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candlesticks with tallow candles for the lodgers； whose keys
hang up in rows。over the candles。 Emmy had passed
blushing through the room anon； where all sorts of
people were collected； Tyrolese glove…sellers and Danubian
linen…merchants； with their packs； students recruiting
themselves with butterbrods and meat； idlers； playing
cards or dominoes on the sloppy； beery tables； tumblers
refreshing during the cessation of their performances
in a word； all the fumum and strepitus of a German inn
in fair time。 The waiter brought the Major a mug of beer；
as a matter of course； and he took out a cigar and
amused himself with that pernicious vegetable and a
newspaper until his charge should come down to claim him。
Max and Fritz came presently downstairs； their caps on
one side； their spurs jingling； their pipes splendid with
coats of arms and full…blown tassels； and they hung up the
key of No。 90 on the board and called for the ration of
butterbrod and beer。 The pair sat down by the Major and
fell into a conversation of which he could not help hearing
somewhat。 It was mainly about 〃Fuchs〃 and 〃Philister；〃
and duels and drinking…bouts at the neighbouring
University of Schoppenhausen； from which renowned
seat of learning they had just come in the Eilwagen；
with Becky； as it appeared； by their side； and in order
to be present at the bridal fetes at Pumpernickel。
〃The title Englanderinn seems to be en bays de
gonnoisance；〃 said Max； who knew the French language；
to Fritz； his comrade。 〃After the fat grandfather went
away； there came a pretty little compatriot。 I heard them
chattering and whimpering together in the little woman's
chamber。〃
〃We must take the tickets for her concert；〃 Fritz said。
〃Hast thou any money； Max？〃
〃Bah；〃 said the other； 〃the concert is a concert in
nubibus。 Hans said that she advertised one at Leipzig； and
the Burschen took many tickets。 But she went off without
singing。 She said in the coach yesterday that her pianist
had fallen ill at Dresden。 She cannot sing； it is my belief：
her voice is as cracked as thine； O thou beer…soaking
Renowner！〃
〃It is cracked； I hear her trying out of her window a
schrecklich。 English ballad； called 'De Rose upon de
Balgony。' 〃
〃Saufen and singen go not together；〃 observed Fritz
with the red nose； who evidently preferred the former
amusement。 〃No； thou shalt take none of her tickets。
She won money at the trente and quarante last night。 I
saw her： she made a little English boy play for her。 We
will spend thy money there or at the theatre； or we will
treat her to French wine or Cognac in the Aurelius
Garden； but the tickets we will not buy。 What sayest
thou？ Yet； another mug of beer？〃 and one and another
successively having buried their blond whiskers in the
mawkish draught； curled them and swaggered off into
the fair。
The Major； who had seen the key of No。 90 put up
on its hook and had heard the conversation of the two
young University bloods； was not at a loss to
understand that their talk related to Becky。 〃The little devil
is at her old tricks；〃 he thought； and he smiled as he
recalled old days； when he had witnessed the desperate
flirtation with Jos and the ludicrous end of that adventure。
He and George had often laughed over it subsequently；
and until a few weeks after George's marriage；
when he also was caught in the little Circe's toils； and
had an understanding with her which his comrade
certainly suspected； but preferred to ignore。 William was
too much hurt or ashamed to ask to fathom that
disgraceful mystery； although once； and evidently with
remorse on his mind； George had alluded to it。 It was on
the morning of Waterloo； as the young men stood
together in front of their line； surveying the black masses of
Frenchmen who crowned the opposite heights； and as the
rain was coming down； 〃I have been mixing in a foolish
intrigue with a woman；〃 George said。 〃I am glad we were
marched away。 If I drop； I hope Emmy will never know
of that business。 I wish to God it had never been
begun！〃 And William was pleased to think； and had more
than once soothed poor George's widow with the
narrative； that Osborne； after quitting his wife； and after
the action of Quatre Bras； on the first day； spoke gravely
and affectionately to his comrade of his father and his
wife。 On these facts； too； William had insisted very
strongly in his conversations with the elder Osborne；
and had thus been the means of reconciling the old
gentleman to his son's memory； just at the close of the
elder man's life。
〃And so this devil is still going on with her intrigues；〃
thought William。 〃I wish she were a hundred miles from
here。 She brings mischief wherever she goes。〃 And he
was pursuing these forebodings and this uncomfortable
train of thought； with his head between his hands； and
the Pumpernickel Gazette of last week unread under his
nose； when somebody tapped his shoulder with a parasol；
and he looked up and saw Mrs。 Amelia。
This woman had a way of tyrannizing over Major
Dobbin （for the weakest of all people will domineer
over somebody）； and she ordered him about； and patted
him； and made him fetch and carry just as if he was a
great Newfoundland dog。 He liked； so to speak； to jump
into the water if she said 〃High； Dobbin！〃 and to trot
behind her with her reticule in his mouth。 This history
has been written to very little purpose if the reader has
not perceived that the Major was a spooney。
〃Why did you not wait for me； sir； to escort me
downstairs？〃 she said； giving a little toss of her head
and a most sarcastic curtsey。
〃I couldn't stand up in the passage；〃 he answered with
a comical deprecatory look； and； delighted to give her his
arm and to take her out of the horrid smoky place； he
would have walked off without even so much as
remembering the waiter； had not the young fellow run after
him and stopped him on the threshold of the Elephant
to make him pay for the beer which he had not
consumed。 Emmy laughed： she called him a naughty man；
who wanted to run away in debt； and； in fact； made
some jokes suitable to the occasion and the small…beer。
She was in high spirits and good humour； and tripped
across the market…place very briskly。 She wanted to see
Jos that instant。 The Major laughed at the impetuous
affection Mrs。 Amelia exhibited； for； in truth； it was not
very often that she wanted her brother 〃that instant。〃
They found the civilian in his saloon on the first…floor；
he had been pacing the room； and biting his nails； and
looking over the market…place towards the Elephant a
hundred times at least during the past hour whilst Emmy
was closeted with her friend in the garret and the Major
was beating the tattoo on the sloppy tables of the public
room below； and he was； on his side too； very anxious to
see Mrs。 Osborne。
〃Well？〃 said he。
〃The poor dear creature； how she has suffered！〃
Emmy said。
〃God bless my soul； yes；〃 Jos said； wagging his head；
so that his cheeks quivered like jellies。
〃She may have Payne's room； who can go upstairs；〃
Emmy continued。 Payne was a staid English maid and
personal attendant upon Mrs。 Osborne； to whom the
courier； as in