第124章

“Themostbeautifulchildeverseen。”Jossaid，whowasveryfat，andeasilymoved，andhadbeentouchedbythestoryBeckytold；“aperfectangel，whoadoredhismother。Theruffianstorehimshriekingoutofherarms，andhaveneverallowedhimtoseeher。”

“DearJoseph。”Emmycriedout，startingupatonce。”letusgoandseeherthisminute。”Andsheranintoheradjoiningbedchamber，tiedonherbonnetinaflutter，cameoutwithhershawlonherarm，andorderedDobbintofollow。

Hewentandputhershawl——itwasawhitecashmere，consignedtoherbytheMajorhimselffromIndia——overhershoulders。Hesawtherewasnothingforitbuttoobey，andsheputherhandintohisarm，andtheywentaway。

“Itisnumber92，upfourpairofstairs。”Jossaid，perhapsnotverywillingtoascendthestepsagain；butheplacedhimselfinthewindowofhisdrawing-room，whichcommandstheplaceonwhichtheElephantstands，andsawthepairmarchingthroughthemarket。

ItwasaswellthatBeckysawthemtoofromhergarret，forsheandthetwostudentswerechatteringandlaughingthere；theyhadbeenjokingabouttheappearanceofBecky’sgrandpapa——whosearrivalanddeparturetheyhadwitnessed——butshehadtimetodismissthem，andhaveherlittleroomclearbeforethelandlordoftheElephant，whoknewthatMrs。OsbornewasagreatfavouriteattheSereneCourt，andrespectedheraccordingly，ledthewayupthestairstotheroofstory，encouragingMiladiandtheHerrMajorastheyachievedtheascent。

“Graciouslady，graciouslady！”saidthelandlord，knockingatBecky’sdoor；hehadcalledherMadamethedaybefore，andwasbynomeanscourteoustoher。

“Whoisit？”Beckysaid，puttingoutherhead，andshegavealittlescream。TherestoodEmmyinatremble，andDobbin，thetallMajor，withhiscane。

Hestoodstillwatching，andverymuchinterestedatthescene；butEmmysprangforwardwithopenarmstowardsRebecca，andforgaveheratthatmoment，andembracedherandkissedherwithallherheart。Ah，poorwretch，whenwasyourlippressedbeforebysuchpurekisses？

CHAPTERLXVI

AmantiumIraeFranknessandkindnesslikeAmelia’swerelikelytotouchevensuchahardenedlittlereprobateasBecky。ShereturnedEmmy’scaressesandkindspeecheswithsomethingverylikegratitude，andanemotionwhich，ifitwasnotlasting，foramomentwasalmostgenuine。Thatwasaluckystrokeofhersaboutthechild“tornfromherarmsshrieking。”ItwasbythatharrowingmisfortunethatBeckyhadwonherfriendback，anditwasoneoftheveryfirstpoints，wemaybecertain，uponwhichourpoorsimplelittleEmmybegantotalktohernew-foundacquaintance。

“Andsotheytookyourdarlingchildfromyou？”oursimpletoncriedout。”Oh，Rebecca，mypoordearsufferingfriend，Iknowwhatitistoloseaboy，andtofeelforthosewhohavelostone。ButpleaseHeavenyourswillberestoredtoyou，asamercifulmercifulProvidencehasbroughtmebackmine。”

“Thechild，mychild？Oh，yes，myagonieswerefrightful。”

Beckyowned，notperhapswithoutatwingeofconscience。

Itjarreduponhertobeobligedtocommenceinstantlytotellliesinreplytosomuchconfidenceandsimplicity。Butthatisthemisfortuneofbeginningwiththiskindofforgery。Whenonefibbecomesdueasitwere，youmustforgeanothertotakeuptheoldacceptance；andsothestockofyourliesincirculationinevitablymultiplies，andthedangerofdetectionincreaseseveryday。

“Myagonies。”Beckycontinued，“wereterrible(Ihopeshewon’tsitdownonthebottle)whentheytookhimawayfromme；IthoughtIshoulddie；butIfortunatelyhadabrainfever，duringwhichmydoctorgavemeup，and——andIrecovered，and——andhereIam，poorandfriendless。”

“Howoldishe？”Emmyasked。

“Eleven。”saidBecky。

“Eleven！”criedtheother。”Why，hewasbornthesameyearwithGeorgy，whois——“

“Iknow，Iknow。”Beckycriedout，whohadinfactquiteforgottenallaboutlittleRawdon’sage。”Griefhasmademeforgetsomanythings，dearestAmelia。Iamverymuchchanged：half-wildsometimes。Hewaselevenwhentheytookhimawayfromme。Blesshissweetface；Ihaveneverseenitagain。”

“Washefairordark？”wentonthatabsurdlittleEmmy。”Showmehishair。”

Beckyalmostlaughedathersimplicity。”Notto-day，love——someothertime，whenmytrunksarrivefromLeipzig，whenceIcametothisplace——andalittledrawingofhim，whichImadeinhappydays。”

“PoorBecky，poorBecky！”saidEmmy。”Howthankful，howthankfulIoughttobe“；(thoughIdoub