, &c.; and
in fact showed those signs of disquietude, and practised those
desperate attempts at amusement, which men are accustomed to employ
when very anxious, and expectant, and perturbed in mind.
Some of his comrades, gentlemen who used the room, joked him about
the splendour of his costume and his agitation of manner. One asked
him if he was going to be married? Dobbin laughed, and said he
would send his acquaintance (Major Wagstaff of the Engineers) a
piece of cake when that event took place. At length Captain Osborne
made his appearance, very smartly dressed, but very pale and
agitated as we have said. He wiped his pale face with a large
yellow bandanna pocket-handkerchief that was prodigiously scented.
He shook hands with Dobbin, looked at the clock, and told John, the
waiter, to bring him some curacao. Of this cordial he swallowed off
a couple of glasses with nervous eagerness. His friend asked with
some interest about his health.
"Couldn't get a wink of sleep till daylight, Dob," said he.
"Infernal headache and fever. Got up at nine, and went down to the
Hummums for a bath. I say, Dob, I feel just as I did on the morning
I went out with Rocket at Quebec."
"So do I," William responded. "I was a deuced deal more nervous
than you were that morning. You made a famous breakfast, I
remember. Eat something now."
"You're a good old fellow, Will.
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