perhapsshedidnotunderstandmuchofwhatshewasreading，andherthoughtswereelsewhere：butthesleepproject，withpoorMick’snightcapthereonthepillow，wasquiteavainone。Soitisintheworld。JackorDonaldmarchesawaytoglorywithhisknapsackonhisshoulder，steppingoutbrisklytothetuneof“TheGirlILeftBehindMe。”Itisshewhoremainsandsuffers——andhastheleisuretothink，andbrood，andremember。
　　Knowinghowuselessregretsare，andhowtheindulgenceofsentimentonlyservestomakepeoplemoremiserable，Mrs。Rebeccawiselydeterminedtogivewaytonovainfeelingsofsorrow，andborethepartingfromherhusbandwithquiteaSpartanequanimity。IndeedCaptainRawdonhimselfwasmuchmoreaffectedattheleave-
　　takingthantheresolutelittlewomantowhomhebadefarewell。Shehadmasteredthisrudecoarsenature；
　　andhelovedandworshippedherwithallhisfacultiesofregardandadmiration。Inallhislifehehadneverbeensohappy，as，duringthepastfewmonths，hiswifehadmadehim。Allformerdelightsofturf，mess，hunting-field，andgambling-table；allpreviouslovesandcourtshipsofmilliners，opera-dancers，andthelikeeasytriumphsoftheclumsymilitaryAdonis，werequiteinsipidwhencomparedtothelawfulmatrimonialpleasureswhichoflatehehadenjoyed。Shehadknownperpetuallyhowtodiverthim；andhehadfoundhishouseandhersocietyathousandtimesmorepleasantthananyplaceorcompanywhichhehadeverfrequentedfromhischildhooduntilnow。Andhecursedhispastfolliesandextravagances，andbemoanedhisvastoutlyingdebtsaboveall，whichmustremainforeverasobstaclestopreventhiswife’sadvancementintheworld。HehadoftengroanedovertheseinmidnightconversationswithRebecca，althoughasabachelortheyhadnevergivenhimanydisquiet。Hehimselfwasstruckwiththisphenomenon。”Hangit。”
　　hewouldsayorperhapsuseastillstrongerexpressionoutofhissimplevocabulary，“beforeIwasmarriedI
　　didn’tcarewhatbillsIputmynameto，andsolongasMoseswouldwaitorLevywouldrenewforthreemonths，Ikeptonneverminding。ButsinceI’mmarried，exceptrenewing，ofcourse，IgiveyoumyhonourI’venottouchedabitofstampedpaper。”
　　Rebeccaalwaysknewhowtoconjureawaythesemoodsofmelancholy。”Why，mystupidlove。”shewouldsay，“wehavenotdonewithyourauntyet。Ifshefailsus，isn’ttherewhatyoucalltheGazette？or，stop，whenyouruncleBute’slifedrops，Ihaveanotherscheme。Thelivinghasalwaysbelongedtotheyoungerbrother，andwhyshouldn’tyouselloutandgointotheChurch？”TheideaofthisconversionsetRawdonintoroarsoflaughter：
　　youmighthaveheardtheexplosionthroughthehotelatmidnight，andthehaw-hawsofthegreatdragoon’svoice。
　　GeneralTuftoheardhimfromhisquartersonthefirstfloorabovethem；andRebeccaactedthescenewithgreatspirit，andpreachedRawdon’sfirstsermon，totheimmensedelightoftheGeneralatbreakfast。
　　Buttheseweremereby-gonedaysandtalk。Whenthefinalnewsarrivedthatthecampaignwasopened，andthetroopsweretomarch，Rawdon’sgravitybecamesuchthatBeckyralliedhimaboutitinamannerwhichratherhurtthefeelingsoftheGuardsman。”Youdon’tsupposeI’mafraid，Becky，Ishouldthink。”hesaid，withatremorinhisvoice。”ButI’maprettygoodmarkforashot，andyouseeifitbringsmedown，whyIleaveoneandperhapstwobehindmewhomIshouldwishtoprovidefor，asIbrought’emintothescrape。Itisnolaughingmatterthat，Mrs。C。，anyways。”
　　Rebeccabyahundredcaressesandkindwordstriedtosoothethefeelingsofthewoundedlover。Itwasonlywhenhervivacityandsenseofhumourgotthebetterofthissprightlycreatureastheywoulddoundermostcircumstancesoflifeindeedthatshewouldbreakoutwithhersatire，butshecouldsoonputonademureface。
　　“Dearestlove。”shesaid，“doyousupposeIfeelnothing？”
　　andhastilydashingsomethingfromhereyes，shelookedupinherhusband’sfacewithasmile。
　　“Lookhere。”saidhe。”IfIdrop，letusseewhatthereisforyou。Ihavehadaprettygoodrunofluckhere，andhere’stwohundredandthirtypounds。IhavegottenNapoleonsinmypocket。ThatisasmuchasIshallwant；
　　fortheGeneralpayseverythinglikeaprince；andifI’mhit，whyyouknowIcostnothing。Don’tcry，littlewoman；
