tune　on　the　hornthe　Lightning　came　tearing
  down　the　street；　and　pulled　up　at　the　coach…office。
  〃Hullo！　there's　old　Dobbin；〃　George　cried；　quite　delighted
  to　see　his　old　friend　perched　on　the　roof；　and
  whose　promised　visit　to　Brighton　had　been　delayed　until
  now。　　〃How　are　you；　old　fellow？　　Glad　you're　come　down。
  Emmy'll　be　delighted　to　see　you；〃　Osborne　said；　shaking
  his　comrade　warmly　by　the　hand　as　soon　as　his　descent
  from　the　vehicle　was　effectedand　then　he　added；　in　a
  lower　and　agitated　voice；　〃What's　the　news？　　Have　you
  been　in　Russell　Square？　　What　does　the　governor　say？
  Tell　me　everything。〃
  Dobbin　looked　very　pale　and　grave。　　〃I've　seen　your
  father；〃　said　he。　　〃How's　AmeliaMrs。　George？　　I'll　tell
  you　all　the　news　presently：　but　I've　brought　the　great
  news　of　all：　and　that　is〃
  〃Out　with　it；　old　fellow；〃　George　said。
  〃We're　ordered　to　Belgium。　　All　the　army　goesguards
  and　all。　　Heavytop's　got　the　gout；　and　is　mad　at　not　being
  able　to　move。　　O'Dowd　goes　in　command；　and　we　embark
  from　Chatham　next　week。〃　This　news　of　war　could
  not　but　come　with　a　shock　upon　our　lovers；　and　caused
  all　these　gentlemen　to　look　very　serious。
  CHAPTER　XXIII
  Captain　Dobbin　Proceeds　on　His　Canvass
  What　is　the　secret　mesmerism　which　friendship
  possesses；　and　under　the　operation　of　which　a　person
  ordinarily　sluggish；　or　cold；　or　timid；　becomes　wise；
  active；　and　resolute；　in　another's　behalf？　　As　Alexis；
  after　a　few　passes　from　Dr。　Elliotson；　despises　pain；
  reads　with　the　back　of　his　head；　sees　miles　off；
  looks　into　next　week；　and　performs　other　wonders；
  of　which；　in　his　own　private　normal　condition；　he　is
  quite　incapable；　so　you　see；　in　the　affairs　of　the　world
  and　under　the　magnetism　of　friendships；　the　modest
  man　becomes　bold；　the　shy　confident；　the　lazy　active；　or
  the　impetuous　prudent　and　peaceful。　　What　is　it；　on　the
  other　hand；　that　makes　the　lawyer　eschew　his　own　cause；
  and　call　in　his　learned　brother　as　an　adviser？　　And　what　causes
  the　doctor；　when　ailing；　to　send　for　his　rival；　and　not　sit
  down　and　examine　his　own　tongue　in　the　chimney　Bass；
  or　write　his　own　prescription　at　his　study…table？　　I　throw
  out　these　queries　for　intelligent　readers　to　answer；　who
  know；　at　once；　how　credulous　we　are；　and　how　sceptical；
  how　soft　and　how　obstinate；　how　firm　for　others　and　how
  diffident　about　ourselves：　　meanwhile；　it　is　certain　that
  our　friend　William　Dobbin；　who　was　personally　of　so
  complying　a　disposition　that　if　his　parents　had　pressed
  him　much；　it　is　probable　he　would　have　stepped　down
  into　the　kitchen　and　married　the　cook；　and　who；　to　further
  his　own　interests；　would　have　found　the　most　insuperable
  difficulty　in　walking　across　the　street；　found　himself　as
  busy　and　eager　in　the　conduct　of　George　Osborne's
  affairs；　as　the　most　selfish　tactician　could　be　in　the　pursuit
  of　his　own。
  Whilst　our　friend　George　and　his　young　wife　were
  enjoying　the　first　blushing　days　of　the　honeymoon　at
  Brighton；　honest　William　was　left　as　George's　plenipotentiary
  in　London；　to　transact　all　the　business　part　of　the　marriage。
