Page 558 - vanity-fair

ly round the honest soldier’s finger, and Amelia looked
up in his face with bright maternal pleasure. The cruellest
looks could not have wounded him more than that glance
of hopeless kindness. He bent over the child and mother.
He could not speak for a moment. And it was only with all
his strength that he could force himself to say a God bless
you. ‘God bless you,’ said Amelia, and held up her face and
kissed him.
‘Hush! Don’t wake Georgy!’ she added, as William Dob-
bin went to the door with heavy steps. She did not hear the
noise of his cab-wheels as he drove away: she was looking at
the child, who was laughing in his sleep.

558 Vanity Fair