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！
over by ever so many guardian angels； with and without
wages？ Bon Dieu； I say； is it not hard that the fateful
rush of the great Imperial struggle can't take place without
affecting a poor little harmless girl of eighteen； who
is occupied in billing and cooing； or working muslin
collars in Russell Square？ You too； kindly； homely flower！
is the great roaring war tempest coming to sweep you
down； here； although cowering under the shelter of
Holborn？ Yes； Napoleon is flinging his last stake； and poor
little Emmy Sedley's happiness forms； somehow； part of it。
In the first place； her father's fortune was swept down
with that fatal news。 All his speculations had of late gone
wrong with the luckless old gentleman。 Ventures had
failed； merchants had broken； funds had risen when he
calculated they would fall。 What need to particularize？
If success is rare and slow； everybody knows how quick
and easy ruin is。 Old Sedley had kept his own sad counsel。
Everything seemed to go on as usual in the quiet；
opulent house； the good…natured mistress pursuing； quite
unsuspiciously； her bustling idleness； and daily easy
avocations； the daughter absorbed still in one selfish； tender
thought； and quite regardless of all the world besides；
when that final crash came； under which the worthy
family fell。
One night Mrs。 Sedley was writing cards for a party；
the Osbornes had given one； and she must not be
behindhand； John Sedley； who had come home very late from
the City； sate silent at the chimney side； while his wife
was prattling to him； Emmy had gone up to her room
ailing and low…spirited。 〃She's not happy；〃 the mother
went on。 〃George Osborne neglects her。 I've no patience
with the airs of those people。 The girls have not been in
the house these three weeks； and George has been twice
in town without coming。 Edward Dale saw him at the
Opera。 Edward would marry her I'm sure： and there's
Captain Dobbin who； I think； wouldonly I hate all
army men。 Such a dandy as George has become。 With
his military airs； indeed！ We must show some folks that
we're as good as they。 Only give Edward Dale any
encouragement； and you'll see。 We must have a party； Mr。
S。 Why don't you speak； John？ Shall I say Tuesday fortnight？
Why don't you answer？ Good God； John； what has happened？〃
John Sedley sprang up out of his chair to meet his
wife； who ran to him。 He seized her in his arms； and
said with a hasty voice； 〃We're ruined； Mary。 We've
got the world to begin over again； dear。 It's best that you
should know all； and at once。〃 As he spoke； he trembled
in every limb； and almost fell。 He thought the news would
have overpowered his wifehis wife； to whom he had
never said a hard word。 But it was he that was the most
moved； sudden as the shock was to her。 When he sank
back into his seat； it was the wife that took the office of
consoler。 She took his trembling hand； and kissed it； and
put it round her neck： she called him her Johnher dear
Johnher old manher kind old man； she poured out a
hundred words of incoherent love and tenderness； her
faithful voice and simple caresses wrought this sad heart
up to an inexpressible delight and anguish； and cheered
and solaced his over…burdened soul。
Only once in the course of the long night as they sate
together； and poor Sedley opened his pent…up soul； and
told the story of his losses and embarrassmentsthe
treason of some of his oldest friends； the manly kindness
of some； from whom he never could have expected itin
a general confessiononly once did the faithful wife give
way to emotion。
〃My God； my God； it will break Emmy's heart；〃 she
said。
The father had forgotten the poor girl。 She was lying；
awake and unhappy； overhead。 In the midst of friends；
home； and kind parents； she was alone。 To how many
people can any one tell all？ Who will be open where there
is no sympathy； or has call to speak to those who never
can understand？ Our gentle Amelia was thus solitary。 She
had no confidante； so to speak； ever since she had anything
to confide。 She could not tell the old mother her
doubts and cares； the would…be sisters seemed every day
more strange to her。 And she had misgivings and fears
which she dared not acknowledge to herself； though she
was always secretly brooding over them。
Her heart tried to persist in asserting that George
Osborne was worthy and faithful to her； though she knew
otherwise。 How many a thing had she said； and got no
echo from him。 How many suspicions of selfishness and
indifference had she to encounter and obstinately
overcome。 To whom could the poor little martyr tell these
daily struggles and tortures？ Her hero himself only half
understood her。 She did not dare to own that the man she
loved was her inferior； or to feel that she had given her
heart away too soon。 Given once； the pure bashful
maiden was too modest； too tender； too trustful； too
weak； too much woman to recall it。 We are Turks with
the affections of our women； and have made them
subscribe to our doctrine too。 We let their bodies go abroad
liberally enough； with smiles and ringlets and pink
bonnets to disguise them instead of veils and yakmaks。 But
their souls must be seen by only one man； and they obey
not unwillingly； and consent to remain at home as our
slavesministering to us and doing drudgery for us。
So imprisoned and tortured was this gentle little heart；
when in the month of March； Anno Domini 1815；
Napoleon landed at Cannes； and Louis XVIII fled； and all
Europe was in alarm； and the funds fell； and old John
Sedley was ruined。
We are not going to follow the worthy old stockbroker
through those last pangs and agonies of ruin through
which he passed before his commercial demise befell。
They declared him at the Stock Exchange； he was
absent from his house of business： his bills were protested：
his act of bankruptcy formal。 The house and furniture of
Russell Square were seized and sold up； and he and his
family were thrust away； as we have seen； to hide their
heads where they might。
John Sedley had not the heart to review the domestic
establishment who have appeared now and anon in our
pages and of whom he was now forced by poverty to
take leave。 The wages of those worthy people were
discharged with that punctuality which men frequently show
who only owe in great sumsthey were sorry to leave
good placesbut they did not break their hearts at parting
from their adored master and mistress。 Amelia's maid
was profuse in condolences； but went off quite resigned
to better herself in a genteeler quarter of the town。 Black
Sambo； with the infatuation of his profession； determined
on setting up a public…house。 Honest old Mrs。 Blenkinsop
indeed； who had seen the birth of Jos and Amelia； and
the wooing of John Sedley and his wife； was for staying
by them without wages； having amassed a considerable
sum in their service： and she accompanied the fallen
people into their new and humble place of refuge； where
she tended them and grumbled against them for a while。
Of all Sedley's opponents in his debates with his creditors
which now ensued； and harassed the feelings of the
humil