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！
Crawley was buried in the profoundest oblivion； as
Wenham said； that is； by the seconds and the principals。
But before that evening was over it was talked of at fifty
dinner…tables in Vanity Fair。 Little Cackleby himself
went to seven evening parties and told the story with
comments and emendations at each place。 How Mrs。
Washington White revelled in it！ The Bishopess of Ealing
was shocked beyond expression； the Bishop went and
wrote his name down in the visiting…book at Gaunt House
that very day。 Little Southdown was sorry； so you may
be sure was his sister Lady Jane； very sorry。 Lady
Southdown wrote it off to her other daughter at the Cape of
Good Hope。 It was town…talk for at least three days；
and was only kept out of the newspapers by the exertions
of Mr。 Wagg； acting upon a hint from Mr。 Wenham。
The bailiffs and brokers seized upon poor Raggles in
Curzon Street； and the late fair tenant of that poor little
mansion was in the meanwhilewhere？ Who cared！ Who
asked after a day or two？ Was she guilty or not？ We all
know how charitable the world is； and how the verdict
of Vanity Fair goes when there is a doubt。 Some people
said she had gone to Naples in pursuit of Lord Steyne；
whilst others averred that his Lordship quitted that city
and fled to Palermo on hearing of Becky's arrival； some
said she was living in Bierstadt； and had become a dame
d'honneur to the Queen of Bulgaria； some that she was
at Boulogne； and others； at a boarding…house at
Cheltenham。
Rawdon made her a tolerable annuity； and we may
be sure that she was a woman who could make a little
money go a great way； as the saying is。 He would have
paid his debts on leaving England； could he have got any
Insurance Office to take his life； but the climate of
Coventry Island was so bad that he could borrow no
money on the strength of his salary。 He remitted；
however； to his brother punctually； and wrote to his little
boy regularly every mail。 He kept Macmurdo in cigars
and sent over quantities of shells； cayenne pepper； hot
pickles； guava jelly； and colonial produce to Lady Jane。
He sent his brother home the Swamp Town Gazette；
in which the new Governor was praised with immense
enthusiasm； whereas the Swamp Town Sentinel； whose
wife was not asked to Government House； declared that
his Excellency was a tyrant； compared to whom Nero
was an enlightened philanthropist。 Little Rawdon used
to like to get the papers and read about his Excellency。
His mother never made any movement to see the child。
He went home to his aunt for Sundays and holidays； he
soon knew every bird's nest about Queen's Crawley； and
rode out with Sir Huddlestone's hounds； which he
admired so on his first well…remembered visit to
Hampshire。
CHAPTER LVI
Georgy is Made a Gentleman
Georgy Osborne was now fairly established in his
grandfather's mansion in Russell Square； occupant of his
father's room in the house and heir apparent of all the
splendours there。 The good looks； gallant bearing； and
gentlemanlike appearance of the boy won the grandsire's
heart for him。 Mr。 Osborne was as proud of him as ever
he had been of the elder George。
The child had many more luxuries and indulgences than
had been awarded his father。 Osborne's commerce had
prospered greatly of late years。 His wealth and
importance in the City had very much increased。 He had
been glad enough in former days to put the elder George
to a good private school； and a commission in the army
for his son had been a source of no small pride to
him； for little George and his future prospects the old
man looked much higher。 He would make a gentleman
of the little chap； was Mr。 Osborne's constant saying
regarding little Georgy。 He saw him in his mind's eye； a
collegian； a Parliament man； a Baronet； perhaps。 The
old man thought he would die contented if he could see
his grandson in a fair way to such honours。 He would
have none but a tip…top college man to educate him
none of your quacks and pretendersno； no。 A few years
before； he used to be savage； and inveigh against all
parsons； scholars； and the like declaring that they were
a pack of humbugs； and quacks that weren't fit to get
their living but by grinding Latin and Greek； and a set
of supercilious dogs that pretended to look down upon
British merchants and gentlemen； who could buy up half
a hundred of 'em。 He would mourn now； in a very
solemn manner； that his own education had been neglected；
and repeatedly point out； in pompous orations to Georgy；
the necessity and excellence of classical acquirements。
When they met at dinner the grandsire used to ask
the lad what he had been reading during the day； and
was greatly interested at the report the boy gave of his
own studies； pretending to understand little George
when he spoke regarding them。 He made a hundred
blunders and showed his ignorance many a time。 It did not
increase the respect which the child had for his senior。
A quick brain and a better education elsewhere showed
the boy very soon that his grandsire was a dullard； and
he began accordingly to command him and to look down
upon him； for his previous education； humble and
contracted as it had been； had made a much better
gentleman of Georgy than any plans of his grandfather could
make him。 He had been brought up by a kind； weak；
and tender woman； who had no pride about anything
but about him； and whose heart was so pure and whose
bearing was so meek and humble that she could not but
needs be a true lady。 She busied herself in gentle offices
and quiet duties； if she never said brilliant things； she
never spoke or thought unkind ones； guileless and artless；
loving and pure； indeed how could our poor little Amelia
be other than a real gentlewoman！
Young Georgy lorded over this soft and yielding
nature； and the contrast of its simplicity and delicacy with
the coarse pomposity of the dull old man with whom
he next came in contact made him lord over the latter
too。 If he had been a Prince Royal he could not have
been better brought up to think well of himself。
Whilst his mother was yearning after him at home； and
I do believe every hour of the day； and during most
hours of the sad lonely nights； thinking of him； this young
gentleman had a number of pleasures and consolations
administered to him； which made him for his part bear
the separation from Amelia very easily。 Little boys who
cry when they are going to school cry because they
are going to a very uncomfortable place。 It is only a
few who weep from sheer affection。 When you think
that the eyes of your childhood dried at the sight of a
piece of gingerbread； and that a plum cake was a
compensation for the agony of parting with your mamma
and sisters； oh my friend and brother； you need not be
too confident of your own fine feelings。
Well； then； Master George Osborne had every comfort
and luxury that a wealthy and lavish old grandfather
thought fit to provide。 The coachman was instructed to
purchase for him the handsomest pony which could be
bought for money； and on this George was taught to
ride； first at a riding…school； whence； after having
performed satisfactorily without stirrups； a