this　young　woman　had　got　up　the　genteel　jargon　so　well；
  that　a　native　could　not　speak　it　better；　and　it　was　only
  from　her　French　being　so　good；　that　you　could　know　she
  was　not　a　born　woman　of　fashion。
  George；　who　had　left　Emmy　on　her　bench　on　entering
  the　ball…room；　very　soon　found　his　way　back　when
  Rebecca　was　by　her　dear　friend's　side。　　Becky　was　just
  lecturing　Mrs。　Osborne　upon　the　follies　which　her
  husband　was　committing。　　〃For　God's　sake；　stop　him　from
  gambling；　my　dear；〃　she　said；　〃or　he　will　ruin　himself。
  He　and　Rawdon　are　playing　at　cards　every　night；　and　you
  know　he　is　very　poor；　and　Rawdon　will　win　every　shilling
  from　him　if　he　does　not　take　care。　　Why　don't　you　prevent
  him；　you　little　careless　creature？　　Why　don't　you
  come　to　us　of　an　evening；　instead　of　moping　at　home
  with　that　Captain　Dobbin？　　I　dare　say　he　is　tres　aimable；
  but　how　could　one　love　a　man　with　feet　of　such　size？
  Your　husband's　feet　are　darlingsHere　he　comes。　　Where
  have　you　been；　wretch？　　Here　is　Emmy　crying　her　eyes
  out　for　you。　　Are　you　coming　to　fetch　me　for　the　quadrille？〃
  And　she　left　her　bouquet　and　shawl　by　Amelia's
  side；　and　tripped　off　with　George　to　dance。　　Women　only
  know　how　to　wound　so。　　There　is　a　poison　on　the　tips　of
  their　little　shafts；　which　stings　a　thousand　times　more
  than　a　man's　blunter　weapon。　　Our　poor　Emmy；　who　had
  never　hated；　never　sneered　all　her　life；　was　powerless　in
  the　hands　of　her　remorseless　little　enemy。
  George　danced　with　Rebecca　twice　or　thricehow　many
  times　Amelia　scarcely　knew。　　She　sat　quite　unnoticed　in
  her　corner；　except　when　Rawdon　came　up　with　some
  words　of　clumsy　conversation：　　and　later　in　the　evening；
  when　Captain　Dobbin　made　so　bold　as　to　bring　her
  refreshments　and　sit　beside　her。　　He　did　not　like　to　ask　her
  why　she　was　so　sad；　but　as　a　pretext　for　the　tears　which
  were　filling　in　her　eyes；　she　told　him　that　Mrs。　Crawley
  had　alarmed　her　by　telling　her　that　George　would　go　on
  playing。
  〃It　is　curious；　when　a　man　is　bent　upon　play；　by　what
  clumsy　rogues　he　will　allow　himself　to　be　cheated；〃
  Dobbin　said；　and　Emmy　said；　〃Indeed。〃　She　was　thinking　of
  something　else。　　It　was　not　the　loss　of　the　money　that
  grieved　her。
  At　last　George　came　back　for　Rebecca's　shawl　and
  flowers。　　She　was　going　away。　　She　did　not　even
  condescend　to　come　back　and　say　good…bye　to　Amelia。　　The
  poor　girl　let　her　husband　come　and　go　without　saying　a
  word；　and　her　head　fell　on　her　breast。　　Dobbin　had　been
  called　away；　and　was　whispering　deep　in　conversation
  with　the　General　of　the　division；　his　friend；　and　had　not
  seen　this　last　parting。　　George　went　away　then　with　the
  bouquet；　but　when　he　gave　it　to　the　owner；　there　lay　a
  note；　coiled　like　a　snake　among　the　flowers。　　Rebecca's
  eye　caught　it　at　once。　　She　had　been　used　to　deal　with
  notes　in　early　life。　　She　put　out　her　hand　and　took　the
  nosegay。　　He　saw　by　her　eyes　as　they　met；　that　she　was
  aware　what　she　should　find　there。　　Her　husband　hurried　her
  away；　still　too　intent　upon　his　own　thoughts；　seemingly；
  to　take　note　of　any　marks　of　recognition　which　might
