HehadbeengladenoughinformerdaystoputtheelderGeorgetoagoodprivateschool;andacommissioninthearmyforhissonhadbeenasourceofnosmallpridetohim;forlittleGeorgeandhisfutureprospectstheoldmanlookedmuchhigher.
Afewyearsbefore,heusedtobesavage,andinveighagainstallparsons,scholars,andthelikedeclaringthattheywereapackofhumbugs,andquacksthatweren’tfittogettheirlivingbutbygrindingLatinandGreek,andasetofsuperciliousdogsthatpretendedtolookdownuponBritishmerchantsandgentlemen,whocouldbuyuphalfahundredof‘em.
Hewouldmournnow,inaverysolemnmanner,thathisowneducationhadbeenneglected,andrepeatedlypointout,inpompousorationstoGeorgy,thenecessityandexcellenceofclassicalacquirements.
Whentheymetatdinnerthegrandsireusedtoasktheladwhathehadbeenreadingduringtheday,andwasgreatlyinterestedatthereporttheboygaveofhisownstudies,pretendingtounderstandlittleGeorgewhenhespokeregardingthem.
Aquickbrainandabettereducationelsewhereshowedtheboyverysoonthathisgrandsirewasadullard,andhebeganaccordinglytocommandhimandtolookdownuponhim;forhispreviouseducation,humbleandcontractedasithadbeen,hadmadeamuchbettergentlemanofGeorgythananyplansofhisgrandfathercouldmakehim.
Hehadbeenbroughtupbyakind,weak,andtenderwoman,whohadnoprideaboutanythingbutabouthim,andwhoseheartwassopureandwhosebearingwassomeekandhumblethatshecouldnotbutneedsbeatruelady.
Shebusiedherselfingentleofficesandquietduties;ifsheneversaidbrilliantthings,sheneverspokeorthoughtunkindones;guilelessandartless,lovingandpure,indeedhowcouldourpoorlittleAmeliabeotherthanarealgentlewoman!
YoungGeorgylordedoverthissoftandyieldingnature;andthecontrastofitssimplicityanddelicacywiththecoarsepomposityofthedulloldmanwithwhomhenextcameincontactmadehimlordoverthelattertoo.
Whilsthismotherwasyearningafterhimathome,andIdobelieveeveryhouroftheday,andduringmosthoursofthesadlonelynights,thinkingofhim,thisyounggentlemanhadanumberofpleasuresandconsolationsadministeredtohim,whichmadehimforhispartbeartheseparationfromAmeliaveryeasily.
Whenyouthinkthattheeyesofyourchildhooddriedatthesightofapieceofgingerbread,andthataplumcakewasacompensationfortheagonyofpartingwithyourmammaandsisters,ohmyfriendandbrother,youneednotbetooconfidentofyourownfinefeelings.
Well,then,MasterGeorgeOsbornehadeverycomfortandluxurythatawealthyandlavisholdgrandfatherthoughtfittoprovide.
Thecoachmanwasinstructedtopurchaseforhimthehandsomestponywhichcouldbeboughtformoney,andonthisGeorgewastaughttoride,firstatariding-school,whence,afterhavingperformedsatisfactorilywithoutstirrups,andovertheleaping-bar,hewasconductedthroughtheNewRoadtoRegent’sPark,andthentoHydePark,whereherodeinstatewithMartinthecoachmanbehindhim.
OldOsborne,whotookmattersmoreeasilyintheCitynow,wherehelefthisaffairstohisjuniorpartners,wouldoftenrideoutwithMissO.inthesamefashionabledirection.
AslittleGeorgycamecanteringupwithhisdandifiedairandhisheelsdown,hisgrandfatherwouldnudgethelad’sauntandsay,“Look,MissO.”Andhewouldlaugh,andhisfacewouldgrowredwithpleasure,ashenoddedoutofthewindowtotheboy,asthegroomsalutedthecarriage,andthefootmansalutedMasterGeorge.
