Vanity Fair  a Novel without a Hero  William Makepeace Thackeray  With illustrations by the Author  Before the Curtain  As the manager of the Performance sits before the curtain on the boards and looks into the Fair , a feeling of profound melancholy comes over him in his survey of the bustling place .  There is a great quantity of eating and drinking , making love and jilting , laughing and the contrary , smoking , cheating , fighting , dancing and fiddling ; there are bullies pushing about , bucks ogling the women , knaves picking pockets , policemen on the look-out , quacks ( OTHER quacks , plague take them !  ) bawling in front of their booths , and yokels looking up at the tinselled dancers and poor old rouged tumblers , while the light-fingered folk are operating upon their pockets behind .  Yes , this is VANITY FAIR ; not a moral place certainly ; nor a merry one , though very noisy .  Look at the faces of the actors and buffoons when they come off from their business ; and Tom Fool washing the paint off his cheeks before he sits down to dinner with his wife and the little Jack Puddings behind the canvas .  The curtain will be up presently , and he will be turning over head and heels , and crying , “ How are you ?  ”  A man with a reflective turn of mind , walking through an exhibition of this sort , will not be oppressed , I take it , by his own or other people’s hilarity .  An episode of humour or kindness touches and amuses him here and there — a pretty child looking at a gingerbread stall ; a pretty girl blushing whilst her lover talks to her and chooses her fairing ; poor Tom Fool , yonder behind the waggon , mumbling his bone with the honest family which lives by his tumbling ; but the general impression is one more melancholy than mirthful .  When you come home you sit down in a sober , contemplative , not uncharitable frame of mind , and apply yourself to your books or your business .  I have no other moral than this to tag to the present story of “ Vanity Fair .  ” Some people consider Fairs immoral altogether , and eschew such , with their servants and families : very likely they are right .  But persons who think otherwise , and are of a lazy , or a benevolent , or a sarcastic mood , may perhaps like to step in for half an hour , and look at the performances .  There are scenes of all sorts ; some dreadful combats , some grand and lofty horse-riding , some scenes of high life , and some of very middling indeed ; some love-making for the sentimental , and some light comic business ; the whole accompanied by appropriate scenery and brilliantly illuminated with the Author’s own candles .  What more has the Manager of the Performance to say ?  — To acknowledge the kindness with which it has been received in all the principal towns of England through which the Show has passed , and where it has been most favourably noticed by the respected conductors of the public Press , and by the Nobility and Gentry .  He is proud to think that his Puppets have given satisfaction to the very best company in this empire .  The famous little Becky Puppet has been pronounced to be uncommonly flexible in the joints , and lively on the wire ; the Amelia Doll , though it has had a smaller circle of admirers , has yet been carved and dressed with the greatest care by the artist ; the Dobbin Figure , though apparently clumsy , yet dances in a very amusing and natural manner ; the Little Boys’ Dance has been liked by some ; and please to remark the richly dressed figure of the Wicked Nobleman , on which no expense has been spared , and which Old Nick will fetch away at the end of this singular performance .  And with this , and a profound bow to his patrons , the Manager retires , and the curtain rises .  LONDON , June 28 , 1848  I .  Chiswick Mall  WHILE the present century was in its teens , and on one sunshiny morning in June , there drove up to the great iron gate of Miss Pinkerton’s academy for young ladies , on Chiswick Mall , a large family coach , with two fat horses in blazing harness , driven by a fat coachman in a three-cornered hat and wig , at the rate of four miles an hour .  A black servant , who reposed on the box beside the fat coachman , uncurled his bandy legs as soon as the equipage drew up opposite Miss Pinkerton’s shining brass plate , and as he pulled the bell , at least a score of young heads were seen peering out of the narrow windows of the stately old brick house .  Nay , the acute observer might have recognized the little red nose of good-natured Miss Jemima Pinkerton herself , rising over some geranium-pots in the window of that lady’s own drawing-room .  “ It is Mrs. Sedley’s coach , sister , ” said Miss Jemima “ Sambo , the black servant , has just rung the bell ; and the coachman has a new red waistcoat .  ”  “ Have you completed all the necessary preparations incident to Miss Sedley’s departure , Miss Jemima ?  ” asked Miss Pinkerton herself , that majestic lady ; the Semiramis of Hammersmith , the friend of Doctor Johnson , the correspondent of Mrs. Chapone herself .  “ The girls were up at four this morning , packing her trunks , sister , ” replied Miss Jemima ; “ we have made her a bow-pot .  ”  “ Say a bouquet , sister Jemima , ’tis more genteel .  ”  “ Well , a booky as big almost as a hay-stack ; I have put up two bottles of the gillyflower-water for Mrs. Sedley , and the receipt for making it , in Amelia’s box .  ”  “ And I trust , Miss Jemima , you have made a copy of Miss Sedley’s account .  This is it , is it ?  Very good — ninety-three pounds , four shillings .  Be kind enough to address it to John Sedley , Esquire , and to seal this billet which I have written to his lady .  ”  In Miss Jemima’s eyes an autograph letter of her sister , Miss Pinkerton , was an object of as deep veneration as would have been a letter from a sovereign .  Only when her pupils quitted the establishment , or when they were about to be married , and once , when poor Miss Birch died of the scarlet fever , was Miss Pinkerton known to write personally to the parents of her pupils ; and it was Jemima’s opinion that if anything could console Mrs. Birch for her daughter’s loss , it would be that pious and eloquent composition in which Miss Pinkerton announced the event .  In the present instance Miss Pinkerton’s “ billet ” was to the following effect : — “ MADAM — After her six years’ residence at the Mall , I have the honour and happiness of presenting Miss Amelia Sedley to her parents , as a young lady not unworthy to occupy a fitting position in their polished and refined circle . Those virtues which characterise the young English gentlewoman , those accomplishments which become her birth and station , will not be found wanting in the amiable Miss Sedley , whose industry and obedience have endeared her to her instructors , and whose delightful sweetness of temper has charmed her aged and her youthful companions . “ In music , in dancing , in orthography , in every variety of embroidery and needle-work , she will be found to have realised her friends’ fondest wishes . In geography there is still much to be desired ; and a careful and undeviating use of the backboard , for four hours daily during the next three years , is recommended as necessary to the acquirement of that dignified deportment and carriage , so requisite for every young lady of fashion . “ In the principles of religion and morality , Miss Sedley will be found worthy of an establishment which has been honoured by the presence of The Great Lexicographer , and the patronage of the admirable Mrs. Chapone . In leaving the Mall , Miss Amelia carries with her the hearts of her companions , and the affectionate regards of her mistress , who has the honour to subscribe herself , “ P.S. — Miss Sharp accompanies Miss Sedley . It is particularly requested that Miss Sharp’s stay in Russell Square may not exceed ten days . The family of distinction with whom she is engaged , desire to avail themselves of her services as soon as possible . ”  “ MADAM — After her six years’ residence at the Mall , I have the honour and happiness of presenting Miss Amelia Sedley to her parents , as a young lady not unworthy to occupy a fitting position in their polished and refined circle .  Those virtues which characterise the young English gentlewoman , those accomplishments which become her birth and station , will not be found wanting in the amiable Miss Sedley , whose industry and obedience have endeared her to her instructors , and whose delightful sweetness of temper has charmed her aged and her youthful companions .  “ In music , in dancing , in orthography , in every variety of embroidery and needle-work , she will be found to have realised her friends’ fondest wishes . In geography there is still much to be desired ; and a careful and undeviating use of the backboard , for four hours daily during the next three years , is recommended as necessary to the acquirement of that dignified deportment and carriage , so requisite for every young lady of fashion .  “ In the principles of religion and morality , Miss Sedley will be found worthy of an establishment which has been honoured by the presence of The Great Lexicographer , and the patronage of the admirable Mrs. Chapone .  In leaving the Mall , Miss Amelia carries with her the hearts of her companions , and the affectionate regards of her mistress , who has the honour to subscribe herself ,  “ P.S. — Miss Sharp accompanies Miss Sedley .  It is particularly requested that Miss Sharp’s stay in Russell Square may not exceed ten days .  The family of distinction with whom she is engaged , desire to avail themselves of her services as soon as possible .  ”  This letter completed , Miss Pinkerton proceeded to write her own name , and Miss Sedley’s , in the fly-leaf of a Johnson’s Dictionary — the interesting work which she invariably presented to her scholars , on their departure from the Mall .  On the cover was inserted a copy of “ Lines addressed to a young lady on quitting Miss Pinkerton’s school , at the Mall ; by the late revered Doctor Samuel Johnson .  ” In fact , the Lexicographer’s name was always on the lips of this majestic woman , and a visit he had paid to her was the cause of her reputation and her fortune .  Being commanded by her elder sister to get “ the Dictionary ” from the cupboard , Miss Jemima had extracted two copies of the book from the receptacle in question .  When Miss Pinkerton had finished the inscription in the first , Jemima , with rather a dubious and timid air , handed her the second .  “ For whom is this , Miss Jemima ?  ” said Miss Pinkerton , with awful coldness .  “ For Becky Sharp , ” answered Jemima , trembling very much , and blushing over her withered face and neck , as she turned her back on her sister .  “ For Becky Sharp : she’s going too .  ”  “ MISS JEMIMA !  ” exclaimed Miss Pinkerton , in the largest capitals .  “ Are you in your senses ?  Replace the Dixonary in the closet , and never venture to take such a liberty in future .  ”  “ Well , sister , it’s only two-and-ninepence , and poor Becky will be miserable if she don’t get one .  ”  “ Send Miss Sedley instantly to me , ” said Miss Pinkerton .  And so venturing not to say another word , poor Jemima trotted off , exceedingly flurried and nervous .  Miss Sedley’s papa was a merchant in London , and a man of some wealth ; whereas Miss Sharp was an articled pupil , for whom Miss Pinkerton had done , as she thought , quite enough , without conferring upon her at parting the high honour of the Dixonary .  Although schoolmistresses’ letters are to be trusted no more nor less than churchyard epitaphs ; yet , as it sometimes happens that a person departs this life , who is really deserving of all the praises the stone-cutter carves over his bones ; who is a good Christian , a good parent , child , wife , or husband ; who actually does leave a disconsolate family to mourn his loss ; so in academies of the male and female sex it occurs every now and then , that the pupil is fully worthy of the praises bestowed by the disinterested instructor .  Now , Miss Amelia Sedley was a young lady of this singular species ; and deserved not only all that Miss Pinkerton said in her praise , but had many charming qualities which that pompous old Minerva of a woman could not see , from the differences of rank and age between her pupil and herself .  For she could not only sing like a lark , or a Mrs. Billington , and dance like Hillisberg or Parisot ; and embroider beautifully ; and spell as well as a Dixonary itself ; but she had such a kindly , smiling , tender , gentle , generous heart of her own , as won the love of everybody who came near her , from Minerva herself down to the poor girl in the scullery , and the one-eyed tart-woman’s daughter , who was permitted to vend her wares once a week to the young ladies in the Mall .  She had twelve intimate and bosom friends out of the twenty-four young ladies .  Even envious Miss Briggs never spoke ill of her , high and mighty Miss Saltire ( Lord Dexter’s granddaughter ) allowed that her figure was genteel ; and as for Miss Swartz , the rich woolly-haired mulatto from St. Kitt’s , on the day Amelia went away , she was in such a passion of tears , that they were obliged to send for Dr. Floss , and half tipsify her with salvolatile .  Miss Pinkerton’s attachment was , as may be supposed , from the high position and eminent virtues of that lady , calm and dignified ; but Miss Jemima had already whimpered several times at the idea of Amelia’s departure ; and , but for fear of her sister , would have gone off in downright hysterics , like the heiress ( who paid double ) of St. Kitt’s .  Such luxury of grief , however , is only allowed to parlour-boarders .  Honest Jemima had all the bills , and the washing , and the mending , and the puddings , and the plate and crockery , and the servants to superintend .  But why speak about her ?  It is probable that we shall not hear of her again from this moment to the end of time , and that when the great filigree iron gates are once closed on her , she and her awful sister will never issue therefrom into this little world of history .  But as we are to see a great deal of Amelia there is no harm in saying , at the outset of our acquaintance , that she was a dear little creature ; and a great mercy it is , both in life and in novels , which ( and the latter especially ) abound in villains of the most sombre sort , that we are to have for a constant companion , so guileless and good-natured a person .  