English
Considerabletimehaselapsedsincewehaveseenourrespectablefriend,oldMr.OsborneofRussellSquare.
Hehasnotbeenthehappiestofmortalssincelastwemethim.
Eventshaveoccurredwhichhavenotimprovedhistemper,andinmoreinstancesthanonehehasnotbeenallowedtohavehisownway.
Tobethwartedinthisreasonabledesirewasalwaysveryinjurioustotheoldgentleman;andresistancebecamedoublyexasperatingwhengout,age,loneliness,andtheforceofmanydisappointmentscombinedtoweighhimdown.
Hisstiffblackhairbegantogrowquitewhitesoonafterhisson’sdeath;his-facegrewredder;hishandstrembledmoreandmoreashepouredouthisglassofportwine.
HeledhisclerksadirelifeintheCity:hisfamilyathomewerenotmuchhappier.
IdoubtifRebecca,whomwehaveseenpiouslyprayingforConsols,wouldhaveexchangedherpovertyandthedare-devilexcitementandchancesofherlifeforOsborne’smoneyandthehumdrumgloomwhichenvelopedhim.
HehadproposedforMissSwartz,buthadbeenrejectedscornfullybythepartisansofthatlady,whomarriedhertoayoungsprigofScotchnobility.
Hewasamantohavemarriedawomanoutoflowlifeandbulliedherdreadfullyafterwards;butnopersonpresentedherselfsuitabletohistaste,and,instead,hetyrannizedoverhisunmarrieddaughter,athome.
Shehadafinecarriageandfinehorsesandsatattheheadofatableloadedwiththegrandestplate.
Shehadacheque-book,aprizefootmantofollowherwhenshewalked,unlimitedcredit,andbowsandcomplimentsfromallthetradesmen,andalltheappurtenancesofanheiress;butshespentawoefultime.
Thelittlecharity-girlsattheFoundling,thesweeperessatthecrossing,thepoorestunder-kitchen-maidintheservants’hall,washappycomparedtothatunfortunateandnowmiddle-agedyounglady.
FrederickBullock,Esq.,ofthehouseofBullock,Hulker,andBullock,hadmarriedMariaOsborne,notwithoutagreatdealofdifficultyandgrumblingonMr.Bullock’spart.
Georgebeingdeadandcutoutofhisfather’swill,Frederickinsistedthatthehalfoftheoldgentleman’spropertyshouldbesettleduponhisMaria,andindeed,foralongtime,refused,“tocometothescratch”(itwasMr.Frederick’sownexpression)onanyotherterms.
OsbornesaidFredhadagreedtotakehisdaughterwithtwentythousand,andheshouldbindhimselftonomore.
“Fredmighttakeit,andwelcome,orleaveit,andgoandbehanged.”
Fred,whosehopeshadbeenraisedwhenGeorgehadbeendisinherited,thoughthimselfinfamouslyswindledbytheoldmerchant,andforsometimemadeasifhewouldbreakoffthematchaltogether.
OsbornewithdrewhisaccountfromBullockandHulker’s,wenton‘Changewithahorsewhipwhichhesworehewouldlayacrossthebackofacertainscoundrelthatshouldbenameless,anddemeanedhimselfinhisusualviolentmanner.
JaneOsbornecondoledwithhersisterMariaduringthisfamilyfeud.
“Ialwaystoldyou,Maria,thatitwasyourmoneyhelovedandnotyou,”shesaid,soothingly.
“Heselectedmeandmymoneyatanyrate;hedidn’tchooseyouandyours,”repliedMaria,tossingupherhead.
Therapturewas,however,onlytemporary.
Fred’sfatherandseniorpartnerscounselledhimtotakeMaria,evenwiththetwentythousandsettled,halfdown,andhalfatthedeathofMr.Osborne,withthechancesofthefurtherdivisionoftheproperty.
Sohe“knuckleddown,”againtousehisownphrase,andsentoldHulkerwithpeaceableoverturestoOsborne.