  His　duty　it　was　to　call　upon　old　Sedley　and　his
  wife；　and　to　keep　the　former　in　good　humour：　　to　draw　Jos
  and　his　brother…in…law　nearer　together；　so　that　Jos's　position
  and　dignity；　as　collector　of　Boggley　Wollah；　might
  compensate　for　his　father's　loss　of　station；　and　tend　to
  reconcile　old　Osborne　to　the　alliance：　　and　finally；　to
  communicate　it　to　the　latter　in　such　a　way　as　should　least
  irritate　the　old　gentleman。
  Now；　before　he　faced　the　head　of　the　Osborne　house
  with　the　news　which　it　was　his　duty　to　tell；　Dobbin　bethought
  him　that　it　would　be　politic　to　make　friends　of　the
  rest　of　the　family；　and；　if　possible；　have　the　ladies　on　his
  side。　They　can't　be　angry　in　their　hearts；　thought　he。　　No
  woman　ever　was　really　angry　at　a　romantic　marriage。　　A
  little　crying　out；　and　they　must　come　round　to　their
  brother；　when　the　three　of　us　will　lay　siege　to　old　Mr。
  Osborne。　　So　this　Machiavellian　captain　of　infantry　cast
  about　him　for　some　happy　means　or　stratagem　by　which
  he　could　gently　and　gradually　bring　the　Misses　Osborne
  to　a　knowledge　of　their　brother's　secret。
  By　a　little　inquiry　regarding　his　mother's　engagements；
  he　was　pretty　soon　able　to　find　out　by　whom　of　her　ladyship's
  friends　parties　were　given　at　that　season；　where
  he　would　be　likely　to　meet　Osborne's　sisters；　and；　though
  he　had　that　abhorrence　of　routs　and　evening　parties
  which　many　sensible　men；　alas！　entertain；　he　soon　found
  one　where　the　Misses　Osborne　were　to　be　present。
  Making　his　appearance　at　the　ball；　where　he　danced　a　couple
  of　sets　with　both　of　them；　and　was　prodigiously　polite；　he
  actually　had　the　courage　to　ask　Miss　Osborne　for　a　few
  minutes'　conversation　at　an　early　hour　the　next　day；　when
  he　had；　he　said；　to　communicate　to　her　news　of　the
  very　greatest　interest。
  What　was　it　that　made　her　start　back；　and　gaze　upon
  him　for　a　moment；　and　then　on　the　ground　at　her　feet；
  and　make　as　if　she　would　faint　on　his　arm；　had　he　not　by
  opportunely　treading　on　her　toes；　brought　the　young　lady
  back　to　self…control？　　Why　was　she　so　violently　agitated
  at　Dobbin's　request？　　This　can　never　be　known。　　But　when
  he　came　the　next　day；　Maria　was　not　in　the　drawing…room
  with　her　sister；　and　Miss　Wirt　went　off　for　the　purpose
  of　fetching　the　latter；　and　the　Captain　and　Miss　Osborne
  were　left　together。　　They　were　both　so　silent　that　the　ticktock
  of　the　Sacrifice　of　Iphigenia　clock　on　the　mantelpiece
  became　quite　rudely　audible。
  〃What　a　nice　party　it　was　last　night；〃　Miss　Osborne　at
  length　began；　encouragingly；　〃andand　how　you're
  improved　in　your　dancing；　Captain　Dobbin。　　Surely　somebody
  has　taught　you；〃　she　added；　with　amiable　archness。
  〃You　should　see　me　dance　a　reel　with　Mrs。　Major
  O'Dowd　of　ours；　and　a　jigdid　you　ever　see　a　jig？　　But
  I　think　anybody　could　dance　with　you；　Miss　Osborne；
  who　dance　so　well。〃
  〃Is　the　Major's　lady　young　and　beautiful；　Captain？〃　the
  fair　questioner　continued。　　〃Ah；　what　a　terrible　thing　it
  must　be　to　be　a　soldier's　wife！　　I　wonder　they　have　any
  spirits　to　dance；　and　in　these　dreadful　times　of　war；　too！
  O　Captain　Dobbin；　I　tremble　sometimes　when　I　think　of
