English
OurfriendsatBromptonweremeanwhilepassingtheirChristmasaftertheirfashionandinamannerbynomeanstoocheerful.
Outofthehundredpoundsayear,whichwasabouttheamountofherincome,theWidowOsbornehadbeeninthehabitofgivingupnearlythree-fourthstoherfatherandmother,fortheexpensesofherselfandherlittleboy.
With#120more,suppliedbyJos,thisfamilyoffourpeople,attendedbyasingleIrishservantwhoalsodidforClappandhiswife,mightmanagetoliveindecentcomfortthroughtheyear,andholduptheirheadsyet,andbeabletogiveafriendadishofteastill,afterthestormsanddisappointmentsoftheirearlylife.
SedleystillmaintainedhisascendencyoverthefamilyofMr.Clapp,hisex-clerk.
Clapprememberedthetimewhen,sittingontheedgeofthechair,hetossedoffabumpertothehealthof“Mrs.S—,MissEmmy,andMr.JosephinIndia,”atthemerchant’srichtableinRussellSquare.
Timemagnifiedthesplendourofthoserecollectionsinthehonestclerk’sbosom.
Wheneverhecameupfromthekitchen-parlourtothedrawing-roomandpartookofteaorgin-and-waterwithMr.Sedley,hewouldsay,“Thiswasnotwhatyouwasaccustomedtoonce,sir,”andasgravelyandreverentiallydrinkthehealthoftheladiesashehaddoneinthedaysoftheirutmostprosperity.
HethoughtMiss‘Melia’splayingthedivinestmusiceverperformed,andherthefinestlady.
HeneverwouldsitdownbeforeSedleyattheclubeven,norwouldhehavethatgentleman’scharacterabusedbyanymemberofthesociety.
HehadseenthefirstmeninLondonshakinghandswithMr.S—;hesaid,“He’dknownhimintimeswhenRothschildmightbeseenon‘Changewithhimanyday,andheowedhimpersonallyeverythink.”
Clapp,withthebestofcharactersandhandwritings,hadbeenableverysoonafterhismaster’sdisastertofindotheremploymentforhimself.
“Suchalittlefishasmecanswiminanybucket,”heusedtoremark,andamemberofthehousefromwhicholdSedleyhadsecededwasverygladtomakeuseofMr.Clapp’sservicesandtorewardthemwithacomfortablesalary.
Infine,allSedley’swealthyfriendshaddroppedoffonebyone,andthispoorex-dependentstillremainedfaithfullyattachedtohim.
OutofthesmallresidueofherincomewhichAmeliakeptbackforherself,thewidowhadneedofallthethriftandcarepossibleinordertoenablehertokeepherdarlingboydressedinsuchamannerasbecameGeorgeOsborne’sson,andtodefraytheexpensesofthelittleschooltowhich,aftermuchmisgivingandreluctanceandmanysecretpangsandfearsonherownpart,shehadbeeninducedtosendthelad.
ShehadsatupofnightsconninglessonsandspellingovercrabbedgrammarsandgeographybooksinordertoteachthemtoGeorgy.
ShehadworkedevenattheLatinaccidence,fondlyhopingthatshemightbecapableofinstructinghiminthatlanguage.
Topartwithhimallday,tosendhimouttothemercyofaschoolmaster’scaneandhisschoolfellows’roughness,wasalmostlikeweaninghimoveragaintothatweakmother,sotremulousandfullofsensibility.
He,forhispart,rushedofftotheschoolwiththeutmosthappiness.Hewaslongingforthechange.
Thatchildishgladnesswoundedhismother,whowasherselfsogrievedtopartwithhim.
Shewouldratherhavehadhimmoresorry,shethought,andthenwasdeeplyrepentantwithinherselffordaringtobesoselfishastowishherownsontobeunhappy.
Georgymadegreatprogressintheschool,whichwaskeptbyafriendofhismother’sconstantadmirer,theRev.Mr.Binny.
Hebroughthomenumberlessprizesandtestimonialsofability.
Hetoldhismothercountlessstorieseverynightabouthisschool-companions:andwhatafinefellowLyonswas,andwhatasneakSniffinwas,andhowSteel’sfatheractuallysuppliedthemeatfortheestablishment,whereasGolding’smothercameinacarriagetofetchhimeverySaturday,andhowNeathadstrapstohistrowsers—mighthehavestraps?