As she is not a heroine , there is no need to describe her person ; indeed I am afraid that her nose was rather short than otherwise , and her cheeks a great deal too round and red for a heroine ; but her face blushed with rosy health , and her lips with the freshest of smiles , and she had a pair of eyes which sparkled with the brightest and honestest good-humour , except indeed when they filled with tears , and that was a great deal too often ; for the silly thing would cry over a dead canary-bird ; or over a mouse , that the cat haply had seized upon ; or over the end of a novel , were it ever so stupid ; and as for saying an unkind word to her , were any persons hard-hearted enough to do so — why , so much the worse for them .  Even Miss Pinkerton , that austere and god-like woman , ceased scolding her after the first time , and though she no more comprehended sensibility than she did Algebra , gave all masters and teachers particulars orders to treat Miss Sedley with the utmost gentleness , as harsh treatment was injurious to her .  So that when the day of departure came , between her two customs of laughing and crying , Miss Sedley was greatly puzzled how to act .  She was glad to go home , and yet most wofully sad at leaving school .  For three days before , little Laura Martin , the orphan , followed her about , like a little dog .  She had to make and receive at least fourteen presents , — to make fourteen solemn promises of writing every week : “ Send my letters under cover to my grandpapa , the Earl of Dexter , ” said Miss Saltire ( who , by the way , was rather shabby ) : “ Never mind the postage , but write every day , you dear darling , ” said the impetuous and woolly-headed , but generous and affectionate Miss Swartz ; and the orphan little Laura Martin ( who was just in round-hand ) , took her friend’s hand and said , looking up in her face wistfully , “ Amelia , when I write to you I shall call you Mamma .  ” All which details , I have no doubt , JONES , who reads this book at his Club , will pronounce to be excessively foolish , trivial , twaddling , and ultra-sentimental .  Yes ; I can see Jones at this minute ( rather flushed with his joint of mutton and half pint of wine ) , taking out his pencil and scoring under the words “ foolish , twaddling , ” etc. , and adding to them his own remark of “ quite true . ” Well , he is a lofty man of genius , and admires the great and heroic in life and novels ; and so had better take warning and go elsewhere .  Well , then .  The flowers , and the presents , and the trunks , and bonnet-boxes of Miss Sedley having been arranged by Mr. Sambo in the carriage , together with a very small and weather-beaten old cow’s-skin trunk with Miss Sharp’s card neatly nailed upon it , which was delivered by Sambo with a grin , and packed by the coachman with a corresponding sneer — the hour for parting came ; and the grief of that moment was considerably lessened by the admirable discourse which Miss Pinkerton addressed to her pupil .  Not that the parting speech caused Amelia to philosophise , or that it armed her in any way with a calmness , the result of argument ; but it was intolerably dull , pompous and tedious ; and having the fear of her schoolmistress greatly before her eyes , Miss Sedley did not venture , in her presence , to give way to any ebullitions of private grief .  A seed-cake and a bottle of wine were produced in the drawing-room , as on the solemn occasions of the visits of parents , and these refreshments being partaken of , Miss Sedley was at liberty to depart .  “ You’ll go in and say good-by to Miss Pinkerton , Becky !  ” said Miss Jemima to a young lady of whom nobody took any notice and who was coming down stairs with her own bandbox .  “ I suppose I must , ” said Miss Sharp calmly , and much to the wonder of Miss Jemima ; and the latter having knocked at the door , and receiving permission to come in , Miss Sharp advanced in a very unconcerned manner , and said in French , and with a perfect accent , “ Mademoiselle , je viens vous faire mes adieux .  ”  Miss Pinkerton did not understand French ; she only directed those who did : but biting her lips and throwing up her venerable and Roman-nosed head , ( on the top of which figured a large and solemn turban , ) she said , “ Miss Sharp , I wish you a good morning .  ” As the Hammersmith Semiramis spoke , she waved one hand , both by the way of adieu , and to give Miss Sharp an opportunity of shaking one of the fingers of the hand which was left out for that purpose .  Miss Sharp only folded her own hands with a very frigid smile and bow , and quite declined to accept the proffered honour ; on which Semiramis tossed up her turban more indignantly than ever .  In fact , it was a little battle between the young lady and the old one , and the latter was worsted .  “ Heaven bless you , my child , ” said she , embracing Amelia , and scowling the while over the girl’s shoulder at Miss Sharp .  “ Come away , Becky , ” said Miss Jemima , pulling the young woman away in great alarm , and the drawingroom door closed upon them for ever .  Then came the struggle and parting below .  Words refuse to tell it .  All the servants were there in the hall — all the dear friends — all the young ladies — the dancing-master who had just arrived ; and there was such a scuffling , and hugging , and kissing , and crying , with the hysterical yoops of Miss Swartz , the parlour-boarder , from her room , as no pen can depict , and as the tender heart would fain pass over .  The embracing was over ; they parted — that is , Miss Sedley parted from her friends .  Miss Sharp had demurely entered the carriage some minutes before .  Nobody cried for leaving her .  Sambo of the bandy legs slammed the carriage door on his young weeping mistress .  He sprang up behind the carriage .  “ Stop !  ” cried Miss Jemima , rushing to the gate with a parcel .  “ It’s some sandwiches , my dear , ” said she to Amelia .  “ You may be hungry , you know ; and Becky , Becky Sharp , here’s a book for you that my sister — that is , I — Johnson’s Dixonary , you know ; you mustn’t leave us without that .  Good-by .  Drive on , coachman .  God bless you !  ”  And the kind creature retreated into the garden , overcome with emotion .  But , lo !  and just as the coach drove off , Miss Sharp put her pale face out of the window and actually flung the book back into the garden .  This almost caused Jemima to faint with terror .  “ Well , I never , ” — said she — “ what an audacious ” — Emotion prevented her from completing either sentence .  The carriage rolled away ; the great gates were closed ; the bell rang for the dancing lesson .  The world is before the two young ladies ; and so , farewell to Chiswick Mall .  II .  In Which Miss Sharp and Miss Sedley Prepare to Open the Campaign  WHEN Miss Sharp had performed the heroical act mentioned in the last chapter , and had seen the Dixonary , flying over the pavement of the little garden , fall at length at the feet of the astonished Miss Jemima , the young lady’s countenance , which had before worn an almost livid look of hatred , assumed a smile that perhaps was scarcely more agreeable , and she sank back in the carriage in an easy frame of mind , saying — “ So much for the Dixonary ; and , thank God , I’m out of Chiswick .  ”  Miss Sedley was almost as flurried at the act of defiance as Miss Jemima had been ; for , consider , it was but one minute that she had left school , and the impressions of six years are not got over in that space of time .  Nay , with some persons those awes and terrors of youth last for ever and ever .  I know , for instance , an old gentleman of sixty-eight , who said to me one morning at breakfast , with a very agitated countenance , “ I dreamed last night that I was flogged by Dr. Raine .  ” Fancy had carried him back five-and-fifty years in the course of that evening .  Dr. Raine and his rod were just as awful to him in his heart , then , at sixty-eight , as they had been at thirteen .  If the Doctor , with a large birch , had appeared bodily to him , even at the age of threescore and eight , and had said in awful voice , “ boy , take down your pant ... ?  ” Well , well , Miss Sedley was exceedingly alarmed at this act of insubordination .  “ How could you do so , Rebecca ?  ” at last she said , after a pause .  “ Why , do you think Miss Pinkerton will come out and order me back to the black-hole ?  ” said Rebecca , laughing .  “ No : but — — ”  “ I hate the whole house , ” continued Miss Sharp in a fury .  “ I hope I may never set eyes on it again .  I wish it were in the bottom of the Thames , I do ; and if Miss Pinkerton were there , I wouldn’t pick her out , that I wouldn’t .  O how I should like to see her floating in the water yonder , turban and all , with her train streaming after her , and her nose like the beak of a wherry .  ”  “ Hush !  ” cried Miss Sedley .  “ Why , will the black footman tell tales ?  ” cried Miss Rebecca , laughing .  “ He may go back and tell Miss Pinkerton that I hate her with all my soul ; and I wish he would ; and I wish I had a means of proving it , too .  For two years I have only had insults and outrage from her .  I have been treated worse than any servant in the kitchen .  I have never had a friend or a kind word , except from you .  I have been made to tend the little girls in the lower schoolroom , and to talk French to the Misses , until I grew sick of my mother-tongue .  But that talking French to Miss Pinkerton was capital fun , wasn’t it ?  She doesn’t know a word of French , and was too proud to confess it .  I believe it was that which made her part with me ; and so thank Heaven for French .  Vive la France ! Vive l’Empereur ! Vive Bonaparte ! ”  “ O Rebecca , Rebecca , for shame !  ” cried Miss Sedley ; for this was the greatest blasphemy Rebecca had as yet uttered ; and in those days , in England , to say , “ Long live Bonaparte !  ” was as much as to say , “ Long live Lucifer !  ” “ How can you — how dare you have such wicked , revengeful thoughts ?  ”  “ Revenge may be wicked , but it’s natural , ” answered Miss Rebecca .  “ I’m no angel .  ” And , to say the truth , she certainly was not .  For it may be remarked in the course of this little conversation ( which took place as the coach rolled along lazily by the river side ) that though Miss Rebecca Sharp has twice had occasion to thank Heaven , it has been , in the first place , for ridding her of some person whom she hated , and secondly , for enabling her to bring her enemies to some sort of perplexity or confusion ; neither of which are very amiable motives for religious gratitude , or such as would be put forward by persons of kind and placable disposition .  Miss Rebecca was not , then , in the least kind or placable .  All the world used her ill , said this young misanthropist , and we may be pretty certain that persons whom all the world treats ill deserve entirely the treatment they get .  The world is a looking-glass , and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face .  Frown at it , and it will in turn look sourly upon you ; laugh at it and with it , and it is a jolly kind companion ; and so let all young persons take their choice .  This is certain , that if the world neglected Miss Sharp , she never was known to have done a good action in behalf of anybody ; nor can it be expected that twenty-four young ladies should all be as amiable as the heroine of this work , Miss Sedley ( whom we have selected for the very reason that she was the best-natured of all , otherwise what on earth was to have prevented us from putting up Miss Swartz , or Miss Crump , or Miss Hopkins , as heroine in her place ?  ) — it could not be expected that every one should be of the humble and gentle temper of Miss Amelia Sedley ; should take every opportunity to vanquish Rebecca’s hard-heartedness and ill-humor ; and , by a thousand kind words and offices , overcome , for once at least , her hostility to her kind .  Miss Sharp’s father was an artist , and in that quality had given lessons of drawing at Miss Pinkerton’s school .  He was a clever man ; a pleasant companion ; a careless student ; with a great propensity for running into debt , and a partiality for the tavern .  When he was drunk , he used to beat his wife and daughter ; and the next morning , with a headache , he would rail at the world for its neglect of his genius , and abuse , with a good deal of cleverness , and sometimes with perfect reason , the fools , his brother painters .  As it was with the utmost difficulty that he could keep himself , and as he owed money for a mile round Soho , where he lived , he thought to better his circumstances by marrying a young woman of the French nation , who was by profession an opera-girl .  The humble calling of her female parent , Miss Sharp never alluded to , but used to state subsequently that the Entrechats were a noble family of Gascony , and took great pride in her descent from them .  And curious it is , that as she advanced in life this young lady’s ancestors increased in rank and splendour .  Rebecca’s mother had had some education somewhere , and the daughter spoke French with purity and a Parisian accent .  It was in those days rather a rare accomplishment , and led to her engagement with the orthodox Miss Pinkerton .  For her mother being dead , her father , finding himself not likely to recover , after his third attack of delirium tremens , wrote a manly and pathetic letter to Miss Pinkerton , recommending the orphan child to her protection , and so descended to the grave , after two bailiffs had quarrelled over his corpse .  Rebecca was seventeen when she came to Chiswick , and was bound over as an articled pupil ; her duties being to talk French , as we have seen ; and her privileges to live cost free , and , with a few guineas a year , to gather scraps of knowledge from the professors who attended the school .  She was small and slight in person ; pale , sandy-haired , and with eyes habitually cast down : when they looked up they were very large , odd , and attractive ; so attractive , that the Reverend Mr. Crisp , fresh from Oxford , and curate to the Vicar of Chiswick , the Reverend Mr. Flowerdew , fell in love with Miss Sharp ; being shot dead by a glance of her eyes which was fired all the way across Chiswick Church from the school-pew to the reading-desk .  