  our　dearest　George；　and　the　dangers　of　the　poor　soldier。
  Are　there　many　married　officers　of　the　th；　Captain
  Dobbin？〃
  〃Upon　my　word；　she's　playing　her　hand　rather　too
  openly；〃　Miss　Wirt　thought；　but　this　observation　is　merely
  parenthetic；　and　was　not　heard　through　the　crevice　of
  the　door　at　which　the　governess　uttered　it。
  〃One　of　our　young　men　is　just　married；〃　Dobbin　said；
  now　coming　to　the　point。　　〃It　was　a　very　old　attachment；
  and　the　young　couple　are　as　poor　as　church　mice。〃
  〃O；　how　delightful！　O；　how　romantic！〃　Miss　Osborne
  cried；　as　the　Captain　said　〃old　attachment〃　and　〃poor。〃
  Her　sympathy　encouraged　him。
  〃The　finest　young　fellow　in　the　regiment；〃　he　continued。
  〃Not　a　braver　or　handsomer　officer　in　the　army；　and
  such　a　charming　wife！　　How　you　would　like　her！　　how
  you　will　like　her　when　you　know　her；　Miss　Osborne。〃　　The
  young　lady　thought　the　actual　moment　had　arrived；　and
  that　Dobbin's　nervousness　which　now　came　on　and　was
  visible　in　many　twitchings　of　his　face；　in　his　manner　of
  beating　the　ground　with　his　great　feet；　in　the　rapid
  buttoning　and　unbuttoning　of　his　frock…coat；　&c。Miss
  Osborne；　I　say；　thought　that　when　he　had　given　himself　a
  little　air；　he　would　unbosom　himself　entirely；　and
  prepared　eagerly　to　listen。　　And　the　clock；　in　the　altar　on
  which　Iphigenia　was　situated；　beginning；　after　a　preparatory
  convulsion；　to　toll　twelve；　the　mere　tolling　seemed
  as　if　it　would　last　until　oneso　prolonged　was　the　knell
  to　the　anxious　spinster。
  〃But　it's　not　about　marriage　that　I　came　to　speak
  that　is　that　marriagethat　isno；　I　meanmy　dear
  Miss　Osborne；　it's　about　our　dear　friend　George；〃
  Dobbin　said。
  〃About　George？〃　she　said　in　a　tone　so　discomfited
  that　Maria　and　Miss　Wirt　laughed　at　the　other　side　of
  the　door；　and　even　that　abandoned　wretch　of　a　Dobbin
  felt　inclined　to　smile　himself；　for　he　was　not　altogether
  unconscious　of　the　state　of　affairs：　　George　having　often
  bantered　him　gracefully　and　said；　〃Hang　it；　Will；　why
  don't　you　take　old　Jane？　　She'll　have　you　if　you　ask　her。
  I'll　bet　you　five　to　two　she　will。〃
  〃Yes；　about　George；　then；〃　he　continued。　　〃There　has
  been　a　difference　between　him　and　Mr。　Osborne。　　And　I
  regard　him　so　muchfor　you　know　we　have　been　like
  brothersthat　I　hope　and　pray　the　quarrel　may　be
  settled。　　We　must　go　abroad；　Miss　Osborne。　　We　may　be
  ordered　off　at　a　day's　warning。　　Who　knows　what　may
  happen　in　the　campaign？　　Don't　be　agitated；　dear　Miss
  Osborne；　and　those　two　at　least　should　part　friends。〃
  〃There　has　been　no　quarrel；　Captain　Dobbin；　except
  a　little　usual　scene　with　Papa；〃　the　lady　said。　　〃We　are
  expecting　George　back　daily。　　What　Papa　wanted　was　only
  for　his　good。　　He　has　but　to　come　back；　and　I'm　sure　all
  will　be　well；　and　dear　Rhoda；　who　went　away　from　here
  in　sad　sad　anger；　I　know　will　forgive　him。　　Woman　forgives
  but　too　readily；　Captain。〃
  〃Such　an　angel　as　YOU　I　am　sure　would；〃　Mr。　Dobbin
  said；　with　atrocious　astuteness。　　〃And　no　man　can　pardon
  himself　for　giving　a　woman　pain。　　What　would　you　feel；
  if　a　man　were　faithless　to