which now ensued； and harassed the feelings of the
humiliated old gentleman so severely； that in six weeks he
oldened more than he had done for fifteen years before
the most determined and obstinate seemed to be John
Osborne； his old friend and neighbourJohn Osborne；
whom he had set up in lifewho was under a hundred
obligations to himand whose son was to marry Sedley's
daughter。 Any one of these circumstances would account
for the bitterness of Osborne's opposition。
When one man has been under very remarkable
obligations to another； with whom he subsequently quarrels；
a common sense of decency； as it were； makes of the
former a much severer enemy than a mere stranger
would be。 To account for your own hard…heartedness and
ingratitude in such a case； you are bound to prove the
other party's crime。 It is not that you are selfish； brutal；
and angry at the failure of a speculationno； noit is
that your partner has led you into it by the basest treachery
and with the most sinister motives。 From a mere
sense of consistency； a persecutor is bound to show that
the fallen man is a villainotherwise he； the persecutor；
is a wretch himself。
And as a general rule； which may make all creditors
who are inclined to be severe pretty comfortable in their
minds； no men embarrassed are altogether honest； very
likely。 They conceal something； they exaggerate chances
of good luck； hide away the real state of affairs； say that
things are flourishing when they are hopeless； keep a
smiling face （a dreary smile it is） upon the verge of
bankruptcyare ready to lay hold of any pretext for
delay or of any money； so as to stave off the inevitable
ruin a few days longer。 〃Down with such dishonesty；〃
says the creditor in triumph； and reviles his sinking
enemy。 〃You fool； why do you catch at a straw？〃 calm
good sense says to the man that is drowning。 〃You villain；
why do you shrink from plunging into the irretrievable
Gazette？〃 says prosperity to the poor devil battling in
that black gulf。 Who has not remarked the readiness with
which the closest of friends and honestest of men suspect
and accuse each other of cheating when they fall out
on money matters？ Everybody does it。 Everybody is right；
I suppose； and the world is a rogue。
Then Osborne had the intolerable sense of former
benefits to goad and irritate him： these are always a
cause of hostility aggravated。 Finally； he had to break off
the match between Sedley's daughter and his son； and
as it had gone very far indeed； and as the poor girl's
happiness and perhaps character were compromised； it was
necessary to show the strongest reasons for the rupture；
and for John Osborne to prove John Sedley to be a very
bad character indeed。
At the meetings of creditors； then； he comported himself
with a savageness and scorn towards Sedley； which
almost succeeded in breaking the heart of that ruined
bankrupt man。 On George's intercourse with Amelia he
put an instant vetomenacing the youth with maledictions
if he broke his commands； and vilipending the
poor innocent girl as the basest and most artful of vixens。
One of the great conditions of anger and hatred is； that
you must tell and believe lies against the hated object； in
order； as we said； to be consistent。
When the great crash camethe announcement of
ruin； and the departure from Russell Square； and the
declaration that all was over between her and Georgeall
over between her and love； her and happiness； her and
faith in the worlda brutal letter from John Osborne
told her in a few curt lines that her father's conduct had
been of such a nature that all engagements between the
families were at an endwhen the final award came； it
did not shock her so much as her parents； as her mother
rather expected （for John Sedley himself was entirely
prostrate in the ruins of his own affairs and shattered
honour）。 Amelia took the news very palely and calmly。
It was only the confirmation of the dark presages which
had long gone before。 It was the mere reading of the
sentenceof the crime she had long ago been guiltythe
crime of loving wrongly； too violently； against reason。
She told no more of her thoughts now than she had
before。 She seemed scarcely more unhappy now when
convinced all hope was over； than before when she felt but
dared not confess that it was gone。 So she changed from
the large house to the small one without any mark or
difference； remained in her little room for the most part；
pined silently； and died away day by day。 I do not mean
to say that all females are so。 My dear Miss Bullock； I
do not think your heart would break in this way。 You are
a strong…minded young woman with proper principles。
I do not venture to say that mine would； it has suffered；
and； it must be confessed； survived。 But there are some
souls thus gently constituted； thus frail； and delicate； and
tender。
Whenever old John Sedley thought of the affair
between George and Amelia； or alluded to it； it was with
bitterness almost as great as Mr。 Osborne himself had
shown。 He cursed Osborne and his family as heartless；
