thrust it into his master's face, and already looked upon the frogged
coat and valuables as his own spoil.

Jos was, if not seriously alarmed as yet, at least considerably
disturbed in mind. "Give me my coat and cap, sir," said he, "and follow
me. I will go myself and learn the truth of these reports." Isidor was
furious as Jos put on the braided frock. "Milor had better not wear
that military coat," said he; "the Frenchmen have sworn not to give
quarter to a single British soldier."

"Silence, sirrah!" said Jos, with a resolute countenance still, and
thrust his arm into the sleeve with indomitable resolution, in the
performance of which heroic act he was found by Mrs. Rawdon Crawley,
who at this juncture came up to visit Amelia, and entered without
ringing at the antechamber door.

Rebecca was dressed very neatly and smartly, as usual: her quiet sleep
after Rawdon's departure had refreshed her, and her pink smiling cheeks
were quite pleasant to look at, in a town and on a day when everybody
else's countenance wore the appearance of the deepest anxiety and
gloom. She laughed at the attitude in which Jos was discovered, and
the struggles and convulsions with which the stout gentleman thrust
himself into the braided coat.

"Are you preparing to join the army, Mr. Joseph?" she said. "Is there
to be nobody left in Brussels to protect us poor women?" Jos succeeded
in plunging into the coat, and came forward blushing and stuttering out
excuses to his fair visitor. "How was she after the events of the
morning--after the fatigues of the ball the night before?" Monsieur
Isidor disappeared into his master's adjacent bedroom, bearing off the
flowered dressing-gown.

"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