Heretoohisaunt,Mrs.FrederickBullock(whosechariotmightdailybeseenintheRing,withbullocksoremblazonedonthepanelsandharness,andthreepasty-facedlittleBullocks,coveredwithcockadesandfeathers,staringfromthewindows)Mrs.FrederickBullock,Isay,flungglancesofthebitteresthatredatthelittleupstartasherodebywithhishandonhissideandhishatononeear,asproudasalord.
Hehadgiltspurs,andagold-headedwhip,andafinepininhishandkerchief,andtheneatestlittlekidgloveswhichLamb’sConduitStreetcouldfurnish.
Hismotherhadgivenhimacoupleofneckcloths,andcarefullyhemmedandmadesomelittleshirtsforhim;butwhenherElicametoseethewidow,theywerereplacedbymuchfinerlinen.
Shehadhadalittleblackprofileofhimdoneforashilling,andthiswashungupbythesideofanotherportraitoverherbed.
Onedaytheboycameonhisaccustomedvisit,gallopingdownthelittlestreetatBrompton,andbringing,asusual,alltheinhabitantstothewindowstoadmirehissplendour,andwithgreateagernessandalookoftriumphinhisface,hepulledacaseoutofhisgreat-coat—itwasanattywhitegreat-coat,withacapeandavelvetcollar—pulledoutaredmoroccocase,whichhegaveher.
Ameliaopenedthecase,andgivingalittlecryofdelightedaffection,seizedtheboyandembracedhimahundredtimes.
Itwasaminiature-ofhimself,veryprettilydone(thoughnothalfhandsomeenough,wemaybesure,thewidowthought).
Hisgrandfatherhadwishedtohaveapictureofhimbyanartistwhoseworks,exhibitedinashop-window,inSouthamptonRow,hadcaughttheoldgentleman’seye;andGeorge,whohadplentyofmoney,bethoughthimofaskingthepainterhowmuchacopyofthelittleportraitwouldcost,sayingthathewouldpayforitoutofhisownmoneyandthathewantedtogiveittohismother.
Thepleasedpainterexecuteditforasmallprice,andoldOsbornehimself,whenheheardoftheincident,growledouthissatisfactionandgavetheboytwiceasmanysovereignsashepaidfortheminiature.
AthisnewhomeMasterGeorgeruledlikealord;atdinnerheinvitedtheladiestodrinkwinewiththeutmostcoolness,andtookoffhischampagneinawaywhichcharmedhisoldgrandfather.
“Lookathim,”theoldmanwouldsay,nudginghisneighbourwithadelightedpurpleface,“didyoueverseesuchachap?Lord,Lord!
Mr.SergeantToffy’sladyfeltnoparticulargratitude,when,withatwistofhiselbow,hetiltedaglassofport-wineoverheryellowsatinandlaughedatthedisaster;norwasshebetterpleased,althougholdOsbornewashighlydelighted,whenGeorgy“whopped”herthirdboy(ayounggentlemanayearolderthanGeorgy,andbychancehomefortheholidaysfromDr.Tickleus’satEalingSchool)inRussellSquare.
George’sgrandfathergavetheboyacoupleofsovereignsforthatfeatandpromisedtorewardhimfurtherforeveryboyabovehisownsizeandagewhomhewhoppedinasimilarmanner.
Itisdifficulttosaywhatgoodtheoldmansawinthesecombats;hehadavaguenotionthatquarrellingmadeboyshardy,andthattyrannywasausefulaccomplishmentforthemtolearn.
Englishyouthhavebeensoeducatedtimeoutofmind,andwehavehundredsofthousandsofapologistsandadmirersofinjustice,misery,andbrutality,asperpetratedamongchildren.
FlushedwithpraiseandvictoryoverMasterToffy,Georgewishednaturallytopursuehisconquestsfurther,andonedayashewasstruttingaboutinprodigiouslydandifiednewclothes,nearSt.Pancras,andayoungbaker’sboymadesarcasticcommentsuponhisappearance,theyouthfulpatricianpulledoffhisdandyjacketwithgreatspirit,andgivingitinchargetothefriendwhoaccompaniedhim(MasterTodd,ofGreatCoramStreet,RussellSquare,sonofthejuniorpartnerofthehouseofOsborneandCo.),Georgetriedtowhopthelittlebaker.
