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eveningsto those snug； unassuming； dear old operas in the
German towns； where the noblesse sits and cries； and
knits stockings on the one side； over against the bourgeoisie
on the other； and His Transparency the Duke and his
Transparent family； all very fat and good…natured； come
and occupy the great box in the middle； and the pit is
full of the most elegant slim…waisted officers with straw…
coloured mustachios； and twopence a day on full pay。
Here it was that Emmy found her delight； and was
introduced for the first time to the wonders of Mozart and
Cimarosa。 The Major's musical taste has been before
alluded to； and his performances on the flute commended。
But perhaps the chief pleasure he had in these operas
was in watching Emmy's rapture while listening to them。
A new world of love and beauty broke upon her when
she was introduced to those divine compositions； this
lady had the keenest and finest sensibility； and how could
she be indifferent when she heard Mozart？ The tender
parts of 〃Don Juan〃 awakened in her raptures so
exquisite that she would ask herself when she went to say
her prayers of a night whether it was not wicked to feel
so much delight as that with which 〃Vedrai Carino〃 and
〃Batti Batti〃 filled her gentle little bosom？ But the Major；
whom she consulted upon this head； as her theological
adviser （and who himself had a pious and reverent soul）；
said that for his part； every beauty of art or nature made
him thankful as well as happy； and that the pleasure to
be had in listening to fine music； as in looking at the stars
in the sky； or at a beautiful landscape or picture； was a
benefit for which we might thank Heaven as sincerely as
for any other worldly blessing。 And in reply to some faint
objections of Mrs。 Amelia's （taken from certain theological
works like the Washerwoman of Finchley Common
and others of that school； with which Mrs。 Osborne had
been furnished during her life at Brompton） he told her
an Eastern fable of the Owl who thought that the
sunshine was unbearable for the eyes and that the
Nightingale was a most overrated bird。 〃It is one's nature to
sing and the other's to hoot；〃 he said； laughing； 〃and
with such a sweet voice as you have yourself； you must
belong to the Bulbul faction。〃
I like to dwell upon this period of her life and to think
that she was cheerful and happy。 You see； she has not
had too much of that sort of existence as yet； and has not
fallen in the way of means to educate her tastes or her
intelligence。 She has been domineered over hitherto by
vulgar intellects。 It is the lot of many a woman。 And as
every one of the dear sex is the rival of the rest of her
kind； timidity passes for folly in their charitable
judgments； and gentleness for dulness； and silencewhich is
but timid denial of the unwelcome assertion of ruling
folks； and tacit protestantismabove all； finds no mercy
at the hands of the female Inquisition。 Thus； my dear and
civilized reader； if you and I were to find ourselves this
evening in a society of greengrocers； let us say； it is
probable that our conversation would not be brilliant； if； on
the other hand； a greengrocer should find himself at your
refined and polite tea…table； where everybody was saying
witty things； and everybody of fashion and repute tearing
her friends to pieces in the most delightful manner； it is
possible that the stranger would not be very talkative and
by no means interesting or interested。
And it must be remembered that this poor lady had
never met a gentleman in her life until this present
moment。 Perhaps these are rarer personages than some of
us think for。 Which of us can point out many such in his
circlemen whose aims are generous； whose truth is
constant； and not only constant in its kind but elevated
in its degree； whose want of meanness makes them
simple； who can look the world honestly in the face with
an equal manly sympathy for the great and the small？
We all know a hundred whose coats are very well made；
and a score who have excellent manners； and one or two
happy beings who are what they call in the inner circles；
and have shot into the very centre and bull's…eye of the
fashion； but of gentlemen how many？ Let us take a little
scrap of paper and each make out his list。
My friend the Major I write； without any doubt； in
mine。 He had very long legs； a yellow face； and a slight
lisp； which at first was rather ridiculous。 But his thoughts
were just； his brains were fairly good； his life was honest
and pure； and his heart warm and humble。 He certainly
had very large hands and feet； which the two George
Osbornes used to caricature and laugh at； and their jeers
and laughter perhaps led poor little Emmy astray as to
his worth。 But have we not all been misled about our
heroes and changed our opinions a hundred times？ Emmy；
in this happy time； found that hers underwent a very great
change in respect of the merits of the Major。
Perhaps it was the happiest time of both their lives；
indeed； if they did but know itand who does？ Which
of us can point out and say that was the culmination
that was the summit of human joy？ But at all events；
this couple were very decently contented； and enjoyed
as pleasant a summer tour as any pair that left England
that year。 Georgy was always present at the play； but
it was the Major who put Emmy's shawl on after the
entertainment； and in the walks and excursions the young
lad would be on ahead； and up a tower…stair or a tree；
whilst the soberer couple were below； the Major smoking
his cigar with great placidity and constancy； whilst Emmy
sketched the site or the ruin。 It was on this very tour that
I； the present writer of a history of which every word is
true； had the pleasure to see them first and to make their
acquaintance。
It was at the little comfortable Ducal town of
Pumpernickel （that very place where Sir Pitt Crawley
had been so distinguished as an attache； but that was in
early early days； and before the news of the Battle of
Austerlitz sent all the English diplomatists in Germany to
the right about） that I first saw Colonel Dobbin and
his party。 They had arrived with the carriage and courier
at the Erbprinz Hotel； the best of the town； and the whole
party dined at the table d'hote。 Everybody remarked
the majesty of Jos and the knowing way in which he
sipped； or rather sucked； the Johannisberger； which he
ordered for dinner。 The little boy； too； we observed； had
a famous appetite； and consumed schinken； and braten；
and kartoffeln； and cranberry jam； and salad； and
pudding； and roast fowls； and sweetmeats； with a gallantry
that did honour to his nation。 After about fifteen dishes；
he concluded the repast with dessert； some of which he
even carried out of doors； for some young gentlemen at
table； amused with his coolness and gallant free…and…easy
manner； induced him to pocket a handful of macaroons；
which he discussed on his way to the theatre； whither
everybody went in the cheery social little German place。
The lady in black； the boy's mamma； laughed and blushed；
and looked exceedingly pleased and shy as the dinner
went on； and at the various feats and instances of