taken from her； her selfish； guilty love； in both instances；
had been rebuked and bitterly chastised。 She strove to
think it was right that she should be so punished。 She
was such a miserable wicked sinner。 She was quite
alone in the world。
I know that the account of this kind of solitary
imprisonment is insufferably tedious； unless there is some
cheerful or humorous incident to enliven ita tender gaoler；
for instance； or a waggish commandant of the fortress；
or a mouse to come out and play about Latude's beard
and whiskers； or a subterranean passage under the castle；
dug by Trenck with his nails and a toothpick： the historian
has no such enlivening incident to relate in the narrative
of Amelia's captivity。 Fancy her； if you please； during this
period； very sad； but always ready to smile when spoken
to； in a very mean； poor； not to say vulgar position of
life； singing songs； making puddings； playing cards；
mending stockings； for her old father's benefit。 So； never
mind； whether she be a heroine or no； or you and I； however
old； scolding； and bankruptmay we have in our last days
a kind soft shoulder on which to lean and a gentle hand
to soothe our gouty old pillows。
Old Sedley grew very fond of his daughter after his
wife's death； and Amelia had her consolation in doing her
duty by the old man。
But we are not going to leave these two people long in
such a low and ungenteel station of life。 Better days； as
far as worldly prosperity went； were in store for both。
Perhaps the ingenious reader has guessed who was the
stout gentleman who called upon Georgy at his school in
company with our old friend Major Dobbin。 It was
another old acquaintance returned to England； and at a time
when his presence was likely to be of great comfort to
his relatives there。
Major Dobbin having easily succeeded in getting leave
from his good…natured commandant to proceed to
Madras； and thence probably to Europe； on urgent private
affairs； never ceased travelling night and day until he
reached his journey's end； and had directed his march
with such celerity that he arrived at Madras in a high
fever。 His servants who accompanied him brought him
to the house of the friend with whom he had resolved to
stay until his departure for Europe in a state of delirium；
and it was thought for many； many days that he would
never travel farther than the burying…ground of the church
of St。 George's； where the troops should fire a salvo over
his grave； and where many a gallant officer lies far away
from his home。
Here； as the poor fellow lay tossing in his fever； the
people who watched him might have heard him raving
about Amelia。 The idea that he should never see her again
depressed him in his lucid hours。 He thought his last day
was come； and he made his solemn preparations for
departure； setting his affairs in this world in order and
leaving the little property of which he was possessed to
those whom he most desired to benefit。 The friend in
whose house he was located witnessed his testament。 He
desired to be buried with a little brown hair…chain which
he wore round his neck and which； if the truth must be
known； he had got from Amelia's maid at Brussels； when
the young widow's hair was cut off； during the fever
which prostrated her after the death of George Osborne
on the plateau at Mount St。 John。
He recovered； rallied； relapsed again； having undergone
such a process of blood…letting and calomel as
showed the strength of his original constitution。 He was
almost a skeleton when they put him on board the
Ramchunder East Indiaman； Captain Bragg； from Calcutta；
touching at Madras； and so weak and prostrate that his
friend who had tended him through his illness prophesied
that the honest Major would never survive the voyage；
and that he would pass some morning； shrouded in
flag and hammock； over the ship's side； and carrying
down to the sea with him the relic that he wore at his
heart。 But whether it was the sea air； or the hope which
sprung up in him afresh； from the day that the ship
spread her canvas and stood out of the roads towards
home； our friend began to amend； and he was quite
well （though as gaunt as a greyhound） before they
reached the Cape。 〃Kirk will be disappointed of his
majority this time；〃 he said with a smile； 〃he will
expect to find himself gazetted by the time the regiment
reaches home。〃 For it must be premised that while the
Major was lying ill at Madras； having made such
prodigious haste to go thither； the gallant th； which had
passed many years abroad； which after its return from
