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reconciled to him。 Surely； Amelia could not refuse such
advantageous chances for the boy。 Nor could she； but
she acceded to their overtures with a very heavy and
suspicious heart； was always uneasy during the child's
absence from her； and welcomed him back as if he was
rescued out of some danger。 He brought back money and
toys； at which the widow looked with alarm and jealousy；
she asked him always if he had seen any gentleman
〃Only old Sir William； who drove him about in the four…
wheeled chaise； and Mr。 Dobbin； who arrived on the
beautiful bay horse in the afternoonin the green coat
and pink neck…cloth； with the gold…headed whip； who
promised to show him the Tower of London and take
him out with the Surrey hounds。〃 At last； he said； 〃There
was an old gentleman； with thick eyebrows； and a broad
hat； and large chain and seals。〃 He came one day as the
coachman was lunging Georgy round the lawn on the
gray pony。 〃He looked at me very much。 He shook very
much。 I said 'My name is Norval' after dinner。 My aunt
began to cry。 She is always crying。〃 Such was George's
report on that night。
Then Amelia knew that the boy had seen his
grandfather； and looked out feverishly for a proposal
which she was sure would follow； and which came； in fact；
in a few days afterwards。 Mr。 Osborne formally offered to
take the boy and make him heir to the fortune which he
had intended that his father should inherit。 He would
make Mrs。 George Osborne an allowance； such as to
assure her a decent competency。 If Mrs。 George Osborne
proposed to marry again； as Mr。 O。 heard was her
intention； he would not withdraw that allowance。 But it
must be understood that the child would live entirely with
his grandfather in Russell Square； or at whatever other
place Mr。 O。 should select； and that he would be
occasionally permitted to see Mrs。 George Osborne at her
own residence。 This message was brought or read to her
in a letter one day； when her mother was from home
and her father absent as usual in the City。
She was never seen angry but twice or thrice in her
life； and it was in one of these moods that Mr。 Osborne's
attorney had the fortune to behold her。 She rose up
trembling and flushing very much as soon as； after
reading the letter； Mr。 Poe handed it to her； and she tore the
paper into a hundred fragments； which she trod on。 〃I
marry again！ I take money to part from my child！ Who
dares insult me by proposing such a thing？ Tell Mr。
Osborne it is a cowardly letter； sira cowardly letter
I will not answer it。 I wish you good morning； sirand
she bowed me out of the room like a tragedy Queen；〃
said the lawyer who told the story。
Her parents never remarked her agitation on that day；
and she never told them of the interview。 They had their
own affairs to interest them； affairs which deeply
interested this innocent and unconscious lady。 The old
gentleman； her father； was always dabbling in speculation。
We have seen how the wine company and the coal
company had failed him。 But； prowling about the City
always eagerly and restlessly still； he lighted upon some
other scheme； of which he thought so well that he
embarked in it in spite of the remonstrances of Mr。 Clapp；
to whom indeed he never dared to tell how far he had
engaged himself in it。 And as it was always Mr。 Sedley's
maxim not to talk about money matters before women；
they had no inkling of the misfortunes that were in store
for them until the unhappy old gentleman was forced to
make gradual confessions。
The bills of the little household； which had been settled
weekly； first fell into arrear。 The remittances had not
arrived from India； Mr。 Sedley told his wife with a disturbed
face。 As she had paid her bills very regularly hitherto；
one or two of the tradesmen to whom the poor lady was
obliged to go round asking for time were very angry at
a delay to which they were perfectly used from more
irregular customers。 Emmy's contribution； paid over
cheerfully without any questions； kept the little company
in half…rations however。 And the first six months passed
away pretty easily； old Sedley still keeping up with the
notion that his shares must rise and that all would be
well。
No sixty pounds； however； came to help the household
at the end of the half year； and it fell deeper and deeper
into troubleMrs。 Sedley； who was growing infirm and
was much shaken； remained silent or wept a great deal
with Mrs。 Clapp in the kitchen。 The butcher was
particularly surly； the grocer insolent： once or twice little
Georgy had grumbled about the dinners； and Amelia； who
still would have been satisfied with a slice of bread for
her own dinner； could not but perceive that her son was
neglected and purchased little things out of her private
purse to keep the boy in health。
At last they told her； or told her such a garbled story
as people in difficulties tell。 One day； her own money
having been received； and Amelia about to pay it over；
she； who had kept an account of the moneys expended
by her； proposed to keep a certain portion back out of
her dividend； having contracted engagements for a new
suit for Georgy。
Then it came out that Jos's remittances were not paid；
that the house was in difficulties； which Amelia ought to
have seen before； her mother said； but she cared for
nothing or nobody except Georgy。 At this she passed all
her money across the table； without a word； to her
mother； and returned to her room to cry her eyes out。
She had a great access of sensibility too that day； when
obliged to go and countermand the clothes； the darling
clothes on which she had set her heart for Christmas
Day； and the cut and fashion of which she had arranged
in many conversations with a small milliner； her friend。
Hardest of all； she had to break the matter to Georgy；
who made a loud outcry。 Everybody had new clothes at
Christmas。 The others would laugh at him。 He would
have new clothes。 She had promised them to him。 The
poor widow had only kisses to give him。 She darned the
old suit in tears。 She cast about among her little ornaments
to see if she could sell anything to procure the desired
novelties。 There was her India shawl that Dobbin had
sent her。 She remembered in former days going with her
mother to a fine India shop on Ludgate Hill； where the
ladies had all sorts of dealings and bargains in these
articles。 Her cheeks flushed and her eyes shone with
pleasure as she thought of this resource； and she kissed
away George to school in the morning； smiling brightly
after him。 The boy felt that there was good news in her
look。
Packing up her shawl in a handkerchief （another of
the gifts of the good Major）； she hid them under her
cloak and walked flushed and eager all the way to
Ludgate Hill； tripping along by the park wall and running
over the crossings； so that many a man turned as she
hurried by him and looked after her rosy pretty face。 She
calculated how she should spend the proceeds of her
shawlhow； besides the clothes； she would buy the books
that he longed for； and pay his half…year's schooling； and
how she would buy a cloak for her father instead of
that old great…coat which he w