it。 He chuckled and swore to himself behind the sheet。
At last he flung it down and； scowling at his daughter；
as his wont was； went out of the room into his study
adjoining； from whence he presently returned with a
key。 He flung it to Miss Osborne。
〃Get the room over minehis room that wasready；〃
he said。 〃Yes； sir；〃 his daughter replied in a tremble。
It was George's room。 It had not been opened for more
than ten years。 Some of his clothes； papers； handkerchiefs；
whips and caps； fishing…rods and sporting gear；
were still there。 An Army list of 1814； with his name
written on the cover； a little dictionary he was wont to
use in writing； and the Bible his mother had given him；
were on the mantelpiece； with a pair of spurs and a
dried inkstand covered with the dust of ten years。 Ah！
since that ink was wet； what days and people had passed
away！ The writing…book； still on the table； was blotted
with his hand。
Miss Osborne was much affected when she first
entered this room with the servants under her。 She sank
quite pale on the little bed。 〃This is blessed news； m'am
indeed； m'am；〃 the housekeeper said； 〃and the good
old times is returning； m'am。 The dear little feller； to be
sure； m'am； how happy he will be！ But some folks in
May Fair； m'am； will owe him a grudge； m'am〃； and
she clicked back the bolt which held the window…sash
and let the air into the chamber。
〃You had better send that woman some money；〃 Mr。
Osborne said； before he went out。 〃She shan't want for
nothing。 Send her a hundred pound。〃
〃And I'll go and see her to…morrow？〃 Miss Osborne
asked。
〃That's your look out。 She don't come in here； mind。
No； by ； not for all the money in London。 But she
mustn't want now。 So look out； and get things right。〃 With
which brief speeches Mr。 Osborne took leave of his
daughter and went on his accustomed way into the City。
〃Here； Papa； is some money；〃 Amelia said that
night； kissing the old man； her father； and putting a bill
for a hundred pounds into his hands。 〃Andand； Mamma；
don't be harsh with Georgy。 Hehe is not going to stop
with us long。〃 She could say nothing more； and walked
away silently to her room。 Let us close it upon her
prayers and her sorrow。 I think we had best speak little
about so much love and grief。
Miss Osborne came the next day； according to the
promise contained in her note； and saw Amelia。 The
meeting between them was friendly。 A look and a few words
from Miss Osborne showed the poor widow that； with
regard to this woman at least； there need be no fear
lest she should take the first place in her son's affection。
She was cold； sensible； not unkind。 The mother had
not been so well pleased； perhaps； had the rival been
better looking； younger； more affectionate； warmer…
hearted。 Miss Osborne； on the other hand； thought of old
times and memories and could not but be touched with
the poor mother's pitiful situation。 She was conquered；
and laying down her arms； as it were； she humbly
submitted。 That day they arranged together the
preliminaries of the treaty of capitulation。
George was kept from school the next day； and saw
his aunt。 Amelia left them alone together and went to
her room。 She was trying the separationas that poor
gentle Lady Jane Grey felt the edge of the axe that was
to come down and sever her slender life。 Days were
passed in parleys； visits； preparations。 The widow broke
the matter to Georgy with great caution； she looked to
see him very much affected by the intelligence。 He was
rather elated than otherwise； and the poor woman
turned sadly away。 He bragged about the news that day
to the boys at school； told them how he was going to
live with his grandpapa his father's father； not the one
who comes here sometimes； and that he would be very
rich； and have a carriage； and a pony； and go to a much
finer school； and when he was rich he would buy Leader's
pencil…case and pay the tart…woman。 The boy was the
image of his father； as his fond mother thought。
Indeed I have no heart； on account of our dear
Amelia's sake； to go through the story of George's last
days at home。
At last the day came； the carriage drove up； the little
humble packets containing tokens of love and remembrance
were ready and disposed in the hall long since
George was in his new suit； for which the tailor had
come previously to measure him。 He had sprung up with
the sun and put on the new clothes； his mother hearing
him from the room close by； in which she had been
lying； in speechless grief and watching。 Days before she
had been making preparations for the end； purchasing
