vanity fair(名利场)-第129章

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school　of　little　dandies。　　Georgy　had　little　white
waistcoats　for　evening　parties；　and　little　cut　velvet　waistcoats
for　dinners；　and　a　dear　little　darling　shawl　dressing…gown；
for　all　the　world　like　a　little　man。　　He　dressed　for　dinner
every　day；　〃like　a　regular　West　End　swell；〃　as　his
grandfather　remarked；　one　of　the　domestics　was　affected　to
his　special　service；　attended　him　at　his　toilette；
answered　his　bell；　and　brought　him　his　letters　always　on　a
silver　tray。
Georgy；　after　breakfast；　would　sit　in　the　arm…chair　in
the　dining…room　and　read　the　Morning　Post；　just　like　a
grown…up　man。　　〃How　he　DU　dam　and　swear；〃　the
servants　would　cry；　delighted　at　his　precocity。　　Those　who
remembered　the　Captain　his　father；　declared　Master
George　was　his　Pa；　every　inch　of　him。　　He　made　the　house
lively　by　his　activity；　his　imperiousness；　his　scolding；　and
his　good…nature。
George's　education　was　confided　to　a　neighbouring
scholar　and　private　pedagogue　who　〃prepared　young
noblemen　and　gentlemen　for　the　Universities；　the　senate；
and　the　learned　professions：　　whose　system　did　not
embrace　the　degrading　corporal　severities　still　practised　at
the　ancient　places　of　education；　and　in　whose　family　the
pupils　would　find　the　elegances　of　refined　society　and
the　confidence　and　affection　of　a　home。〃　It　was　in　this
way　that　the　Reverend　Lawrence　Veal　of　Hart　Street；
Bloomsbury；　and　domestic　Chaplain　to　the　Earl　of
Bareacres；　strove　with　Mrs。　Veal　his　wife　to　entice　pupils。
By　thus　advertising　and　pushing　sedulously；　the
domestic　Chaplain　and　his　Lady　generally　succeeded　in
having　one　or　two　scholars　by　themwho　paid　a　high
figure　and　were　thought　to　be　in　uncommonly　comfortable
quarters。　　There　was　a　large　West　Indian；　whom
nobody　came　to　see；　with　a　mahogany　complexion；　a　woolly
head；　and　an　exceedingly　dandyfied　appearance；　there
was　another　hulking　boy　of　three…and…twenty　whose
education　had　been　neglected　and　whom　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Veal
were　to　introduce　into　the　polite　world；　there　were　two
sons　of　Colonel　Bangles　of　the　East　India　Company's
Service：　　these　four　sat　down　to　dinner　at　Mrs。　Veal's
genteel　board；　when　Georgy　was　introduced　to　her
establishment。
Georgy　was；　like　some　dozen　other　pupils；　only　a
day　boy；　he　arrived　in　the　morning　under　the
guardianship　of　his　friend　Mr。　Rowson；　and　if　it　was　fine；
would　ride　away　in　the　afternoon　on　his　pony；　followed　by
the　groom。　　The　wealth　of　his　grandfather　was　reported
in　the　school　to　be　prodigious。　　The　Rev。　　Mr。　Veal　used
to　compliment　Georgy　upon　it　personally；　warning　him
that　he　was　destined　for　a　high　station；　that　it　became
him　to　prepare；　by　sedulity　and　docility　in　youth；　for　the
lofty　duties　to　which　he　would　be　called　in　mature　age；
that　obedience　in　the　child　was　the　best　preparation　for
command　in　the　man；　and　that　he　therefore　begged　George
would　not　bring　toffee　into　the　school　and　ruin　the　health
of　the　Masters　Bangles；　who　had　everything　they　wanted
at　the　elegant　and　abundant　table　of　Mrs。　Veal。
With　respect　to　learning；　〃the　Curriculum；〃　as　Mr。
