about the speedy end of the campaign。 The Emperor's
proclamation from Avesnes had been distributed
everywhere plentifully in Brussels。 〃Soldiers！〃 it said； 〃this
is the anniversary of Marengo and Friedland； by which the
destinies of Europe were twice decided。 Then； as after
Austerlitz； as after Wagram； we were too generous。 We
believed in the oaths and promises of princes whom we
suffered to remain upon their thrones。 Let us march once
more to meet them。 We and they； are we not still the
same men？ Soldiers！ these same Prussians who are so
arrogant to…day； were three to one against you at Jena；
and six to one at Montmirail。 Those among you who
were prisoners in England can tell their comrades what
frightful torments they suffered on board the English
hulks。 Madmen！ a moment of prosperity has blinded
them； and if they enter into France it will be to find a
grave there！〃 But the partisans of the French prophesied
a more speedy extermination of the Emperor's enemies
than this； and it was agreed on all hands that Prussians
and British would never return except as prisoners in the
rear of the conquering army。
These opinions in the course of the day were brought
to operate upon Mr。 Sedley。 He was told that the Duke
of Wellington had gone to try and rally his army； the
advance of which had been utterly crushed the night
before。
〃Crushed； psha！〃 said Jos； whose heart was pretty
stout at breakfast…time。 〃The Duke has gone to beat the
Emperor as he has beaten all his generals before。〃
〃His papers are burned； his effects are removed； and his
quarters are being got ready for the Duke of Dalmatia；〃
Jos's informant replied。 〃I had it from his own maitre
d'hotel。 Milor Duc de Richemont's people are packing
up everything。 His Grace has fled already； and the
Duchess is only waiting to see the plate packed to join the
King of France at Ostend。〃
〃The King of France is at Ghent； fellow；〃 replied Jos；
affecting incredulity。
〃He fled last night to Bruges； and embarks today from
Ostend。 The Duc de Berri is taken prisoner。 Those who
wish to be safe had better go soon； for the dykes will
be opened to…morrow； and who can fly when the whole
country is under water？〃
〃Nonsense； sir； we are three to one； sir； against any
force Boney can bring into the field；〃 Mr。 Sedley
objected； 〃the Austrians and the Russians are on their
march。 He must； he shall be crushed；〃 Jos said； slapping
his hand on the table。
〃The Prussians were three to one at Jena； and he
took their army and kingdom in a week。 They were
six to one at Montmirail； and he scattered them like sheep。
The Austrian army is coming； but with the Empress and
the King of Rome at its head； and the Russians； bah！
the Russians will withdraw。 No quarter is to be given
to the English； on account of their cruelty to our braves
on board the infamous pontoons。 Look here； here it is
in black and white。 Here's the proclamation of his
Majesty the Emperor and King；〃 said the now declared
partisan of Napoleon； and taking the document from his
pocket； Isidor sternly thrust it into his master's face；
and already looked upon the frogged coat and valuables
as his own spoil。
Jos was； if not seriously alarmed as yet； at least
considerably disturbed in mind。 〃Give me my coat and cap；
sir； said he； 〃and follow me。 I will go myself and learn
the truth of these reports。〃 Isidor was furious as Jos put
on the braided frock。 〃Milor had better。not wear that
military coat；〃 said he； 〃the Frenchmen have sworn not
to give quarter to a single British soldier。〃
〃Silence； sirrah！〃 said Jos； with a resolute countenance
still； and thrust his arm into the sleeve with indomitable
resolution； in the performance of which heroic act he
was found by Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley； who at this juncture
came up to visit Amelia； and entered without ringing
at the antechamber door。
Rebecca was dressed very neatly and smartly； as usual：
her quiet sleep after Rawdon's departure had refreshed
her； and her pink smiling cheeks were quite pleasant to
look at； in a town and on a day when everybody else's
countenance wore the appearance of the deepest anxiety
and gloom。 She laughed at the attitude in which Jos was
discovered； and the struggles and convulsions with which
the stout gentleman thrust himself into the braided coat。
〃Are you preparing to join the army； Mr。 Joseph？〃
she said。 〃Is there to be nobody left in Brussels to
protect us poor women？〃 Jos succeeded in plunging into
the coat； and came forward blushing and stuttering out
excuses to his fair visitor。 〃How was she after the events
of the morningafter the fatigues of the ball the night
before？〃 Monsieur Isidor disappeared into his master's
adjacent bedroom； bearing off the flowered dressing…gown。
〃How good of you to ask；〃 said she； pressing one of
his hands in both her own。 〃How cool and collected you
look when everybody else is frightened！ How is our dear
little Emmy？ It must have been an awful； awful parting。〃
〃Tremendous；〃 Jos said。
〃You men can bear anything；〃 replied the lady。 〃Parting
