been a secret in poor Jane's life which had made her father
more savage and morose than even nature； pride； and
over…feeding had made him。 This secret was connected
with Miss Wirt； who had a cousin an artist； Mr。 Smee； very
celebrated since as a portrait…painter and R。A。； but who
once was glad enough to give drawing lessons to ladies of
fashion。 Mr。 Smee has forgotten where Russell Square is
now； but he was glad enough to visit it in the year 1818；
when Miss Osborne had instruction from him。
Smee （formerly a pupil of Sharpe of Frith Street； a
dissolute； irregular； and unsuccessful man； but a man with
great knowledge of his art） being the cousin of Miss Wirt；
we say； and introduced by her to Miss Osborne； whose
hand and heart were still free after various incomplete
love affairs； felt a great attachment for this lady； and it is
believed inspired one in her bosom。 Miss Wirt was the
confidante of this intrigue。 I know not whether she used to
leave the room where the master and his pupil were
painting； in order to give them an opportunity for
exchanging those vows and sentiments which cannot be
uttered advantageously in the presence of a third party； I
know not whether she hoped that should her cousin
succeed in carrying off the rich merchant's daughter； he
would give Miss Wirt a portion of the wealth which she
had enabled him to winall that is certain is that Mr。
Osborne got some hint of the transaction； came back from
the City abruptly； and entered the drawing…room with his
bamboo cane； found the painter； the pupil； and the
companion all looking exceedingly pale there； turned the
former out of doors with menaces that he would break
every bone in his skin； and half an hour afterwards
dismissed Miss Wirt likewise； kicking her trunks down the
stairs； trampling on her bandboxes； and shaking his fist at
her hackney coach as it bore her away。
Jane Osborne kept her bedroom for many days。 She was
not allowed to have a companion afterwards。 Her father
swore to her that she should not have a shilling of his
money if she made any match without his concurrence；
and as he wanted a woman to keep his house； he did not
choose that she should marry； so that she was obliged to
give up all projects with which Cupid had any share。
During her papa's life； then； she resigned herself to the
manner of existence here described； and was content to be
an old maid。 Her sister； meanwhile； was having children
with finer names every year and the intercourse between
the two grew fainter continually。 〃Jane and I do not move
in the same sphere of life；〃 Mrs。 Bullock said。 〃I regard her
as a sister； of course〃which meanswhat does it mean
when a lady says that she regards Jane as a sister？
It has been described how the Misses Dobbin lived with
their father at a fine villa at Denmark Hill； where there
were beautiful graperies and peach…trees which delighted
little Georgy Osborne。 The Misses Dobbin； who drove often
to Brompton to see our dear Amelia； came sometimes to
Russell Square too； to pay a visit to their old acquaintance
Miss Osborne。 I believe it was in consequence of the
commands of their brother the Major in India （for whom
their papa had a prodigious respect）； that they paid
attention to Mrs。 George； for the Major； the godfather and
guardian of Amelia's little boy； still hoped that the child's
grandfather might be induced to relent towards him and
acknowledge him for the sake of his son。 The Misses
Dobbin kept Miss Osborne acquainted with the state of
Amelia's affairs； how she was living with her father and
mother； how poor they were； how they wondered what
men； and such men as their brother and dear Captain
Osborne； could find in such an insignificant little chit； how
she was still； as heretofore； a namby…pamby milk…and…
water affected creaturebut how the boy was really the
noblest little boy ever seenfor the hearts of all women
warm towards young children； and the sourest spinster is
kind to them。
One day； after great entreaties on the part of the Misses
Dobbin； Amelia allowed little George to go and pass a day
with them at Denmark Hilla part of which day she spent
herself in writing to the Major in India。 She congratulated
him on the happy news which his sisters had just
conveyed to her。 She prayed for his prosperity and that of
the bride he had chosen。 She thanked him for a thousand
thousand kind offices and proofs of stead fast friendship to
her in her affliction。 She told him the last news about little
Georgy； and how he was gone to spend that very day with
his sisters in the country。 She underlined the letter a great
