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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 alone。 Let me
go： my stay here interferes with the plans of this
gentleman。〃
〃Indeed it does； madam；〃 said the Major。 〃If I have
any authority in this house〃
〃Authority； none！〃 broke out Amelia 〃Rebecca；
you stay with me。 I won't desert you because you have
been persecuted； or insult you becausebecause Major
Dobbin chooses to do so。 Come away； dear。〃 And the
two women made towards the door。
William opened it。 As they were going out； however； he
took Amelia's hand and said〃Will you stay a moment
and speak to me？〃
〃He wishes to speak to you away from me；〃 said
Becky； looking like a martyr。 Amelia gripped her hand in
reply。
〃Upon my honour it is not about you that I am going
to speak；〃 Dobbin said。 〃Come back； Amelia；〃 and she
came。 Dobbin bowed to Mrs。 Crawley； as he shut the
door upon her。 Amelia looked at him； leaning against the
glass： her face and her lips were quite white。
〃I was confused when I spoke just now；〃 the Major
said after a pause； 〃and I misused the word authority。〃
〃You did；〃 said Amelia with her teeth chattering。
〃At least I have claims to be heard；〃 Dobbin
continued。
〃It is generous to remind me of our obligations to you；〃
the woman answered。
〃The claims I mean are those left me by George's
father；〃 William said。
〃Yes； and you insulted his memory。 You did yesterday。
You know you did。 And I will never forgive you。 Never！〃
said Amelia。 She shot out each little sentence in a tremor
of anger and emotion。
〃You don't mean that； Amelia？〃 William said sadly。
〃You don't mean that these words； uttered in a hurried
moment； are to weigh against a whole life's devotion？ I
think that George's memory has not been injured by the
way in which I have dealt with it； and if we are come to
bandying reproaches； I at least merit none from his
widow and the mother of his son。 Reflect； afterwards when
when you are at leisure； and your conscience will
withdraw this accusation。 It does even now。〃 Amelia held
down her head。
〃It is not that speech of yesterday；〃 he continued；
〃which moves you。 That is but the pretext； Amelia； or I
have loved you and watched you for fifteen years in vain。
Have I not learned in that time to read all your feelings
and look into your thoughts？ I know what your heart
is capable of： it can cling faithfully to a recollection and
cherish a fancy； but it can't feel such an attachment as
mine deserves to mate with； and such as I would have
won from a woman more generous than you。 No； you
are not worthy of the love which I have devoted to you。
I knew all along that the prize I had set my life on was
not worth the winning； that I was a fool； with fond
fancies； too； bartering away my all of truth and ardour
against your little feeble remnant of love。 I will bargain
no more： I withdraw。 I find no fault with you。 You are
very good…natured； and have done your best； but you
couldn'tyou couldn't reach up to the height of the
attachment which I bore you； and which a loftier soul than
yours might have been proud to share。 Good…bye； Amelia！
I have watched your struggle。 Let it end。 We are both
weary of it。〃
Amelia stood scared and silent as William thus
suddenly broke the chain by which she held him and
declared his independence and superiority。 He had placed
himself at her feet so long that the poor little woman
had been accustomed to trample upon him。 She didn't
wish to marry him； but she wished to keep him。 She
wished to give him nothing； but that he should give her
all。 It is a bargain not unfrequently levied in love。
William's sally had quite broken and cast her down。
HER assault was long since over and beaten back。
〃Am I to understand then； that you are goingaway；
William？〃 she said。
He gave a sad laugh。 〃I went once before；〃 he said；
〃and came back after twelve years。 We were young then；
Amelia。 Good…bye。 I have spent enough of my life at this
play。〃
Whilst they had been talking； the door into Mrs。 Osborne's
room had opened ever so little； indeed； Becky
had kept a hold of the handle and had turned it on the
instant when Dobbin quitted it； and she heard every word
of the conversation that had passed between these two。
〃What a noble heart that man has；〃 she thought； and
how shamefully that woman plays with it！〃 She admired
Dobbin； she bore him no rancour for the part he had
taken against her。 It was an open move in the game；
and played fairly。 〃Ah！〃 she thought； 〃if I could have had
such a husband as thata man with a heart and brains
too！ I would not have minded his large feet〃； and running
into her room； she absolutely bethought herself of
something； and wrote him a note； beseeching him to stop for a
few daysnot to think of goingand that she could
serve him with A。
The parting was over。 Once more poor William walked
to the door and was gone； and the little widow； the
author of all this work； had her will； and had won her
victory； and was left to enjoy it as she best might。 Let
the ladies envy her triumph。
At the romantic hour of dinner； Mr。 Georgy made his
appearance and again remarked the absence of 〃Old
Dob。〃 The meal was eaten in silence by the party。 Jos's
appetite not being diminished； but Emmy taking
nothing at all。
After the meal； Georgy was lolling in the cushions of
the old window； a large window； with three sides of glass
abutting from the gable； and commanding on one side
the market…place； where the Elephant is； his mother being
busy hard by； when he remarked symptoms of
movement at the Major's house on the other side of the street。
〃Hullo！〃 said he； 〃there's Dob's trapthey are bringing
it out of the court…yard。〃 The 〃trap〃 in question
was a carriage which the Major had bought for six pounds
sterling； and about which they used to rally him a good
deal。
Emmy gave a little start； but said nothing。
〃Hullo！〃 Georgy continued； 〃there's Francis coming out
with the portmanteaus； and Kunz； the one…eyed
postilion； coming down the market with three schimmels。
Look at his boots and yellow jacketain't he a rum
one？ Whythey're putting the horses to Dob's carriage。
Is he going anywhere？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Emmy； 〃he is going on a journey。〃
〃Going on a journey； and when is he coming back？〃
〃He isnot coming back；〃 answered Emmy。
〃Not coming back！〃 cried out Georgy； jumping up。
〃Stay here； sir；〃 roared out Jos。 〃Stay； Georgy；〃 said his
mother with a very sad face。 The boy stopped； kicked
about the room； jumped up and down from the window…
seat with his knees； and showed every symptom of
uneasiness and curiosity。
The horses were put to。 The baggage was strapped
on。 Francis came out with his master's sword； cane；
and umbrella tied up together； and laid them in the
well； and his desk and old tin cocked…hat case； which
he placed under the seat。 Francis brought out the
stained old blue cloak lined with red camlet； which had
wrapped the owner up any time these fifteen years； and
had manchen Sturm erlebt； as a favourite song of those
days said。 It had been new for the campaign of Waterloo
and had covered Georg