Inaword，hewentoutandateicesatapastry-cook’sshopinCharingCross；triedanewcoatinPallMall；
　　droppedinattheOldSlaughters’，andcalledforCaptainCannon；playedelevengamesatbilliardswiththeCaptain，ofwhichhewoneight，andreturnedtoRussellSquarehalfanhourlatefordinner，butinverygoodhumour。
　　ItwasnotsowitholdMr。Osborne。WhenthatgentlemancamefromtheCity，andwaswelcomedinthedrawing-roombyhisdaughtersandtheelegantMissWirt，theysawatoncebyhisface——whichwaspuffy，solemn，andyellowatthebestoftimes——andbythescowlandtwitchingofhisblackeyebrows，thattheheartwithinhislargewhitewaistcoatwasdisturbedanduneasy。WhenAmeliasteppedforwardtosalutehim，whichshealwaysdidwithgreattremblingandtimidity，hegaveasurlygruntofrecognition，anddroppedthelittlehandoutofhisgreathirsutepawwithoutanyattempttoholditthere。Helookedroundgloomilyathiseldestdaughter；
　　who，comprehendingthemeaningofhislook，whichaskedunmistakably，“Whythedevilisshehere？”saidatonce：
　　“Georgeisintown，Papa；andhasgonetotheHorseGuards，andwillbebacktodinner。”
　　“Oheis，ishe？Iwon’thavethedinnerkeptwaitingforhim，Jane“；withwhichthisworthymanlapsedintohisparticularchair，andthentheuttersilenceinhisgenteel，well-furnisheddrawing-roomwasonlyinterruptedbythealarmedtickingofthegreatFrenchclock。
　　Whenthatchronometer，whichwassurmountedbyacheerfulbrassgroupofthesacrificeofIphigenia，tolledfiveinaheavycathedraltone，Mr。Osbornepulledthebellathisrighthand-violently，andthebutlerrushedup。
　　“Dinner！”roaredMr。Osborne。
　　“Mr。Georgeisn’tcomein，sir。”interposedtheman。
　　“DamnMr。George，sir。AmImasterofthehouse？
　　DINNER！~Mr。Osbornescowled。Ameliatrembled。A
　　telegraphiccommunicationofeyespassedbetweentheotherthreeladies。Theobedientbellinthelowerregionsbeganringingtheannouncementofthemeal。Thetollingover，theheadofthefamilythrusthishandsintothegreattail-pocketsofhisgreatbluecoatwithbrassbuttons，andwithoutwaitingforafurtherannouncementstrodedownstairsalone，scowlingoverhisshoulderatthefourfemales。
　　“What’sthematternow，mydear？”askedoneoftheother，astheyroseandtrippedgingerlybehindthesire。
　　“Isupposethefundsarefalling。”whisperedMissWirt；
　　andso，tremblingandinsilence，thishushedfemalecompanyfollowedtheirdarkleader。Theytooktheirplacesinsilence。Hegrowledoutablessing，whichsoundedasgrufflyasacurse。Thegreatsilverdish-coverswereremoved。Ameliatrembledinherplace，forshewasnexttotheawfulOsborne，andaloneonhersideofthetable——thegapbeingoccasionedbytheabsenceofGeorge。
　　“Soup？”saysMr。Osborne，clutchingtheladle，fixinghiseyesonher，inasepulchraltone；andhavinghelpedherandtherest，didnotspeakforawhile。
　　“TakeMissSedley’splateaway。”atlasthesaid。”Shecan’teatthesoup——nomorecanI。It’sbeastly。Takeawaythesoup，Hicks，andto-morrowturnthecookoutofthehouse，Jane。”
　　Havingconcludedhisobservationsuponthesoup，Mr。
　　Osbornemadeafewcurtremarksrespectingthefish，alsoofasavageandsatiricaltendency，andcursedBillingsgatewithanemphasisquiteworthyoftheplace。
　　Thenhelapsedintosilence，andswallowedsundryglassesofwine，lookingmoreandmoreterrible，tillabriskknockatthedoortoldofGeorge’sarrivalwheneverybodybegantorally。
　　“Hecouldnotcomebefore。GeneralDaguilethadkepthimwaitingattheHorseGuards。Nevermindsouporfish。Givehimanything——hedidn’tcarewhat。Capitalmutton——capitaleverything。”Hisgoodhumourcontrastedwithhisfather’sseverity；andherattledonunceasinglyduringdinner，tothedelightofall——ofoneespecially，whoneednotbementioned。
　　AssoonastheyoungladieshaddiscussedtheorangeandtheglassofwinewhichformedtheordinaryconclusionofthedismalbanquetsatMr。Osborne’shouse，thesignaltomakesailforthedrawing-roomwasgiven，andtheyallaroseanddeparted。AmeliahopedGeorgewouldsoonjointhemthere。Shebeganplayingsomeofhisfavouritewaltzesthennewlyimportedatthegreatcarved-legged，leather-casedgrandpianointhedrawing-
