“Awhat？”Josasked。
　　“Asentimentalsong，andcallingRosa，Rebecca，what’shername，Amelia’slittlefriend——yourdearestdiddle-
　　diddle-darling？”Andthisruthlessyoungfellow，seizingholdofDobbin’shand，actedoverthescene，tothehorroroftheoriginalperformer，andinspiteofDobbin’sgood-
　　naturedentreatiestohimtohavemercy。
　　“WhyshouldIsparehim？”Osbornesaidtohisfriend’sremonstrances，whentheyquittedtheinvalid，leavinghimunderthehandsofDoctorGollop。”Whatthedeucerighthashetogivehimselfhispatronizingairs，andmakefoolsofusatVauxhall？Who’sthislittleschoolgirlthatisoglingandmakinglovetohim？Hangit，thefamily’slowenoughalready，withoutHER。Agovernessisallverywell，butI’dratherhavealadyformysister-in-law。I’maliberalman；butI’veproperpride，andknowmyownstation：letherknowhers。AndI’lltakedownthatgreathectoringNabob，andpreventhimfrombeingmadeagreaterfoolthanheis。That’swhyItoldhimtolookout，lestshebroughtanactionagainsthim。”
　　“Isupposeyouknowbest。”Dobbinsaid，thoughratherdubiously。”YoualwayswereaTory，andyourfamily’soneoftheoldestinEngland。But——“
　　“Comeandseethegirls，andmakelovetoMissSharpyourself。”thelieutenanthereinterruptedhisfriend；butCaptainDobbindeclinedtojoinOsborneinhisdailyvisittotheyoungladiesinRussellSquare。
　　AsGeorgewalkeddownSouthamptonRow，fromHolborn，helaughedashesaw，attheSedleyMansion，intwodifferentstoriestwoheadsonthelook-out。
　　Thefactis，MissAmelia，inthedrawing-roombalcony，waslookingveryeagerlytowardstheoppositesideoftheSquare，whereMr。Osbornedwelt，onthewatchforthelieutenanthimself；andMissSharp，fromherlittlebed-
　　roomonthesecondfloor，wasinobservationuntilMr。
　　Joseph’sgreatformshouldheaveinsight。
　　“SisterAnneisonthewatch-tower。”saidhetoAmelia。”butthere’snobodycoming“；andlaughingandenjoyingthejokehugely，hedescribedinthemostludicroustermstoMissSedley，thedismalconditionofherbrother。
　　“Ithinkit’sverycruelofyoutolaugh，George。”shesaid，lookingparticularlyunhappy；butGeorgeonlylaughedthemoreatherpiteousanddiscomfitedmien，persistedinthinkingthejokeamostdivertingone，andwhenMissSharpcamedownstairs，banteredherwithagreatdealoflivelinessupontheeffectofhercharmsonthefatcivilian。
　　“OMissSharp！ifyoucouldbutseehimthismorning。”
　　hesaid——“moaninginhisflowereddressing-gown——
　　writhingonhissofa；ifyoucouldbuthaveseenhimlollingouthistonguetoGolloptheapothecary。”
　　“Seewhom？”saidMissSharp。
　　“Whom？Owhom？CaptainDobbin，ofcourse，towhomwewereallsoattentive，bytheway，lastnight。”
　　“Wewereveryunkindtohim。”Emmysaid，blushingverymuch。”I——Iquiteforgothim。”
　　“Ofcourseyoudid。”criedOsborne，stillonthelaugh。
　　“Onecan’tbeALWAYSthinkingaboutDobbin，youknow，Amelia。Canone，MissSharp？”
　　“Exceptwhenheoversettheglassofwineatdinner。”
　　MissSharpsaid，withahaughtyairandatossofthehead，“InevergavetheexistenceofCaptainDobbinonesinglemoment’sconsideration。”
　　“Verygood，MissSharp，I’lltellhim。”Osbornesaid；
　　andashespokeMissSharpbegantohaveafeelingofdistrustandhatredtowardsthisyoungofficer，whichhewasquiteunconsciousofhavinginspired。”Heistomakefunofme，ishe？”thoughtRebecca。”HashebeenlaughingaboutmetoJoseph？Hashefrightenedhim？
　　Perhapshewon’tcome。”——Afilmpassedoverhereyes，andherheartbeatquitequick。
　　“You’realwaysjoking。”saidshe，smilingasinnocentlyasshecould。”Jokeaway，Mr。George；there’snobodytodefendME。”AndGeorgeOsborne，asshewalkedaway——andAmelialookedreprovinglyathim——feltsomelittlemanlycompunctionforhavinginflictedanyunnecessaryunkindnessuponthishelplesscreature。”MydearestAmelia。”saidhe，“youaretoogood——tookind。Youdon’tknowtheworld。Ido。AndyourlittlefriendMissSharpmustlearnherstation。”
　　“Don’tyouthinkJoswill——“
