第94章

Atlastthedaycame，thecarriagedroveup，thelittlehumblepacketscontainingtokensofloveandremembrancewerereadyanddisposedinthehalllongsince——Georgewasinhisnewsuit，forwhichthetailorhadcomepreviouslytomeasurehim。Hehadsprungupwiththesunandputonthenewclothes，hismotherhearinghimfromtheroomcloseby，inwhichshehadbeenlying，inspeechlessgriefandwatching。Daysbeforeshehadbeenmakingpreparationsfortheend，purchasinglittlestoresfortheboy’suse，markinghisbooksandlinen，talkingwithhimandpreparinghimforthechange——fondlyfancyingthatheneededpreparation。

Sothathehadchange，whatcaredhe？Hewaslongingforit。Byathousandeagerdeclarationsastowhathewoulddo，whenhewenttolivewithhisgrandfather，hehadshownthepoorwidowhowlittletheideaofpartinghadcasthimdown。”Hewouldcomeandseehismammaoftenonthepony。”hesaid。”Hewouldcomeandfetchherinthecarriage；theywoulddriveinthepark，andsheshouldhaveeverythingshewanted。”

Thepoormotherwasfaintocontentherselfwiththeseselfishdemonstrationsofattachment，andtriedtoconvinceherselfhowsincerelyhersonlovedher。Hemustloveher。Allchildrenwereso：alittleanxiousfornovelty，and——no，notselfish，butself-willed。Herchildmusthavehisenjoymentsandambitionintheworld。Sheherself，byherownselfishnessandimprudentloveforhimhaddeniedhimhisjustrightsandpleasureshitherto。

Iknowfewthingsmoreaffectingthanthattimorousdebasementandself-humiliationofawoman。Howsheownsthatitissheandnotthemanwhoisguilty；howshetakesallthefaultsonherside；howshecourtsinamannerpunishmentforthewrongswhichshehasnotcommittedandpersistsinshieldingtherealculprit！Itisthosewhoinjurewomenwhogetthemostkindnessfromthem——theyareborntimidandtyrantsandmaltreatthosewhoarehumblestbeforethem。

SopoorAmeliahadbeengettingreadyinsilentmiseryforherson’sdeparture，andhadpassedmanyandmanyalongsolitaryhourinmakingpreparationsfortheend。

Georgestoodbyhismother，watchingherarrangementswithouttheleastconcern。Tearshadfallenintohisboxes；

passageshadbeenscoredinhisfavouritebooks；oldtoys，relics，treasureshadbeenhoardedawayforhim，andpackedwithstrangeneatnessandcare——andofallthesethingstheboytooknonote。Thechildgoesawaysmilingasthemotherbreaksherheart。Byheavensitispitiful，thebootlessloveofwomenforchildreninVanityFair。

Afewdaysarepast，andthegreateventofAmelia’slifeisconsummated。Noangelhasintervened。Thechildissacrificedandoffereduptofate，andthewidowisquitealone。

Theboycomestoseeheroften，tobesure。Heridesonaponywithacoachmanbehindhim，tothedelightofhisoldgrandfather，Sedley，whowalksproudlydownthelanebyhisside。Sheseeshim，butheisnotherboyanymore。Why，heridestoseetheboysatthelittleschool，too，andtoshowoffbeforethemhisnewwealthandsplendour。Intwodayshehasadoptedaslightlyimperiousairandpatronizingmanner。Hewasborntocommand，hismotherthinks，ashisfatherwasbeforehim。

Itisfineweathernow。Ofeveningsonthedayswhenhedoesnotcome，shetakesalongwalkintoLondon——yes，asfarasRussellSquare，andrestsonthestonebytherailingofthegardenoppositeMr。Osborne’shouse。

Itissopleasantandcool。Shecanlookupandseethedrawing-roomwindowsilluminated，and，ataboutnineo’clock，thechamberintheupperstorywhereGeorgysleeps。Sheknows——hehastoldher。Shepraysthereasthelightgoesout，prayswithanhumbleheart，andwalkshomeshrinkingandsilent。Sheisverytiredwhenshecomeshome。Perhapsshewillsleepthebetterforthatlongwearywalk，andshemaydreamaboutGeorgy。

OneSundayshehappenedtobewalkinginRussellSquare，atsomedistancefromMr。Osborne’shouse(shecouldseeitfromadistancethough)whenallthebellsofSabbathwereringing，andGeorgeandhisauntcameouttogotochurch；alittlesweepaskedforcharity，andthefootman，whocarriedthebooks，triedtodrivehimaway；butGeorgystoppedandgavehimmoney。MayGod’sblessingbeontheboy！Emmyranroundthesquareand，cominguptothesweep，ga