AshefurnishedGeorgewithmoneyforhismother,hegavetheboytounderstandbyhints,deliveredinhisbrutal,coarseway,thatGeorge’smaternalgrandfatherwasbutawretchedoldbankruptanddependant,andthatJohnSedleymightthankthemantowhomhealreadyowedeversomuchmoneyfortheaidwhichhisgenerositynowchosetoadminister.
Georgecarriedthepompoussuppliestohismotherandtheshatteredoldwidowerwhomitwasnowthemainbusinessofherlifetotendandcomfort.
Itmayhaveshownawantof“properpride”inAmeliathatshechosetoacceptthesemoneybenefitsatthehandsofherfather’senemy.
Adispositionnaturallysimpleanddemandingprotection;alongcourseofpovertyandhumility,ofdailyprivations,andhardwords,ofkindofficesandnoreturns,hadbeenherloteversincewomanhoodalmost,orsinceherlucklessmarriagewithGeorgeOsborne.
Youwhoseeyourbettersbearingupunderthisshameeveryday,meeklysufferingundertheslightsoffortune,gentleandunpitied,poor,andratherdespisedfortheirpoverty,doyoueverstepdownfromyourprosperityandwashthefeetofthesepoorweariedbeggars?
“Theremustbeclasses—theremustberichandpoor,”Divessays,smackinghisclaret(itiswellifheevensendsthebrokenmeatouttoLazarussittingunderthewindow).
Verytrue;butthinkhowmysteriousandoftenunaccountableitis—thatlotteryoflifewhichgivestothismanthepurpleandfinelinenandsendstotheotherragsforgarmentsanddogsforcomforters.
SoImustownthat,withoutmuchrepining,onthecontrarywithsomethingakintogratitude,Ameliatookthecrumbsthatherfather-in-lawletdropnowandthen,andwiththemfedherownparent.
Directlysheunderstoodittobeherduty,itwasthisyoungwoman’snature(ladies,sheisbutthirtystill,andwechoosetocallherayoungwomanevenatthatage)itwas,Isay,hernaturetosacrificeherselfandtoflingallthatshehadatthefeetofthebelovedobject.
DuringwhatlongthanklessnightshadsheworkedoutherfingersforlittleGeorgywhilstathomewithher;whatbuffets,scorns,privations,povertieshadsheenduredforfatherandmother!
Andinthemidstofallthesesolitaryresignationsandunseensacrifices,shedidnotrespectherselfanymorethantheworldrespectedher,butIbelievethoughtinherheartthatshewasapoor-spirited,despicablelittlecreature,whoseluckinlifewasonlytoogoodforhermerits.Oyoupoorwomen!
Oyoupoorsecretmartyrsandvictims,whoselifeisatorture,whoarestretchedonracksinyourbedrooms,andwholayyourheadsdownontheblockdailyatthedrawing-roomtable;everymanwhowatchesyourpains,orpeersintothosedarkplaceswherethetortureisadministeredtoyou,mustpityyou—and—andthankGodthathehasabeard.
Irecollectseeing,yearsago,attheprisonsforidiotsandmadmenatBicetre,nearParis,apoorwretchbentdownunderthebondageofhisimprisonmentandhispersonalinfirmity,towhomoneofourpartygaveahalfpennyworthofsnuffinacornetor“screw”ofpaper.
Hecriedinananguishofdelightandgratitude:ifanybodygaveyouandmeathousandayear,orsavedourlives,wecouldnotbesoaffected.
Andso,ifyouproperlytyrannizeoverawoman,youwillfindah’p’orthofkindnessactuponherandbringtearsintohereyes,asthoughyouwereanangelbenefitingher.
RussellSquarewastheboundaryofherprison:shemightwalkthitheroccasionally,butwasalwaysbacktosleepinhercellatnight;toperformcheerlessduties;towatchbythanklesssick-beds;tosuffertheharassmentandtyrannyofquerulousdisappointedoldage.
—whoarehospitalnurseswithoutwages—sistersofCharity,ifyoulike,withouttheromanceandthesentimentofsacrifice—whostrive,fast,watch,andsuffer,unpitied,andfadeawayignoblyandunknown.
ThehiddenandawfulWisdomwhichapportionsthedestiniesofmankindispleasedsotohumiliateandcastdownthetender,good,andwise,andtosetuptheselfish,thefoolish,orthewicked.
Think,whatrighthaveyoutobescornful,whosevirtueisadeficiencyoftemptation,whosesuccessmaybeachance,whoserankmaybeanancestor’saccident,whoseprosperityisverylikelyasatire.