  pass　between　his　friend　and　his　wife。　　These　were；
  however；　but　trifling。　　Rebecca　gave　George　her　hand　with　one
  of　her　usual　quick　knowing　glances；　and　made　a　curtsey
  and　walked　away。　　George　bowed　over　the　hand；　said
  nothing　in　reply　to　a　remark　of　Crawley's；　did　not　hear　it
  even；　his　brain　was　so　throbbing　with　triumph　and
  excitement；　and　allowed　them　to　go　away　without　a　word。
  His　wife　saw　the　one　part　at　least　of　the　bouquet…scene。
  It　was　quite　natural　that　George　should　come　at　Rebecca's
  request　to　get　her　her　scarf　and　flowers：　　it　was　no
  more　than　he　had　done　twenty　times　before　in　the　course
  of　the　last　few　days；　but　now　it　was　too　much　for　her。
  〃William；〃　she　said；　suddenly　clinging　to　Dobbin；　who　was
  near　her；　〃you've　always　been　very　kind　to　meI'm
  I'm　not　well。　　Take　me　home。〃　　She　did　not　know　she　called
  him　by　his　Christian　name；　as　George　was　accustomed　to
  do。　　He　went　away　with　her　quickly。　　Her　lodgings　were
  hard　by；　and　they　threaded　through　the　crowd　without；
  where　everything　seemed　to　be　more　astir　than　even　in　the
  ball…room　within。
  George　had　been　angry　twice　or　thrice　at　finding　his
  wife　up　on　his　return　from　the　parties　which　he
  frequented：　　so　she　went　straight　to　bed　now；　but　although
  she　did　not　sleep；　and　although　the　din　and　clatter；　and
  the　galloping　of　horsemen　were　incessant；　she　never　heard
  any　of　these　noises；　having　quite　other　disturbances　to
  keep　her　awake。
  Osborne　meanwhile；　wild　with　elation；　went　off　to　a
  play…table；　and　began　to　bet　frantically。　　He　won　repeatedly。
  〃Everything　succeeds　with　me　to…night；〃　he　said。
  But　his　luck　at　play　even　did　not　cure　him　of　his　restlessness；
  and　he　started　up　after　awhile；　pocketing　his　winnings；
  and　went　to　a　buffet；　where　he　drank　off　many
  bumpers　of　wine。
  Here；　as　he　was　rattling　away　to　the　people　around；
  laughing　loudly　and　wild　with　spirits；　Dobbin　found　him。
  He　had　been　to　the　card…tables　to　look　there　for　his
  friend。　　Dobbin　looked　as　pale　and　grave　as　his　comrade
  was　flushed　and　jovial。
  ''Hullo；　Dob！　　Come　and　drink；　old　Dob！　　The　Duke's
  wine　is　famous。　　Give　me　some　more；　you　sir〃；　and　he
  held　out　a　trembling　glass　for　the　liquor。
  〃Come　out；　George；〃　said　Dobbin；　still　gravely；　〃don't
  drink。〃
  〃Drink！　　there's　nothing　like　it。　　Drink　yourself；　and
  light　up　your　lantern　jaws；　old　boy。　　Here's　to　you。〃
  Dobbin　went　up　and　whispered　something　to　him；　at
  which　George；　giving　a　start　and　a　wild　hurray；　tossed　off
  his　glass；　clapped　it　on　the　table；　and　walked　away
  speedily　on　his　friend's　arm。　　〃The　enemy　has　passed　the
  Sambre；〃　William　said；　〃and　our　left　is　already　engaged。
  Come　away。　　We　are　to　march　in　three　hours。〃
  Away　went　George；　his　nerves　quivering　with　excitement
  at　the　news　so　long　looked　for；　so　sudden　when　it
  came。　　What　were　love　and　intrigue　now？　　He　thought
  about　a　thousand　things　but　these　in　his　rapid　walk　to　his
  quartershis　past　life　and　future　chancesthe　fate　which
  might　be　before　himthe　wife；　the　child　perhaps；　from
  whom　unseen　he　might　be　about　to　part。　　Oh；　how　he
