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and the number of feet which he crushed as he went back to his place, who shall describe or calculate? Old Dobbin, his father, who now respected him for the first time, gave him two guineas publicly; most of which he spent in a general tuck-out for the school: and he came back in a tail-coat after the holidays. Dobbin was much too modest a young fellow to suppose that this happy change in all his circumstances arose from his own generous and manly disposition: he chose, from some perverseness, to attribute his good fortune to the sole agency and benevolence of little George Osborne, to whom henceforth he vowed such a love and affection as is only felt by childrensuch an affection, as we read in the charming fairy-book, uncouth Orson had for splendid young Valentine his conqueror. He flung himself down at little Osbornes feet, and loved him. Even before they were acquainted, he had admired Osborne in secret. Now he was his valet, his dog, his man Friday. He believed Osborne to be the possessor of every perfection, to be the handsomest, the bravest, the most active, the cleverest, the most generous of created boys. He shared his money with him: bought him uncountable presents of knives, pencil-cases, gold seals, toffee, Little Warblers, and romantic books, with large coloured pictures of knights and robbers, in many of which latter you might read inscriptions to George Sedley Osborne, Esquire, from his attached friend William Dobbin the which tokens of homage George received very graciously, as became his superior merit. So that Lieutenant Osborne, when coming to Russell Square on the day of the Vauxhall party, said to the ladies, Mrs. Sedley, Maam, I hope you have room; Ive asked Dobbin of ours to come and dine here, and go with us to Vauxhall. Hes almost as modest as Jos. Modesty! pooh, said the stout gentleman, casting a vainqueur look at Miss Sharp. He isbut you are incomparably more graceful, Sedley, Osborne added, laughing. I met him at the Bedford, when I went to look for you; and I told him that Miss Amelia was come home, and that we were all bent on going out for a nights pleasuring; and that Mrs. Sedley had forgiven his breaking the punch- bowl at the childs party. Dont you remember the catastrophe, Maam, seven years ago? Over Mrs. Flamingos crimson silk gown, said good- natured Mrs. Sedley. What a gawky it was! And his sisters are not much more graceful. Lady Dobbin was at Highbury last night with three of them. Such figures! my dears. The Aldermans very rich, isnt he? Osborne said archly. Dont you think one of the daughters would be a good spec for me, Maam? You foolish creature! Who would take you, I should like to know, with your yellow face? Mine a yellow face? Stop till you see Dobbin. Why, he had the yellow fever three times; twice at Nassau, and once at St. Kitts. Well, well; yours is quite yellow enough for us. Isnt it, Emmy? Mrs. Sedley said: at which speech Miss Amelia only made a smile and a blush; and looking at Mr. George Osbornes pale interesting countenance, and those beautiful black, curling, shining whiskers, which the young gentleman himself regarded with no ordinary complacency, she thought in her little heart that in His Majestys army, or in the wide world, there never was such a face or such a hero. I dont care about Captain Dobbins complexion, she said, or about his awkwardness. I shall always like him, I know, her little reason being, that he was the friend and champion of George. Theres not a finer fellow in the service, Osborne said, nor a better officer, though he is not an Adonis, certainly. And he looked towards the glass himself with much naïveté; and in so doing, caught Miss Sharps eye fixed keenly upon him, at which he blushed a little, and Rebecca thought in her heart, Ah, mon beau Monsieur! I think I have your gaugethe little artful minx! |
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