Vanity Fair - Page 230/573

Mr. Jos had hired a pair of horses for his open carriage, with which

cattle, and the smart London vehicle, he made a very tolerable figure

in the drives about Brussels. George purchased a horse for his private

riding, and he and Captain Dobbin would often accompany the carriage in

which Jos and his sister took daily excursions of pleasure. They went

out that day in the park for their accustomed diversion, and there,

sure enough, George's remark with regard to the arrival of Rawdon

Crawley and his wife proved to be correct. In the midst of a little

troop of horsemen, consisting of some of the very greatest persons in

Brussels, Rebecca was seen in the prettiest and tightest of

riding-habits, mounted on a beautiful little Arab, which she rode to

perfection (having acquired the art at Queen's Crawley, where the

Baronet, Mr. Pitt, and Rawdon himself had given her many lessons), and

by the side of the gallant General Tufto.

"Sure it's the Juke himself," cried Mrs. Major O'Dowd to Jos, who began

to blush violently; "and that's Lord Uxbridge on the bay. How elegant

he looks! Me brother, Molloy Malony, is as like him as two pays."

Rebecca did not make for the carriage; but as soon as she perceived her

old acquaintance Amelia seated in it, acknowledged her presence by a

gracious nod and smile, and by kissing and shaking her fingers

playfully in the direction of the vehicle. Then she resumed her

conversation with General Tufto, who asked "who the fat officer was in

the gold-laced cap?" on which Becky replied, "that he was an officer in

the East Indian service." But Rawdon Crawley rode out of the ranks of

his company, and came up and shook hands heartily with Amelia, and said

to Jos, "Well, old boy, how are you?" and stared in Mrs. O'Dowd's face

and at the black cock's feathers until she began to think she had made

a conquest of him.

George, who had been delayed behind, rode up almost immediately with

Dobbin, and they touched their caps to the august personages, among

whom Osborne at once perceived Mrs. Crawley. He was delighted to see

Rawdon leaning over his carriage familiarly and talking to Amelia, and

met the aide-de-camp's cordial greeting with more than corresponding

warmth. The nods between Rawdon and Dobbin were of the very faintest

specimens of politeness.

Crawley told George where they were stopping with General Tufto at the

Hotel du Parc, and George made his friend promise to come speedily to

Osborne's own residence. "Sorry I hadn't seen you three days ago,"

George said. "Had a dinner at the Restaurateur's--rather a nice thing.

Lord Bareacres, and the Countess, and Lady Blanche, were good enough to

dine with us--wish we'd had you." Having thus let his friend know his

claims to be a man of fashion, Osborne parted from Rawdon, who followed

the august squadron down an alley into which they cantered, while

George and Dobbin resumed their places, one on each side of Amelia's

carriage.