TheyburiedAmelia’smotherinthechurchyardatBrompton,uponjustsucharainy,darkdayasAmeliarecollectedwhenfirstshehadbeentheretomarryGeorge.
Sheslaved,toiled,patched,andmended,sangandplayedbackgammon,readoutthenewspaper,cookeddishes,foroldSedley,walkedhimoutsedulouslyintoKensingtonGardensortheBromptonLanes,listenedtohisstorieswithuntiringsmilesandaffectionatehypocrisy,orsatmusingbyhissideandcommuningwithherownthoughtsandreminiscences,astheoldman,feebleandquerulous,sunnedhimselfonthegardenbenchesandprattledabouthiswrongsorhissorrows.
ThechildrenrunningupanddowntheslopesandbroadpathsinthegardensremindedherofGeorge,whowastakenfromher;thefirstGeorgewastakenfromher;herselfish,guiltylove,inbothinstances,hadbeenrebukedandbitterlychastised.
Shestrovetothinkitwasrightthatsheshouldbesopunished.Shewassuchamiserablewickedsinner.Shewasquitealoneintheworld.
Iknowthattheaccountofthiskindofsolitaryimprisonmentisinsufferablytedious,unlessthereissomecheerfulorhumorousincidenttoenlivenit—atendergaoler,forinstance,orawaggishcommandantofthefortress,oramousetocomeoutandplayaboutLatude’sbeardandwhiskers,orasubterraneanpassageunderthecastle,dugbyTrenckwithhisnailsandatoothpick:thehistorianhasnosuchenliveningincidenttorelateinthenarrativeofAmelia’scaptivity.
Fancyher,ifyouplease,duringthisperiod,verysad,butalwaysreadytosmilewhenspokento;inaverymean,poor,nottosayvulgarpositionoflife;singingsongs,makingpuddings,playingcards,mendingstockings,forheroldfather’sbenefit.
So,nevermind,whethershebeaheroineorno;oryouandI,howeverold,scolding,andbankrupt—maywehaveinourlastdaysakindsoftshoulderonwhichtoleanandagentlehandtosootheourgoutyoldpillows.
OldSedleygrewveryfondofhisdaughterafterhiswife’sdeath,andAmeliahadherconsolationindoingherdutybytheoldman.
PerhapstheingeniousreaderhasguessedwhowasthestoutgentlemanwhocalleduponGeorgyathisschoolincompanywithouroldfriendMajorDobbin.
ItwasanotheroldacquaintancereturnedtoEngland,andatatimewhenhispresencewaslikelytobeofgreatcomforttohisrelativesthere.
MajorDobbinhavingeasilysucceededingettingleavefromhisgood-naturedcommandanttoproceedtoMadras,andthenceprobablytoEurope,onurgentprivateaffairs,neverceasedtravellingnightanddayuntilhereachedhisjourney’send,andhaddirectedhismarchwithsuchceleritythathearrivedatMadrasinahighfever.
HisservantswhoaccompaniedhimbroughthimtothehouseofthefriendwithwhomhehadresolvedtostayuntilhisdepartureforEuropeinastateofdelirium;anditwasthoughtformany,manydaysthathewouldnevertravelfartherthantheburying-groundofthechurchofSt.George’s,wherethetroopsshouldfireasalvooverhisgrave,andwheremanyagallantofficerliesfarawayfromhishome.
Hethoughthislastdaywascome,andhemadehissolemnpreparationsfordeparture,settinghisaffairsinthisworldinorderandleavingthelittlepropertyofwhichhewaspossessedtothosewhomhemostdesiredtobenefit.
Hedesiredtobeburiedwithalittlebrownhair-chainwhichheworeroundhisneckandwhich,ifthetruthmustbeknown,hehadgotfromAmelia’smaidatBrussels,whentheyoungwidow’shairwascutoff,duringthefeverwhichprostratedherafterthedeathofGeorgeOsborneontheplateauatMountSt.John.
Herecovered,rallied,relapsedagain,havingundergonesuchaprocessofblood-lettingandcalomelasshowedthestrengthofhisoriginalconstitution.
HewasalmostaskeletonwhentheyputhimonboardtheRamchunderEastIndiaman,CaptainBragg,fromCalcutta,touchingatMadras,andsoweakandprostratethathisfriendwhohadtendedhimthroughhisillnessprophesiedthatthehonestMajorwouldneversurvivethevoyage,andthathewouldpasssomemorning,shroudedinflagandhammock,overtheship’sside,andcarryingdowntotheseawithhimtherelicthatheworeathisheart.