deal； and she signed herself affectionately his friend；
Amelia Osborne。 She forgot to send any message of
kindness to Lady O'Dowd； as her wont wasand did not
mention Glorvina by name； and only in italics； as the
Major's BRIDE； for whom she begged blessings。 But the
news of the marriage removed the reserve which she had
kept up towards him。 She was glad to be able to own and
feel how warmly and gratefully she regarded himand as
for the idea of being jealous of Glorvina （Glorvina； indeed！）；
Amelia would have scouted it； if an angel from heaven had
hinted it to her。 That night； when Georgy came back in the
pony…carriage in which he rejoiced； and in which he was
driven by Sir Wm。 Dobbin's old coachman； he had round
his neck a fine gold chain and watch。 He said an old lady；
not pretty； had given it him； who cried and kissed him a
great deal。 But he didn't like her。 He liked grapes very
much。 And he only liked his mamma。 Amelia shrank and
started； the timid soul felt a presentiment of terror when
she heard that the relations of the child's father had seen
him。
Miss Osborne came back to give her father his dinner。 He
had made a good speculation in the City； and was rather in
a good humour that day； and chanced to remark the
agitation under which she laboured。 〃What's the matter；
Miss Osborne？〃 he deigned to say。
The woman burst into tears。 〃Oh； sir；〃 she said； 〃I've seen
little George。 He is as beautiful as an angeland so like
him！〃 The old man opposite to her did not say a word； but
flushed up and began to tremble in every limb。
CHAPIER XLIII
In Which the Reader Has to Double the Cape
The astonished reader must be called upon to transport
himself ten thousand miles to the military station of
Bundlegunge； in the Madras division of our Indian empire；
where our gallant old friends of the th regiment are
quartered under the command of the brave Colonel；
Sir Michael O'Dowd。 Time has dealt kindly with that
stout officer； as it does ordinarily with men who have
good stomachs and good tempers and are not perplexed
over much by fatigue of the brain。 The Colonel plays a
good knife and fork at tiffin and resumes those weapons
with great success at dinner。 He smokes his hookah after
both meals and puffs as quietly while his wife scolds
him as he did under the fire of the French at Waterloo。 Age
and heat have not diminished the activity or the eloquence
of the descendant of the Malonys and the Molloys。 Her
Ladyship； our old acquaintance； is as much at home at
Madras as at Brussels in the cantonment as under the
tents。 On the march you saw her at the head of the
regiment seated on a royal elephant； a noble sight。
Mounted on that beast； she has been into action with tigers
in the jungle； she has been received by native princes； who
have welcomed her and Glorvina into the recesses of their
zenanas and offered her shawls and jewels which it went
to her heart to refuse。 The sentries of all arms salute her
wherever she makes her appearance； and she touches her
hat gravely to their salutation。 Lady O'Dowd is one of the
greatest ladies in the Presidency of Madrasher quarrel
with Lady Smith； wife of Sir Minos Smith the puisne judge；
is still remembered by some at Madras； when the Colonel's
lady snapped her fingers in the Judge's lady's face and said
SHE'D never walk behind ever a beggarly civilian。 Even
now； though it is five…and…twenty years ago； people
remember Lady O'Dowd performing a jig at Government
House； where she danced down two Aides…de…Camp； a
Major of Madras cavalry； and two gentlemen of the Civil
Service； and； persuaded by Major Dobbin； C。B。； second in
command of the th； to retire to the supper…room； lassata
nondum satiata recessit。
Peggy O'Dowd is indeed the same as ever； kind in act and
thought； impetuous in temper； eager to command； a tyrant
over her Michael； a dragon amongst all the ladies of the
regiment； a mother to all the young men； whom she tends
in their sickness； defends in all their scrapes； and with
whom Lady Peggy is immensely popular。 But the
Subalterns' and Captains' ladies （the Major is unmarried）
cabal against her a good deal。 They say that Glorvina gives
herself airs and that Peggy herself is ill tolerably
domineering。 She interfered with a little congregation
which Mrs。 Kirk had got up and laughed the young men
away from her sermons； stating that a soldier's wife had no
business to be a parsonthat Mrs。 Kirk would be much
better mending her husband's clothes； and； if the regiment
wanted sermons； that she had the finest in the world； tho