His interesting patient, Jos, was a regular milch-cow to the Doctor, and he easily persuaded the civilian, both for his own health's sake and that of his charming sister, which was really very much shattered, to pass the summer at that hideous seaport town.Emmy did not care where she went much.Georgy jumped at the idea of a move.As for Becky, she came as a matter of course in the fourth place inside of the fine barouche Mr.Jos had bought, the two domestics being on the box in front.
She might have some misgivings about the friends whom she should meet at Ostend, and who might be likely to tell ugly stories--but bah! she was strong enough to hold her own.She had cast such an anchor in Jos now as would require a strong storm to shake.That incident of the picture had finished him.Becky took down her elephant and put it into the little box which she had had from Amelia ever so many years ago.Emmy also came off with her Lares--her two pictures--and the party, finally, were, lodged in an exceedingly dear and uncomfortable house at Ostend.
There Amelia began to take baths and get what good she could from them, and though scores of people of Becky's acquaintance passed her and cut her, yet Mrs.
Osborne, who walked about with her, and who knew nobody, was not aware of the treatment experienced by the friend whom she had chosen so judiciously as a companion; indeed, Becky never thought fit to tell her what was passing under her innocent eyes.
Some of Mrs.Rawdon Crawley's acquaintances, however, acknowledged her readily enough,--perhaps more readily than she would have desired.Among those were Major Loder (unattached), and Captain Rook (late of the Rifles), who might be seen any day on the Dike, smoking and staring at the women, and who speedily got an introduction to the hospitable board and select circle of Mr.Joseph Sedley.In fact they would take no denial;they burst into the house whether Becky was at home or not, walked into Mrs.Osborne's drawing-room, which they perfumed with their coats and mustachios, called Jos "Old buck," and invaded his dinner-table, and laughed and drank for long hours there.
"What can they mean?" asked Georgy, who did not like these gentlemen."I heard the Major say to Mrs.
Crawley yesterday, 'No, no, Becky, you shan't keep the old buck to yourself.We must have the bones in, or, dammy, I'll split.' What could the Major mean, Mamma?""Major! don't call him Major!" Emmy said."I'm sure I can't tell what he meant." His presence and that of his friend inspired the little lady with intolerable terror and aversion.They paid her tipsy compliments; they leered at her over the dinner-table.And the Captain made her advances that filled her with sickening dismay, nor would she ever see him unless she had George by her side.
Rebecca, to do her justice, never would let either of these men remain alone with Amelia; the Major was disengaged too, and swore he would be the winner of her.
A couple of ruffians were fighting for this innocent creature, gambling for her at her own table, and though she was not aware of the rascals' designs upon her, yet she felt a horror and uneasiness in their presence and longed to fly.
She besought, she entreated Jos to go.Not he.He was slow of movement, tied to his Doctor, and perhaps to some other leading-strings.At least Becky was not anxious to go to England.
At last she took a great resolution--made the great plunge.She wrote off a letter to a friend whom she had on the other side of the water, a letter about which she did not speak a word to anybody, which she carried herself to the post under her shawl; nor was any remark made about it, only that she looked very much flushed and agitated when Georgy met her, and she kissed him, and hung over him a great deal that night.She did not come out of her room after her return from her walk.
Becky thought it was Major Loder and the Captain who frightened her.
"She mustn't stop here," Becky reasoned with herself.
"She must go away, the silly little fool.She is still whimpering after that gaby of a husband--dead (and served right!) these fifteen years.She shan't marry either of these men.It's too bad of Loder.No; she shall marry the bamboo cane, I'll settle it this very night."So Becky took a cup of tea to Amelia in her private apartment and found that lady in the company of her miniatures, and in a most melancholy and nervous condition.She laid down the cup of tea.
"Thank you," said Amelia.
"Listen to me, Amelia," said Becky, marching up and down the room before the other and surveying her with a sort of contemptuous kindness."I want to talk to you.
You must go away from here and from the impertinences of these men.I won't have you harassed by them: and they will insult you if you stay.I tell you they are rascals:
men fit to send to the hulks.Never mind how I know them.I know everybody.Jos can't protect you; he is too weak and wants a protector himself.You are no more fit to live in the world than a baby in arms.You must marry, or you and your precious boy will go to ruin.You must have a husband, you fool; and one of the best gentlemen I ever saw has offered you a hundred times, and you have rejected him, you silly, heartless, ungrateful little creature!""I tried--I tried my best, indeed I did, Rebecca," said Amelia deprecatingly, "but I couldn't forget--"; and she finished the sentence by looking up at the portrait.
"Couldn't forget HIM!" cried out Becky, "that selfish humbug, that low-bred cockney dandy, that padded booby, who had neither wit, nor manners, nor heart, and was no more to be compared to your friend with the bamboo cane than you are to Queen Elizabeth.Why, the man was weary of you, and would have jilted you, but that Dobbin forced him to keep his word.He owned it to me.He never cared for you.He used to sneer about you to me, time after time, and made love to me the week after he married you.""It's false! It's false! Rebecca," cried out Amelia, starting up.