little stores for the boy's use； marking his books and
linen； talking with him and preparing him for the change
fondly fancying that he needed preparation。
So that he had change； what cared he？ He was longing
for it。 By a thousand eager declarations as to what
he would do； when he went to live with his grandfather；
he had shown the poor widow how little the idea of
parting had cast him down。 〃He would come and see
his mamma often on the pony；〃 he said。 〃He would
come and fetch her in the carriage； they would drive
in the park； and she should have everything she wanted。〃
The poor mother was fain to content herself with these
selfish demonstrations of attachment； and tried to
convince herself how sincerely her son loved her。 He must
love her。 All children were so： a little anxious for novelty；
andno； not selfish； but self…willed。 Her child must
have his enjoyments and ambition in the world。 She
herself； by her own selfishness and imprudent love for him
had denied him his just rights and pleasures hitherto。
I know few things more affecting than that timorous
debasement and self…humiliation of a woman。 How she
owns that it is she and not the man who is guilty； how
she takes all the faults on her side； how she courts in a
manner punishment for the wrongs which she has not
committed and persists in shielding the real culprit！ It
is those who injure women who get the most kindness
from themthey are born timid and tyrants and
maltreat those who are humblest before them。
So poor Amelia had been getting ready in silent misery
for her son's departure； and had passed many and many
a long solitary hour in making preparations for the end。
George stood by his mother； watching her arrangements
without the least concern。 Tears had fallen into his boxes；
passages had been scored in his favourite books； old toys；
relics； treasures had been hoarded away for him； and
packed with strange neatness and careand of all these
things the boy took no note。 The child goes away smiling
as the mother breaks her heart。 By heavens it is pitiful；
the bootless love of women for children in Vanity Fair。
A few days are past； and the great event of Amelia's
life is consummated。 No angel has intervened。 The child
is sacrificed and offered up to fate； and the widow is
quite alone。
The boy comes to see her often； to be sure。 He rides
on a pony with a coachman behind him； to the delight
of his old grandfather； Sedley； who walks proudly down
the lane by his side。 She sees him； but he is not her boy
any more。 Why； he rides to see the boys at the little
school； too； and to show off before them his new wealth
and splendour。 In two days he has adopted a slightly
imperious air and patronizing manner。 He was born to
command； his mother thinks； as his father was before
him。
It is fine weather now。 Of evenings on the days when
he does not come； she takes a long walk into London
yes； as far as Russell Square； and rests on the stone
by the railing of the garden opposite Mr。 Osborne's house。
It is so pleasant and cool。 She can look up and see the
drawing…room windows illuminated； and； at about nine
o'clock； the chamber in the upper story where Georgy
sleeps。 She knowshe has told her。 She prays there
as the light goes out； prays with an humble heart；
and walks home shrinking and silent。 She is very tired
when she comes home。 Perhaps she will sleep the better
for that long weary walk； and she may dream about
Georgy。
One Sunday she happened to be walking in Russell
Square； at some distance from Mr。 Osborne's house （she
could see it from a distance though） when all the bells
of Sabbath were ringing； and George and his aunt came
out to go to church； a little sweep asked for charity；
and the footman； who carried the books； tried to drive
him away； but Georgy stopped and gave him money。 May
God's blessing be on the boy！ Emmy ran round the square
and； coming up to the sweep； gave him her mite too。
All the bells of Sabbath were ringing； and she followed
them until she came to the Foundling Church； into which
she went。 There she sat in a place whence she could
see the head of the boy under his father's tombstone。
Many hundred fresh children's voices rose up there and
sang hymns to the Father Beneficent； and little George's
soul thrilled with delight at the burst of glorious
psalmody。 His mother could not see him for awhile；
through the mist that dimmed her eyes。
CHAPTER LI
In Which a Charade Is Acted Which May or May
Not Puzzle the Reader
After Becky's appearance at my Lord Steyne's private
and select parties