—andhowBullMajorwassostrong(thoughonlyinEutropius)thatitwasbelievedhecouldlicktheUsher,Mr.Ward,himself.
SoAmelialearnedtoknoweveryoneoftheboysinthatschoolaswellasGeorgyhimself,andofnightssheusedtohelphiminhisexercisesandpuzzleherlittleheadoverhislessonsaseagerlyasifshewasherselfgoinginthemorningintothepresenceofthemaster.
Once,afteracertaincombatwithMasterSmith,Georgecamehometohismotherwithablackeye,andbraggedprodigiouslytohisparentandhisdelightedoldgrandfatherabouthisvalourinthefight,inwhich,ifthetruthwasknownhedidnotbehavewithparticularheroism,andinwhichhedecidedlyhadtheworst.
ButAmeliahasneverforgiventhatSmithtothisday,thoughheisnowapeacefulapothecarynearLeicesterSquare.
Inthesequietlaboursandharmlesscaresthegentlewidow’slifewaspassingaway,asilverhairortwomarkingtheprogressoftimeonherheadandalinedeepeningeversolittleonherfairforehead.
Sheusedtosmileatthesemarksoftime.
“Whatmattersit,”sheasked,“Foranoldwomanlikeme?”
Allshehopedforwastolivetoseehersongreat,famous,andglorious,ashedeservedtobe.
Shekepthiscopy-books,hisdrawings,andcompositions,andshowedthemaboutinherlittlecircleasiftheyweremiraclesofgenius.
SheconfidedsomeofthesespecimenstoMissDobbin,toshowthemtoMissOsborne,George’saunt,toshowthemtoMr.Osbornehimself—tomakethatoldmanrepentofhiscrueltyandillfeelingtowardshimwhowasgone.
Allherhusband’sfaultsandfoiblesshehadburiedinthegravewithhim:sheonlyrememberedthelover,whohadmarriedheratallsacrifices,thenoblehusband,sobraveandbeautiful,inwhosearmsshehadhungonthemorningwhenhehadgoneawaytofight,anddiegloriouslyforhisking.
Fromheaventheheromustbesmilingdownuponthatparagonofaboywhomhehadlefttocomfortandconsoleher.
WehaveseenhowoneofGeorge’sgrandfathers(Mr.Osborne),inhiseasychairinRussellSquare,dailygrewmoreviolentandmoody,andhowhisdaughter,withherfinecarriage,andherfinehorses,andhernameonhalfthepubliccharity-listsofthetown,wasalonely,miserable,persecutedoldmaid.
Shethoughtagainandagainofthebeautifullittleboy,herbrother’sson,whomshehadseen.
Shelongedtobeallowedtodriveinthefinecarriagetothehouseinwhichhelived,andsheusedtolookoutdayafterdayasshetookhersolitarydriveinthepark,inhopesthatshemightseehim.
Hersister,thebanker’slady,occasionallycondescendedtopayheroldhomeandcompanionavisitinRussellSquare.
Shebroughtacoupleofsicklychildrenattendedbyaprimnurse,andinafaintgenteelgigglingtonecackledtohersisteraboutherfineacquaintance,andhowherlittleFrederickwastheimageofLordClaudLollypopandhersweetMariahadbeennoticedbytheBaronessastheyweredrivingintheirdonkey-chaiseatRoehampton.
Sheurgedhertomakeherpapadosomethingforthedarlings.
FrederickshehaddeterminedshouldgointotheGuards;andiftheymadeaneldersonofhim(andMr.Bullockwaspositivelyruiningandpinchinghimselftodeathtobuyland),howwasthedarlinggirltobeprovidedfor?
“IexpectYOU,dear,”Mrs.Bullockwouldsay,“forofcoursemyshareofourPapa’spropertymustgototheheadofthehouse,youknow.
DearRhodaMcMullwilldisengagethewholeoftheCastletoddypropertyassoonaspoordearLordCastletoddydies,whoisquiteepileptic;andlittleMacduffMcMullwillbeViscountCastletoddy.
BoththeMr.BludyersofMincingLanehavesettledtheirfortunesonFannyBludyer’slittleboy.
