fourhours，andwouldfindsomeexcusefordelaying，yetDobbinhadnotwrittentoJostoinformhimofthecalamitywhichhadbefallentheSedleyfamily，beingoccupiedintalkingwithAmeliauntillongafterpost-hour。
　　Therearesomesplendidtailors’shopsintheHighStreetofSouthampton，inthefineplate-glasswindowsofwhichhanggorgeouswaistcoatsofallsorts，ofsilkandvelvet，andgoldandcrimson，andpicturesofthelastnewfashions，inwhichthosewonderfulgentlemenwithquizzingglasses，andholdingontolittleboyswiththeexceedinglargeeyesandcurlyhair，ogleladiesinridinghabitsprancingbytheStatueofAchillesatApsleyHouse。Jos，althoughprovidedwithsomeofthemostsplendidveststhatCalcuttacouldfurnish，thoughthecouldnotgototownuntilhewassuppliedwithoneortwoofthesegarments，andselectedacrimsonsatin，embroideredwithgoldbutterflies，andablackandredvelvettartanwithwhitestripesandarollingcollar，withwhich，andarichbluesatinstockandagoldpin，consistingofafive-barredgatewithahorsemaninpinkenameljumpingoverit，hethoughthemightmakehisentryintoLondonwithsomedignity。ForJos’sformershynessandblunderingblushingtimidityhadgivenwaytoamorecandidandcourageousself-assertionofhisworth。”Idon’tcareaboutowningit。”WaterlooSedleywouldsaytohisfriends，“Iamadressyman“；andthoughratheruneasyiftheladieslookedathimattheGovernmentHouseballs，andthoughheblushedandturnedawayalarmedundertheirglances，itwaschieflyfromadreadlesttheyshouldmakelovetohimthatheavoidedthem，beingaversetomarriagealtogether。ButtherewasnosuchswellinCalcuttaasWaterlooSedley，Ihaveheardsay，andhehadthehandsomestturn-out，gavethebestbachelordinners，andhadthefinestplateinthewholeplace。
　　Tomakethesewaistcoatsforamanofhissizeanddignitytookatleastaday，partofwhichheemployedinhiringaservanttowaituponhimandhisnativeandininstructingtheagentwhoclearedhisbaggage，hisboxes，hisbooks，whichheneverread，hischestsofmangoes，chutney，andcurry-powders，hisshawlsforpresentstopeoplewhomhedidn’tknowasyet，andtherestofhisPersicosapparatus。
　　Atlength，hedroveleisurelytoLondononthethirddayandinthenewwaistcoat，thenative，withchatteringteeth，shudderinginashawlontheboxbythesideofthenewEuropeanservant；JospuffinghispipeatintervalswithinandlookingsomajesticthatthelittleboyscriedHooray，andmanypeoplethoughthemustbeaGovernor-General。HE，Ipromise，didnotdeclinetheobsequiousinvitationofthelandlordstoalightandrefreshhimselfintheneatcountrytowns。Havingpartakenofacopiousbreakfast，withfish，andrice，andhardeggs，atSouthampton，hehadsofarralliedatWinchesterastothinkaglassofsherrynecessary。AtAltonhesteppedoutofthecarriageathisservant’srequestandimbibedsomeofthealeforwhichtheplaceisfamous。AtFarnhamhestoppedtoviewtheBishop’sCastleandtopartakeofalightdinnerofstewedeels，vealcutlets，andFrenchbeans，withabottleofclaret。HewascoldoverBagshotHeath，wherethenativechatteredmoreandmore，andJosSahibtooksomebrandy-and-water；infact，whenhedroveintotownhewasasfullofwine，beer，meat，pickles，cherry-brandy，andtobaccoasthesteward’scabinofasteam-packet。ItwaseveningwhenhiscarriagethundereduptothelittledoorinBrompton，whithertheaffectionatefellowdrovefirst，andbeforehieingtotheapartmentssecuredforhimbyMr。DobbinattheSlaughters’。
