Thereonhistable，hissister’sletterlayreproachinghim。Hetookitup，ashamedratherofhisnegligenceregardingit，andpreparedhimselfforadisagreeablehour’scommuningwiththatcrabbed-handedabsentrelative……ItmayhavebeenanhouraftertheMajor’sdeparturefromtheColonel’shouse——SirMichaelwassleepingthesleepofthejust；Glorvinahadarrangedherblackringletsintheinnumerablelittlebitsofpaper，inwhichitwasherhabittoconfinethem；LadyO’Dowd，too，hadgonetoherbedinthenuptialchamber，ontheground-floor，andhadtuckedhermusquitocurtainsroundherfairform，whentheguardatthegatesoftheCommanding-Officer’scompoundbeheldMajorDobbin，inthemoonlight，rushingtowardsthehousewithaswiftstepandaveryagitatedcountenance，andhepassedthesentinelandwentuptothewindowsoftheColonel’sbedchamber。
“O’Dowd——Colonel！”saidDobbinandkeptupagreatshouting。
“Heavens，Meejor！”saidGlorvinaofthecurl-papers，puttingoutherheadtoo，fromherwindow。
“Whatisit，Dob，meboy？”saidtheColonel，expectingtherewasafireinthestation，orthattheroutehadcomefromheadquarters。
“I——Imusthaveleaveofabsence。ImustgotoEngland——onthemosturgentprivateaffairs。”Dobbinsaid。