Amelia，withalookoftenderalarminhereyes，listenedtohernobleheroasheutteredtheabovegeneroussentiments，andsittingdownonthebed，readtheletterwhichGeorgegaveherwithsuchapompousmartyr-likeair。Herfaceclearedupasshereadthedocument，however。
　　Theideaofsharingpovertyandprivationincompanywiththebelovedobjectis，aswehavebeforesaid，farfrombeingdisagreeabletoawarm-heartedwoman。
　　ThenotionwasactuallypleasanttolittleAmelia。Then，asusual，shewasashamedofherselfforfeelinghappyatsuchanindecorousmoment，andcheckedherpleasure，sayingdemurely，“O，George，howyourpoorheartmustbleedattheideaofbeingseparatedfromyourpapa！”
　　“Itdoes。”saidGeorge，withanagonisedcountenance。
　　“Buthecan’tbeangrywithyoulong。”shecontinued。
　　“Nobodycould，I’msure。Hemustforgiveyou，mydearest，kindesthusband。O，Ishallneverforgivemyselfifhedoesnot。”
　　“Whatvexesme，mypoorEmmy，isnotmymisfortune，butyours。”Georgesaid。”Idon’tcareforalittlepoverty；andIthink，withoutvanity，I’vetalentsenoughtomakemyownway。”
　　“Thatyouhave。”interposedhiswife，whothoughtthatwarshouldcease，andherhusbandshouldbemadeageneralinstantly。
　　“Yes，Ishallmakemywayaswellasanother。”Osbornewenton；“butyou，mydeargirl，howcanIbearyourbeingdeprivedofthecomfortsandstationinsocietywhichmywifehadarighttoexpect？Mydearestgirlinbarracks；thewifeofasoldierinamarchingregiment；subjecttoallsortsofannoyanceandprivation！
　　Itmakesmemiserable。”
　　Emmy，quiteatease，asthiswasherhusband’sonlycauseofdisquiet，tookhishand，andwitharadiantfaceandsmilebegantowarblethatstanzafromthefavouritesongof“WappingOldStairs。”inwhichtheheroine，afterrebukingherTomforinattention，promises“histrouserstomend，andhisgrogtootomake。”ifhewillbeconstantandkind，andnotforsakeher。”Besides。”shesaid，afterapause，duringwhichshelookedasprettyandhappyasanyyoungwomanneed，“isn’ttwothousandpoundsanimmensedealofmoney，George？”
　　Georgelaughedathernaivete；andfinallytheywentdowntodinner，AmeliaclingingtoGeorge’sarm，stillwarblingthetuneof“WappingOldStairs。”andmorepleasedandlightofmindthanshehadbeenforsomedayspast。
　　Thustherepast，whichatlengthcameoff，insteadofbeingdismal，wasanexceedinglybriskandmerryone。
　　TheexcitementofthecampaigncounteractedinGeorge’smindthedepressionoccasionedbythedisinheritingletter。
　　Dobbinstillkeptuphischaracterofrattle。HeamusedthecompanywithaccountsofthearmyinBelgium；
　　wherenothingbutfetesandgaietyandfashionweregoingon。Then，havingaparticularendinview，thisdexterouscaptainproceededtodescribeMrs。MajorO’DowdpackingherownandherMajor’swardrobe，andhowhisbestepauletshadbeenstowedintoateacanister，whilstherownfamousyellowturban，withthebirdofparadisewrappedinbrownpaper，waslockedupintheMajor’stincocked-hatcase，andwonderedwhateffectitwouldhaveattheFrenchking’scourtatGhent，orthegreatmilitaryballsatBrussels。
　　“Ghent！Brussels！”criedoutAmeliawithasuddenshockandstart。”Istheregimentorderedaway，George——isitorderedaway？”Alookofterrorcameoverthesweetsmilingface，andsheclungtoGeorgeasbyaninstinct。
　　“Don’tbeafraid，dear。”hesaidgood-naturedly；“itisbutatwelvehours’passage。Itwon’thurtyou。Youshallgo，too，Emmy。”
　　“Iintendtogo。”saidBecky。”I’monthestaff。GeneralTuftoisagreatflirtofmine。Isn’the，Rawdon？”
　　Rawdonlaughedoutwithhisusualroar。WilliamDobbinflushedupquitered。”Shecan’tgo。”hesaid；“thinkofthe——ofthedanger。”hewasgoingtoadd；buthadnotallhisconversationduringdinner-timetendedtoprovetherewasnone？Hebecameveryconfusedandsilent。
　　“Imustandwillgo。”Ameliacriedwiththegreatestspirit；andGeorge，applaudingherresolution，pattedherunderthechin，andaskedallthepersonspresentiftheyeversawsuchatermagantofawife，andagreedthattheladyshouldbearhimcompany。”We’llhaveMrs。O’Dowdtochaperonyou。”hesaid。Whatcaredshesolongasherhusbandwasnearher？Thussomehowthebitternessofapartingwasjuggledaway。Thoughwaranddangerwereinstore，waranddangermightnotbefallformonthstocome。Therewasarespiteatanyrate，whichmadethetimidlittleAmeliaalmostashappyasafullreprievewouldhavedone，andwhichevenDobbinownedinhisheartwasverywelcome。For，tobepermittedtoseeherwasnowthegreatestprivilegeandhopeofhislife，andhethoughtwithhimselfsecretlyhowhewouldwatchandprotecther。Iwouldn’thavelethergoifIhadbeenmarriedtoher，hethought。ButGeorgewasthemaster，andhisfrienddidnotthinkfittoremonstrate。
