It was he indeed； blooming in youth and beauty； in a
nankeen jacket of the cut of 1804。 It was the old picture
that used to hang up in Russell Square。
〃I bought it；〃 said Becky in a voice trembling with
emotion； 〃I went to see if I could be of any use to my kind
friends。 I have never parted with that pictureI never
will。〃
〃Won't you？〃 Jos cried with a look of unutterable
rapture and satisfaction。 〃Did you really now value it
for my sake？〃
〃You know I did； well enough；〃 said Becky； 〃but
why speakwhy thinkwhy look back！ It is too late
now！〃
That evening's conversation was delicious for Jos。
Emmy only came in to go to bed very tired and unwell。
Jos and his fair guest had a charming tete…a…tete； and
his sister could hear； as she lay awake in her adjoining
chamber； Rebecca singing over to Jos the old songs of
1815。 He did not sleep； for a wonder； that night； any
more than Amelia。
It was June； and； by consequence； high season in
London； Jos； who read the incomparable Galignani （the
exile's best friend） through every day； used to favour the
ladies with extracts from his paper during their
breakfast。 Every week in this paper there is a full account of
military movements； in which Jos； as a man who had
seen service； was especially interested。 On one occasion
he read out〃Arrival of the th regiment。 Gravesend；
June 20。The Ramchunder； East Indiaman； came into the
river this morning； having on board 14 officers； and 132
rank and file of this gallant corps。 They have been
absent from England fourteen years； having been embarked
the year after Waterloo； in which glorious conflict they
took an active part； and having subsequently distinguished
themselves in the Burmese war。 The veteran colonel； Sir
Michael O'Dowd； K。C。B。； with his lady and sister； landed
here yesterday； with Captains Posky； Stubble； Macraw；
Malony； Lieutenants Smith； Jones； Thompson； F。 Thomson；
Ensigns Hicks and Grady； the band on the pier
playing the national anthem； and the crowd loudly cheering
the gallant veterans as they went into Wayte's hotel；
where a sumptuous banquet was provided for the defenders
of Old England。 During the repast； which we need not
say was served up in Wayte's best style； the cheering
continued so enthusiastically that Lady O'Dowd and the
Colonel came forward to the balcony and drank the
healths of their fellow…countrymen in a bumper of Wayte's
best claret。〃
On a second occasion Jos read a brief announcement
Major Dobbin had joined the th regiment at Chatham；
and subsequently he promulgated accounts of the
presentations at the Drawing…room of Colonel Sir
Michael O'Dowd； K。C。B。； Lady O'Dowd （by Mrs。 Malloy
Malony of Ballymalony）； and Miss Glorvina O'Dowd （by
Lady O'Dowd）。 Almost directly after this； Dobbin's name
appeared among the Lieutenant…Colonels： for old Marshal
Tiptoff had died during the passage of the th from
Madras； and the Sovereign was pleased to advance
Colonel Sir Michael O'Dowd to the rank of Major…General on
his return to England； with an intimation that he should
be Colonel of the distinguished regiment which he had so
long commanded。
Amelia had been made aware of some of these
movements。 The correspondence between George and his
guardian had not ceased by any means： William had even
written once or twice to her since his departure； but in a
manner so unconstrainedly cold that the poor woman felt
now in her turn that she had lost her power over him
and that； as he had said； he was free。 He had left her；
and she was wretched。 The memory of his almost countless
services； and lofty and affectionate regard； now
presented itself to her and rebuked her day and night。 She
brooded over those recollections according to her wont；
saw the purity and beauty of the affection with which she
had trifled； and reproached herself for having flung away
such a treasure。
It was gone indeed。 William had spent it all out。 He
loved her no more； he thought； as he had loved her。
He never could again。 That sort of regard； which he had
proffered to her for so many faithful years； can't be flung
down and shattered and mended so as to show no scars。
The little heedless tyrant had so destroyed it。 No； William
thought again and again； 〃It was myself I deluded
and persisted in cajoling； had she been worthy of the
love I gave her； she would have returned it long ago。 It
was a fond mistake。 Isn't the whole course of life made
up of such？ And suppose I had won her； should I not
have been disenchanted the day after my victory？ Why
pine； or be ashamed of my defeat？〃 The more he thought
of this long passage of his life； the more clearly he saw
his deception。 〃I'll go into harness again；〃 he said； 〃and
do my duty in that state of life in which it has pleased
Heaven to place me。 I will see that the buttons of the
recruits are properly bright and that the sergeants make
no mistakes in their accounts。 I will dine at mess and
listen to the Scotch surgeon telling his stories。 When I
am old and broken； I will go on half…pay； and my old
sisters shall scold me。 I have geliebt und gelebet； as the
