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consoled Mrs。 Crawley； and she ate a very good dinner。
During the repast； she had occasion to speak several
times； when Georgy eyed her and listened to her。 At the
desert Emmy was gone out to superintend further
domestic arrangements； Jos was in his great chair dozing
over Galignani； Georgy and the new arrival sat close to
each otherhe had continued to look at her knowingly
more than once； and at last he laid down the
nutcrackers。
〃I say；〃 said Georgy。
〃What do you say？〃 Becky said； laughing。
〃You're the lady I saw in the mask at the Rouge et
Noir。〃
〃Hush！ you little sly creature；〃 Becky said； taking
up his hand and kissing it。 〃Your uncle was there too；
and Mamma mustn't know。〃
〃Oh； nonot by no means；〃 answered the little fellow。
〃You see we are quite good friends already；〃 Becky
said to Emmy； who now re…entered； and it must be owned
that Mrs。 Osborne had introduced a most judicious and
amiable companion into her house。
William； in a state of great indignation； though still
unaware of all the treason that was in store for him； walked
about the town wildly until he fell upon the Secretary of
Legation； Tapeworm； who invited him to dinner。 As they
were discussing that meal； he took occasion to ask the
Secretary whether he knew anything about a certain
Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley； who had； he believed； made
some noise in London； and then Tapeworm； who of
course knew all the London gossip； and was besides a
relative of Lady Gaunt； poured out into the astonished
Major's ears such a history about Becky and her husband
as astonished the querist； and supplied all the points of
this narrative； for it was at that very table years ago
that the present writer had the pleasure of hearing the
tale。 Tufto； Steyne； the Crawleys； and their history
everything connected with Becky and her previous life
passed under the record of the bitter diplomatist。 He knew
everything and a great deal besides； about all the world
in a word； he made the most astounding revelations to
the simple…hearted Major。 When Dobbin said that Mrs。
Osborne and Mr。 Sedley had taken her into their house；
Tapeworm burst into a peal of laughter which shocked
the Major； and asked if they had not better send into the
prison and take in one or two of the gentlemen in shaved
heads and yellow jackets who swept the streets of
Pumpernickel； chained in pairs； to board and lodge； and act
as tutor to that little scapegrace Georgy。
This information astonished and horrified the Major not
a little。 It had been agreed in the morning （before meeting
with Rebecca） that Amelia should go to the Court
ball that night。 There would be the place where he should
tell her。 The Major went home； and dressed himself in his
uniform； and repaired to Court； in hopes to see Mrs。
Osborne。 She never came。 When he returned to his
lodgings all the lights in the Sedley tenement were put
out。 He could not see her till the morning。 I don't know
what sort of a night's rest he had with this frightful
secret in bed with him。
At the earliest convenient hour in the morning he sent
his servant across the way with a note； saying that he
wished very particularly to speak with her。 A message
came back to say that Mrs。 Osborne was exceedingly
unwell and was keeping her room。
She； too； had been awake all that night。 She had been
thinking of a thing which had agitated her mind a
hundred times before。 A hundred times on the point of yielding；
she had shrunk back from a sacrifice which she felt
was too much for her。 She couldn't； in spite of his love
and constancy and her own acknowledged regard；
respect； and gratitude。 What are benefits； what is
constancy； or merit？ One curl of a girl's ringlet； one hair of a
whisker； will turn the scale against them all in a minute。
They did not weigh with Emmy more than with other
women。 She had tried them； wanted to make them pass；
could not； and the pitiless little woman had found a
pretext； and determined to be free。
When at length； in the afternoon； the Major gained
admission to Amelia； instead of the cordial and
affectionate greeting； to which he had been accustomed now
for many a long day； he received the salutation of a
curtsey； and of a little gloved hand； retracted the moment
after it was accorded to him。
Rebecca； too； was in the room； and advanced to meet
him with a smile and an extended hand。 Dobbin drew
back rather confusedly； 〃II beg your pardon； m'am；〃
he said； 〃but I am bound to tell you that it is not as your
friend that I am come here now。〃
〃Pooh！ damn； don't let us have this sort of thing！〃
Jos cried out； alarmed； and anxious to get rid of a scene。
〃I wonder what Major Dobbin has to say against
Rebecca？〃 Amelia said in a low； clear voice with a slight
quiver in it； and a very determined look about the eyes。
〃I will not have this sort of thing in my house；〃 Jos
again interposed。 〃I say I will not have it； and Dobbin； I
beg； sir； you'll stop it。〃 And he looked round； trembling
and turning very red； and gave a great puff； and
made for his door。
〃Dear friend！〃 Rebecca said with angelic sweetness；
〃do hear what Major Dobbin has to say against me。〃
〃I will not hear it； I say；〃 squeaked out Jos at the
top of his voice； and； gathering up his dressing…gown； he
was gone。
〃We are only two women；〃 Amelia said。 〃You can
speak now； sir。〃
〃This manner towards me is one which scarcely
becomes you； Amelia；〃 the Major answered haughtily； 〃nor
I believe am I guilty of habitual harshness to women。 It
is not a pleasure to me to do the duty which I am come
to do。〃
〃Pray proceed with it quickly； if you please； Major
Dobbin；〃 said Amelia； who was more and more in a pet。 The
expression of Dobbin's face； as she spoke in this
imperious manner； was not pleasant。
〃I came to sayand as you stay； Mrs。 Crawley； I must
say it in your presencethat I think youyou ought
not to form a member of the family of my friends。 A
lady who is separated from her husband； who travels not
under her own name； who frequents public gaming…
tables〃
〃It was to the ball I went；〃 cried out Becky。
〃is not a fit companion for Mrs。 Osborne and her
son；〃 Dobbin went on： 〃and I may add that there are
people here who know you； and who profess to know
that regarding your conduct about which I don't even
wish to speak beforebefore Mrs。 Osborne。〃
〃Yours is a very modest and convenient sort of calumny；
Major Dobbin；〃 Rebecca said。 〃You leave me under
the weight of an accusation which； after all； is unsaid。
What is it？ Is it unfaithfulness to my husband？ I scorn it
and defy anybody to prove itI defy you； I say。 My
honour is as untouched as that of the bitterest enemy
who ever maligned me。 Is it of being poor； forsaken；
wretched； that you accuse me？ Yes； I am guilty of those
faults； and punished for them every day。 Let me go；
Emmy。 It is only to suppose that I have not met you；
and I am no worse to…day than I was yesterday。 It is
only to suppose that the night is over and the poor
wanderer is on her way。 Don't you remember the song
we used to sing in old； dear old days？ I have been
wandering ever since thena poor castaway； scorned for
being miserable； and insulted because I am alo