"Very kind of you," said Jos, yawning, and wishing the Captain at the
deuce.
"I--I didn't like to go off without saying good-bye, you know," Dobbin
said in a very incoherent manner; "because you know some of us mayn't
come back again, and I like to see you all well, and--and that sort of
thing, you know."
"What do you mean?" Jos asked, rubbing his eyes. The Captain did not
in the least hear him or look at the stout gentleman in the nightcap,
about whom he professed to have such a tender interest. The hypocrite
was looking and listening with all his might in the direction of
George's apartments, striding about the room, upsetting the chairs,
beating the tattoo, biting his nails, and showing other signs of great
inward emotion.
Jos had always had rather a mean opinion of the Captain, and now began
to think his courage was somewhat equivocal. "What is it I can do for
you, Dobbin?" he said, in a sarcastic tone.
"I tell you what you can do," the Captain replied, coming up to the
bed; "we march in a quarter of an hour, Sedley, and neither George nor
I may ever come back. Mind you, you are not to stir from this town
until you ascertain how things go. You are to stay here and watch over
your sister, and comfort her, and see that no harm comes to her. If
anything happens to George, remember she has no one but you in the
world to look to. If it goes wrong with the army, you'll see her safe
back to England; and you will promise me on your word that you will
never desert her. I know you won't: as far as money goes, you were
always free enough with that. Do you want any? I mean, have you enough
gold to take you back to England in case of a misfortune?"
"Sir," said Jos, majestically, "when I want money, I know where to ask
for it. And as for my sister, you needn't tell me how I ought to
behave to her."
"You speak like a man of spirit, Jos," the other answered good-naturedly,
"and I am glad that George can leave her in such good hands.
So I may give him your word of honour, may I, that in case of extremity
you will stand by her?"
"Of course, of course," answered Mr. Jos, whose generosity in money
matters Dobbin estimated quite correctly.
"And you'll see her safe out of Brussels in the event of a defeat?"
"A defeat! D---- it, sir, it's impossible. Don't try and frighten ME,"
the hero cried from his bed; and Dobbin's mind was thus perfectly set
at ease now that Jos had spoken out so resolutely respecting his
conduct to his sister. "At least," thought the Captain, "there will be
a retreat secured for her in case the worst should ensue."