In a word, George had thrown the great cast. He was going to be

married. Hence his pallor and nervousness--his sleepless night and

agitation in the morning. I have heard people who have gone through

the same thing own to the same emotion. After three or four

ceremonies, you get accustomed to it, no doubt; but the first dip,

everybody allows, is awful.

The bride was dressed in a brown silk pelisse (as Captain Dobbin has

since informed me), and wore a straw bonnet with a pink ribbon; over

the bonnet she had a veil of white Chantilly lace, a gift from Mr.

Joseph Sedley, her brother. Captain Dobbin himself had asked leave to

present her with a gold chain and watch, which she sported on this

occasion; and her mother gave her her diamond brooch--almost the only

trinket which was left to the old lady. As the service went on, Mrs.

Sedley sat and whimpered a great deal in a pew, consoled by the Irish

maid-servant and Mrs. Clapp from the lodgings. Old Sedley would not be

present. Jos acted for his father, giving away the bride, whilst

Captain Dobbin stepped up as groomsman to his friend George.

There was nobody in the church besides the officiating persons and the

small marriage party and their attendants. The two valets sat aloof

superciliously. The rain came rattling down on the windows. In the

intervals of the service you heard it, and the sobbing of old Mrs.

Sedley in the pew. The parson's tones echoed sadly through the empty

walls. Osborne's "I will" was sounded in very deep bass. Emmy's

response came fluttering up to her lips from her heart, but was

scarcely heard by anybody except Captain Dobbin.

When the service was completed, Jos Sedley came forward and kissed his

sister, the bride, for the first time for many months--George's look of

gloom had gone, and he seemed quite proud and radiant. "It's your turn,

William," says he, putting his hand fondly upon Dobbin's shoulder; and

Dobbin went up and touched Amelia on the cheek.

Then they went into the vestry and signed the register. "God bless you,

Old Dobbin," George said, grasping him by the hand, with something very

like moisture glistening in his eyes. William replied only by nodding

his head. His heart was too full to say much.

"Write directly, and come down as soon as you can, you know," Osborne

said. After Mrs. Sedley had taken an hysterical adieu of her daughter,

the pair went off to the carriage. "Get out of the way, you little

devils," George cried to a small crowd of damp urchins, that were

hanging about the chapel-door. The rain drove into the bride and

bridegroom's faces as they passed to the chariot. The postilions'

favours draggled on their dripping jackets. The few children made a

dismal cheer, as the carriage, splashing mud, drove away.




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