respite； and that his dearly bought horses must of a
surety be put into requisition。 His agonies were very
severe all this day。 As long as there was an English army
between Brussels and Napoleon； there was no need of
immediate flight； but he had his horses brought from
their distant stables； to the stables in the court…yard of
the hotel where he lived； so that they might be under his
own eyes； and beyond the risk of violent abduction。
Isidor watched the stable…door constantly； and had the
horses saddled； to be ready for the start。 He longed
intensely for that event。
After the reception of the previous day； Rebecca did
not care to come near her dear Amelia。 She clipped the
bouquet which George had brought her； and gave fresh
water to the flowers； and read over the letter which he
had sent her。 〃Poor wretch；〃 she said； twirling round the
little bit of paper in her fingers； 〃how I could crush her
with this！and it is for a thing like this that she must
break her heart； forsoothfor a man who is stupida
coxcomband who does not care for her。 My poor good
Rawdon is worth ten of this creature。〃 And then she fell
to thinking what she should do ifif anything happened
to poor good Rawdon； and what a great piece of luck it
was that he had left his horses behind。
In the course of this day too； Mrs。 Crawley； who saw
not without anger the Bareacres party drive off；
bethought her of the precaution which the Countess had
taken； and did a little needlework for her own advantage；
she stitched away the major part of her trinkets； bills；
and bank…notes about her person； and so prepared； was
ready for any eventto fly if she thought fit； or to stay
and welcome the conqueror； were he Englishman or
Frenchman。 And I am not sure that she did not dream
that night of becoming a duchess and Madame la
Marechale； while Rawdon wrapped in his cloak； and making
his bivouac under the rain at Mount Saint John； was
thinking； with all the force of his heart； about the little
wife whom he had left behind him。
The next day was a Sunday。 And Mrs。 Major O'Dowd
had the satisfaction of seeing both her patients refreshed
in health and spirits by some rest which they had taken
during the night。 She herself had slept on a great chair in
Amelia's room； ready to wait upon her poor friend or the
ensign； should either need her nursing。 When morning
came； this robust woman went back to the house where
she and her Major had their billet； and here performed
an elaborate and splendid toilette； befitting the day。 And
it is very possible that whilst alone in that chamber； which
her husband had inhabited； and where his cap still lay on
the pillow； and his cane stood in the corner； one prayer at
least was sent up to Heaven for the welfare of the brave
soldier； Michael O'Dowd。
When she returned she brought her prayer…book with
her； and her uncle the Dean's famous book of sermons；
out of which she never failed to read every Sabbath； not
understanding all； haply； not pronouncing many of the
words aright； which were long and abstrusefor the
Dean was a learned man； and loved long Latin words
but with great gravity； vast emphasis； and with tolerable
correctness in the main。 How often has my Mick listened
to these sermons； she thought； and me reading in the
cabin of a calm！ She proposed to resume this exercise on
the present day； with Amelia and the wounded ensign
for a congregation。 The same service was read on that
day in twenty thousand churches at the same hour； and
millions of British men and women； on their knees；
implored protection of the Father of all。
They did not hear the noise which disturbed our little
congregation at Brussels。 Much louder than that which
had interrupted them two days previously； as Mrs。
O'Dowd was reading the service in her best voice； the
cannon of Waterloo began to roar。
When Jos heard that dreadful sound； he made up his
mind that he would bear this perpetual recurrence of
terrors no longer； and would fly at once。 He rushed into the
sick man's room； where our three friends had paused in
their prayers； and further interrupted them by a
passionate appeal to Amelia
〃I can't stand it any more； Emmy；〃 he said； 'I won't
stand it； and you must come with me。 I have bought a
horse for younever mind at what priceand you must
dress and come with me； and ride behind Isidor。〃
〃God forgive me； Mr。 Sedley； but you are no better
than a coward；〃 Mrs。 O'Dowd said； laying down the
book。
〃I say come； Amelia；〃 the civilian went on； 〃never
mind what she says； why are we to stop here and be
butchered by the Frenchmen？〃
〃You forget the th； my boy；〃 said the little Stubble；
the wounded hero； from his bed〃and and you
won't leave me； will you； Mrs。 O'Dowd？〃
〃No； my dear fellow；〃 said she； going up and kissing
the boy。 〃No harm shall come to you while I stand by。
I don't budge till I get the word from Mick。 A pretty
figure I'd be； wouldn't I； stuck behind that chap on a
pillion？〃
This image caused the young patient to burst out
laughing in his bed； and even made Amelia smile。 〃I
don't ask her；〃 Jos shouted out〃I don't ask thatthat