　　roomoverhead。Thislittleartificedidnotbringhim。Hewasdeaftothewaltzes；theygrewfainterandfainter；
　　thediscomfitedperformerleftthehugeinstrumentpresently；andthoughherthreefriendsperformedsomeoftheloudestandmostbrilliantnewpiecesoftheirrepertoire，shedidnothearasinglenote，butsatethinking，andbodingevil。OldOsborne’sscowl，terrificalways，hadneverbeforelookedsodeadlytoher。Hiseyesfollowedheroutoftheroom，asifshehadbeenguiltyofsomething。
　　Whentheybroughthercoffee，shestartedasthoughitwereacupofpoisonwhichMr。Hicks，thebutler，wishedtoproposetoher。Whatmysterywastherelurking？Oh，thosewomen！Theynurseandcuddletheirpresentiments，andmakedarlingsoftheirugliestthoughts，astheydooftheirdeformedchildren。
　　ThegloomonthepaternalcountenancehadalsoimpressedGeorgeOsbornewithanxiety。Withsucheyebrows，andalooksodecidedlybilious，howwashetoextractthatmoneyfromthegovernor，ofwhichGeorgewasconsumedlyinwant？Hebeganpraisinghisfather’swine。Thatwasgenerallyasuccessfulmeansofcajolingtheoldgentleman。
　　“WenevergotsuchMadeiraintheWestIndies，sir，asyours。ColonelHeavytoptookoffthreebottlesofthatyousentmedown，underhisbelttheotherday。”
　　“Didhe？”saidtheoldgentleman。”Itstandsmeineightshillingsabottle。”
　　“Willyoutakesixguineasadozenforit，sir？”saidGeorge，withalaugh。”There’soneofthegreatestmeninthekingdomwantssome。”
　　“Doeshe？”growledthesenior。”Wishhemaygetit。”
　　“WhenGeneralDaguiletwasatChatham，sir，Heavytopgavehimabreakfast，andaskedmeforsomeofthewine。TheGenerallikeditjustaswell——wantedapipefortheCommander-in-Chief。He’shisRoyalHighness’sright-handman。”
　　“Itisdevilishfinewine。”saidtheEyebrows，andtheylookedmoregood-humoured；andGeorgewasgoingtotakeadvantageofthiscomplacency，andbringthesupplyquestiononthemahogany，whenthefather，relapsingintosolemnity，thoughrathercordialinmanner，badehimringthebellforclaret。”Andwe’llseeifthat’sasgoodastheMadeira，George，towhichhisRoyalHighnessiswelcome，I’msure。Andaswearedrinkingit，I’lltalktoyouaboutamatterofimportance。”
　　Ameliaheardtheclaretbellringingasshesatnervouslyupstairs。Shethought，somehow，itwasamysteriousandpresentimentalbell。Ofthepresentimentswhichsomepeoplearealwayshaving，somesurelymustcomeright。
　　“WhatIwanttoknow，George。”theoldgentlemansaid，afterslowlysmackinghisfirstbumper——“whatI
　　wanttoknowis，howyouand——ah——thatlittlethingupstairs，arecarryingon？”
　　“Ithink，sir，itisnothardtosee。”Georgesaid，withaself-satisfiedgrin。”Prettyclear，sir——Whatcapitalwine！”
　　“Whatd’youmean，prettyclear，sir？”
　　“Why，hangit，sir，don’tpushmetoohard。I’mamodestman。I——ah——Idon’tsetuptobealady-killer；
　　butIdoownthatshe’sasdevilishfondofmeasshecanbe。Anybodycanseethatwithhalfaneye。”
　　“Andyouyourself？”
　　“Why，sir，didn’tyouordermetomarryher，andain’tIagoodboy？Haven’tourPapassettlediteversolong？”
　　“Aprettyboy，indeed。Haven’tIheardofyourdoings，sir，withLordTarquin，CaptainCrawleyoftheGuards，~theHonourableMr。Deuceaceandthatset。Haveacaresir，haveacare。”
　　Theoldgentlemanpronouncedthesearistocraticnameswiththegreatestgusto。Wheneverhemetagreatmanhegrovelledbeforehim，andmy-lordedhimasonlyafree-bornBritoncando。HecamehomeandlookedouthishistoryinthePeerage：heintroducedhisnameintohisdailyconversation；hebraggedabouthisLordshiptohisdaughters。HefelldownprostrateandbaskedinhimasaNeapolitanbeggardoesinthesun。Georgewasalarmedwhenheheardthenames。Hefearedhisfathermighthavebeeninformedofcertaintransactionsatplay。Buttheoldmoralisteasedhimbysayingserenely：
