Ярмарка тщеславия / Vanity Fair - стр. 19

“Marry that woman? Never, Sir.”

Mr. Osborne pulled at the cord and almost black in the face, ordered to call a coach for Captain Osborne.

“I’ve done it,” said George, looking very pale.

“What, my boy?” says Dobbin.

George told what had passed between his father and himself. “I’ll marry her to-morrow,” he said with an oath. “I love her more every day, Dobbin.”

And so he did. There was nobody in the church besides the officiating persons and the small marriage party and their attendants. The rain came rattling down on the windows. In the intervals of the service you heard it, and the sobbing of old Mrs. Sedley. Osborne’s “I will” was sounded in very deep bass. Emmy’s response came fluttering up to her lips from her heart, but was scarcely heard by anybody except Captain Dobbin.

When the service was completed, Jos Sedley came forward and kissed his sister, the bride, for the first time for many months – George’s look of gloom had gone, and he seemed quite proud and radiant. “It’s your turn, William,” says he, putting his hand fondly upon Dobbin’s shoulder; and Dobbin went up and touched Amelia on the cheek.

Our young bride and bridegroom had chosen Brighton as the place where they would pass the first few days after their marriage. As they were coming into the hotel from a sea-side walk one afternoon, on whom should they light but Rebecca and her husband. The recognition was immediate. Rebecca flew into the arms of her dearest friend. Crawley and Osborne shook hands together cordially enough.

These two young couples had plenty of tales to relate to each other. The marriages of either were discussed; and their prospects in life canvassed with the greatest frankness and interest on both sides. George’s marriage was to be made known to his father by his friend Captain Dobbin; and young Osborne trembled rather for the result of that communication. Miss Crawley, on whom all Rawdon’s hopes depended, still held out. Unable to make an entry into her house in Park Lane, her affectionate nephew and niece had followed her to Brighton.

The two wedding parties met constantly in each other’s apartments. After two or three nights the gentlemen of an evening had a little piquet, as their wives sate and chatted apart. Jos Sedley arrived; so the three gentlemen walked down to have a stroll to the coach office.

“Hullo! there’s old Dobbin,” George cried, quite delighted to his old friend, whose promised visit to Brighton had been delayed until now. “How are you, old fellow? Glad you’re come down. Emmy’ll be delighted to see you,” Osborne said, shaking his comrade warmly by the hand and then he added, in a lower and agitated voice, “What’s the news? Have you been in Russell Square? What does the governor say? Tell me everything.”

Dobbin looked very pale and grave. “I’ve seen your father,” said he. “How’s Amelia – Mrs. George? I’ll tell you all the news presently: but I’ve brought the great news of all: and that is – ”

“Out with it, old fellow,” George said.

"We're ordered to Belgium. All the army goes – guards and all. We embark from Chatham next week." This news of war could not but come with a shock upon our lovers, and caused all these gentlemen to look very serious.

Dobbin was sent to the Osborne family to sound the news of the marriage. He came after some time but didn’t bring any good news. When George and Dobbin were alone, Dobbin took from his desk the letter which he had been charged by Mr. Osborne to deliver to his son. "It's not in my father's handwriting," said George, looking rather alarmed; nor was it: the letter was from Mr. Osborne's lawyer, and to the following effect: