English
TheMuse,whoevershebe,whopresidesoverthisComicHistorymustnowdescendfromthegenteelheightsinwhichshehasbeensoaringandhavethegoodnesstodropdownuponthelowlyroofofJohnSedleyatBrompton,anddescribewhateventsaretakingplacethere.
Here,too,inthishumbletenement,livecare,anddistrust,anddismay.
Mrs.Clappinthekitchenisgrumblinginsecrettoherhusbandabouttherent,andurgingthegoodfellowtorebelagainsthisoldfriendandpatronandhispresentlodger.
Mrs.Sedleyhasceasedtovisitherlandladyinthelowerregionsnow,andindeedisinapositiontopatronizeMrs.Clappnolonger.
Howcanonebecondescendingtoaladytowhomoneowesamatteroffortypounds,andwhoisperpetuallythrowingouthintsforthemoney?
TheIrishmaidservanthasnotalteredintheleastinherkindandrespectfulbehaviour;butMrs.Sedleyfanciesthatsheisgrowinginsolentandungrateful,and,astheguiltythiefwhofearseachbushanofficer,seesthreateninginnuendoesandhintsofcaptureinallthegirl’sspeechesandanswers.
MissClapp,grownquiteayoungwomannow,isdeclaredbythesouredoldladytobeanunbearableandimpudentlittleminx.
WhyAmeliacanbesofondofher,orhaveherinherroomsomuch,orwalkoutwithhersoconstantly,Mrs.Sedleycannotconceive.
Thebitternessofpovertyhaspoisonedthelifeoftheoncecheerfulandkindlywoman.
SheisthanklessforAmelia’sconstantandgentlebearingtowardsher;carpsatherforhereffortsatkindnessorservice;railsatherforhersillyprideinherchildandherneglectofherparents.
Georgy’shouseisnotaverylivelyonesinceUncleJos’sannuityhasbeenwithdrawnandthelittlefamilyarealmostuponfaminediet.
Ameliathinks,andthinks,andracksherbrain,tofindsomemeansofincreasingthesmallpittanceuponwhichthehouseholdisstarving.Canshegivelessonsinanything?paintcard-racks?dofinework?
Shefindsthatwomenareworkinghard,andbetterthanshecan,fortwopenceaday.
ShebuysacoupleofbegiltBristolboardsattheFancyStationer’sandpaintsherverybestuponthem—ashepherdwitharedwaistcoatonone,andapinkfacesmilinginthemidstofapencillandscape—ashepherdessontheother,crossingalittlebridge,withalittledog,nicelyshaded.
ThemanoftheFancyRepositoryandBromptonEmporiumofFineArts(ofwhomsheboughtthescreens,vainlyhopingthathewouldrepurchasethemwhenornamentedbyherhand)canhardlyhidethesneerwithwhichheexaminesthesefeebleworksofart.
Helooksaskanceattheladywhowaitsintheshop,andtiesupthecardsagainintheirenvelopeofwhitey-brownpaper,andhandsthemtothepoorwidowandMissClapp,whohadneverseensuchbeautifulthingsinherlife,andhadbeenquiteconfidentthatthemanmustgiveatleasttwoguineasforthescreens.
TheytryatothershopsintheinteriorofLondon,withfaintsickeninghopes.“Don’twant‘em,”saysone.“Beoff,”saysanotherfiercely.
Three-and-sixpencehasbeenspentinvain—thescreensretiretoMissClapp’sbedroom,whopersistsinthinkingthemlovely.
Shewritesoutalittlecardinherneatesthand,andafterlongthoughtandlabourofcomposition,inwhichthepublicisinformedthat“ALadywhohassometimeatherdisposal,wishestoundertaketheeducationofsomelittlegirls,whomshewouldinstructinEnglish,inFrench,inGeography,inHistory,andinMusic—addressA.O.,atMr.Brown’s”;andsheconfidesthecardtothegentlemanoftheFineArtRepository,whoconsentstoallowittolieuponthecounter,whereitgrowsdingyandfly-blown.
Ameliapassesthedoorwistfullymanyatime,inhopesthatMr.Brownwillhavesomenewstogiveher,butheneverbeckonsherin.
Whenshegoestomakelittlepurchases,thereisnonewsforher.
Poorsimplelady,tenderandweak—howareyoutobattlewiththestrugglingviolentworld?
Shegrowsdailymorecare-wornandsad,fixinguponherchildalarmedeyes,whereofthelittleboycannotinterprettheexpression.
Shestartsupofanightandpeepsintohisroomstealthily,toseethatheissleepingandnotstolenaway.Shesleepsbutlittlenow.
