On the first day when his father formally gave him the hint that he was

to place his affections at Miss Swartz's feet, George temporised with

the old gentleman. "You should have thought of the matter sooner,

sir," he said. "It can't be done now, when we're expecting every day to

go on foreign service. Wait till my return, if I do return"; and then

he represented, that the time when the regiment was daily expecting to

quit England, was exceedingly ill-chosen: that the few days or weeks

during which they were still to remain at home, must be devoted to

business and not to love-making: time enough for that when he came home

with his majority; "for, I promise you," said he, with a satisfied air,

"that one way or other you shall read the name of George Osborne in the

Gazette."

The father's reply to this was founded upon the information which he

had got in the City: that the West End chaps would infallibly catch

hold of the heiress if any delay took place: that if he didn't marry

Miss S., he might at least have an engagement in writing, to come into

effect when he returned to England; and that a man who could get ten

thousand a year by staying at home, was a fool to risk his life abroad.

"So that you would have me shown up as a coward, sir, and our name

dishonoured for the sake of Miss Swartz's money," George interposed.

This remark staggered the old gentleman; but as he had to reply to it,

and as his mind was nevertheless made up, he said, "You will dine here

to-morrow, sir, and every day Miss Swartz comes, you will be here to

pay your respects to her. If you want for money, call upon Mr.

Chopper." Thus a new obstacle was in George's way, to interfere with

his plans regarding Amelia; and about which he and Dobbin had more than

one confidential consultation. His friend's opinion respecting the

line of conduct which he ought to pursue, we know already. And as for

Osborne, when he was once bent on a thing, a fresh obstacle or two only

rendered him the more resolute.

The dark object of the conspiracy into which the chiefs of the Osborne

family had entered, was quite ignorant of all their plans regarding her

(which, strange to say, her friend and chaperon did not divulge), and,

taking all the young ladies' flattery for genuine sentiment, and being,

as we have before had occasion to show, of a very warm and impetuous

nature, responded to their affection with quite a tropical ardour. And

if the truth may be told, I dare say that she too had some selfish

attraction in the Russell Square house; and in a word, thought George

Osborne a very nice young man. His whiskers had made an impression upon

her, on the very first night she beheld them at the ball at Messrs.

Hulkers; and, as we know, she was not the first woman who had been

charmed by them. George had an air at once swaggering and melancholy,

languid and fierce. He looked like a man who had passions, secrets,

and private harrowing griefs and adventures. His voice was rich and

deep. He would say it was a warm evening, or ask his partner to take

an ice, with a tone as sad and confidential as if he were breaking her

mother's death to her, or preluding a declaration of love. He trampled

over all the young bucks of his father's circle, and was the hero among

those third-rate men. Some few sneered at him and hated him. Some,

like Dobbin, fanatically admired him. And his whiskers had begun to do

their work, and to curl themselves round the affections of Miss Swartz.




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