or danger are nothing to you。 Own now that you
were going to join the army and leave us to our fate。
I know you weresomething tells me you were。 I was
so frightened； when the thought came into my head （for
I do sometimes think of you when I am alone； Mr。
Joseph）； that I ran off immediately to beg and entreat
you not to fly from us。〃
This speech might be interpreted； 〃My dear sir； should
an accident befall the army； and a retreat be necessary；
you have a very comfortable carriage； in which I
propose to take a seat。〃 I don't know whether Jos
understood the words in this sense。 But he was profoundly
mortified by the lady's inattention to him during their
stay at Brussels。 He had never been presented to any
of Rawdon Crawley's great acquaintances： he had scarcely
been invited to Rebecca's parties； for he was too timid
to play much； and his presence bored George and Rawdon
equally； who neither of them； perhaps； liked to have a
witness of the amusements in which the pair chose to
indulge。 〃Ah！〃 thought Jos； 〃now she wants me she
comes to me。 When there is nobody else in the way she
can think about old Joseph Sedley！〃 But besides these
doubts he felt flattered at the idea Rebecca expressed
of his courage。
He blushed a good deal； and put on an air of importance。
〃I should like to see the action；〃 he said。 〃Every
man of any spirit would； you know。 I've seen a little
service in India； but nothing on this grand scale。〃
〃You men would sacrifice anything for a pleasure；〃
Rebecca answered。 〃Captain Crawley left me this morning
as gay as if he were going to a hunting party。 What
does he care？ What do any of you care for the agonies
and tortures of a poor forsaken woman？ （I wonder
whether he could really have been going to the troops；
this great lazy gourmand？） Oh！ dear Mr。 Sedley； I have
come to you for comfortfor consolation。 I have been
on my knees all the morning。 I tremble at the frightful
danger into which our husbands； our friends； our brave
troops and allies； are rushing。 And I come here for shelter；
and find another of my friendsthe last remaining to
mebent upon plunging into the dreadful scene！〃
〃My dear madam；〃 Jos replied； now beginning to be
quite soothed； 〃don't be alarmed。 I only said I should
like to gowhat Briton would not？ But my duty keeps
me here： I can't leave that poor creature in the next
room。〃 And he pointed with his finger to the door of
the chamber in which Amelia was。
〃Good noble brother！〃 Rebecca said； putting her
handkerchief to her eyes； and smelling the eau…de…cologne
with which it was scented。 〃I have done you injustice：
you have got a heart。 I thought you had not。〃
〃O； upon my honour！〃 Jos said； making a motion as
if he would lay his hand upon the spot in question。 〃You
do me injustice； indeed you domy dear Mrs。 Crawley。〃
〃I do； now your heart is true to your sister。 But I
remember two years agowhen it was false to me！〃
Rebecca said； fixing her eyes upon him for an instant； and
then turning away into the window。
Jos blushed violently。 That organ which he was
accused by Rebecca of not possessing began to thump
tumultuously。 He recalled the days when he had fled from
her； and the passion which had once inflamed himthe
days when he had driven her in his curricle： when she
had knit the green purse for him： when he had sate
enraptured gazing at her white arms and bright eyes。
〃I know you think me ungrateful；〃 Rebecca continued；
coming out of the window； and once more looking at
him and addressing him in a low tremulous voice。 〃Your
coldness； your averted looks； your manner when we have
met of latewhen I came in just now； all proved it to
me。 But were there no reasons why I should avoid you？
Let your own heart answer that question。 Do you think
my husband was too much inclined to welcome you？
The only unkind words I have ever had from him （I
will do Captain Crawley that justice） have been about
youand most cruel； cruel words they were。〃
〃Good gracious！ what have I done？〃 asked Jos in a
flurry of pleasure and perplexity； 〃what have I done
toto？〃
〃Is jealousy nothing？〃 said Rebecca。 〃He makes me
miserable about you。 And whatever it might have been
oncemy heart is all his。 I am innocent now。 Am I
not； Mr。 Sedley？〃
All Jos's blood tingled with delight； as he surveyed
this victim to his attractions。 A few adroit words； one
or two knowing tender glances of the eyes； and his heart
was inflamed again and his doubts and suspicions
forgotten。 From Solomon downwards； have not wiser men
than he been cajoled and befooled by women？ 〃If the
worst comes to the worst；〃 Becky thought； 〃my retreat
is secure； and I have a right…hand seat in the barouche。〃
There is no knowing into what declarations of love
and ardour the tumultuous passions of Mr。 Joseph
might have led him； if Isidor the valet had not made
his reappearance at this minute； and begun to busy
himself about the domestic affairs。 Jos； who was just going
to gasp out an avowal； choked almost with the emotion
that he was obliged to restrain。 Rebecca too bethought
her that it was time she should go in and comfort he