　　“Well，well，youngmenwillbeyoungmen。Andthecomforttomeis，George，thatlivinginthebestsocietyinEngland，asIhopeyoudo；asIthinkyoudo；asmymeanswillallowyoutodo——“
　　“Thankyou，sir。”saysGeorge，makinghispointatonce。”Onecan’tlivewiththesegreatfolksfornothing；
　　andmypurse，sir，lookatit“；andheheldupalittletokenwhichhadbeennettedbyAmelia，andcontainedtheverylastofDobbin’spoundnotes。
　　“Youshan’twant，sir。TheBritishmerchant’ssonshan’twant，sir。Myguineasareasgoodastheirs，George，myboy；andIdon’tgrudge’em。CallonMr。
　　ChopperasyougothroughtheCityto-morrow；he’llhavesomethingforyou。Idon’tgrudgemoneywhenI
　　knowyou’reingoodsociety，becauseIknowthatgoodsocietycannevergowrong。There’snoprideinme。I
　　wasahumblybornman——butyouhavehadadvantages。
　　Makeagooduseof’em。Mixwiththeyoungnobility。
　　There’smanyof’emwhocan’tspendadollartoyourguinea，myboy。Andasforthepinkbonnetsherefromundertheheavyeyebrowstherecameaknowingandnotverypleasingleer——whyboyswillbeboys。Onlythere’sonethingIorderyoutoavoid，which，ifyoudonot，I’llcutyouoffwithashilling，byJove；andthat’sgambling。”Oh，ofcourse，sir。”saidGeorge。
　　“ButtoreturntotheotherbusinessaboutAmelia：
　　whyshouldn’tyoumarryhigherthanastockbroker’sdaughter，George——that’swhatIwanttoknow？”
　　“It’safamilybusiness，sir。”。saysGeorge，crackingfilberts。”YouandMr。Sedleymadethematchahundredyearsago。”
　　“Idon’tdenyit；butpeople’spositionsalter，sir。Idon’tdenythatSedleymademyfortune，orratherputmeinthewayofacquiring，bymyowntalentsandgenius，thatproudposition，which，Imaysay，IoccupyinthetallowtradeandtheCityofLondon。I’veshownmygratitudetoSedley；andhe’strieditoflate，sir，asmycheque-bookcanshow。George！ItellyouinconfidenceIdon’tlikethelooksofMr。Sedley’saffairs。Mychiefclerk，Mr。Chopper，doesnotlikethelooksof’em，andhe’sanoldfile，andknows’ChangeaswellasanymaninLondon。Hulker&Bullockarelookingshyathim。He’sbeendabblingonhisownaccountIfear。TheysaytheJeuneAmeliewashis，whichwastakenbytheYankeeprivateerMolasses。Andthat’sflat——unlessIseeAmelia’stenthousanddownyoudon’tmarryher。I’llhavenolameduck’sdaughterinmyfamily。Passthewine，sir——orringforcoffee。”
　　WithwhichMr。Osbornespreadouttheeveningpaper，andGeorgeknewfromthissignalthatthecolloquywasended，andthathispapawasabouttotakeanap。
　　HehurriedupstairstoAmeliainthehighestspirits。
　　Whatwasitthatmadehimmoreattentivetoheronthatnightthanhehadbeenforalongtime——moreeagertoamuseher，moretender，morebrilliantintalk？Wasitthathisgenerousheartwarmedtoherattheprospectofmisfortune；orthattheideaoflosingthedearlittleprizemadehimvalueitmore？
　　Shelivedupontherecollectionsofthathappyeveningformanydaysafterwards，rememberinghiswords；hislooks；thesonghesang；hisattitude，asheleantoverherorlookedatherfromadistance。Asitseemedtoher，nonighteverpassedsoquicklyatMr。Osborne’shousebefore；andforoncethisyoungpersonwasalmostprovokedtobeangrybytheprematurearrivalofMr。
　　Sambowithhershawl。
　　Georgecameandtookatenderleaveofherthenextmorning；andthenhurriedofftotheCity，wherehevisitedMr。Chopper，hisfather’sheadman，andreceivedfromthatgentlemanadocumentwhichheexchangedatHulker&Bullock’sforawholepocketfulofmoney。AsGeorgeenteredthehouse，oldJohnSedleywaspassingoutofthebanker’sparlour，lookingverydismal。Buthisgodsonwasmuchtooelatedtomarktheworthystockbroker’sdepression，orthedrearyeyeswhichthekindoldgentlemancastuponhim。YoungBullockdidnotcomegrinningoutoftheparlourwithhimashadbeenhiswontinformeryears。
　　AndastheswingingdoorsofHulker，Bullock&Co。
　　closeduponMr。Sedley，Mr。Quill，thecashierwhosebenevolentoccupationitistohandoutcrispbank-notesfromadraweranddispensesovereignsoutofacoppershovel，winkedatMr。Driver，theclerkatthedeskonhisright。Mr。Driverwinkedagain。
　　“Nogo。”Mr。D。whispered。