按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
her as a wife； the disinterested Fred quite approved of her
as a sister…in…law。 〃Let George cut in directly and win
her；〃 was his advice。 〃Strike while the iron's hot； you
knowwhile she's fresh to the town： in a few weeks
some d fellow from the West End will come in with a
title and a rotten rent…roll and cut all us City men out； as
Lord Fitzrufus did last year with Miss Grogram； who was
actually engaged to Podder； of Podder & Brown's。 The
sooner it is done the better； Mr。 Osborne； them's my
sentiments；〃 the wag said； though； when Osborne had left
the bank parlour； Mr。 Bullock remembered Amelia； and
what a pretty girl she was； and how attached to George
Osborne； and he gave up at least ten seconds of his
valuable time to regretting the misfortune which had
befallen that unlucky young woman。
While thus George Osborne's good feelings； and his
good friend and genius； Dobbin； were carrying back the
truant to Amelia's feet； George's parent and sisters were
arranging this splendid match for him； which they never
dreamed he would resist。
When the elder Osborne gave what he called 〃a hint；〃
there was no possibility for the most obtuse to mistake
his meaning。 He called kicking a footman downstairs a
hint to the latter to leave his service。 With his usual
frankness and delicacy he told Mrs。 Haggistoun that he
would give her a cheque for five thousand pounds on the
day his son was married to her ward； and called that
proposal a hint； and considered it a very dexterous piece
of diplomacy。 He gave George finally such another hint
regarding the heiress； and ordered him to marry her out
of hand； as he would have ordered his butler to draw a
cork； or his clerk to write a letter。
This imperative hint disturbed George a good deal。 He
was in the very first enthusiasm and delight of his second
courtship of Amelia； which was inexpressibly sweet
to him。 The contrast of her manners and appearance with
those of the heiress； made the idea of a union with the
latter appear doubly ludicrous and odious。 Carriages and
opera…boxes； thought he； fancy being seen in them by the
side of such a mahogany charmer as that！ Add to all
that the junior Osborne was quite as obstinate as the
senior： when he wanted a thing； quite as firm in his
resolution to get it； and quite as violent when angered；
as his father in his most stern moments。
On the first day when his father formally gave him the
hint that he was to place his affections at Miss Swartz's
feet； George temporised with the old gentleman。 〃You
should have thought of the matter sooner； sir；〃 he said。
〃It can't be done now； when we're expecting every day
to go on foreign service。 Wait till my return； if I do
return〃； and then he represented； that the time when the
regiment was daily expecting to quit England； was
exceedingly ill…chosen： that the few days or weeks during
which they were still to remain at home； must be
devoted to business and not to love…making： time enough
for that when he came home with his majority； 〃for； I
promise you；〃 said he； with a satisfied air； 〃that one
way or other you shall read the name of George Osborne
in the Gazette。〃
The father's reply to this was founded upon the
information which he had got in the City： that the West
End chaps would infallibly catch hold of the heiress if
any delay took place： that if he didn't marry Miss S。； he
might at least have an engagement in writing； to come
into effect when he returned to England； and that a man
who could get ten thousand a year by staying at home；
was a fool to risk his life abroad。
〃So that you would have me shown up as a coward； sir；
and our name dishonoured for the sake of Miss Swartz's
money；〃 George interposed。
This remark staggered the old gentleman； but as he
had to reply to it； and as his mind was nevertheless
made up； he said； 〃You will dine here to…morrow； sir；
and every day Miss Swartz comes； you will be here to
pay your respects to her。 If you want for money； call
upon Mr。 Chopper。〃 Thus a new obstacle was in George's
way； to interfere with his plans regarding Amelia； and
about which he and Dobbin had more than one confidential
consultation。 His friend's opinion respecting the
line of conduct which he ought to pursue； we know
already。 And as for Osborne； when he was once bent on a
thing； a fresh obstacle or two only rendered him the
more resolute。
The dark object of the conspiracy into which the chiefs
of the Osborne family had entered； was quite ignorant of
all their plans regarding her （which； strange to say； her
friend and chaperon did not divulge）； and； taking all the
young ladies' flattery for genuine sentiment； and being；
as we have before had occasion to show； of a very
warm and impetuous nature； responded to their affection
with quite a tropical ardour。 And if the truth may be told；
I dare say that she too had some selfish attraction in the
Russell Square house； and in a word； thought George
Osborne a very nice young man。 His whiskers had made
an impression upon her； on the very first night she
beheld them at the ball at Messrs。 Hulkers； and； as we
know； she was not the first woman who had been
charmed by them。 George had an air at once swaggering
and melancholy； languid and fierce。 He looked like a
man who had passions； secrets； and private harrowing
griefs and adventures。 His voice was rich and deep。 He
would say it was a warm evening； or ask his partner to
take an ice； with a tone as sad and confidential as if he
were breaking her mother's death to her； or preluding a
declaration of love。 He trampled over all the young bucks
of his father's circle； and was the hero among those
third…rate men。 Some few sneered at him and hated him。
Some； like Dobbin； fanatically admired him。 And his whiskers
had begun to do their work； and to curl themselves
round the affections of Miss Swartz。
Whenever there was a chance of meeting him in Russell
Square； that simple and good…natured young woman
was quite in a flurry to see her dear Misses Osborne。 She
went to great expenses in new gowns； and bracelets； and
bonnets； and in prodigious feathers。 She adorned her
person with her utmost skill to please the Conqueror；
and exhibited all her simple accomplishments to win his
favour。 The girls would ask her； with the greatest
gravity； for a little music； and she would sing her three
songs and play her two little pieces as often as ever
they asked； and with an always increasing pleasure to
herself。 During these delectable entertainments； Miss
Wirt and the chaperon sate by； and conned over the
peerage； and talked about the nobility。
The day after George had his hint from his father； and
a short time before the hour of dinner； he was lolling
upon a sofa in the drawing…room in a very becoming
and perfectly natural attitude of melancholy。 He had
been； at his father's request； to Mr。 Chopper in the City
（the old…gentleman； though he gave great sums to his
son； would never specify any fixed allowance for him；
and rewarded him only as he was in the humour）。 He
had then been to pass three hours with Amelia； his
dear little Amelia； at Fulham； and he came home to
find his sisters spread in s