norwasheverymuchprepossessedinherfavour。Hewassohonest，thatherartsandcajoleriesdidnotaffecthim，andheshrankfromherwithinstinctiverepulsion。
　　And，asshewasbynomeanssofarsuperiortohersexastobeabovejealousy，shedislikedhimthemoreforhisadorationofAmelia。Nevertheless，shewasveryrespectfulandcordialinhermannertowardshim。AfriendtotheOsbornes！afriendtoherdearestbenefactors！Shevowedsheshouldalwayslovehimsincerely：sherememberedhimquitewellontheVauxhallnight，asshetoldAmeliaarchly，andshemadealittlefunofhimwhenthetwoladieswenttodressfordinner。RawdonCrawleypaidscarcelyanyattentiontoDobbin，lookinguponhimasagood-naturednincompoopandunder-bredCityman。Jospatronisedhimwithmuchdignity。
　　WhenGeorgeandDobbinwerealoneinthelatter’sroom，towhichGeorgehadfollowedhim，DobbintookfromhisdesktheletterwhichhehadbeenchargedbyMr。Osbornetodelivertohisson。”It’snotinmyfather’shandwriting。”saidGeorge，lookingratheralarmed；norwasit：theletterwasfromMr。Osborne’slawyer，andtothefollowingeffect：
　　BedfordRow，May7，1815。
　　SIR，IamcommissionedbyMr。Osbornetoinformyou，thatheabidesbythedeterminationwhichhebeforeexpressedtoyou，andthatinconsequenceofthemarriagewhichyouhavebeenpleasedtocontract，heceasestoconsideryouhenceforthasamemberofhisfamily。
　　Thisdeterminationisfinalandirrevocable。
　　Althoughthemoniesexpendeduponyouinyourminority，andthebillswhichyouhavedrawnuponhimsounsparinglyoflateyears，farexceedinamountthesumtowhichyouareentitledinyourownrightbeingthethirdpartofthefortuneofyourmother，thelateMrs。Osborneandwhichrevertedtoyouatherdecease，andtoMissJaneOsborneandMissMariaFrancesOsborne；yetIaminstructedbyMr。Osbornetosay，thathewaivesallclaimuponyourestate，andthatthesumof2，0001。，4percent。annuities，atthevalueofthedaybeingyourone-thirdshareofthesumof6，0001。，shallbepaidovertoyourselforyouragentsuponyourreceiptforthesame，byYourobedientServt。，S。HIGGS。
　　P。S——Mr。Osbornedesiresmetosay，onceforall，thathedeclinestoreceiveanymessages，letters，orcommunicationsfromyouonthisoranyothersubject。
　　“Aprettywayyouhavemanagedtheaffair。”saidGeorge，lookingsavagelyatWilliamDobbin。”Lookthere，Dobbin。”andheflungovertothelatterhisparent’sletter。
　　“Abeggar，byJove，andallinconsequenceofmyd——dsentimentality。Whycouldn’twehavewaited？Aballmighthavedoneformeinthecourseofthewar，andmaystill，andhowwillEmmybebetteredbybeingleftabeggar’swidow？Itwasallyourdoing。Youwerenevereasyuntilyouhadgotmemarriedandruined。WhatthedeuceamItodowithtwothousandpounds？Suchasumwon’tlasttwoyears。I’velostahundredandfortytoCrawleyatcardsandbilliardssinceI’vebeendownhere。Aprettymanagerofaman’smattersYOUare，forsooth。”
　　“There’snodenyingthatthepositionisahardone。”
　　Dobbinreplied，afterreadingovertheletterwithablankcountenance；“andasyousay，itispartlyofmymaking。
　　Therearesomemenwhowouldn’tmindchangingwithyou。”headded，withabittersmile。”Howmanycaptainsintheregimenthavetwothousandpoundstothefore，thinkyou？Youmustliveonyourpaytillyourfatherrelents，andifyoudie，youleaveyourwifeahundredayear。”
　　“Doyousupposeamanofmyhabitscallliveonhispayandahundredayear？”Georgecriedoutingreatanger。”Youmustbeafooltotalkso，Dobbin。HowthedeuceamItokeepupmypositionintheworlduponsuchapitifulpittance？Ican’tchangemyhabits。Imusthavemycomforts。Iwasn’tbroughtuponporridge，likeMacWhirter，oronpotatoes，likeoldO’Dowd。Doyouexpectmywifetotakeinsoldiers’washing，orrideaftertheregimentinabaggagewaggon？”
　　“Well，well。”saidDobbin，stillgood-naturedly，“we’llgetherabetterconveyance。Buttryandrememberthatyouareonlyadethronedprincenow，George，myboy；
　　andbequietwhilstthetempestlasts。Itwon’tbeforlong。LetyournamebementionedintheGazette，andI’llengagetheoldfatherrelentstowardsyou：“
