walking down the lane； en sandwichhaving a lady； that
is； on each arm。 One was a tall and commanding middle…
aged female； with features and a complexion similar to
those of the clergyman of the Church of England by
whose side she marched； and the other a stunted little
woman with a dark face； ornamented by a fine new bonnet
and white ribbons； and in a smart pelisse； with a rich
gold watch in the midst of her person。 The gentleman；
pinioned as he was by these two ladies； carried further a
parasol； shawl； and basket； so that his arms were entirely
engaged； and of course he was unable to touch his hat in
acknowledgement of the curtsey with which Miss Mary
Clapp greeted him。
He merely bowed his head in reply to her salutation；
which the two ladies returned with a patronizing air； and
at the same time looking severely at the individual in the
blue coat and bamboo cane who accompanied Miss Polly。
〃Who's that？〃 asked the Major； amused by the group；
and after he had made way for the three to pass up the
lane。 Mary looked at him rather roguishly。
〃That is our curate； the Reverend Mr。 Binny （a twitch
from Major Dobbin）； and his sister Miss B。 Lord bless us；
how she did use to worret us at Sunday…school； and the
other lady； the little one with a cast in her eye and the
handsome watch； is Mrs。 BinnyMiss Grits that was；
her pa was a grocer； and kept the Little Original Gold
Tea Pot in Kensington Gravel Pits。 They were married last
month； and are just come back from Margate。 She's five
thousand pound to her fortune； but her and Miss B。； who
made the match； have quarrelled already。〃
If the Major had twitched before； he started now； and
slapped the bamboo on the ground with an emphasis
which made Miss Clapp cry； 〃Law；〃 and laugh too。 He
stood for a moment； silent； with open mouth； looking
after the retreating young couple； while Miss Mary told
their history； but he did not hear beyond the announcement
of the reverend gentleman's marriage； his head was
swimming with felicity。 After this rencontre he began to
walk double quick towards the place of his destination
and yet they were too soon （for he was in a great
tremor at the idea of a meeting for which he had been
longing any time these ten years）through the Brompton
lanes； and entering at the little old portal in Kensington
Garden wall。
〃There they are；〃 said Miss Polly； and she felt him
again start back on her arm。 She was a confidante at once
of the whole business。 She knew the story as well as if
she had read it in one of her favourite novel…books
Fatherless Fanny； or the Scottish Chiefs。
〃Suppose you were to run on and tell her；〃 the Major
said。 Polly ran forward； her yellow shawl streaming in the
breeze。
Old Sedley was seated on a bench； his handkerchief
placed over his knees； prattling away； according to his
wont； with some old story about old times to which
Amelia had listened and awarded a patient smile many
a time before。 She could of late think of her own affairs；
and smile or make other marks of recognition of her
father's stories； scarcely hearing a word of the old man's
tales。 As Mary came bouncing along； and Amelia caught
sight of her； she started up from her bench。 Her first
thought was that something had happened to Georgy；
but the sight of the messenger's eager and happy face
dissipated that fear in the timorous mother's bosom。
〃News！ News！〃 cried the emissary of Major Dobbin。
〃He's come！ He's come！〃
〃Who is come？〃 said Emmy； still thinking of her son。
〃Look there；〃 answered Miss Clapp； turning round and
pointing； in which direction Amelia looking； saw
Dobbin's lean figure and long shadow stalking across the
grass。 Amelia started in her turn； blushed up； and； of
course； began to cry。 At all this simple little creature's
fetes； the grandes eaux were accustomed to play。
He looked at heroh； how fondlyas she came
running towards him； her hands before her； ready to give
them to him。 She wasn't changed。 She was a little pale；
a little stouter in figure。 Her eyes were the same； the
kind trustful eyes。 There were scarce three lines of silver
in her soft brown hair。 She gave him both her hands as
she looked up flushing and smiling through her tears into
his honest homely face。 He took the two little hands
between his two and held them there。 He was speechless
for a moment。 Why did he not take her in his arms and
swear that he would never leave her？ She must have
yielded： she could not but have obeyed him。
〃II've another arrival to announce；〃 he said after a
pause。
〃Mrs。 Dobbin？〃 Amelia said； making a movement