Itwashisfather,hesaid,whowouldnothearofthematch,andhadmadethedifficulties;hewasmostanxioustokeeptheengagement.
TheexcusewassulkilyacceptedbyMr.Osborne.
HulkerandBullockwereahighfamilyoftheCityaristocracy,andconnectedwiththe“nobs”attheWestEnd.
Itwassomethingfortheoldmantobeabletosay,“Myson,sir,ofthehouseofHulker,Bullock,andCo.,sir;mydaughter’scousin,LadyMaryMango,sir,daughteroftheRightHon.TheEarlofCastlemouldy.”
Inhisimaginationhesawhishousepeopledbythe“nobs.”
SoheforgaveyoungBullockandconsentedthatthemarriageshouldtakeplace.
Itwasagrandaffair—thebridegroom’srelativesgivingthebreakfast,theirhabitationsbeingnearSt.George’s,HanoverSquare,wherethebusinesstookplace.
The“nobsoftheWestEnd”wereinvited,andmanyofthemsignedthebook.
Mr.MangoandLadyMaryMangowerethere,withthedearyoungGwendolineandGuineverMangoasbridesmaids;ColonelBludyeroftheDragoonGuards(eldestsonofthehouseofBludyerBrothers,MincingLane),anothercousinofthebridegroom,andtheHonourableMrs.Bludyer;theHonourableGeorgeBoulter,LordLevant’sson,andhislady,MissMangothatwas;LordViscountCastletoddy;HonourableJamesMcMullandMrs.McMull(formerlyMissSwartz);andahostoffashionables,whohaveallmarriedintoLombardStreetanddoneagreatdealtoennobleCornhill.
TheyoungcouplehadahousenearBerkeleySquareandasmallvillaatRoehampton,amongthebankingcolonythere.
Fredwasconsideredtohavemaderatheramesalliancebytheladiesofhisfamily,whosegrandfatherhadbeeninaCharitySchool,andwhowerealliedthroughthehusbandswithsomeofthebestbloodinEngland.
AndMariawasbound,bysuperiorprideandgreatcareinthecompositionofhervisiting-book,tomakeupforthedefectsofbirth,andfeltitherdutytoseeherfatherandsisteraslittleaspossible.
Thatsheshouldutterlybreakwiththeoldman,whohadstillsomanyscoresofthousandpoundstogiveaway,isabsurdtosuppose.
FredBullockwouldneverallowhertodothat.
Butshewasstillyoungandincapableofhidingherfeelings;andbyinvitingherpapaandsistertoherthird-rateparties,andbehavingverycoldlytothemwhentheycame,andbyavoidingRussellSquare,andindiscreetlybeggingherfathertoquitthatodiousvulgarplace,shedidmoreharmthanallFrederick’sdiplomacycouldrepair,andperilledherchanceofherinheritancelikeagiddyheedlesscreatureasshewas.
“SoRussellSquareisnotgoodenoughforMrs.Maria,hay?”
saidtheoldgentleman,rattlingupthecarriagewindowsasheandhisdaughterdroveawayonenightfromMrs.FrederickBullock’s,afterdinner.
“Sosheinvitesherfatherandsistertoasecondday’sdinner(ifthosesides,orontrys,asshecalls‘em,weren’tservedyesterday,I’md—d),andtomeetCityfolksandlitterymen,andkeepstheEarlsandtheLadies,andtheHonourablestoherself.Honourables?DamnHonourables.
IamaplainBritishmerchantIam,andcouldbuythebeggarlyhoundsoverandover.Lords,indeed!
—why,atoneofherswarreysIsawoneof‘emspeaktoadamfiddler—afellarIdespise.
Andtheywon’tcometoRussellSquare,won’tthey?
Why,I’lllaymylifeI’vegotabetterglassofwine,andpayabetterfigureforit,andcanshowahandsomerserviceofsilver,andcanlayabetterdinneronmymahogany,thanevertheyseeontheirs—thecringing,sneaking,stuck-upfools.
