So he went up and laid his big hand on young Stubble's shoulder, and

backed up that young champion, and told him if he would leave off

brandy and water he would be a good soldier, as he always was a

gentlemanly good-hearted fellow. Young Stubble's eyes brightened up at

this, for Dobbin was greatly respected in the regiment, as the best

officer and the cleverest man in it.

"Thank you, Dobbin," he said, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles, "I

was just--just telling her I would. And, O Sir, she's so dam kind to

me." The water pumps were at work again, and I am not sure that the

soft-hearted Captain's eyes did not also twinkle.

The two ensigns, the Captain, and Mr. Chopper, dined together in the

same box. Chopper brought the letter from Mr. Osborne, in which the

latter briefly presented his compliments to Captain Dobbin, and

requested him to forward the inclosed to Captain George Osborne.

Chopper knew nothing further; he described Mr. Osborne's appearance, it

is true, and his interview with his lawyer, wondered how the governor

had sworn at nobody, and--especially as the wine circled

round--abounded in speculations and conjectures. But these grew more

vague with every glass, and at length became perfectly unintelligible.

At a late hour Captain Dobbin put his guest into a hackney coach, in a

hiccupping state, and swearing that he would be the kick--the

kick--Captain's friend for ever and ever.

When Captain Dobbin took leave of Miss Osborne we have said that he

asked leave to come and pay her another visit, and the spinster

expected him for some hours the next day, when, perhaps, had he come,

and had he asked her that question which she was prepared to answer,

she would have declared herself as her brother's friend, and a

reconciliation might have been effected between George and his angry

father. But though she waited at home the Captain never came. He had

his own affairs to pursue; his own parents to visit and console; and at

an early hour of the day to take his place on the Lightning coach, and

go down to his friends at Brighton. In the course of the day Miss

Osborne heard her father give orders that that meddling scoundrel,

Captain Dobbin, should never be admitted within his doors again, and

any hopes in which she may have indulged privately were thus abruptly

brought to an end. Mr. Frederick Bullock came, and was particularly

affectionate to Maria, and attentive to the broken-spirited old

gentleman. For though he said his mind would be easy, the means which

he had taken to secure quiet did not seem to have succeeded as yet, and

the events of the past two days had visibly shattered him.




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