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all the actors from Drury Lane to Sadler's Wells； and
performed； indeed； many of the plays to the Todd family
and their youthful friends； with West's famous characters；
on their pasteboard theatre。 Rowson； the footman； who
was of a generous disposition； would not unfrequently；
when in cash； treat his young master to oysters after
the play； and to a glass of rum…shrub for a night…cap。
We may be pretty certain that Mr。 Rowson profited in
his turn by his young master's liberality and gratitude
for the pleasures to which the footman inducted him。
A famous tailor from the West End of the town
Mr。 Osborne would have none of your City or Holborn
bunglers； he said； for the boy （though a City tailor was
good enough for HIM）was summoned to ornament little
George's person； and was told to spare no expense in so
doing。 So； Mr。 Woolsey； of Conduit Street； gave a loose
to his imagination and sent the child home fancy trousers；
fancy waistcoats； and fancy jackets enough to furnish a
school of little dandies。 Georgy had little white
waistcoats for evening parties； and little cut velvet waistcoats
for dinners； and a dear little darling shawl dressing…gown；
for all the world like a little man。 He dressed for dinner
every day； 〃like a regular West End swell；〃 as his
grandfather remarked； one of the domestics was affected to
his special service； attended him at his toilette；
answered his bell； and brought him his letters always on a
silver tray。
Georgy； after breakfast； would sit in the arm…chair in
the dining…room and read the Morning Post； just like a
grown…up man。 〃How he DU dam and swear；〃 the
servants would cry； delighted at his precocity。 Those who
remembered the Captain his father； declared Master
George was his Pa； every inch of him。 He made the house
lively by his activity； his imperiousness； his scolding； and
his good…nature。
George's education was confided to a neighbouring
scholar and private pedagogue who 〃prepared young
noblemen and gentlemen for the Universities； the senate；
and the learned professions： whose system did not
embrace the degrading corporal severities still practised at
the ancient places of education； and in whose family the
pupils would find the elegances of refined society and
the confidence and affection of a home。〃 It was in this
way that the Reverend Lawrence Veal of Hart Street；
Bloomsbury； and domestic Chaplain to the Earl of
Bareacres； strove with Mrs。 Veal his wife to entice pupils。
By thus advertising and pushing sedulously； the
domestic Chaplain and his Lady generally succeeded in
having one or two scholars by themwho paid a high
figure and were thought to be in uncommonly comfortable
quarters。 There was a large West Indian； whom
nobody came to see； with a mahogany complexion； a woolly
head； and an exceedingly dandyfied appearance； there
was another hulking boy of three…and…twenty whose
education had been neglected and whom Mr。 and Mrs。 Veal
were to introduce into the polite world； there were two
sons of Colonel Bangles of the East India Company's
Service： these four sat down to dinner at Mrs。 Veal's
genteel board； when Georgy was introduced to her
establishment。
Georgy was； like some dozen other pupils； only a
day boy； he arrived in the morning under the
guardianship of his friend Mr。 Rowson； and if it was fine；
would ride away in the afternoon on his pony； followed by
the groom。 The wealth of his grandfather was reported
in the school to be prodigious。 The Rev。 Mr。 Veal used
to compliment Georgy upon it personally； warning him
that he was destined for a high station； that it became
him to prepare； by sedulity and docility in youth； for the
lofty duties to which he would be called in mature age；
that obedience in the child was the best preparation for
command in the man； and that he therefore begged George
would not bring toffee into the school and ruin the health
of the Masters Bangles； who had everything they wanted
at the elegant and abundant table of Mrs。 Veal。
With respect to learning； 〃the Curriculum；〃 as Mr。
Veal loved to call it； was of prodigious extent； and the
young gentlemen in Hart Street might learn a
something of every known science。 The Rev。 Mr。 Veal had
an orrery； an electrifying machine； a turning lathe； a
theatre （in the wash…house）； a chemical apparatus； and
what he called a select library of all the works of the
best authors of ancient and modern times and languages。
He took the boys to the British Museum and descanted
upon the antiquities and the specimens of natural history
there； so that audiences would gather round him as he
spoke； and all Bloomsbury highly admired him as a
prodigiously well…informed man。 And whenever he spoke
（which he did almost always）； he took care to produce the
very finest and longest words of which the vocabulary
gave him the use； rightly judging that it was as cheap to
employ a handsome； large； and sonorous epithet； as to
use a little stingy one。
Thus he would say to George in school； 〃I observed
on my return home from taking the indulgence of an
evening's scientific conversation with my excellent friend
Doctor Buldersa true archaeologian； gentlemen； a true
archaeologianthat the windows of your venerated
grandfather's almost princely mansion in Russell Square were
illuminated as if for the purposes of festivity。 Am I right
in my conjecture that Mr。 Osborne entertained a society
of chosen spirits round his sumptuous board last night？〃
Little Georgy； who had considerable humour； and used
to mimic Mr。 Veal to his face with great spirit and
dexterity； would reply that Mr。 V。 was quite correct
in his surmise。
〃Then those friends who had the honour of partaking
of Mr。 Osborne's hospitality； gentlemen； had no reason；
I will lay any wager； to complain of their repast。 I
myself have been more than once so favoured。 （By the way；
Master Osborne； you came a little late this morning； and
have been a defaulter in this respect more than once。）
I myself； I say； gentlemen； humble as I am； have been
found not unworthy to share Mr。 Osborne's elegant
hospitality。 And though I have feasted with the great and
noble of the worldfor I presume that I may call my
excellent friend and patron； the Right Honourable George
Earl of Bareacres； one of the numberyet I assure you
that the board of the British merchant was to the full
as richly served； and his reception as gratifying and
noble。 Mr。 Bluck； sir； we will resume； if you please；
that passage of Eutropis； which was interrupted by the
late arrival of Master Osborne。〃
To this great man George's education was for some
time entrusted。 Amelia was bewildered by his phrases；
but thought him a prodigy of learning。 That poor widow
made friends of Mrs。 Veal； for reasons of her own。 She
liked to be in the house and see Georgy coming to school
there。 She liked to be asked to Mrs。 Veal's conversazioni；
which took place once a month （as you were informed on
pink cards； with AOHNH engraved on them）； and where
the professor welcomed his pupils and their friends to weak
tea and scientific conversation。 Poor little Amelia never
missed one of these entertainments and thought them
delicious so lo