“Sothatyouwouldhavemeshownupasacoward，sir，andournamedishonouredforthesakeofMissSwartz’smoney。”Georgeinterposed。
Thisremarkstaggeredtheoldgentleman；butashehadtoreplytoit，andashismindwasneverthelessmadeup，hesaid，“Youwilldinehereto-morrow，sir，andeverydayMissSwartzcomes，youwillbeheretopayyourrespectstoher。Ifyouwantformoney，calluponMr。Chopper。”ThusanewobstaclewasinGeorge’sway，tointerferewithhisplansregardingAmelia；andaboutwhichheandDobbinhadmorethanoneconfidentialconsultation。Hisfriend’sopinionrespectingthelineofconductwhichheoughttopursue，weknowalready。AndasforOsborne，whenhewasoncebentonathing，afreshobstacleortwoonlyrenderedhimthemoreresolute。
ThedarkobjectoftheconspiracyintowhichthechiefsoftheOsbornefamilyhadentered，wasquiteignorantofalltheirplansregardingherwhich，strangetosay，herfriendandchaperondidnotdivulge，and，takingalltheyoungladies’flatteryforgenuinesentiment，andbeing，aswehavebeforehadoccasiontoshow，ofaverywarmandimpetuousnature，respondedtotheiraffectionwithquiteatropicalardour。Andifthetruthmaybetold，IdaresaythatshetoohadsomeselfishattractionintheRussellSquarehouse；andinaword，thoughtGeorgeOsborneaveryniceyoungman。Hiswhiskershadmadeanimpressionuponher，ontheveryfirstnightshebeheldthemattheballatMessrs。Hulkers；and，asweknow，shewasnotthefirstwomanwhohadbeencharmedbythem。Georgehadanairatonceswaggeringandmelancholy，languidandfierce。Helookedlikeamanwhohadpassions，secrets，andprivateharrowinggriefsandadventures。Hisvoicewasrichanddeep。Hewouldsayitwasawarmevening，oraskhispartnertotakeanice，withatoneassadandconfidentialasifhewerebreakinghermother’sdeathtoher，orpreludingadeclarationoflove。Hetrampledoveralltheyoungbucksofhisfather’scircle，andwastheheroamongthosethird-ratemen。Somefewsneeredathimandhatedhim。
Some，likeDobbin，fanaticallyadmiredhim。Andhiswhiskershadbeguntodotheirwork，andtocurlthemselvesroundtheaffectionsofMissSwartz。
WhenevertherewasachanceofmeetinghiminRussellSquare，thatsimpleandgood-naturedyoungwomanwasquiteinaflurrytoseeherdearMissesOsborne。Shewenttogreatexpensesinnewgowns，andbracelets，andbonnets，andinprodigiousfeathers。SheadornedherpersonwithherutmostskilltopleasetheConqueror，andexhibitedallhersimpleaccomplishmentstowinhisfavour。Thegirlswouldaskher，withthegreatestgravity，foralittlemusic，andshewouldsingherthreesongsandplayhertwolittlepiecesasoftenasevertheyasked，andwithanalwaysincreasingpleasuretoherself。Duringthesedelectableentertainments，MissWirtandthechaperonsateby，andconnedoverthepeerage，andtalkedaboutthenobility。