Vanity Fair - Page 221/573

Of this incongruous family our astonished Amelia found herself all of a

sudden a member: with Mrs. O'Dowd as an elder sister. She was

presented to her other female relations at tea-time, on whom, as she

was quiet, good-natured, and not too handsome, she made rather an

agreeable impression until the arrival of the gentlemen from the mess

of the 150th, who all admired her so, that her sisters began, of

course, to find fault with her.

"I hope Osborne has sown his wild oats," said Mrs. Magenis to Mrs.

Bunny. "If a reformed rake makes a good husband, sure it's she will

have the fine chance with Garge," Mrs. O'Dowd remarked to Posky, who

had lost her position as bride in the regiment, and was quite angry

with the usurper. And as for Mrs. Kirk: that disciple of Dr. Ramshorn

put one or two leading professional questions to Amelia, to see whether

she was awakened, whether she was a professing Christian and so forth,

and finding from the simplicity of Mrs. Osborne's replies that she was

yet in utter darkness, put into her hands three little penny books with

pictures, viz., the "Howling Wilderness," the "Washerwoman of

Wandsworth Common," and the "British Soldier's best Bayonet," which,

bent upon awakening her before she slept, Mrs. Kirk begged Amelia to

read that night ere she went to bed.

But all the men, like good fellows as they were, rallied round their

comrade's pretty wife, and paid her their court with soldierly

gallantry. She had a little triumph, which flushed her spirits and

made her eyes sparkle. George was proud of her popularity, and pleased

with the manner (which was very gay and graceful, though naive and a

little timid) with which she received the gentlemen's attentions, and

answered their compliments. And he in his uniform--how much handsomer

he was than any man in the room! She felt that he was affectionately

watching her, and glowed with pleasure at his kindness. "I will make

all his friends welcome," she resolved in her heart. "I will love all

as I love him. I will always try and be gay and good-humoured and make

his home happy."

The regiment indeed adopted her with acclamation. The Captains

approved, the Lieutenants applauded, the Ensigns admired. Old Cutler,

the Doctor, made one or two jokes, which, being professional, need not

be repeated; and Cackle, the Assistant M.D. of Edinburgh, condescended

to examine her upon leeterature, and tried her with his three best

French quotations. Young Stubble went about from man to man

whispering, "Jove, isn't she a pretty gal?" and never took his eyes off

her except when the negus came in.

As for Captain Dobbin, he never so much as spoke to her during the

whole evening. But he and Captain Porter of the 150th took home Jos to

the hotel, who was in a very maudlin state, and had told his tiger-hunt

story with great effect, both at the mess-table and at the soiree, to

Mrs. O'Dowd in her turban and bird of paradise. Having put the

Collector into the hands of his servant, Dobbin loitered about, smoking

his cigar before the inn door. George had meanwhile very carefully

shawled his wife, and brought her away from Mrs. O'Dowd's after a

general handshaking from the young officers, who accompanied her to the

fly, and cheered that vehicle as it drove off. So Amelia gave Dobbin

her little hand as she got out of the carriage, and rebuked him

smilingly for not having taken any notice of her all night.