better mending her husband's clothes； and； if the regiment
wanted sermons； that she had the finest in the world； those
of her uncle； the Dean。 She abruptly put a termination to a
flirtation which Lieutenant Stubble of the regiment had
commenced with the Surgeon's wife； threatening to come
down upon Stubble for the money which he had borrowed
from her （for the young fellow was still of an extravagant
turn） unless he broke off at once and went to the Cape on
sick leave。 On the other hand； she housed and sheltered
Mrs。 Posky； who fled from her bungalow one night；
pursued by her infuriate husband； wielding his second
brandy bottle； and actually carried Posky through the
delirium tremens and broke him of the habit of drinking；
which had grown upon that officer； as all evil habits will
grow upon men。 In a word； in adversity she was the best
of comforters； in good fortune the most troublesome of
friends； having a perfectly good opinion of herself always
and an indomitable resolution to have her own way。
Among other points； she had made up her mind that
Glorvina should marry our old friend Dobbin。 Mrs。 O'Dowd
knew the Major's expectations and appreciated his good
qualities and the high character which he enjoyed in his
profession。 Glorvina； a very handsome； fresh…coloured；
black…haired； blue…eyed young lady； who could ride a
horse； or play a sonata with any girl out of the County
Cork； seemed to be the very person destined to insure
Dobbin's happinessmuch more than that poor good little
weak…spur'ted Amelia； about whom he used to take on so。
〃Look at Glorvina enter a room；〃 Mrs。 O'Dowd would say；
〃and compare her with that poor Mrs。 Osborne； who
couldn't say boo to a goose。 She'd be worthy of you； Major
you're a quiet man yourself； and want some one to talk for
ye。 And though she does not come of such good blood as
the Malonys or Molloys； let me tell ye； she's of an ancient
family that any nobleman might be proud to marry into。〃
But before she had come to such a resolution and determined to
subjugate Major Dobbin by her endearments； it must be owned
that Glorvina had practised them a good deal elsewhere。 She had
had a season in Dublin； and who knows how many in Cork；
Killarney； and Mallow？ She had flirted with all the marriageable
officers whom the depots of her country afforded； and all the
bachelor squires who seemed eligible。 She had been
engaged to be married a half…score times in Ireland；
besides the clergyman at Bath who used her so ill。 She had
flirted all the way to Madras with the Captain and chief
mate of the Ramchunder East Indiaman； and had a season
at the Presidency with her brother and Mrs。 O'Dowd； who
was staying there； while the Major of the regiment was in
command at the station。 Everybody admired her there；
everybody danced with her； but no one proposed who was
worth the marryingone or two exceedingly young
subalterns sighed after her； and a beardless civilian or two；
but she rejected these as beneath her pretensionsand
other and younger virgins than Glorvina were married
before her。 There are women； and handsome women too；
who have this fortune in life。 They fall in love with the
utmost generosity； they ride and walk with half the
Army…list； though they draw near to forty； and yet the
Misses O'Grady are the Misses O'Grady still： Glorvina
persisted that but for Lady O'Dowd's unlucky quarrel with
the Judge's lady； she would have made a good match at
Madras； where old Mr。 Chutney； who was at the head of
the civil service （and who afterwards married Miss Dolby；
a young lady only thirteen years of age who had just
arrived from school in Europe）； was just at the point of
proposing to her。
Well； although Lady O'Dowd and Glorvina quarrelled a
great number of times every day； and upon almost every
conceivable subjectindeed； if Mick O'Dowd had not
possessed the temper of an angel two such women
constantly about his ears would have driven him out of his
sensesyet they agreed between themselves on this point；
that Glorvina should marry Major Dobbin； and were
determined that the Major should have no rest until the
arrangement was brought about。 Undismayed by forty or
fifty previous defeats； Glorvina laid siege to him。 She sang
Irish melodies at him unceasingly。 She asked him so
frequently and pathetically； Will ye come to the bower？
that it is a wonder how any man of feeling could have
resisted the invitation。 She was never tired of inquiring； if
Sorrow had his young days faded； and was ready to listen
and weep like Desdemona at the stories of his dangers and
his campaigns。 It has been
said that our honest and dear old friend used to perform
on the flute in private； Glorvina insisted upon having duets
with him； and Lady O'Dowd would rise and artlessly quit
the room when the young couple were so engaged。
Glorvina forced the Major to ride with her of mornings。 The
whole cantonment saw them set out and return。 She was
constantly writing notes over to him at his house；
borrowing his books； and scoring with her great
pencil…marks such passages of sentiment or humour as
