"The finest young fellow in the regiment," he continued. "Not a braver

or handsomer officer in the army; and such a charming wife! How you

would like her! how you will like her when you know her, Miss

Osborne." The young lady thought the actual moment had arrived, and

that Dobbin's nervousness which now came on and was visible in many

twitchings of his face, in his manner of beating the ground with his

great feet, in the rapid buttoning and unbuttoning of his frock-coat,

&c.--Miss Osborne, I say, thought that when he had given himself a

little air, he would unbosom himself entirely, and prepared eagerly to

listen. And the clock, in the altar on which Iphigenia was situated,

beginning, after a preparatory convulsion, to toll twelve, the mere

tolling seemed as if it would last until one--so prolonged was the

knell to the anxious spinster.

"But it's not about marriage that I came to speak--that is that

marriage--that is--no, I mean--my dear Miss Osborne, it's about our

dear friend George," Dobbin said.

"About George?" she said in a tone so discomfited that Maria and Miss

Wirt laughed at the other side of the door, and even that abandoned

wretch of a Dobbin felt inclined to smile himself; for he was not

altogether unconscious of the state of affairs: George having often

bantered him gracefully and said, "Hang it, Will, why don't you take

old Jane? She'll have you if you ask her. I'll bet you five to two she

will."

"Yes, about George, then," he continued. "There has been a difference

between him and Mr. Osborne. And I regard him so much--for you know

we have been like brothers--that I hope and pray the quarrel may be

settled. We must go abroad, Miss Osborne. We may be ordered off at a

day's warning. Who knows what may happen in the campaign? Don't be

agitated, dear Miss Osborne; and those two at least should part

friends."

"There has been no quarrel, Captain Dobbin, except a little usual scene

with Papa," the lady said. "We are expecting George back daily. What

Papa wanted was only for his good. He has but to come back, and I'm

sure all will be well; and dear Rhoda, who went away from here in sad

sad anger, I know will forgive him. Woman forgives but too readily,

Captain."

"Such an angel as YOU I am sure would," Mr. Dobbin said, with atrocious

astuteness. "And no man can pardon himself for giving a woman pain.

What would you feel, if a man were faithless to you?"

"I should perish--I should throw myself out of window--I should take

poison--I should pine and die. I know I should," Miss cried, who had

nevertheless gone through one or two affairs of the heart without any

idea of suicide.




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