按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
for the vile drinks he had been the means of introducing
there； and he bought back a great quantity of the wine
and sold it at public outcry； at an enormous loss to himself。
As for Jos； who was by this time promoted to a seat
at the Revenue Board at Calcutta； he was wild with rage
when the post brought him out a bundle of these
Bacchanalian prospectuses； with a private note from his
father； telling Jos that his senior counted upon him in
this enterprise； and had consigned a quantity of select
wines to him； as per invoice； drawing bills upon him for
the amount of the same。 Jos； who would no more have it
supposed that his father； Jos Sedley's father； of the Board
of Revenue； was a wine merchant asking for orders； than
that he was Jack Ketch； refused the bills with scorn； wrote
back contumeliously to the old gentleman； bidding him
to mind his own affairs； and the protested paper coming
back； Sedley and Co。 had to take it up； with the profits
which they had made out of the Madras venture； and
with a little portion of Emmy's savings。
Besides her pension of fifty pounds a year； there had
been five hundred pounds； as her husband's executor
stated； left in the agent's hands at the time of Osborne's
demise； which sum； as George's guardian； Dobbin
proposed to put out at 8 per cent in an Indian house of
agency。 Mr。 Sedley； who thought the Major had some
roguish intentions of his own about the money； was
strongly against this plan； and he went to the agents to
protest personally against the employment of the money
in question； when he learned； to his surprise； that there
had been no such sum in their hands； that all the late
Captain's assets did not amount to a hundred pounds；
and that the five hundred pounds in question must be a
separate sum； of which Major Dobbin knew the particulars。
More than ever convinced that there was some
roguery； old Sedley pursued the Major。 As his daughter's
nearest friend； he demanded with a high hand a statement
of the late Captain's accounts。 Dobbin's stammering；
blushing； and awkwardness added to the other's
convictions that he had a rogue to deal with； and in a
majestic tone he told that officer a piece of his mind； as
he called it； simply stating his belief that the Major was
unlawfully detaining his late son…in…law's money。
Dobbin at this lost all patience； and if his accuser had
not been so old and so broken； a quarrel might have
ensued between them at the Slaughters' Coffee…house； in
a box of which place of entertainment the gentlemen had
their colloquy。 〃Come upstairs； sir；〃 lisped out the
Major。 〃I insist on your coming up the stairs； and I will
show which is the injured party； poor George or I〃； and；
dragging the old gentleman up to his bedroom； he
produced from his desk Osborne's accounts； and a bundle
of IOU's which the latter had given； who； to do him
justice； was always ready to give an IOU。 〃He paid
his bills in England；〃 Dobbin added； 〃but he had not a
hundred pounds in the world when he fell。 I and one or
two of his brother officers made up the little sum； which
was all that we could spare； and you dare tell us that
we are trying to cheat the widow and the orphan。〃
Sedley was very contrite and humbled； though the fact is
that William Dobbin had told a great falsehood to the old
gentleman； having himself given every shilling of the
money； having buried his friend； and paid all the fees and
charges incident upon the calamity and removal of poor
Amelia。
About these expenses old Osborne had never given
himself any trouble to think； nor any other relative of
Amelia； nor Amelia herself； indeed。 She trusted to Major
Dobbin as an accountant； took his somewhat confused
calculations for granted； and never once suspected how
much she was in his debt。
Twice or thrice in the year； according to her promise；
she wrote him letters to Madras； letters all about
little Georgy。 How he treasured these papers！ Whenever
Amelia wrote he answered； and not until then。 But
he sent over endless remembrances of himself to his
godson and to her。 He ordered and sent a box of scarfs
and a grand ivory set of chess…men from China。 The
pawns were little green and white men； with real swords
and shields； the knights were on horseback； the castles
were on the backs of elephants。 〃Mrs。 Mango's own set at
the Pineries was not so fine；〃 Mr。 Pestler remarked。 These
chess…men were the delight of Georgy's life； who printed
his first letter in acknowledgement of this gift of his
godpapa。 He sent over preserves and pickles； which latter
the young gentleman tried surreptitiously in the sideboard
and half…killed himself with eating。 He thought it was a
judgement upon him for stealing； they were so hot。 Emmy
wrote a comical little account of this mishap to the
Major： it pleased him to think that her spirits were rallying
and that she could be merry sometimes now。 He
sent over a pair of shawls； a white one for her and a black
one with palm…leaves for her mother； and a pair of red
scarfs； as winter wrappers； for old Mr。 Sedley and George。
The shawls were worth fifty guineas apiece at the very
least； as Mrs。 Sedley knew。 She wore hers in state at
church at Brompton； and was congratulated by her
female friends upon the splendid acquisition。 Emmy's； too；
became prettily her modest black gown。 〃What a pity it
is she won't think of him！〃 Mrs。 Sedley remarked to
Mrs。 Clapp and to all her friends of Brompton。 〃Jos never
sent us such presents； I am sure； and grudges us
everything。 It is evident that the Major is over head and ears
in love with her； and yet； whenever I so much as hint it；
she turns red and begins to cry and goes and sits upstairs
with her miniature。 I'm sick of that miniature。 I wish we
had never seen those odious purse…proud Osbornes。〃
Amidst such humble scenes and associates George's
early youth was passed； and the boy grew up delicate；
sensitive； imperious； woman…breddomineering the
gentle mother whom he loved with passionate affection。 He
ruled all the rest of the little world round about him。
As he grew； the elders were amazed at his haughty
manner and his constant likeness to his father。 He asked
questions about everything； as inquiring youth will do。 The
profundity of his remarks and interrogatories astonished
his old grandfather； who perfectly bored the club at the
tavern with stories about the little lad's learning and
genius。 He suffered his grandmother with a good…humoured
indifference。 The small circle round about him
believed that the equal of the boy did not exist upon the
earth。 Georgy inherited his father's pride； and perhaps
thought they were not wrong。
When he grew to be about six years old； Dobbin began
to write to him very much。 The Major wanted to hear
that Georgy was going to a school and hoped he would
acquit himself with credit there： or would he have a good
tutor at home？ It was time that he should begin to learn；
and his godfather and guardian hinted that he hoped to
be allowed to defray the charges of the boy's education；
which would fall heavily upon his mother's straitened
income。 The Major； in a word； was always thinking about
Amelia and h