Driveonquick,James:IwanttogetbacktoRussellSquare—ha,ha!”
andhesankbackintothecornerwithafuriouslaugh.
Withsuchreflectionsonhisownsuperiormerit,itwasthecustomoftheoldgentlemannotunfrequentlytoconsolehimself.
JaneOsbornecouldnotbutconcurintheseopinionsrespectinghersister’sconduct;andwhenMrs.Frederick’sfirst-born,FrederickAugustusHowardStanleyDevereuxBullock,wasborn,oldOsborne,whowasinvitedtothechristeningandtobegodfather,contentedhimselfwithsendingthechildagoldcup,withtwentyguineasinsideitforthenurse.
“That’smorethananyofyourLordswillgive,I’LLwarrant,”hesaidandrefusedtoattendattheceremony.
Thesplendourofthegift,however,causedgreatsatisfactiontothehouseofBullock.
Mariathoughtthatherfatherwasverymuchpleasedwithher,andFrederickauguredthebestforhislittlesonandheir.
OnecanfancythepangswithwhichMissOsborneinhersolitudeinRussellSquarereadtheMorningPost,wherehersister’snameoccurredeverynowandthen,inthearticlesheaded“FashionableReunions,”andwhereshehadanopportunityofreadingadescriptionofMrs.F.Bullock’scostume,whenpresentedatthedrawingroombyLadyFredericaBullock.
Jane’sownlife,aswehavesaid,admittedofnosuchgrandeur.Itwasanawfulexistence.
Shehadtogetupofblackwinter’smorningstomakebreakfastforherscowlingoldfather,whowouldhaveturnedthewholehouseoutofdoorsifhisteahadnotbeenreadyathalf-pasteight.
Sheremainedsilentoppositetohim,listeningtotheurnhissing,andsittingintremorwhiletheparentreadhispaperandconsumedhisaccustomedportionofmuffinsandtea.
Athalf-pastnineheroseandwenttotheCity,andshewasalmostfreetilldinner-time,tomakevisitationsinthekitchenandtoscoldtheservants;todriveabroadanddescenduponthetradesmen,whowereprodigiouslyrespectful;toleavehercardsandherpapa’satthegreatglumrespectablehousesoftheirCityfriends;ortositaloneinthelargedrawing-room,expectingvisitors;andworkingatahugepieceofworstedbythefire,onthesofa,hardbythegreatIphigeniaclock,whichtickedandtolledwithmournfulloudnessinthedrearyroom.
Thegreatglassoverthemantelpiece,facedbytheothergreatconsoleglassattheoppositeendoftheroom,increasedandmultipliedbetweenthemthebrownHollandbaginwhichthechandelierhung,untilyousawthesebrownHollandbagsfadingawayinendlessperspectives,andthisapartmentofMissOsborne’sseemedthecentreofasystemofdrawing-rooms.
Whensheremovedthecordovanleatherfromthegrandpianoandventuredtoplayafewnotesonit,itsoundedwithamournfulsadness,startlingthedismalechoesofthehouse.
George’spicturewasgone,andlaidupstairsinalumber-roominthegarret;andthoughtherewasaconsciousnessofhim,andfatheranddaughterofteninstinctivelyknewthattheywerethinkingofhim,nomentionwasevermadeofthebraveandoncedarlingson.
Atfiveo’clockMr.Osbornecamebacktohisdinner,whichheandhisdaughtertookinsilence(seldombroken,exceptwhenhesworeandwassavage,ifthecookingwasnottohisliking),orwhichtheysharedtwiceinamonthwithapartyofdismalfriendsofOsborne’srankandage.
