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in an anguish of delight and gratitude： if anybody gave
you and me a thousand a year； or saved our lives； we
could not be so affected。 And so； if you properly tyrannize
over a woman； you will find a h'p'orth of kindness act
upon her and bring tears into her eyes； as though you
were an angel benefiting her。
Some such boons as these were the best which Fortune
allotted to poor little Amelia。 Her life； begun not
unprosperously； had come down to thisto a mean prison
and a long； ignoble bondage。 Little George visited her
captivity sometimes and consoled it with feeble gleams
of encouragement。 Russell Square was the boundary of
her prison： she might walk thither occasionally； but was
always back to sleep in her cell at night； to perform
cheerless duties； to watch by thankless sick…beds； to
suffer the harassment and tyranny of querulous
disappointed old age。 How many thousands of people are
there； women for the most part； who are doomed to endure
this long slavery？who are hospital nurses without
wagessisters of Charity； if you like； without the
romance and the sentiment of sacrificewho strive； fast；
watch； and suffer； unpitied； and fade away ignobly and
unknown。
The hidden and awful Wisdom which apportions the
destinies of mankind is pleased so to humiliate and cast
down the tender； good； and wise； and to set up the selfish；
the foolish； or the wicked。 Oh； be humble； my brother；
in your prosperity！ Be gentle with those who are less
lucky； if not more deserving。 Think； what right have you
to be scornful； whose virtue is a deficiency of temptation；
whose success may be a chance； whose rank may be
an ancestor's accident； whose prosperity is very likely
a satire。
They buried Amelia's mother in the churchyard at
Brompton； upon just such a rainy； dark day as Amelia
recollected when first she had been there to marry George。
Her little boy sat by her side in pompous new sables。
She remembered the old pew…woman and clerk。 Her
thoughts were away in other times as the parson read。
But that she held George's hand in her own； perhaps she
would have liked to change places with。。。。 Then； as
usual； she felt ashamed of her selfish thoughts and prayed
inwardly to be strengthened to do her duty。
So she determined with all her might and strength to
try and make her old father happy。 She slaved； toiled；
patched； and mended； sang and played backgammon； read
out the newspaper； cooked dishes； for old Sedley； walked
him out sedulously into Kensington Gardens or the Brompton
Lanes； listened to his stories with untiring smiles and
affectionate hypocrisy； or sat musing by his side and
communing with her own thoughts and reminiscences；
as the old man； feeble and querulous； sunned himself on
the garden benches and prattled about his wrongs or his
sorrows。 What sad； unsatisfactory thoughts those of the
widow were！ The children running up and down the
slopes and broad paths in the gardens reminded her of
George； who was taken from her； the first George was
taken from her； her selfish； guilty love； in both instances；
had been rebuked and bitterly chastised。 She strove to
think it was right that she should be so punished。 She
was such a miserable wicked sinner。 She was quite
alone in the world。
I know that the account of this kind of solitary
imprisonment is insufferably tedious； unless there is some
cheerful or humorous incident to enliven ita tender gaoler；
for instance； or a waggish commandant of the fortress；
or a mouse to come out and play about Latude's beard
and whiskers； or a subterranean passage under the castle；
dug by Trenck with his nails and a toothpick： the historian
has no such enlivening incident to relate in the narrative
of Amelia's captivity。 Fancy her； if you please； during this
period； very sad； but always ready to smile when spoken
to； in a very mean； poor； not to say vulgar position of
life； singing songs； making puddings； playing cards；
mending stockings； for her old father's benefit。 So； never
mind； whether she be a heroine or no； or you and I； however
old； scolding； and bankruptmay we have in our last days
a kind soft shoulder on which to lean and a gentle hand
to soothe our gouty old pillows。
Old Sedley grew very fond of his daughter after his
wife's death； and Amelia had her consolation in doing her
duty by the old man。
But we are not going to leave these two people long in
such a low and ungenteel station of life。 Better days； as
far as worldly prosperity went； were in store for both。
Perhaps the ingenious reader has guessed who was the
stout gentleman who called upon Georgy at his school in
company with our old friend Major Dobbin。 It was
another old acquaintance returned to England； and at a time
when his presence was likely to be of great comfort to
his relatives there。
Major Dobbin having easily succeeded in getting leave
from his good…natured commandant to proceed to
Madras； and thence probably to Europe； on urgent private
affairs； never ceased travelling night and day until he
reached his journey's end； and had directed his march
with such celerity that he arrived at Madras in a high
fever。 His servants who accompanied him brought him
to the house of the friend with whom he had resolved to
stay until his departure for Europe in a state of delirium；
and it was thought for many； many days that he would
never travel farther than the burying…ground of the church
of St。 George's； where the troops should fire a salvo over
his grave； and where many a gallant officer lies far away
from his home。
Here； as the poor fellow lay tossing in his fever； the
people who watched him might have heard him raving
about Amelia。 The idea that he should never see her again
depressed him in his lucid hours。 He thought his last day
was come； and he made his solemn preparations for
departure； setting his affairs in this world in order and
leaving the little property of which he was possessed to
those whom he most desired to benefit。 The friend in
whose house he was located witnessed his testament。 He
desired to be buried with a little brown hair…chain which
he wore round his neck and which； if the truth must be
known； he had got from Amelia's maid at Brussels； when
the young widow's hair was cut off； during the fever
which prostrated her after the death of George Osborne
on the plateau at Mount St。 John。
He recovered； rallied； relapsed again； having undergone
such a process of blood…letting and calomel as
showed the strength of his original constitution。 He was
almost a skeleton when they put him on board the
Ramchunder East Indiaman； Captain Bragg； from Calcutta；
touching at Madras； and so weak and prostrate that his
friend who had tended him through his illness prophesied
that the honest Major would never survive the voyage；
and that he would pass some morning； shrouded in
flag and hammock； over the ship's side； and carrying
down to the sea with him the relic that he wore at his
heart。 But whether it was the sea air； or the hope which
sprung up in him afresh； from the day that the ship
spread her canvas and stood out of the roads towards
home； our friend began to amend； and he was quite
well （thoug