upon herself； who did not in the least know how to use
one； and who always spoke to domestics with the most
reverential politeness。 But this maid was very useful in
the family； in dexterously tending old Mr。 Sedley； who
kept almost entirely to his own quarter of the house
and never mixed in any of the gay doings which took
place there。
Numbers of people came to see Mrs。 Osborne。 Lady
Dobbin and daughters were delighted at her change of
fortune； and waited upon her。 Miss Osborne from Russell
Square came in her grand chariot with the flaming
hammer…cloth emblazoned with the Leeds arms。 Jos was
reported to be immensely rich。 Old Osborne had no
objection that Georgy should inherit his uncle's property as
well as his own。 〃Damn it； we will make a man of the
feller；〃 he said； 〃and I'll see him in Parliament before I
die。 You may go and see his mother； Miss O。； though I'll
never set eyes on her〃： and Miss Osborne came。 Emmy；
you may be sure； was very glad to see her； and so be
brought nearer to George。 That young fellow was
allowed to come much more frequently than before to visit
his mother。 He dined once or twice a week in Gillespie
Street and bullied the servants and his relations there； just
as he did in Russell Square。
He was always respectful to Major Dobbin； however；
and more modest in his demeanour when that gentleman
was present。 He was a clever lad and afraid of the
Major。 George could not help admiring his friend's
simplicity； his good humour； his various learning quietly
imparted； his general love of truth and justice。 He had met
no such man as yet in the course of his experience； and
he had an instinctive liking for a gentleman。 He hung
fondly by his godfather's side； and it was his delight to
walk in the parks and hear Dobbin talk。 William told
George about his father； about India and Waterloo； about
everything but himself。 When George was more than
usually pert and conceited； the Major made jokes at him；
which Mrs。 Osborne thought very cruel。 One day； taking
him to the play； and the boy declining to go into the pit
because it was vulgar； the Major took him to the boxes；
left him there； and went down himself to the pit。 He
had not been seated there very long before he felt an arm
thrust under his and a dandy little hand in a kid glove
squeezing his arm。 George had seen the absurdity of his
ways and come down from the upper region。 A tender
laugh of benevolence lighted up old Dobbin's face and
eyes as he looked at the repentant little prodigal。 He
loved the boy； as he did everything that belonged to
Amelia。 How charmed she was when she heard of this
instance of George's goodness！ Her eyes looked more
kindly on Dobbin than they ever had done。 She blushed；
he thought； after looking at him so。
Georgy never tired of his praises of the Major to his
mother。 〃I like him； Mamma； because he knows such lots
of things； and he ain't like old Veal； who is always
bragging and using such long words； don't you know？ The
chaps call him 'Longtail' at school。 I gave him the name；
ain't it capital？ But Dob reads Latin like English； and
French and that； and when we go out together he tells me
stories about my Papa； and never about himself； though I
heard Colonel Buckler； at Grandpapa's； say that he was
one of the bravest officers in the army； and had
distinguished himself ever so much。 Grandpapa was quite
surprised； and said； 'THAT feller！ Why； I didn't think he could
say Bo to a goose'but l know he could； couldn't he；
Mamma？〃
Emmy laughed： she thought it was very likely the
Major could do thus much。
If there was a sincere liking between George and the
Major； it must be confessed that between the boy and his
uncle no great love existed。 George had got a way of
blowing out his cheeks； and putting his hands in his
waistcoat pockets； and saying； 〃God bless my soul； you don't
say so；〃 so exactly after the fashion of old Jos that it was
impossible to refrain from laughter。 The servants would
explode at dinner if the lad； asking for something which
wasn't at table； put on that countenance and used that
favourite phrase。 Even Dobbin would shoot out a sudden
peal at the boy's mimicry。 If George did not mimic his
uncle to his face； it was only by Dobbin's rebukes and
Amelia's terrified entreaties that the little scapegrace was
induced to desist。 And the worthy civilian being haunted
by a dim consciousness that the lad thought him an ass；
and was inclined to turn him into ridicule； used to be
extremely timorous and； of course； doubly pompous and
dignified in the presence of Master Georgy。 When it was
announced that the young gentleman was expected in
Gillespie Street to dine with his mother； Mr。 Jos
commonly found that he had an engagement at the Club。
Perhaps nobody was much grieved at his absence。 On
those days Mr。 Sedley would commonly be induced to
come out from his place of refuge in the upper stories；
and there would be a small family party； whereof Major
Dobbin pretty generally formed one。 He was the ami de
la maisonold Sedley's friend； Emmy's friend； Georgy's
