“It’smybelief，sir，thatyouhavenotthepowerortherighttoseparatethosetwo。”Dobbinansweredinalowvoice；“andthatifyoudon’tgiveyourdaughteryourconsentitwillbeherdutytomarrywithoutit。There’snoreasonsheshoulddieorlivemiserablybecauseyouarewrong-headed。Tomythinking，she’sjustasmuchmarriedasifthebannshadbeenreadinallthechurchesinLondon。AndwhatbetteranswercantherebetoOsborne’schargesagainstyou，aschargesthereare，thanthathissonclaimstoenteryourfamilyandmarryyourdaughter？”
　　AlightofsomethinglikesatisfactionseemedtobreakoveroldSedleyasthispointwasputtohim：buthestillpersistedthatwithhisconsentthemarriagebetweenAmeliaandGeorgeshouldnevertakeplace。
　　“Wemustdoitwithout。”Dobbinsaid，smiling，andtoldMr。Sedley，ashehadtoldMrs。Sedleyintheday，before，thestoryofRebecca’selopementwithCaptainCrawley。Itevidentlyamusedtheoldgentleman。”You’reterriblefellows，youCaptains。”saidhe，tyinguphispapers；andhisfaceworesomethinglikeasmileuponit，totheastonishmentoftheblear-eyedwaiterwhonowentered，andhadneverseensuchanexpressionuponSedley’scountenancesincehehadusedthedismalcoffee-house。
　　TheideaofhittinghisenemyOsbornesuchablowsoothed，perhaps，theoldgentleman：and，theircolloquypresentlyending，heandDobbinpartedprettygoodfriends。
　　“Mysisterssayshehasdiamondsasbigaspigeons’
　　eggs。”Georgesaid，laughing。”Howtheymustsetoffhercomplexion！Aperfectilluminationitmustbewhenherjewelsareonherneck。Herjet-blackhairisascurlyasSambo’s。Idaresaysheworeanoseringwhenshewenttocourt；andwithaplumeoffeathersinhertop-knotshewouldlookaperfectBelleSauvage。”
　　George，inconversationwithAmelia，wasrallyingtheappearanceofayoungladyofwhomhisfatherandsistershadlatelymadetheacquaintance，andwhowasanobjectofvastrespecttotheRussellSquarefamily。ShewasreportedtohaveIdon’tknowhowmanyplantationsintheWestIndies；adealofmoneyinthefunds；andthreestarstohernameintheEastIndiastockholders’list。ShehadamansioninSurrey，andahouseinPortlandPlace。
　　ThenameoftherichWestIndiaheiresshadbeenmentionedwithapplauseintheMorningPost。Mrs。Haggistoun，ColonelHaggistoun’swidow，herrelative，“chaperoned“
　　her，andkeptherhouse。Shewasjustfromschool，whereshehadcompletedhereducation，andGeorgeandhissistershadmetherataneveningpartyatoldHulker’shouse，DevonshirePlaceHulker，Bullock，andCo。werelongthecorrespondentsofherhouseintheWestIndies，andthegirlshadmadethemostcordialadvancestoher，whichtheheiresshadreceivedwithgreatgoodhumour。
　　Anorphaninherposition——withhermoney——sointeresting！
　　theMissesOsbornesaid。TheywerefulloftheirnewfriendwhentheyreturnedfromtheHulkerballtoMissWirt，theircompanion；theyhadmadearrangementsforcontinuallymeeting，andhadthecarriageanddrovetoseehertheverynextday。Mrs。Haggistoun，ColonelHaggistoun’swidow，arelationofLordBinkie，andalwaystalkingofhim，struckthedearunsophisticatedgirlsasratherhaughty，andtoomuchinclinedtotalkabouthergreatrelations：butRhodawaseverythingtheycouldwish——
　　thefrankest，kindest，mostagreeablecreature——wantingalittlepolish，butsogood-natured。ThegirlsChristian-
　　namedeachotheratonce。
　　“Youshouldhaveseenherdressforcourt，Emmy。”
　　Osbornecried，laughing。”Shecametomysisterstoshowitoff，beforeshewaspresentedinstatebymyLadyBinkie，theHaggistoun’skinswoman。She’srelatedtoeveryone，thatHaggistoun。HerdiamondsblazedoutlikeVauxhallonthenightwewerethere。DoyourememberVauxhall，Emmy，andJossingingtohisdearestdiddlediddledarling？Diamondsandmahogany，mydear！
