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which would fall heavily upon his mother's straitened
income。 The Major； in a word； was always thinking about
Amelia and her little boy； and by orders to his agents
kept the latter provided with picture…books； paint…boxes；
desks； and all conceivable implements of amusement and
instruction。 Three days before George's sixth birthday a
gentleman in a gig； accompanied by a servant； drove
up to Mr。 Sedley's house and asked to see Master George
Osborne： it was Mr。 Woolsey； military tailor； of Conduit
Street； who came at the Major's order to measure the
young gentleman for a suit of clothes。 He had had the
honour of making for the Captain； the young
gentleman's father。
Sometimes； too； and by the Major's desire no doubt；
his sisters； the Misses Dobbin； would call in the family
carriage to take Amelia and the little boy to drive if they
were so inclined。 The patronage and kindness of these
ladies was very uncomfortable to Amelia； but she bore it
meekly enough； for her nature was to yield； and； besides；
the carriage and its splendours gave little Georgy
immense pleasure。 The ladies begged occasionally that the
child might pass a day with them； and he was always glad
to go to that fine garden…house at Denmark Hill； where
they lived； and where there were such fine grapes in the
hot…houses and peaches on the walls。
One day they kindly came over to Amelia with news
which they were SURE would delight hersomething VERY
interesting about their dear William。
〃What was it： was he coming home？〃 she asked with
pleasure beaming in her eyes。
〃Oh； nonot the leastbut they had very good reason
to believe that dear William was about to be married
and to a relation of a very dear friend of Amelia'sto
Miss Glorvina O'Dowd； Sir Michael O'Dowd's sister；
who had gone out to join Lady O'Dowd at Madrasa very
beautiful and accomplished girl； everybody said。〃
Amelia said 〃Oh！〃 Amelia was very VERY happy indeed。
But she supposed Glorvina could not be like her old
acquaintance； who was most kindbutbut she was
very happy indeed。 And by some impulse of which I
cannot explain the meaning； she took George in her arms
and kissed him with an extraordinary tenderness。 Her
eyes were quite moist when she put the child down； and
she scarcely spoke a word during the whole of the
drivethough she was so very happy indeed。
CHAPTER XXXIX
A Cynical Chapter
Our duty now takes us back for a brief space to some old
Hampshire acquaintances of ours； whose hopes respecting
the disposal of their rich kinswoman's property were so
woefully disappointed。 After counting upon thirty thousand
pounds from his sister； it was a heavy blow。 to Bute Crawley
to receive but five； out of which sum； when he had paid
his own debts and those of Jim； his son at college； a very
small fragment remained to portion off his four plain
daughters。 Mrs。 Bute never knew； or at least never
acknowledged； how far her own tyrannous behaviour had
tended to ruin her husband。 All that woman could do； she
vowed and protested she had done。 Was it her fault if
she did not possess those sycophantic arts which her
hypocritical nephew； Pitt Crawley； practised？ She wished
him all the happiness which he merited out of his
ill…gotten gains。 〃At least the money will remain in the
family；〃 she said charitably。 〃Pitt will never spend it； my
dear； that is quite certain； for a greater miser does not
exist in England； and he is as odious； though in a
different way； as his spendthrift brother； the abandoned
Rawdon。〃
So Mrs。 Bute； after the first shock of rage and
disappointment； began to accommodate herself as best
she could to her altered fortunes and to save and retrench
with all her might。 She instructed her daughters how to
bear poverty cheerfully； and invented a thousand notable
methods to conceal or evade it。 She took them about to
balls and public places in the neighbourhood； with
praiseworthy energy； nay； she entertained her friends in a
hospitable comfortable manner at the Rectory； and much
more frequently than before dear Miss Crawley's legacy
had fallen in。 From her outward bearing nobody would
have supposed that the family had been disappointed
in their expectations； or have guessed from her frequent
appearance in public how she pinched and starved at
home。 Her girls had more milliners' furniture than they
had ever enjoyed before。 They appeared perseveringly
at the Winchester and Southampton assemblies； they
penetrated to Cowes for the race…balls and regatta…gaieties
there； and their carriage； with the horses taken from the
plough； was at work perpetually； until it began almost to
be believed that the four sisters had had fortunes left them
by their aunt； whose name the family never mentioned in
public but with the most tender gratitude and regard。 I
know no sort of lying which is more frequent in Vanity
Fair than this； and it may be remarked how people who
practise it take credit to themselves for their hypocrisy；
and fancy that they are exceedingly virtuous and
praiseworthy； because they are able to deceive the world
with regard to the extent of their means。
Mrs。 Bute certainly thought herself one of the most
virtuous women in England； and the sight of her happy
family was an edifying one to strangers。 They were so
cheerful； so loving； so well…educated； so simple！ Martha
painted flowers exquisitely and furnished half the charity
bazaars in the county。 Emma was a regular County Bulbul；
and her verses in the Hampshire Telegraph were
the glory of its Poet's Corner。 Fanny and Matilda sang
duets together； Mamma playing the piano； and the other
two sisters sitting with their arms round each other's waists
and listening affectionately。 Nobody saw the poor girls
drumming at the duets in private。 No one saw Mamma
drilling them rigidly hour after hour。 In a word； Mrs。 Bute
put a good face against fortune and kept up appearances
in the most virtuous manner。
Everything that a good and respectable mother could
do Mrs。 Bute did。 She got over yachting men from
Southampton； parsons from the Cathedral Close at Winchester；
and officers from the barracks there。 She tried to inveigle
the young barristers at assizes and encouraged Jim to
bring home friends with whom he went out hunting with
the H。 H。 What will not a mother do for the benefit of
her beloved ones？
Between such a woman and her brother…in…law； the
odious Baronet at the Hall； it is manifest that there could
be very little in common。 The rupture between Bute and
his brother Sir Pitt was complete； indeed； between Sir
Pitt and the whole county； to which the old man was a
scandal。 His dislike for respectable society increased with
age； and the lodge…gates had not opened to a gentleman's
carriage…wheels since Pitt and Lady Jane came to pay their
visit of duty after their marriage。
That was an awful and unfortunate visit； never to be
thought of by the family without horror。 Pitt begged his
wife； with a ghastly countenance； never to speak of it；
and it was only through Mrs。 Bute herself； who still
knew everything which took place at the Hall； that the
circumstances of Sir Pitt's reception of his son and
daughter…in…law we