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Dobbin； and hoped his worthy father； Sir William； was
quite well。 He proposed to call upon Sir William； who had
done him the honour of a visit a short time ago。 Sir
William had not called upon the old gentleman for eight
yearsit was that visit he was thinking of returning。
〃He is very much shaken；〃 Emmy whispered as Dobbin
went up and cordially shook hands with the old man。
Although he had such particular business in London
that evening； the Major consented to forego it upon Mr。
Sedley's invitation to him to come home and partake of
tea。 Amelia put her arm under that of her young friend
with the yellow shawl and headed the party on their
return homewards； so that Mr。 Sedley fell to Dobbin's share。
The old man walked very slowly and told a number of
ancient histories about himself and his poor Bessy； his
former prosperity； and his bankruptcy。 His thoughts； as is
usual with failing old men； were quite in former times。
The present； with the exception of the one catastrophe
which he felt； he knew little about。 The Major was glad to
let him talk on。 His eyes were fixed upon the figure in
front of himthe dear little figure always present to his
imagination and in his prayers； and visiting his dreams
wakeful or slumbering。
Amelia was very happy； smiling； and active all that
evening； performing her duties as hostess of the little
entertainment with the utmost grace and propriety； as
Dobbin thought。 His eyes followed her about as they sat
in the twilight。 How many a time had he longed for that
moment and thought of her far away under hot winds
and in weary marches； gentle and happy； kindly ministering
to the wants of old age； and decorating poverty with
sweet submissionas he saw her now。 I do not say that
his taste was the highest； or that it is the duty of great
intellects to be content with a bread…and…butter paradise；
such as sufficed our simple old friend； but his desires
were of this sort； whether for good or bad； and； with
Amelia to help him； he was as ready to drink as many
cups of tea as Doctor Johnson。
Amelia seeing this propensity； laughingly encouraged
it and looked exceedingly roguish as she administered to
him cup after cup。 It is true she did not know that the
Major had had no dinner and that the cloth was laid for
him at the Slaughters'； and a plate laid thereon to mark
that the table was retained； in that very box in which
the Major and George had sat many a time carousing；
when she was a child just come home from Miss
Pinkerton's school。
The first thing Mrs。 Osborne showed the Major was
Georgy's miniature； for which she ran upstairs on her
arrival at home。 It was not half handsome enough of
course for the boy； but wasn't it noble of him to think of
bringing it to his mother？ Whilst her papa was awake she
did not talk much about Georgy。 To hear about Mr。
Osborne and Russell Square was not agreeable to the
old man； who very likely was unconscious that he had
been living for some months past mainly on the bounty
of his richer rival； and lost his temper if allusion was
made to the other。
Dobbin told him all； and a little more perhaps than
all； that had happened on board the Ramchunder； and
exaggerated Jos's benevolent dispositions towards his
father and resolution to make him comfortable in his
old days。 The truth is that during the voyage the Major
had impressed this duty most strongly upon his fellow…
passenger and extorted promises from him that he would
take charge of his sister and her child。 He soothed Jos's
irritation with regard to the bills which the old gentleman
had drawn upon him； gave a laughing account of his
own sufferings on the same score and of the famous
consignment of wine with which the old man had favoured
him； and brought Mr。 Jos； who was by no means an ill…
natured person when well…pleased and moderately
flattered； to a very good state of feeling regarding his
relatives in Europe。
And in fine I am ashamed to say that the Major
stretched the truth so far as to tell old Mr。 Sedley that it
was mainly a desire to see his parent which brought Jos
once more to Europe。
At his accustomed hour Mr。 Sedley began to doze in
his chair； and then it was Amelia's opportunity to
commence her conversation； which she did with great
eagernessit related exclusively to Georgy。 She did not talk
at all about her own sufferings at breaking from him； for
indeed； this worthy woman； though she was half…killed
by the separation from the child； yet thought it was very
wicked in her to repine at losing him； but everything
concerning him； his virtues； talents； and prospects； she
poured out。 She described his angelic beauty； narrated
a hundred instances of his generosity and greatness of
mind whilst living with her； how a Royal Duchess had
stopped and admired him in Kensington Gardens； how
splendidly he was cared for now； and how he had a
groom and a pony； what quickness and cleverness he
had； and what a prodigiously well…read and delightful
person the Reverend Lawrence Veal was； George's
master。 〃He knows EVERYTHING；〃 Amelia said。 〃He has the
most delightful parties。 You who are so learned yourself；
and have read so much； and are so clever and
accomplisheddon't shake your head and say noHE
always used to say you wereyou will be charmed with
Mr。 Veal's parties。 The last Tuesday in every month。 He
says there is no place in the bar or the senate that
Georgy may not aspire to。 Look here；〃 and she went to
the piano…drawer and drew out a theme of Georgy's
composition。 This great effort of genius； which is still
in the possession of George's mother； is as follows：
On SelfishnessOf all the vices which degrade the
human character； Selfishness is the most odious and
contemptible。 An undue love of Self leads to the most
monstrous crimes and occasions the greatest misfortunes both
in States and Families。 As a selfish man will impoverish
his family and often bring them to ruin； so a selfish
king brings ruin on his people and often plunges them
into war。
Example： The selfishness of Achilles； as remarked by
the poet Homer； occasioned a thousand woes to the
Greeksmuri Achaiois alge etheke（Hom。 Il。 A。 2）。
The selfishness of the late Napoleon Bonaparte
occasioned innumerable wars in Europe and caused him to
perish； himself； in a miserable islandthat of Saint Helena in
the Atlantic Ocean。
We see by these examples that we are not to consult
our own interest and ambition； but that we are to
consider the interests of others as well as our own。
George S。 Osborne
Athene House； 24 April； 1827
〃Think of him writing such a hand； and quoting Greek
too； at his age；〃 the delighted mother said。 〃Oh； William；〃
she added； holding out her hand to the Major； 〃what a
treasure Heaven has given me in that boy！ He is the
comfort of my lifeand he is the image ofof him that's
gone！〃
〃Ought I to be angry with her for being faithful to
him？〃 William thought。 〃Ought I to be jealous of my
friend in the grave； or hurt that such a heart as Amelia's
can love only once and for ever？ Oh； George； George；
how little you knew the prize you had； though。〃 This
sentiment passed rapidly through William's mind as he
was holdin