to fetch him in a very shabby old uniform） he who had
always been a staunch Loyalist and admirer of George
IV； became such a tremendous Tory and pillar of the
State that he was for having Amelia to go to a
Drawing…room； too。 He somehow had worked himself up
to believe that he was implicated in the maintenance of the
public welfare and that the Sovereign would not be happy
unless Jos Sedley and his family appeared to rally round
him at St。 James's。
Emmy laughed。 〃Shall I wear the family diamonds；
Jos？〃 she said。
〃I wish you would let me buy you some；〃 thought the
Major。 〃I should like to see any that were too good for
you。〃
CHAPTER LXI
In Which Two Lights are Put Out
There came a day when the round of decorous pleasures
and solemn gaieties in which Mr。 Jos Sedley's family
indulged was interrupted by an event which happens in
most houses。 As you ascend the staircase of your house
from the drawing towards the bedroom floors； you may
have remarked a little arch in the wall right before you；
which at once gives light to the stair which leads from
the second story to the third （where the nursery and
servants' chambers commonly are） and serves for
another purpose of utility； of which the undertaker's men
can give you a notion。 They rest the coffins upon that
arch； or pass them through it so as not to disturb in any
unseemly manner the cold tenant slumbering within the
black ark。
That second…floor arch in a London house； looking up
and down the well of the staircase and commanding the
main thoroughfare by which the inhabitants are passing；
by which cook lurks down before daylight to scour her
pots and pans in the kitchen； by which young master
stealthily ascends； having left his boots in the hall； and
let himself in after dawn from a jolly night at the Club；
down which miss comes rustling in fresh ribbons and
spreading muslins； brilliant and beautiful； and prepared
for conquest and the ball； or Master Tommy slides；
preferring the banisters for a mode of conveyance； and
disdaining danger and the stair； down which the mother is
fondly carried smiling in her strong husband's arms； as
he steps steadily step by step； and followed by the monthly
nurse； on the day when the medical man has pronounced
that the charming patient may go downstairs；
up which John lurks to bed； yawning； with a sputtering
tallow candle； and to gather up before sunrise the boots
which are awaiting him in the passagesthat stair； up or
down which babies are carried； old people are helped；
guests are marshalled to the ball； the parson walks to the
christening； the doctor to the sick…room； and the
undertaker's men to the upper floorwhat a memento of Life；
Death； and Vanity it isthat arch and stairif you
choose to consider it； and sit on the landing； looking up
and down the well！ The doctor will come up to us too
for the last time there； my friend in motley。 The nurse
will look in at the curtains； and you take no noticeand
then she will fling open the windows for a little and let in
the air。 Then they will pull down all the front blinds of the
house and live in the back roomsthen they will send
for the lawyer and other men in black； &c。 Your comedy
and mine will have been played then； and we shall be
removed； oh； how far； from the trumpets； and the shouting；
and the posture…making。 If we are gentlefolks they
will put hatchments over our late domicile； with gilt
cherubim； and mottoes stating that there is 〃Quiet in
Heaven。〃 Your son will new furnish the house； or
perhaps let it； and go into a more modern quarter； your
name will be among the 〃Members Deceased〃 in the
lists of your clubs next year。 However much you may be
mourned； your widow will like to have her weeds neatly
madethe cook will send or come up to ask about
dinnerthe survivor will soon bear to look at your picture
over the mantelpiece； which will presently be deposed
from the place of honour； to make way for the portrait of
the son who reigns。
Which of the dead are most tenderly and passionately
deplored？ Those who love the survivors the least； I
believe。 The death of a child occasions a passion of grief
and frantic tears； such as your end； brother reader； will
never inspire。 The death of an infant which scarce knew
you； which a week's absence from you would have caused
to forget you； will strike you down more than the loss of
your closest friend； or your first…born sona man grown
like yourself； with children of his own。 We may be harsh
and stern with Judah and Simeonour love and pity gush
out for Benjamin； the little one。 And if you are old； as
some reader of this may be or shall be old and rich； or
old and pooryou may one day be thinking for yourself
〃These people are very good round about me； but
they won't grieve too much when I am gone。 I am very
rich； and they want my inheritanceor very poor； and
they are tired of supporting me。〃
The period of mourning for Mrs。 Sedley's death was
only just concluded； and Jos scarcely had had time to
cast off his black and appear in the splendid waistcoats
which he loved； when it became evident to those about