Butwhetheritwastheseaair,orthehopewhichsprungupinhimafresh,fromthedaythattheshipspreadhercanvasandstoodoutoftheroadstowardshome,ourfriendbegantoamend,andhewasquitewell(thoughasgauntasagreyhound)beforetheyreachedtheCape.
“Kirkwillbedisappointedofhismajoritythistime,”hesaidwithasmile;“hewillexpecttofindhimselfgazettedbythetimetheregimentreacheshome.”
ForitmustbepremisedthatwhiletheMajorwaslyingillatMadras,havingmadesuchprodigioushastetogothither,thegallant—th,whichhadpassedmanyyearsabroad,whichafteritsreturnfromtheWestIndieshadbeenbaulkedofitsstayathomebytheWaterloocampaign,andhadbeenorderedfromFlanderstoIndia,hadreceivedordershome;andtheMajormighthaveaccompaniedhiscomrades,hadhechosentowaitfortheirarrivalatMadras.
“IthinkMissO’Dowdwouldhavedoneforme,”hesaidlaughinglytoafellow-passenger,“ifwehadhadheronboard,andwhenshehadsunkme,shewouldhavefallenuponyou,dependuponit,andcarriedyouinasaprizetoSouthampton,Jos,myboy.”
ForindeeditwasnootherthanourstoutfriendwhowasalsoapassengeronboardtheRamchunder.HehadpassedtenyearsinBengal.
Constantdinners,tiffins,palealeandclaret,theprodigiouslabourofcutcherry,andtherefreshmentofbrandy-pawneewhichhewasforcedtotakethere,hadtheireffectuponWaterlooSedley.
AvoyagetoEuropewaspronouncednecessaryforhim—andhavingservedhisfulltimeinIndiaandhadfineappointmentswhichhadenabledhimtolaybyaconsiderablesumofmoney,hewasfreetocomehomeandstaywithagoodpension,ortoreturnandresumethatrankintheservicetowhichhisseniorityandhisvasttalentsentitledhim.
HehadresumedthemustachiostowhichhisservicesatWaterlooentitledhim,andswaggeredaboutondeckinamagnificentvelvetcapwithagoldbandandaprofuseornamentationofpinsandjewelleryabouthisperson.
Hetookbreakfastinhiscabinanddressedassolemnlytoappearonthequarter-deckasifheweregoingtoturnoutforBondStreet,ortheCourseatCalcutta.
Hebroughtanativeservantwithhim,whowashisvaletandpipe-bearerandwhoworetheSedleycrestinsilveronhisturban.
Theyoungstersamongthepassengers,YoungChaffersofthe150th,andpoorlittleRicketts,cominghomeafterhisthirdfever,usedtodrawoutSedleyatthecuddy-tableandmakehimtellprodigiousstoriesabouthimselfandhisexploitsagainsttigersandNapoleon.
HewasgreatwhenhevisitedtheEmperor’stombatLongwood,whentothesegentlemenandtheyoungofficersoftheship,MajorDobbinnotbeingby,hedescribedthewholebattleofWaterlooandallbutannouncedthatNapoleonneverwouldhavegonetoSaintHelenaatallbutforhim,JosSedley.
AfterleavingSt.Helenahebecameverygenerous,disposingofagreatquantityofshipstores,claret,preservedmeats,andgreatcaskspackedwithsoda-water,broughtoutforhisprivatedelectation.
Therewerenoladiesonboard;theMajorgavethepasofprecedencytothecivilian,sothathewasthefirstdignitaryattable,andtreatedbyCaptainBraggandtheofficersoftheRamchunderwiththerespectwhichhisrankwarranted.
Hedisappearedratherinapanicduringatwo-days’gale,inwhichhehadtheportholesofhiscabinbatteneddown,andremainedinhiscotreadingtheWasherwomanofFinchleyCommon,leftonboardtheRamchunderbytheRightHonourabletheLadyEmilyHornblower,wifeoftheRev.SilasHornblower,whenontheirpassageouttotheCape,wheretheReverendgentlemanwasamissionary;but,forcommonreading,hehadbroughtastockofnovelsandplayswhichhelenttotherestoftheship,andrenderedhimselfagreeabletoallbyhiskindnessandcondescension.
