his wife to solitude or her brother's
society, passed his evenings in the Crawleys' company - losing money to the
husband, and flattering himself that the wife was dying of love for him. It is
very likely that this worthy couple never absolutely conspired and agreed
together in so many words - the one to cajole the young gentleman, whilst the
other won his money at cards - but they understood each other perfectly well,
and Rawdon let Osborne come and go with entire good-humour.
    George was so occupied with his new acquaintances that he and William Dobbin
were by no means so much together as formerly. George avoided him in public and
in the regiment, and, as we see, did not like those sermons which his senior was
disposed to inflict upon him. If some parts of his conduct made Captain Dobbin
exceedingly grave and cool, of what use was it to tell George that, though his
whiskers were large, and his own opinion of his knowingness great, he was as
green as a schoolboy? that Rawdon was making a victim of him, as he had done of
many before, and as soon as he had used him would fling him off with scorn? He
would not listen; and so, as Dobbin, upon those days when he visited the Osborne
house, seldom had the advantage of meeting his old friend, much painful and
unavailing talk between them was spared. Our friend George was in the full
career of the pleasures of Vanity Fair.
    There never was, since the days of Darius, such a brilliant train of
camp-followers as hung round the Duke of Wellington's army in the Low Countries
in 1815, and led it, dancing and feasting as it were, up to the very brink of
battle. A certain ball which a noble Duchess gave at Brussels on the 15th of
June in the above-named year is historical. All Brussels had been in a state of
excitement about it, and I have heard, from ladies who were in that town at the
period, that the talk and interest of persons of their own sex regarding the
ball was much greater even than in respect of the enemy in their front. The
struggles, intrigues, and prayers to get tickets were such as only English
ladies will employ, in order to gain admission to the society of the great of
their own nation.
    Jos and Mrs. O'Dowd, who were panting to be asked, strove in vain to
procures tickets; but others of our friends were more lucky. For instance,
through the interest of my Lord Bareacres, and as a set