If the sisters had any anxiety regarding the possible recognition of

Amelia as a daughter of the family, it was increased presently, and

towards the end of the autumn, by their father's announcement that he

was going abroad. He did not say whither, but they knew at once that

his steps would be turned towards Belgium, and were aware that George's

widow was still in Brussels. They had pretty accurate news indeed of

poor Amelia from Lady Dobbin and her daughters. Our honest Captain had

been promoted in consequence of the death of the second Major of the

regiment on the field; and the brave O'Dowd, who had distinguished

himself greatly here as upon all occasions where he had a chance to

show his coolness and valour, was a Colonel and Companion of the Bath.

Very many of the brave --th, who had suffered severely upon both days

of action, were still at Brussels in the autumn, recovering of their

wounds. The city was a vast military hospital for months after the

great battles; and as men and officers began to rally from their hurts,

the gardens and places of public resort swarmed with maimed warriors,

old and young, who, just rescued out of death, fell to gambling, and

gaiety, and love-making, as people of Vanity Fair will do. Mr. Osborne

found out some of the --th easily. He knew their uniform quite well,

and had been used to follow all the promotions and exchanges in the

regiment, and loved to talk about it and its officers as if he had been

one of the number. On the day after his arrival at Brussels, and as he

issued from his hotel, which faced the park, he saw a soldier in the

well-known facings, reposing on a stone bench in the garden, and went

and sate down trembling by the wounded convalescent man.

"Were you in Captain Osborne's company?" he said, and added, after a

pause, "he was my son, sir."

The man was not of the Captain's company, but he lifted up his

unwounded arm and touched-his cap sadly and respectfully to the haggard

broken-spirited gentleman who questioned him. "The whole army didn't

contain a finer or a better officer," the soldier said. "The Sergeant

of the Captain's company (Captain Raymond had it now), was in town,

though, and was just well of a shot in the shoulder. His honour might

see him if he liked, who could tell him anything he wanted to know

about--about the --th's actions. But his honour had seen Major Dobbin,

no doubt, the brave Captain's great friend; and Mrs. Osborne, who was

here too, and had been very bad, he heard everybody say. They say she

was out of her mind like for six weeks or more. But your honour knows

all about that--and asking your pardon"--the man added.




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