girl in 'Wallenstein' says。 I am done。 Pay the bills and get
me a cigar： find out what there is at the play to…night；
Francis； to…morrow we cross by the Batavier。〃 He made
the above speech； whereof Francis only heard the last
two lines； pacing up and down the Boompjes at Rotterdam。
The Batavier was lying in the basin。 He could see
the place on the quarter…deck where he and Emmy had
sat on the happy voyage out。 What had that little Mrs。
Crawley to say to him？ Psha； to…morrow we will put to
sea； and return to England； home； and duty！
After June all the little Court Society of Pumpernickel
used to separate； according to the German plan；
and make for a hundred watering…places； where they
drank at the wells； rode upon donkeys； gambled at the
redoutes if they had money and a mind； rushed with
hundreds of their kind to gourmandise at the tables
d'hote； and idled away the summer。 The English
diplomatists went off to Teoplitz and Kissingen； their French
rivals shut up their chancellerie and whisked away to
their darling Boulevard de Gand。 The Transparent reigning
family took too to the waters； or retired to their hunting
lodges。 Everybody went away having any pretensions
to politeness； and of course； with them； Doctor von
Glauber； the Court Doctor； and his Baroness。 The seasons
for the baths were the most productive periods of
the Doctor's practicehe united business with pleasure；
and his chief place of resort was Ostend； which is much
frequented by Germans； and where the Doctor treated
himself and his spouse to what he called a 〃dib〃 in the
sea。
His interesting patient； Jos； was a regular milch…cow
to the Doctor； and he easily persuaded the civilian； both
for his own health's sake and that of his charming
sister； which was really very much shattered； to pass the
summer at that hideous seaport town。 Emmy did not
care where she went much。 Georgy jumped at the idea
of a move。 As for Becky； she came as a matter of course
in the fourth place inside of the fine barouche Mr。 Jos
had bought； the two domestics being on the box in front。
She might have some misgivings about the friends whom
she should meet at Ostend； and who might be likely to tell
ugly storiesbut bah！ she was strong enough to hold
her own。 She had cast such an anchor in Jos now as
would require a strong storm to shake。 That incident
of the picture had finished him。 Becky took down
her elephant and put it into the little box which she had
had from Amelia ever so many years ago。 Emmy also
came off with her Laresher two picturesand the
party； finally； were； lodged in an exceedingly dear and
uncomfortable house at Ostend。
There Amelia began to take baths and get what good
she could from them； and though scores of people of
Becky's acquaintance passed her and cut her； yet Mrs。
Osborne； who walked about with her； and who knew
nobody； was not aware of the treatment experienced by the
friend whom she had chosen so judiciously as a
companion； indeed； Becky never thought fit to tell her what
was passing under her innocent eyes。
Some of Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley's acquaintances； however；
acknowledged her readily enough；perhaps more
readily than she would have desired。 Among those were
Major Loder （unattached）； and Captain Rook （late of
the Rifles）； who might be seen any day on the Dike；
smoking and staring at the women； and who speedily got
an introduction to the hospitable board and select circle
of Mr。 Joseph Sedley。 In fact they would take no denial；
they burst into the house whether Becky was at home
or not； walked into Mrs。 Osborne's drawing…room； which
they perfumed with their coats and mustachios； called
Jos 〃Old buck；〃 and invaded his dinner…table； and
laughed and drank for long hours there。
〃What can they mean？〃 asked Georgy； who did not
like these gentlemen。 〃I heard the Major say to Mrs。
Crawley yesterday； 'No； no； Becky； you shan't keep the
old buck to yourself。 We must have the bones in； or；
dammy； I'll split。' What could the Major mean； Mamma？〃
〃Major！ don't call him Major！〃 Emmy said。 〃I'm sure
I can't tell what he meant。〃 His presence and that of his
friend inspired the little lady with intolerable terror and
aversion。 They paid her tipsy compliments； they leered
at her over the dinner…table。 And the Captain made her
advances that filled her with sickening dismay； nor would
she ever see him unless she had George by her side。
Rebecca； to do her justice； never would let either of
these men remain alone with Amelia； the Major was
disengaged too； and swore he would be the winner of her。
A couple of ruffians were fighting for this innocent creature；
gambling for her at her own table； and though she
was not aware of the rascals' designs upon her； yet she
felt a horror and uneasiness in their presence and longed
to fly。
She besought； she entreated Jos to go。 Not he。 He was
slow of movement； tied to his Doctor； and perhaps to
some other leading…strings。 At least Becky was not
anxious to go to England。
At last she took a great resolutionmade the great
plunge。 She wrote off a letter to a friend whom she had
on the