The draft was upon our friends Hulker and Bullock
of Lombard Street, to whose house, still thinking
he was doing business, George bent his way, and from
whom he received his money. Frederick Bullock,
Esq., whose yellow face was over a ledger, at which
sate a demure clerk, happened to be in the banking-room
when George entered. His yellow face turned to
a more deadly colour when he saw the Captain, and
he slunk back guiltily into the inmost parlour.
George was too busy gloating over the money (for
he had never had such a sum before), to mark the countenance
or flight of the cadaverous suitor of his sister.
Fred Bullock told old Osborne of his son’s appearance
and conduct. “He came in as bold as brass,”
said Frederick. “He has drawn out every
shilling. How long will a few hundred pounds
last such a chap as that?” Osborne swore with
a great oath that he little cared when or how soon
he spent it. Fred dined every day in Russell
Square now. But altogether, George was highly
pleased with his day’s business. All his
own baggage and outfit was put into a state of speedy
preparation, and he paid Amelia’s purchases with
cheques on his agents, and with the splendour of a
lord.
CHAPTER XXVII
In Which Amelia Joins Her Regiment
When Jos’s fine carriage drove up to the inn
door at Chatham, the first face which Amelia recognized
was the friendly countenance of Captain Dobbin, who
had been pacing the street for an hour past in expectation
of his friends’ arrival. The Captain, with
shells on his frockcoat, and a crimson sash and sabre,
presented a military appearance, which made Jos quite
proud to be able to claim such an acquaintance, and
the stout civilian hailed him with a cordiality very
different from the reception which Jos vouchsafed to
his friend in Brighton and Bond Street.
Along with the Captain was Ensign Stubble; who, as
the barouche neared the inn, burst out with an exclamation
of “By Jove! what a pretty girl”; highly
applauding Osborne’s choice. Indeed, Amelia
dressed in her wedding-pelisse and pink ribbons, with
a flush in her face, occasioned by rapid travel through
the open air, looked so fresh and pretty, as fully
to justify the Ensign’s compliment. Dobbin
liked him for making it. As he stepped forward
to help the lady out of the carriage, Stubble saw
what a pretty little hand she gave him, and what a
sweet pretty little foot came tripping down the step.
He blushed profusely, and made the very best bow of
which he was capable; to which Amelia, seeing the
number of the the regiment embroidered on the Ensign’s
cap, replied with a blushing smile, and a curtsey
on her part; which finished the young Ensign on the
spot. Dobbin took most kindly to Mr. Stubble
from that day, and encouraged him to talk about Amelia
in their private walks, and at each other’s
quarters. It became the fashion, indeed, among
all the honest young fellows of the —th