Aconstantthoughtandterrorishauntingher.
Howsheweepsandpraysinthelongsilentnights—howshetriestohidefromherselfthethoughtwhichwillreturntoher,thatsheoughttopartwiththeboy,thatsheistheonlybarrierbetweenhimandprosperity.Shecan’t,shecan’t.Notnow,atleast.Someotherday.Oh!itistoohardtothinkofandtobear.
Athoughtcomesoverherwhichmakesherblushandturnfromherself—herparentsmightkeeptheannuity—thecuratewouldmarryherandgiveahometoherandtheboy.
ButGeorge’spictureanddearestmemoryaretheretorebukeher.Shameandlovesaynotothesacrifice.
Sheshrinksfromitasfromsomethingunholy,andsuchthoughtsneverfoundaresting-placeinthatpureandgentlebosom.
Thecombat,whichwedescribeinasentenceortwo,lastedformanyweeksinpoorAmelia’sheart,duringwhichshehadnoconfidante;indeed,shecouldneverhaveone,asshewouldnotallowtoherselfthepossibilityofyielding,thoughshewasgivingwaydailybeforetheenemywithwhomshehadtobattle.
Onetruthafteranotherwasmarshallingitselfsilentlyagainstherandkeepingitsground.
Povertyandmiseryforall,wantanddegradationforherparents,injusticetotheboy—onebyonetheoutworksofthelittlecitadelweretaken,inwhichthepoorsoulpassionatelyguardedheronlyloveandtreasure.
Atthebeginningofthestruggle,shehadwrittenoffaletteroftendersupplicationtoherbrotheratCalcutta,imploringhimnottowithdrawthesupportwhichhehadgrantedtotheirparentsandpaintingintermsofartlesspathostheirlonelyandhaplesscondition.
Shedidnotknowthetruthofthematter.
ThepaymentofJos’sannuitywasstillregular,butitwasamoney-lenderintheCitywhowasreceivingit:oldSedleyhadsolditforasumofmoneywherewithtoprosecutehisbootlessschemes.
Emmywascalculatingeagerlythetimethatwouldelapsebeforetheletterwouldarriveandbeanswered.
Shehadwrittendownthedateinherpocket-bookofthedaywhenshedispatchedit.
Toherson’sguardian,thegoodMajoratMadras,shehadnotcommunicatedanyofhergriefsandperplexities.
Shehadnotwrittentohimsinceshewrotetocongratulatehimonhisapproachingmarriage.
Shethoughtwithsickeningdespondency,thatthatfriend—theonlyone,theonewhohadfeltsucharegardforher—wasfallenaway.
Oneday,whenthingshadcometoaverybadpass—whenthecreditorswerepressing,themotherinhystericgrief,thefatherinmorethanusualgloom,theinmatesofthefamilyavoidingeachother,eachsecretlyoppressedwithhisprivateunhappinessandnotionofwrong—thefatheranddaughterhappenedtobeleftalonetogether,andAmeliathoughttocomfortherfatherbytellinghimwhatshehaddone.
ShehadwrittentoJoseph—ananswermustcomeinthreeorfourmonths.
Hewasalwaysgenerous,thoughcareless.
Hecouldnotrefuse,whenheknewhowstraitenedwerethecircumstancesofhisparents.
Thenthepooroldgentlemanrevealedthewholetruthtoher—thathissonwasstillpayingtheannuity,whichhisownimprudencehadflungaway.Hehadnotdaredtotellitsooner.
HethoughtAmelia’sghastlyandterrifiedlook,when,withatrembling,miserablevoicehemadetheconfession,conveyedreproachestohimforhisconcealment.“Ah!”
saidhewithquiveringlipsandturningaway,“youdespiseyouroldfathernow!”
“Oh,papalitisnotthat,”Ameliacriedout,fallingonhisneckandkissinghimmanytimes.“Youarealwaysgoodandkind.Youdiditforthebest.Itisnotforthemoney—itis—myGod!myGod!
havemercyuponme,andgivemestrengthtobearthistrial”;andshekissedhimagainwildlyandwentaway.
Stillthefatherdidnotknowwhatthatexplanationmeant,andtheburstofanguishwithwhichthepoorgirllefthim.Itwasthatshewasconquered.Thesentencewaspassed.
Thechildmustgofromher—toothers—toforgether.
Herheartandhertreasure—herjoy,hope,love,worship—herGod,almost!
Shemustgivehimup,andthen—andthenshewouldgotoGeorge,andtheywouldwatchoverthechildandwaitforhimuntilhecametotheminHeaven.
