felt a guilty shock as he looked at her。 〃Good God；〃
thought he； 〃and is it grief like this I dared to pry into？〃
And there was no help： no means to soothe and comfort
this helpless； speechless misery。 He stood for a moment
and looked at her； powerless and torn with pity； as a
parent regards an infant in pain。
At last； George took Emmy's hand； and led her back
into the bedroom； from whence he came out alone。 The
parting had taken place in that moment； and he was gone。
〃Thank Heaven that is over；〃 George thought； bounding
down the stair； his sword under his arm； as he ran
swiftly to the alarm ground； where the regiment was
mustered； and whither trooped men and officers hurrying
from their billets； his pulse was throbbing and his cheeks
flushed： the great game of war was going to be played；
and he one of the players。 What a fierce excitement of
doubt； hope； and pleasure！ What tremendous hazards of
loss or gain！ What were all the games of chance he had
ever played compared to this one？ Into all contests
requiring athletic skill and courage； the young man； from
his boyhood upwards； had flung himself with all his might。
The champion of his school and his regiment； the bravos
of his companions had followed him everywhere； from
the boys' cricket…match to the garrison…races； he had won
a hundred of triumphs； and wherever he went women
and men had admired and envied him。 What qualities
are there for which a man gets so speedy a return of
applause； as those of bodily superiority； activity； and
valour？ Time out of mind strength and courage have been
the theme of bards and romances； and from the story of
Troy down to to…day； poetry has always chosen a soldier
for a hero。 I wonder is it because men are cowards in
heart that they admire bravery so much； and place
military valour so far beyond every other quality for
reward and worship？
So； at the sound of that stirring call to battle； George
jumped away from the gentle arms in which he had been
dallying； not without a feeling of shame （although his
wife's hold on him had been but feeble）； that he should
have been detained there so long。 The same feeling of
eagerness and excitement was amongst all those friends
of his of whom we have had occasional glimpses； from
the stout senior Major； who led the regiment into action；
to little Stubble； the Ensign； who was to bear its colours
on that day。
The sun was just rising as the march beganit was
a gallant sightthe band led the column； playing the
regimental marchthen came the Major in command；
riding upon Pyramus； his stout chargerthen marched
the grenadiers； their Captain at their head； in the centre
were the colours； borne by the senior and junior Ensigns
then George came marching at the head of his company。
He looked up； and smiled at Amelia； and passed
on； and even the sound of the music died away。
CHAPTER XXXI
In Which Jos Sedley Takes Care of His Sister
Thus all the superior officers being summoned on duty
elsewhere； Jos Sedley was left in command of the little
colony at Brussels； with Amelia invalided； Isidor； his
Belgian servant； and the bonne； who was maid…of…all…work
for the establishment； as a garrison under him。 Though
he was disturbed in spirit； and his rest destroyed by
Dobbin's interruption and the occurrences of the morning；
Jos nevertheless remained for many hours in bed；
wakeful and rolling about there until his usual hour of
rising had arrived。 The sun was high in the heavens； and
our gallant friends of the th miles on their march；
before the civilian appeared in his flowered dressing…gown
at breakfast。
About George's absence； his brother…in…law was very
easy in mind。 Perhaps Jos was rather pleased in his heart
that Osborne was gone； for during George's presence； the
other had played but a very secondary part in the
household； and Osborne did not scruple to show his contempt
for the stout civilian。 But Emmy had always been good
and attentive to him。 It was she who ministered to his
comforts； who superintended the dishes that he liked；
who walked or rode with him （as she had many； too
many； opportunities of doing； for where was George？）
and who interposed her sweet face between his anger
and her husband's scorn。 Many timid remonstrances had
she uttered to George in behalf of her brother； but the
former in his trenchant way cut these entreaties short。
〃I'm an honest man；〃 he said； 〃and if I have a feeling
I show it； as an honest man will。 How the deuce； my
dear； would you have me behave respectfully to such a
fool as your brother？〃 So Jos was pleased with George's
absence。 His plain hat； and gloves on a sideboard； and
the idea that the owner was away； caused Jos I don't
know what secret thrill of pleasure。 〃HE won't be
troubling me this morning；〃 Jos thought； 〃with his
dandified airs and his impudence。〃
〃Put the Captain's hat into the ante…room；〃 he said
to Isidor； the servant。
〃Perhaps he won't want it again；〃 replied the lackey；
looking knowingly at his master。 He hated George too；
whose insolence towards him was quite of the English
sort。
