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nothing, Captain. Marry her indeed he, he! why should he? I warrant you shed go to him fast enough without. Sir, said Dobbin, starting up in undisguised anger; no man shall abuse that lady in my hearing, and you least of all. O, youre a-going to call me out, are you? Stop, let me ring the bell for pistols for two. Mr. George sent you here to insult his father, did he? Osborne said, pulling at the bell-cord. Mr. Osborne, said Dobbin, with a faltering voice, its you who are insulting the best creature in the world. You had best spare her, sir, for shes your sons wife. And with this, feeling that he could say no more, Dobbin went away, Osborne sinking back in his chair, and looking wildly after him. A clerk came in, obedient to the bell; and the Captain was scarcely out of the court where Mr. Osbornes offices were, when Mr. Chopper the chief clerk came rushing hatless after him. For Gods sake, what is it? Mr. Chopper said, catching the Captain by the skirt. The governors in a fit. What has Mr. George been doing? He married Miss Sedley five days ago, Dobbin replied. I was his groomsman, Mr. Chopper, and you must stand his friend. The old clerk shook his head. If thats your news, Captain, its bad. The governor will never forgive him. Dobbin begged Chopper to report progress to him at the hotel where he was stopping, and walked off moodily westwards, greatly perturbed as to the past and the future. When the Russell Square family came to dinner that evening, they found the father of the house seated in his usual place, but with that air of gloom on his face, which, whenever it appeared there, kept the whole circle silent. The ladies, and Mr. Bullock who dined with them, felt that the news had been communicated to Mr. Osborne. His dark looks affected Mr. Bullock so far as to render him still and quiet: but he was unusually bland and attentive to Miss Maria, by whom he sat, and to her sister presiding at the head of the table. Miss Wirt, by consequence, was alone on her side of the board, a gap being left between her and Miss Jane Osborne. Now this was Georges place when he dined at home; and his cover, as we said, was laid for him in expectation of that truants return. Nothing occurred during dinner-time except smiling Mr. Fredericks flagging confidential whispers, and the clinking of plate and china, to interrupt the silence of the repast. The servants went about stealthily doing their duty. Mutes at funerals could not look more glum than the domestics of Mr. Osborne The neck of venison of which he had invited Dobbin to partake, was carved by him in perfect silence; but his own share went away almost untasted, though he drank much, and the butler assiduously filled his glass. At last, just at the end of the dinner, his eyes, which had been staring at everybody in turn, fixed themselves for a while upon the plate laid for George. He pointed to it presently with his left hand. His daughters looked at him and did not comprehend, or choose to comprehend, the signal; nor did the servants at first understand it. Take that plate away, at last he said, getting up with an oathand with this pushing his chair back, he walked into his own room. Behind Mr. Osbornes dining-room was the usual apartment which went in his house by the name of the study; and was sacred to the master of the house. Hither Mr. Osborne would retire of a Sunday |
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