlyhadverylargehandsandfeet，whichthetwoGeorgeOsbornesusedtocaricatureandlaughat；andtheirjeersandlaughterperhapsledpoorlittleEmmyastrayastohisworth。Buthavewenotallbeenmisledaboutourheroesandchangedouropinionsahundredtimes？Emmy，inthishappytime，foundthathersunderwentaverygreatchangeinrespectofthemeritsoftheMajor。

Perhapsitwasthehappiesttimeofboththeirlives，indeed，iftheydidbutknowit——andwhodoes？Whichofuscanpointoutandsaythatwastheculmination——

thatwasthesummitofhumanjoy？Butatallevents，thiscouplewereverydecentlycontented，andenjoyedaspleasantasummertourasanypairthatleftEnglandthatyear。Georgywasalwayspresentattheplay，butitwastheMajorwhoputEmmy’sshawlonaftertheentertainment；andinthewalksandexcursionstheyoungladwouldbeonahead，andupatower-stairoratree，whilstthesoberercouplewerebelow，theMajorsmokinghiscigarwithgreatplacidityandconstancy，whilstEmmysketchedthesiteortheruin。ItwasonthisverytourthatI，thepresentwriterofahistoryofwhicheverywordistrue，hadthepleasuretoseethemfirstandtomaketheiracquaintance。

ItwasatthelittlecomfortableDucaltownofPumpernickel(thatveryplacewhereSirPittCrawleyhadbeensodistinguishedasanattache；butthatwasinearlyearlydays，andbeforethenewsoftheBattleofAusterlitzsentalltheEnglishdiplomatistsinGermanytotherightabout)thatIfirstsawColonelDobbinandhisparty。TheyhadarrivedwiththecarriageandcourierattheErbprinzHotel，thebestofthetown，andthewholepartydinedatthetabled’hote。EverybodyremarkedthemajestyofJosandtheknowingwayinwhichhesipped，orrathersucked，theJohannisberger，whichheorderedfordinner。Thelittleboy，too，weobserved，hadafamousappetite，andconsumedschinken，andbraten，andkartoffeln，andcranberryjam，andsalad，andpudding，androastfowls，andsweetmeats，withagallantrythatdidhonourtohisnation。Afteraboutfifteendishes，heconcludedtherepastwithdessert，someofwhichheevencarriedoutofdoors，forsomeyounggentlemenattable，amusedwithhiscoolnessandgallantfree-and-easymanner，inducedhimtopocketahandfulofmacaroons，whichhediscussedonhiswaytothetheatre，whithereverybodywentinthecheerysociallittleGermanplace。

Theladyinblack，theboy’smamma，laughedandblushed，andlookedexceedinglypleasedandshyasthedinnerwenton，andatthevariousfeatsandinstancesofespieglerieonthepartofherson。TheColonel——

forsohebecameverysoonafterwards——Irememberjokedtheboywithagreatdealofgravefun，pointingoutdisheswhichhehadn’ttried，andentreatinghimnottobaulkhisappetite，buttohaveasecondsupplyofthisorthat。

Itwaswhattheycallagast-rollenightattheRoyalGrandDucalPumpernickelischHof——orCourttheatre——

andMadameSchroederDevrient，theninthebloomofherbeautyandgenius，performedthepartoftheheroineinthewonderfuloperaofFidelio。Fromourplacesinthestallswecouldseeourfourfriendsofthetabled’hoteinthelogewhichSchwendleroftheErbprinzkeptforhisbestguests，andIcouldnothelpremarkingtheeffectwhichthemagnificentactressandmusicproduceduponMrs。Osborne，forsoweheardthestoutgentlemaninthemustachioscallher。DuringtheastonishingChorusofthePrisoner