going in the morning into the presence of the master。
Once； after a certain combat with Master Smith； George
came home to his mother with a black eye； and bragged
prodigiously to his parent and his delighted old
grandfather about his valour in the fight； in which； if the
truth was known he did not behave with particular heroism；
and in which he decidedly had the worst。 But Amelia
has never forgiven that Smith to this day； though he is
now a peaceful apothecary near Leicester Square。
In these quiet labours and harmless cares the gentle
widow's life was passing away； a silver hair or two marking
the progress of time on her head and a line deepening
ever so little on her fair forehead。 She used to smile at
these marks of time。 〃What matters it；〃 she asked； 〃For
an old woman like me？〃 All she hoped for was to live to
see her son great； famous； and glorious； as he deserved
to be。 She kept his copy…books； his drawings； and
compositions； and showed them about in her little circle as
if they were miracles of genius。 She confided some of
these specimens to Miss Dobbin； to show them to Miss
Osborne； George's aunt； to show them to Mr。 Osborne
himselfto make that old man repent of his cruelty and
ill feeling towards him who was gone。 All her husband's
faults and foibles she had buried in the grave with him：
she only remembered the lover； who had married her at
all sacrifices； the noble husband； so brave and beautiful；
in whose arms she had hung on the morning when he had
gone away to fight； and die gloriously for his king。 From
heaven the hero must be smiling down upon that paragon
of a boy whom he had left to comfort and console her。
We have seen how one of George's grandfathers （Mr。
Osborne）； in his easy chair in Russell Square； daily grew
more violent and moody； and how his daughter； with her
fine carriage； and her fine horses； and her name on half
the public charity…lists of the town； was a lonely； miserable；
persecuted old maid。 She thought again and again
of the beautiful little boy； her brother's son； whom she
had seen。 She longed to be allowed to drive in the fine
carriage to the house in which he lived； and she used
to look out day after day as she took her solitary drive
in the park； in hopes that she might see him。 Her sister；
the banker's lady； occasionally condescended to pay her
old home and companion a visit in Russell Square。 She
brought a couple of sickly children attended by a prim
nurse； and in a faint genteel giggling tone cackled to her
sister about her fine acquaintance； and how her little
Frederick was the image of Lord Claud Lollypop and
her sweet Maria had been noticed by the Baroness as they
were driving in their donkey…chaise at Roehampton。 She
urged her to make her papa do something for the darlings。
Frederick she had determined should go into the Guards；
and if they made an elder son of him （and Mr。 Bullock
was positively ruining and pinching himself to death to
buy land）； how was the darling girl to be provided for？
〃I expect YOU； dear；〃 Mrs。 Bullock would say； 〃for of
course my share of our Papa's property must go to the
head of the house； you know。 Dear Rhoda McMull will
disengage the whole of the Castletoddy property as soon
as poor dear Lord Castletoddy dies； who is quite
epileptic； and little Macduff McMull will be Viscount
Castletoddy。 Both the Mr。 Bludyers of Mincing Lane have
settled their fortunes on Fanny Bludyer's little boy。 My
darling Frederick must positively be an eldest son； and
and do ask Papa to bring us back his account in
Lombard Street； will you； dear？ It doesn't look well； his going
to Stumpy and Rowdy's。〃 After which kind of speeches；
in which fashion and the main chance were blended
together； and after a kiss； which was like the contact of an
oysterMrs。 Frederick Bullock would gather her
starched nurslings and simper back into her carriage。
Every visit which this leader of ton paid to her family
was more unlucky for her。 Her father paid more money
into Stumpy and Rowdy's。 Her patronage became more
and more insufferable。 The poor widow in the little
cottage at Brompton； guarding her treasure there； little
knew how eagerly some people coveted it。
On that night when Jane Osborne had told her father
that she had seen his grandson； the old man had made
her no reply； but he had shown no angerand had bade
her good…night on going himself to his room in rather a
kindly voice。 And he must have meditated on what she
said and have made some inquiries of the Dobbin family
regarding her visit； for a fortnight after it took place； he
asked her where was her little French watch and chain
she used to wear？
〃I bought it with my money； sir；〃 she said in a great
fright。
〃Go and order another like it； or a better if you can
get it；〃 said the old gentleman and lapsed again into
silence。
Of late the Misses Dobbin more than once repeated
their entreaties to Amelia； to allow George to visit them。
His aunt had shown her inclination； perhaps his
grandfather himself； they hinted； might be disposed to be
reconciled to him。 Surely； Amelia could not refuse such
