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What vexes me, my poor Emmy, is not my misfortune, but yours, George said. I dont care for a little poverty; and I think, without vanity, Ive talents enough to make my own way. That you have, interposed his wife, who thought that war should cease, and her husband should be made a general instantly. Yes, I shall make my way as well as another, Osborne went on; but you, my dear girl, how can I bear your being deprived of the comforts and station in society which my wife had a right to expect? My dearest girl in barracks; the wife of a soldier in a marching regiment; subject to all sorts of annoyance and privation! It makes me miserable. Emmy, quite at ease, as this was her husbands only cause of disquiet, took his hand, and with a radiant face and smile began to warble that stanza from the favourite song of Wapping Old Stairs, in which the heroine, after rebuking her Tom for inattention, promises his trousers to mend, and his grog too to make, if he will be constant and kind, and not forsake her. Besides, she said, after a pause, during which she looked as pretty and happy as any young woman need, isnt two thousand pounds an immense deal of money, George? George laughed at her naivete; and finally they went down to dinner, Amelia clinging to Georges arm, still warbling the tune of Wapping Old Stairs, and more pleased and light of mind than she had been for some days past. Thus the repast, which at length came off, instead of being dismal, was an exceedingly brisk and merry one. The excitement of the campaign counteracted in Georges mind the depression occasioned by the disinheriting letter. Dobbin still kept up his character of rattle. He amused the company with accounts of the army in Belgium; where nothing but fetes and gaiety and fashion were going on. Then, having a particular end in view, this dexterous captain proceeded to describe Mrs. Major ODowd packing her own and her Majors wardrobe, and how his best epaulets had been stowed into a tea canister, whilst her own famous yellow turban, with the bird of paradise wrapped in brown paper, was locked up in the Majors tin cocked-hat case, and wondered what effect it would have at the French kings court at Ghent, or the great military balls at Brussels. Ghent! Brussels! cried out Amelia with a sudden shock and start. Is the regiment ordered away, George is it ordered away? A look of terror came over the sweet smiling face, and she clung to George as by an instinct. Dont be afraid, dear, he said good-naturedly; it is but a twelve hours passage. It wont hurt you. You shall go, too, Emmy. I intend to go, said Becky. Im on the staff. General Tufto is a great flirt of mine. Isnt he, Rawdon? Rawdon laughed out with his usual roar. William Dobbin flushed up quite red. She cant go, he said; think of theof the danger, he was going to add; but had not all his conversation during dinner-time tended to prove there was none? He became very confused and silent. I must and will go, Amelia cried with the greatest spirit; and George, applauding her resolution, patted her under the chin, and asked all the persons present if they ever saw such a termagant of a wife, and agreed that the lady should bear him company. Well have Mrs. ODowd to chaperon you, he said. What cared she so long as her husband was near her? Thus somehow the bitterness of a parting was juggled away. Though war and danger were in store, war and danger might not befall for months to come. There was a respite at any rate, which made the timid little Amelia almost as happy as a full reprieve would have done, and which even Dobbin owned in his heart was very welcome. For, to be permitted to see her was now the greatest privilege and hope of his life, and he thought with himself secretly how he would watch and protect her. I wouldnt have let her go if I had been married to her, he thought. But George was the master, and his friend did not think fit to remonstrate. |
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