　　thinkwhatanadvantageouscontrast——andthewhitefeathersinherhair——Imeaninherwool。Shehadearringslikechandeliers；youmighthavelighted’emup，byJove——andayellowsatintrainthatstreeledafterherlikethetailofacornet。”
　　“Howoldisshe？”askedEmmy，towhomGeorgewasrattlingawayregardingthisdarkparagon，onthemorningoftheirreunion——rattlingawayasnoothermanintheworldsurelycould。
　　“WhytheBlackPrincess，thoughshehasonlyjustleftschool，mustbetwoorthreeandtwenty。Andyoushouldseethehandshewrites！Mrs。ColonelHaggistounusuallywritesherletters，butinamomentofconfidence，sheputpentopaperformysisters；shespeltsatinsatting，andSaintJames’s，SaintJams。”
　　“Why，surelyitmustbeMissSwartz，theparlourboarder。”Emmysaid，rememberingthatgood-naturedyoungmulattogirl，whohadbeensohystericallyaffectedwhenAmelialeftMissPinkerton’sacademy“Theveryname。”Georgesaid。”HerfatherwasaGermanJew——aslave-ownertheysay——connectedwiththeCannibalIslandsinsomewayorother。Hediedlastyear，andMissPinkertonhasfinishedhereducation。Shecanplaytwopiecesonthepiano；sheknowsthreesongs；
　　shecanwritewhenMrs。Haggistounisbytospellforher；
　　andJaneandMariaalreadyhavegottoloveherasasister。”
　　“Iwishtheywouldhavelovedme。”saidEmmy，wistfully。
　　“Theywerealwaysverycoldtome。”
　　“Mydearchild，theywouldhavelovedyouifyouhadhadtwohundredthousandpounds。”Georgereplied。”Thatisthewayinwhichtheyhavebeenbroughtup。Oursisaready-moneysociety。WeliveamongbankersandCitybig-wigs，andbehangedtothem，andeveryman，ashetalkstoyou，isjinglinghisguineasinhispocket。ThereisthatjackassFredBullockisgoingtomarryMaria——
　　there’sGoldmore，theEastIndiaDirector，there’sDipley，inthetallowtrade——OURtrade。”Georgesaid，withanuneasylaughandablush。”Cursethewholepackofmoney-
　　grubbingvulgarians！Ifallasleepattheirgreatheavydinners。Ifeelashamedinmyfather’sgreatstupidparties。I’vebeenaccustomedtolivewithgentlemen，andmenoftheworldandfashion，Emmy，notwithaparcelofturtle-fedtradesmen。Dearlittlewoman，youaretheonlypersonofoursetwhoeverlooked，orthought，orspokelikealady：andyoudoitbecauseyou’reanangelandcan’thelpit。Don’tremonstrate。Youaretheonlylady。
　　Didn’tMissCrawleyremarkit，whohaslivedinthebestcompanyinEurope？AndasforCrawley，oftheLifeGuards，hangit，he’safinefellow：andIlikehimformarryingthegirlhehadchosen。”
　　AmeliaadmiredMr。Crawleyverymuch，too，forthis；
　　andtrustedRebeccawouldbehappywithhim，andhopedwithalaughJoswouldbeconsoled。Andsothepairwentonprattling，asinquiteearlydays。Amelia’sconfidencebeingperfectlyrestoredtoher，thoughsheexpressedagreatdealofprettyjealousyaboutMissSwartz，andprofessedtobedreadfullyfrightened——likeahypocriteasshewas——lestGeorgeshouldforgetherfortheheiressandhermoneyandherestatesinSaintKitt’s。Butthefactis，shewasagreatdealtoohappytohavefearsordoubtsormisgivingsofanysort：andhavingGeorgeathersideagain，wasnotafraidofanyheiressorbeauty，orindeedofanysortofdanger。
　　WhenCaptainDobbincamebackintheafternoontothesepeople——whichhedidwithagreatdealofsympathyforthem——itdidhisheartgoodtoseehowAmeliahadgrownyoungagain——howshelaughed，andchirped，andsangfamiliaroldsongsatthepiano，whichwereonlyinterruptedbythebellfromwithoutproclaimingMr。