〃And ask if Madame is coming to breakfast；〃 Mr。
Sedley said with great majesty； ashamed to enter with a
servant upon the subject of his dislike for George。 The
truth is； he had abused his brother to the valet a score
of times before。
Alas！ Madame could not come to breakfast； and cut
the tartines that Mr。 Jos liked。 Madame was a great deal
too ill； and had been in a frightful state ever since her
husband's departure； so her bonne said。 Jos showed his
sympathy by pouring her out a large cup of tea It was
his way of exhibiting kindness： and he improved on this；
he not only sent her breakfast； but he bethought him
what delicacies she would most like for dinner。
Isidor； the valet； had looked on very sulkily； while
Osborne's servant was disposing of his master's baggage
previous to the Captain's departure： for in the first place
he hated Mr。 Osborne； whose conduct to him； and to
all inferiors； was generally overbearing （nor does the
continental domestic like to be treated with insolence as
our own better…tempered servants do）； and secondly； he
was angry that so many valuables should be removed
from under his hands； to fall into other people's possession
when the English discomfiture should arrive。 Of this
defeat he and a vast number of other persons in Brussels
and Belgium did not make the slightest doubt。 The almost
universal belief was； that the Emperor would divide
the Prussian and English armies； annihilate one after the
other； and march into Brussels before three days were
over： when all the movables of his present masters； who
would be killed； or fugitives； or prisoners； would lawfully
become the property of Monsieur Isidor。
As he helped Jos through his toilsome and complicated
daily toilette； this faithful servant would calculate what
he should do with the very articles with which he was
decorating his master's person。 He would make a present
of the silver essence…bottles and toilet knicknacks to a
young lady of whom he was fond； and keep the English
cutlery and the large ruby pin for himself。 It would
look very smart upon one of the fine frilled shirts； which；
with the gold…laced cap and the frogged frock coat； that
might easily be cut down to suit his shape； and the Captain's
gold…headed cane； and the great double ring with
the rubies； which he would have made into a pair of
beautiful earrings； he calculated would make a perfect
Adonis of himself； and render Mademoiselle Reine an
easy prey。 〃How those sleeve…buttons will suit me！〃
thought he； as he fixed a pair on the fat pudgy wrists of
Mr。 Sedley。 〃I long for sleeve…buttons； and the Captain's
boots with brass spurs； in the next room； corbleu！ what
an effect they will make in the Allee Verte！〃 So while
Monsieur Isidor with bodily fingers was holding on to his
master's nose； and shaving the lower part of Jos's face；
his imagination was rambling along the Green Avenue；
dressed out in a frogged coat and lace； and in company
with Mademoiselle Reine； he was loitering in spirit on
the banks； and examining the barges sailing slowly under
the cool shadows of the trees by the canal； or refreshing
himself with a mug of Faro at the bench of a beer…house
on the road to Laeken。
But Mr。 Joseph Sedley； luckily for his own peace； no
more knew what was passing in his domestic's mind than
the respected reader； and I suspect what John or Mary；
whose wages we pay； think of ourselves。 What our
servants think of us！Did we know what our intimates and
dear relations thought of us； we should live in a world
that we should be glad to quit； and in a frame of mind
and a constant terror； that would be perfectly unbearable。
So Jos's man was marking his victim down； as you
see one of Mr。 Paynter's assistants in Leadenhall Street
ornament an unconscious turtle with a placard on which
is written； 〃Soup to…morrow。〃
Amelia's attendant was much less selfishly disposed。
Few dependents could come near that kind and gentle
creature without paying their usual tribute of loyalty
and affection to her sweet and affectionate nature。 And
it is a fact that Pauline； the cook； consoled her mistress
more than anybody whom she saw on this wretched
morning； for when she found how Amelia remained for hours；
silent； motionless； and haggard； by the windows in which
she had placed herself to watch the last bayonets of the
column as it marched away； the honest girl took the
lady's hand； and said； Tenez； Madame； est…ce qu'il n'est
pas aussi a l'armee； mon homme a moi？ with which
she burst into tears； and Amelia falling into her arms；
did likewise； and so each pitied and soothed the other。
Several times during the forenoon Mr。 Jos's Isidor
went from his lodgings into the town； and to the gates
of the hotels and lodging…houses round about the Parc；
where the English were congregated； and there mingled
with other valets； couriers； and lackeys； gathered such
news as was abroad； and brought back bulletins for his
master's information。 Almost all these gentlemen were in
heart partisans of the Emperor； and had their opinions
about the speedy end of the campaign。 The Emperor's