MydarlingFrederickmustpositivelybeaneldestson;and—anddoaskPapatobringusbackhisaccountinLombardStreet,willyou,dear?
Itdoesn’tlookwell,hisgoingtoStumpyandRowdy’s.”
Afterwhichkindofspeeches,inwhichfashionandthemainchancewereblendedtogether,andafterakiss,whichwaslikethecontactofanoyster—Mrs.FrederickBullockwouldgatherherstarchednurslingsandsimperbackintohercarriage.
Everyvisitwhichthisleaderoftonpaidtoherfamilywasmoreunluckyforher.
HerfatherpaidmoremoneyintoStumpyandRowdy’s.
Herpatronagebecamemoreandmoreinsufferable.
ThepoorwidowinthelittlecottageatBrompton,guardinghertreasurethere,littleknewhoweagerlysomepeoplecovetedit.
OnthatnightwhenJaneOsbornehadtoldherfatherthatshehadseenhisgrandson,theoldmanhadmadehernoreply,buthehadshownnoanger—andhadbadehergood-nightongoinghimselftohisroominratherakindlyvoice.
AndhemusthavemeditatedonwhatshesaidandhavemadesomeinquiriesoftheDobbinfamilyregardinghervisit,forafortnightafterittookplace,heaskedherwherewasherlittleFrenchwatchandchainsheusedtowear?
“Iboughtitwithmymoney,sir,”shesaidinagreatfright.
“Goandorderanotherlikeit,orabetterifyoucangetit,”saidtheoldgentlemanandlapsedagainintosilence.
OflatetheMissesDobbinmorethanoncerepeatedtheirentreatiestoAmelia,toallowGeorgetovisitthem.
Hisaunthadshownherinclination;perhapshisgrandfatherhimself,theyhinted,mightbedisposedtobereconciledtohim.
Surely,Ameliacouldnotrefusesuchadvantageouschancesfortheboy.
Norcouldshe,butsheaccededtotheirovertureswithaveryheavyandsuspiciousheart,wasalwaysuneasyduringthechild’sabsencefromher,andwelcomedhimbackasifhewasrescuedoutofsomedanger.
Hebroughtbackmoneyandtoys,atwhichthewidowlookedwithalarmandjealousy;sheaskedhimalwaysifhehadseenanygentleman—”OnlyoldSirWilliam,whodrovehimaboutinthefour-wheeledchaise,andMr.Dobbin,whoarrivedonthebeautifulbayhorseintheafternoon—inthegreencoatandpinkneck-cloth,withthegold-headedwhip,whopromisedtoshowhimtheTowerofLondonandtakehimoutwiththeSurreyhounds.”
Atlast,hesaid,“Therewasanoldgentleman,withthickeyebrows,andabroadhat,andlargechainandseals.”
HecameonedayasthecoachmanwaslungingGeorgyroundthelawnonthegraypony.“Helookedatmeverymuch.Heshookverymuch.
Isaid‘MynameisNorval’afterdinner.Myauntbegantocry.Sheisalwayscrying.”SuchwasGeorge’sreportonthatnight.
ThenAmeliaknewthattheboyhadseenhisgrandfather;andlookedoutfeverishlyforaproposalwhichshewassurewouldfollow,andwhichcame,infact,inafewdaysafterwards.
Mr.Osborneformallyofferedtotaketheboyandmakehimheirtothefortunewhichhehadintendedthathisfathershouldinherit.
HewouldmakeMrs.GeorgeOsborneanallowance,suchastoassureheradecentcompetency.
IfMrs.GeorgeOsborneproposedtomarryagain,asMr.O.heardwasherintention,hewouldnotwithdrawthatallowance.
ButitmustbeunderstoodthatthechildwouldliveentirelywithhisgrandfatherinRussellSquare,oratwhateverotherplaceMr.O.shouldselect,andthathewouldbeoccasionallypermittedtoseeMrs.GeorgeOsborneatherownresidence.
Thismessagewasbroughtorreadtoherinaletteroneday,whenhermotherwasfromhomeandherfatherabsentasusualintheCity.
Shewasneverseenangrybuttwiceorthriceinherlife,anditwasinoneofthesemoodsthatMr.Osborne’sattorneyhadthefortunetobeholdher.