This infatuated young man used sometimes to take tea with Miss Pinkerton , to whom he had been presented by his mamma , and actually proposed something like marriage in an intercepted note , which the one-eyed apple-woman was charged to deliver .  Mrs. Crisp was summoned from Buxton , and abruptly carried off her darling boy ; but the idea , even , of such an eagle in the Chiswick dovecot caused a great flutter in the breast of Miss Pinkerton , who would have sent away Miss Sharp , but that she was bound to her under a forfeit , and who never could thoroughly believe the young lady’s protestations that she had never exchanged a single word with Mr. Crisp , except under her own eyes on the two occasions when she had met him at tea .  By the side of many tall and bouncing young ladies in the establishment , Rebecca Sharp looked like a child .  But she had the dismal precocity of poverty .  Many a dun had she talked to , and turned away from her father’s door ; many a tradesman had she coaxed and wheedled into goodhumour , and into the granting of one meal more .  She sate commonly with her father , who was very proud of her wit , and heard the talk of many of his wild companions — often but ill-suited for a girl to hear .  But she never had been a girl , she said ; she had been a woman since she was eight years old .  O why did Miss Pinkerton let such a dangerous bird into her cage ?  The fact is , the old lady believed Rebecca to be the meekest creature in the world , so admirably , on the occasions when her father brought her to Chiswick , used Rebecca to perform the part of the ingenue ; and only a year before the arrangement by which Rebecca had been admitted into her house , and when Rebecca was sixteen years old , Miss Pinkerton majestically , and with a little speech , made her a present of a doll — which was , by the way , the confiscated property of Miss Swindle , discovered surreptitiously nursing it in school-hours .  How the father and daughter laughed as they trudged home together after the evening party , ( it was on the occasion of the speeches , when all the professors were invited , ) and how Miss Pinkerton would have raged had she seen the caricature of herself which the little mimic , Rebecca , managed to make out of her doll .  Becky used to go through dialogues with it ; it formed the delight of Newman Street , Gerrard Street , and the Artists’ quarter : and the young painters , when they came to take their gin-and-water with their lazy , dissolute , clever , jovial senior , used regularly to ask Rebecca if Miss Pinkerton was at home : she was as well known to them , poor soul !  as Mr. Lawrence or President West .  Once Rebecca had the honour to pass a few days at Chiswick ; after which she brought back Jemima , and erected another doll as Miss Jemmy : for though that honest creature had made and given her jelly and cake enough for three children , and a seven-shilling piece at parting , the girl’s sense of ridicule was far stronger than her gratitude , and she sacrificed Miss Jemmy quite as pitilessly as her sister .  The catastrophe came , and she was brought to the Mall as to her home .  The rigid formality of the place suffocated her : the prayers and the meals , the lessons and the walks , which were arranged with a conventual regularity , oppressed her almost beyond endurance ; and she looked back to the freedom and the beggary of the old studio in Soho with so much regret , that everybody , herself included , fancied she was consumed with grief for her father .  She had a little room in the garret , where the maids heard her walking and sobbing at night ; but it was with rage , and not with grief .  She had not been much of a dissembler , until now her loneliness taught her to feign .  She had never mingled in the society of women : her father , reprobate as he was , was a man of talent ; his conversation was a thousand times more agreeable to her than the talk of such of her own sex as she now encountered .  The pompous vanity of the old schoolmistress , the foolish good-humour of her sister , the silly chat and scandal of the elder girls , and the frigid correctness of the governesses equally annoyed her ; and she had no soft maternal heart , this unlucky girl , otherwise the prattle and talk of the younger children , with whose care she was chiefly intrusted , might have soothed and interested her ; but she lived among them two years , and not one was sorry that she went away .  The gentle tender-hearted Amelia Sedley was the only person to whom she could attach herself in the least ; and who could help attaching herself to Amelia ?  The happiness — the superior advantages of the young women round about her , gave Rebecca inexpressible pangs of envy .  “ What airs that girl gives herself , because she is an Earl’s grand-daughter , ” she said of one .  “ How they cringe and bow to that Creole , because of her hundred thousand pounds !  I am a thousand times cleverer and more charming than that creature , for all her wealth .  I am as well bred as the Earl’s grand-daughter , for all her fine pedigree ; and yet every one passes me by here .  And yet , when I was at my father’s , did not the men give up their gayest balls and parties in order to pass the evening with me ?  ” She determined at any rate to get free from the prison in which she found herself , and now began to act for herself , and for the first time to make connected plans for the future .  She took advantage , therefore , of the means of study the place offered her ; and as she was already a musician and a good linguist , she speedily went through the little course of study which was considered necessary for ladies in those days .  Her music she practised incessantly , and one day , when the girls were out , and she had remained at home , she was overheard to play a piece so well , that Minerva thought wisely , she could spare herself the expense of a master for the juniors , and intimated to Miss Sharp that she was to instruct them in music for the future .  The girl refused ; and for the first time , and to the astonishment of the majestic mistress of the school .  “ I am here to speak French with the children , ” Rebecca said abruptly , “ not to teach them music , and save money for you .  Give me money , and I will teach them .  ”  Minerva was obliged to yield , and , of course , disliked her from that day .  “ For five-and-thirty years , ” she said , and with great justice , “ I never have seen the individual who has dared in my own house to question my authority .  I have nourished a viper in my bosom .  ”  “ A viper — a fiddlestick , ” said Miss Sharp to the old lady , almost fainting with astonishment .  “ You took me because I was useful .  There is no question of gratitude between us .  I hate this place , and want to leave it .  I will do nothing here but what I am obliged to do .  ”  It was in vain that the old lady asked her if she was aware she was speaking to Miss Pinkerton ?  Rebecca laughed in her face , with a horrid sarcastic demoniacal laughter , that almost sent the schoolmistress into fits .  “ Give me a sum of money , ” said the girl , “ and get rid of me — or , if you like better , get me a good place as governess in a noblesman’s family — you can do so if you please .  ” And in their further disputes she always returned to this point , “ Get me a situation — we hate each other , and I am ready to go .  ”  Worthy Miss Pinkerton , although she had a Roman nose and a turban , and was as tall as a grenadier , and had been up to this time an irresistible princess , had no will or strength like that of her little apprentice , and in vain did battle against her , and tried to overawe her .  Attempting once to scold her in public , Rebecca hit upon the beforementioned plan of answering her in French , which quite routed the old woman .  In order to maintain authority in her school , it became necessary to remove this rebel , this monster , this serpent , this firebrand ; and hearing about this time that Sir Pitt Crawley’s family was in want of a governess , she actually recommended Miss Sharp for the situation , firebrand and servant as she was .  “ I cannot , certainly , ” she said , “ find fault with Miss Sharp’s conduct , except to myself ; and must allow that her talents and accomplishments are of a high order .  As far as the head goes , at least , she does credit to the educational system pursued at my establishment .  ”  And so the schoolmistress reconciled the recommendation to her conscience , and the indentures were cancelled , and the apprentice was free .  The battle here described in a few lines , of course , lasted for some months .  And as Miss Sedley , being now in her seventeenth year , was about to leave school , and had a friendship for Miss Sharp , ( “ ’tis the only point in Amelia’s behaviour , ” said Minerva , “ which has not been satisfactory to her mistress , ” ) Miss Sharp was invited by her friend to pass a week with her at home , before she entered upon her duties as governess in a private family .  Thus the world began for these two young ladies .  For Amelia it was quite a new , fresh , brilliant world , with all the bloom upon it .  It was not quite a new one for Rebecca — ( indeed , if the truth must be told with respect to the Crisp affair , the tart-woman hinted to somebody , who took an affidavit of the fact to somebody else .  that there was a great deal more than was made public regarding Mr. Crisp and Miss Sharp , and that his letter was in answer to another letter ) .  But who can tell you the real truth of the matter ?  At all events , if Rebecca was not beginning the world , she was beginning it over again .  By the time the young ladies reached Kensington turnpike , Amelia had not forgotten her companions , but had dried her tears , and had blushed very much and been delighted at a young officer of the Life Guards , who spied her as he was riding by and said , “ A dem fine gal , egad !  ” and before the carriage arrived in Russell Square , a great deal of conversation had taken place about the Drawing-room , and whether or not young ladies wore powder as well as hoops when presented , and whether she was to have that honour : to the Lord Mayor’s ball she knew she was to go .  And when at length home was reached , Miss Amelia Sedley skipped out on Sambo’s arm , as happy and as handsome a girl as any in the whole big city of London .  Both he and coachman agreed on this point , and so did her father and mother , and so did every one of the servants in the house , as they stood bobbing and curtseying , and smiling , in the hall to welcome their young mistress .  You may be sure that she showed Rebecca over every room of the house , and everything in every one of her drawers ; and her books , and her piano , and her dresses , and all her necklaces , brooches , laces , and gimcracks .  She insisted upon Rebecca accepting the white cornelian and the turquoise rings , and a sweet sprigged muslin , which was too small for her , though it would fit her friend to a nicety ; and she determined in her heart to ask her mother’s permission to present her white Cashmere shawl to her friend .  Could she not spare it ?  and had not her brother Joseph just brought her two from India ?  When Rebecca saw the two magnificent Cashmere shawls which Joseph Sedley had brought home to his sister , she said , with perfect truth , “ that it must be delightful to have a brother , ” and easily got the pity of the tender-hearted Amelia , for being alone in the world , an orphan without friends or kindred .  “ Not alone , ” said Amelia ; “ you know , Rebecca , I shall always be your friend , and love you as a sister — indeed I will .  ”  “ Ah , but to have parents , as you have — kind , rich , affectionate parents , who give you everything you ask for ; and their love , which is more precious than all !  My poor papa could give me nothing , and I had but two frocks in all the world !  And then , to have a brother , a dear brother !  Oh , how you must love him !  ”  Amelia laughed .  “ What !  don’t you love him ?  you , who say you love everybody ?  ”  “ Yes , of course , I do — only — ”  “ Only what ?  ”  “ Only Joseph doesn’t seem to care much whether I love him or not .  He gave me two fingers to shake when he arrived after ten years’ absence !  He is very kind and good , but he scarcely ever speaks to me ; I think he loves his pipe a great deal better than his ” ... but here Amelia checked herself , for why should she speak ill of her brother ?  “ He was very kind to me as a child , ” she added ; “ I was but five years old when he went away .  ”  “ Isn’t he very rich ?  ” said Rebecca .  “ They say all Indian nabobs are enormously rich .  ”  “ I believe he has a very large income .  ”  “ And is your sister-in-law a nice pretty woman ?  ”  “ La !  Joseph is not married , ” said Amelia , laughing again .  Perhaps she had mentioned the fact already to Rebecca , but that young lady did not appear to have remembered it ; indeed , vowed and protested that she expected to see a number of Amelia’s nephews and nieces .  She was quite disappointed that Mr. Sedley was not married ; she was sure Amelia had said he was , and she doted so on little children .  “ I think you must have had enough of them at Chiswick , ” said Amelia , rather wondering at the sudden tenderness on her friend’s part ; and indeed in later days Miss Sharp would never have committed herself so far as to advance opinions , the untruth of which would have been so easily detected .  But we must remember that she is but nineteen as yet , unused to the art of deceiving , poor innocent creature !  and making her own experience in her own person .  The meaning of the above series of queries , as translated in the heart of this ingenious young woman , was simply this : — “ If Mr. Joseph Sedley is rich and unmarried , why should I not marry him ?  I have only a fortnight , to be sure , but there is no harm in trying .  ” And she determined within herself to make this laudable attempt .  She redoubled her caresses to Amelia ; she kissed the white cornelian necklace as she put it on ; and vowed she would never , never part with it .  When the dinner-bell rang she went down stairs with her arm round her friend’s waist , as is the habit of young ladies .  She was so agitated at the drawing-room door , that she could hardly find courage to enter .  “ Feel my heart , how it beats , dear !  ” said she to her friend .  “ No , it doesn’t , ” said Amelia .  “ Come in , don’t be frightened .  Papa won’t do you any harm .  ”  III .  