Thackeray's humor shows as he describes William trying to break the news of George's marriage to Miss Jane Osborne, while she thinks he is trying to propose. Turning to irony he shows Mr. Bullock in his visit with the Osborne sisters: "A delightful throb of expectation lighted up his little eyes, and caused him to smile on his Maria, as he thought that by this piece of folly of Mr. George's she might be worth thirty thousand pounds more." And the Osborne sisters, when Fred points out the possibilities of money, "had risen not a little in their own esteem." Thackeray says this respect for money is human, that children follow the one who has the money, the candy, or the possessions.
After Dobbin breaks the news of George's marriage to Mr. Osborne, the latter scratches George's name out of the family Bible. If there is a chance of reconciliation, Dobbin loses it by not proposing to Miss Jane. Old Osborne is agreeable so long as he gets his own way — that is, he is friendly to Dobbin until he realizes he can't manage him. Osborne rules his household with a "loud grating pompous voice." Thackeray has shown Osborne's character through his actions.
The action now moves away from Brighton toward Brussels. Both George and Rawdon are disappointed in their money settlements: George with two thousand and Rawdon twenty. This blocking of hope creates tensions in the plot. Her mind only on George, Amelia begins to suspect Becky, but does not blame George. He has been noble, Amelia thinks, to marry her.
