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How she had despaired and hoped to die there； and now
were not all her wishes accomplished； and the lover of
whom she had despaired her own for ever？ Kind mother！
how patiently and tenderly she had watched round that
bed！ She went and knelt down by the bedside； and there
this wounded and timorous； but gentle and loving soul；
sought for consolation； where as yet； it must be owned；
our little girl had but seldom looked for it。 Love had
been her faith hitherto； and the sad； bleeding disappointed
heart began to feel the want of another consoler。
Have we a right to repeat or to overhear her prayers？
These； brother； are secrets； and out of the domain of
Vanity Fair； in which our story lies。
But this may be said； that when the tea was finally
announced； our young lady came downstairs a great deal
more cheerful； that she did not despond； or deplore her
fate； or think about George's coldness； or Rebecca's eyes；
as she had been wont to do of late。 She went downstairs；
and kissed her father and mother； and talked to
the old gentleman； and made him more merry than he
had been for many a day。 She sate down at the piano
which Dobbin had bought for her； and sang over all her
father's favourite old songs。 She pronounced the tea to
be excellent； and praised the exquisite taste in which
the marmalade was arranged in the saucers。 And in
determining to make everybody else happy； she found
herself so； and was sound asleep in the great funereal
pavilion； and only woke up with a smile when George
arrived from the theatre。
For the next day； George had more important 〃business〃
to transact than that which took him to see Mr。
Kean in Shylock。 Immediately on his arrival in London
he had written off to his father's solicitors； signifying his
royal pleasure that an interview should take place between
them on the morrow。 His hotel bill； losses at
billiards and cards to Captain Crawley had almost drained
the young man's purse； which wanted replenishing before
he set out on his travels； and he had no resource but
to infringe upon the two thousand pounds which the
attorneys were commissioned to pay over to him。 He
had a perfect belief in his own mind that his father
would relent before very long。 How could any parent
be obdurate for a length of time against such a
paragon as he was？ If his mere past and personal merits did
not succeed in mollifying his father； George determined
that he would distinguish himself so prodigiously in the
ensuing campaign that the old gentleman must give in to
him。 And if not？ Bah！ the world was before him。 His
luck might change at cards； and there was a deal of
spending in two thousand pounds。
So he sent off Amelia once more in a carriage to her
mamma； with strict orders and carte blanche to the two
ladies to purchase everything requisite for a lady of Mrs。
George Osborne's fashion； who was going on a foreign
tour。 They had but one day to complete the outfit； and
it may be imagined that their business therefore occupied
them pretty fully。 In a carriage once more； bustling
about from milliner to linen…draper； escorted back to the
carriage by obsequious shopmen or polite owners； Mrs。
Sedley was herself again almost； and sincerely happy for
the first time since their misfortunes。 Nor was Mrs。
Amelia at all above the pleasure of shopping； and
bargaining； and seeing and buying pretty things。 （Would
any man； the most philosophic； give twopence for a
woman who was？） She gave herself a little treat；
obedient to her husband's orders； and purchased a
quantity of lady's gear； showing a great deal of taste and
elegant discernment； as all the shopfolks said。
And about the war that was ensuing； Mrs。 Osborne
was not much alarmed； Bonaparty was to be crushed
almost without a struggle。 Margate packets were sailing
every day； filled with men of fashion and ladies of note；
on their way to Brussels and Ghent。 People were going
not so much to a war as to a fashionable tour。 The
newspapers laughed the wretched upstart and swindler to
scorn。 Such a Corsican wretch as that withstand the
armies of Europe and the genius of the immortal
Wellington！ Amelia held him in utter contempt； for it needs
not to be said that this soft and gentle creature took her
opinions from those people who surrounded her； such
fidelity being much too humble…minded to think for itself。
Well； in a word； she and her mother performed a
great day's shopping； and she acquitted herself with
considerable liveliness and credit on this her first
appearance in the genteel world of London。
George meanwhile； with his hat on one side； his elbows
squared； and his swaggering martial air； made for
Bedford Row； and stalked into the attorney's offices as if
he was lord of every pale…faced clerk who was scribbling
there。 He ordered somebody to inform Mr。 Higgs that
Captain Osborne was waiting； in a fierce and patronizing
way； as if the pekin of an attorney； who had thrice his
brains； fifty times his money； and a thousand times his
experience； was a wretched underling who should
instantly leave all his business in life to attend on the
Captain's pleasure。 He did not see the sneer of contempt
which passed all round the room； from the first
clerk to the articled gents； from the articled gents to the
ragged writers and white…faced runners； in clothes too
tight for them； as he sate there tapping his boot with his
cane； and thinking what a parcel of miserable poor devils
these were。 The miserable poor devils knew all about his
affairs。 They talked about them over their pints of beer
at their public…house clubs to other clerks of a night。
Ye gods； what do not attorneys and attorneys' clerks
know in London！ Nothing is hidden from their
inquisition； and their families mutely rule our city。
Perhaps George expected； when he entered Mr。 Higgs's
apartment； to find that gentleman commissioned to give
him some message of compromise or conciliation from
his father； perhaps his haughty and cold demeanour
was adopted as a sign of his spirit and resolution： but if
so； his fierceness was met by a chilling coolness and
indifference on the attorney's part； that rendered
swaggering absurd。 He pretended to be writing at a paper；
when the Captain entered。 〃Pray； sit down； sir；〃 said he；
〃and I will attend to your little affair in a moment。 Mr。
Poe； get the release papers； if you please〃； and then he
fell to writing again。
Poe having produced those papers； his chief calculated
the amount of two thousand pounds stock at the rate of
the day； and asked Captain Osborne whether he would
take the sum in a cheque upon the bankers； or whether
he should direct the latter to purchase stock to that
amount。 〃One of the late Mrs。 Osborne's trustees is out
of town；〃 he said indifferently； 〃but my client wishes to
meet your wishes； and have done with the business as
quick as possible。〃
〃Give me a cheque； sir；〃 said the Captain very surlily。
〃Damn the shillings and halfpence； sir；〃 he added； as the
lawyer was making out the amount of the draft； and；
flattering himself that by this stroke of magnanimity he
had put the old quiz to the blush； he stalked out of
the office with the p