OldDr.GulpandhisladyfromBloomsburySquare;oldMr.Frowser,theattorney,fromBedfordRow,averygreatman,andfromhisbusiness,hand-in-glovewiththe“nobsattheWestEnd”;oldColonelLivermore,oftheBombayArmy,andMrs.Livermore,fromUpperBedfordPlace;oldSergeantToffyandMrs.Toffy;andsometimesoldSirThomasCoffinandLadyCoffin,fromBedfordSquare.
SirThomaswascelebratedasahangingjudge,andtheparticulartawnyportwasproducedwhenhedinedwithMr.Osborne.
ThesepeopleandtheirlikegavethepompousRussellSquaremerchantpompousdinnersbackagain.
Theyhadsolemnrubbersofwhist,whentheywentupstairsafterdrinking,andtheircarriageswerecalledathalfpastten.
Manyrichpeople,whomwepoordevilsareinthehabitofenvying,leadcontentedlyanexistencelikethatabovedescribed.
JaneOsbornescarcelyevermetamanundersixty,andalmosttheonlybachelorwhoappearedintheirsocietywasMr.Smirk,thecelebratedladies’doctor.
Ican’tsaythatnothinghadoccurredtodisturbthemonotonyofthisawfulexistence:thefactis,therehadbeenasecretinpoorJane’slifewhichhadmadeherfathermoresavageandmorosethanevennature,pride,andover-feedinghadmadehim.
ThissecretwasconnectedwithMissWirt,whohadacousinanartist,Mr.Smee,verycelebratedsinceasaportrait-painterandR.A.,butwhooncewasgladenoughtogivedrawinglessonstoladiesoffashion.
Mr.SmeehasforgottenwhereRussellSquareisnow,buthewasgladenoughtovisititintheyear1818,whenMissOsbornehadinstructionfromhim.
Smee(formerlyapupilofSharpeofFrithStreet,adissolute,irregular,andunsuccessfulman,butamanwithgreatknowledgeofhisart)beingthecousinofMissWirt,wesay,andintroducedbyhertoMissOsborne,whosehandandheartwerestillfreeaftervariousincompleteloveaffairs,feltagreatattachmentforthislady,anditisbelievedinspiredoneinherbosom.
MissWirtwastheconfidanteofthisintrigue.
Iknownotwhethersheusedtoleavetheroomwherethemasterandhispupilwerepainting,inordertogivethemanopportunityforexchangingthosevowsandsentimentswhichcannotbeutteredadvantageouslyinthepresenceofathirdparty;Iknownotwhethershehopedthatshouldhercousinsucceedincarryingofftherichmerchant’sdaughter,hewouldgiveMissWirtaportionofthewealthwhichshehadenabledhimtowin—allthatiscertainisthatMr.Osbornegotsomehintofthetransaction,camebackfromtheCityabruptly,andenteredthedrawing-roomwithhisbamboocane;foundthepainter,thepupil,andthecompanionalllookingexceedinglypalethere;turnedtheformeroutofdoorswithmenacesthathewouldbreakeveryboneinhisskin,andhalfanhourafterwardsdismissedMissWirtlikewise,kickinghertrunksdownthestairs,tramplingonherbandboxes,andshakinghisfistatherhackneycoachasitboreheraway.
JaneOsbornekeptherbedroomformanydays.
Shewasnotallowedtohaveacompanionafterwards.
Herfathersworetoherthatsheshouldnothaveashillingofhismoneyifshemadeanymatchwithouthisconcurrence;andashewantedawomantokeephishouse,hedidnotchoosethatsheshouldmarry,sothatshewasobligedtogiveupallprojectswithwhichCupidhadanyshare.
Duringherpapa’slife,then,sheresignedherselftothemannerofexistenceheredescribed,andwascontenttobeanoldmaid.
Hersister,meanwhile,washavingchildrenwithfinernameseveryyearandtheintercoursebetweenthetwogrewfaintercontinually.
“JaneandIdonotmoveinthesamesphereoflife,”Mrs.Bullocksaid.