Manyandmanyanightastheshipwascuttingthroughtheroaringdarksea,themoonandstarsshiningoverheadandthebellsingingoutthewatch,Mr.SedleyandtheMajorwouldsitonthequarter-deckofthevesseltalkingabouthome,astheMajorsmokedhischerootandthecivilianpuffedatthehookahwhichhisservantpreparedforhim.
IntheseconversationsitwaswonderfulwithwhatperseveranceandingenuityMajorDobbinwouldmanagetobringthetalkroundtothesubjectofAmeliaandherlittleboy.
Jos,alittletestyabouthisfather’smisfortunesandunceremoniousapplicationstohim,wassootheddownbytheMajor,whopointedouttheelder’sillfortunesandoldage.
Hewouldnotperhapsliketolivewiththeoldcouple,whosewaysandhoursmightnotagreewiththoseofayoungerman,accustomedtodifferentsociety(Josbowedatthiscompliment);but,theMajorpointedout,howadvantageousitwouldbeforJosSedleytohaveahouseofhisowninLondon,andnotamerebachelor’sestablishmentasbefore;howhissisterAmeliawouldbetheverypersontopresideoverit;howelegant,howgentleshewas,andofwhatrefinedgoodmanners.
HerecountedstoriesofthesuccesswhichMrs.GeorgeOsbornehadhadinformerdaysatBrussels,andinLondon,whereshewasmuchadmiredbypeopleofverygreatfashion;andhethenhintedhowbecomingitwouldbeforJostosendGeorgytoagoodschoolandmakeamanofhim,forhismotherandherparentswouldbesuretospoilhim.
HedidnotknowasyetwhateventshadhappenedinthelittleSedleyfamily,andhowdeathhadremovedthemother,andricheshadcarriedoffGeorgefromAmelia.
Butthefactisthateverydayandalways,thislove-smittenandmiddle-agedgentlemanwasthinkingaboutMrs.Osborne,andhiswholeheartwasbentupondoinghergood.
Hecoaxed,wheedled,cajoled,andcomplimentedJosSedleywithaperseveranceandcordialityofwhichhewasnotawarehimself,verylikely;butsomemenwhohaveunmarriedsistersordaughterseven,mayrememberhowuncommonlyagreeablegentlemenaretothemalerelationswhentheyarecourtingthefemales;andperhapsthisrogueofaDobbinwasurgedbyasimilarhypocrisy.
Thetruthis,whenMajorDobbincameonboardtheRamchumder,verysick,andforthethreedaysshelayintheMadrasRoads,hedidnotbegintorally,nordideventheappearanceandrecognitionofhisoldacquaintance,Mr.Sedley,onboardmuchcheerhim,untilafteraconversationwhichtheyhadoneday,astheMajorwaslaidlanguidlyonthedeck.
Hesaidthenhethoughthewasdoomed;hehadleftalittlesomethingtohisgodsoninhiswill,andhetrustedMrs.Osbornewouldrememberhimkindlyandbehappyinthemarriageshewasabouttomake.“Married?
nottheleast,”Josanswered;“hehadheardfromher:shemadenomentionofthemarriage,andbytheway,itwascurious,shewrotetosaythatMajorDobbinwasgoingtobemarried,andhopedthatHEwouldbehappy.”
TheyweretwomonthslaterthantheMajor’s;andtheship’ssurgeoncongratulatedhimselfuponthetreatmentadoptedbyhimtowardshisnewpatient,whohadbeenconsignedtoshipboardbytheMadraspractitionerwithverysmallhopesindeed;for,fromthatday,theverydaythathechangedthedraught,MajorDobbinbegantomend.
Helarkedwiththemidshipmen,playedsingle-stickwiththemates,ranuptheshroudslikeaboy,sangacomicsongonenighttotheamusementofthewholepartyassembledovertheirgrogaftersupper,andrenderedhimselfsogay,lively,andamiablethatevenCaptainBragg,whothoughttherewasnothinginhispassenger,andconsideredhewasapoor-spiritedfelleratfirst,wasconstrainedtoownthattheMajorwasareservedbutwell-informedandmeritoriousofficer.
“Heain’tgotdistangymanners,dammy,”Braggobservedtohisfirstmate;“hewouldn’tdoatGovernmentHouse,Roper,wherehisLordshipandLadyWilliamwasaskindtome,andshookhandswithmebeforethewholecompany,andaskingmeatdinnertotakebeerwithhim,beforetheCommander-in-Chiefhimself;heain’tgotmanners,butthere’ssomethingabouthim—”AndthusCaptainBraggshowedthathepossesseddiscriminationasaman,aswellasabilityasacommander.
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