第118章

andcomplimentedtheastonishedlittlewomanupontheprodigioussensationwhichshehadmadeinthehouse；

andtriedtofascinateDobbinbytalkingofthelatewarandtheexploitsofthePumpernickelcontingentunderthecommandoftheHereditaryPrince，nowDukeofPumpernickel。

LordTapeworminheritednolittleportionofthefamilygallantry，anditwashishappybeliefthatalmosteverywomanuponwhomhehimselfcastfriendlyeyeswasinlovewithhim。HeleftEmmyunderthepersuasionthatshewasslainbyhiswitandattractionsandwenthometohislodgingstowriteaprettylittlenotetoher。Shewasnotfascinated，onlypuzzled，byhisgrinning，hissimpering，hisscentedcambrichandkerchief，andhishigh-heeledlacqueredboots。Shedidnotunderstandone-halfthecomplimentswhichhepaid；shehadnever，inhersmallexperienceofmankind，metaprofessionalladies’manasyet，andlookeduponmylordassomethingcuriousratherthanpleasant；andifshedidnotadmire，certainlywonderedathim。Jos，onthecontrary，wasdelighted。”HowveryaffablehisLordshipis。”hesaid；“HowverykindofhisLordshiptosayhewouldsendhismedicalman！

Kirsch，youwillcarryourcardstotheCountdeSchlusselbackdirectly；theMajorandIwillhavethegreatestpleasureinpayingourrespectsatCourtassoonaspossible。Putoutmyuniform，Kirsch——bothouruniforms。ItisamarkofpolitenesswhicheveryEnglishgentlemanoughttoshowtothecountrieswhichhevisitstopayhisrespectstothesovereignsofthosecountriesastotherepresentativesofhisown。”

WhenTapeworm’sdoctorcame，DoctorvonGlauber，BodyPhysiciantoH。S。H。theDuke，hespeedilyconvincedJosthatthePumpernickelmineralspringsandtheDoctor’sparticulartreatmentwouldinfalliblyrestoretheBengaleetoyouthandslimness。”Derecameherelastyear。”hesaid，“SheneralBulkeley，anEnglishSheneral，tvicesopicasyou，sir。Isenthimbackqvitetinaftertreemonths，andhedancedvidBaronessGlauberattheendoftwo。”

Jos’smindwasmadeup；thesprings，theDoctor，theCourt，andtheCharged’Affairesconvincedhim，andheproposedtospendtheautumninthesedelightfulquarters。Andpunctualtohisword，onthenextdaytheCharged’AffairespresentedJosandtheMajortoVictorAureliusXVII，beingconductedtotheiraudiencewiththatsovereignbytheCountdeSchlusselback，MarshaloftheCourt。

TheywerestraightwayinvitedtodinneratCourt，andtheirintentionofstayinginthetownbeingannounced，thepolitestladiesofthewholetowninstantlycalleduponMrs。Osborne；andasnotoneofthese，howeverpoortheymightbe，wasundertherankofaBaroness，Jos’sdelightwasbeyondexpression。HewroteofftoChutneyattheClubtosaythattheServicewashighlyappreciatedinGermany，thathewasgoingtoshowhisfriend，theCountdeSchlusselback，howtostickapigintheIndianfashion，andthathisaugustfriends，theDukeandDuchess，wereeverythingthatwaskindandcivil。

Emmy，too，waspresentedtotheaugustfamily，andasmourningisnotadmittedinCourtoncertaindays，sheappearedinapinkcrapedresswithadiamondornamentinthecorsage，presentedtoherbyherbrother，andshelookedsoprettyinthiscostumethattheDukeandCourt(puttingoutofthequestiontheMajor，whohadscarcelyeverseenherbeforeinaneveningdress，andvowedthatshedidnotlookfive-and-twenty)alladmiredherexcessively。

InthisdressshewalkedaPolonaisewithMajorDobbinataCourtball，inwhicheasydanceMr。JoshadthehonourofleadingouttheCountessofSchlusselback，anoldladywithahumpback，butwithsixteengoodquartersofnobilityandrelatedtohalftheroyalhousesofGermany。

Pumpernickelstandsinthemidstofahappyvalleythroughwhichsparkles——tominglewiththeRhinesomewhere，butIhavenotthemapathandtosayexactlyatwhatpoint——thefertilizingstreamofthePump。Insomeplacestheriverisbigenoughtosupportaferry-boat，inotherstoturnamill；inPumpernickelitself，thelastTransparencybutthree，thegreatandrenownedVictorAureliusXIVbuiltamagnificentbridge，onwhichhisownstatuerises，surroundedbywater-nymphsandemblemsofvictory，peace，andplenty；hehashisfootontheneckofaprostrateTurk——historysaysheengagedandranaJanissarythroughthebodyatthereliefofViennabySobieski——but，quiteundisturbedbytheagoniesofthatprostrateMahometan，whowrithesathisfeetinthemostghastlymanner，thePrincesmilesblandlyandpointswithhistruncheoninthedirectionoftheAureliusPlatz，wherehebegantoerectanewpalacethatwouldhavebeenthewonderofhisagehadthegreat-soule