“Iregardherasasister,ofcourse”—whichmeans—whatdoesitmeanwhenaladysaysthatsheregardsJaneasasister?
IthasbeendescribedhowtheMissesDobbinlivedwiththeirfatheratafinevillaatDenmarkHill,wheretherewerebeautifulgraperiesandpeach-treeswhichdelightedlittleGeorgyOsborne.
TheMissesDobbin,whodroveoftentoBromptontoseeourdearAmelia,camesometimestoRussellSquaretoo,topayavisittotheiroldacquaintanceMissOsborne.
IbelieveitwasinconsequenceofthecommandsoftheirbrothertheMajorinIndia(forwhomtheirpapahadaprodigiousrespect),thattheypaidattentiontoMrs.George;fortheMajor,thegodfatherandguardianofAmelia’slittleboy,stillhopedthatthechild’sgrandfathermightbeinducedtorelenttowardshimandacknowledgehimforthesakeofhisson.
TheMissesDobbinkeptMissOsborneacquaintedwiththestateofAmelia’saffairs;howshewaslivingwithherfatherandmother;howpoortheywere;howtheywonderedwhatmen,andsuchmenastheirbrotheranddearCaptainOsborne,couldfindinsuchaninsignificantlittlechit;howshewasstill,asheretofore,anamby-pambymilk-and-wateraffectedcreature—buthowtheboywasreallythenoblestlittleboyeverseen—fortheheartsofallwomenwarmtowardsyoungchildren,andthesourestspinsteriskindtothem.
Oneday,aftergreatentreatiesonthepartoftheMissesDobbin,AmeliaallowedlittleGeorgetogoandpassadaywiththematDenmarkHill—apartofwhichdayshespentherselfinwritingtotheMajorinIndia.
Shecongratulatedhimonthehappynewswhichhissistershadjustconveyedtoher.
Sheprayedforhisprosperityandthatofthebridehehadchosen.
Shethankedhimforathousandthousandkindofficesandproofsofsteadfastfriendshiptoherinheraffliction.
ShetoldhimthelastnewsaboutlittleGeorgy,andhowhewasgonetospendthatverydaywithhissistersinthecountry.
Sheunderlinedtheletteragreatdeal,andshesignedherselfaffectionatelyhisfriend,AmeliaOsborne.
SheforgottosendanymessageofkindnesstoLadyO’Dowd,asherwontwas—anddidnotmentionGlorvinabyname,andonlyinitalics,astheMajor’sBRIDE,forwhomshebeggedblessings.
Butthenewsofthemarriageremovedthereservewhichshehadkeptuptowardshim.
Shewasgladtobeabletoownandfeelhowwarmlyandgratefullysheregardedhim—andasfortheideaofbeingjealousofGlorvina(Glorvina,indeed!)
,Ameliawouldhavescoutedit,ifanangelfromheavenhadhintedittoher.
Thatnight,whenGeorgycamebackinthepony-carriageinwhichherejoiced,andinwhichhewasdrivenbySirWm.Dobbin’soldcoachman,hehadroundhisneckafinegoldchainandwatch.
Hesaidanoldlady,notpretty,hadgivenithim,whocriedandkissedhimagreatdeal.Buthedidn’tlikeher.Helikedgrapesverymuch.Andheonlylikedhismamma.
Ameliashrankandstarted;thetimidsoulfeltapresentimentofterrorwhensheheardthattherelationsofthechild’sfatherhadseenhim.
MissOsbornecamebacktogiveherfatherhisdinner.
HehadmadeagoodspeculationintheCity,andwasratherinagoodhumourthatday,andchancedtoremarktheagitationunderwhichshelaboured.“What’sthematter,MissOsborne?”hedeignedtosay.
Thewomanburstintotears.“Oh,sir,”shesaid,“I’veseenlittleGeorge.
Heisasbeautifulasanangel—andsolikehim!”
Theoldmanoppositetoherdidnotsayaword,butflushedupandbegantotrembleineverylimb.
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