Irishwoman； but you Amelia； once for all； will you
come？〃
〃Without my husband； Joseph？〃 Amelia said； with a
look of wonder； and gave her hand to the Major's wife。
Jos's patience was exhausted。
〃Good…bye； then；〃 he said； shaking his fist in a rage；
and slamming the door by which he retreated。 And this
time he really gave his order for march： and mounted in
the court…yard。 Mrs。 O'Dowd heard the clattering hoofs
of the horses as they issued from the gate； and looking
on； made many scornful remarks on poor Joseph as he
rode down the street with Isidor after him in the laced
cap。 The horses； which had not been exercised for some
days； were lively； and sprang about the street。 Jos； a
clumsy and timid horseman； did not look to advantage in
the saddle。 〃Look at him； Amelia dear； driving into the
parlour window。 Such a bull in a china…shop I never
saw。〃 And presently the pair of riders disappeared at a
canter down the street leading in the direction of the
Ghent road； Mrs。 O'Dowd pursuing them with a fire of
sarcasm so long as they were in sight。
All that day from morning until past sunset； the
cannon never ceased to roar。 It was dark when the
cannonading stopped all of a sudden。
All of us have read of what occurred during that
interval。 The tale is in every Englishman's mouth； and
you and I； who were children when the great battle was
won and lost； are never tired of hearing and recounting
the history of that famous action。 Its remembrance
rankles still in the bosoms of millions of the countrymen of
those brave men who lost the day。 They pant for an
opportunity of revenging that humiliation； and if a contest；
ending in a victory on their part； should ensue； elating
them in their turn； and leaving its cursed legacy of hatred
and rage behind to us； there is no end to the so…called
glory and shame； and to the alternations of successful
and unsuccessful murder； in which two high…spirited
nations might engage。 Centuries hence； we Frenchmen and
Englishmen might be boasting and killing each other still；
carrying out bravely the Devil's code of honour。
All our friends took their share and fought like men in
the great field。 All day long； whilst the women were
praying ten miles away； the lines of the dauntless English
infantry were receiving and repelling the furious charges of
the French horsemen。 Guns which were heard at Brussels
were ploughing up their ranks； and comrades falling； and
the resolute survivors closing in。 Towards evening； the
attack of the French； repeated and resisted so bravely；
slackened in its fury。 They had other foes besides the
British to engage； or were preparing for a final onset。 It
came at last： the columns of the Imperial Guard marched
up the hill of Saint Jean； at length and at once to sweep
the English from the height which they had maintained
all day； and spite of all： unscared by the thunder of the
artillery； which hurled death from the English linethe
dark rolling column pressed on and up the hill。 It seemed
almost to crest the eminence； when it began to wave and
falter。 Then it stopped； still facing the shot。 Then at last
the English troops rushed from the post from which no
enemy had been able to dislodge them； and the Guard
turned and fled。
No more firing was heard at Brusselsthe pursuit
rolled miles away。 Darkness came down on the field and
city： and Amelia was praying for George； who was lying
on his face； dead； with a bullet through his heart。
CHAPTER XXXIII
In Which Miss Crawley's Relations Are Very Anxious About Her
The kind reader must please to rememberwhile the
army is marching from Flanders； and； after its heroic
actions there； is advancing to take the fortifications on the
frontiers of France； previous to an occupation of that
countrythat there are a number of persons living
peaceably in England who have to do with the history at
present in hand； and must come in for their share of the
chronicle。 During the time of these battles and dangers；
old Miss Crawley was living at Brighton； very moderately
moved by the great events that were going on。 The great
events rendered the newspapers rather interesting； to be
sure； and Briggs read out the Gazette； in which Rawdon
Crawley's gallantry was mentioned with honour； and his
promotion was presently recorded。
〃What a pity that young man has taken such an
irretrievable step in the world！〃 his aunt said； 〃with his rank
and distinction he might have married a brewer's
daughter with a quarter of a millionlike Miss Grains； or have
looked to ally himself with the best families in England。
He would have had my money some day or other； or his
children wouldfor I'm not in a hurry to go； Miss Briggs；
although you may be in a hurry to be rid of me； and
instead of that； he is a doomed pauper； with a dancing…girl
for a wife。〃
〃Will my dear Miss Crawley not cast an eye of
compassion upon the heroic soldier； whose name is inscribed
in the annals of his country's glory？〃 said Miss Briggs；
who was greatly excited by the Waterloo proceedings；
and loved speaking romantically when there was