　　Allthefacesinthestreetwereinthewindows；thelittlemaidservantflewtothewicket-gate；theMesdamesClapplookedoutfromthecasementoftheornamentedkitchen；Emmy，inagreatflutter，wasinthepassageamongthehatsandcoats；andoldSedleyintheparlourinside，shakingallover。Josdescendedfromthepost-
　　chaiseanddownthecreakingswayingstepsinawfulstate，supportedbythenewvaletfromSouthamptonandtheshudderingnative，whosebrownfacewasnowlividwithcoldandofthecolourofaturkey’sgizzard。Hecreatedanimmensesensationinthepassagepresently，whereMrs。andMissClapp，comingperhapstolistenattheparlourdoor，foundLollJewabshakinguponthehall-benchunderthecoats，moaninginastrangepiteousway，andshowinghisyelloweyeballsandwhiteteeth。
　　For，yousee，wehaveadroitlyshutthedooruponthemeetingbetweenJosandtheoldfatherandthepoorlittlegentlesisterinside。Theoldmanwasverymuchaffected；
　　so，ofcourse，washisdaughter；norwasJoswithoutfeeling。Inthatlongabsenceoftenyears，themostselfishwillthinkabouthomeandearlyties。Distancesanctifiesboth。Longbroodingoverthoselostpleasuresexaggeratestheircharmandsweetness。Joswasunaffectedlygladtoseeandshakethehandofhisfather，betweenwhomandhimselftherehadbeenacoolness——gladtoseehislittlesister，whomherememberedsoprettyandsmiling，andpainedatthealterationwhichtime，grief，andmisfortunehadmadeintheshatteredoldman。Emmyhadcomeouttothedoorinherblackclothesandwhisperedtohimofhermother’sdeath，andnottospeakofittotheirfather。Therewasnoneedofthiscaution，fortheelderSedleyhimselfbeganimmediatelytospeakoftheevent，andprattledaboutit，andweptoveritplenteously。
　　ItshockedtheIndiannotalittleandmadehimthinkofhimselflessthanthepoorfellowwasaccustomedtodo。
　　Theresultoftheinterviewmusthavebeenverysatisfactory，forwhenJoshadreascendedhispost-chaiseandhaddrivenawaytohishotel，Emmyembracedherfathertenderly，appealingtohimwithanairoftriumph，andaskingtheoldmanwhethershedidnotalwayssaythatherbrotherhadagoodheart？
　　Indeed，JosephSedley，affectedbythehumblepositioninwhichhefoundhisrelations，andintheexpansivenessandoverflowingofheartoccasionedbythefirstmeeting，declaredthattheyshouldneversufferwantordiscomfortanymore，thathewasathomeforsometimeatanyrate，duringwhichhishouseandeverythinghehadshouldbetheirs：andthatAmeliawouldlookveryprettyattheheadofhistable——untilshewouldacceptoneofherown。
　　Sheshookherheadsadlyandhad，asusual，recoursetothewaterworks。Sheknewwhathemeant。Sheandheryoungconfidante，MissMary，hadtalkedoverthemattermostfully，theverynightoftheMajor’svisit，beyondwhichtimetheimpetuousPollycouldnotrefrainfromtalkingofthediscoverywhichshehadmade，anddescribingthestartandtremorofjoybywhichMajorDobbinbetrayedhimselfwhenMr。BinnypassedwithhisbrideandtheMajorlearnedthathehadnolongerarivaltofear。”Didn’tyouseehowheshookalloverwhenyouaskedifhewasmarriedandhesaid，’Whotoldyouthoselies？’Oh，M’am。”Pollysaid，“heneverkepthiseyesoffyou，andI’msurehe’sgrowngreyathinkingofyou。”
　　ButAmelia，lookingupatherbed，overwhichhungtheportraitsofherhusbandandson，toldheryoungprotegeenever，never，tospeakonthatsubjectagain；
