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obey； and she put her hand into his arm； and they went
away。
〃It is number 92； up four pair of stairs；〃 Jos said；
perhaps not very willing to ascend the steps again； but he
placed himself in the window of his drawing…room； which
commands the place on which the Elephant stands； and
saw the pair marching through the market。
It was as well that Becky saw them too from her garret；
for she and the two students were chattering and laughing
there； they had been joking about the appearance of
Becky's grandpapawhose arrival and departure they
had witnessedbut she had time to dismiss them； and
have her little room clear before the landlord of the
Elephant； who knew that Mrs。 Osborne was a great favourite
at the Serene Court； and respected her accordingly； led
the way up the stairs to the roof story； encouraging
Miladi and the Herr Major as they achieved the ascent。
〃Gracious lady； gracious lady！〃 said the landlord；
knocking at Becky's door； he had called her Madame the
day before； and was by no means courteous to her。
〃Who is it？〃 Becky said； putting out her head； and she
gave a little scream。 There stood Emmy in a tremble；
and Dobbin； the tall Major； with his cane。
He stood still watching； and very much interested at
the scene； but Emmy sprang forward with open arms
towards Rebecca； and forgave her at that moment； and
embraced her and kissed her with all her heart。 Ah； poor
wretch； when was your lip pressed before by such pure
kisses？
CHAPTER LXVI
Amantium Irae
Frankness and kindness like Amelia's were likely to
touch even such a hardened little reprobate as Becky。 She
returned Emmy's caresses and kind speeches with
something very like gratitude； and an emotion which； if it was
not lasting； for a moment was almost genuine。 That was
a lucky stroke of hers about the child 〃torn from her
arms shrieking。〃 It was by that harrowing misfortune
that Becky had won her friend back； and it was one of the
very first points； we may be certain； upon which our poor
simple little Emmy began to talk to her new…found
acquaintance。
〃And so they took your darling child from you？〃 our
simpleton cried out。 〃Oh； Rebecca； my poor dear suffering
friend； I know what it is to lose a boy； and to feel
for those who have lost one。 But please Heaven yours
will be restored to you； as a merciful merciful Providence
has brought me back mine。〃
〃The child； my child？ Oh； yes； my agonies were frightful；〃
Becky owned； not perhaps without a twinge of conscience。
It jarred upon her to be obliged to commence
instantly to tell lies in reply to so much confidence and
simplicity。 But that is the misfortune of beginning with
this kind of forgery。 When one fib becomes due as it
were； you must forge another to take up the old
acceptance； and so the stock of your lies in circulation
inevitably multiplies； and the danger of detection increases
every day。
〃My agonies；〃 Becky continued； 〃were terrible （I hope
she won't sit down on the bottle） when they took him
away from me； I thought I should die； but I fortunately
had a brain fever； during which my doctor gave me up；
andand I recovered； andand here I am； poor and
friendless。〃
〃How old is he？〃 Emmy asked。
〃Eleven；〃 said Becky。
〃Eleven！〃 cried the other。 〃Why； he was born the same
year with Georgy； who is〃
〃I know； I know；〃 Becky cried out； who had in fact
quite forgotten all about little Rawdon's age。 〃Grief has
made me forget so many things； dearest Amelia。 I am
very much changed： half…wild sometimes。 He was eleven
when they took him away from me。 Bless his sweet
face； I have never seen it again。〃
〃Was he fair or dark？〃 went on that absurd little
Emmy。 〃Show me his hair。〃
Becky almost laughed at her simplicity。 〃Not to…day；
lovesome other time； when my trunks arrive from
Leipzig； whence I came to this placeand a little drawing
of him； which I made in happy days。〃
〃Poor Becky； poor Becky！〃 said Emmy。 〃How thankful；
how thankful I ought to be〃； （though I doubt whether
that practice of piety inculcated upon us by our
womankind in early youth； namely； to be thankful because
we are better off than somebody else； be a very rational
religious exercise） and then she began to think； as usual；
how her son was the handsomest； the best； and the
cleverest boy in the whole world。
〃You will see my Georgy；〃 was the best thing Emmy
could think of to console Becky。 If anything could make
her comfortable that would。
And so the two women continued talking for an hour
or more； during which Becky had the opportunity of
giving her new friend a full and complete version of her
private history。 She showed how her marriage with
Rawdon Crawley had always been viewed by the family with
feelings of the utmost hostility； how her sister…in…law
（an artful woman） had poisoned her husband's mind
against her； how he had formed odious connections；
which had estranged his affections from her： how she had
borne everythingpoverty； neglect； coldness from the
being whom she most lovedand all for the sake of her
child； how； finally； and by the most flagrant outrage； she
had been driven into demanding a separation from her
husband； when the wretch did not scruple to ask that she
should sacrifice her own fair fame so that he might
procure advancement through the means of a very great and
powerful but unprincipled manthe Marquis of Steyne；
indeed。 The atrocious monster！
This part of her eventful history Becky gave with the
utmost feminine delicacy and the most indignant virtue。
Forced to fly her husband's roof by this insult； the coward
had pursued his revenge by taking her child from her。
And thus Becky said she was a wanderer； poor；
unprotected； friendless； and wretched。
Emmy received this story； which was told at some
length； as those persons who are acquainted with her
character may imagine that she would。 She quivered
with indignation at the account of the conduct of the
miserable Rawdon and the unprincipled Steyne。 Her eyes
made notes of admiration for every one of the sentences
in which Becky described the persecutions of her
aristocratic relatives and the falling away of her husband。
（Becky did not abuse him。 She spoke rather in sorrow
than in anger。 She had loved him only too fondly： and
was he not the father of her boy？） And as for the separation
scene from the child； while Becky was reciting it；
Emmy retired altogether behind her pocket…handkerchief；
so that the consummate little tragedian must have been
charmed to see the effect which her performance
produced on her audience。
Whilst the ladies were carrying on their conversation；
Amelia's constant escort； the Major （who； of course；
did not wish to interrupt their conference； and found
himself rather tired of creaking about the narrow stair
passage of which the roof brushed the nap from his hat）
descended to the ground…floor of the house and into the
great room common to all the frequenters of the Elephant；
out of which the stair led。 This apartment is always
in a fume of smoke and liberally sprinkled with beer。 On
a dirty table stand scores of corresponding brass
candlesticks with tallow candles for the lodgers； whose keys
hang up in rows。over the cand