wicked； and ungrateful。 No power on earth； he swore；
would induce him to marry his daughter to the son of
such a villain； and he ordered Emmy to banish George
from her mind； and to return all the presents and letters
which she had ever had from him。
She promised acquiescence； and tried to obey。 She put
up the two or three trinkets： and； as for the letters； she
drew them out of the place。where she kept them； and
read them overas if she did not know them by heart
already： but she could not part with them。 That effort
was too much for her； she placed them back in her
bosom againas you have seen a woman nurse a child
that is dead。 Young Amelia felt that she would die or lose
her senses outright； if torn away from this last consolation。
How she used to blush and lighten up when those
letters came！ How she used to trip away with a beating
heart； so that she might read unseen！ If they were cold；
yet how perversely this fond little soul interpreted them
into warmth。 If they were short or selfish； what excuses
she found for the writer！
It was over these few worthless papers that she brooded
and brooded。 She lived in her past lifeevery letter
seemed to recall some circumstance of it。 How well she
remembered them all！ His looks and tones； his dress；
what he said and howthese relics and remembrances
of dead affection were all that were left her in the world。
And the business of her life； wasto watch the corpse
of Love。
To death she looked with inexpressible longing。 Then；
she thought； I shall always be able to follow him。 I am not
praising her conduct or setting her up as a model for
Miss Bullock to imitate。 Miss B。 knows how to regulate
her feelings better than this poor little creature。 Miss B。
would never have committed herself as that imprudent
Amelia had done； pledged her love irretrievably；
confessed her heart away； and got back nothingonly a
brittle promise which was snapt and worthless in a
moment。 A long engagement is a partnership which one
party is free to keep or to break； but which involves all
the capital of the other。
Be cautious then； young ladies； be wary how you
engage。 Be shy of loving frankly； never tell all you feel； or
（a better way still）； feel very little。 See the consequences
of being prematurely honest and confiding； and mistrust
yourselves and everybody。 Get yourselves married as they
do in France； where the lawyers are the bridesmaids and
confidantes。 At any rate； never have any feelings which
may make you uncomfortable； or make any promises
which you cannot at any required moment command and
withdraw。 That is the way to get on； and be respected；
and have a virtuous character in Vanity Fair。
If Amelia could have heard the comments regarding
her which were made in the circle from which her father's
ruin had just driven her； she would have seen what her
own crimes were； and how entirely her character was
jeopardised。 Such criminal imprudence Mrs。 Smith never
knew of； such horrid familiarities Mrs。 Brown had
always condemned； and the end might be a warning to HER
daughters。 〃Captain Osborne； of course； could not marry
a bankrupt's daughter；〃 the Misses Dobbin said。 〃It was
quite enough to have been swindled by the father。 As for
that little Amelia； her folly had really passed all〃
〃All what？〃 Captain Dobbin roared out。 〃Haven't they
been engaged ever since they were children？ Wasn't it
as good as a marriage？ Dare any soul on earth breathe a
word against the sweetest； the purest； the tenderest； the
most angelical of young women？〃
〃La； William； don't be so highty…tighty with US。 We're
not men。 We can't fight you；〃 Miss Jane said。 〃We've said
nothing against Miss Sedley： but that her conduct
throughout was MOST IMPRUDENT； not to call it by any
worse name； and that her parents are people who
certainly merit their misfortunes。〃
〃Hadn't you better； now that Miss Sedley is free；
propose for her yourself； William？〃 Miss Ann asked
sarcastically。 〃It would be a most eligible family
connection。 He！ he！〃
〃I marry her！〃 Dobbin said； blushing very much； and
talking quick。 〃If you are so ready； young ladies； to chop
and change； do you suppose that she is？ Laugh and sneer
at that angel。 She can't hear it； and she's miserable and
unfortunate； and deserves to be laughed at。 Go on
joking； Ann。 You're the wit of the family； and the others
like to hear it。〃
〃I must tell you again we're not in a barrack； William；〃
Miss Ann remarked。
〃In a barrack； by JoveI wish anybody in a barrack
would say what you do；〃 cried out this uproused British
lion。 〃I should like to hear a man breathe a word against
her； by Jupiter。 But men don't talk in this way； Ann： it's
only women； who get together and hiss； and shriek； and
cackle。 There； get awaydon't begin to cry。 I only said
you were a couple of geese；〃 Will Dobbin said； perceiving
Miss Ann's pink eyes were beginning to moisten as
usual。 〃Well； you're not geese； you're swansanything
you like； only do； do leave Miss Sedley alone。〃
Anything like William's infatuation about that silly little
flirting； ogling thing was never known； the