　　thatMajorDobbinhadbeenherhusband’sdearestfriendandherownandGeorge’smostkindandaffectionateguardian；thatshelovedhimasabrother——butthatawomanwhohadbeenmarriedtosuchanangelasthat，andshepointedtothewall，couldneverthinkofanyotherunion。PoorPollysighed：shethoughtwhatsheshoulddoifyoungMr。Tomkins，atthesurgery，whoalwayslookedathersoatchurch，andwho，bythosemereaggressiveglanceshadputhertimorouslittleheartintosuchaflutterthatshewasreadytosurrenderatonce，——whatsheshoulddoifheweretodie？Sheknewhewasconsumptive，hischeeksweresoredandhewassouncommonthininthewaist。
　　NotthatEmmy，beingmadeawareofthehonestMajor’spassion，rebuffedhiminanyway，orfeltdispleasedwithhim。Suchanattachmentfromsotrueandloyalagentlemancouldmakenowomanangry。
　　DesdemonawasnotangrywithCassio，thoughthereisverylittledoubtshesawtheLieutenant’spartialityforherandIformypartbelievethatmanymorethingstookplaceinthatsadaffairthantheworthyMoorishofficereverknewof；why，MirandawasevenverykindtoCaliban，andwemaybeprettysureforthesamereason。Notthatshewouldencouragehimintheleast——
　　thepooruncouthmonster——ofcoursenot。NomorewouldEmmybyanymeansencourageheradmirer，theMajor。Shewouldgivehimthatfriendlyregard，whichsomuchexcellenceandfidelitymerited；shewouldtreathimwithperfectcordialityandfranknessuntilhemadehisproposals，andTHENitwouldbetimeenoughforhertospeakandtoputanendtohopeswhichnevercouldberealized。
　　Sheslept，therefore，verysoundlythatevening，aftertheconversationwithMissPolly，andwasmorethanordinarilyhappy，inspiteofJos’sdelaying。”IamgladheisnotgoingtomarrythatMissO’Dowd。”shethought。
　　“ColonelO’DowdnevercouldhaveasisterfitforsuchanaccomplishedmanasMajorWilliam。”Whowasthereamongstherlittlecirclewhowouldmakehimagoodwife？NotMissBinny，shewastoooldandill-tempered；
　　MissOsborne？toooldtoo。LittlePollywastooyoung。
　　Mrs。OsbornecouldnotfindanybodytosuittheMajorbeforeshewenttosleep。
　　ThesamemorningbroughtMajorDobbinalettertotheSlaughters’Coffee-housefromhisfriendatSouthampton，beggingdearDobtoexcuseJosforbeinginaragewhenawakenedthedaybeforehehadaconfoundedheadache，andwasjustinhisfirstsleep，andentreatingDobtoengagecomfortableroomsattheSlaughters’forMr。Sedleyandhisservants。TheMajorhadbecomenecessarytoJosduringthevoyage。Hewasattachedtohim，andhunguponhim。TheotherpassengerswereawaytoLondon。
　　YoungRickettsandlittleChafferswentawayonthecoachthatday——Rickettsonthebox，andtakingthereinsfromBotley；theDoctorwasofftohisfamilyatPortsea；Bragggonetotowntohisco-partners；andthefirstmatebusyintheunloadingoftheRamchunder。Mr。
　　JoewasverylonelyatSouthampton，andgotthelandlordoftheGeorgetotakeaglassofwinewithhimthatday，attheveryhouratwhichMajorDobbinwasseatedatthetableofhisfather，SirWilliam，wherehissisterfoundoutforitwasimpossiblefortheMajortotellfibsthathehadbeentoseeMrs。GeorgeOsborne。
