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child in her arms set up a frantic chorus of shouts。
〃A murderess； indeed！ Go down on your knees and
pray to God to cleanse your wicked ungrateful heart；
Amelia； and may He forgive you as I do。〃 And Mrs。
Sedley tossed out of the room； hissing out the word
poison once more； and so ending her charitable
benediction。
Till the termination of her natural life； this breach
between Mrs。 Sedley and her daughter was never thoroughly
mended。 The quarrel gave the elder lady numberless
advantages which she did not fail to turn to account with
female ingenuity and perseverance。 For instance； she
scarcely spoke to Amelia for many weeks afterwards。
She warned the domestics not to touch the child； as Mrs。
Osborne might be offended。 She asked her daughter to
see and satisfy herself that there was no poison prepared
in the little daily messes that were concocted for Georgy。
When neighbours asked after the boy's health； she
referred them pointedly to Mrs。 Osborne。 SHE never
ventured to ask whether the baby was well or not。 SHE
would not touch the child although he was her grandson；
and own precious darling； for she was not USED to
children； and might kill it。 And whenever Mr。 Pestler came
upon his healing inquisition； she received the doctor with
such a sarcastic and scornful demeanour； as made the
surgeon declare that not Lady Thistlewood herself； whom
he had the honour of attending professionally； could
give herself greater airs than old Mrs。 Sedley； from whom
he never took a fee。 And very likely Emmy was jealous
too； upon her own part； as what mother is not； of those
who would manage her children for her； or become
candidates for the first place in their affections。 It is certain
that when anybody nursed the child； she was uneasy； and
that she would no more allow Mrs。 Clapp or the
domestic to dress or tend him than she would have let them
wash her husband's miniature which hung up over her
little bedthe same little bed from which the poor girl
had gone to his； and to which she retired now for many
long； silent； tearful； but happy years。
In this room was all Amelia's heart and treasure。 Here
it was that she tended her boy and watched him through
the many ills of childhood； with a constant passion of
love。 The elder George returned in him somehow； only
improved； and as if come back from heaven。 In a
hundred little tones； looks； and movements； the child was
so like his father that the widow's heart thrilled as she
held him to it； and he would often ask the cause of her
tears。 It was because of his likeness to his father； she
did not scruple to tell him。 She talked constantly to him
about this dead father； and spoke of her love for George
to the innocent and wondering child； much more than she
ever had done to George himself； or to any confidante of
her youth。 To her parents she never talked about this
matter； shrinking from baring her heart to them。 Little
George very likely could understand no better than they；
but into his ears she poured her sentimental secrets
unreservedly； and into his only。 The very joy of this
woman was a sort of grief； or so tender； at least； that
its expression was tears。 Her sensibilities were so weak
and tremulous that perhaps they ought not to be talked
about in a book。 I was told by Dr。 Pestler （now a most
flourishing lady's physician； with a sumptuous dark green
carriage； a prospect of speedy knighthood； and a house
in Manchester Square） that her grief at weaning the child
was a sight that would have unmanned a Herod。 He was
very soft…hearted many years ago； and his wife was
mortally jealous of Mrs。 Amelia； then and long afterwards。
Perhaps the doctor's lady had good reason for her
jealousy： most women shared it； of those who formed the
small circle of Amelia's acquaintance； and were quite
angry at the enthusiasm with which the other sex regarded
her。 For almost all men who came near her loved
her； though no doubt they would be at a loss to tell you
why。 She was not brilliant； nor witty； nor wise over
much； nor extraordinarily handsome。 But wherever she
went she touched and charmed every one of the male
sex； as invariably as she awakened the scorn and
incredulity of her own sisterhood。 I think it was her
weakness which was her principal charma kind of sweet
submission and softness； which seemed to appeal to
each man she met for his sympathy and protection。 We
have seen how in the regiment； though she spoke but to
few of George's comrades there； all the swords of the
young fellows at the mess…table would have leapt from
their scabbards to fight round her； and so it was in
the little narrow lodging…house and circle at Fulham； she
interested and pleased everybody。 If she had been Mrs。
Mango herself； of the great house of Mango； Plantain；
and Co。； Crutched Friars； and the magnificent proprietress
of the Pineries； Fulham； who gave summer dejeuners
frequented by Dukes and Earls； and drove about
the parish with magnificent yellow liveries and bay horses；
such as the royal stables at Kensington themselves could
not turn outI say had she been Mrs。 Mango herself； or
her son's wife； Lady Mary Mango （daughter of the
Earl of Castlemouldy； who condescended to marry the
head of the firm）； the tradesmen of the neighbourhood
could not pay her more honour than they invariably
showed to the gentle young widow； when she passed by
their doors； or made her humble purchases at their shops。
Thus it was not only Mr。 Pestler； the medical man； but
Mr。 Linton the young assistant； who doctored the servant
maids and small tradesmen； and might be seen any day
reading the Times in the surgery； who openly declared
himself the slave of Mrs。 Osborne。 He was a personable
young gentleman； more welcome at Mrs。 Sedley's lodgings
than his principal； and if anything went wrong with
Georgy； he would drop in twice or thrice in the day to
see the little chap； and without so much as the thought
of a fee。 He would abstract lozenges； tamarinds； and
other produce from the surgery…drawers for little
Georgy's benefit； and compounded draughts and mixtures
for him of miraculous sweetness； so that it was quite a
pleasure to the child to be ailing。 He and Pestler； his
chief； sat up two whole nights by the boy in that
momentous and awful week when Georgy had the measles； and
when you would have thought； from the mother's terror；
that there had never been measles in the world before。
Would they have done as much for other people？ Did
they sit up for the folks at the Pineries； when Ralph
Plantagenet； and Gwendoline； and Guinever Mango had the
same juvenile complaint？ Did they sit up for little Mary
Clapp； the landlord's daughter； who actually caught the
disease of little Georgy？ Truth compels one to say； no。
They slept quite undisturbed； at least as far as she was
concernedpronounced hers to be a slight case； which
would almost cure itself； sent her in a draught or two；
and threw in bark when the child rallied； with perfect
indifference； and just for form's sake。
Again； there was the little French chevalier opposite；
who gave lessons in his native tongue at various schools
in the neighbourhood； aud who might be hear