　　Sedley’sreturnfromtheCity，beforewhomGeorgereceivedasignaltoretreat。
　　Beyondthefirstsmileofrecognition——andeventhatwasanhypocrisy，forshethoughthisarrivalratherprovoking——MissSedleydidnotoncenoticeDobbinduringhisvisit。Buthewascontent，sothathesawherhappy；andthankfultohavebeenthemeansofmakingherso。
　　AQuarrelAboutanHeiressLovemaybefeltforanyyoungladyendowedwithsuchqualitiesasMissSwartzpossessed；andagreatdreamofambitionenteredintooldMr。Osborne’ssoul，whichshewastorealize。Heencouraged，withtheutmostenthusiasmandfriendliness，hisdaughters’amiableattachmenttotheyoungheiress，andprotestedthatitgavehimthesincerestpleasureasafathertoseetheloveofhisgirlssowelldisposed。
　　“Youwon’tfind。”hewouldsaytoMissRhoda，“thatsplendourandranktowhichyouareaccustomedattheWestEnd，mydearMiss，atourhumblemansioninRussellSquare。Mydaughtersareplain，disinterestedgirls，buttheirheartsareintherightplace，andthey’veconceivedanattachmentforyouwhichdoesthemhonour——Isay，whichdoesthemhonour。I’maplain，simple，humbleBritishmerchant——anhonestone，asmyrespectedfriendsHulkerandBullockwillvouch，whowerethecorrespondentsofyourlatelamentedfather。You’llfindusaunited，simple，happy，andIthinkImaysayrespected，family——aplaintable，aplainpeople，butawarmwelcome，mydearMissRhoda——Rhoda，letmesay，formyheartwarmstoyou，itdoesreally。I’mafrankman，andIlikeyou。AglassofChampagne！Hicks，ChampagnetoMissSwartz。”
　　ThereislittledoubtthatoldOsbornebelievedallhesaid，andthatthegirlswerequiteearnestintheirprotestationsofaffectionforMissSwartz。PeopleinVanityFairfastenontorichfolksquitenaturally。IfthesimplestpeoplearedisposedtolooknotalittlekindlyongreatProsperityforIdefyanymemberoftheBritishpublictosaythatthenotionofWealthhasnotsomethingawfulandpleasingtohim；andyou，ifyouaretoldthatthemannextyouatdinnerhasgothalfamillion，nottolookathimwithacertaininterest——ifthesimplelookbenevolentlyonmoney，howmuchmoredoyouroldworldlingsregardit！Theiraffectionsrushouttomeetandwelcomemoney。Theirkindsentimentsawakenspontaneouslytowardstheinterestingpossessorsofit。Iknowsomerespectablepeoplewhodon’tconsiderthemselvesatlibertytoindulgeinfriendshipforanyindividualwhohasnotacertaincompetency，orplaceinsociety。Theygivealoosetotheirfeelingsonproperoccasions。Andtheproofis，thatthemajorpartoftheOsbornefamily，whohadnot，infifteenyears，beenabletogetupaheartyregardforAmeliaSedley，becameasfondofMissSwartzinthecourseofasingleeveningasthemostromanticadvocateoffriendshipatfirstsightcoulddesire。
　　WhatamatchforGeorgeshe’dbethesistersandMissWirtagreed，andhowmuchbetterthanthatinsignificantlittleAmelia！Suchadashingyoungfellowasheis，withhisgoodlooks，rank，andaccomplishments，wouldbetheveryhusbandforher。VisionsofballsinPortlandPlace，presentationsatCourt，andintroductionstohalfthepeerage，filledthemindsoftheyoungladies；
　　whotalkedofnothingbutGeorgeandhisgrandacquaintancestotheirbelovednewfriend。
