If Amelia could have heard the comments regarding her which were made in the circle from which her father's ruin had just driven her, she would have seen what her own crimes were, and how entirely her character was jeopardised.Such criminal imprudence Mrs.Smith never knew of; such horrid familiarities Mrs.Brown had always condemned, and the end might be a warning to HERdaughters."Captain Osborne, of course, could not marry a bankrupt's daughter," the Misses Dobbin said."It was quite enough to have been swindled by the father.As for that little Amelia, her folly had really passed all--""All what?" Captain Dobbin roared out."Haven't they been engaged ever since they were children? Wasn't it as good as a marriage? Dare any soul on earth breathe a word against the sweetest, the purest, the tenderest, the most angelical of young women?""La, William, don't be so highty-tighty with US.We're not men.We can't fight you," Miss Jane said."We've said nothing against Miss Sedley: but that her conduct throughout was MOST IMPRUDENT, not to call it by any worse name; and that her parents are people who certainly merit their misfortunes.""Hadn't you better, now that Miss Sedley is free, propose for her yourself, William?" Miss Ann asked sarcastically."It would be a most eligible family connection.He! he!""I marry her!" Dobbin said, blushing very much, and talking quick."If you are so ready, young ladies, to chop and change, do you suppose that she is? Laugh and sneer at that angel.She can't hear it; and she's miserable and unfortunate, and deserves to be laughed at.Go on joking, Ann.You're the wit of the family, and the others like to hear it.""I must tell you again we're not in a barrack, William,"Miss Ann remarked.
"In a barrack, by Jove--I wish anybody in a barrack would say what you do," cried out this uproused British lion."I should like to hear a man breathe a word against her, by Jupiter.But men don't talk in this way, Ann: it's only women, who get together and hiss, and shriek, and cackle.There, get away--don't begin to cry.I only said you were a couple of geese," Will Dobbin said, perceiving Miss Ann's pink eyes were beginning to moisten as usual."Well, you're not geese, you're swans--anything you like, only do, do leave Miss Sedley alone."Anything like William's infatuation about that silly little flirting, ogling thing was never known, the mamma and sisters agreed together in thinking: and they trembled lest, her engagement being off with Osborne, she should take up immediately her other admirer and Captain.
In which forebodings these worthy young women no doubt judged according to the best of their experience; or rather (for as yet they had had no opportunities of marrying or of jilting) according to their own notions of right and wrong.
"It is a mercy, Mamma, that the regiment is ordered abroad," the girls said."THIS danger, at any rate, is spared our brother."Such, indeed, was the fact; and so it is that the French Emperor comes in to perform a part in this domestic comedy of Vanity Fair which we are now playing, and which would never have been enacted without the intervention of this august mute personage.It was he that ruined the Bourbons and Mr.John Sedley.It was he whose arrival in his capital called up all France in arms to defend him there; and all Europe to oust him.
While the French nation and army were swearing fidelity round the eagles in the Champ de Mars, four mighty European hosts were getting in motion for the great chasse a l'aigle; and one of these was a British army, of which two heroes of ours, Captain Dobbin and Captain Osborne, formed a portion.
The news of Napoleon's escape and landing was received by the gallant --th with a fiery delight and enthusiasm, which everybody can understand who knows that famous corps.From the colonel to the smallest drummer in the regiment, all were filled with hope and ambition and patriotic fury; and thanked the French Emperor as for a personal kindness in coming to disturb the peace of Europe.Now was the time the --th had so long panted for, to show their comrades in arms that they could fight as well as the Peninsular veterans, and that all the pluck and valour of the --th had not been killed by the West Indies and the yellow fever.Stubble and Spooney looked to get their companies without purchase.
Before the end of the campaign (which she resolved to share), Mrs.Major O'Dowd hoped to write herself Mrs.Colonel O'Dowd, C.B.Our two friends (Dobbin and Osborne) were quite as much excited as the rest: and each in his way--Mr.Dobbin very quietly, Mr.
Osborne very loudly and energetically--was bent upon doing his duty, and gaining his share of honour and distinction.
The agitation thrilling through the country and army in consequence of this news was so great, that private matters were little heeded: and hence probably George Osborne, just gazetted to his company, busy with preparations for the march, which must come inevitably, and panting for further promotion--was not so much affected by other incidents which would have interested him at a more quiet period.He was not, it must be confessed, very much cast down by good old Mr.Sedley's catastrophe.
He tried his new uniform, which became him very handsomely, on the day when the first meeting of the creditors of the unfortunate gentleman took place.
His father told him of the wicked, rascally, shameful conduct of the bankrupt, reminded him of what he had said about Amelia, and that their connection was broken off for ever; and gave him that evening a good sum of money to pay for the new clothes and epaulets in which he looked so well.Money was always useful to this free-handed young fellow, and he took it without many words.
