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！
planned furniture by Seddons from the assignees of Mr。
Scape； lately admitted partner into the great Calcutta
House of Fogle； Fake； and Cracksman； in which poor
Scape had embarked seventy thousand pounds； the
earnings of a long and honourable life； taking Fake's place；
who retired to a princely park in Sussex （the Fogles have
been long out of the firm； and Sir Horace Fogle is about
to be raised to the peerage as Baron Bandanna）admitted；
I say； partner into the great agency house of Fogle
and Fake two years before it failed for a million and
plunged half the Indian public into misery and ruin。
Scape； ruined； honest； and broken…hearted at sixty…five
years of age； went out to Calcutta to wind up the affairs
of the house。 Walter Scape was withdrawn from Eton
and put into a merchant's house。 Florence Scape； Fanny
Scape； and their mother faded away to Boulogne； and
will be heard of no more。 To be brief； Jos stepped in and
bought their carpets and sideboards and admired
himself in the mirrors which had reflected their kind
handsome faces。 The Scape tradesmen； all honourably paid；
left their cards； and were eager to supply the new
household。 The large men in white waistcoats who waited at
Scape's dinners； greengrocers； bank…porters； and
milkmen in their private capacity； left their addresses and
ingratiated themselves with the butler。 Mr。 Chummy； the
chimney…purifier； who had swept the last three families；
tried to coax the butler and the boy under him； whose
duty it was to go out covered with buttons and with
stripes down his trousers； for the protection of Mrs。
Amelia whenever she chose to walk abroad。
It was a modest establishment。 The butler was Jos's
valet also； and never was more drunk than a butler in a
small family should be who has a proper regard for his
master's wine。 Emmy was supplied with a maid； grown on
Sir William Dobbin's suburban estate； a good girl； whose
kindness and humility disarmed Mrs。 Osborne； who was
at first terrified at the idea of having a servant to wait
upon herself； who did not in the least know how to use
one； and who always spoke to domestics with the most
reverential politeness。 But this maid was very useful in
the family； in dexterously tending old Mr。 Sedley； who
kept almost entirely to his own quarter of the house
and never mixed in any of the gay doings which took
place there。
Numbers of people came to see Mrs。 Osborne。 Lady
Dobbin and daughters were delighted at her change of
fortune； and waited upon her。 Miss Osborne from Russell
Square came in her grand chariot with the flaming
hammer…cloth emblazoned with the Leeds arms。 Jos was
reported to be immensely rich。 Old Osborne had no
objection that Georgy should inherit his uncle's property as
well as his own。 〃Damn it； we will make a man of the
feller；〃 he said； 〃and I'll see him in Parliament before I
die。 You may go and see his mother； Miss O。； though I'll
never set eyes on her〃： and Miss Osborne came。 Emmy；
you may be sure； was very glad to see her； and so be
brought nearer to George。 That young fellow was
allowed to come much more frequently than before to visit
his mother。 He dined once or twice a week in Gillespie
Street and bullied the servants and his relations there； just
as he did in Russell Square。
He was always respectful to Major Dobbin； however；
and more modest in his demeanour when that gentleman
was present。 He was a clever lad and afraid of the
Major。 George could not help admiring his friend's
simplicity； his good humour； his various learning quietly
imparted； his general love of truth and justice。 He had met
no such man as yet in the course of his experience； and
he had an instinctive liking for a gentleman。 He hung
fondly by his godfather's side； and it was his delight to
walk in the parks and hear Dobbin talk。 William told
George about his father； about India and Waterloo； about
everything but himself。 When George was more than
usually pert and conceited； the Major made jokes at him；
which Mrs。 Osborne thought very cruel。 One day； taking
him to the play； and the boy declining to go into the pit
because it was vulgar； the Major took him to the boxes；
left him there； and went down himself to the pit。 He
had not been seated there very long before he felt an arm
thrust under his and a dandy little hand in a kid glove
squeezing his arm。 George had seen the absurdity of his
ways and come down from the upper region。 A tender
laugh of benevolence lighted up old Dobbin's face and
eyes as he looked at the repentant little prodigal。 He
loved the boy； as he did everything that belonged to
Amelia。 How charmed she was when she heard of this
instance of George's goodness！ Her eyes looked more
kindly on Dobbin than they ever had done。 She blushed；
he thought； after looking at him so。
Georgy never tired of his praises of the Major to his
mother。 〃I like him； Mamma； because he knows such lots
of things； and he ain't like old Veal； who is always
bragging and using such long words； don't you know？ The
chaps call him 'Longtail' at school。 I gave him the name；
ain't it capital？ But Dob reads Latin like English； and
French and that； and when we go out together he tells me
stories about my Papa； and never about himself； though I
heard Colonel Buckler； at Grandpapa's； say that he was
one of the bravest officers in the army； and had
distinguished himself ever so much。 Grandpapa was quite
surprised； and said； 'THAT feller！ Why； I didn't think he could
say Bo to a goose'but l know he could； couldn't he；
Mamma？〃
Emmy laughed： she thought it was very likely the
Major could do thus much。
If there was a sincere liking between George and the
Major； it must be confessed that between the boy and his
uncle no great love existed。 George had got a way of
blowing out his cheeks； and putting his hands in his
waistcoat pockets； and saying； 〃God bless my soul； you don't
say so；〃 so exactly after the fashion of old Jos that it was
impossible to refrain from laughter。 The servants would
explode at dinner if the lad； asking for something which
wasn't at table； put on that countenance and used that
favourite phrase。 Even Dobbin would shoot out a sudden
peal at the boy's mimicry。 If George did not mimic his
uncle to his face； it was only by Dobbin's rebukes and
Amelia's terrified entreaties that the little scapegrace was
induced to desist。 And the worthy civilian being haunted
by a dim consciousness that the lad thought him an ass；
and was inclined to turn him into ridicule； used to be
extremely timorous and； of course； doubly pompous and
dignified in the presence of Master Georgy。 When it was
announced that the young gentleman was expected in
Gillespie Street to dine with his mother； Mr。 Jos
commonly found that he had an engagement at the Club。
Perhaps nobody was much grieved at his absence。 On
those days Mr。 Sedley would commonly be induced to
come out from his place of refuge in the upper stories；
and there would be a small family party； whereof Major
Dobbin pretty generally formed one。 He was the ami de
la maisonold Sedley's friend； Emmy's friend； Georgy's
friend； Jos's counsel and adviser。 〃He mi