fawther's mansion of Glenmalony； an officer of rank； with
an orderly behind him； rode up to the market； and
descending from his horse； came amongst the flowers； and
selected the very finest bouquet which money could buy。
The beautiful bundle being tied up in a paper； the officer
remounted； giving the nosegay into the charge of his
military groom； who carried it with a grin； following his
chief； who rode away in great state and self…satisfaction。
〃You should see the flowers at Glenmalony；〃 Mrs。
O'Dowd was remarking。 〃Me fawther has three Scotch
garners with nine helpers。 We have an acre of hot…houses；
and pines as common as pays in the sayson。 Our greeps
weighs six pounds every bunch of 'em； and upon me
honour and conscience I think our magnolias is as big
as taykettles。〃
Dobbin； who never used to 〃draw out〃 Mrs。 O'Dowd
as that wicked Osborne delighted in doing （much to
Amelia's terror； who implored him to spare her）； fell
back in the crowd； crowing and sputtering until he
reached a safe distance； when he exploded amongst the
astonished market…people with shrieks of yelling laughter。
〃Hwhat's that gawky guggling about？〃 said Mrs。
O'Dowd。 〃Is it his nose bleedn？ He always used to say
'twas his nose bleedn； till he must have pomped all the
blood out of 'um。 An't the magnolias at Glenmalony
as big as taykettles； O'Dowd？〃
〃'Deed then they are； and bigger； Peggy；〃 the Major
said。 When the conversation was interrupted in the
manner stated by the arrival of the officer who purchased
the bouquet。
〃Devlish fine horsewho is it？〃 George asked。
〃You should see me brother Molloy Malony's horse；
Molasses； that won the cop at the Curragh；〃 the Major's
wife was exclaiming； and was continuing the family
history； when her husband interrupted her by saying
〃It's General Tufto； who commands the cavalry
division〃； adding quietly； 〃he and I were both shot in
the same leg at Talavera。〃
〃Where you got your step；〃 said George with a laugh。
〃General Tufto！ Then； my dear； the Crawleys are come。〃
Amelia's heart fellshe knew not why。 The sun did
not seem to shine so bright。 The tall old roofs and
gables looked less picturesque all of a sudden； though
it was a brilliant sunset； and one of the brightest and
most beautiful days at the end of May。
CHAPTER XXIX
Brussels
Mr。 Jos had hired a pair of horses for his open carriage；
with which cattle； and the smart London vehicle； he made
a very tolerable figure in the drives about Brussels。
George purchased a horse for his private riding； and
he and Captain Dobbin would often accompany the
carriage in which Jos and his sister took daily excursions
of pleasure。 They went out that day in the park for their
accustomed diversion； and there； sure enough； George's
remark with regard to the arrival of Rawdon Crawley and
his wife proved to be correct。 In the midst of a little
troop of horsemen； consisting of some of the very greatest
persons in Brussels； Rebecca was seen in the prettiest
and tightest of riding…habits； mounted on a beautiful
little Arab； which she rode to perfection （having acquired
the art at Queen's Crawley； where the Baronet； Mr。
Pitt； and Rawdon himself had given her many lessons）；
and by the side of the gallant General Tufto。
〃Sure it's the Juke himself；〃 cried Mrs。 Major O'Dowd
to Jos； who began to blush violently； 〃and that's Lord
Uxbridge on the bay。 How elegant he looks！ Me brother；
Molloy Malony； is as like him as two pays。〃
Rebecca did not make for the carriage； but as soon
as she perceived her old acquaintance Amelia seated in
it； acknowledged her presence by a gracious nod and
smile； and by kissing and shaking her fingers playfully
in the direction of the vehicle。 Then she resumed her
conversation with General Tufto； who asked 〃who the
fat officer was in the gold…laced cap？〃 on which Becky
replied； 〃that he was an officer in the East Indian service。〃
But Rawdon Crawley rode out of the ranks of his
company； and came up and shook hands heartily with
Amelia； and said to Jos； 〃Well； old boy； how are you？〃
and stared in Mrs。 O'Dowd's face and at。the black cock's
feathers until she began to think she had made a
conquest of him。
George； who had been delayed behind； rode up almost
immediately with Dobbin； and they touched their caps to
the august personages； among whom Osborne at once
perceived Mrs。 Crawley。 He was delighted to see Rawdon
leaning over his carriage familiarly and talking to Amelia；
and met the aide…de…camp's cordial greeting with more
than corresponding warmth。 The nods between Rawdon
and Dobbin were of the very faintest specimens of
politeness。
Crawley told George where they were stopping with
General Tufto at the Hotel du Parc； and George made
his friend promise to come speedily to Osborne's own
residence。 〃Sorry I hadn't seen you three days ago；〃
George said。 〃Had a dinner at the Restaurateur'srather a
nice thing。 Lord Bareacres； and the Countess； and Lady
Blanche； were good enough to dine with uswish we'd
had you。〃 Having thus let his friend know his claims to be
a man of fashion； Osborne parted from Rawdon； who