Sheroseuptremblingandflushingverymuchassoonas,afterreadingtheletter,Mr.Poehandedittoher,andshetorethepaperintoahundredfragments,whichshetrodon.“Imarryagain!Itakemoneytopartfrommychild!
Whodaresinsultmebyproposingsuchathing?
TellMr.Osborneitisacowardlyletter,sir—acowardlyletter—Iwillnotanswerit.
Iwishyougoodmorning,sir—andshebowedmeoutoftheroomlikeatragedyQueen,”saidthelawyerwhotoldthestory.
Herparentsneverremarkedheragitationonthatday,andshenevertoldthemoftheinterview.
Theyhadtheirownaffairstointerestthem,affairswhichdeeplyinterestedthisinnocentandunconsciouslady.
Theoldgentleman,herfather,wasalwaysdabblinginspeculation.
Wehaveseenhowthewinecompanyandthecoalcompanyhadfailedhim.
But,prowlingabouttheCityalwayseagerlyandrestlesslystill,helighteduponsomeotherscheme,ofwhichhethoughtsowellthatheembarkedinitinspiteoftheremonstrancesofMr.Clapp,towhomindeedheneverdaredtotellhowfarhehadengagedhimselfinit.
AndasitwasalwaysMr.Sedley’smaximnottotalkaboutmoneymattersbeforewomen,theyhadnoinklingofthemisfortunesthatwereinstoreforthemuntiltheunhappyoldgentlemanwasforcedtomakegradualconfessions.
Thebillsofthelittlehousehold,whichhadbeensettledweekly,firstfellintoarrear.
TheremittanceshadnotarrivedfromIndia,Mr.Sedleytoldhiswifewithadisturbedface.
Asshehadpaidherbillsveryregularlyhitherto,oneortwoofthetradesmentowhomthepoorladywasobligedtogoroundaskingfortimewereveryangryatadelaytowhichtheywereperfectlyusedfrommoreirregularcustomers.
Emmy’scontribution,paidovercheerfullywithoutanyquestions,keptthelittlecompanyinhalf-rationshowever.
Andthefirstsixmonthspassedawayprettyeasily,oldSedleystillkeepingupwiththenotionthathissharesmustriseandthatallwouldbewell.
Nosixtypounds,however,cametohelpthehouseholdattheendofthehalfyear,anditfelldeeperanddeeperintotrouble—Mrs.Sedley,whowasgrowinginfirmandwasmuchshaken,remainedsilentorweptagreatdealwithMrs.Clappinthekitchen.
Thebutcherwasparticularlysurly,thegrocerinsolent:onceortwicelittleGeorgyhadgrumbledaboutthedinners,andAmelia,whostillwouldhavebeensatisfiedwithasliceofbreadforherowndinner,couldnotbutperceivethathersonwasneglectedandpurchasedlittlethingsoutofherprivatepursetokeeptheboyinhealth.
Atlasttheytoldher,ortoldhersuchagarbledstoryaspeopleindifficultiestell.
Oneday,herownmoneyhavingbeenreceived,andAmeliaabouttopayitover,she,whohadkeptanaccountofthemoneysexpendedbyher,proposedtokeepacertainportionbackoutofherdividend,havingcontractedengagementsforanewsuitforGeorgy.
ThenitcameoutthatJos’sremittanceswerenotpaid,thatthehousewasindifficulties,whichAmeliaoughttohaveseenbefore,hermothersaid,butshecaredfornothingornobodyexceptGeorgy.
Atthisshepassedallhermoneyacrossthetable,withoutaword,tohermother,andreturnedtoherroomtocryhereyesout.
Shehadagreataccessofsensibilitytoothatday,whenobligedtogoandcountermandtheclothes,thedarlingclothesonwhichshehadsetherheartforChristmasDay,andthecutandfashionofwhichshehadarrangedinmanyconversationswithasmallmilliner,herfriend.
Hardestofall,shehadtobreakthemattertoGeorgy,whomadealoudoutcry.EverybodyhadnewclothesatChristmas.Theotherswouldlaughathim.Hewouldhavenewclothes.Shehadpromisedthemtohim.
Thepoorwidowhadonlykissestogivehim.Shedarnedtheoldsuitintears.
Shecastaboutamongherlittleornamentstoseeifshecouldsellanythingtoprocurethedesirednovelties.
