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the Crawleys' company； losing money to the husband and
flattering himself that the wife was dying of love for him。
It is very likely that this worthy couple never absolutely
conspired and agreed together in so many words： the one
to cajole the young gentleman； whilst the other won his
money at cards： but they understood each other perfectly
well； and Rawdon let Osborne come and go with entire
good humour。
George was so occupied with his new acquaintances
that he and William Dobbin were by no means so much
together as formerly。 George avoided him in public and
in the regiment； and； as we see； did not like those
sermons which his senior was disposed to inflict upon him。
If some parts of his conduct made Captain Dobbin
exceedingly grave and cool； of what use was it to tell George
that； though his whiskers were large； and his own
opinion of his knowingness great； he was as green as a
schoolboy？ that Rawdon was making a victim of him as he had
done of many before； and as soon as he had used him
would fling him off with scorn？ He would not listen： and
so； as Dobbin； upon those days when he visited the
0sborne house； seldom had the advantage of meeting his
old friend； much painful and unavailing talk between
them was spared。 Our friend George was in the full career
of the pleasures of Vanity Fair。
There never was； since the days of Darius； such a brilliant
train of camp…followers as hung round the Duke of
Wellington's army in the Low Countries； in 1815； and
led it dancing and feasting； as it were； up to the very
brink of battle。 A certain ball which a noble Duchess
gave at Brussels on the 15th of June in the above…named
year is historical。 All Brussels had been in a state of
excitement about it； and I have heard from ladies who
were in that town at the period； that the talk and interest
of persons of their own sex regarding the ball was much
greater even than in respect of the enemy in their front。
The struggles； intrigues； and prayers to get tickets were
such as only English ladies will employ； in order to gain
admission to the society of the great of their own nation。
Jos and Mrs。 O'Dowd； who were panting to be asked；
strove in vain to procure tickets； but others of our friends
were more lucky。 For instance； through the interest of
my Lord Bareacres； and as a set…off for the dinner at the
restaurateur's； George got a card for Captain and Mrs。
Osborne； which circumstance greatly elated him。 Dobbin；
who was a friend of the General commanding the division
in which their regiment was； came laughing one
day to Mrs。 Osborne； and displayed a similar invitation；
which made Jos envious； and George wonder how the
deuce he should be getting into society。 Mr。 and Mrs。
Rawdon； finally； were of course invited； as became the
friends of a General commanding a cavalry brigade。
On the appointed night； George； having commanded
new dresses and ornaments of all sorts for Amelia； drove
to the famous ball； where his wife did not know a single
soul。 After looking about for Lady Bareacres； who cut
him； thinking the card was quite enoughand after
placing Amelia on a bench； he left her to her own
cogitations there； thinking； on his own part； that he had
behaved very handsomely in getting her new clothes； and
bringing her to the ball； where she was free to amuse
herself as she liked。 Her thoughts were not of the
pleasantest； and nobody except honest Dobbin came to
disturb them。
Whilst her appearance was an utter failure （as her
husband felt with a sort of rage）； Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley's
debut was； on the contrary； very brilliant。 She arrived
very late。 Her face was radiant； her dress perfection。 In
the midst of the great persons assembled； and the eye…
glasses directed to her； Rebecca seemed to be as cool
and collected as when she used to marshal Miss Pinkerton's
little girls to church。 Numbers of the men she knew
already； and the dandies thronged round her。 As for the
ladies； it was whispered among them that Rawdon had
run away with her from out of a convent； and that she
was a relation of the Montmorency family。 She spoke
French so perfectly that there might be some truth in
this report； and it was agreed that her manners were
fine； and her air distingue。 Fifty would…be partners
thronged round her at once； and pressed to have the
honour to dance with her。 But she said she was engaged；
and only going to dance very little； and made her way at
once to the place where Emmy sate quite unnoticed； and
dismally unhappy。 And so； to finish the poor child at
once； Mrs。 Rawdon ran and greeted affectionately her
dearest Amelia； and began forthwith to patronise her。
She found fault with her friend's dress； and her
hairdresser； and wondered how she could be so chaussee；
and vowed that she must send her corsetiere the next
morning。 She vowed that it was a delightful ball； that
there was everybody that every one knew； and only a
VERY few nobodies in the whole room。 It is a fact； that
in a fortnight； and after three dinners in general society；
this young woman had got up the genteel jargon so well；
that a native could not speak it better； and it was only
from her French being so good； that you could know she
was not a born woman of fashion。
George； who had left Emmy on her bench on entering
the ball…room； very soon found his way back when
Rebecca was by her dear friend's side。 Becky was just
lecturing Mrs。 Osborne upon the follies which her
husband was committing。 〃For God's sake； stop him from
gambling； my dear；〃 she said； 〃or he will ruin himself。
He and Rawdon are playing at cards every night； and you
know he is very poor； and Rawdon will win every shilling
from him if he does not take care。 Why don't you prevent
him； you little careless creature？ Why don't you
come to us of an evening； instead of moping at home
with that Captain Dobbin？ I dare say he is tres aimable；
but how could one love a man with feet of such size？
Your husband's feet are darlingsHere he comes。 Where
have you been； wretch？ Here is Emmy crying her eyes
out for you。 Are you coming to fetch me for the quadrille？〃
And she left her bouquet and shawl by Amelia's
side； and tripped off with George to dance。 Women only
know how to wound so。 There is a poison on the tips of
their little shafts； which stings a thousand times more
than a man's blunter weapon。 Our poor Emmy； who had
never hated； never sneered all her life； was powerless in
the hands of her remorseless little enemy。
George danced with Rebecca twice or thricehow many
times Amelia scarcely knew。 She sat quite unnoticed in
her corner； except when Rawdon came up with some
words of clumsy conversation： and later in the evening；
when Captain Dobbin made so bold as to bring her
refreshments and sit beside her。 He did not like to ask her
why she was so sad； but as a pretext for the tears which
were filling in her eyes； she told him that Mrs。 Crawley
had alarmed her by telling her that George would go on
playing。
〃It is curious； when a man is bent upon play； by what
clumsy rogues he will allow himself to be cheated；〃
Dobbin said； and Emmy said； 〃Indeed。〃 She was thinking of
something else。 It wa