the West Indies had been baulked of its stay at home by
the Waterloo campaign； and had been ordered from
Flanders to India； had received orders home； and the Major
might have accompanied his comrades； had he chosen to
wait for their arrival at Madras。
Perhaps he was not inclined to put himself in his
exhausted state again under the guardianship of Glorvina。
〃I think Miss O'Dowd would have done for me；〃 he said
laughingly to a fellow…passenger； 〃if we had had her on
board； and when she had sunk me； she would have fallen
upon you； depend upon it； and carried you in as a prize
to Southampton； Jos； my boy。〃
For indeed it was no other than our stout friend
who was also a passenger on board the Ramchunder。 He
had passed ten years in Bengal。 Constant dinners； tiffins；
pale ale and claret； the prodigious labour of cutcherry；
and the refreshment of brandy…pawnee which he was
forced to take there； had their effect upon Waterloo Sedley。
A voyage to Europe was pronounced necessary for him
and having served his full time in India and had fine
appointments which had enabled him to lay by a considerable
sum of money； he was free to come home and stay
with a good pension； or to return and resume that rank
in the service to which his seniority and his vast talents
entitled him。
He was rather thinner than when we last saw him；
but had gained in majesty and solemnity of demeanour。
He had resumed the mustachios to which his services at
Waterloo entitled him； and swaggered about on deck in a
magnificent velvet cap with a gold band and a profuse
ornamentation of pins and jewellery about his person。
He took breakfast in his cabin and dressed as solemnly to
appear on the quarter…deck as if he were going to turn out
for Bond Street； or the Course at Calcutta。 He brought a
native servant with him； who was his valet and pipe…
bearer and who wore the Sedley crest in silver on his
turban。 That oriental menial had a wretched life under
the tyranny of Jos Sedley。 Jos was as vain of his person
as a woman； and took as long a time at his toilette as
any fading beauty。 The youngsters among the
passengers； Young Chaffers of the 150th； and poor little
Ricketts； coming home after his third fever； used to draw
out Sedley at the cuddy…table and make him tell
prodigious stories about himself and his exploits against tigers
and Napoleon。 He was great when he visited the
Emperor's tomb at Longwood； when to these gentlemen and
the young officers of the ship； Major Dobbin not being by；
he described the whole battle of Waterloo and all but
announced that Napoleon never would have gone to Saint
Helena at all but for him； Jos Sedley。
After leaving St。 Helena he became very generous；
disposing of a great quantity of ship stores； claret；
preserved meats； and great casks packed with soda…water；
brought out for his private delectation。 There were no
ladies on board； the Major gave the pas of precedency
to the civilian； so that he was the first dignitary at
table； and treated by Captain Bragg and the officers of
the Ramchunder with the respect which his rank
warranted。 He disappeared rather in a panic during a two…
days' gale； in which he had the portholes of his cabin
battened down； and remained in his cot reading the
Washerwoman of Finchley Common； left on board the
Ramchunder by the Right Honourable the Lady Emily
Hornblower； wife of the Rev。 Silas Hornblower； when on
their passage out to the Cape； where the Reverend gentleman
was a missionary； but； for common reading； he had
brought a stock of novels and plays which he lent to the
rest of the ship； and rendered himself agreeable to all by
his kindness and condescension。
Many and many a night as the ship was cutting through
the roaring dark sea； the moon and stars shining
overhead and the bell singing out the watch； Mr。 Sedley and
the Major would sit on the quarter…deck of the vessel
talking about home； as the Major smoked his cheroot and
the civilian puffed at the hookah which his servant
prepared for him。
In these conversations it was wonderful with what
perseverance and ingenuity Major Dobbin would manage
to bring the talk round to the subject of Amelia and her
little boy。 Jos； a little testy about his father's misfortunes
and unceremonious applications to him； was soothed
down by the Major； who pointed out the elder's ill
fortunes and old age。 He would not perhaps like to live with
the old couple； whose ways and hours might not agree
with those of a younger man； accustomed to different
society （Jos bowed at this compliment）； but； the Major
pointed out； how advantageous it would be