　　Imaylivetovexyouyet。Well，Ishan’ttakeeitherofmyhorses，butshallridetheGeneral’sgreycharger：it’scheaper，andItoldhimminewaslame。IfI’mdone，thosetwooughttofetchyousomething。Griggofferedninetyforthemareyesterday，beforethisconfoundednewscame，andlikeafoolIwouldn’tlethergounderthetwoo’s。Bullfinchwillfetchhispriceanyday，onlyyou’dbettersellhiminthiscountry，becausethedealershavesomanybillsofmine，andsoI’dratherheshouldn’tgobacktoEngland。YourlittlemaretheGeneralgaveyouwillfetchsomething，andthere’snod——dliverystablebillshereasthereareinLondon。”Rawdonadded，withalaugh。”There’sthatdressing-casecostmetwohundred——thatis，Iowetwoforit；andthegoldtopsandbottlesmustbeworththirtyorforty。PleasetoputTHATupthespout，ma’am，withmypins，andrings，andwatchandchain，andthings。Theycostapreciouslotofmoney。MissCrawley，Iknow，paidahundreddownforthechainandticker。Goldtopsandbottles，indeed！dammy，I’msorryIdidn’ttakemorenow。Edwardspressedonmeasilver-
　　giltboot-jack，andImighthavehadadressing-casefittedupwithasilverwarming-pan，andaserviceofplate。Butwemustmakethebestofwhatwe’vegot，Becky，youknow。”
　　Andso，makinghislastdispositions，CaptainCrawley，whohadseldomthoughtaboutanythingbuthimself，untilthelastfewmonthsofhislife，whenLovehadobtainedthemasteryoverthedragoon，wentthroughthevariousitemsofhislittlecatalogueofeffects，strivingtoseehowtheymightbeturnedintomoneyforhiswife’sbenefit，incaseanyaccidentshouldbefallhim。Hepleasedhimselfbynotingdownwithapencil，inhisbigschoolboyhandwriting，thevariousitemsofhisportablepropertywhichmightbesoldforhiswidow’sadvantageas，forexample。”Mydouble-barrilbyManton，say40guineas；mydrivingcloak，linedwithsablefur，50pounds；myduellingpistolsinrosewoodcasesamewhichIshotCaptainMarker，20pounds；myregulationsaddle-holstersandhousings；myLaurieditto。”andsoforth，overallofwhicharticleshemadeRebeccathemistress。
　　Faithfultohisplanofeconomy，theCaptaindressedhimselfinhisoldestandshabbiestuniformandepaulets，leavingthenewestbehind，underhiswife’soritmightbehiswidow’sguardianship。AndthisfamousdandyofWindsorandHydeParkwentoffonhiscampaignwithakitasmodestasthatofasergeant，andwithsomethinglikeaprayeronhislipsforthewomanhewasleaving。
　　Hetookherupfromtheground，andheldherinhisarmsforaminute，tightpressedagainsthisstrong-beatingheart。Hisfacewaspurpleandhiseyesdim，asheputherdownandlefther。HerodebyhisGeneral’sside，andsmokedhiscigarinsilenceastheyhastenedafterthetroopsoftheGeneral’sbrigade，whichprecededthem；
　　anditwasnotuntiltheyweresomemilesontheirwaythatheleftofftwirlinghismoustacheandbrokesilence。
　　AndRebecca，aswehavesaid，wiselydeterminednottogivewaytounavailingsentimentalityonherhusband’sdeparture。Shewavedhimanadieufromthewindow，andstoodthereforamomentlookingoutafterhewasgone。
　　Thecathedraltowersandthefullgablesofthequaintoldhouseswerejustbeginningtoblushinthesunrise。Therehadbeennorestforherthatnight。Shewasstillinherprettyball-dress，herfairhairhangingsomewhatoutofcurlonherneck，andthecirclesroundhereyesdarkwithwatching。”WhatafrightIseem。”shesaid，examiningherselfintheglass，“andhowpalethispinkmakesonelook！”Soshedivestedherselfofthispinkraiment；indoingwhichanotefelloutfromhercorsage，whichshepickedupwithasmile，andlockedintoherdressing-box。
　　Andthensheputherbouquetoftheballintoaglassofwater，andwenttobed，andsleptverycomfortably。
　　Thetownwasquitequietwhenshewokeupatteno’clock，andpartookofcoffee，veryrequisiteandcomfortingaftertheexhaustionandgriefofthemorning’soccurrences。
　　Thismealover，sheresumedhonestRawdon’scalculationsofthenightprevious，andsurveyedherposition。
　　Shouldtheworstbefall，allthingsconsidered，shewasprettywelltodo。Therewereherowntrinketsandtrousseau，inadditiontothosewhichherhusbandhadleftbehind。
　　Rawdon’sgenerosity，whentheywerefirstmarried，hasalreadybeendescribedandlauded。Besidesthese，andthelittlemare，theGeneral，herslaveandworshipper，hadmadehermanyveryhandsomepresents，intheshapeofcashmereshawlsboughtattheauctionofabankruptFrenchgeneral’slady，andnumeroustributesfromthejewellers’shops，allofwhichbetokenedheradmirer’stasteandwealth。Asfor“tickers。”aspoorRawdoncalledwatches，herapartmentswerealivewiththeirclicking。
