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until the old aunt should be reconciled； before she claimed
her place in society。 So she lived at Brompton； and
meanwhile saw no one； or only those few of her husband's
male companions who were admitted into her little
dining…room。 These were all charmed with her。 The little
dinners； the laughing and chatting； the music afterwards；
delighted all who participated in these enjoyments。 Major
Martingale never thought about asking to
see the marriage licence； Captain Cinqbars was perfectly
enchanted with her skill in making punch。 And young
Lieutenant Spatterdash （who was fond of piquet； and
whom Crawley would often invite） was evidently and
quickly smitten by Mrs。 Crawley； but her own
circumspection and modesty never forsook her for a
moment； and Crawley's reputation as a fire…eating and
jealous warrior was a further and complete defence to
his little wife。
There are gentlemen of very good blood and fashion
in this city； who never have entered a lady's drawing…
room； so that though Rawdon Crawley's marriage might
be talked about in his county； where； of course； Mrs。
Bute had spread the news； in London it was doubted； or
not heeded； or not talked about at all。 He lived comfortably
on credit。 He had a large capital of debts； which
laid out judiciously； will carry a man along for many
years； and on which certain men about town contrive
to live a hundred times better than even men with ready
money can do。 Indeed who is there that walks London
streets； but can point out a half…dozen of men riding
by him splendidly； while he is on foot； courted by fashion；
bowed into their carriages by tradesmen； denying
themselves nothing； and living on who knows what？ We
see Jack Thriftless prancing in the park； or darting in his
brougham down Pall Mall： we eat his dinners served on
his miraculous plate。 〃How did this begin；〃 we say； 〃or
where will it end？〃 〃My dear fellow；〃 I heard Jack once
say； 〃I owe money in every capital in Europe。〃 The end
must come some day； but in the meantime Jack thrives
as much as ever； people are glad enough to shake him by
the hand； ignore the little dark stories that are whispered
every now and then against him； and pronounce him a
good…natured； jovial； reckless fellow。
Truth obliges us to confess that Rebecca had married a
gentleman of this order。 Everything was plentiful in his
house but ready money； of which their menage pretty
early felt the want； and reading the Gazette one day；
and coming upon the announcement of 〃Lieutenant G。
Osborne to be Captain by purchase； vice Smith； who
exchanges；〃 Rawdon uttered that sentiment regarding
Amelia's lover； which ended in the visit to Russell Square。
When Rawdon and his wife wished to communicate
with Captain Dobbin at the sale； and to know particulars
of the catastrophe which had befallen Rebecca's
old acquaintances； the Captain had vanished； and such
information as they got was from a stray porter or broker
at the auction。
〃Look at them with their hooked beaks；〃 Becky said；
getting into the buggy； her picture under her arm； in
great glee。 〃They're like vultures after a battle。〃
〃Don't know。 Never was in action； my dear。 Ask
Martingale； he was in Spain； aide…de…camp to General
Blazes。〃
〃He was a very kind old man； Mr。 Sedley；〃 Rebecca
said； 〃I'm really sorry he's gone wrong。〃
〃O stockbrokersbankruptsused to it； you know；〃
Rawdon replied； cutting a fly off the horse's ear。
〃I wish we could have afforded some of the plate；
Rawdon；〃 the wife continued sentimentally。 〃Five…and…
twenty guineas was monstrously dear for that little piano。
We chose it at Broadwood's for Amelia； when she came
from school。 It only cost five…and…thirty then。〃
〃What…d'…ye…call'em'Osborne；' will cry off now； I
suppose； since the family is smashed。 How cut up your
pretty little friend will be； hey； Becky？〃
〃I daresay she'll recover it；〃 Becky said with a smile
and they drove on and talked about something else。
CHAPTER XVIII
Who Played on the Piano Captain Dobbin Bought
Our surprised story now finds itself for a moment
among very famous events and personages； and
hanging on to the skirts of history。 When the eagles
of Napoleon Bonaparte； the Corsican upstart； were
flying from Provence； where they had perched after a brief
sojourn in Elba； and from steeple to steeple until they
reached the towers of Notre Dame； I wonder whether the
Imperial birds had any eye for a little corner of the parish
of Bloomsbury； London； which you might have thought so quiet；
that even the whirring and flapping of those mighty wings
would pass unobserved there？
〃Napoleon has landed at Cannes。〃 Such news might
create a panic at Vienna； and cause Russia to drop his
cards； and take Prussia into a corner； and Talleyrand
and Metternich to wag their heads together； while Prince
Hardenberg； and even the present Marquis of Londonderry；
were puzzled； but how was this intelligence to affect a young
lady in Russell Square； before whose door the watchman
sang the hours when she was asleep： who； if she
strolled in the square； was guarded there by the
railings and the beadle： who； if she walked ever so short
a distance to buy a ribbon in Southampton Row； was
followed by Black Sambo with an enormous cane： who
was always cared for； dressed； put to bed； and watched
over by ever so many guardian angels； with and without
wages？ Bon Dieu； I say； is it not hard that the fateful
rush of the great Imperial struggle can't take place without
affecting a poor little harmless girl of eighteen； who
is occupied in billing and cooing； or working muslin
collars in Russell Square？ You too； kindly； homely flower！
is the great roaring war tempest coming to sweep you
down； here； although cowering under the shelter of
Holborn？ Yes； Napoleon is flinging his last stake； and poor
little Emmy Sedley's happiness forms； somehow； part of it。
In the first place； her father's fortune was swept down
with that fatal news。 All his speculations had of late gone
wrong with the luckless old gentleman。 Ventures had
failed； merchants had broken； funds had risen when he
calculated they would fall。 What need to particularize？
If success is rare and slow； everybody knows how quick
and easy ruin is。 Old Sedley had kept his own sad counsel。
Everything seemed to go on as usual in the quiet；
opulent house； the good…natured mistress pursuing； quite
unsuspiciously； her bustling idleness； and daily easy
avocations； the daughter absorbed still in one selfish； tender
thought； and quite regardless of all the world besides；
when that final crash came； under which the worthy
family fell。
One night Mrs。 Sedley was writing cards for a party；
the Osbornes had given one； and she must not be
behindhand； John Sedley； who had come home very late from
the City； sate silent at the chimney side； while his wife
was prattling to him； Emmy had gone up to her room
ailing and low…spirited。 〃She's not happy；〃 the mother
went on。 〃George Osborne neglects her。 I've no patience
with the airs of those people。 The girls have not been in
the house these three weeks； and George has been twice
in town withou