　　JoswassocomfortablysituatedinSt。Martin’sLane，hecouldenjoyhishookahtherewithsuchperfectease，andcouldswaggerdowntothetheatres，whenminded，soagreeably，that，perhaps，hewouldhaveremainedaltogetherattheSlaughters’hadnothisfriend，theMajor，beenathiselbow。ThatgentlemanwouldnotlettheBengaleerestuntilhehadexecutedhispromiseofhavingahomeforAmeliaandhisfather。Joswasasoftfellowinanybody’shands，Dobbinmostactiveinanybody’sconcernsbuthisown；thecivilianwas，therefore，aneasyvictimtotheguilelessartsofthisgood-natureddiplomatistandwasreadytodo，topurchase，hire，orrelinquishwhateverhisfriendthoughtfit。LollJewab，ofwhomtheboysaboutSt。Martin’sLaneusedtomakecruelfunwheneverheshowedhisduskycountenanceinthestreet，wassentbacktoCalcuttaintheLadyKickleburyEastIndiaman，inwhichSirWilliamDobbinhadashare，havingpreviouslytaughtJos’sEuropeantheartofpreparingcurries，pilaus，andpipes。ItwasamatterofgreatdelightandoccupationtoJostosuperintendthebuildingofasmartchariotwhichheandtheMajororderedintheneighbouringLongAcre：andapairofhandsomehorseswerejobbed，withwhichJosdroveaboutinstateinthepark，ortocalluponhisIndianfriends。Ameliawasnotseldombyhissideontheseexcursions，whenalsoMajorDobbinwouldbeseeninthebackseatofthecarriage。
　　AtothertimesoldSedleyandhisdaughtertookadvantageofit，andMissClapp，whofrequentlyaccompaniedherfriend，hadgreatpleasureinbeingrecognizedasshesatinthecarriage，dressedinthefamousyellowshawl，bytheyounggentlemanatthesurgery，whosefacemightcommonlybeseenoverthewindow-blindsasshepassed。
　　ShortlyafterJos’sfirstappearanceatBrompton，adismalscene，indeed，tookplaceatthathumblecottageatwhichtheSedleyshadpassedthelasttenyearsoftheirlife。Jos’scarriagethetemporaryone，notthechariotunderconstructionarrivedonedayandcarriedoffoldSedleyandhisdaughter——toreturnnomore。Thetearsthatwereshedbythelandladyandthelandlady’sdaughteratthateventwereasgenuinetearsofsorrowasanythathavebeenoutpouredinthecourseofthishistory。
　　IntheirlongacquaintanceshipandintimacytheycouldnotrecallaharshwordthathadbeenutteredbyAmeliaShehadbeenallsweetnessandkindness，alwaysthankful，alwaysgentle，evenwhenMrs。Clapplostherowntemperandpressedfortherent。Whenthekindcreaturewasgoingawayforgoodandall，thelandladyreproachedherselfbitterlyforeverhavingusedaroughexpressiontoher——howshewept，astheystuckupwithwafersonthewindow，apapernotifyingthatthelittleroomssolongoccupiedweretolet！Theyneverwouldhavesuchlodgersagain，thatwasquiteclear。After-lifeprovedthetruthofthismelancholyprophecy，andMrs。Clapprevengedherselfforthedeteriorationofmankindbylevyingthemostsavagecontributionsuponthetea-caddiesandlegsofmuttonofherlocataires。Mostofthemscoldedandgrumbled；someofthemdidnotpay；noneofthemstayed。
　　Thelandladymightwellregretthoseold，oldfriends，whohadlefther。
　　AsforMissMary，hersorrowatAmelia’sdeparturewassuchasIshallnotattempttodepict。Fromchildhoodupwardsshehadbeenwithherdailyandhadattachedherselfsopassionatelytothatdeargoodladythatwhenthegrandbarouchecametocarryheroffintosplendour，shefaintedinthearmsofherfriend，whowasindeedscarcelylessaffectedthanthegood-naturedgirl。Amelialovedherlikeadaughter。Duringelevenyearsthegirlhadbeenherconstantfriendandassociate。Theseparationwasaverypainfuloneindeedtoher。ButitwasofcoursearrangedthatMarywastocomeandstayoftenatthegrandnewhousewhitherMrs。Osbornewasgoing，andwhereMarywassureshewouldneverbesohappyasshehadbeenintheirhumblecot，asMissClappcalledit，inthelanguageofthenovelswhichsheloved。