friend； Jos's counsel and adviser。 〃He might almost as
well be at Madras for anything WE see of him；〃 Miss
Ann Dobbin remarked at Camberwell。 Ah！ Miss Ann； did
it not strike you that it was not YOU whom the Major
wanted to marry？
Joseph Sedley then led a life of dignified otiosity such
as became a person of his eminence。 His very first point；
of course； was to become a member of the Oriental Club；
where he spent his mornings in the company of his
brother Indians； where he dined； or whence he brought
home men to dine。
Amelia had to receive and entertain these gentlemen
and their ladies。 From these she heard how soon Smith
would be in Council； how many lacs Jones had brought
home with him； how Thomson's House in London had
refused the bills drawn by Thomson； Kibobjee； and Co。；
the Bombay House； and how it was thought the Calcutta
House must go too； how very imprudent； to say the
least of it； Mrs。 Brown's conduct （wife of Brown of the
Ahmednuggur Irregulars） had been with young Swankey
of the Body Guard； sitting up with him on deck until all
hours； and losing themselves as they were riding out at
the Cape； how Mrs。 Hardyman had had out her thirteen
sisters； daughters of a country curate； the Rev： Felix
Rabbits； and married eleven of them； seven high up in
the service； how Hornby was wild because his wife
would stay in Europe； and Trotter was appointed
Collector at Ummerapoora。 This and similar talk took place
at the grand dinners all round。 They had the same
conversation； the same silver dishes； the same saddles of
mutton； boiled turkeys； and entrees。 Politics set in a
short time after dessert； when the ladies retired upstairs
and talked about their complaints and their children。
Mutato nomine； it is all the same。 Don't the barristers'
wives talk about Circuit？ Don't the soldiers' ladies
gossip about the Regiment？ Don't the clergymen's ladies
discourse about Sunday…schools and who takes whose duty？
Don't the very greatest ladies of all talk about that small
clique of persons to whom they belong？ And why should
our Indian friends not have their own conversation？
only I admit it is slow for the laymen whose fate it
sometimes is to sit by and listen。
Before long Emmy had a visiting…book； and was driving
about regularly in a carriage； calling upon Lady Bludyer
（wife of Major…General Sir Roger Bludyer； K。C。B。； Bengal
Army）； Lady Huff； wife of Sir G。 Huff； Bombay ditto；
Mrs。 Pice； the Lady of Pice the Director； &c。 We are not
long in using ourselves to changes in life。 That carriage
came round to Gillespie Street every day； that buttony
boy sprang up and down from the box with Emmy's and
Jos's visiting…cards； at stated hours Emmy and the
carriage went for Jos to the Club and took him an airing；
or； putting old Sedley into the vehicle； she drove the old
man round the Regent's Park。 The lady's maid and the
chariot； the visiting…book and the buttony page； became
soon as familiar to Amelia as the humble routine of
Brompton。 She accommodated herself to one as to the
other。 If Fate had ordained that she should be a Duchess；
she would even have done that duty too。 She was voted； in
Jos's female society； rather a pleasing young person
not much in her； but pleasing； and that sort of thing。
The men； as usual； liked her artless kindness and
simple refined demeanour。 The gallant young Indian dandies
at home on furloughimmense dandies thesechained
and moustacheddriving in tearing cabs； the pillars of
the theatres； living at West End hotelsnevertheless
admired Mrs。 Osborne； liked to bow to her carriage in the
park； and to be admitted to have the honour of paying
her a morning visit。 Swankey of the Body Guard
himself； that dangerous youth； and the greatest buck of all
the Indian army now on leave； was one day discovered
by Major Dobbin tete…a…tete with Amelia； and
describing the sport of pig…sticking to her with great humour and
eloquence； and he spoke afterwards of a dd king's
officer that's always hanging about the housea long；
thin； queer…looking； oldish fellowa dry fellow though；
that took the shine out of a man in the talking line。
Had the Major possessed a little more personal vanity
he would have been jealous of so dangerous a young
buck as that fascinating Bengal Captain。 But Dobbin was
of too simple and generous a nature to have any doubts
about Amelia。 He was glad that the young men should
pay her respect； and that others should admire her。 Ever
since her womanhood almost； had she not been
persecuted and undervalued？ It pleased him to see how
kindness bought out her good qualities and how her spirits
gently rose with her prosperity。 Any person who
appreciated her paid a compliment to the Major's good
judgementthat is； if a man may be said to have good
judgement who is under the influence of Love's delusion。
After Jos went to Court； which we may be sure he
did as a loyal subject of his Sovereign （showing himself
in his full court suit at the Club； whither Dobbin came
to fetch him in a very shabby old uniform） he who had
always been a staunch Loyalist and admirer of George