　　“MentionedintheGazette！”Georgeanswered。”Andinwhatpartofit？Amongthekilledandwoundedreturns，andatthetopofthelist，verylikely。”
　　“Psha！Itwillbetimeenoughtocryoutwhenwearehurt。”Dobbinsaid。”Andifanythinghappens，youknow，George，Ihavegotalittle，andIamnotamarryingman，andIshallnotforgetmygodsoninmywill。”headded，withasmile。Whereuponthedisputeended——asmanyscoresofsuchconversationsbetweenOsborneandhisfriendhadconcludedpreviously——bytheformerdeclaringtherewasnopossibilityofbeingangrywithDobbinlong，andforgivinghimverygenerouslyafterabusinghimwithoutcause。
　　“Isay，Becky。”criedRawdonCrawleyoutofhisdressing-room，tohislady，whowasattiringherselffordinnerinherownchamber。
　　“What？”saidBecky’sshrillvoice。Shewaslookingoverhershoulderintheglass。Shehadputontheneatestandfreshestwhitefrockimaginable，andwithbareshouldersandalittlenecklace，andalightbluesash，shelookedtheimageofyouthfulinnocenceandgirlishhappiness。
　　“Isay，what’llMrs。O。do，when0。goesoutwiththeregiment？”Crawleysaidcomingintotheroom，performingaduetonhisheadwithtwohugehair-brushes，andlookingoutfromunderhishairwithadmirationonhisprettylittlewife。
　　“Isupposeshe’llcryhereyesout。”Beckyanswered。
　　“Shehasbeenwhimperinghalfadozentimes，attheverynotionofit，alreadytome。”
　　“YOUdon’tcare，Isuppose？”Rawdonsaid，halfangryathiswife’swantoffeeling。
　　“Youwretch！don’tyouknowthatIintendtogowithyou。”Beckyreplied。”Besides，you’redifferent。YougoasGeneralTufto’saide-de-camp。Wedon’tbelongtotheline。”Mrs。Crawleysaid，throwingupherheadwithanairthatsoenchantedherhusbandthathestoopeddownandkissedit。
　　“Rawdondear——don’tyouthink——you’dbettergetthat——moneyfromCupid，beforehegoes？”Beckycontinued，fixingonakillingbow。ShecalledGeorgeOsborne，Cupid。Shehadflatteredhimabouthisgoodlooksascoreoftimesalready。ShewatchedoverhimkindlyatecarteofanightwhenhewoulddropintoRawdon’squartersforahalf-hourbeforebed-time。
　　Shehadoftencalledhimahorriddissipatedwretch，andthreatenedtotellEmmyofhiswickedwaysandnaughtyextravaganthabits。Shebroughthiscigarandlighteditforhim；sheknewtheeffectofthatmanoeuvre，havingpractiseditinformerdaysuponRawdonCrawley。
　　Hethoughthergay，brisk，arch，distinguee，delightful。
　　Intheirlittledrivesanddinners，Becky，ofcourse，quiteoutshonepoorEmmy，whoremainedverymuteandtimidwhileMrs。Crawleyandherhusbandrattledawaytogether，andCaptainCrawleyandJosafterhejoinedtheyoungmarriedpeoplegobbledinsilence。
　　Emmy’smindsomehowmisgaveheraboutherfriend。
　　Rebecca’swit，spirits，andaccomplishmentstroubledherwitharuefuldisquiet。Theywereonlyaweekmarried，andherewasGeorgealreadysufferingennui，andeagerforothers’society！Shetrembledforthefuture。HowshallIbeacompanionforhim，shethought——socleverandsobrilliant，andIsuchahumblefoolishcreature？
　　Hownobleitwasofhimtomarryme——togiveupeverythingandstoopdowntome！Ioughttohaverefusedhim，onlyIhadnottheheart。IoughttohavestoppedathomeandtakencareofpoorPapa。Andherneglectofherparentsandindeedtherewassomefoundationforthischargewhichthepoorchild’suneasyconsciencebroughtagainstherwasnowrememberedforthefirsttime，andcausedhertoblushwithhumiliation。Oh！
　　thoughtshe，Ihavebeenverywickedandselfish——selfishinforgettingthemintheirsorrows——selfishinforcingGeorgetomarryme。IknowI’mnotworthyofhim——I
　　knowhewouldhavebeenhappywithoutme——andyet——
　　Itried，Itriedtogivehimup。
　　Itishardwhen，beforesevendaysofmarriageareover，suchthoughtsandconfessionsastheseforcethemselvesonalittlebride’smind。Butsoitwas，andthenightbeforeDobbincametojointheseyoungpeople——
　　onafinebrilliantmoonlightnightofMay——sowarmandbalmythatthewindowswereflungopentothebalcony，fromwhichGeorgeandMrs。Crawleyweregazinguponthecalmoceanspreadshiningbeforethem，whileRawdonandJoswereengagedatbackgammonwithin——Ameliacouchedinagreatchairquiteneglected，andwatchingboththeseparties，feltadespairandremorsesuchaswerebittercompanionsforthattenderlonelysoul。Scarceaweekwaspast，anditwascometothis！
