Vanity Fair - Page 156/573

Without knowing how, Captain William Dobbin found himself the great

promoter, arranger, and manager of the match between George Osborne and

Amelia. But for him it never would have taken place: he could not but

confess as much to himself, and smiled rather bitterly as he thought

that he of all men in the world should be the person upon whom the care

of this marriage had fallen. But though indeed the conducting of this

negotiation was about as painful a task as could be set to him, yet

when he had a duty to perform, Captain Dobbin was accustomed to go

through it without many words or much hesitation: and, having made up

his mind completely, that if Miss Sedley was balked of her husband she

would die of the disappointment, he was determined to use all his best

endeavours to keep her alive.

I forbear to enter into minute particulars of the interview between

George and Amelia, when the former was brought back to the feet (or

should we venture to say the arms?) of his young mistress by the

intervention of his friend honest William. A much harder heart than

George's would have melted at the sight of that sweet face so sadly

ravaged by grief and despair, and at the simple tender accents in which

she told her little broken-hearted story: but as she did not faint when

her mother, trembling, brought Osborne to her; and as she only gave

relief to her overcharged grief, by laying her head on her lover's

shoulder and there weeping for a while the most tender, copious, and

refreshing tears--old Mrs. Sedley, too greatly relieved, thought it was

best to leave the young persons to themselves; and so quitted Emmy

crying over George's hand, and kissing it humbly, as if he were her

supreme chief and master, and as if she were quite a guilty and

unworthy person needing every favour and grace from him.

This prostration and sweet unrepining obedience exquisitely touched and

flattered George Osborne. He saw a slave before him in that simple

yielding faithful creature, and his soul within him thrilled secretly

somehow at the knowledge of his power. He would be generous-minded,

Sultan as he was, and raise up this kneeling Esther and make a queen of

her: besides, her sadness and beauty touched him as much as her

submission, and so he cheered her, and raised her up and forgave her,

so to speak. All her hopes and feelings, which were dying and

withering, this her sun having been removed from her, bloomed again and

at once, its light being restored. You would scarcely have recognised

the beaming little face upon Amelia's pillow that night as the one that

was laid there the night before, so wan, so lifeless, so careless of

all round about. The honest Irish maid-servant, delighted with the

change, asked leave to kiss the face that had grown all of a sudden so

rosy. Amelia put her arms round the girl's neck and kissed her with

all her heart, like a child. She was little more. She had that night

a sweet refreshing sleep, like one--and what a spring of inexpressible

happiness as she woke in the morning sunshine!