followed the august squadron down an alley into which
they cantered； while George and Dobbin resumed their
places； one on each side of Amelia's carriage。
〃How well the Juke looked；〃 Mrs。 O'Dowd remarked。
〃The Wellesleys and Malonys are related； but； of course；
poor I would never dream of introjuicing myself unless
his Grace thought proper to remember our family…tie。〃
〃He's a great soldier；〃 Jos said； much more at ease
now the great man was gone。 〃Was there ever a battle
won like Salamanca？ Hey； Dobbin？ But where was it he
learnt his art？ In India； my boy！ The jungle's the school
for a general； mark me that。 I knew him myself； too；
Mrs。 O'Dowd： we both of us danced the same evening
with Miss Cutler； daughter of Cutler of the Artillery； and
a devilish fine girl； at Dumdum。〃
The apparition of the great personages held them
all in talk during the drive； and at dinner； and until the
hour came when they were all to go to the Opera。
It was almost like Old England。 The house was filled
with familiar British faces； and those toilettes for which
the British female has long been celebrated。 Mrs。
O'Dowd's was not the least splendid amongst these； and
she had a curl on her forehead； and a set of Irish diamonds
and Cairngorms； which outshone all the decorations
in the house； in her notion。 Her presence used to
excruciate Osborne； but go she would upon all parties of
pleasure on which she heard her young friends were bent。
It never entered into her thought but that they must be
charmed with her company。
〃She's been useful to you； my dear；〃 George said to
his wife； whom he could leave alone with less scruple
when she had this society。 〃But what a comfort it is that
Rebecca's come： you will have her for a friend； and we
may get rid now of this damn'd Irishwoman。〃 To this
Amelia did not answer； yes or no： and how do we know
what her thoughts were？
The coup d'oeil of the Brussels opera…house did not
strike Mrs。 O'Dowd as being so fine as the theatre in
Fishamble Street； Dublin； nor was French music at all
equal； in her opinion； to the melodies of her native country。
She favoured her friends with these and other opinions
in a very loud tone of voice； and tossed about a
great clattering fan she sported； with the most splendid
complacency。
〃Who is that wonderful woman with Amelia； Rawdon；
love？〃 said a lady in an opposite box （who； almost always
civil to her husband in private； was more fond than
ever of him in company）。
〃Don't you see that creature with a yellow thing in
her turban； and a red satin gown； and a great watch？〃
〃Near the pretty little woman in white？〃 asked a
middle…aged gentleman seated by the querist's side； with
orders in his button； and several under…waistcoats； and
a great； choky； white stock。
〃That pretty woman in white is Amelia； General： you
are remarking all the pretty women； you naughty man。〃
〃Only one； begad； in the world！〃 said the General； delighted；
and the lady gave him a tap with a large bouquet
which she had。
〃Bedad it's him；〃 said Mrs。 O'Dowd； 〃and that's the
very bokay he bought in the Marshy aux Flures！〃 and
when Rebecca； having caught her friend's eye； performed
the little hand…kissing operation once more； Mrs。 Major
O'D。； taking the compliment to herself； returned the salute
with a gracious smile； which sent that unfortunate
Dobbin shrieking out of the box again。
At the end of the act； George was out of the box in a
moment； and he was even going to pay his respects to
Rebecca in her loge。 He met Crawley in the lobby； however；
where they exchanged a few sentences upon the
occurrences of the last fortnight。
〃You found my cheque all right at the agent's？
George said； with a knowing air。
〃All right； my boy；〃 Rawdon answered。 〃Happy to give
you your revenge。 Governor come round？〃
〃Not yet；〃 said George； 〃but he will； and you know I've
some private fortune through my mother。 Has Aunty
relented？〃
〃Sent me twenty pound； damned old screw。 When shall
we have a meet？ The General dines out on Tuesday。
Can't you come Tuesday？ I say； make Sedley cut off his
moustache。 What the devil does a civilian mean with a
moustache and those infernal frogs to his coat！ By…bye。
Try and come on Tuesday〃； and Rawdon was going…off
with two brilliant young gentlemen of fashion； who were；
like himself； on the staff of a general officer。
George was only half pleased to be asked to dinner on
that particular day when the General was not to dine。 〃I
will go in and pay my respects to your wife；〃 said he； at
which Rawdon said； 〃Hm； as you please；〃 looking very
glum； and at which the two young officers exchanged
knowing glances。 George parted from them and strutted
down the lobby to the General's box； the number of which
he had carefully counted。
〃Entrez；〃 said a clear little voice； and our friend found
himself in Rebecca's presence； who jumped up； clapped
her hands together； and held out both of them to George；
so charmed was she to see him。 The General； with the
orders in his button； stared at the newcomer with a sulky
scowl； as much as to say； who the devil are you？
〃M