　　“Uponmyword，mydear，Idon’tknow。Hemay，ormaynot。I’mnothismaster。Ionlyknowheisaveryfoolishvainfellow，andputmydearlittlegirlintoaverypainfulandawkwardpositionlastnight。Mydearestdiddle-diddle-darling！”Hewasofflaughingagain，andhediditsodrollythatEmmylaughedtoo。
　　AllthatdayJosnevercame。ButAmeliahadnofearaboutthis；forthelittleschemerhadactuallysentawaythepage，Mr。Sambo’saide-de-camp，toMr。Joseph’slodgings，toaskforsomebookhehadpromised，andhowhewas；andthereplythroughJos’sman，Mr。Brush，was，thathismasterwasillinbed，andhadjusthadthedoctorwithhim。Hemustcometo-morrow，shethought，butsheneverhadthecouragetospeakawordonthesubjecttoRebecca；nordidthatyoungwomanherselfalludetoitinanywayduringthewholeeveningafterthenightatVauxhall。
　　Thenextday，however，asthetwoyoungladiessateonthesofa，pretendingtowork，ortowriteletters，ortoreadnovels，Sambocameintotheroomwithhisusualengaginggrin，withapacketunderhisarm，andanoteonatray。”NotefromMr。Jos，Miss。”saysSambo。
　　HowAmeliatrembledassheopenedit！
　　Soitran：
　　DearAmelia，——Isendyouthe“OrphanoftheForest。”
　　Iwastooilltocomeyesterday。Ileavetownto-dayforCheltenham。Prayexcuseme，ifyoucan，totheamiableMissSharp，formyconductatVauxhall，andentreathertopardonandforgeteverywordImayhaveutteredwhenexcitedbythatfatalsupper。AssoonasIhaverecovered，formyhealthisverymuchshaken，I
　　shallgotoScotlandforsomemonths，andamTrulyyours，JosSedleyItwasthedeath-warrant。Allwasover。AmeliadidnotdaretolookatRebecca’spalefaceandburningeyes，butshedropttheletterintoherfriend’slap；andgotup，andwentupstairstoherroom，andcriedherlittleheartout。
　　Blenkinsop，thehousekeeper，theresoughtherpresentlywithconsolation，onwhoseshoulderAmeliaweptconfidentially，andrelievedherselfagooddeal。”Don’ttakeon，Miss。Ididn’tliketotellyou。Butnoneofusinthehousehavelikedherexceptatfust。IsorherwithmyowneyesreadingyourMa’sletters。Pinnersaysshe’salwaysaboutyourtrinket-boxanddrawers，andeverybody’sdrawers，andshe’ssureshe’sputyourwhiteribbingintoherbox。”
　　“Igaveither，Igaveither。”Ameliasaid。
　　ButthisdidnotalterMrs。Blenkinsop’sopinionofMissSharp。”Idon’ttrustthemgovernesses，Pinner。”sheremarkedtothemaid。”Theygivethemselvesthehairsandhupstartsofladies，andtheirwagesisnobetterthanyounorme。”
　　Itnowbecamecleartoeverysoulinthehouse，exceptpoorAmelia，thatRebeccashouldtakeherdeparture，andhighandlowalwayswiththeoneexceptionagreedthatthateventshouldtakeplaceasspeedilyaspossible。
　　Ourgoodchildransackedallherdrawers，cupboards，reticules，andgimcrackboxes——passedinreviewallhergowns，fichus，tags，bobbins，laces，silkstockings，andfallals——selectingthisthingandthatandtheother，tomakealittleheapforRebecca。AndgoingtoherPapa，thatgenerousBritishmerchant，whohadpromisedtogiveherasmanyguineasasshewasyearsold——shebeggedtheoldgentlemantogivethemoneytodearRebecca，whomustwantit，whileshelackedfornothing。
　　SheevenmadeGeorgeOsbornecontribute，andnothinglothforhewasasfree-handedayoungfellowasanyinthearmy，hewenttoBondStreet，andboughtthebesthatandspenserthatmoneycouldbuy。
　　“That’sGeorge’spresenttoyou，Rebecca，dear。”saidAmelia，quiteproudofthebandboxconveyingthesegifts。”Whatatastehehas！There’snobodylikehim。”
　　“Nobody。”Rebeccaanswered。”HowthankfulIamtohim！”Shewasthinkinginherheart，“ItwasGeorgeOsbornewhopreventedmymarriage。”——AndshelovedGeorgeOsborneaccordingly。
　　Shemadeherpreparationsfordeparturewithgreatequanimity；andacceptedallthekindlittleAmelia’spresents，afterjusttheproperdegreeofhesitationandreluctance。ShevowedeternalgratitudetoMrs。Sedley，ofcourse；butdidnotintrudeherselfuponthatgoodladytoomuch，whowasembarrassed，andevidentlywishingtoavoidher。ShekissedMr。Sedley’shand，whenhepresentedherwiththepurse；andaskedpermissiontoconsiderhimforthefutureasherkind，kindfriendandprotector。Herbehaviourwassoaffectingthathewasgoingtowriteherachequefortwentypoundsmore；