　　Puttingherarmroundherfriend’swaist，RebeccaatlengthcarriedAmeliaofffromthedinner-tablewheresomuchbusinessofimportancehadbeendiscussed，andleftthegentlemeninahighlyexhilaratedstate，drinkingandtalkingverygaily。
　　InthecourseoftheeveningRawdongotalittlefamily-
　　notefromhiswife，which，althoughhecrumpleditupandburntitinstantlyinthecandle，wehadthegoodlucktoreadoverRebecca’sshoulder。”Greatnews。”shewrote。”Mrs。Buteisgone。GetthemoneyfromCupidtonight，ashe’llbeoffto-morrowmostlikely。Mindthis——
　　R。”Sowhenthelittlecompanywasaboutadjourningtocoffeeinthewomen’sapartment，RawdontouchedOsborneontheelbow，andsaidgracefully，“Isay，Osborne，myboy，ifquiteconvenient，I’lltroubleyouforthat’eresmalltrifle。”Itwasnotquiteconvenient，butneverthelessGeorgegavehimaconsiderablepresentinstalmentinbank-notesfromhispocket-book，andabillonhisagentsataweek’sdate，fortheremainingsum。
　　Thismatterarranged，George，andJos，andDobbin，heldacouncilofwarovertheircigars，andagreedthatageneralmoveshouldbemadeforLondoninJos’sopencarriagethenextday。Jos，Ithink，wouldhavepreferredstayinguntilRawdonCrawleyquittedBrighton，butDobbinandGeorgeoverruledhim，andheagreedtocarrythepartytotown，andorderedfourhorses，asbecamehisdignity。Withthesetheysetoffinstate，afterbreakfast，thenextday。Ameliahadrisenveryearlyinthemorning，andpackedherlittletrunkswiththegreatestalacrity，whileOsbornelayinbeddeploringthatshehadnotamaidtohelpher。Shewasonlytooglad，however，toperformthisofficeforherself。AdimuneasysentimentaboutRebeccafilledhermindalready；andalthoughtheykissedeachothermosttenderlyatparting，yetweknowwhatjealousyis；andMrs。Ameliapossessedthatamongothervirtuesofhersex。
　　Besidesthesecharacterswhoarecomingandgoingaway，wemustrememberthatthereweresomeotheroldfriendsofoursatBrighton；MissCrawley，namely，andthesuiteinattendanceuponher。Now，althoughRebeccaandherhusbandwerebutatafewstones’throwofthelodgingswhichtheinvalidMissCrawleyoccupied，theoldlady’sdoorremainedaspitilesslyclosedtothemasithadbeenheretoforeinLondon。Aslongassheremainedbythesideofhersister-in-law，Mrs。ButeCrawleytookcarethatherbelovedMatildashouldnotbeagitatedbyameetingwithhernephew。Whenthespinstertookherdrive，thefaithfulMrs。Butesatebesideherinthecarriage。
　　WhenMissCrawleytooktheairinachair，Mrs。
　　Butemarchedononesideofthevehicle，whilsthonestBriggsoccupiedtheotherwing。AndiftheymetRawdonandhiswifebychance——althoughtheformerconstantlyandobsequiouslytookoffhishat，theMiss-Crawleypartypassedhimbywithsuchafrigidandkillingindifference，thatRawdonbegantodespair。
　　“WemightaswellbeinLondonashere。”CaptainRawdonoftensaid，withadowncastair。
　　“AcomfortableinninBrightonisbetterthanaspunging-houseinChanceryLane。”hiswifeanswered，whowasofamorecheerfultemperament。”Thinkofthosetwoaides-de-campofMr。Moses，thesheriff’s-officer，whowatchedourlodgingforaweek。Ourfriendshereareverystupid，butMr。JosandCaptainCupidarebettercompanionsthanMr。Moses’smen，Rawdon，mylove。”
　　“Iwonderthewritshaven’tfollowedmedownhere。”
　　Rawdoncontinued，stilldesponding。
　　“Whentheydo，we’llfindmeanstogivethemtheslip。”
　　saiddauntlesslittleBecky，andfurtherpointedouttoherhusbandthegreatcomfortandadvantageofmeetingJosandOsborne，whoseacquaintancehadbroughttoRawdonCrawleyamosttimelylittlesupplyofreadymoney。
　　“Itwillhardlybeenoughtopaytheinnbill。”grumbledtheGuardsman。
　　“Whyneedwepayit？”saidthelady，whohadananswerforeverything。
