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pleasures； with the exception of old John Sedley； who was not
to fight with fortune； or to hope or scheme any more；
but to go and take up a quiet and utterly unknown
residence in a churchyard at Brompton by the side of
his old wife。
Major Dobbin； Jos； and Georgy followed his remains
to the grave； in a black cloth coach。 Jos came on
purpose from the Star and Garter at Richmond； whither he
retreated after the deplorable event。 He did not care
to remain in the house； with theunder the circumstances；
you understand。 But Emmy stayed and did her
duty as usual。 She was bowed down by no especial grief；
and rather solemn than sorrowful。 She prayed that her
own end might be as calm and painless； and thought
with trust and reverence of the words which she had
heard from her father during his illness； indicative of his
faith； his resignation； and his future hope。
Yes； I think that will be the better ending of the two；
after all。 Suppose you are particularly rich and well…to…
do and say on that last day； 〃I am very rich； I am
tolerably well known； I have lived all my life in the best
society； and thank Heaven； come of a most respectable
family。 I have served my King and country with honour。
I was in Parliament for several years； where； I may say；
my speeches were listened to and pretty well received。
I don't owe any man a shilling： on the contrary； I lent
my old college friend； Jack Lazarus； fifty pounds； for which
my executors will not press him。 I leave my daughters
with ten thousand pounds apiecevery good portions
for girls； I bequeath my plate and furniture； my house in
Baker Street； with a handsome jointure； to my widow for
her life； and my landed property； besides money in the
funds； and my cellar of well…selected wine in Baker Street；
to my son。 I leave twenty pound a year to my valet； and
I defy any man after I have gone to find anything against
my character。〃 Or suppose； on the other hand； your
swan sings quite a different sort of dirge and you say；
〃I am a poor blighted； disappointed old fellow； and have
made an utter failure through life。 I was not endowed
either with brains or with good fortune； and confess
that I have committed a hundred mistakes and blunders。
I own to having forgotten my duty many a time。 I can't
pay what I owe。 On my last bed I lie utterly helpless
and humble； and I pray forgiveness for my weakness and
throw myself； with a contrite heart； at the feet of the
Divine Mercy。〃 Which of these two speeches； think
you； would be the best oration for your own funeral？
Old Sedley made the last； and in that humble frame of
mind； and holding by the hand of his daughter； life and
disappointment and vanity sank away from under him。
〃You see；〃 said old Osborne to George； 〃what comes
of merit； and industry； and judicious speculations； and
that。 Look at me and my banker's account。 Look at your
poor Grandfather Sedley and his failure。 And yet he was
a better man than I was； this day twenty yearsa better
man； I should say； by ten thousand pound。〃
Beyond these people and Mr。 Clapp's family； who
came over from Brompton to pay a visit of condolence；
not a single soul alive ever cared a penny piece about
old John Sedley； or remembered the existence of such a
person。
When old Osborne first heard from his friend Colonel
Buckler （as little Georgy had already informed us） how
distinguished an officer Major Dobbin was； he exhibited
a great deal of scornful incredulity and expressed his
surprise how ever such a feller as that should possess
either brains or reputation。 But he heard of the Major's
fame from various members of his society。 Sir William
Dobbin had a great opinion of his son and narrated
many stories illustrative of the Major's learning； valour；
and estimation in the world's opinion。 Finally； his name
appeared in the lists of one or two great parties of the
nobility； and this circumstance had a prodigious effect
upon the old aristocrat of Russell Square。
The Major's position； as guardian to Georgy； whose
possession had been ceded to his grandfather； rendered
some meetings between the two gentlemen inevitable；
and it was in one of these that old Osborne； a keen man
of business； looking into the Major's accounts with his
ward and the boy's mother； got a hint； which staggered
him very much； and at once pained and pleased him；
that it was out of William Dobbin's own pocket that a
part of the fund had been supplied upon which the
poor widow and the child had subsisted。
When pressed upon the point； Dobbin； who could not
tell lies； blushed and stammered a good deal and finally
confessed。 〃The marriage；〃 he said （at which his
interlocutor's face grew dark） 〃was very much my doing。 I
thought my poor friend had gone so far that retreat from
his engagement would have been dishonour to him and
death to Mrs。 Osborne； and I could do no less； when she
was left without resources； than give what money I could
spare to maintain her。〃
〃Major D。；〃 Mr。 Osborne said； looking hard at him and
turning very red too〃you did me a great injury； but
give me leave to tell you； sir； you are an honest feller。
There's my hand； sir； though I little thought that my
flesh and blood was living on you〃 and the pair shook
hands； with great confusion on Major Dobbin's part； thus
found out in his act of charitable hypocrisy。
He strove to soften the old man and reconcile him
towards his son's memory。 〃He was such a noble fellow；〃
he said； 〃that all of us loved him； and would have done
anything for him。 I； as a young man in those days； was
flattered beyond measure by his preference for me； and
was more pleased to be seen in his company than in
that of the Commander…in…Chief。 I never saw his equal
for pluck and daring and all the qualities of a soldier〃；
and Dobbin told the old father as many stories as he
could remember regarding the gallantry and achievements
of his son。 〃And Georgy is so like him；〃 the
Major added。
〃He's so like him that he makes me tremble sometimes；〃
the grandfather said。
On one or two evenings the Major came to dine with
Mr。 Osborne （it was during the time of the sickness of
Mr。 Sedley）； and as the two sat together in the evening
after dinner； all their talk was about the departed hero。
The father boasted about him according to his wont；
glorifying himself in recounting his son's feats and
gallantry； but his mood was at any rate better and more
charitable than that in which he had been disposed until
now to regard the poor fellow； and the Christian heart of
the kind Major was pleased at these symptoms of
returning peace and good…will。 On the second evening old
Osborne called Dobbin William； just as he used to do at
the time when Dobbin and George were boys together；
and the honest gentleman was pleased by that mark of
reconciliation 。
On the next day at breakfast； when Miss Osborne；
with the asperity of her age and character； ventured to
make some remark reflecting slightingly upon the Major's
appearance or behaviourthe master of the house
interrupted her。 〃You'd have been glad enough to git him
for yourself； Miss O。 But them grapes are sour。 Ha！ ha！
Major William is a fine feller。〃
〃That