Sheputonherbonnet,scarcelyknowingwhatshedid,andwentouttowalkinthelanesbywhichGeorgeusedtocomebackfromschool,andwhereshewasinthehabitofgoingonhisreturntomeettheboy.ItwasMay,ahalf-holiday.
Theleaveswereallcomingout,theweatherwasbrilliant;theboycamerunningtoherflushedwithhealth,singing,hisbundleofschool-bookshangingbyathong.Therehewas.Bothherarmswereroundhim.No,itwasimpossible.Theycouldnotbegoingtopart.“Whatisthematter,Mother?”saidhe;“youlookverypale.”
“Nothing,mychild,”shesaidandstoopeddownandkissedhim.
ThatnightAmeliamadetheboyreadthestoryofSamueltoher,andhowHannah,hismother,havingweanedhim,broughthimtoElitheHighPriesttoministerbeforetheLord.
AndhereadthesongofgratitudewhichHannahsang,andwhichsays,whoitiswhomakethpoorandmakethrich,andbringethlowandexalteth—howthepoorshallberaisedupoutofthedust,andhow,inhisownmight,nomanshallbestrong.
ThenhereadhowSamuel’smothermadehimalittlecoatandbroughtittohimfromyeartoyearwhenshecameuptooffertheyearlysacrifice.
Andthen,inhersweetsimpleway,George’smothermadecommentariestotheboyuponthisaffectingstory.
HowHannah,thoughshelovedhersonsomuch,yetgavehimupbecauseofhervow.
Andhowshemustalwayshavethoughtofhimasshesatathome,faraway,makingthelittlecoat;andSamuel,shewassure,neverforgothismother;andhowhappyshemusthavebeenasthetimecame(andtheyearspassawayveryquick)whensheshouldseeherboyandhowgoodandwisehehadgrown.
Thislittlesermonshespokewithagentlesolemnvoice,anddryeyes,untilshecametotheaccountoftheirmeeting—thenthediscoursebrokeoffsuddenly,thetenderheartoverflowed,andtakingtheboytoherbreast,sherockedhiminherarmsandweptsilentlyoverhiminasaintedagonyoftears.
Hermindbeingmadeup,thewidowbegantotakesuchmeasuresasseemedrighttoherforadvancingtheendwhichsheproposed.
Oneday,MissOsborne,inRussellSquare(Ameliahadnotwrittenthenameornumberofthehousefortenyears—heryouth,herearlystorycamebacktoherasshewrotethesuperscription)onedayMissOsbornegotaletterfromAmeliawhichmadeherblushverymuchandlooktowardsherfather,sittinggloominginhisplaceattheotherendofthetable.
Insimpleterms,Ameliatoldherthereasonswhichhadinducedhertochangehermindrespectingherboy.
Herfatherhadmetwithfreshmisfortuneswhichhadentirelyruinedhim.
HerownpittancewassosmallthatitwouldbarelyenablehertosupportherparentsandwouldnotsufficetogiveGeorgetheadvantageswhichwerehisdue.
Greatashersufferingswouldbeatpartingwithhimshewould,byGod’shelp,endurethemfortheboy’ssake.
Sheknewthatthosetowhomhewasgoingwoulddoallintheirpowertomakehimhappy.
Shedescribedhisdisposition,suchasshefanciedit—quickandimpatientofcontrolorharshness,easilytobemovedbyloveandkindness.
Inapostscript,shestipulatedthatsheshouldhaveawrittenagreement,thatsheshouldseethechildasoftenasshewished—shecouldnotpartwithhimunderanyotherterms.
“What?Mrs.Pridehascomedown,hasshe?”
oldOsbornesaid,whenwithatremulouseagervoiceMissOsbornereadhimtheletter.“Reg’larstarvedout,hey?Ha,ha!Iknewshewould.”
Hetriedtokeephisdignityandtoreadhispaperasusual—buthecouldnotfollowit.
Hechuckledandsworetohimselfbehindthesheet.
Atlastheflungitdownand,scowlingathisdaughter,ashiswontwas,wentoutoftheroomintohisstudyadjoining,fromwhencehepresentlyreturnedwithakey.HeflungittoMissOsborne.
“Gettheroomovermine—hisroomthatwas—ready,”hesaid.
“Yes,sir,”hisdaughterrepliedinatremble.ItwasGeorge’sroom.
Ithadnotbeenopenedformorethantenyears.
Someofhisclothes,papers,handkerchiefs,whipsandcaps,fishing-rodsandsportinggear,werestillthere.
