第125章

Shewasinhighspiritsandgoodhumour，andtrippedacrossthemarket-placeverybriskly。ShewantedtoseeJosthatinstant。TheMajorlaughedattheimpetuousaffectionMrs。Ameliaexhibited；for，intruth，itwasnotveryoftenthatshewantedherbrother“thatinstant。”

Theyfoundthecivilianinhissaloononthefirst-floor；

hehadbeenpacingtheroom，andbitinghisnails，andlookingoverthemarket-placetowardstheElephantahundredtimesatleastduringthepasthourwhilstEmmywasclosetedwithherfriendinthegarretandtheMajorwasbeatingthetattooonthesloppytablesofthepublicroombelow，andhewas，onhissidetoo，veryanxioustoseeMrs。Osborne。

“Well？”saidhe。

“Thepoordearcreature，howshehassuffered！”

Emmysaid。

“Godblessmysoul，yes。”Jossaid，wagginghishead，sothathischeeksquiveredlikejellies。

“ShemayhavePayne’sroom，whocangoupstairs。”

Emmycontinued。PaynewasastaidEnglishmaidandpersonalattendantuponMrs。Osborne，towhomthecourier，asindutybound，paidcourt，andwhomGeorgyusedto“lark“dreadfullywithaccountsofGermanrobbersandghosts。Shepassedhertimechieflyingrumbling，inorderingabouthermistress，andinstatingherintentiontoreturnthenextmorningtohernativevillageofClapham。”ShemayhavePayne’sroom。”Emmysaid。

“Why，youdon’tmeantosayyouaregoingtohavethatwomanintothehouse？”bouncedouttheMajor，jumpingup。

“Ofcourseweare。”saidAmeliainthemostinnocentwayintheworld。”Don’tbeangryandbreakthefurniture，MajorDobbin。Ofcoursewearegoingtohaveherhere。”

“Ofcourse，mydear。”Jossaid。

“Thepoorcreature，afterallhersufferings。”Emmycontinued；“herhorridbankerbrokenandrunaway；herhusband——wickedwretch——havingdesertedherandtakenherchildawayfromher“(hereshedoubledhertwolittlefistsandheldtheminamostmenacingattitudebeforeher，sothattheMajorwascharmedtoseesuchadauntlessvirago)“thepoordearthing！quitealoneandabsolutelyforcedtogivelessonsinsingingtogetherbread——andnothaveherhere！”

“Takelessons，mydearMrs。George。”criedtheMajor。”butdon’thaveherinthehouse。Iimploreyoudon’t。”

“Pooh。”saidJos。

“Youwhoarealwaysgoodandkind——alwaysusedtobeatanyrate——I’mastonishedatyou，MajorWilliam。”

Ameliacried。”Why，whatisthemomenttohelpherbutwhensheissomiserable？Nowisthetimetobeofservicetoher。TheoldestfriendIeverhad，andnot——“

“Shewasnotalwaysyourfriend，Amelia。”theMajorsaid，forhewasquiteangry。ThisallusionwastoomuchforEmmy，who，lookingtheMajoralmostfiercelyintheface，said，“Forshame，MajorDobbin！”andafterhavingfiredthisshot，shewalkedoutoftheroomwithamostmajesticairandshutherowndoorbrisklyonherselfandheroutrageddignity。

“ToalludetoTHAT！”shesaid，whenthedoorwasclosed。”Oh，itwascruelofhimtoremindmeofit。”andshelookedupatGeorge’spicture，whichhungthereasusual，withtheportraitoftheboyunderneath。”Itwascruelofhim。IfIhadforgivenit，oughthetohavespoken？No。AnditisfromhisownlipsthatIknowhowwickedandgroundlessmyjealousywas；andthatyouwerepure——oh，yes，youwerepure，mysaintinheaven！”

Shepacedtheroom，tremblingandindignant。Shewentandleanedonthechestofdrawersoverwhichthepicturehung，andgazedandgazedatit。Itseyesseemedtolookdownonherwithareproachthatdeepenedasshelooked。

Theearlydear，dearmemoriesofthatbriefprimeofloverushedbackuponher。Thewoundwhichyearshadscarcelycicatrizedbledafresh，andoh，howbitterly！Shecouldnotbearthereproachesofthehusbandtherebeforeher。Itcouldn’tbe。Never，never。

PoorDobbin；pooroldWilliam！Thatunluckywordhadundonetheworkofmanyayear——thelonglaboriousedificeofalifeofloveandconstancy——raisedtoouponwhatsecretandhiddenfoundations，whereinlayburiedpassions，uncountedstruggles，unknownsacrifices——alittlewordwasspoken，anddownfellthefairpalaceofhope——oneword，andawayflewthebirdwhichhehadbeentryingallhislifetolure！

William，thoughhesawbyA