Butthechancesofwarwereunfavourablethistime,andthelittlebakerwhoppedGeorgy,whocamehomewitharuefulblackeyeandallhisfineshirtfrilldabbledwiththeclaretdrawnfromhisownlittlenose.
Hetoldhisgrandfatherthathehadbeenincombatwithagiant,andfrightenedhispoormotheratBromptonwithlong,andbynomeansauthentic,accountsofthebattle.
Theybothhadatasteforpaintingtheatricalcharacters;forhardbakeandraspberrytarts;forslidingandskatingintheRegent’sParkandtheSerpentine,whentheweatherpermitted;forgoingtotheplay,whithertheywereoftenconducted,byMr.Osborne’sorders,byRowson,MasterGeorge’sappointedbody-servant,withwhomtheysatingreatcomfortinthepit.
Inthecompanyofthisgentlemantheyvisitedalltheprincipaltheatresofthemetropolis;knewthenamesofalltheactorsfromDruryLanetoSadler’sWells;andperformed,indeed,manyoftheplaystotheToddfamilyandtheiryouthfulfriends,withWest’sfamouscharacters,ontheirpasteboardtheatre.
Rowson,thefootman,whowasofagenerousdisposition,wouldnotunfrequently,whenincash,treathisyoungmastertooystersaftertheplay,andtoaglassofrum-shrubforanight-cap.
WemaybeprettycertainthatMr.Rowsonprofitedinhisturnbyhisyoungmaster’sliberalityandgratitudeforthepleasurestowhichthefootmaninductedhim.
AfamoustailorfromtheWestEndofthetown—Mr.OsbornewouldhavenoneofyourCityorHolbornbunglers,hesaid,fortheboy(thoughaCitytailorwasgoodenoughforHIM)—wassummonedtoornamentlittleGeorge’sperson,andwastoldtosparenoexpenseinsodoing.
So,Mr.Woolsey,ofConduitStreet,gavealoosetohisimaginationandsentthechildhomefancytrousers,fancywaistcoats,andfancyjacketsenoughtofurnishaschooloflittledandies.
Georgyhadlittlewhitewaistcoatsforeveningparties,andlittlecutvelvetwaistcoatsfordinners,andadearlittledarlingshawldressing-gown,foralltheworldlikealittleman.
Hedressedfordinnereveryday,“likearegularWestEndswell,”ashisgrandfatherremarked;oneofthedomesticswasaffectedtohisspecialservice,attendedhimathistoilette,answeredhisbell,andbroughthimhislettersalwaysonasilvertray.
Georgy,afterbreakfast,wouldsitinthearm-chairinthedining-roomandreadtheMorningPost,justlikeagrown-upman.
George’seducationwasconfidedtoaneighbouringscholarandprivatepedagoguewho“preparedyoungnoblemenandgentlemenfortheUniversities,thesenate,andthelearnedprofessions:whosesystemdidnotembracethedegradingcorporalseveritiesstillpractisedattheancientplacesofeducation,andinwhosefamilythepupilswouldfindtheelegancesofrefinedsocietyandtheconfidenceandaffectionofahome.”
ItwasinthiswaythattheReverendLawrenceVealofHartStreet,Bloomsbury,anddomesticChaplaintotheEarlofBareacres,strovewithMrs.Vealhiswifetoenticepupils.
Bythusadvertisingandpushingsedulously,thedomesticChaplainandhisLadygenerallysucceededinhavingoneortwoscholarsbythem—whopaidahighfigureandwerethoughttobeinuncommonlycomfortablequarters.
TherewasalargeWestIndian,whomnobodycametosee,withamahoganycomplexion,awoollyhead,andanexceedinglydandyfiedappearance;therewasanotherhulkingboyofthree-and-twentywhoseeducationhadbeenneglectedandwhomMr.andMrs.Vealweretointroduceintothepoliteworld;thereweretwosonsofColonelBanglesoftheEastIndiaCompany’sService:thesefoursatdowntodinneratMrs.Veal’sgenteelboard,whenGeorgywasintroducedtoherestablishment.
