第106章

Tickleus’satEalingSchool)inRussellSquare。George’sgrandfathergavetheboyacoupleofsovereignsforthatfeatandpromisedtorewardhimfurtherforeveryboyabovehisownsizeandagewhomhewhoppedinasimilarmanner。Itisdifficulttosaywhatgoodtheoldmansawinthesecombats；hehadavaguenotionthatquarrellingmadeboyshardy，andthattyrannywasausefulaccomplishmentforthemtolearn。Englishyouthhavebeensoeducatedtimeoutofmind，andwehavehundredsofthousandsofapologistsandadmirersofinjustice，misery，andbrutality，asperpetratedamongchildren。FlushedwithpraiseandvictoryoverMasterToffy，Georgewishednaturallytopursuehisconquestsfurther，andonedayashewasstruttingaboutinprodigiouslydandifiednewclothes，nearSt。Pancras，andayoungbaker’sboymadesarcasticcommentsuponhisappearance，theyouthfulpatricianpulledoffhisdandyjacketwithgreatspirit，andgivingitinchargetothefriendwhoaccompaniedhim(MasterTodd，ofGreatCoramStreet，RussellSquare，sonofthejuniorpartnerofthehouseofOsborneandCo。)，Georgetriedtowhopthelittlebaker。Butthechancesofwarwereunfavourablethistime，andthelittlebakerwhoppedGeorgy，whocamehomewitharuefulblackeyeandallhisfineshirtfrilldabbledwiththeclaretdrawnfromhisownlittlenose。Hetoldhisgrandfatherthathehadbeenincombatwithagiant，andfrightenedhispoormotheratBromptonwithlong，andbynomeansauthentic，accountsofthebattle。

ThisyoungTodd，ofCoramStreet，RussellSquare，wasMasterGeorge’sgreatfriendandadmirer。Theybothhadatasteforpaintingtheatricalcharacters；forhardbakeandraspberrytarts；forslidingandskatingintheRegent’sParkandtheSerpentine，whentheweatherpermitted；forgoingtotheplay，whithertheywereoftenconducted，byMr。Osborne’sorders，byRowson，MasterGeorge’sappointedbody-servant，withwhomtheysatingreatcomfortinthepit。

Inthecompanyofthisgentlemantheyvisitedalltheprincipaltheatresofthemetropolis；knewthenamesofalltheactorsfromDruryLanetoSadler’sWells；andperformed，indeed，manyoftheplaystotheToddfamilyandtheiryouthfulfriends，withWest’sfamouscharacters，ontheirpasteboardtheatre。Rowson，thefootman，whowasofagenerousdisposition，wouldnotunfrequently，whenincash，treathisyoungmastertooystersaftertheplay，andtoaglassofrum-shrubforanight-cap。

WemaybeprettycertainthatMr。Rowsonprofitedinhisturnbyhisyoungmaster’sliberalityandgratitudeforthepleasurestowhichthefootmaninductedhim。

AfamoustailorfromtheWestEndofthetown——

Mr。OsbornewouldhavenoneofyourCityorHolbornbunglers，hesaid，fortheboy(thoughaCitytailorwasgoodenoughforHIM)——wassummonedtoornamentlittleGeorge’sperson，andwastoldtosparenoexpenseinsodoing。So，Mr。Woolsey，ofConduitStreet，gavealoosetohisimaginationandsentthechildhomefancytrousers，fancywaistcoats，andfancyjacketsenoughtofurnishaschooloflittledandies。Georgyhadlittlewhitewaistcoatsforeveningparties，andlittlecutvelvetwaistcoatsfordinners，andadearlittledarlingshawldressing-gown，foralltheworldlikealittleman。Hedressedfordinnereveryday，“likearegularWestEndswell。”ashisgrandfatherremarked；oneofthedomesticswasaffectedtohisspecialservice，attendedhimathistoilette，answeredhisbell，andbroughthimhislettersalwaysonasilvertray。

Georgy，afterbreakfast，wouldsitinthearm-chairinthedining-roomandreadtheMorningPost，justlikeagrown-upman。”HowheDUdamandswear。”theservantswouldcry，delightedathisprecocity。ThosewhorememberedtheCaptainhisfather，declaredMasterGeorgewashisPa，everyinchofhim。Hemadethehouselivelybyhisactivity，hisimperiousness，hisscolding，andhisgood-nature。

George’seducationwasconfidedtoaneighbouringscholarandprivatepedagoguewho“preparedyoungnoblemenandgentlemenfortheUniversities，thesenate，andthelearnedprofessions：whosesystemdidnotembracethedegradingcorporalseveritiesstillpractisedattheancientplacesofeducation，andinwhosefamilythepupilswouldfindtheelegancesofrefinedsocietyandtheconfidenceandaffectionofahome。”ItwasinthiswaythattheReverendLawrenceVealofHartStreet，Bloomsbury，anddomesticChaplaintotheEarlofBareacres，strovewithMrs。Vealhiswifetoenticepupils。

Bythusadvertisingandpushingsedulously，thedomesticChaplainandhisLadygenerallysucceededinhavingoneortwoscholarsbythem——whopaidahighfigureandwerethoughttobeinuncommonlycomfortablequarters。TherewasalargeWestIndian，whomnobodycametosee，withamahoganycomplexion，awoollyhead，andanexceedinglydandyfiedappearance；therewasanotherhulkingboyofthree-and-twentywho