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George。 If you could have seen poor little Miss Emmy's
face when she asked me about you the other day； you
would have pitched those billiard…balls to the deuce。 Go
and comfort her； you rascal。 Go and write her a long
letter。 Do something to make her happy； a very little will。〃
〃I believe she's dd fond of me；〃 the Lieutenant said；
with a self…satisfied air； and went off to finish the evening
with some jolly fellows in the mess…room。
Amelia meanwhile； in Russell Square； was looking at
the moon； which was shining upon that peaceful spot； as
well as upon the square of the Chatham barracks； where
Lieutenant Osborne was quartered； and thinking to
herself how her hero was employed。 Perhaps he is visiting
the sentries； thought she； perhaps he is bivouacking；
perhaps he is attending the couch of a wounded comrade； or
studying the art of war up in his own desolate chamber。
And her kind thoughts sped away as if they were angels
and had wings； and flying down the river to Chatham
and Rochester； strove to peep into the barracks where
George was。 。 。 。 All things considered； I think it was
as well the gates were shut； and the sentry allowed no
one to pass； so that the poor little white…robed angel
could not hear the songs those young fellows were
roaring over the whisky…punch。
The day after the little conversation at Chatham
barracks； young Osborne； to show that he would be as good
as his word； prepared to go to town； thereby incurring
Captain Dobbin's applause。 〃I should have liked to make her
a little present；〃 Osborne said to his friend in confidence；
〃only I am quite out of cash until my father tips up。〃 But
Dobbin would not allow this good nature and generosity
to be balked； and so accommodated Mr。 Osborne with a
few pound notes； which the latter took after a little faint
scruple。
And I dare say he would have bought something very
handsome for Amelia； only； getting off the coach in Fleet
Street； he was attracted by a handsome shirt…pin in a
jeweller's window； which he could not resist； and having
paid for that； had very little money to spare for indulging
in any further exercise of kindness。 Never mind： you may
be sure it was not his presents Amelia wanted。 When he
came to Russell Square； her face lighted up as if he had
been sunshine。 The little cares； fears； tears； timid
misgivings； sleepless fancies of I don't know how many days
and nights； were forgotten； under one moment's influence
of that familiar； irresistible smile。 He beamed on her
from the drawing…room doormagnificent； with
ambrosial whiskers； like a god。 Sambo； whose face as he
announced Captain Osbin （having conferred a brevet rank
on that young officer） blazed with a sympathetic grin； saw
the little girl start； and flush； and jump up from her
watching…place in the window； and Sambo retreated： and
as soon as the door was shut； she went fluttering to
Lieutenant George Osborne's heart as if it was the only natural
home for her to nestle in。 Oh； thou poor panting little
soul！ The very finest tree in the whole forest； with the
straightest stem； and the strongest arms； and the
thickest foliage； wherein you choose to build and coo； may
be marked； for what you know； and may be down with a
crash ere long。 What an old； old simile that is； between
man and timber！
In the meanwhile； George kissed her very kindly on
her forehead and glistening eyes； and was very gracious
and good； and she thought his diamond shirt…pin （which
she had not known him to wear before） the prettiest
ornament ever seen。
The observant reader； who has marked our young
Lieutenant's previous behaviour； and has preserved our
report of the brief conversation which he has just had
with Captain Dobbin； has possibly come to certain
conclusions regarding the character of Mr。 Osborne。 Some
cynical Frenchman has said that there are two parties to
a love…transaction： the one who loves and the other who
condescends to be so treated。 Perhaps the love is
occasionally on the man's side； perhaps on the lady's。
Perhaps some infatuated swain has ere this mistaken
insensibility for modesty； dulness for maiden reserve； mere
vacuity for sweet bashfulness； and a goose； in a word；
for a swan。 Perhaps some beloved female subscriber has
arrayed an ass in the splendour and glory of her
imagination； admired his dulness as manly simplicity；
worshipped his selfishness as manly superiority； treated his
stupidity as majestic gravity； and used him as the
brilliant fairy Titania did a certain weaver at Athens。 I think
I have seen such comedies of errors going on in the
world。 But this is certain； that Amelia believed her lover
to be one of the most gallant and brilliant men in the
empire： and it is possible Lieutenant Osborne thought
so too。
He was a little wild： how many young men are； and
don't girls like a rake better than a milksop？ He hadn't
sown his wild oats as yet； but he would soon： and quit
the army now that peace was proclaimed； the Corsican
monster locked up at Elba； promotion by consequence
over； and no chance left for the display of his undoubted
military talents and valour： and his allowance； with
Amelia's settlement； would enable them to take a snug
place in the country somewhere； in a good sporting
neighbourhood； and he would hunt a little； and farm a
little； and they would be very happy。 As for remaining
in the army as a married man； that was impossible。
Fancy Mrs。 George Osborne in lodgings in a county
town； or； worse still； in the East or West Indies； with a
society of officers； and patronized by Mrs。 Major O'Dowd！
Amelia died with laughing at Osborne's stories about
Mrs。 Major O'Dowd。 He loved her much too fondly to
subject her to that horrid woman and her vulgarities；
and the rough treatment of a soldier's wife。 He didn't
care for himselfnot he； but his dear little girl should
take the place in society to which； as his wife； she was
entitled： and to these proposals you may be sure she
acceded； as she would to any other from the same author。
Holding this kind of conversation； and building
numberless castles in the air （which Amelia adorned with all
sorts of flower…gardens； rustic walks； country churches；
Sunday schools； and the like； while George had his
mind's eye directed to the stables； the kennel； and the
cellar）； this young pair passed away a couple of hours
very pleasantly； and as the Lieutenant had only that
single day in town； and a great deal of most important
business to transact； it was proposed that Miss Emmy should
dine with her future sisters…in…law。 This invitation was
accepted joyfully。 He conducted her to his sisters； where
he left her talking and prattling in a way that astonished
those ladies； who thought that George might make
something of her； and he then went off to transact
his business。
In a word； he went out and ate ices at a pastry…cook's
shop in Charing Cross； tried a new coat in Pall Mall；
dropped in at the Old Slaughters'； and called for Captain
Cannon； played eleven games at billiards with the
Captain； of which he won eight； and returned to Russell
Square half an hour late for dinner； but in very good
humour。
It