Vanity Fair - Page 146/573

"Where are they?" Osborne asked, after a long talk, and a long

pause--and, in truth, with no little shame at thinking that he had

taken no steps to follow her. "Where are they? There's no address to

the note."

Dobbin knew. He had not merely sent the piano; but had written a note

to Mrs. Sedley, and asked permission to come and see her--and he had

seen her, and Amelia too, yesterday, before he came down to Chatham;

and, what is more, he had brought that farewell letter and packet which

had so moved them.

The good-natured fellow had found Mrs. Sedley only too willing to

receive him, and greatly agitated by the arrival of the piano, which,

as she conjectured, MUST have come from George, and was a signal of

amity on his part. Captain Dobbin did not correct this error of the

worthy lady, but listened to all her story of complaints and

misfortunes with great sympathy--condoled with her losses and

privations, and agreed in reprehending the cruel conduct of Mr. Osborne

towards his first benefactor. When she had eased her overflowing bosom

somewhat, and poured forth many of her sorrows, he had the courage to

ask actually to see Amelia, who was above in her room as usual, and

whom her mother led trembling downstairs.

Her appearance was so ghastly, and her look of despair so pathetic,

that honest William Dobbin was frightened as he beheld it; and read the

most fatal forebodings in that pale fixed face. After sitting in his

company a minute or two, she put the packet into his hand, and said,

"Take this to Captain Osborne, if you please, and--and I hope he's

quite well--and it was very kind of you to come and see us--and we like

our new house very much. And I--I think I'll go upstairs, Mamma, for

I'm not very strong." And with this, and a curtsey and a smile, the

poor child went her way. The mother, as she led her up, cast back

looks of anguish towards Dobbin. The good fellow wanted no such

appeal. He loved her himself too fondly for that. Inexpressible

grief, and pity, and terror pursued him, and he came away as if he was

a criminal after seeing her.

When Osborne heard that his friend had found her, he made hot and

anxious inquiries regarding the poor child. How was she? How did she

look? What did she say? His comrade took his hand, and looked him in

the face.

"George, she's dying," William Dobbin said--and could speak no more.

There was a buxom Irish servant-girl, who performed all the duties of

the little house where the Sedley family had found refuge: and this

girl had in vain, on many previous days, striven to give Amelia aid or

consolation. Emmy was much too sad to answer, or even to be aware of

the attempts the other was making in her favour.