advantageous chances for the boy。 Nor could she； but
she acceded to their overtures with a very heavy and
suspicious heart； was always uneasy during the child's
absence from her； and welcomed him back as if he was
rescued out of some danger。 He brought back money and
toys； at which the widow looked with alarm and jealousy；
she asked him always if he had seen any gentleman
〃Only old Sir William； who drove him about in the four…
wheeled chaise； and Mr。 Dobbin； who arrived on the
beautiful bay horse in the afternoonin the green coat
and pink neck…cloth； with the gold…headed whip； who
promised to show him the Tower of London and take
him out with the Surrey hounds。〃 At last； he said； 〃There
was an old gentleman； with thick eyebrows； and a broad
hat； and large chain and seals。〃 He came one day as the
coachman was lunging Georgy round the lawn on the
gray pony。 〃He looked at me very much。 He shook very
much。 I said 'My name is Norval' after dinner。 My aunt
began to cry。 She is always crying。〃 Such was George's
report on that night。
Then Amelia knew that the boy had seen his
grandfather； and looked out feverishly for a proposal
which she was sure would follow； and which came； in fact；
in a few days afterwards。 Mr。 Osborne formally offered to
take the boy and make him heir to the fortune which he
had intended that his father should inherit。 He would
make Mrs。 George Osborne an allowance； such as to
assure her a decent competency。 If Mrs。 George Osborne
proposed to marry again； as Mr。 O。 heard was her
intention； he would not withdraw that allowance。 But it
must be understood that the child would live entirely with
his grandfather in Russell Square； or at whatever other
place Mr。 O。 should select； and that he would be
occasionally permitted to see Mrs。 George Osborne at her
own residence。 This message was brought or read to her
in a letter one day； when her mother was from home
and her father absent as usual in the City。
She was never seen angry but twice or thrice in her
life； and it was in one of these moods that Mr。 Osborne's
attorney had the fortune to behold her。 She rose up
trembling and flushing very much as soon as； after
reading the letter； Mr。 Poe handed it to her； and she tore the
paper into a hundred fragments； which she trod on。 〃I
marry again！ I take money to part from my child！ Who
dares insult me by proposing such a thing？ Tell Mr。
Osborne it is a cowardly letter； sira cowardly letter
I will not answer it。 I wish you good morning； sirand
she bowed me out of the room like a tragedy Queen；〃
said the lawyer who told the story。
Her parents never remarked her agitation on that day；
and she never told them of the interview。 They had their
own affairs to interest them； affairs which deeply
interested this innocent and unconscious lady。 The old
gentleman； her father； was always dabbling in speculation。
We have seen how the wine company and the coal
company had failed him。 But； prowling about the City
always eagerly and restlessly still； he lighted upon some
other scheme； of which he thought so well that he
embarked in it in spite of the remonstrances of Mr。 Clapp；
to whom indeed he never dared to tell how far he had
engaged himself in it。 And as it was always Mr。 Sedley's
maxim not to talk about money matters before women；
they had no inkling of the misfortunes that were in store
for them until the unhappy old gentleman was forced to
make gradual confessions。
The bills of the little household； which had been settled
weekly； first fell into arrear。 The remittances had not
arrived from India； Mr。 Sedley told his wife with a disturbed
face。 As she had paid her bills very regularly hitherto；
one or two of the tradesmen to whom the poor lady was
obliged to go round asking for time were very angry at
a delay to which they were perfectly used from more
irregular customers。 Emmy's contribution； paid over
cheerfully without any questions； kept the little company
in half…rations however。 And the first six months passed
away pretty easily； old Sedley still keeping up with the
notion that his shares must rise and that all would be
well。
No sixty pounds； however； came to help the household
at the end of the half year； and it fell deeper and deeper
into troubleMrs。 Sedley； who was growing infirm and
was much shaken； remained silent or wept a great deal
with Mrs。 Clapp in the kitchen。 The butcher was
particularly surly； the grocer insolent： once or twice little
Georgy had grumbled about the dinners； and Amelia； who
still would have been satisfied with a slice of bread for
her own dinner； could not but perceive that her son was
neglected and purchased little things out of her private
purse to keep the boy in health。
At last they told her； or told her such a garbled story
as people in difficulties tell。 One day； her own money
having been received； and Amelia about to pay it over；
she； who had kept an account of the moneys expended
by her； proposed to keep a certain portion back out of
her dividend； having contracted engagements for a new
suit for Georgy。
T