Rebecca Is in Presence of the Enemy  A VERY stout , puffy man , in buckskins and Hessian boots , with several immense neckcloths , that rose almost to his nose , with a red striped waistcoat and an apple green coat with steel buttons almost as large as crown pieces , ( it was the morning costume of a dandy or blood of those days ) was reading the paper by the fire when the two girls entered , and bounced off his arm-chair , and blushed excessively , and hid his entire face almost in his neckcloths at this apparition .  “ It’s only your sister , Joseph , ” said Amelia , laughing and shaking the two fingers which he held out .  “ I’ve come home for good , you know ; and this is my friend , Miss Sharp , whom you have heard me mention .  ”  “ No , never , upon my word , ” said the head under the neckcloth , shaking very much , — “ that is , yes , — what abominably cold weather , Miss ; ” — and herewith he fell to poking the fire with all his might , although it was in the middle of June .  “ He’s very handsome , ” whispered Rebecca to Amelia , rather loud .  “ Do you think so ?  ” said the latter .  “ I’ll tell him .  ”  “ Darling !  not for worlds , ” said Miss Sharp , starting back as timid as a fawn .  She had previously made a respectful virgin-like curtsey to the gentleman , and her modest eyes gazed so perseveringly on the carpet that it was a wonder how she should have found an opportunity to see him .  “ Thank you for the beautiful shawls , brother , ” said Amelia to the fire poker .  “ Are they not beautiful , Rebecca ?  ”  “ O heavenly !  ” said Miss Sharp , and her eyes went from the carpet straight to the chandelier .  Joseph still continued a huge clattering at the poker and tongs , puffing and blowing the while , and turning as red as his yellow face would allow him .  “ I can’t make you such handsome presents , Joseph , ” continued his sister , “ but while I was at school , I have embroidered for you a very beautiful pair of braces .  ”  “ Good Gad !  Amelia , ” cried the brother , in serious alarm , “ what do you mean ?  ” and plunging with all his might at the bell-rope , that article of furniture came away in his hand , and increased the honest fellow’s confusion .  “ For heaven’s sake see if my buggy’s at the door .  I can’t wait .  I must go .  D — that groom of mine .  I must go .  ”  At this minute the father of the family walked in , rattling his seals like a true British merchant .  “ What’s the matter , Emmy ?  ” says he .  “ Joseph wants me to see if his — his buggy is at the door .  What is a buggy , papa ?  ”  “ It is a one-horse palanquin , ” said the old gentleman , who was a wag in his way .  Joseph at this burst out into a wild fit of laughter ; in which , encountering the eye of Miss Sharp , he stopped all of a sudden , as if he had been shot .  “ This young lady is your friend ?  Miss Sharp , I am very happy to see you .  Have you and Emmy been quarrelling already with Joseph , that he wants to be off ?  ”  “ I promised Bonamy of our service , sir , ” said Joseph , “ to dine with him .  ”  “ O fie !  didn’t you tell your mother you would dine here ?  ”  “ But in this dress it’s impossible .  ”  “ Look at him , isn’t he handsome enough to dine anywhere , Miss Sharp ?  ”  On which , of course , Miss Sharp looked at her friend , and they both set off in a fit of laughter , highly agreeable to the old gentleman .  “ Did you ever see a pair of buckskins like those at Miss Pinkerton’s ?  ” continued he , following up his advantage .  “ Gracious heavens !  Father , ” cried Joseph .  “ There now , I have hurt his feelings .  Mrs. Sedley , my dear , I have hurt your son’s feelings .  I have alluded to his buckskins .  Ask Miss Sharp if I haven’t ?  Come , Joseph , be friends with Miss sharp and let us all go to dinner .  ”  “ There’s a pillau , Joseph , just as you like it , and Papa has brought home the best turbot in Billingsgate .  ”  “ Come , come , sir , walk down stairs with Miss Sharp , and I will follow with these two young women , ” said the father , and he took an arm of wife and daughter and walked merrily off .  If Miss Rebecca Sharp had determined in her heart upon making the conquest of this big beau , I don’t think , ladies , we have any right to blame her ; for though the task of husband-hunting is generally , and with becoming modesty , entrusted by young persons to their mammas , recollect that Miss Sharp had no kind parent to arrange these delicate matters for her , and that if she did not get a husband for herself , there was no one else in the wide world who would take the trouble off her hands .  What causes young people to “ come out , ” but the noble ambition of matrimony ?  What sends them trooping to watering-places ?  What keeps them dancing till five o’clock in the morning through a whole mortal season ?  What causes them to labour at piano-forte sonatas , and to learn four songs from a fashionable master at a guinea a lesson , and to play the harp if they have handsome arms and neat elbows , and to wear Lincoln Green toxophilite hats and feathers , but that they may bring down some “ desirable ” young man with those killing bows and arrows of theirs ?  What causes respectable parents to take up their carpets , set their houses topsy-turvy , and spend a fifth of their year’s income in ball suppers and iced champagne ?  Is it sheer love of their species , an unadulterated wish to see young people happy and dancing ?  Psha !  they want to marry their daughters ; and , as honest Mrs. Sedley has , in the depths of her kind heart , already arranged a score of little schemes for the settlement of her Amelia , so also had our beloved but unprotected Rebecca determined to do her very best to secure the husband , who was even more necessary for her than for her friend .  She had a vivid imagination ; she had , besides , read the Arabian Nights and Guthrie’s Geography ; and it is a fact , that while she was dressing for dinner , and after she had asked Amelia whether her brother was very rich , she had built for herself a most magnificent castle in the air , of which she was mistress , with a husband somewhere in the background ( she had not seen him as yet , and his figure would not therefore be very distinct ) ; she had arrayed herself in an infinity of shawls , turbans , and diamond necklaces , and had mounted upon an elephant to the sound of the march in Bluebeard , in order to pay a visit of ceremony to the Grand Mogul .  Charming Alnaschar visions !  it is the happy privilege of youth to construct you , and many a fanciful young creature besides Rebecca Sharp has indulged in these delightful day-dreams ere now !  Joseph Sedley was twelve years older than his sister Amelia .  He was in the East India Company’s Civil Service , and his name appeared , at the period of which we write , in the Bengal division of the East India Register , as collector of Boggley Wollah , an honourable and lucrative post , as everybody knows : in order to know to what higher posts Joseph rose in the service , the reader is referred to the same periodical .  Boggley Wollah is situated in a fine , lonely , marshy , jungly district , famous for snipe-shooting , and where not unfrequently you may flush a tiger .  Ramgunge , where there is a magistrate , is only forty miles off , and there is a cavalry station about thirty miles farther ; so Joseph wrote home to his parents , when he took possession of his collectorship .  He had lived for about eight years of his life , quite alone , at this charming place , scarcely seeing a Christian face except twice a year , when the detachment arrived to carry off the revenues which he had collected , to Calcutta .  Luckily , at this time he caught a liver complaint , for the cure of which he returned to Europe , and which was the source of great comfort and amusement to him in his native country .  He did not live with his family while in London , but had lodgings of his own , like a gay young bachelor .  Before he went to India he was too young to partake of the delightful pleasures of a man about town , and plunged into them on his return with considerable assiduity .  He drove his horses in the Park ; he dined at the fashionable taverns ( for the Oriental Club was not as yet invented ) ; he frequented the theatres , as the mode was in those days , or made his appearance at the opera , laboriously attired in tights and a cocked hat .  On returning to India , and ever after , he used to talk of the pleasure of this period of his existence with great enthusiasm , and give you to understand that he and Brummel were the leading bucks of the day .  But he was as lonely here as in his jungle at Boggley Wollah .  He scarcely knew a single soul in the metropolis : and were it not for his doctor , and the society of his blue-pill , and his liver complaint , he must have died of loneliness .  He was lazy , peevish , and a bon-vivant ; the appearance of a lady frightened him beyond measure ; hence it was but seldom that he joined the paternal circle in Russell Square , where there was plenty of gaiety , and where the jokes of his good natured old father frightened his amour-propre . His bulk caused Joseph much anxious thought and alarm ; now and then he would make a desperate attempt to get rid of his superabundant fat ; but his indolence and love of good living speedily got the better of these endeavours at reform , and he found himself again at his three meals a day .  he never was well dressed ; but he took the hugest pains to adorn his big person , and passed many hours daily in that occupation .  His valet made a fortune out of his wardrobe : his toilet-table was covered with as many pomatums and essences as ever were employed by an old beauty : he had tried , in order to give himself a waist , every girth , stay , and waistband then invented .  Like most fat men , he would have his clothes made too tight , and took care they should be of the most brilliant colours and youthful cut .  When dressed at length , in the afternoon , he would issue forth to take a drive with nobody in the Park ; and then would come back in order to dress again and go and dine with nobody at the Piazza Coffee-House .  He was as vain as a girl ; and perhaps his extreme shyness was one of the results of his extreme vanity .  If Miss Rebecca can get the better of him , and at her first entrance into life , she is a young person of no ordinary cleverness .  The first move showed considerable skill .  When she called Sedley a very handsome man , she knew that Amelia would tell her mother , who would probably tell Joseph , or who , at any rate , would be pleased by the compliment paid to her son .  All mothers are .  If you had told Sycorax that her son Caliban was as handsome as Apollo , she would have been pleased , witch as she was .  Perhaps , too , Joseph Sedley would overhear the compliment — Rebecca spoke loud enough — and he did hear , and ( thinking in his heart that he was a very fine man ) , the praise thrilled through every fibre of his big body , and made it tingle with pleasure .  Then , however , came a recoil .  “ Is the girl making fun of me ?  ” he thought , and straightway he bounced towards the bell , and was for retreating , as we have seen , when his father’s jokes and his mother’s entreaties caused him to pause and stay where he was .  He conducted the young lady down to dinner in a dubious and agitated frame of mind .  “ Does she really think I am handsome ?  ” thought he , “ or is she only making game of me ?  ” We have talked of Joseph Sedley being as vain as a girl .  Heaven help us !  the girls have only to turn the tables , and say of one of their own sex , “ She is as vain as a man , ” and they will have perfect reason .  The bearded creatures are quite as eager for praise , quite as finikin over their toilets , quite as proud of their personal advantages , quite as conscious of their powers of fascination , as any coquette in the world .  Down stairs , then , they went , Joseph very red and blushing , Rebecca very modest , and holding her green eyes downwards .  She was dressed in white , with bare shoulders as white as snow — the picture of youth , unprotected innocence , and humble virgin simplicity .  “ I must be very quiet , ” thought Rebecca , “ and very much interested about India .  ”  Now we have heard how Mrs. Sedley had prepared a fine curry for her son , just as he liked it , and in the course of dinner a portion of this dish was offered to Rebecca .  “ What is it ?  ” said she , turning an appealing look to Mr. Joseph .  “ Capital , ” said he .  His mouth was full of it ; his face quite red with the delightful exercise of gobbling .  “ Mother , it’s as good as my own curries in India .  ”  “ Oh , I must try some , if it is an Indian dish , ” said Miss Rebecca .  “ I am sure everything must be good that comes from there .  ”  “ Give Miss Sharp some curry , my dear , ” said Mr. Sedley , laughing .  Rebecca had never tasted the dish before .  “ Do you find it as good as everything else from India ?  ” said Mr. Sedley .  “ Oh , excellent !  ” said Rebecca , who was suffering tortures with the cayenne pepper .  “ Try a chili with it , Miss Sharp , ” said Joseph , really interested .  “ A chili , ” said Rebecca , gasping .  “ Oh , yes !  ” She thought a chili was something cool , as its name imported , and was served with some .  “ How fresh and green they look , ” she said , and put one into her mouth .  It was hotter than the curry ; flesh and blood could bear it no longer .  She laid down her fork .  “ Water , for Heaven’s sake , water !  ” she cried .  Mr. Sedley burst out laughing ( he was a coarse man , from the Stock Exchange , where they love all sorts of practical jokes ) .  “ They are real Indian , I assure you , ” said he .  “ Sambo , give Miss Sharp some water .  ”  The paternal laugh was echoed by Joseph , who thought the joke capital .  The ladies only smiled a little .  They thought poor Rebecca suffered too much .  She would have liked to choke old Sedley , but she swallowed her mortification as well as she had the abominable curry before it , and as soon as she could speak , said , with a comical , good-humoured air —  “ I ought to have remembered the pepper which the Princess of Persia puts in the cream-tarts in the Arabian Nights . Do you put cayenne into your cream-tarts in India , sir ?  ”  Old Sedley began to laugh , and thought Rebecca was a good-humoured girl .  Joseph simply said — “ Cream-tarts , Miss ?  Our cream is very bad in Bengal .  