　　For，happeningtomentiononenightthathers，whichRawdonhadgiventoher，wasofEnglishworkmanship，andwentill，ontheverynextmorningtherecametoheralittlebijoumarkedLeroy，withachainandcovercharminglysetwithturquoises，andanothersignedBrequet，whichwascoveredwithpearls，andyetscarcelybiggerthanahalf-crown。GeneralTuftohadboughtone，andCaptainOsbornehadgallantlypresentedtheother。Mrs。
　　Osbornehadnowatch，though，todoGeorgejustice，shemighthavehadonefortheasking，andtheHonourableMrs。TuftoinEnglandhadanoldinstrumentofhermother’sthatmighthaveservedfortheplate-warmingpanwhichRawdontalkedabout。IfMessrs。HowellandJamesweretopublishalistofthepurchasersofallthetrinketswhichtheysell，howsurprisedwouldsomefamiliesbe：andifalltheseornamentswenttogentlemen’slawfulwivesanddaughters，whataprofusionofjewellerytherewouldbeexhibitedinthegenteelesthomesofVanityFair！
　　EverycalculationmadeofthesevaluablesMrs。Rebeccafound，notwithoutapungentfeelingoftriumphandself-
　　satisfaction，thatshouldcircumstancesoccur，shemightreckononsixorsevenhundredpoundsattheveryleast，tobegintheworldwith；andshepassedthemorningdisposing，ordering，lookingout，andlockingupherpropertiesinthemostagreeablemanner。AmongthenotesinRawdon’spocket-bookwasadraftfortwentypoundsonOsborne’sbanker。ThismadeherthinkaboutMrs。
　　Osborne。”Iwillgoandgetthedraftcashed。”shesaid。”andpayavisitafterwardstopoorlittleEmmy。”Ifthisisanovelwithoutahero，atleastletuslayclaimtoaheroine。NomanintheBritisharmywhichhasmarchedaway，notthegreatDukehimself，couldbemorecoolorcollectedinthepresenceofdoubtsanddifficulties，thantheindomitablelittleaide-de-camp’swife。
　　Andtherewasanotherofouracquaintanceswhowasalsotobeleftbehind，anon-combatant，andwhoseemotionsandbehaviourwehavethereforearighttoknow。
　　Thiswasourfriendtheex-collectorofBoggleyWollah，whoserestwasbroken，likeotherpeople’s，bythesoundingofthebuglesintheearlymorning。Beingagreatsleeper，andfondofhisbed，itispossiblehewouldhavesnoozedonuntilhisusualhourofrisingintheforenoon，inspiteofallthedrums，bugles，andbagpipesintheBritisharmy，butforaninterruption，whichdidnotcomefromGeorgeOsborne，whosharedJos’squarterswithhim，andwasasusualoccupiedtoomuchwithhisownaffairsorwithgriefatpartingwithhiswife，tothinkoftakingleaveofhisslumberingbrother-in-law——itwasnotGeorge，wesay，whointerposedbetweenJosSedleyandsleep，butCaptainDobbin，whocameandrousedhimup，insistingonshakinghandswithhimbeforehisdeparture。
　　“Verykindofyou。”saidJos，yawning，andwishingtheCaptainatthedeuce。
　　“I——Ididn’tliketogooffwithoutsayinggood-bye，youknow。”Dobbinsaidinaveryincoherentmanner；“becauseyouknowsomeofusmayn’tcomebackagain，andIliketoseeyouallwell，and——andthatsortofthing，youknow。”
　　“Whatdoyoumean？”Josasked，rubbinghiseyes。TheCaptaindidnotintheleasthearhimorlookatthestoutgentlemaninthenightcap，aboutwhomheprofessedtohavesuchatenderinterest。ThehypocritewaslookingandlisteningwithallhismightinthedirectionofGeorge’sapartments，stridingabouttheroom，upsettingthechairs，beatingthetattoo，bitinghisnails，andshowingothersignsofgreatinwardemotion。
　　JoshadalwayshadratherameanopinionoftheCaptain，andnowbegantothinkhiscouragewassomewhatequivocal。”WhatisitIcandoforyou，Dobbin？”hesaid，inasarcastictone。
　　“Itellyouwhatyoucando。”theCaptainreplied，cominguptothebed；“wemarchinaquarterofanhour，Sedley，andneitherGeorgenorImayevercomeback。
　　Mindyou，youarenottostirfromthistownuntilyouascertainhowthingsgo。Youaretostayhereandwatchoveryoursister，andcomforther，andseethatnoharmcomestoher。IfanythinghappenstoGeorge，remembershehasnoonebutyouintheworldtolookto。Ifitgoeswrongwiththearmy，you’llseehersafebacktoEngland；
　　andyouwillpromisemeonyourwordthatyouwillneverdeserther。Iknowyouwon’t：asfarasmoneygoes，youwerealwaysfreeenoughwiththat。Doyouwantany？