anxious to go to England。
At last she took a great resolutionmade the great
plunge。 She wrote off a letter to a friend whom she had
on the other side of the water； a letter about which she
did not speak a word to anybody； which she carried
herself to the post under her shawl； nor was any remark
made about it； only that she looked very much flushed
and agitated when Georgy met her； and she kissed him；
and hung over him a great deal that night。 She did not
come out of her room after her return from her walk。
Becky thought it was Major Loder and the Captain who
frightened her。
〃She mustn't stop here；〃 Becky reasoned with herself。
〃She must go away； the silly little fool。 She is still
whimpering after that gaby of a husbanddead （and
served right！） these fifteen years。 She shan't marry either
of these men。 It's too bad of Loder。 No； she shall marry
the bamboo cane； I'll settle it this very night。〃
So Becky took a cup of tea to Amelia in her private
apartment and found that lady in the company of her
miniatures； and in a most melancholy and nervous
condition。 She laid down the cup of tea。
〃Thank you；〃 said Amelia。
〃Listen to me； Amelia；〃 said Becky； marching up and
down the room before the other and surveying her with
a sort of contemptuous kindness。 〃I want to talk to you。
You must go away from here and from the impertinences
of these men。 I won't have you harassed by them： and
they will insult you if you stay。 I tell you they are rascals：
men fit to send to the hulks。 Never mind how I know
them。 I know everybody。 Jos can't protect you； he is too
weak and wants a protector himself。 You are no more fit
to live in the world than a baby in arms。 You must marry；
or you and your precious boy will go to ruin。 You must
have a husband； you fool； and one of the best gentlemen
I ever saw has offered you a hundred times； and you have
rejected him； you silly； heartless； ungrateful little
creature！〃
〃I triedI tried my best； indeed I did； Rebecca；〃 said
Amelia deprecatingly； 〃but I couldn't forget〃； and she
finished the sentence by looking up at the portrait。
〃Couldn't forget HIM！〃 cried out Becky； 〃that selfish
humbug； that low…bred cockney dandy； that padded
booby； who had neither wit； nor manners； nor heart； and
was no more to be compared to your friend with the
bamboo cane than you are to Queen Elizabeth。 Why；
the man was weary of you； and would have jilted you； but
that Dobbin forced him to keep his word。 He owned it
to me。 He never cared for you。 He used to sneer about
you to me； time after time； and made love to me the
week after he married you。〃
〃It's false！ It's false！ Rebecca；〃 cried out Amelia；
starting up。
〃Look there； you fool；〃 Becky said； still with provoking
good humour； and taking a little paper out of her
belt； she opened it and flung it into Emmy's lap。 〃You
know his handwriting。 He wrote that to mewanted me
to run away with himgave it me under your nose； the
day before he was shotand served him right！〃 Becky
repeated。
Emmy did not hear her； she was looking at the letter。
It was that which George had put into the bouquet and
given to Becky on the night of the Duchess of Richmond's
ball。 It was as she said： the foolish young man
had asked her to fly。
Emmy's head sank down； and for almost the last time
in which she shall be called upon to weep in this history；
she commenced that work。 Her head fell to her bosom； and
her hands went up to her eyes； and there for a while； she
gave way to her emotions； as Becky stood on and
regarded her。 Who shall analyse those tears and say
whether they were sweet or bitter？ Was she most grieved
because the idol of her life was tumbled down and
shivered at her feet； or indignant that her love had been so
despised； or glad because the barrier was removed which
modesty had placed between her and a new； a real affection？
〃There is nothing to forbid me now；〃 she thought。
〃I may love him with all my heart now。 Oh； I will； I will；
if he will but let me and forgive me。〃 I believe it was this
feeling rushed over all the others which agitated that
gentle little bosom。
Indeed； she did not cry so much as Becky expected
the other soothed and kissed hera rare mark of
sympathy with Mrs。 Becky。 She treated Emmy like a child
and patted her head。 〃And now let us get pen and ink
and write to him to come this minute；〃 she said。
〃II wrote to him this morning；〃 Emmy said； blushing
exceedingly。 Becky screamed with laughter〃Un
biglietto；〃 she sang out with Rosina； 〃eccolo qua！〃the
whole house echoed with her shrill singing。
Two mornings after this little scene； although the day
was rainy and gusty； and Amelia had had an exceedingly
wakeful night； listening to the wind roaring； and pitying
all travellers by land and by water； yet she got up early
and insisted upon taking a walk on the Dike with Georgy；
and there she paced as the rain beat into her face； and
she looked out westward across the dark sea line and
over the swollen billows which came tumbling and frothing
to the shore。 Neither spoke much； except now and
then； when the boy said a few words to his timid
