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darling； and a sweet little zoggy； and a pretty pet。 The
carriages moved on； each in his line。
〃Done； by Jove；〃 Rawdon said to his wife。
〃Try once more； Rawdon；〃 Rebecca answered。 〃Could
not you lock your wheels into theirs； dearest？〃
Rawdon had not the heart for that manoeuvre。 When
the carriages met again； he stood up in his stanhope； he
raised his hand ready to doff his hat； he looked with all
his eyes。 But this time Miss Crawley's face was not turned
away； she and Mrs。 Bute looked him full in the face；
and cut their nephew pitilessly。 He sank back in his seat
with an oath； and striking out of the ring； dashed away
desperately homewards。
It was a gallant and decided triumph for Mrs。 Bute。
But she felt the danger of many such meetings； as she
saw the evident nervousness of Miss Crawley； and she
determined that it was most necessary for her dear
friend's health； that they should leave town for a while；
and recommended Brighton very strongly。
CHAPTER XX
In Which Captain Dobbin Acts as the Messenger of Hymen
Without knowing how； Captain William Dobbin found
himself the great promoter； arranger； and manager of the
match between George Osborne and Amelia。 But for him
it never would have taken place： he could not but
confess as much to himself； and smiled rather bitterly as he
thought that he of all men in the world should be the
person upon whom the care of this marriage had fallen。
But though indeed the conducting of this negotiation was
about as painful a task as could be set to him； yet when
he had a duty to perform； Captain Dobbin was accustomed
to go through it without many words or much
hesitation： and； having made up his mind completely；
that if Miss Sedley was balked of her husband she would
die of the disappointment； he was determined to use all
his best endeavours to keep her alive。
I forbear to enter into minute particulars of the interview
between George and Amelia； when the former was
brought back to the feet （or should we venture to say the
arms？） of his young mistress by the intervention of his
friend honest William。 A much harder heart than
George's would have melted at the sight of that sweet
face so sadly ravaged by grief and despair； and at the
simple tender accents in which she told her little broken…
hearted story： but as she did not faint when her mother；
trembling； brought Osborne to her； and as she only gave
relief to her overcharged grief； by laying her head on
her lover's shoulder and there weeping for a while the
most tender； copious； and refreshing tearsold Mrs。
Sedley； too greatly relieved； thought it was best to leave
the young persons to themselves； and so quitted Emmy
crying over George's hand； and kissing it humbly； as if he
were her supreme chief and master； and as if she were
quite a guilty and unworthy person needing every favour
and grace from him。
This prostration and sweet unrepining obedience
exquisitely touched and flattered George Osborne。 He saw a
slave before him in that simple yielding faithful creature；
and his soul within him thrilled secretly somehow
at the knowledge of his power。 He would be generous…
minded； Sultan as he was； and raise up this kneeling
Esther and make a queen of her： besides； her sadness
and beauty touched him as much as her submission； and
so he cheered her； and raised her up and forgave her； so
to speak。 All her hopes and feelings； which were dying
and withering； this her sun having been removed from
her； bloomed again and at once； its light being restored。
You would scarcely have recognised the beaming little
face upon Amelia's pillow that night as the one that was
laid there the night before； so wan； so lifeless； so
careless of all round about。 The honest Irish maid…servant；
delighted with the change； asked leave to kiss the face
that had grown all of a sudden so rosy。 Amelia put her
arms round the girl's neck and kissed her with all her
heart； like a child。 She was little more。 She had that night
a sweet refreshing sleep； like oneand what a spring of
inexpressible happiness as she woke in the morning sunshine！
〃He will be here again to…day；〃 Amelia thought。 〃He is
the greatest and best of men。〃 And the fact is； that
George thought he was one of the generousest creatures
alive： and that he was making a tremendous sacrifice in
marrying this young creature。
While she and Osborne were having their delightful
tete…a…tete above stairs； old Mrs。 Sedley and Captain
Dobbin were conversing below upon the state of the
affairs； and the chances and future arrangements of the
young people。 Mrs。 Sedley having brought the two lovers
together and left them embracing each other with all their
might； like a true woman； was of opinion that no power
on earth would induce Mr。 Sedley to consent to the match
between his daughter and the son of a man who had so
shamefully； wickedly； and monstrously treated him。 And
she told a long story about happier days and their earlier
splendours； when Osborne lived in a very humble way in
the New Road； and his wife was too glad to receive some
of Jos's little baby things； with which Mrs。 Sedley
accommodated her at the birth of one of Osborne's own
children。 The fiendish ingratitude of that man； she was
sure； had broken Mr。 S。's heart： and as for a marriage；
he would never； never； never； never consent。
〃They must run away together； Ma'am；〃 Dobbin said；
laughing； 〃and follow the example of Captain Rawdon
Crawley； and Miss Emmy's friend the little governess。〃
Was it possible？ Well she never！ Mrs。 Sedley was all
excitement about this news。 She wished that Blenkinsop were
here to hear it： Blenkinsop always mistrusted that Miss
Sharp。What an escape Jos had had！ and she described
the already well…known love…passages between Rebecca and
the Collector of Boggley Wollah。
It was not； however； Mr。 Sedley's wrath which Dobbin
feared； so much as that of the other parent concerned；
and he owned that he had a very considerable doubt
and anxiety respecting the behaviour of the black…browed
old tyrant of a Russia merchant in Russell Square。 He
has forbidden the match peremptorily； Dobbin thought。
He knew what a savage determined man Osborne was； and
how he stuck by his word。 The only chance George has
of reconcilement；〃 argued his friend； 〃is by distinguishing
himself in the coming campaign。 If he dies they both go
together。 If he fails in distinctionwhat then？ He has
some money from his mother； I have heard enough to
purchase his majorityor he must sell out and go and
dig in Canada； or rough it in a cottage in the country。〃
With such a partner Dobbin thought he would not mind
Siberiaand； strange to say； this absurd and utterly
imprudent young fellow never for a moment considered that
the want of means to keep a nice carriage and horses；
and of an income which should enable its possessors to
entertain their friends genteelly； ought to operate as bars
to the union of George and Miss Sedley。
It was these weighty considerations which made him
think too that the marriage should take place as quickly
as possible。 Was he anxious himself； I wonder； to have it
over。？as people； when death has occurred； like to pr