So having prepared the sisters, Dobbin hastened away to the City to

perform the rest and more difficult part of the task which he had

undertaken. The idea of facing old Osborne rendered him not a little

nervous, and more than once he thought of leaving the young ladies to

communicate the secret, which, as he was aware, they could not long

retain. But he had promised to report to George upon the manner in

which the elder Osborne bore the intelligence; so going into the City

to the paternal counting-house in Thames Street, he despatched thence a

note to Mr. Osborne begging for a half-hour's conversation relative to

the affairs of his son George. Dobbin's messenger returned from Mr.

Osborne's house of business, with the compliments of the latter, who

would be very happy to see the Captain immediately, and away

accordingly Dobbin went to confront him.

The Captain, with a half-guilty secret to confess, and with the

prospect of a painful and stormy interview before him, entered Mr.

Osborne's offices with a most dismal countenance and abashed gait, and,

passing through the outer room where Mr. Chopper presided, was greeted

by that functionary from his desk with a waggish air which farther

discomfited him. Mr. Chopper winked and nodded and pointed his pen

towards his patron's door, and said, "You'll find the governor all

right," with the most provoking good humour.

Osborne rose too, and shook him heartily by the hand, and said, "How

do, my dear boy?" with a cordiality that made poor George's ambassador

feel doubly guilty. His hand lay as if dead in the old gentleman's

grasp. He felt that he, Dobbin, was more or less the cause of all that

had happened. It was he had brought back George to Amelia: it was he

had applauded, encouraged, transacted almost the marriage which he was

come to reveal to George's father: and the latter was receiving him

with smiles of welcome; patting him on the shoulder, and calling him

"Dobbin, my dear boy." The envoy had indeed good reason to hang his

head.

Osborne fully believed that Dobbin had come to announce his son's

surrender. Mr. Chopper and his principal were talking over the matter

between George and his father, at the very moment when Dobbin's

messenger arrived. Both agreed that George was sending in his

submission. Both had been expecting it for some days--and "Lord!

Chopper, what a marriage we'll have!" Mr. Osborne said to his clerk,

snapping his big fingers, and jingling all the guineas and shillings in

his great pockets as he eyed his subordinate with a look of triumph.

With similar operations conducted in both pockets, and a knowing jolly

air, Osborne from his chair regarded Dobbin seated blank and silent

opposite to him. "What a bumpkin he is for a Captain in the army," old

Osborne thought. "I wonder George hasn't taught him better manners."




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