　　butherestrainedhisfeelings：thecarriagewasinwaitingtotakehimtodinner，sohetrippedawaywitha“Godblessyou，mydear，alwayscomeherewhenyoucometotown，youknow——DrivetotheMansionHouse，James。”
　　FinallycamethepartingwithMissAmelia，overwhichpictureIintendtothrowaveil。Butafterasceneinwhichonepersonwasinearnestandtheotheraperfectperformer——afterthetenderestcaresses，themostpathetictears，thesmelling-bottle，andsomeoftheverybestfeelingsoftheheart，hadbeencalledintorequisition——
　　RebeccaandAmeliaparted，theformervowingtoloveherfriendforeverandeverandever。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　CrawleyofQueen’sCrawleyAmongthemostrespectedofthenamesbeginninginC
　　whichtheCourt-Guidecontained，intheyear18——，wasthatofCrawley，SirPitt，Baronet，GreatGauntStreet，andQueen’sCrawley，Hants。ThishonourablenamehadfiguredconstantlyalsointheParliamentarylistformanyyears，inconjunctionwiththatofanumberofotherworthygentlemenwhosatinturnsfortheborough。
　　Itisrelated，withregardtotheboroughofQueen’sCrawley，thatQueenElizabethinoneofherprogresses，stoppingatCrawleytobreakfast，wassodelightedwithsomeremarkablyfineHampshirebeerwhichwasthenpresentedtoherbytheCrawleyofthedayahandsomegentlemanwithatrimbeardandagoodleg，thatsheforthwitherectedCrawleyintoaboroughtosendtwomemberstoParliament；andtheplace，fromthedayofthatillustriousvisit，tookthenameofQueen’sCrawley，whichitholdsuptothepresentmoment。Andthough，bythelapseoftime，andthosemutationswhichageproducesinempires，cities，andboroughs，Queen’sCrawleywasnolongersopopulousaplaceasithadbeeninQueenBess’stime——nay，wascomedowntothatconditionofboroughwhichusedtobedenominatedrotten——yet，asSirPittCrawleywouldsaywithperfectjusticeinhiselegantway，“Rotten！behanged——itproducesmeagoodfifteenhundredayear。”
　　SirPittCrawleynamedafterthegreatCommoner
　　wasthesonofWalpoleCrawley，firstBaronet，oftheTapeandSealing-WaxOfficeinthereignofGeorgeII。，whenhewasimpeachedforpeculation，aswereagreatnumberofotherhonestgentlemenofthosedays；andWalpoleCrawleywas，asneedscarcelybesaid，sonofJohnChurchillCrawley，namedafterthecelebratedmilitarycommanderofthereignofQueenAnne。ThefamilytreewhichhangsupatQueen’sCrawleyfurthermorementionsCharlesStuart，afterwardscalledBarebonesCrawley，sonoftheCrawleyofJamestheFirst’stime；
　　andfinally，QueenElizabeth’sCrawley，whoisrepresentedastheforegroundofthepictureinhisforkedbeardandarmour。Outofhiswaistcoat，asusual，growsatree，onthemainbranchesofwhichtheaboveillustriousnamesareinscribed。ClosebythenameofSirPittCrawley，Baronetthesubjectofthepresentmemoir，arewrittenthatofhisbrother，theReverendButeCrawleythegreatCommonerwasindisgracewhenthereverendgentlemanwasborn，rectorofCrawley-cum-Snailby，andofvariousothermaleandfemalemembersoftheCrawleyfamily。
　　SirPittwasfirstmarriedtoGrizzel，sixthdaughterofMungoBinkie，LordBinkie，andcousin，inconsequence，ofMr。Dundas。Shebroughthimtwosons：Pitt，namednotsomuchafterhisfatherasaftertheheaven-bornminister；andRawdonCrawley，fromthePrinceofWales’sfriend，whomhisMajestyGeorgeIVforgotsocompletely。Manyyearsafterherladyship’sdemise，SirPittledtothealtarRosa，daughterofMr。G。Dawson，ofMudbury，bywhomhehadtwodaughters，forwhosebenefitMissRebeccaSharpwasnowengagedasgoverness。Itwillbeseenthattheyoungladywascomeintoafamilyofverygenteelconnexions，andwasabouttomoveinamuchmoredistinguishedcirclethanthathumbleonewhichshehadjustquittedinRussellSquare。
　　Shehadreceivedherorderstojoinherpupils，inanotewhichwaswrittenuponanoldenvelope，andwhichcontainedthefollowingwords：
　　SirPittCrawleybegsMissSharpandbaggidgemaybehearonTuesday，asIleafforQueen’sCrawleyto-morrowmorningERLY。
　　GreatGauntStreet。