We generally use goats’ milk ; and , ’gad , do you know , I’ve got to prefer it !  ”  “ You won’t like everything from India now , Miss Sharp , ” said the old gentleman ; but when the ladies had retired after dinner , the wily old fellow said to his son , “ Have a care , Joe ; that girl is setting her cap at you .  ”  “ Pooh !  nonsense !  ” said Joe , highly flattered .  “ I recollect , sir , there was a girl at Dumdum , a daughter of Cutler of the Artillery , and afterwards married to Lance , the surgeon , who made a dead set at me in the year ’4 — at me and Mulligatawney , whom I mentioned to you before dinner — a devilish good fellow , Mulligatawney — he’s a magistrate at Budgebudge , and sure to be in council in five years .  Well , sir , the Artillery gave a ball , and Quintin , of the King’s 14th , said to me , ‘Sedley , ’ said he , ‘I bet you thirteen to ten that Sophy Cutler hooks either you or Mulligatawney before the rains.’ ‘Done , ’ says I ; and egad , sir — this claret’s very good .  Adamson’s or Carbonell’s ?  ” ...  A slight snore was the only reply : the honest stock-broker was asleep , and so the rest of Joseph’s story was lost for that day .  But he was always exceedingly communicative in a man’s party , and has told this delightful tale many scores of times to his apothecary , Dr. Gollop , when he came to inquire about the liver and the blue-pill .  Being an invalid , Joseph Sedley contented himself with a bottle of claret besides his Madeira at dinner , and he managed a couple of plates full of strawberries and cream , and twenty-four little rout cakes , that were lying neglected in a plate near him , and certainly ( for novelists have the privilege of knowing everything ) , he thought a great deal about the girl upstairs .  “ A nice , gay , merry young creature , ” thought he to himself .  “ How she looked at me when I picked up her handkerchief at dinner !  She dropped it twice .  Who’s that singing in the drawing-room ?  ’Gad !  shall I go up and see ?  ”  But his modesty came rushing upon him with uncontrollable force .  His father was asleep : his hat was in the hall : there was a hackney-coach stand hard by in Southampton Row .  “ I’ll go and see the Forty Thieves , ” said he , “ and Miss Decamp’s dance ; ” and he slipped gently away on the pointed toes of his boots , and disappeared , without waking his worthy parent .  “ There goes Joseph , ” said Amelia , who was looking from the open windows of the drawing-room , while Rebecca was singing at the piano .  “ Miss Sharp has frightened him away , ” said Mrs. Sedley .  “ Poor Joe , why will he be so shy ?  ”  IV .  The Green Silk Purse  POOR Joe’s panic lasted for two or three days ; during which he did not visit the house , nor during that period did Miss Rebecca ever mention his name .  She was all respectful gratitude to Mrs. Sedley ; delighted beyond measure at the Bazaars ; and in a whirl of wonder at the theatre , whither the good-natured lady took her .  One day , Amelia had a head-ache , and could not go upon some party of pleasure to which the two young people were invited ; nothing could induce her friend to go without her .  “ What !  you who have shown the poor orphan what happiness and love are for the first time in her life — quit you ? never !  ” and the green eyes looked up to Heaven and filled with tears ; and Mrs. Sedley could not but own that her daughter’s friend had a charming kind heart of her own .  As for Mr. Sedley’s jokes , Rebecca laughed at them with a cordiality and perseverance which not a little pleased and softened that good-natured gentleman .  Nor was it with the chiefs of the family alone that Miss Sharp found favour .  She interested Mrs. Blenkinsop by evincing the deepest sympathy in the raspberry-jam preserving , which operation was then going on in the Housekeeper’s room ; she persisted in calling Sambo “ Sir , ” and “ Mr. Sambo , ” to the delight of that attendant ; and she apologised to the lady’s maid for giving her trouble in venturing to ring the bell , with such sweetness and humility , that the Servants’ Hall was almost as charmed with her as the Drawing Room .  Once , in looking over some drawings which Amelia had sent from school , Rebecca suddenly came upon one which caused her to burst into tears and leave the room .  It was on the day when Joe Sedley made his second appearance .  Amelia hastened after her friend to know the cause of this display of feeling and the good-natured girl came back without her companion , rather affected too .  “ You know , her father was our drawing-master , Mamma , at Chiswick , and used to do all the best parts of our drawings .  ”  “ My love !  I’m sure I always heard Miss Pinkerton say that he did not touch them — he only mounted them .  ”  “ It was called mounting , Mamma .  Rebecca remembers the drawing , and her father working at it , and the thought of it came upon her rather suddenly — and so , you know , she — — ”  “ The poor child is all heart , ” said Mrs. Sedley .  “ I wish she could stay with us another week , ” said Amelia .  “ She’s devilish like Miss Cutler that I used to meet at Dumdum , only fairer .  She’s married now to Lance , the Artillery Surgeon .  Do you know , Ma’am , that once Quintin , of the 14th , bet me — — ”  “ O Joseph we know that story , ” said Amelia , laughing .  “ Never mind about telling that , but persuade Mamma to write to Sir Something Crawley for leave of absence for poor dear Rebecca : — here she comes , her eyes red with weeping .  ”  “ I’m better , now , ” said the girl , with the sweetest smile possible , taking good-natured Mrs. Sedley’s extended hand and kissing it respectfully .  “ How kind you all are to me !  All , ” she added , with a laugh , “ except you , Mr. Joseph .  ”  “ Me !  ” said Joseph , meditating an instant departure .  “ Gracious Heavens !  Good Gad !  Miss Sharp !  ”  “ Yes ; how could you be so cruel as to make me eat that horrid pepper-dish at dinner , the first day I ever saw you ?  You are not so good to me as dear Amelia .  ”  “ He doesn’t know you so well , ” cried Amelia .  “ I defy anybody not to be good to you , my dear , ” said her mother .  “ The curry was capital ; indeed it was , ” said Joe , quite gravely .  “ Perhaps there was not enough citron juice in it : no , there was not .  ”  “ And the chilis ?  ”  “ By Jove , how they made you cry out !  ” said Joe , caught by the ridicule of the circumstance , and exploding in a fit of laughter which ended quite suddenly , as usual .  “ I shall take care how I let you choose for me another time , ” said Rebecca , as they went down again to dinner .  “ I didn’t think men were fond of putting poor harmless girls to pain .  ”  “ By Gad , Miss Rebecca , I wouldn’t hurt you for the world .  ”  “ No , ” said she , “ I know you wouldn’t ; ” and then she gave him ever so gentle a pressure with her little hand , and drew it back quite frightened , and looked first for one instant in his face , and then down at the carpet-rods ; and I am not prepared to say that Joe’s heart did not thump at this little involuntary , timid , gentle motion of regard on the part of the simple girl .  It was an advance , and as such , perhaps , some ladies of indisputable correctness and gentility will condemn the action as immodest ; but , you see , poor dear Rebecca had all this work to do for herself .  If a person is too poor to keep a servant , though ever so elegant , he must sweep his own rooms : if a dear girl has no dear Mamma to settle matters with the young man , she must do it for herself .  And oh , what a mercy it is that these women do not exercise their powers oftener !  We can’t resist them , if they do .  Let them show ever so little inclination , and men go down on their knees at once : old or ugly , it is all the same .  And this I set down as a positive truth .  A woman with fair opportunities , and without an absolute hump , may marry WHOM SHE LIKES .  Only let us be thankful that the darlings are like the beasts of the field , and don’t know their own power .  They would overcome us entirely if they did .  “ Egad !  ” thought Joseph , entering the dining-room , “ I exactly begin to feel as I did at Dumdum with Miss Cutler .  ” Many sweet little appeals , half tender , half jocular , did Miss Sharp make to him about the dishes at dinner ; for by this time she was on a footing of considerable familiarity with the family , and as for the girls , they loved each other like sisters .  Young unmarried girls always do , if they are in a house together for ten days .  As if bent upon advancing Rebecca’s plans in every way — what must Amelia do , but remind her brother of a promise made last Easter holidays — “ When I was a girl at school , ” said she , laughing — a promise that he , Joseph , would take her to Vauxhall .  “ Now , ” she said , “ that Rebecca is with us , will be the very time .  ”  “ O , delightful !  ” said Rebecca , going to clap her hands ; but she recollected herself , and paused , like a modest creature , as she was .  “ To-night is not the night , ” said Joe .  “ Well , to-morrow .  ”  “ To-morrow your Papa and I dine out , ” said Mrs. Sedley .  “ You don’t suppose that I’m going , Mrs. Sed .  ?  ” said her husband , “ and that a woman of your years and size is to catch cold , in such an abominable damp place ?  ”  “ The children must have some one with them , ” cried Mrs. Sedley .  “ Let Joe go , ” said his father , laughing .  “ He’s big enough .  ” At which speech even Mr. Sambo at the side board burst out laughing , and poor fat Joe felt inclined to become a parricide almost .  “ Undo his stays !  ” continued the pitiless old gentleman .  “ Fling some water in his face , Miss Sharp , or carry him upstairs : the dear creature’s fainting .  Poor victim !  carry him up ; he’s as light as a feather !  ”  “ If I stand this , I’m d — — !  ” roared Joseph .  “ Order Mr. Jos’s elephant , Sambo !  ” cried the father .  “ Send to Exeter ’Change , Sambo ; ” but seeing Jos ready almost to cry with vexation , the old joker stopped his laughter , and said , holding out his hand to his son , “ It’s all fair on the Stock Exchange , Jos , — and , Sambo .  never mind the elephant , but give me and Mr. Jos a glass of Champagne .  Boney himself hasn’t got such in his cellar , my boy !  ”  A goblet of Champagne restored Joseph’s equanimity , and before the bottle was emptied , of which as an invalid he took two-thirds , he had agreed to take the young ladies to Vauxhall .  “ The girls must have a gentleman apiece , ” said the old gentleman .  “ Jos will be sure to leave Emmy in the crowd , he will be so taken up with Miss Sharp here .  Send to 96 and ask George Osborne if he’ll come .  ”  At this , I don’t know in the least for what reason , Mrs. Sedley looked at her husband and laughed .  Mr. Sedley’s eyes twinkled in a manner indescribably roguish , and he looked at Amelia ; and Amelia , hanging down her head , blushed as only young ladies of seventeen know how to blush , and as Miss Rebecca Sharp never blushed in her life — at least not since she was eight years old , and when she was caught stealing jam out of a cupboard by her godmother .  “ Amelia had better write a note , ” said her father ; “ and let George Osborne see what a beautiful hand-writing we have brought back from Miss Pinkerton’s .  Do you remember when you wrote to him to come on Twelfth-night , Emmy , and spelt twelfth without the f ?  ”  “ That was years ago , ” said Amelia .  “ It seems like yesterday , don’t it , John ?  ” said Mrs. Sedley to her husband ; and that night in a conversation which took place in a front room in the second-floor , in a sort of tent , hung round with chintz of a rich and fantastic India pattern , and doublé with calico of a tender rose-colour ; in the interior of which species of marquee was a feather-bed , on which were two pillows , on which were two round red faces , one in a laced nightcap , and one in a simple cotton one , ending in a tassel : — in a curtain lecture , I say , Mrs. Sedley took her husband to task for his cruel conduct to poor Joe .  “ It was quite wicked of you , Mr. Sedley , ” said she , “ to torment the poor boy so .  ”  “ My dear , ” said the cotton-tassel in defence of his conduct , “ Jos is a great deal vainer than you ever were in your life , and that’s saying a good deal .  Though , some thirty years ago , in the year seventeen hundred and eighty — what was it ?  — perhaps you had a right to be vain .  — I don’t say no.  “ But I’ve no patience with Jos and his dandified modesty .  It is out-Josephing Joseph , my dear , and all the while the boy is only thinking of himself .  and what a fine fellow he is .  I doubt , Ma’am , we shall have some trouble with him yet .  Here is Emmy’s little friend making love to him as hard as she can ; that’s quite clear ; and if she does not catch him some other will .  That man is destined to be a prey to woman .  as I am to go on ’Change every day .  It’s a mercy he did not bring us over a black daughter-in-law , my dear .  But , mark my words , the first woman who fishes for him , hooks him .  ”  “ She shall go off to-morrow , the little artful creature , ” said Mrs. Sedley , with great energy .  “ Why not she as well as another , Mrs. Sedley ?  The girl’s a white face at any rate .  I don’t care who marries him .  Let Joe please himself .  ”  And presently the voices of the two speakers were hushed , or were replaced by the gentle but unromantic music of the nose ; and save when the church bells tolled the hour and the watchman called it , all was silent at the house of John Sedley , Esquire .  of Russell Square , and the Stock Exchange .  When morning came , the good-natured Mrs. Sedley no longer thought of executing her threats with regard to Miss Sharp ; for though nothing is more keen , nor more common , nor more justifiable , than maternal jealousy , yet she could not bring herself to suppose that the little , humble , grateful , gentle governess , would dare to look up to such a magnificent personage as the Collector of Boggley Wollah .  The petition , too , for an extension of the young lady’s leave of absence had already been despatched , and it would be difficult to find a pretext for abruptly dismissing her .  And as if all things conspired in favour of the gentle Rebecca , the very elements ( although she was not inclined at first to acknowledge their action in her behalf ) interposed to aid her .  