　　ThroughRawdon’svalet，whostillkeptupatriflingacquaintancewiththemaleinhabitantsofMissCrawley’sservants’hall，andwasinstructedtotreatthecoachmantodrinkwhenevertheymet，oldMissCrawley’smovementswereprettywellknownbyouryoungcouple；andRebeccaluckilybethoughtherselfofbeingunwell，andofcallinginthesameapothecarywhowasinattendanceuponthespinster，sothattheirinformationwasonthewholetolerablycomplete。NorwasMissBriggs，althoughforcedtoadoptahostileattitude，secretlyinimicaltoRawdonandhiswife。Shewasnaturallyofakindlyandforgivingdisposition。Nowthatthecauseofjealousywasremoved，herdislikeforRebeccadisappearedalso，andsherememberedthelatter’sinvariablegoodwordsandgoodhumour。And，indeed，sheandMrs。
　　Firkin，thelady’s-maid，andthewholeofMissCrawley’shousehold，groanedunderthetyrannyofthetriumphantMrs。Bute。
　　Asoftenwillbethecase，thatgoodbutimperiouswomanpushedheradvantagestoofar，andhersuccessesquiteunmercifully。Shehadinthecourseofafewweeksbroughttheinvalidtosuchastateofhelplessdocility，thatthepoorsoulyieldedherselfentirelytohersister’sorders，anddidnotevendaretocomplainofherslaverytoBriggsorFirkin。Mrs。ButemeasuredouttheglassesofwinewhichMissCrawleywasdailyallowedtotake，withirresistibleaccuracy，greatlytotheannoyanceofFirkinandthebutler，whofoundthemselvesdeprivedofcontrolovereventhesherry-bottle。Sheapportionedthesweetbreads，jellies，chickens；theirquantityandorder。
　　NightandnoonandmorningshebroughttheabominabledrinksordainedbytheDoctor，andmadeherpatientswallowthemwithsoaffectinganobediencethatFirkinsaid“mypoorMissusdutakeherphysiclikealamb。”Sheprescribedthedriveinthecarriageortherideinthechair，and，inaword，grounddowntheoldladyinherconvalescenceinsuchawayasonlybelongstoyourproper-managing，motherlymoralwoman。Ifeverthepatientfaintlyresisted，andpleadedforalittlebitmoredinneroralittledroplessmedicine，thenursethreatenedherwithinstantaneousdeath，whenMissCrawleyinstantlygavein。”She’snospiritleftinher。”FirkinremarkedtoBriggs；“sheain’tavecalledmeafoolthesethreeweeks。”Finally，Mrs。Butehadmadeuphermindtodismisstheaforesaidhonestlady’s-maid，Mr。Bowlsthelargeconfidentialman，andBriggsherself，andtosendforherdaughtersfromtheRectory，previoustoremovingthedearinvalidbodilytoQueen’sCrawley，whenanodiousaccidenthappenedwhichcalledherawayfromdutiessopleasing。TheReverendButeCrawley，herhusband，ridinghomeonenight，fellwithhishorseandbrokehiscollar-bone。Feverandinflammatorysymptomssetin，andMrs。ButewasforcedtoleaveSussexforHampshire。AssoonaseverButewasrestored，shepromisedtoreturntoherdearestfriend，anddeparted，leavingthestrongestinjunctionswiththehouseholdregardingtheirbehaviourtotheirmistress；andassoonasshegotintotheSouthamptoncoach，therewassuchajubileeandsenseofreliefinallMissCrawley’shouse，asthecompanyofpersonsassembledtherehadnotexperiencedformanyaweekbefore。ThatverydayMissCrawleyleftoffherafternoondoseofmedicine：thatafternoonBowlsopenedanindependentbottleofsherryforhimselfandMrs。Firkin：thatnightMissCrawleyandMissBriggsindulgedinagameofpiquetinsteadofoneofPorteus’ssermons。Itwasasintheoldnursery-
　　story，whenthestickforgottobeatthedog，andthewholecourseofeventsunderwentapeacefulandhappyrevolution。
　　Ataveryearlyhourinthemorning，twiceorthriceaweek，MissBriggsusedtobetakeherselftoabathing-
　　machine，anddisportinthewaterinaflannelgownandanoilskincap。Rebecca，aswehaveseen，wasawareofthiscircumstance，andthoughshedidnotattempttostormBriggsasshehadthreatened，andactuallydiveintothatlady’spresenceandsurpriseherunderthesacrednessoftheawning，Mrs。RawdondeterminedtoattackBriggsasshecameawayfromherbath，refreshedandinvigoratedbyherdip，andlikelytobeingoodhumour。
　　Sogettingupveryearlythenextmorning，Beckybroughtthetelescopeintheirsitting-room，whichfacedthesea，tobearuponthebathing-machinesonthebeach；
　　sawBriggsarrive，enterherbox；andputouttosea；
　　andwasontheshorejustasthenymphofwhomshecameinqueststeppedoutofthelittlecaravanontotheshingles。Itwasaprettypicture：thebeach；thebathing-