Georgywas,likesomedozenotherpupils,onlyadayboy;hearrivedinthemorningundertheguardianshipofhisfriendMr.Rowson,andifitwasfine,wouldrideawayintheafternoononhispony,followedbythegroom.
TheRev.Mr.VealusedtocomplimentGeorgyuponitpersonally,warninghimthathewasdestinedforahighstation;thatitbecamehimtoprepare,bysedulityanddocilityinyouth,fortheloftydutiestowhichhewouldbecalledinmatureage;thatobedienceinthechildwasthebestpreparationforcommandintheman;andthathethereforebeggedGeorgewouldnotbringtoffeeintotheschoolandruinthehealthoftheMastersBangles,whohadeverythingtheywantedattheelegantandabundanttableofMrs.Veal.
Withrespecttolearning,“theCurriculum,”asMr.Veallovedtocallit,wasofprodigiousextent,andtheyounggentlemeninHartStreetmightlearnasomethingofeveryknownscience.
TheRev.Mr.Vealhadanorrery,anelectrifyingmachine,aturninglathe,atheatre(inthewash-house),achemicalapparatus,andwhathecalledaselectlibraryofalltheworksofthebestauthorsofancientandmoderntimesandlanguages.
HetooktheboystotheBritishMuseumanddescantedupontheantiquitiesandthespecimensofnaturalhistorythere,sothataudienceswouldgatherroundhimashespoke,andallBloomsburyhighlyadmiredhimasaprodigiouslywell-informedman.
Andwheneverhespoke(whichhedidalmostalways),hetookcaretoproducetheveryfinestandlongestwordsofwhichthevocabularygavehimtheuse,rightlyjudgingthatitwasascheaptoemployahandsome,large,andsonorousepithet,astousealittlestingyone.
ThushewouldsaytoGeorgeinschool,“Iobservedonmyreturnhomefromtakingtheindulgenceofanevening’sscientificconversationwithmyexcellentfriendDoctorBulders—atruearchaeologian,gentlemen,atruearchaeologian—thatthewindowsofyourveneratedgrandfather’salmostprincelymansioninRussellSquarewereilluminatedasifforthepurposesoffestivity.
AmIrightinmyconjecturethatMr.Osborneentertainedasocietyofchosenspiritsroundhissumptuousboardlastnight?”
LittleGeorgy,whohadconsiderablehumour,andusedtomimicMr.Vealtohisfacewithgreatspiritanddexterity,wouldreplythatMr.V.wasquitecorrectinhissurmise.
“ThenthosefriendswhohadthehonourofpartakingofMr.Osborne’shospitality,gentlemen,hadnoreason,Iwilllayanywager,tocomplainoftheirrepast.
(Bytheway,MasterOsborne,youcamealittlelatethismorning,andhavebeenadefaulterinthisrespectmorethanonce.)
AndthoughIhavefeastedwiththegreatandnobleoftheworld—forIpresumethatImaycallmyexcellentfriendandpatron,theRightHonourableGeorgeEarlofBareacres,oneofthenumber—yetIassureyouthattheboardoftheBritishmerchantwastothefullasrichlyserved,andhisreceptionasgratifyingandnoble.
Mr.Bluck,sir,wewillresume,ifyouplease,thatpassageofEutropis,whichwasinterruptedbythelatearrivalofMasterOsborne.”
ShelikedtobeaskedtoMrs.Veal’sconversazioni,whichtookplaceonceamonth(asyouwereinformedonpinkcards,withAOHNHengravedonthem),andwheretheprofessorwelcomedhispupilsandtheirfriendstoweakteaandscientificconversation.
PoorlittleAmelianevermissedoneoftheseentertainmentsandthoughtthemdelicioussolongasshemighthaveGeorgysittingbyher.
AndshewouldwalkfromBromptoninanyweather,andembraceMrs.Vealwithtearfulgratitudeforthedelightfuleveningshehadpassed,when,thecompanyhavingretiredandGeorgygoneoffwithMr.Rowson,hisattendant,poorMrs.Osborneputonhercloaksandhershawlspreparatorytowalkinghome.