companion； indicative of sympathy and protection。
〃I hope he won't cross in such weather；〃 Emmy said。
〃I bet ten to one he does；〃 the boy answered。 〃Look；
Mother； there's the smoke of the steamer。〃 It was that
signal； sure enough。
But though the steamer was under way； he might not
be on board； he might not have got the letter； he might
not choose to come。 A hundred fears poured one over the
other into the little heart； as fast as the waves on to the
Dike。
The boat followed the smoke into sight。 Georgy had a
dandy telescope and got the vessel under view in the most
skilful manner。 And he made appropriate nautical
comments upon the manner of the approach of the steamer
as she came nearer and nearer； dipping and rising in the
water。 The signal of an English steamer in sight went
fluttering up to the mast on the pier。 I daresay Mrs。
Amelia's heart was in a similar flutter。
Emmy tried to look through the telescope over
George's shoulder； but she could make nothing of it。
She only saw a black eclipse bobbing up and down
before her eyes。
George took the glass again and raked the vessel。
〃How she does pitch！〃 he said。 〃There goes a wave slap
over her bows。 There's only two people on deck besides
the steersman。 There's a man lying down； and achap
in acloak with aHooray！it's Dob； by Jingo！〃
He clapped to the telescope and flung his arms round
his mother。 As for that lady； let us say what she did in
the words of a favourite poet〃Dakruoen gelasasa。〃 She
was sure it was William。 It could be no other。 What she
had said about hoping that he would not come was all
hypocrisy。 Of course he would come； what could he do
else but come？ She knew he would come。
The ship came swiftly nearer and nearer。 As they went
in to meet her at the landing…place at the quay； Emmy's
knees trembled so that she scarcely could run。 She would
have liked to kneel down and say her prayers of thanks
there。 Oh； she thought； she would be all her life saying
them！
It was such a bad day that as the vessel came alongside
of the quay there were no idlers abroad； scarcely
even a commissioner on the look out for the few
passengers in the steamer。 That young scapegrace George
had fled too； and as the gentleman in the old cloak lined
with red stuff stepped on to the shore； there was scarcely
any one present to see what took place； which was briefly
this：
A lady in a dripping white bonnet and shawl； with her
two little hands out before her； went up to him； and in
the next minute she had altogether disappeared under the
folds of the old cloak； and was kissing one of his hands
with all her might； whilst the other； I suppose； was
engaged in holding her to his heart （which her head just
about reached） and in preventing her from tumbling
down。 She was murmuring something aboutforgive
dear Williamdear； dear； dearest friendkiss； kiss； kiss；
and so forthand in fact went on under the cloak in an
absurd manner。
When Emmy emerged from it； she still kept tight hold
of one of William's hands； and looked up in his face。 It
was full of sadness and tender love and pity。 She
understood its reproach and hung down her head。
〃It was time you sent for me； dear Amelia；〃 he said。
〃You will never go again； William？〃
〃No； never；〃 he answered； and pressed the dear little
soul once more to his heart。
As they issued out of the custom…house precincts；
Georgy broke out on them； with his telescope up to his
eye； and a loud laugh of welcome； he danced round the
couple and performed many facetious antics as he led
them up to the house。 Jos wasn't up yet； Becky not
visible （though she looked at them through the blinds）。
Georgy ran off to see about breakfast。 Emmy； whose
shawl and bonnet were off in the passage in the hands of
Mrs。 Payne； now went to undo the clasp of William's
cloak； andwe will； if you please； go with George； and
look after breakfast for the Colonel。 The vessel is in port。
He has got the prize he has been trying for all his life。
The bird has come in at last。 There it is with its head on
his shoulder； billing and cooing close up to his heart；
with soft outstretched fluttering wings。 This is what he
has asked for every day and hour for eighteen years。 This
is what he pined after。 Here it isthe summit； the end
the last page of the third volume。 Good…bye； Colonel
God bless you； honest William！Farewell； dear Amelia
Grow green again； tender little parasite； round the
rugged old oak to which you cling！
Perhaps it was compunction towards the kind and
simple creature； who had been the first in life to defend
her； perhaps it was a dislike to all such sentimental scenes
but Rebecca； satisfied with her part in the transaction；
never presented herself before Colonel Dobbin and the
lady whom he married。 〃Particular business；〃 she said；
took her to Bruges； whither she went； and only Georgy
and his uncle were present at the marriage ceremony。
When it was over； and Georgy had rejoined his parents；
Mrs。 Becky returned （just for a few days） to comfort the
solitary bachelor； Joseph Sedley。 He preferred a
contin