For on the evening appointed for the Vauxhall party , George Osborne having come to dinner , and the elders of the house having departed , according to invitation , to dine with Alderman Balls , at Highbury Barn , there came on such a thunder-storm as only happens on Vauxhall nights , and as obliged the young people , perforce , to remain at home .  Mr. Osborne did not seem in the least disappointed at this occurrence .  He and Joseph Sedley drank a fitting quantity of port-wine , tête-à-tête , in the dining-room , — during the drinking of which Sedley told a number of his best Indian stories ; for he was extremely talkative in man’s society ; — and afterwards Miss Amelia Sedley did the honours of the drawing-room ; and these four young persons passed such a comfortable evening together , that they declared they were rather glad of the thunder-storm than otherwise , which had caused them to put off their visit to Vauxhall .  Osborne was Sedley’s godson , and had been one of the family any time these three-and-twenty years .  At six weeks old , he had received from John Sedley a present of a silver cup ; at six months old , a coral with gold whistle and bells ; from his youth , upwards , he was “ tipped ” regularly by the old gentleman at Christmas : and on going back to school , he remembered perfectly well being thrashed by Joseph Sedley , when the latter was a big , swaggering , hobbadyhoy , and George an impudent urchin of ten years old .  In a word George was as familiar with the family as such daily acts of kindness and intercourse could make him .  “ Do you remember , Sedley , what a fury you were in when I cut off the tassels of your Hessian boots , and how Miss — hem — how Amelia rescued me from a beating , by falling down on her knees and crying out to her brother Jos , not to beat little George ?  ”  Jos remembered this remarkable circumstance perfectly well , but vowed that he had totally forgotten it .  “ Well , do you remember coming down in a gig to Dr. Swishtail’s to see me , before you went to India , and giving me half a guinea and a pat on the head ?  I always had an idea that you were at least seven feet high , and was quite astonished at your return from India to find you no taller than myself .  ”  “ How good of Mr. Sedley to go to your school and give you the money !  ” exclaimed Rebecca , in accents of extreme delight .  “ Yes , and after I had cut the tassels of his boots too .  Boys never forget those tips at school , nor the givers .  ”  “ I delight in Hessian boots , ” said Rebecca .  Jos Sedley , who admired his own legs prodigiously , and always wore this ornamental chaussure , was extremely pleased at this remark , though he drew his legs under his chair as it was made .  “ Miss Sharp !  ” said George Osborne , “ you who are so clever an artist , you must make a grand historical picture of the scene of the boots .  Sedley shall be represented in buckskins , and holding one of the injured boots in one hand ; by the other he shall have hold of my shirt-frill .  Amelia shall be kneeling near him , with her little hands up , and the picture shall have a grand allegorical title , as the frontispieces have in the Medulla and the spellingbook .  ”  “ I shan’t have time to do it here , ” said Rebecca .  “ I’ll do it when — when I’m gone .  ” And she dropped her voice , and looked so sad and piteous , that everybody felt how cruel her lot was , and how sorry they would be to part with her .  “ O that you could stay longer , dear Rebecca , ” said Amelia .  “ Why ?  ” answered the other , still more sadly .  “ That I may be only the more unhap — unwilling to lose you ?  ” And she turned away her head .  Amelia began to give way to that natural infirmity of tears which , we have said , was one of the defects of this silly little thing .  George Osborne looked at the two young women with a touched curiosity ; and Joseph Sedley heaved something very like a sigh out of his big chest , as he cast his eyes down towards his favourite Hessian boots .  “ Let us have some music , Miss Sedley — Amelia , ” said George , who felt at that moment an extraordinary , almost irresistible impulse to seize the above-mentioned young woman in his arms , and to kiss her in the face of the company ; and she looked at him for a moment , and if I should say that they fell in love with each other at that single instant of time , I should perhaps be telling an untruth , for the fact is , that these two young people had been bred up by their parents for this very purpose , and their banns had , as it were , been read in their respective families any time these ten years .  They went off to the piano , which was situated , as pianos usually are , in the back drawing-room ; and as it was rather dark , Miss Amelia , in the most unaffected way in the world , put her hand into Mr. Osborne’s , who , of course , could see the way among the chairs and ottomans a great deal better than she could .  But this arrangement left Mr. Joseph Sedley tête-à-tête with Rebecca .  at the drawing-room table , where the latter was occupied in knitting a green silk purse .  “ There is no need to ask family secrets , ” said Miss Sharp .  “ Those two have told theirs .  ”  “ As soon as he gets his company , ” said Joseph , “ I believe the affair is settled .  George Osborne is a capital fellow .  ”  “ And your sister the dearest creature in the world , ” said Rebecca .  “ Happy the man who wins her !  ” With this Miss Sharp gave a great sigh .  When two unmarried persons get together , and talk upon such delicate subjects as the present , a great deal of confidence and intimacy is presently established between them .  There is no need of giving a special report of the conversation , which now took place between Mr. Sedley and the young lady ; for the conversation , as may be judged from the foregoing specimen , was not especially witty or eloquent ; it seldom is in private societies , or any where except in very high-flown and ingenious novels .  As there was music in the next room , the talk was carried on , of course , in a low and becoming tone , though , for the matter of that , the couple in the next apartment would not have been disturbed had the talking been so loud , so occupied were they with their own pursuits .  Almost for the first time in his life , Mr. Sedley found himself talking , without the least timidity or hesitation , to a person of the other sex .  Miss Rebecca asked him a great number of questions about India , which gave him an opportunity of narrating many interesting anecdotes about that country and himself .  He described the balls at Government House , and the manner in which they kept themselves cool in the hot weather , with punkahs , tatties , and other contrivances ; and he was very witty regarding the number of Scotchmen whom Lord Minto , the Governor-General , patronised ; and then he described a tiger-hunt ; and the manner in which the mahout of his elephant had been pulled off his seat by one of the infuriated animals .  How delighted Miss Rebecca was at the Government balls , and how she laughed at the stories of the Scotch aides-de-camp , and called Mr. Sedley a sad wicked satirical creature ; and how frightened she was at the story of the elephant !  “ For your mother’s sake , dear Mr. Sedley , ” she said , “ for the sake of all your friends , promise never to go on one of those horrid expeditions .  ”  “ Pooh , pooh , Miss Sharp , ” said he pulling up his shirtcollars ; “ the danger makes the sport only the pleasanter .  ” He had never been but once at a tiger-hunt , when the accident in question occurred , and when he was half killed — not by the tiger , but by the fright .  And as he talked on , he grew quite bold , and actually had the audacity to ask Miss Rebecca for whom she was knitting the green silk purse ?  He was quite surprised and delighted at his own graceful familiar manner .  “ For any one who wants a purse , ” replied Miss Rebecca , looking at him in the most gentle winning way .  Sedley was going to make one of the most eloquent speeches possible , and had begun — “ O Miss Sharp , how — — ” when some song which was performed in the other room came to an end , and caused him to hear his own voice so distinctly that he stopped , blushed , and blew his nose in great agitation .  “ Did you ever hear anything like your brother’s eloquence ?  ” whispered Mr. Osborne to Amelia .  “ Why , your friend has worked miracles .  ”  “ The more the better , ” said Miss Amelia ; who , like almost all women who are worth a pin , was a match-maker in her heart , and would have been delighted that Joseph should carry back a wife to India .  She had , too , in the course of this few days’ constant intercourse , warmed into a most tender friendship for Rebecca , and discovered a million of virtues and amiable qualities in her which she had not perceived when they were at Chiswick together .  For the affection of young ladies is of as rapid growth as Jack’s beanstalk , and reaches up to the sky in a night .  It is no blame to them that after marriage this Sehnsucht nach der Liebe subsides .  It is what sentimentalists , who deal in very big words , call a yearning after the Ideal , and simply means that women are commonly not satisfied until they have husbands and children on whom they may centre affections , which are spent elsewhere , as it were , in small change .  Having expended her little store of songs , or having stayed long enough in the back drawing-room , it now appeared proper to Miss Amelia to ask her friend to sing .  “ You would not have listened to me , ” she said to Mr. Osborne ( though she knew she was telling a fib ) , “ had you heard Rebecca first .  ”  “ I give Miss Sharp warning , though , ” said Osborne , “ that , right or wrong , I consider Miss Amelia Sedley the first singer in the world .  ”  “ You shall hear , ” said Amelia ; and Joseph Sedley was actually polite enough to carry the candles to the piano .  Osborne hinted that he should like quite as well to sit in the dark ; but Miss Sedley , laughing , declined to bear him company any farther , and the two accordingly followed Mr. Joseph .  Rebecca sang far better than her friend ( though of course Osborne was free to keep his opinion ) and exerted herself to the utmost , and , indeed , to the wonder of Amelia , who had never known her perform so well .  She sang a French song , which Joseph did not understand in the least , and which George confessed he did not understand , and then a number of those simple ballads which were the fashion forty years ago , and in which British tars , our King , poor Susan , blue-eyed Mary , and the like , were the principal themes .  They are not , it is said , very brilliant , in a musical point of view , but contain numberless good-natured , simple appeals to the affections , which people understood better than the milk-and-water lagrime , sospiri , and felicità of the eternal Donizettian music with which we are favoured now-a-days .  Conversation of a sentimental sort , befitting the subject , was carried on between the songs , to which Sambo , after he had brought the tea , the delighted cook , and even Mrs. Blenkinsop , the housekeeper , condescended to listen on the landingplace .  Among these ditties was one , the last of the concert , and to the following effect : — Ah ! bleak and barren was the moor , Ah ! loud and piercing was the storm , The cottage roof was shelter’d sure , The cottage hearth was bright and warm . An orphan boy the lattice pass’d , And , as he mark’d its cheerful glow , Felt doubly keen the midnight blast , And doubly cold the fallen snow . They mark’d him as he onward prest , With fainting heart and weary limb ; Kind voices bade him turn and rest , And gentle faces welcomed him . The dawn is up — the guest is gone , The cottage hearth is blazing still ; Heaven pity all poor wanderers lone ! Hark to the wind upon the hill !  Ah !  bleak and barren was the moor ,  Ah !  loud and piercing was the storm ,  The cottage roof was shelter’d sure ,  The cottage hearth was bright and warm .  An orphan boy the lattice pass’d ,  And , as he mark’d its cheerful glow ,  Felt doubly keen the midnight blast ,  And doubly cold the fallen snow .  They mark’d him as he onward prest ,  With fainting heart and weary limb ;  Kind voices bade him turn and rest ,  And gentle faces welcomed him .  The dawn is up — the guest is gone ,  The cottage hearth is blazing still ;  Heaven pity all poor wanderers lone !  Hark to the wind upon the hill !  It was the sentiment of the before-mentioned words , “ When I’m gone , ” over again .  As she came to the last words , Miss Sharp’s “ deep-toned voice faltered .  ” Everybody felt the allusion to her departure , and to her hapless orphan state .  Joseph Sedley , who was fond of music , and softhearted , was in a state of ravishment during the performance of the song , and profoundly touched at its conclusion .  If he had had the courage ; if George and Miss Sedley had remained , according to the former’s proposal , in the farther room , Joseph Sedley’s bachelorhood would have been at an end , and this work would never have been written .  But at the close of the ditty , Rebecca quitted the piano , and giving her hand to Amelia , walked away into the front drawingroom twilight ; and , at this moment , Mr. Sambo made his appearance with a tray , containing sandwiches , jellies , and some glittering glasses and decanters , on which Joseph Sedley’s attention was immediately fixed .  When the parents of the house of Sedley returned from their dinner-party , they found the young people so busy in talking , that they had not heard the arrival of the carriage , and Mr. Joseph was in the act of saying , “ My dear Miss Sharp , one little teaspoonful of jelly to recruit you after your immense — your — your delightful exertions .  ”  “ Bravo , Jos !  ” said Mr. Sedley ; on hearing the bantering of which well-known voice , Jos instantly relapsed into an alarmed silence , and quickly took his departure .  He did not lie awake all night thinking whether or not he was in love with Miss Sharp ; the passion of love never interfered with the appetite or the slumber of Mr. Joseph Sedley ; but he thought to himself how delightful it would be to hear such songs as those after Cutcherry — what a distinguée girl she was — how she could speak French better than the Governor General’s lady herself — and what a sensation she would make at the Calcutta balls .  “ It’s evident the poor devil’s in love with me , ” thought he .  “ She is just as rich as most of the girls who come out to India .  