awakened her sympathy。 She borrowed his horses； his
servants； his spoons； and palanquinno wonder that public
rumour assigned her to him； and that the Major's sisters in
England should fancy they were about to have a sister…in…
law。
Dobbin； who was thus vigorously besieged； was in the
meanwhile in a state of the most odious tranquillity。 He
used to laugh when the young fellows of the regiment
joked him about Glorvina's manifest attentions to him。
〃Bah！〃 said he； 〃she is only keeping her hand inshe
practises upon me as she does upon Mrs。 Tozer's piano；
because it's the most handy instrument in the station。 I am
much too battered and old for such a fine young lady as
Glorvina。〃 And so he went on riding with her； and copying
music and verses into her albums； and playing at chess
with her very submissively； for it is with these simple
amusements that some officers in India are accustomed to
while away their leisure moments； while others of a less
domestic turn hunt hogs； and shoot snipes； or gamble and
smoke cheroots； and betake themselves to brandy…and…
water。 As for Sir Michael O'Dowd； though his lady and her
sister both urged him to call upon the Major to explain
himself and not keep on torturing a poor innocent girl in
that shameful way； the old soldier refused point…blank to
have anything to do with the conspiracy。 〃Faith； the Major's
big enough to choose for himself；〃 Sir Michael said； 〃he'll
ask ye when he wants ye〃； or else he would turn the
matter off jocularly； declaring that 〃Dobbin was too young
to keep house； and had written home to ask lave of his
mamma。〃 Nay； he went farther； and in private
communications with his Major would caution and rally
him； crying； 〃Mind your oi； Dob； my boy； them girls is bent
on mischiefme Lady has just got a box of gowns from Europe；
and there's a pink satin for Glorvina； which will finish ye；
Dob； if it's in the power of woman or satin to move ye。〃
But the truth is； neither beauty nor fashion could conquer
him。 Our honest friend had but one idea of a woman in his
head； and that one did not in the least resemble Miss
Glorvina O'Dowd in pink satin。 A gentle little woman in black；
with large eyes and brown hair； seldom speaking； save when
spoken to； and then in a voice not the least resembling
Miss Glorvina'sa soft young mother tending an infant
and beckoning the Major up with a smile to look at hima
rosy…cheeked lass coming singing into the room in Russell
Square or hanging on George Osborne's arm； happy and
lovingthere was but this image that filled our honest
Major's mind； by day and by night； and reigned over it
always。 Very likely Amelia was not like the portrait the
Major had formed of her： there was a figure in a book of
fashions which his sisters had in England； and with which
William had made away privately； pasting it into the lid
of his desk； and fancying he saw some resemblance to
Mrs。 Osborne in the print； whereas I have seen it； and
can vouch that it is but the picture of a high…waisted
gown with an impossible doll's face simpering over it
and； perhaps； Mr。 Dobbin's sentimental Amelia was no
more like the real one than this absurd little print which
he cherished。 But what man in love； of us； is better
informed？or is he much happier when he sees and owns his
delusion？ Dobbin was under this spell。 He did not bother
his friends and the public much about his feelings； or
indeed lose his natural rest or appetite on account
of them。 His head has grizzled since we saw him last； and
a line or two of silver may be seen in the soft brown hair
likewise。 But his feelings are not in the least changed or
oldened； and his love remains as fresh as a man's
recollections of boyhood are。
We have said how the two Misses Dobbin and Amelia； the
Major's correspondents in Europe； wrote him letters from
England； Mrs。 Osborne congratulating him with great candour
and cordiality upon his approaching nuptials with Miss O'Dowd。
〃Your sister has just kindly visited me；〃 Amelia wrote
in her letter； 〃and informed me of an INTERESTING EVENT；
upon which I beg to offer my MOST SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS。
I hope the young lady to whom I hear you are to
be UNITED will in every respect prove worthy of one who
is himself all kindness and goodness。 The poor widow has
only her prayers to offer and her cordial cordial wishes
for YOUR PROSPERITY！ Georgy sends his love to HIS DEAR GODPAPA
and hopes that you will not forget him。 I tell
him that you are about to form OTHER TIES； with one who
I am sure merits ALL YOUR AFFECTION； but that； although
such ties must of course be the strongest and most
sacred； and supersede ALL OTHERS； yet that I am sure the
widow and the child whom you have ever protected and
loved will always HAVE A CORNER IN YOUR HEART〃 The letter；
which has been before alluded to； went on in this
strain； protesting throughout as to the extreme satisfaction
of the writer。
This letter； 。which arrived by the very same ship which
brought out Lady O'Dowd's box of millinery from London
（and which you may be sure Dobbin opened before any
one of the other pa