　　OldOsbornethoughtshewouldbeagreatmatch，too，forhisson。Heshouldleavethearmy；heshouldgointoParliament；heshouldcutafigureinthefashionandinthestate。HisbloodboiledwithhonestBritishexultation，ashesawthenameofOsborneennobledinthepersonofhisson，andthoughtthathemightbetheprogenitorofagloriouslineofbaronets。HeworkedintheCityandon’Change，untilhekneweverythingrelatingtothefortuneoftheheiress，howhermoneywasplaced，andwhereherestateslay。YoungFredBullock，oneofhischiefinformants，wouldhavelikedtomakeabidforherhimselfitwassotheyoungbankerexpressedit，onlyhewasbookedtoMariaOsborne。Butnotbeingabletosecureherasawife，thedisinterestedFredquiteapprovedofherasasister-in-law。”LetGeorgecutindirectlyandwinher。”washisadvice。”Strikewhiletheiron’shot，youknow——whileshe’sfreshtothetown：inafewweekssomed——fellowfromtheWestEndwillcomeinwithatitleandarottenrent-rollandcutallusCitymenout，asLordFitzrufusdidlastyearwithMissGrogram，whowasactuallyengagedtoPodder，ofPodder&Brown’s。Thesooneritisdonethebetter，Mr。Osborne；them’smysentiments。”thewagsaid；though，whenOsbornehadleftthebankparlour，Mr。BullockrememberedAmelia，andwhataprettygirlshewas，andhowattachedtoGeorgeOsborne；andhegaveupatleasttensecondsofhisvaluabletimetoregrettingthemisfortunewhichhadbefallenthatunluckyyoungwoman。
　　WhilethusGeorgeOsborne’sgoodfeelings，andhisgoodfriendandgenius，Dobbin，werecarryingbackthetruanttoAmelia’sfeet，George’sparentandsisterswerearrangingthissplendidmatchforhim，whichtheyneverdreamedhewouldresist。
　　WhentheelderOsbornegavewhathecalled“ahint。”
　　therewasnopossibilityforthemostobtusetomistakehismeaning。Hecalledkickingafootmandownstairsahinttothelattertoleavehisservice。WithhisusualfranknessanddelicacyhetoldMrs。Haggistounthathewouldgiveherachequeforfivethousandpoundsonthedayhissonwasmarriedtoherward；andcalledthatproposalahint，andconsidereditaverydexterouspieceofdiplomacy。HegaveGeorgefinallysuchanotherhintregardingtheheiress；andorderedhimtomarryheroutofhand，ashewouldhaveorderedhisbutlertodrawacork，orhisclerktowritealetter。
　　ThisimperativehintdisturbedGeorgeagooddeal。HewasintheveryfirstenthusiasmanddelightofhissecondcourtshipofAmelia，whichwasinexpressiblysweettohim。Thecontrastofhermannersandappearancewiththoseoftheheiress，madetheideaofaunionwiththelatterappeardoublyludicrousandodious。Carriagesandopera-boxes，thoughthe；fancybeingseeninthembythesideofsuchamahoganycharmerasthat！AddtoallthatthejuniorOsbornewasquiteasobstinateasthesenior：whenhewantedathing，quiteasfirminhisresolutiontogetit；andquiteasviolentwhenangered，ashisfatherinhismoststernmoments。
　　OnthefirstdaywhenhisfatherformallygavehimthehintthathewastoplacehisaffectionsatMissSwartz’sfeet，Georgetemporisedwiththeoldgentleman。”Youshouldhavethoughtofthemattersooner，sir。”hesaid。
　　“Itcan’tbedonenow，whenwe’reexpectingeverydaytogoonforeignservice。Waittillmyreturn，ifIdoreturn“；andthenherepresented，thatthetimewhentheregimentwasdailyexpectingtoquitEngland，wasexceedinglyill-chosen：thatthefewdaysorweeksduringwhichtheywerestilltoremainathome，mustbedevotedtobusinessandnottolove-making：timeenoughforthatwhenhecamehomewithhismajority；“for，I
　　promiseyou。”saidhe，withasatisfiedair，“thatonewayorotheryoushallreadthenameofGeorgeOsborneintheGazette。”
　　Thefather’sreplytothiswasfoundedupontheinformationwhichhehadgotintheCity：thattheWestEndchapswouldinfalliblycatchholdoftheheiressifanydelaytookplace：thatifhedidn’tmarryMissS。，hemightatleasthaveanengagementinwriting，tocomeintoeffectwhenhereturnedtoEngland；andthatamanwhocouldgettenthousandayearbystayingathome，wasafooltoriskhislifeabroad。