AnArmylistof1814,withhisnamewrittenonthecover;alittledictionaryhewaswonttouseinwriting;andtheBiblehismotherhadgivenhim,wereonthemantelpiece,withapairofspursandadriedinkstandcoveredwiththedustoftenyears.Ah!
sincethatinkwaswet,whatdaysandpeoplehadpassedaway!
Thewriting-book,stillonthetable,wasblottedwithhishand.
MissOsbornewasmuchaffectedwhenshefirstenteredthisroomwiththeservantsunderher.Shesankquitepaleonthelittlebed.
“Thisisblessednews,m’am—indeed,m’am,”thehousekeepersaid;“andthegoodoldtimesisreturning,m’am.
Thedearlittlefeller,tobesure,m’am;howhappyhewillbe!
ButsomefolksinMayFair,m’am,willowehimagrudge,m’am”;andsheclickedbacktheboltwhichheldthewindow-sashandlettheairintothechamber.
“Youhadbettersendthatwomansomemoney,”Mr.Osbornesaid,beforehewentout.“Sheshan’twantfornothing.Sendherahundredpound.”
“AndI’llgoandseeherto-morrow?”MissOsborneasked.
“That’syourlookout.Shedon’tcomeinhere,mind.
No,by———,notforallthemoneyinLondon.Butshemustn’twantnow.Solookout,andgetthingsright.”
WithwhichbriefspeechesMr.OsbornetookleaveofhisdaughterandwentonhisaccustomedwayintotheCity.
“Here,Papa,issomemoney,”Ameliasaidthatnight,kissingtheoldman,herfather,andputtingabillforahundredpoundsintohishands.
“And—and,Mamma,don’tbeharshwithGeorgy.
He—heisnotgoingtostopwithuslong.”
Shecouldsaynothingmore,andwalkedawaysilentlytoherroom.
Letuscloseituponherprayersandhersorrow.
Ithinkwehadbestspeaklittleaboutsomuchloveandgrief.
MissOsbornecamethenextday,accordingtothepromisecontainedinhernote,andsawAmelia.Themeetingbetweenthemwasfriendly.
AlookandafewwordsfromMissOsborneshowedthepoorwidowthat,withregardtothiswomanatleast,thereneedbenofearlestsheshouldtakethefirstplaceinherson’saffection.Shewascold,sensible,notunkind.
Themotherhadnotbeensowellpleased,perhaps,hadtherivalbeenbetterlooking,younger,moreaffectionate,warmer-hearted.
MissOsborne,ontheotherhand,thoughtofoldtimesandmemoriesandcouldnotbutbetouchedwiththepoormother’spitifulsituation.
Shewasconquered,andlayingdownherarms,asitwere,shehumblysubmitted.
Thatdaytheyarrangedtogetherthepreliminariesofthetreatyofcapitulation.
Georgewaskeptfromschoolthenextday,andsawhisaunt.
Amelialeftthemalonetogetherandwenttoherroom.
Shewastryingtheseparation—asthatpoorgentleLadyJaneGreyfelttheedgeoftheaxethatwastocomedownandseverherslenderlife.
Dayswerepassedinparleys,visits,preparations.
ThewidowbrokethemattertoGeorgywithgreatcaution;shelookedtoseehimverymuchaffectedbytheintelligence.
Hewasratherelatedthanotherwise,andthepoorwomanturnedsadlyaway.
Hebraggedaboutthenewsthatdaytotheboysatschool;toldthemhowhewasgoingtolivewithhisgrandpapahisfather’sfather,nottheonewhocomesheresometimes;andthathewouldbeveryrich,andhaveacarriage,andapony,andgotoamuchfinerschool,andwhenhewasrichhewouldbuyLeader’spencil-caseandpaythetart-woman.
Theboywastheimageofhisfather,ashisfondmotherthought.
IndeedIhavenoheart,onaccountofourdearAmelia’ssake,togothroughthestoryofGeorge’slastdaysathome.
Atlastthedaycame,thecarriagedroveup,thelittlehumblepacketscontainingtokensofloveandremembrancewerereadyanddisposedinthehalllongsince—Georgewasinhisnewsuit,forwhichthetailorhadcomepreviouslytomeasurehim.
Hehadsprungupwiththesunandputonthenewclothes,hismotherhearinghimfromtheroomcloseby,inwhichshehadbeenlying,inspeechlessgriefandwatching.
Daysbeforeshehadbeenmakingpreparationsfortheend,purchasinglittlestoresfortheboy’suse,markinghisbooksandlinen,talkingwithhimandpreparinghimforthechange—fondlyfancyingthatheneededpreparation.