  wished　that　night's　work　undone！　　and　that　with　a　clear
  conscience　at　least　he　might　say　farewell　to　the　tender
  and　guileless　being　by　whose　love　he　had　set　such　little
  store！
  He　thought　over　his　brief　married　life。　　In　those　few
  weeks　he　had　frightfully　dissipated　his　little　capital。　　How
  wild　and　reckless　he　had　been！　　Should　any　mischance
  befall　him：　　what　was　then　left　for　her？　　How　unworthy　he
  was　of　her。　　Why　had　he　married　her？　　He　was　not　fit　for
  marriage。　　Why　had　he　disobeyed　his　father；　who　had　been
  always　so　generous　to　him？　　Hope；　remorse；　ambition；
  tenderness；　and　selfish　regret　filled　his　heart。　　He　sate
  down　and　wrote　to　his　father；　remembering　what　he　had
  said　once　before；　when　he　was　engaged　to　fight　a　duel。
  Dawn　faintly　streaked　the　sky　as　he　closed　this　farewell
  letter。　　He　sealed　it；　and　kissed　the　superscription。　　He
  thought　how　he　had　deserted　that　generous　father；　and　of
  the　thousand　kindnesses　which　the　stern　old　man　had
  done　him。
  He　had　looked　into　Amelia's　bedroom　when　he　entered；
  she　lay　quiet；　and　her　eyes　seemed　closed；　and　he
  was　glad　that　she　was　asleep。　　On　arriving　at　his　quarters
  from　the　ball；　he　had　found　his　regimental　servant　already
  making　preparations　for　his　departure：　　the　man
  had　understood　his　signal　to　be　still；　and　these　arrangements
  were　very　quickly　and　silently　made。　　Should　he　go
  in　and　wake　Amelia；　he　thought；　or　leave　a　note　for　her
  brother　to　break　the　news　of　departure　to　her？　　He　went
  in　to　look　at　her　once　again。
  She　had　been　awake　when　he　first　entered　her　room；
  but　had　kept　her　eyes　closed；　so　that　even　her　wakefulness
  should　not　seem　to　reproach　him。　　But　when　he　had
  returned；　so　soon　after　herself；　too；　this　timid　little　heart
  had　felt　more　at　ease；　and　turning　towards　him　as　he
  stept　softly　out　of　the　room；　she　had　fallen　into　a　light
  sleep。　　George　came　in　and　looked　at　her　again；　entering
  still　more　softly。　　By　the　pale　night…lamp　he　could　see　her
  sweet；　pale　facethe　purple　eyelids　were　fringed　and
  closed；　and　one　round　arm；　smooth　and　white；　lay　outside
  of　the　coverlet。　　Good　God！　　how　pure　she　was；　how
  gentle；　how　tender；　and　how　friendless！　　and　he；　how
  selfish；　brutal；　and　black　with　crime！　　Heart…stained；　and
  shame…stricken；　he　stood　at　the　bed's　foot；　and　looked　at
  the　sleeping　girl。　　How　dared　hewho　was　he；　to　pray　for
  one　so　spotless！　　God　bless　her！　　God　bless　her！　　He　came　to
  the　bedside；　and　looked　at　the　hand；　the　little　soft　hand；
  lying　asleep；　and　he　bent　over　the　pillow　noiselessly
  towards　the　gentle　pale　face。
  Two　fair　arms　closed　tenderly　round　his　neck　as　he
  stooped　down。　　〃I　am　awake；　George；〃　the　poor　child　said；
  with　a　sob　fit　to　break　the　little　heart　that　nestled　so
  closely　by　his　own。　　She　was　awake；　poor　soul；　and　to
  railings　and　the　beadle：　who；　if　she　walked　ever　so　short
  a　distance　to　buy　a　ribbon　in　Southampton　Row；　was
  followed　by　Black　Sambo　with　an　enormous　cane：　who
  was　always　cared　for；　dressed；　put　to　bed；　and　watched
  over　by　ever　so　many　guardian　angels；　with　and　without
  wages？　　Bon　Dieu；　I　say；　is　it　not　hard　that　the