We see by these examples that we are not to consult
our own interest and ambition, but that we are to
consider the interests of others as well as our own.
George S. Osborne Athene House, 24 April, 1827
“Think of him writing such a hand, and quoting
Greek too, at his age,” the delighted mother
said. “Oh, William,” she added, holding
out her hand to the Major, “what a treasure Heaven
has given me in that boy! He is the comfort
of my life—and he is the image of—of
him that’s gone!”
“Ought I to be angry with her for being faithful
to him?” William thought. “Ought
I to be jealous of my friend in the grave, or hurt
that such a heart as Amelia’s can love only once
and for ever? Oh, George, George, how little
you knew the prize you had, though.” This
sentiment passed rapidly through William’s mind
as he was holding Amelia’s hand, whilst the
handkerchief was veiling her eyes.
“Dear friend,” she said, pressing the
hand which held hers, “how good, how kind you
always have been to me! See! Papa is stirring.
You will go and see Georgy tomorrow, won’t you?”
“Not to-morrow,” said poor old Dobbin.
“I have business.” He did not like
to own that he had not as yet been to his parents’
and his dear sister Anne—a remissness for
which I am sure every well-regulated person will
blame the Major. And presently he took his leave,
leaving his address behind him for Jos, against the
latter’s arrival. And so the first day
was over, and he had seen her.
When he got back to the Slaughters’, the roast
fowl was of course cold, in which condition he ate
it for supper. And knowing what early hours
his family kept, and that it would be needless to
disturb their slumbers at so late an hour, it is on
record, that Major Dobbin treated himself to half-price
at the Haymarket Theatre that evening, where let us
hope he enjoyed himself.
The Old Piano
The Major’s visit left old John Sedley in a
great state of agitation and excitement. His
daughter could not induce him to settle down to his
customary occupations or amusements that night.
He passed the evening fumbling amongst his boxes
and desks, untying his papers with trembling hands,
and sorting and arranging them against Jos’s
arrival. He had them in the greatest order—his
tapes and his files, his receipts, and his letters
with lawyers and correspondents; the documents relative
to the wine project (which failed from a most unaccountable
accident, after commencing with the most splendid
prospects), the coal project (which only a want of
capital prevented from becoming the most successful
scheme ever put before the public), the patent saw-mills
and sawdust consolidation project, &c., &c.
All night, until a very late hour, he passed in the
preparation of these documents, trembling about from
one room to another, with a quivering candle and shaky
hands. Here’s the wine papers, here’s
the sawdust, here’s the coals; here’s my
letters to Calcutta and Madras, and replies from Major
Dobbin, C.B., and Mr. Joseph Sedley to the same.
“He shall find no irregularity about me,
Emmy,” the old gentleman said.