AsforthelearningwhichGeorgyimbibedunderthisvaluablemasterofahundredsciences,tojudgefromtheweeklyreportswhichtheladtookhometohisgrandfather,hisprogresswasremarkable.
Thenamesofascoreormoreofdesirablebranchesofknowledgewereprintedinatable,andthepupil’sprogressineachwasmarkedbytheprofessor.
InGreekGeorgywaspronouncedaristos,inLatinoptimus,inFrenchtresbien,andsoforth;andeverybodyhadprizesforeverythingattheendoftheyear.
EvenMr.Swartz,thewooly-headedyounggentleman,andhalf-brothertotheHonourableMrs.MacMull,andMr.Bluck,theneglectedyoungpupilofthree-and-twentyfromtheagriculturaldistrict,andthatidleyoungscapegraceofaMasterToddbeforementioned,receivedlittleeighteen-pennybooks,with“Athene”engravedonthem,andapompousLatininscriptionfromtheprofessortohisyoungfriends.
ThefamilyofthisMasterToddwerehangers-onofthehouseofOsborne.TheoldgentlemanhadadvancedToddfrombeingaclerktobeajuniorpartnerinhisestablishment.
Mr.OsbornewasthegodfatherofyoungMasterTodd(whoinsubsequentlifewroteMr.OsborneToddonhiscardsandbecameamanofdecidedfashion),whileMissOsbornehadaccompaniedMissMariaToddtothefont,andgaveherprotegeeaprayer-book,acollectionoftracts,avolumeofverylowchurchpoetry,orsomesuchmementoofhergoodnesseveryyear.
MissO.drovetheToddsoutinhercarriagenowandthen;whentheywereill,herfootman,inlargeplushsmallsandwaistcoat,broughtjelliesanddelicaciesfromRussellSquaretoCoramStreet.
CoramStreettrembledandlookeduptoRussellSquareindeed,andMrs.Todd,whohadaprettyhandatcuttingoutpapertrimmingsforhaunchesofmutton,andcouldmakeflowers,ducks,&c.,outofturnipsandcarrotsinaverycreditablemanner,wouldgoto“theSquare,”asitwascalled,andassistinthepreparationsincidenttoagreatdinner,withoutevensomuchasthinkingofsittingdowntothebanquet.
Mrs.ToddandMariacameacrossintheevening,slippedinwithamuffledknock,andwereinthedrawing-roombythetimeMissOsborneandtheladiesunderherconvoyreachedthatapartment—andreadytofireoffduetsandsinguntilthegentlemencameup.PoorMariaTodd;pooryounglady!
ThusitseemedtobedecreedbyfatethatGeorgywastodomineerovereverybodywithwhomhecameincontact,andthatfriends,relatives,anddomesticswerealltobowthekneebeforethelittlefellow.
Theboy’sdashingmanners,andoffhandrattleaboutbooksandlearning,hislikenesstohisfather(deadunreconciledinBrusselsyonder)awedtheoldgentlemanandgavetheyoungboythemastery.
Theoldmanwouldstartatsomehereditaryfeatureortoneunconsciouslyusedbythelittlelad,andfancythatGeorge’sfatherwasagainbeforehim.
MissOsborne,George’saunt,wasafadedoldspinster,brokendownbymorethanfortyyearsofdulnessandcoarseusage.
AndwheneverGeorgewantedanythingfromher,fromthejam-potsinhercupboardstothecrackedanddryoldcoloursinherpaint-box(theoldpaint-boxwhichshehadhadwhenshewasapupilofMr.Smeeandwasstillalmostyoungandblooming),Georgytookpossessionoftheobjectofhisdesire,whichobtained,hetooknofurthernoticeofhisaunt.
Forhisfriendsandcronies,hehadapompousoldschoolmaster,whoflatteredhim,andatoady,hissenior,whomhecouldthrash.