I might go farther , and fare worse , egad !  ” And in these meditations he fell asleep .  How Miss Sharp lay awake , thinking , will he come or not to-morrow ?  need not be told here .  To-morrow came , and , as sure as fate , Mr. Joseph Sedley made his appearance before luncheon .  He had never been known to confer such an honour on Russell Square .  George Osborne was somehow there already ( sadly “ putting out ” Amelia , who was writing to her twelve dearest friends at Chiswick Mall ) , and Rebecca was employed upon her yesterday’s work .  As Joe’s buggy drove up , and while , after his usual thundering knock and pompous bustle at the door , the ex-Collector of Boggley Wollah laboured upstairs to the drawing-room , knowing glances were telegraphed between Osborne and Miss Sedley , and the pair , smiling archly , looked at Rebecca , who actually blushed as she bent her fair ringlets over her knitting .  How her heart beat as Joseph appeared , — Joseph , puffing from the staircase in shining creaking boots , — Joseph , in a new waistcoat red with heat and nervousness , and blushing behind his wadded neck-cloth .  It was a nervous moment for all ; and as for Amelia , I think she was more frightened than even the people most concerned .  Sambo , who flung open the door and announced Mr. Joseph , followed grinning , in the Collector’s rear , and bearing two handsome nosegays of flowers , which the monster had actually had the gallantry to purchase in Covent Garden Market that morning — they were not as big as the haystacks which ladies carry about with them now-a-days , in cones of filigree paper ; but the young women were delighted with the gift , as Joseph presented one to each , with an exceedingly solemn bow .  “ Bravo , Jos !  ” cried Osborne .  “ Thank you , dear Joseph , ” said Amelia , quite ready to kiss her brother , if he were so minded .  ( And I think for a kiss from such a dear creature as Amelia , I would purchase all Mr. Lee’s conservatories out of hand .  )  “ O heavenly , heavenly flowers !  ” exclaimed Miss Sharp and smelt them delicately , and held them to her bosom , and cast up her eyes to the ceiling , in an ecstasy of admiration .  Perhaps she just looked first into the bouquet , to see whether there was a billet-doux hidden among the flowers ; but there was no letter .  “ Do they talk the language of flowers at Boggley Wollah , Sedley ?  ” asked Osborne , laughing .  “ Pooh , nonsense !  ” replied the sentimental youth .  “ Bought em at Nathan’s ; very glad you like ’em ; and eh , Amelia , my dear , I bought a pine-apple at the same time , which I gave to Sambo .  Let’s have it for tiffin ; very cool and nice this hot weather .  ” Rebecca said she had never tasted a pine , and longed beyond everything to taste one .  So the conversation went on .  I don’t know on what pretext Osborne left the room , or why , presently , Amelia went away , perhaps to superintend the slicing of the pine-apple ; but Jos was left alone with Rebecca , who had resumed her work , and the green silk and the shining needles were quivering rapidly under her white slender fingers .  “ What a beautiful , byoo-ootiful song that was you sang last night , dear Miss Sharp , ” said the Collector .  “ It made me cry almost ; ’pon my honour it did .  ”  “ Because you have a kind heart , Mr. Joseph ; all the Sedleys have , I think .  ”  “ It kept me awake last night , and I was trying to hum it this morning , in bed ; I was , upon my honour .  Gollop , my doctor , came in at eleven ( for I’m a sad invalid , you know , and see Gollop every day ) , and , ’gad !  there I was singing away like — a robbin .  ”  “ O you droll creature !  Do let me hear you sing it .  ”  “ Me ?  No , you , Miss Sharp ; my dear Miss Sharp , do sing it .  ”  “ Not now , Mr. Sedley , ” said Rebecca , with a sigh .  “ My spirits are not equal to it ; besides , I must finish the purse .  Will you help me , Mr. Sedley ?  ” And before he had time to ask how , Mr. Joseph Sedley , of the East India Company’s service , was actually seated tête-à-tête with a young lady looking at her with a most killing expression ; his arms stretched out before her in an imploring attitude , and his hands bound in a web of green silk , which she was unwinding .  In this romantic position Osborne and Amelia found the interesting pair , when they entered to announce that tiffin was ready .  The skein of silk was just wound round the card ; but Mr. Jos had never spoken .  “ I am sure he will to-night , dear , ” Amelia said , as she pressed Rebecca’s hand ; and Sedley , too , had communed with his soul , and said to himself , “ ’Gad , I’ll pop the question at Vauxhall .  ”  V. Dobbin of Ours  CUFF’S fight with Dobbin , and the unexpected issue of that contest , will long be remembered by every man who was educated at Dr. Swishtail’s famous school .  The latter youth ( who used to be called Heigh-ho Dobbin , Gee-ho Dobbin , and by many other names indicative of puerile contempt ) was the quietest , the clumsiest , and , as it seemed , the dullest of all Dr. Swishtail’s young gentlemen .  His parent was a grocer in the city : and it was bruited abroad that he was admitted into Dr. Swishtail’s academy upon what are called ‘mutual principles ” — that is to say , the expenses of his board and schooling were defrayed by his father in goods , not money ; and he stood there — almost at the bottom of the school — in his scraggy corduroys and jacket , through the seams of which his great big bones were bursting — as the representative of so many pounds of tea , candles , sugar , mottled-soap , plums ( of which a very mild proportion was supplied for the puddings of the establishment ) , and other commodities .  A dreadful day it was for young Dobbin when one of the youngsters of the school , having run into the town upon a poaching excursion for hardbake and polonies , espied the cart of Dobbin + Rudge , Grocers and Oilmen , Thames Street , London , at the Doctor’s door , discharging a cargo of the wares in which the firm dealt .  Young Dobbin had no peace after that .  The jokes were frightful , and merciless against him .  “ Hullo , Dobbin , ” one wag would say , “ here’s good news in the paper .  Sugars is ris’ , my boy .  ” Another would set a sum — “ If a pound of mutton-candles cost sevenpence-halfpenny , how much must Dobbin cost ?  ” and a roar would follow from all the circle of young knaves , usher and all , who rightly considered that the selling of goods by retail is a shameful and infamous practice , meriting the contempt and scorn of all real gentlemen .  “ Your father’s only a merchant , Osborne , ” Dobbin said in private to the little boy who had brought down the storm upon him .  At which the latter replied haughtily , “ My father’s a gentleman , and keeps his carriage ; ” and Mr. William Dobbin retreated to a remote outhouse in the playground , where he passed a half-holiday in the bitterest sadness and woe .  Who amongst us is there that does not recollect similar hours of bitter , bitter childish grief ?  Who feels injustice ; who shrinks before a slight ; who has a sense of wrong so acute , and so glowing a gratitude for kindness , as a generous boy ?  and how many of those gentle souls do you degrade , estrange , torture , for the sake of a little loose arithmetic , and miserable dog-latin ?  Now , William Dobbin , from an incapacity to acquire the rudiments of the above language , as they are propounded in that wonderful book the Eton Latin Grammar , was compelled to remain among the very last of Doctor Swishtail’s scholars , and was “ taken down ” continually by little fellows with pink faces and pinafores when he marched up with the lower form , a giant amongst them , with his downcast , stupefied look , his dog’s-eared primer , and his tight corduroys .  High and low , all made fun of him .  They sewed up those corduroys , tight as they were .  They cut his bed-strings .  They upset buckets and benches , so that he might break his shins over them , which he never failed to do .  They sent him parcels , which , when opened , were found to contain the paternal soap and candles .  There was no little fellow but had his jeer and joke at Dobbin ; and he bore everything quite patiently , and was entirely dumb and miserable .  Cuff , on the contrary , was the great chief and dandy of the Swishtail Seminary .  He smuggled wine in .  He fought the town-boys .  Ponies used to come for him to ride home on Saturdays .  He had his top-boots in his room , in which he used to hunt in the holidays .  He had a gold repeater : and took snuff like the doctor .  He had been to the Opera , and knew the merits of the principal actors , preferring Mr. Kean to Mr. Kemble .  He could knock you off forty Latin verses in an hour .  He could make French poetry .  What else didn’t he know , or couldn’t he do ?  They said even the Doctor himself was afraid of him .  Cuff , the unquestioned king of the school , ruled over his subjects , and bullied them , with splendid superiority .  This one blacked his shoes : that toasted his bread , others would fag out , and give him balls at cricket during whole summer afternoons .  “ Figs ” was the fellow whom he despised most , and with whom , though always abusing him , and sneering at him , he scarcely ever condescended to hold personal communication .  One day in private , the two young gentlemen had had a difference .  Figs , alone in the school-room , was blundering over a home letter ; when Cuff , entering , bade him go upon some message , of which tarts were probably the subject .  “ I can’t , ” says Dobbin ; “ I want to finish my letter .  ”  “ You can’t ? ” says Mr. Cuff , laying hold of that document ( in which many words were scratched out , many were mis-spelt , on which had been spent I don’t know how much thought , and labour , and tears ; for the poor fellow was writing to his mother , who was fond of him , although she was a grocer’s wife , and lived in a back parlour in Thames Street ) .  “ You can’t ? ” says Mr. Cuff : “ I should like to know why , pray ?  Can’t you write to old Mother Figs to-morrow ?  ”  “ Don’t call names , ” Dobbin said , getting off the bench very nervous .  “ Well , sir , will you go ?  ” crowed the cock of the school .  “ Put down the letter , ” Dobbin replied ; “ no gentleman readth letterth .  ”  “ Well , now will you go ?  ” says the other .  “ No , I won’t .  Don’t strike , or I’ll thmash you , ” roars out Dobbin , springing to a leaden inkstand , and looking so wicked , that Mr. Cuff paused , turned down his coat sleeves again , put his hands into his pockets , and walked away with a sneer .  But he never meddled personally with the grocer’s boy after that ; though we must do him the justice to say he always spoke of Mr. Dobbin with contempt behind his back .  Some time after this interview , it happened that Mr. Cuff , on a sunshiny afternoon , was in the neighbourhood of poor William Dobbin , who was lying under a tree in the play-ground , spelling over a favourite copy of the Arabian Nights which he had — apart from the rest of the school , who were pursuing their various sports — quite lonely , and almost happy .  If people would but leave children to themselves ; if teachers would cease to bully them ; if parents would not insist upon directing their thoughts , and dominating their feelings — those feelings and thoughts which are a mystery to all ( for how much do you and I know of each other , of our children , of our fathers , of our neighbour , and how far more beautiful and sacred are the thoughts of the poor lad or girl whom you govern likely to be , than those of the dull and world-corrupted person who rules him ?  ) — if , I say , parents and masters would leave their children alone a little more , — small harm would accrue , although a less quantity of as in prœsenti might be acquired .  Well , William Dobbin had for once forgotten the world , and was away with Sinbad the Sailor in the Valley of Diamonds , or with Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Peribanou in that delightful cavern where the Prince found her , and whither we should all like to make a tour ; when shrill cries , as of a little fellow weeping , woke up his pleasant reverie ; and looking up , he saw Cuff before him , belabouring a little boy .  It was the lad who had peached upon him about the grocer’s cart ; but he bore little malice , not at least towards the young and small .  “ How dare you , sir , break the bottle ?  ” says Cuff to the little urchin , swinging a yellow cricketstump over him .  The boy had been instructed to get over the play-ground wall ( at a selected spot where the broken glass had been removed from the top , and niches made convenient in the brick ) ; to run a quarter of a mile ; to purchase a pint of rum-shrub on credit ; to brave all the Doctor’s outlying spies , and to clamber back into the playground again ; during the performance of which feat , his foot had slipt , and the bottle was broken , and the shrub had been spilt , and his pantaloons had been damaged , and he appeared before his employer a perfectly guilty and trembling , though harmless , wretch .  “ How dare you , sir , break it ?  ” says Cuff ; “ you blundering little thief .  You drank the shrub , and now you pretend to have broken the bottle .  Hold out your hand , sir .  ”  Down came the stump with a great heavy thump on the child’s hand .  A moan followed .  Dobbin looked up .  The Fairy Peribanou had fled into the inmost cavern with Prince Ahmed : the Roc had whisked away Sinbad the Sailor out of the Valley of Diamonds out of sight , far into the clouds : and there was every-day life before honest William ; and a big boy beating a little one without cause .  “ Hold out your other hand , sir , ” roars Cuff to his little school-fellow , whose face was distorted with pain .  Dobbin quivered , and gathered himself up in his narrow old clothes .  “ Take that , you little devil !  ” cried Mr. Cuff to his down came the wicket again on the child’s hand .  — Don’t be horrified , ladies , every boy at a public school has done it .  Your children will so do and be done by , in all probability .  Down came the wicket again ; and Dobbin started up .  I can’t tell what his motive was .  Torture in a public school is as much licensed as the knout in Russia .  It would me ungentlemanlike ( in a manner ) to resist it .  