Sothathehadchange,whatcaredhe?Hewaslongingforit.
Byathousandeagerdeclarationsastowhathewoulddo,whenhewenttolivewithhisgrandfather,hehadshownthepoorwidowhowlittletheideaofpartinghadcasthimdown.
“Hewouldcomeandseehismammaoftenonthepony,”hesaid.
“Hewouldcomeandfetchherinthecarriage;theywoulddriveinthepark,andsheshouldhaveeverythingshewanted.”
Thepoormotherwasfaintocontentherselfwiththeseselfishdemonstrationsofattachment,andtriedtoconvinceherselfhowsincerelyhersonlovedher.Hemustloveher.
Allchildrenwereso:alittleanxiousfornovelty,and—no,notselfish,butself-willed.
Herchildmusthavehisenjoymentsandambitionintheworld.
Sheherself,byherownselfishnessandimprudentloveforhimhaddeniedhimhisjustrightsandpleasureshitherto.
Iknowfewthingsmoreaffectingthanthattimorousdebasementandself-humiliationofawoman.
Howsheownsthatitissheandnotthemanwhoisguilty;howshetakesallthefaultsonherside;howshecourtsinamannerpunishmentforthewrongswhichshehasnotcommittedandpersistsinshieldingtherealculprit!
Itisthosewhoinjurewomenwhogetthemostkindnessfromthem—theyareborntimidandtyrantsandmaltreatthosewhoarehumblestbeforethem.
SopoorAmeliahadbeengettingreadyinsilentmiseryforherson’sdeparture,andhadpassedmanyandmanyalongsolitaryhourinmakingpreparationsfortheend.
Georgestoodbyhismother,watchingherarrangementswithouttheleastconcern.
Tearshadfallenintohisboxes;passageshadbeenscoredinhisfavouritebooks;oldtoys,relics,treasureshadbeenhoardedawayforhim,andpackedwithstrangeneatnessandcare—andofallthesethingstheboytooknonote.
Thechildgoesawaysmilingasthemotherbreaksherheart.
Byheavensitispitiful,thebootlessloveofwomenforchildreninVanityFair.
Afewdaysarepast,andthegreateventofAmelia’slifeisconsummated.Noangelhasintervened.Thechildissacrificedandoffereduptofate,andthewidowisquitealone.
Theboycomestoseeheroften,tobesure.
Heridesonaponywithacoachmanbehindhim,tothedelightofhisoldgrandfather,Sedley,whowalksproudlydownthelanebyhisside.
Sheseeshim,butheisnotherboyanymore.
Why,heridestoseetheboysatthelittleschool,too,andtoshowoffbeforethemhisnewwealthandsplendour.
Intwodayshehasadoptedaslightlyimperiousairandpatronizingmanner.
Hewasborntocommand,hismotherthinks,ashisfatherwasbeforehim.
Itisfineweathernow.Ofeveningsonthedayswhenhedoesnotcome,shetakesalongwalkintoLondon—yes,asfarasRussellSquare,andrestsonthestonebytherailingofthegardenoppositeMr.Osborne’shouse.Itissopleasantandcool.
Shecanlookupandseethedrawing-roomwindowsilluminated,and,ataboutnineo’clock,thechamberintheupperstorywhereGeorgysleeps.Sheknows—hehastoldher.
Shepraysthereasthelightgoesout,prayswithanhumbleheart,andwalkshomeshrinkingandsilent.Sheisverytiredwhenshecomeshome.
Perhapsshewillsleepthebetterforthatlongwearywalk,andshemaydreamaboutGeorgy.
OneSundayshehappenedtobewalkinginRussellSquare,atsomedistancefromMr.Osborne’shouse(shecouldseeitfromadistancethough)whenallthebellsofSabbathwereringing,andGeorgeandhisauntcameouttogotochurch;alittlesweepaskedforcharity,andthefootman,whocarriedthebooks,triedtodrivehimaway;butGeorgystoppedandgavehimmoney.MayGod’sblessingbeontheboy!
Emmyranroundthesquareand,cominguptothesweep,gavehimhermitetoo.
AllthebellsofSabbathwereringing,andshefollowedthemuntilshecametotheFoundlingChurch,intowhichshewent.
Thereshesatinaplacewhenceshecouldseetheheadoftheboyunderhisfather’stombstone.
Manyhundredfreshchildren’svoicesroseupthereandsanghymnstotheFatherBeneficent,andlittleGeorge’ssoulthrilledwithdelightattheburstofgloriouspsalmody.
Hismothercouldnotseehimforawhile,throughthemistthatdimmedhereyes.
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