ItwasdearMrs.Todd’sdelighttoleavehimwithheryoungestdaughter,RosaJemima,adarlingchildofeightyearsold.
Thelittlepairlookedsowelltogether,shewouldsay(butnottothefolksin“theSquare,”wemaybesure)“whoknowswhatmighthappen?
Georgy,onhisside,wasintheconstanthabitofhearingcoarseabuseandvulgarsatirelevelledatJohnSedleybyhispitilessoldenemy,Mr.Osborne.
Osborneusedtocalltheothertheoldpauper,theoldcoal-man,theoldbankrupt,andbymanyothersuchnamesofbrutalcontumely.
Hecamedowntovisithismotherinafinenewsuitofmourning,andwasveryangrythathecouldnotgotoaplayuponwhichhehadsethisheart.
Ceaselessslaverymeetingwithnoreward;constantgentlenessandkindnessmetbycrueltyasconstant;love,labour,patience,watchfulness,withoutevensomuchastheacknowledgementofagoodword;allthis,howmanyofthemhavetobearinquiet,andappearabroadwithcheerfulfacesasiftheyfeltnothing.
FromherchairAmelia’smotherhadtakentoherbed,whichshehadneverleft,andfromwhichMrs.OsborneherselfwasneverabsentexceptwhensherantoseeGeorge.
Theoldladygrudgedhereventhoserarevisits;she,whohadbeenakind,smiling,good-naturedmotheronce,inthedaysofherprosperity,butwhompovertyandinfirmitieshadbrokendown.
Theyratherenabledhertosupporttheothercalamityunderwhichshewassuffering,andfromthethoughtsofwhichshewaskeptbytheceaselesscallsoftheinvalid.
Ameliaboreherharshnessquitegently;smoothedtheuneasypillow;wasalwaysreadywithasoftanswertothewatchful,querulousvoice;soothedthesuffererwithwordsofhope,suchasherpioussimpleheartcouldbestfeelandutter,andclosedtheeyesthathadoncelookedsotenderlyuponher.
Thenallhertimeandtendernessweredevotedtotheconsolationandcomfortofthebereavedoldfather,whowasstunnedbytheblowwhichhadbefallenhim,andstoodutterlyaloneintheworld.
OnedayastheyounggentlemenwereassembledinthestudyattheRev.Mr.Veal’s,andthedomesticchaplaintotheRightHonourabletheEarlofBareacreswasspoutingawayasusual,asmartcarriagedroveuptothedoordecoratedwiththestatueofAthene,andtwogentlemensteppedout.
Thegreathulkingscholarofthree-and-twenty,whowascryingsecretlyoverapassageofEutropius,flattenedhisneglectednoseagainstthepanesandlookedatthedrag,asthelaquaisdeplacesprangfromtheboxandletoutthepersonsinthecarriage.
Everybodywasinterested,fromthedomesticchaplainhimself,whohopedhesawthefathersofsomefuturepupils,downtoMasterGeorgy,gladofanypretextforlayinghisbookdown.
Theboyintheshabbyliverywiththefadedcopperbuttons,whoalwaysthrusthimselfintothetightcoattoopenthedoor,cameintothestudyandsaid,“TwogentlemenwanttoseeMasterOsborne.”
Theprofessorhadhadatriflingaltercationinthemorningwiththatyounggentleman,owingtoadifferenceabouttheintroductionofcrackersinschool-time;buthisfaceresumeditshabitualexpressionofblandcourtesyashesaid,“MasterOsborne,Igiveyoufullpermissiontogoandseeyourcarriagefriends—towhomIbegyoutoconveytherespectfulcomplimentsofmyselfandMrs.Veal.”
Georgywentintothereception-roomandsawtwostrangers,whomhelookedatwithhisheadup,inhisusualhaughtymanner.
Onewasfat,withmustachios,andtheotherwasleanandlong,inabluefrock-coat,withabrownfaceandagrizzledhead.
Theboy’sfaceflushedup,asitdidusuallywhenhewasmoved,andhiseyesbrightened.“Idon’tknowtheother,”hesaid,“butIshouldthinkyoumustbeMajorDobbin.”
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