Perhaps Dobbin’s foolish soul revolted against that exercise of tyranny ; or perhaps he had a hankering feeling of revenge in his mind , and longed to measure himself against that splendid bully and tyrant , who had all the glory , pride , pomp , circumstance , banners flying , drums beating , guards saluting in the place .  Whatever may have been his incentive , however , up he sprang , and screamed out , “ Hold off , Cuff ; don’t bully that child any more ; or I’ll — — ”  “ Or you’ll what ?  ” Cuff asked in amazement at this interruption .  “ Hold out your hand , you little beast .  ”  “ I’ll give you the worst thrashing you ever had in your life , ” Dobbin said , in reply to the first part of Cuff’s sentence ; and little Osborne , gasping and in tears , looked up with wonder and incredulity at seeing this amazing champion put up suddenly to defend him : while Cuff’s astonishment was scarcely less .  Fancy our late monarch George III .  when he heard of the revolt of the North American colonies : fancy brazen Goliath when little David stepped forward and claimed a meeting ; and you have the feelings of Mr. Reginald Cuff when this rencontre was proposed to him .  “ After school , ” says he , of course ; after a pause and a look , as much as to say , “ Make your will , and communicate your last wishes to your friends between this time and that .  ”  “ As you please , ” Dobbin said .  “ You must be my bottleholder , Osborne .  ”  “ Well , if you like , ” little Osborne replied ; for you see his papa kept a carriage , and he was rather ashamed of his champion .  Yes , when the hour of battle came , he was almost ashamed to say , “ Go it , Figs ; ” and not a single other boy in the place uttered that cry for the first two or three rounds of this famous combat ; at the commencement of which the scientific Cuff , with a contemptuous smile on his face , and as light and as gay as if he was at a ball , planted his blows upon his adversary , and floored that unlucky champion three times running .  At each fall there was a cheer ; and everybody was anxious to have the honour of offering the conqueror a knee .  “ What a licking I shall get when it’s over , ” young Osborne thought , picking up his man .  “ You’d best give in , ” he said to Dobbin ; “ it’s only a thrashing , Figs , and you know I’m used to it .  ” But Figs , all whose limbs were in a quiver , and whose nostrils were breathing rage , put his little bottleholder aside , and went in for a fourth time .  As he did not in the least know how to parry the blows that were aimed at himself , and Cuff had begun the attack on the three preceding occasions , without ever allowing his enemy to strike , Figs now determined that he would commence the engagement by a charge on his own part ; and accordingly , being a left-handed man , brought that arm into action , and hit out a couple of times with all his might — once at Mr. Cuff’s left eye , and once on his beautiful Roman nose .  Cuff went down this time , to the astonishment of the assembly .  “ Well hit , by Jove , ” says little Osborne , with the air of a connoisseur , clapping his man on the back .  “ Give it him with the left , Figs my boy .  ”  Figs’s left made terrific play during all the rest of the combat .  Cuff went down every time .  At the sixth round , there were almost as many fellows shouting out , “ Go it , Figs , ” as there were youth exclaiming , “ Go it , Cuff .  ” At the twelfth round the latter champion was all aboard , as the saying is , and had lost all presence of mind and power of attack or defence .  Figs , on the contrary , was as calm as a Quaker .  His face being quite pale , his eyes shining open , and a great cut on his under lip bleeding profusely , gave this young fellow a fierce and ghastly air , which perhaps struck terror into many spectators .  Nevertheless , his intrepid adversary prepared to close for the thirteenth time .  If I had the pen of a Napier , or a Bell’s Life , I should like to describe this combat properly .  It was the last charge of the Guard — ( that is , it would have been , only Waterloo had not yet taken place ) — it was Ney’s column breasting the hill of La Haye Sainte , bristling with ten thousand bayonets , and crowned with twenty eagles — it was the shout of the beef-eating British , as leaping down the hill they rushed to hug the enemy in the savage arms of battle — in other words , Cuff , coming up full of pluck , but quite reeling and groggy , the Fig-merchant put in his left as usual on his adversary’s nose , and sent him down for the last time .  “ I think that will do for him , ” Figs said , as his opponent dropped as neatly on the green as I have seen Jack Spot’s ball plump into the pocket at billiards ; and the fact is , when time was called , Mr. Reginald Cuff was not able , or did not choose , to stand up again .  And now all the boys set up such a shout for Figs as would have made you think he had been their darling champion through the whole battle ; and as absolutely brought Dr. Swishtail out of his study , curious to know the cause of the uproar .  He threatened to flog Figs violently , of course ; but Cuff , who had come to himself by this time , and was washing his wounds , stood up and said , “ It’s my fault , sir — not Figs’ — not Dobbin’s .  I was bullying a little boy ; and he served me right .  ” By which magnanimous speech he not only saved his conqueror a whipping , but got back all his ascendency over the boys which his defeat had nearly cost him .  Young Osborne wrote home to his parents an account of the transaction .  “ DEAR MAMA , — I hope you are quite well . I should be much obliged to you to send me a cake and five shillings . There has been a fight here between Cuff + Dobbin . Cuff , you know , was the Cock of the School . They fought thirteen rounds , and Dobbin Licked . So Cuff is now only Second Cock . The fight was about me . Cuff was licking me for breaking a bottle of milk , and Figs wouldn’t stand it . We call him Figs because his father is a Grocer — Figs + Rudge , Thames St. , City — I think as he fought for me you ought to buy your tea and sugar at his father’s . Cuff goes home every Saturday , but can’t this , because he has 2 Black Eyes . He has a white Pony to come and fetch him , and a groom in livery on a bay mare . I wish my Papa would let me have a Pony , and I am “ P. S. — Give my love to little Emmy . I am cutting her out a Coach in cardboard . Please not a seed-cake , but a plum-cake . ”  “ DEAR MAMA , — I hope you are quite well .  I should be much obliged to you to send me a cake and five shillings .  There has been a fight here between Cuff + Dobbin .  Cuff , you know , was the Cock of the School .  They fought thirteen rounds , and Dobbin Licked .  So Cuff is now only Second Cock .  The fight was about me .  Cuff was licking me for breaking a bottle of milk , and Figs wouldn’t stand it .  We call him Figs because his father is a Grocer — Figs + Rudge , Thames St. , City — I think as he fought for me you ought to buy your tea and sugar at his father’s .  Cuff goes home every Saturday , but can’t this , because he has 2 Black Eyes .  He has a white Pony to come and fetch him , and a groom in livery on a bay mare .  I wish my Papa would let me have a Pony , and I am  “ P. S. — Give my love to little Emmy .  I am cutting her out a Coach in cardboard .  Please not a seed-cake , but a plum-cake .  ”  In consequence of Dobbin’s victory , his character rose prodigiously in the estimation of all his schoolfellows , and the name of Figs , which had been a byword of reproach , became as respectable and popular a nickname as any other in use in the school .  “ After all , it’s not his fault that his father’s a grocer , ” George Osborne said , who , though a little chap , had a very high popularity among the Swishtail youth ; and his opinion was received with great applause .  It was voted low to sneer at Dobbin about this accident of birth .  “ Old Figs ” grew to be a name of kindness and endearment ; and the sneak of an usher jeered at him no longer .  And Dobbin’s spirit rose with his altered circumstances .  He made wonderful advances in scholastic learning .  The superb Cuff himself , at whose condescension Dobbin could only blush and wonder , helped him on with his Latin verses ; “ coached ” him in play-hours : carried him triumphantly out of the little-boy class into the middle-sized form ; and even there got a fair place for him .  It was discovered , that although dull at classical learning , at mathematics he was uncommonly quick .  To the contentment of all he passed third in algebra , and got a French prize-book at the public Mid-summer examination .  You should have seen his mother’s face when Télémaque ( that delicious romance ) was presented to him by the Doctor in the face of the whole school and the parents and company , with an inscription to Gulielmo Dobbin .  All the boys clapped hands in token of applause and sympathy .  His blushes , his stumbles , his awkwardness , and the number of feet which he crushed as he went back to his place , who shall describe or calculate ?  Old Dobbin , his father , who now respected him for the first time , gave him two guineas publicly ; most of which he spent in a general tuck-out for the school : and he came back in a tail-coat after the holidays .  Dobbin was much too modest a young fellow to suppose that this happy change in all his circumstances arose from his own generous and manly disposition : he chose , from some perverseness , to attribute his good fortune to the sole agency and benevolence of little George Osborne , to whom henceforth he vowed such a love and affection as is only felt by children — such an affection , as we read in the charming fairy-book , uncouth Orson had for splendid young Valentine his conqueror .  He flung himself down at little Osborne’s feet , and loved him .  Even before they were acquainted , he had admired Osborne in secret .  Now he was his valet , his dog , his man Friday .  He believed Osborne to be the possessor of every perfection , to be the handsomest , the bravest , the most active , the cleverest , the most generous of created boys .  He shared his money with him : bought him uncountable presents of knives , pencil-cases , gold seals , toffee , Little Warblers , and romantic books , with large coloured pictures of knights and robbers , in many of which latter you might read inscriptions to George Sedley Osborne , Esquire , from his attached friend William Dobbin — the which tokens of homage George received very graciously , as became his superior merit .  So that Lieutenant Osborne , when coming to Russell Square on the day of the Vauxhall party , said to the ladies , “ Mrs. Sedley , Ma’am , I hope you have room ; I’ve asked Dobbin of ours to come and dine here , and go with us to Vauxhall .  He’s almost as modest as Jos .  ”  “ Modesty !  pooh , ” said the stout gentleman , casting a vainqueur look at Miss Sharp .  “ He is — but you are incomparably more graceful , Sedley , ” Osborne added , laughing .  “ I met him at the Bedford , when I went to look for you ; and I told him that Miss Amelia was come home , and that we were all bent on going out for a night’s pleasuring ; and that Mrs. Sedley had forgiven his breaking the punch-bowl at the child’s party .  Don’t you remember the catastrophe , Ma’am , seven years ago ?  ”  “ Over Mrs. Flamingo’s crimson silk gown , ” said good-natured Mrs. Sedley .  “ What a gawky it was !  And his sisters are not much more graceful .  Lady Dobbin was at Highbury last night with three of them .  Such figures !  my dears .  ”  “ The Alderman’s very rich , isn’t he ?  ” Osborne said archly .  “ Don’t you think one of the daughters would be a good spec for me , Ma’am ?  ”  “ You foolish creature !  Who would take you , I should like to know , with your yellow face ?  ”  “ Mine a yellow face ?  Stop till you see Dobbin .  Why , he had the yellow fever three times ; twice at Nassau , and once at St. Kitts .  ”  “ Well , well ; yours is quite yellow enough for us .  Isn’t it , Emmy ?  ” Mrs. Sedley said : at which speech Miss Amelia only made a smile and a blush ; and looking at Mr. George Osborne’s pale interesting countenance , and those beautiful black , curling , shining whiskers , which the young gentleman himself regarded with no ordinary complacency , she thought in her little heart , that in His Majesty’s army , or in the wide world , there never was such a face or such a hero .  “ I don’t care about Captain Dobbin’s complexion , ” she said , “ or about his awkwardness .  I shall always like him , I know ; ” her little reason being , that he was the friend and champion of George .  “ There’s not a finer fellow in the service , ” Osborne said , “ nor a better officer , though he is not an Adonis , certainly .  ” And he looked towards the glass himself with much naïveté ; and in so doing , caught Miss Sharp’s eye fixed keenly upon him , at which he blushed a little , and Rebecca thought in her heart , “ Ah , mon beau Monsieur ! I think I have your gauge , ” — the little artful minx !  That evening , when Amelia came tripping into the drawing-room in a white muslin frock , prepared for conquest at Vauxhall , singing like a lark , and as fresh as a rose — a very tall ungainly gentleman , with large hands and feet , and large ears , set off by a closely cropped head of black hair , and in the hideous military frogged coat and cockedhat of those times , advanced to meet her , and made her one of the clumsiest bows that was ever performed by a mortal .  This was no other than Captain William Dobbin , of His Majesty’s — — Regiment of Foot , returned from yellow fever , in the West Indies , to which the fortune of the service had ordered his regiment , whilst so many of his gallant comrades were reaping glory in the Peninsula .  He had arrived with a knock so very timid and quiet , that it was inaudible to the ladies upstairs : otherwise , you may be sure Miss Amelia would never have been so bold as to come singing into the room As it was , the sweet fresh little voice went right into the Captain’s heart , and nestled there .  When she held out her hand for him to shake , before he enveloped it in his own , he paused , and thought — “ Well , is it possible — are you the little maid I remember in the pink frock , such a short time ago — the night I upset the punch-bowl , just after I was gazetted ?  Are you the little girl that George Osborne said should marry him ?  What a blooming young creature you seem , and what a prize the rogue has got !  ” All this he thought , before he took Amelia’s hand into his own , and as he let his cockedhat fall .