Vanity Fair - Page 566/573

Georgy came in from the fetes for dinner-time and found four covers

laid as usual; but one of the places was occupied by a lady, instead of

by Major Dobbin. "Hullo! where's Dob?" the young gentleman asked with

his usual simplicity of language. "Major Dobbin is dining out, I

suppose," his mother said, and, drawing the boy to her, kissed him a

great deal, and put his hair off his forehead, and introduced him to

Mrs. Crawley. "This is my boy, Rebecca," Mrs. Osborne said--as much as

to say--can the world produce anything like that? Becky looked at him

with rapture and pressed his hand fondly. "Dear boy!" she said--"he is

just like my--" Emotion choked her further utterance, but Amelia

understood, as well as if she had spoken, that Becky was thinking of

her own blessed child. However, the company of her friend consoled

Mrs. Crawley, and she ate a very good dinner.

During the repast, she had occasion to speak several times, when Georgy

eyed her and listened to her. At the desert Emmy was gone out to

superintend further domestic arrangements; Jos was in his great chair

dozing over Galignani; Georgy and the new arrival sat close to each

other--he had continued to look at her knowingly more than once, and at

last he laid down the nutcrackers.

"I say," said Georgy.

"What do you say?" Becky said, laughing.

"You're the lady I saw in the mask at the Rouge et Noir."

"Hush! you little sly creature," Becky said, taking up his hand and

kissing it. "Your uncle was there too, and Mamma mustn't know."

"Oh, no--not by no means," answered the little fellow.

"You see we are quite good friends already," Becky said to Emmy, who

now re-entered; and it must be owned that Mrs. Osborne had introduced a

most judicious and amiable companion into her house.

William, in a state of great indignation, though still unaware of all

the treason that was in store for him, walked about the town wildly

until he fell upon the Secretary of Legation, Tapeworm, who invited him

to dinner. As they were discussing that meal, he took occasion to ask

the Secretary whether he knew anything about a certain Mrs. Rawdon

Crawley, who had, he believed, made some noise in London; and then

Tapeworm, who of course knew all the London gossip, and was besides a

relative of Lady Gaunt, poured out into the astonished Major's ears

such a history about Becky and her husband as astonished the querist,

and supplied all the points of this narrative, for it was at that very

table years ago that the present writer had the pleasure of hearing the

tale. Tufto, Steyne, the Crawleys, and their history--everything

connected with Becky and her previous life passed under the record of

the bitter diplomatist. He knew everything and a great deal besides,

about all the world--in a word, he made the most astounding revelations

to the simple-hearted Major. When Dobbin said that Mrs. Osborne and

Mr. Sedley had taken her into their house, Tapeworm burst into a peal

of laughter which shocked the Major, and asked if they had not better

send into the prison and take in one or two of the gentlemen in shaved

heads and yellow jackets who swept the streets of Pumpernickel, chained

in pairs, to board and lodge, and act as tutor to that little

scapegrace Georgy.