Mr。 Sedley that another event was at hand； and that the
old man was about to go seek for his wife in the dark land
whither she had preceded him。 〃The state of my father's
health；〃 Jos Sedley solemnly remarked at the Club；
〃prevents me from giving any LARGE parties this season： but if
you will come in quietly at half…past six； Chutney； my
boy； and fake a homely dinner with one or two of the
old setI shall be always glad to see you。〃 So Jos and
his acquaintances dined and drank their claret among
themselves in silence； whilst the sands of life were
running out in the old man's glass upstairs。 The velvet…footed
butler brought them their wine； and they composed
themselves to a rubber after dinner； at which Major Dobbin
would sometimes come and take a hand； and Mrs。
Osborne would occasionally descend； when her patient
above was settled for the night； and had commenced one
of those lightly troubled slumbers which visit the pillow
of old age。
The old man clung to his daughter during this
sickness。 He would take his broths and medicines from
scarcely any other hand。 To tend him became almost the
sole business of her life。 Her bed was placed close by the
door which opened into his chamber； and she was alive
at the slightest noise or disturbance from the couch of
the querulous invalid。 Though； to do him justice； he lay
awake many an hour； silent and without stirring；
unwilling to awaken his kind and vigilant nurse。
He loved his daughter with more fondness now；
perhaps； than ever he had done since the days of her
childhood。 In the discharge of gentle offices and kind filial
duties； this simple creature shone most especially。 〃She
walks into the room as silently as a sunbeam；〃 Mr。
Dobbin thought as he saw her passing in and out from her
father's room； a cheerful sweetness lighting up her face
as she moved to and fro； graceful and noiseless。 When
women are brooding over their children； or busied in a
sick…room； who has not seen in their faces those sweet
angelic beams of love and pity？
A secret feud of some years' standing was thus
healed； and with a tacit reconciliation。 In these last
hours； and touched by her love and goodness； the old
man forgot all his grief against her； and wrongs which
he and his wife had many a long night debated： how she
had given up everything for her boy； how she was
careless of her parents in their old age and misfortune； and
only thought of the child； how absurdly and foolishly；
impiously indeed； she took on when George was
removed from her。 Old Sedley forgot these charges as he
was making up his last account； and did justice to the
gentle and uncomplaining little martyr。 One night when
she stole into his room； she found him awake； when the
broken old man made his confession。 〃Oh； Emmy； I've
been thinking we were very unkind and unjust to you；〃
he said and put out his cold and feeble hand to her。 She
knelt down and prayed by his bedside； as he did too；
having still hold of her hand。 When our turn comes； friend；
may we have such company in our prayers！
Perhaps as he was lying awake then； his life may have
passed before himhis early hopeful struggles； his manly
successes and prosperity； his downfall in his declining
years； and his present helpless conditionno chance of
revenge against Fortune； which had had the better of
himneither name nor money to bequeatha spent…out；
bootless life of defeat and disappointment； and the
end here！ Which； I wonder； brother reader； is the better
lot； to die prosperous and famous； or poor and
disappointed？ To have； and to be forced to yield； or to
sink out of life； having played and lost the game？ That
must be a strange feeling； when a day of our life comes
and we say； 〃To…morrow； success or failure won't
matter much； and the sun will rise； and all the myriads of
mankind go to their work or their pleasure as usual； but
I shall be out of the turmoil。〃
So there came one morning and sunrise when all the
world got up and set about its various works and
pleasures； with the exception of old John Sedley； who was not
to fight with fortune； or to hope or scheme any more；
but to go and take up a quiet and utterly unknown
residence in a churchyard at Brompton by the side of
his old wife。
Major Dobbin； Jos； and Georgy followed his remains
to the grave； in a black cloth coach。 Jos came on
purpose from the Star and Garter at Richmond； whither he
retreated after the deplorable event。 He did not care
to remain in the house； with theunder the circumstances；
you understand。 But Emmy stayed and did her
duty as usual。 She was bowed down by no especial grief；
and rather solemn than sorrowful。 She prayed that her
own end might be as calm and painless； and thought
with trust and reverence of the words which she had
heard from her father during his illness； indicative of his
faith； his resignation； and his future hope。
Yes； I think that will be the better ending of the two；
after all。 Suppose you are particularly rich and well…to…
do and say on that last day； 〃I am very rich； I am
tolerably well known； I have lived all my life in