"How good of you to ask," said she, pressing one of his hands in both her own."How cool and collected you look when everybody else is frightened! How is our dear little Emmy? It must have been an awful, awful parting.""Tremendous," Jos said.
"You men can bear anything," replied the lady."Parting or danger are nothing to you.Own now that you were going to join the army and leave us to our fate.
I know you were--something tells me you were.I was so frightened, when the thought came into my head (for I do sometimes think of you when I am alone, Mr.
Joseph), that I ran off immediately to beg and entreat you not to fly from us."This speech might be interpreted, "My dear sir, should an accident befall the army, and a retreat be necessary, you have a very comfortable carriage, in which Ipropose to take a seat." I don't know whether Jos understood the words in this sense.But he was profoundly mortified by the lady's inattention to him during their stay at Brussels.He had never been presented to any of Rawdon Crawley's great acquaintances: he had scarcely been invited to Rebecca's parties; for he was too timid to play much, and his presence bored George and Rawdon equally, who neither of them, perhaps, liked to have a witness of the amusements in which the pair chose to indulge."Ah!" thought Jos, "now she wants me she comes to me.When there is nobody else in the way she can think about old Joseph Sedley!" But besides these doubts he felt flattered at the idea Rebecca expressed of his courage.
He blushed a good deal, and put on an air of importance.
"I should like to see the action," he said."Every man of any spirit would, you know.I've seen a little service in India, but nothing on this grand scale.""You men would sacrifice anything for a pleasure,"Rebecca answered."Captain Crawley left me this morning as gay as if he were going to a hunting party.What does he care? What do any of you care for the agonies and tortures of a poor forsaken woman? (I wonder whether he could really have been going to the troops, this great lazy gourmand?) Oh! dear Mr.Sedley, I have come to you for comfort--for consolation.I have been on my knees all the morning.I tremble at the frightful danger into which our husbands, our friends, our brave troops and allies, are rushing.And I come here for shelter, and find another of my friends--the last remaining to me--bent upon plunging into the dreadful scene!""My dear madam," Jos replied, now beginning to be quite soothed, "don't be alarmed.I only said I should like to go--what Briton would not? But my duty keeps me here: I can't leave that poor creature in the next room." And he pointed with his finger to the door of the chamber in which Amelia was.
"Good noble brother!" Rebecca said, putting her handkerchief to her eyes, and smelling the eau-de-cologne with which it was scented."I have done you injustice:
you have got a heart.I thought you had not.""O, upon my honour!" Jos said, making a motion as if he would lay his hand upon the spot in question."You do me injustice, indeed you do--my dear Mrs.Crawley.""I do, now your heart is true to your sister.But Iremember two years ago--when it was false to me!"Rebecca said, fixing her eyes upon him for an instant, and then turning away into the window.
Jos blushed violently.That organ which he was accused by Rebecca of not possessing began to thump tumultuously.He recalled the days when he had fled from her, and the passion which had once inflamed him--the days when he had driven her in his curricle: when she had knit the green purse for him: when he had sate enraptured gazing at her white arms and bright eyes.
"I know you think me ungrateful," Rebecca continued, coming out of the window, and once more looking at him and addressing him in a low tremulous voice."Your coldness, your averted looks, your manner when we have met of late--when I came in just now, all proved it to me.But were there no reasons why I should avoid you?
Let your own heart answer that question.Do you think my husband was too much inclined to welcome you?
The only unkind words I have ever had from him (Iwill do Captain Crawley that justice) have been about you--and most cruel, cruel words they were.""Good gracious! what have I done?" asked Jos in a flurry of pleasure and perplexity; "what have I done--to--to--?"
"Is jealousy nothing?" said Rebecca."He makes me miserable about you.And whatever it might have been once--my heart is all his.I am innocent now.Am Inot, Mr.Sedley?"
All Jos's blood tingled with delight, as he surveyed this victim to his attractions.A few adroit words, one or two knowing tender glances of the eyes, and his heart was inflamed again and his doubts and suspicions forgotten.From Solomon downwards, have not wiser men than he been cajoled and befooled by women? "If the worst comes to the worst," Becky thought, "my retreat is secure; and I have a right-hand seat in the barouche."There is no knowing into what declarations of love and ardour the tumultuous passions of Mr.Joseph might have led him, if Isidor the valet had not made his reappearance at this minute, and begun to busy himself about the domestic affairs.Jos, who was just going to gasp out an avowal, choked almost with the emotion that he was obliged to restrain.Rebecca too bethought her that it was time she should go in and comfort her dearest Amelia."Au revoir," she said, kissing her hand to Mr.Joseph, and tapped gently at the door of his sister's apartment.As she entered and closed the door on herself, he sank down in a chair, and gazed and sighed and puffed portentously."That coat is very tight for Milor," Isidor said, still having his eye on the frogs;but his master heard him not: his thoughts were elsewhere: now glowing, maddening, upon the contemplation of the enchanting Rebecca: anon shrinking guiltily before the vision of the jealous Rawdon Crawley, with his curling, fierce mustachios, and his terrible duelling pistols loaded and cocked.