　　Thefuture，hadsheregardedit，offeredadismalprospect；
　　butEmmywastooshy，sotospeak，tolooktothat，andembarkaloneonthatwidesea，andunfittonavigateitwithoutaguideandprotector。IknowMissSmithhasameanopinionofher。Buthowmany，mydearMadam，areendowedwithyourprodigiousstrengthofmind？
　　“Gad，whatafinenight，andhowbrightthemoonis！”
　　Georgesaid，withapuffofhiscigar，whichwentsoaringupskywards。
　　“Howdelicioustheysmellintheopenair！Iadorethem。Who’dthinkthemoonwastwohundredandthirty-
　　sixthousandeighthundredandforty-sevenmilesoff？”
　　Beckyadded，gazingatthatorbwithasmile。”Isn’titcleverofmetorememberthat？Pooh！welearneditallatMissPinkerton’s！Howcalmtheseais，andhowcleareverything。IdeclareIcanalmostseethecoastofFrance！”andherbrightgreeneyesstreamedout，andshotintothenightasiftheycouldseethroughit。
　　“DoyouknowwhatIintendtodoonemorning？”shesaid；“IfindIcanswimbeautifully，andsomeday，whenmyAuntCrawley’scompanion——oldBriggs，youknow——yourememberher——thathook-nosedwoman，withthelongwispsofhair——whenBriggsgoesouttobathe，I
　　intendtodiveunderherawning，andinsistonareconciliationinthewater。Isn’tthatastratagem？”
　　Georgeburstoutlaughingattheideaofthisaquaticmeeting。”What’stherowthere，youtwo？”Rawdonshoutedout，rattlingthebox。Ameliawasmakingafoolofherselfinanabsurdhystericalmanner，andretiredtoherownroomtowhimperinprivate。
　　Ourhistoryisdestinedinthischaptertogobackwardsandforwardsinaveryirresolutemannerseemingly，andhavingconductedourstorytoto-morrowpresently，weshallimmediatelyagainhaveoccasiontostepbacktoyesterday，sothatthewholeofthetalemaygetahearing。
　　AsyoubeholdatherMajesty’sdrawing-room，theambassadors’andhighdignitaries’carriageswhiskofffromaprivatedoor，whileCaptainJones’sladiesarewaitingfortheirfly：asyouseeintheSecretaryoftheTreasury’santechamber，ahalf-dozenofpetitionerswaitingpatientlyfortheiraudience，andcalledoutonebyone，whensuddenlyanIrishmemberorsomeeminentpersonageenterstheapartment，andinstantlywalksintoMr。
　　Under-Secretaryovertheheadsofallthepeoplepresent：
　　sointheconductofatale，theromancerisobligedtoexercisethismostpartialsortofjustice。Althoughallthelittleincidentsmustbeheard，yettheymustbeputoffwhenthegreateventsmaketheirappearance；andsurelysuchacircumstanceasthatwhichbroughtDobbintoBrighton，viz。，theorderingoutoftheGuardsandthelinetoBelgium，andthemusteringofthealliedarmiesinthatcountryunderthecommandofhisGracetheDukeofWellington——suchadignifiedcircumstanceasthat，Isay，wasentitledtothepasoverallminoroccurrenceswhereofthishistoryiscomposedmainly，andhencealittletriflingdisarrangementanddisorderwasexcusableandbecoming。WehaveonlynowadvancedintimesofarbeyondChapterXXIIastohavegotourvariouscharactersupintotheirdressing-roomsbeforethedinner，whichtookplaceasusualonthedayofDobbin’sarrival。
　　GeorgewastoohumaneortoomuchoccupiedwiththetieofhisneckclothtoconveyatonceallthenewstoAmeliawhichhiscomradehadbroughtwithhimfromLondon。Hecameintoherroom，however，holdingtheattorney’sletterinhishand，andwithsosolemnandimportantanairthathiswife，alwaysingeniouslyonthewatchforcalamity，thoughttheworstwasabouttobefall，andrunninguptoherhusband，besoughtherdearestGeorgetotellhereverything——hewasorderedabroad；therewouldbeabattlenextweek——sheknewtherewould。
　　DearestGeorgeparriedthequestionaboutforeignservice，andwithamelancholyshakeoftheheadsaid。”No，Emmy；itisn’tthat：it’snotmyselfIcareabout：
　　it’syou。Ihavehadbadnewsfrommyfather。Herefusesanycommunicationwithme；hehasflungusoff；andleavesustopoverty。Icanroughitwellenough；butyou，mydear，howwillyoubearit？readhere。”Andhehandedherovertheletter。