"Not a braver or handsomer officer in the army; and such a charming wife! How you would like her! how you will like her when you know her, Miss Osborne." The young lady thought the actual moment had arrived, and that Dobbin's nervousness which now came on and was visible in many twitchings of his face, in his manner of beating the ground with his great feet, in the rapid buttoning and unbuttoning of his frock-coat, &c.--Miss Osborne, I say, thought that when he had given himself a little air, he would unbosom himself entirely, and prepared eagerly to listen.And the clock, in the altar on which Iphigenia was situated, beginning, after a preparatory convulsion, to toll twelve, the mere tolling seemed as if it would last until one--so prolonged was the knell to the anxious spinster.
"But it's not about marriage that I came to speak--that is that marriage--that is--no, I mean--my dear Miss Osborne, it's about our dear friend George,"Dobbin said.
"About George?" she said in a tone so discomfited that Maria and Miss Wirt laughed at the other side of the door, and even that abandoned wretch of a Dobbin felt inclined to smile himself; for he was not altogether unconscious of the state of affairs: George having often bantered him gracefully and said, "Hang it, Will, why don't you take old Jane? She'll have you if you ask her.
I'll bet you five to two she will."
"Yes, about George, then," he continued."There has been a difference between him and Mr.Osborne.And Iregard him so much--for you know we have been like brothers--that I hope and pray the quarrel may be settled.We must go abroad, Miss Osborne.We may be ordered off at a day's warning.Who knows what may happen in the campaign? Don't be agitated, dear Miss Osborne; and those two at least should part friends.""There has been no quarrel, Captain Dobbin, except a little usual scene with Papa," the lady said."We are expecting George back daily.What Papa wanted was only for his good.He has but to come back, and I'm sure all will be well; and dear Rhoda, who went away from here in sad sad anger, I know will forgive him.Woman forgives but too readily, Captain.""Such an angel as YOU I am sure would," Mr.Dobbin said, with atrocious astuteness."And no man can pardon himself for giving a woman pain.What would you feel, if a man were faithless to you?""I should perish--I should throw myself out of window--I should take poison--I should pine and die.Iknow I should," Miss cried, who had nevertheless gone through one or two affairs of the heart without any idea of suicide.
"And there are others," Dobbin continued, "as true and as kind-hearted as yourself.I'm not speaking about the West Indian heiress, Miss Osborne, but about a poor girl whom George once loved, and who was bred from her childhood to think of nobody but him.I've seen her in her poverty uncomplaining, broken-hearted, without a fault.It is of Miss Sedley I speak.Dear Miss Osborne, can your generous heart quarrel with your brother for being faithful to her? Could his own conscience ever forgive him if he deserted her? Be her friend--she always loved you--and--and I am come here charged by George to tell you that he holds his engagement to her as the most sacred duty he has; and to entreat you, at least, to be on his side."When any strong emotion took possession of Mr.Dobbin, and after the first word or two of hesitation, he could speak with perfect fluency, and it was evident that his eloquence on this occasion made some impression upon the lady whom he addressed.
"Well," said she, "this is--most surprising--most painful--most extraordinary--what will Papa say?--that George should fling away such a superb establishment as was offered to himbut at any rate he has found a very brave champion in you, Captain Dobbin.It is of no use, however," she continued, after a pause; "I feel for poor Miss Sedley, most certainly--most sincerely, you know.
We never thought the match a good one, though we were always very kind to her here--very.But Papa will never consent, I am sure.And a well brought up young woman, you know--with a well-regulated mind, must--George must give her up, dear Captain Dobbin, indeed he must.""Ought a man to give up the woman he loved, just when misfortune befell her?" Dobbin said, holding out his hand."Dear Miss Osborne, is this the counsel I hear from you? My dear young lady! you must befriend her.
