GeorgynevertiredofhispraisesoftheMajortohismother。”Ilikehim，Mamma，becauseheknowssuchlotsofthings；andheain’tlikeoldVeal，whoisalwaysbraggingandusingsuchlongwords，don’tyouknow？Thechapscallhim’Longtail’atschool。Igavehimthename；
ain’titcapital？ButDobreadsLatinlikeEnglish，andFrenchandthat；andwhenwegoouttogetherhetellsmestoriesaboutmyPapa，andneverabouthimself；thoughI
heardColonelBuckler，atGrandpapa’s，saythathewasoneofthebravestofficersinthearmy，andhaddistinguishedhimselfeversomuch。Grandpapawasquitesurprised，andsaid，’THATfeller！Why，Ididn’tthinkhecouldsayBotoagoose’——butlknowhecould，couldn’the，Mamma？”
Emmylaughed：shethoughtitwasverylikelytheMajorcoulddothusmuch。
IftherewasasincerelikingbetweenGeorgeandtheMajor，itmustbeconfessedthatbetweentheboyandhisunclenogreatloveexisted。Georgehadgotawayofblowingouthischeeks，andputtinghishandsinhiswaistcoatpockets，andsaying，“Godblessmysoul，youdon’tsayso。”soexactlyafterthefashionofoldJosthatitwasimpossibletorefrainfromlaughter。Theservantswouldexplodeatdinnerifthelad，askingforsomethingwhichwasn’tattable，putonthatcountenanceandusedthatfavouritephrase。EvenDobbinwouldshootoutasuddenpealattheboy’smimicry。IfGeorgedidnotmimichisuncletohisface，itwasonlybyDobbin’srebukesandAmelia’sterrifiedentreatiesthatthelittlescapegracewasinducedtodesist。Andtheworthycivilianbeinghauntedbyadimconsciousnessthattheladthoughthimanass，andwasinclinedtoturnhimintoridicule，usedtobeextremelytimorousand，ofcourse，doublypompousanddignifiedinthepresenceofMasterGeorgy。WhenitwasannouncedthattheyounggentlemanwasexpectedinGillespieStreettodinewithhismother，Mr。JoscommonlyfoundthathehadanengagementattheClub。