TherewasherIndiashawlthatDobbinhadsenther.
SherememberedinformerdaysgoingwithhermothertoafineIndiashoponLudgateHill,wheretheladieshadallsortsofdealingsandbargainsinthesearticles.
Hercheeksflushedandhereyesshonewithpleasureasshethoughtofthisresource,andshekissedawayGeorgetoschoolinthemorning,smilingbrightlyafterhim.
Theboyfeltthattherewasgoodnewsinherlook.
Packinguphershawlinahandkerchief(anotherofthegiftsofthegoodMajor),shehidthemunderhercloakandwalkedflushedandeagerallthewaytoLudgateHill,trippingalongbytheparkwallandrunningoverthecrossings,sothatmanyamanturnedasshehurriedbyhimandlookedafterherrosyprettyface.
Shecalculatedhowsheshouldspendtheproceedsofhershawl—how,besidestheclothes,shewouldbuythebooksthathelongedfor,andpayhishalf-year’sschooling;andhowshewouldbuyacloakforherfatherinsteadofthatoldgreat-coatwhichhewore.
ShewasnotmistakenastothevalueoftheMajor’sgift.
Itwasaveryfineandbeautifulweb,andthemerchantmadeaverygoodbargainwhenhegavehertwentyguineasforhershawl.
SheranonamazedandflurriedwithherrichestoDarton’sshop,inSt.Paul’sChurchyard,andtherepurchasedtheParents’AssistantandtheSandfordandMertonGeorgylongedfor,andgotintothecoachtherewithherparcel,andwenthomeexulting.
Andshepleasedherselfbywritinginthefly-leafinherneatestlittlehand,“GeorgeOsborne,AChristmasgiftfromhisaffectionate-mother.”
Thebooksareextanttothisday,withthefairdelicatesuperscription.
ShewasgoingfromherownroomwiththebooksinherhandtoplacethemonGeorge’stable,wherehemightfindthemonhisreturnfromschool,wheninthepassage,sheandhermothermet.
Thegiltbindingsofthesevenhandsomelittlevolumescaughttheoldlady’seye.
“Whatarethose?”shesaid.
“SomebooksforGeorgy,”Ameliareplied—I—IpromisedthemtohimatChristmas.”
“Books!”criedtheelderladyindignantly,“Books,whenthewholehousewantsbread!
Books,whentokeepyouandyoursoninluxury,andyourdearfatheroutofgaol,I’vesoldeverytrinketIhad,theIndiashawlfrommybackevendowntotheveryspoons,thatourtradesmenmightn’tinsultus,andthatMr.Clapp,whichindeedheisjustlyentitled,beingnotahardlandlord,andacivilman,andafather,mighthavehisrent.Oh,Amelia!
youbreakmyheartwithyourbooksandthatboyofyours,whomyouareruining,thoughpartwithhimyouwillnot.
Oh,Amelia,mayGodsendyouamoredutifulchildthanIhavehad!
There’sJos,desertshisfatherinhisoldage;andthere’sGeorge,whomightbeprovidedfor,andwhomightberich,goingtoschoollikealord,withagoldwatchandchainroundhisneck—whilemydear,dearoldmaniswithoutash—shilling.”
HystericsobsandcriesendedMrs.Sedley’sspeech—itechoedthrougheveryroominthesmallhouse,whereoftheotherfemaleinmatesheardeverywordofthecolloquy.
“Oh,Mother,Mother!”criedpoorAmeliainreply.
“Youtoldmenothing—I—Ipromisedhimthebooks.I—Ionlysoldmyshawlthismorning.
Takethemoney—takeeverything”—andwithquiveringhandsshetookouthersilver,andhersovereigns—herpreciousgoldensovereigns,whichshethrustintothehandsofhermother,whencetheyoverflowedandtumbled,rollingdownthestairs.
Andthenshewentintoherroom,andsankdownindespairanduttermisery.Shesawitallnow.
Herselfishnesswassacrificingtheboy.
Butforherhemighthavewealth,station,education,andhisfather’splace,whichtheelderGeorgehadforfeitedforhersake.
Shehadbuttospeakthewords,andherfatherwasrestoredtocompetencyandtheboyraisedtofortune.
Oh,whataconvictionitwastothattenderandstrickenheart!
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