backwhy didn't he speak？
〃No；〃 he said； letting her hands go： 〃Who has told
you those lies？ I mean； your brother Jos came in the
same ship with me； and is come home to make you all
happy。〃
〃Papa； Papa！〃 Emmy cried out； 〃here are news！ My
brother is in England。 He is come to take care of you。
Here is Major Dobbin。〃
Mr。 Sedley started up； shaking a great deal and gathering
up his thoughts。 Then he stepped forward and made an
old…fashioned bow to the Major； whom he called Mr。
Dobbin； and hoped his worthy father； Sir William； was
quite well。 He proposed to call upon Sir William； who had
done him the honour of a visit a short time ago。 Sir
William had not called upon the old gentleman for eight
yearsit was that visit he was thinking of returning。
〃He is very much shaken；〃 Emmy whispered as Dobbin
went up and cordially shook hands with the old man。
Although he had such particular business in London
that evening； the Major consented to forego it upon Mr。
Sedley's invitation to him to come home and partake of
tea。 Amelia put her arm under that of her young friend
with the yellow shawl and headed the party on their
return homewards； so that Mr。 Sedley fell to Dobbin's share。
The old man walked very slowly and told a number of
ancient histories about himself and his poor Bessy； his
former prosperity； and his bankruptcy。 His thoughts； as is
usual with failing old men； were quite in former times。
The present； with the exception of the one catastrophe
which he felt； he knew little about。 The Major was glad to
let him talk on。 His eyes were fixed upon the figure in
front of himthe dear little figure always present to his
imagination and in his prayers； and visiting his dreams
wakeful or slumbering。
Amelia was very happy； smiling； and active all that
evening； performing her duties as hostess of the little
entertainment with the utmost grace and propriety； as
Dobbin thought。 His eyes followed her about as they sat
in the twilight。 How many a time had he longed for that
moment and thought of her far away under hot winds
and in weary marches； gentle and happy； kindly ministering
to the wants of old age； and decorating poverty with
sweet submissionas he saw her now。 I do not say that
his taste was the highest； or that it is the duty of great
intellects to be content with a bread…and…butter paradise；
such as sufficed our simple old friend； but his desires
were of this sort； whether for good or bad； and； with
Amelia to help him； he was as ready to drink as many
cups of tea as Doctor Johnson。
Amelia seeing this propensity； laughingly encouraged
it and looked exceedingly roguish as she administered to
him cup after cup。 It is true she did not know that the
Major had had no dinner and that the cloth was laid for
him at the Slaughters'； and a plate laid thereon to mark
that the table was retained； in that very box in which
the Major and George had sat many a time carousing；
when she was a child just come home from Miss
Pinkerton's school。
The first thing Mrs。 Osborne showed the Major was
Georgy's miniature； for which she ran upstairs on her
arrival at home。 It was not half handsome enough of
course for the boy； but wasn't it noble of him to think of
bringing it to his mother？ Whilst her papa was awake she
did not talk much about Georgy。 To hear about Mr。
Osborne and Russell Square was not agreeable to the
old man； who very likely was unconscious that he had
been living for some months past mainly on the bounty
of his richer rival； and lost his temper if allusion was
made to the other。
Dobbin told him all； and a little more perhaps than
all； that had happened on board the Ramchunder； and
exaggerated Jos's benevolent dispositions towards his
father and resolution to make him comfortable in his
old days。 The truth is that during the voyage the Major
had impressed this duty most strongly upon his fellow…
passenger and extorted promises from him that he would
take charge of his sister and her child。 He soothed Jos's
irritation with regard to the bills which the old gentleman
had drawn upon him； gave a laughing account of his
own sufferings on the same score and of the famous
consignment of wine with which the old man had favoured
him； and brought Mr。 Jos； who was by no means an ill…
natured person when well…pleased and moderately
flattered； to a very good state of feeling regarding his
relatives in Europe。
And in fine I am ashamed to say that the Major
stretched the truth so far as to tell old Mr。 Sedley that it
was mainly a desire to see his parent which brought Jos
once more to Europe。
At his accustom