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she was a heartless； deceitful woman； all disliked her manners；
her opinions； and even the expression of her faceall； with the
exception of my father's youngest brother； George。
George was the unlucky member of our family。 The rest were all
clever； he was slow in capacity。 The rest were all remarkably
handsome； he was the sort of man that no woman ever looks at
twice。 The rest succeeded in life； he failed。 His profession was
the same as my father's； but he never got on when he started in
practice for himself。 The sick poor； who could not choose；
employed him； and liked him。 The sick rich； who couldespecially
the ladiesdeclined to call him in when they could get anybody
else。 In experience he gained greatly by his profession； in money
and reputation he gained nothing。
There are very few of us； however dull and unattractive we may be
to outward appearance； who have not some strong passion； some
germ of what is called romance； hidden more or less deeply in our
natures。 All the passion and romance in the nature of my Uncle
George lay in his love and admiration for my father。
He sincerely worshipped his eldest brother as one of the noblest
of human beings。 When my father was engaged to be married； and
when the rest of the family； as I have already mentioned； did not
hesitate to express their unfavorable opinion of the disposition
of his chosen wife； Uncle George； who had never ventured on
differing with anyone before； to the amazement of everybody；
undertook the defense of his future sister…in…law in the most
vehement and positive manner。 In his estimation； his brother's
choice was something sacred and indisputable。 The lady might； and
did； treat him with unconcealed contempt； laugh at his
awkwardness； grow impatient at his stammeringit made no
difference to Uncle George。 She was to be his brother's wife；
and； in virtue of that one great fact； she became； in the
estimation of the poor surgeon； a very queen； who； by the laws of
the domestic constitution； could do no wrong。
When my father had been married a little while； he took his
youngest brother to live with him as his assistant。
If Uncle George had been made president of the College of
Surgeons； he could not have been prouder and happier than he was
in his new position。 I am afraid my father never understood the
depth of his brother's affection for him。 All the hard work fell
to George's share： the long journeys at night； the physicking of
wearisome poor people； the drunken cases； the revolting
casesall the drudging； dirty business of the surgery； in short；
was turned over to him； and day after day； month after month； he
struggled through it without a murmur。 When his brother and his
sister…in…law went out to dine with the county gentry； it never
entered his head to feel disappointed at being left unnoticed at
home。 When the return dinners were given； and he was asked to
come in at tea…time； and left to sit unregarded in a corner； it
never occurred to him to imagine that he was treated with any
want of consideration or respect。 He was part of the furniture of
the house； and it was the business as well as the pleasure of his
life to turn himself to any use to which his brother might please
to put him。
So much for what I have heard from others on the subject of my
Uncle George。 My own personal experience of him is limited to
what I remember as a mere child。 Let me say something； however；
first about my parents； my sister and myself。
My sister was the eldest born and the best loved。 I did not come
into the world till four years after her birth； and no other
child followed me。 Caroline； from her earliest days； was the
perfection of beauty and health。 I was small； weakly； and； if the
truth must be told； almost as plain…featured as Uncle George
himself。 It would be ungracious and undutiful in me to presume to
decide whether there was any foundation or not for the dislike
that my father's family always felt for my mother。 All I can
venture to say is； that her children never had any cause to
complain of her。
Her passionate affection for my sister； her pride in the child's
beauty； I remember well； as also her uniform kindness and
indulgence toward me。 My personal defects must have been a sore
trial to her in secret； but neither she nor my father ever showed
me that they perceived any difference between Caroline and
myself。 When presents were made to my sister； presents were made
to me。 When my father and mother caught my sister up in their
arms and kissed her they scrupulously gave me my turn afterward。
My childish instinct told me that there was a difference in their
smiles when they looked at me and looked at her； that the kisses
given to Caroline were warmer than the kisses given to me； that
the hands which dried her tears in our childish griefs； touched
her more gently than the hands which dried mine。 But these； and
other small signs of preference like them； were such as no
parents could be expected to control。 I noticed them at the time
rather with wonder than with repining。 I recall them now without
a harsh thought either toward my father or my mother。 Both loved
me； and both did their duty by me。 If I seem to speak
constrainedly of them here； it is not on my own account。 I can
honestly say that； with all my heart and soul。
Even Uncle George； fond as he was of me； was fonder of my
beautiful child…sister。
When I used mischievously to pull at his lank； scanty hair； he
would gently and laughingly take it out of my hands； but he would
let Caroline tug at it till his dim； wandering gray eyes winked
and watered again with pain。 He used to plunge perilously about
the garden； in awkward imitation of the cantering of a horse；
while I sat on his shoulders； but he would never proceed at any
pace beyond a slow and safe walk when Caroline had a ride in her
turn。 When he took us out walking； Caroline was always on the
side next the wall。 When we interrupted him over his dirty work
in the surgery； he used to tell me to go and play until he was
ready for me； but he would put down his bottles； and clean his
clumsy fingers on his coarse apron； and lead Caroline out again；
as if she had been the greatest lady in the land。 Ah！ how he
loved her！ and； let me be honest and grateful； and add； how he
loved me； too！
When I was eight years old and Caroline was twelve； I was
separated from home for some time。 I had been ailing for many
months previously； had got ben efit from being taken to the
sea…side； and had shown symptoms of relapsing on being brought
home again to the midland county in which we resided。 After much
consultation； it was at last resolved that I should be sent to
live； until my constitution got stronger； with a maiden sister of
my mother's； who had a house at a watering…place on the south
coast。
I left home； I remember； loaded with presents； rejoicing over the
prospect of looking at the sea again； as careless of the future
and as happy in the present as any boy could be。 Uncle George
petitioned for a holiday to take me to the seaside； but he could
not be spared from the surgery。 He consoled himself and me by
promising to make me a magnificent model of a s