Veal　loved　to　call　it；　was　of　prodigious　extent；　and　the
young　gentlemen　in　Hart　Street　might　learn　a
something　of　every　known　science。　　The　Rev。　　Mr。　Veal　had
an　orrery；　an　electrifying　machine；　a　turning　lathe；　a
theatre　（in　the　wash…house）；　a　chemical　apparatus；　and
what　he　called　a　select　library　of　all　the　works　of　the
best　authors　of　ancient　and　modern　times　and　languages。
He　took　the　boys　to　the　British　Museum　and　descanted
upon　the　antiquities　and　the　specimens　of　natural　history
there；　so　that　audiences　would　gather　round　him　as　he
spoke；　and　all　Bloomsbury　highly　admired　him　as　a
prodigiously　well…informed　man。　　And　whenever　he　spoke
（which　he　did　almost　always）；　he　took　care　to　produce　the
very　finest　and　longest　words　of　which　the　vocabulary
gave　him　the　use；　rightly　judging　that　it　was　as　cheap　to
employ　a　handsome；　large；　and　sonorous　epithet；　as　to
use　a　little　stingy　one。
Thus　he　would　say　to　George　in　school；　〃I　observed
on　my　return　home　from　taking　the　indulgence　of　an
evening's　scientific　conversation　with　my　excellent　friend
Doctor　Buldersa　true　archaeologian；　gentlemen；　a　true
archaeologianthat　the　windows　of　your　venerated
grandfather's　almost　princely　mansion　in　Russell　Square　were
illuminated　as　if　for　the　purposes　of　festivity。　　Am　I　right
in　my　conjecture　that　Mr。　Osborne　entertained　a　society
of　chosen　spirits　round　his　sumptuous　board　last　night？〃
Little　Georgy；　who　had　considerable　humour；　and　used
to　mimic　Mr。　Veal　to　his　face　with　great　spirit　and
dexterity；　would　reply　that　Mr。　V。　　was　quite　correct
in　his　surmise。
〃Then　those　friends　who　had　the　honour　of　partaking
of　Mr。　Osborne's　hospitality；　gentlemen；　had　no　reason；
I　will　lay　any　wager；　to　complain　of　their　repast。　　I
myself　have　been　more　than　once　so　favoured。　　（By　the　way；
Master　Osborne；　you　came　a　little　late　this　morning；　and
have　been　a　defaulter　in　this　respect　more　than　once。）
I　myself；　I　say；　gentlemen；　humble　as　I　am；　have　been
found　not　unworthy　to　share　Mr。　Osborne's　elegant
hospitality。　　And　though　I　have　feasted　with　the　great　and
noble　of　the　worldfor　I　presume　that　I　may　call　my
excellent　friend　and　patron；　the　Right　Honourable　George
Earl　of　Bareacres；　one　of　the　numberyet　I　assure　you
that　the　board　of　the　British　merchant　was　to　the　full
as　richly　served；　and　his　reception　as　gratifying　and
noble。　　Mr。　Bluck；　sir；　we　will　resume；　if　you　please；
that　passage　of　Eutropis；　which　was　interrupted　by　the
late　arrival　of　Master　Osborne。〃
To　this　great　man　George's　education　was　for　some
time　entrusted。　　Amelia　was　bewildered　by　his　phrases；
but　thought　him　a　prodigy　of　learning。　　That　poor　widow
made　friends　of　Mrs。　Veal；　for　reasons　of　her　own。　　She
liked　to　be　in　the　house　and　see　Georgy　coming　to　school
there。　　She　liked　to　be　asked　to　Mrs。　Veal's　conversazioni；
which　took　place　once　a　month　（as　you　were　informed　on
pink　cards；　with　AOHNH　engraved　on　them）；　and　where
the　professor　welcomed　his　pupils　and　their　friends　to　weak
tea　and　scientific　conversation。　　Poor　little　Amelia　never
missed　one　of　these　entertainments　and　thought　them
delicious　so　long　as　she　might　have　Georgy　sitting　by　her。
And　she　would　walk　from　Brompton　in　any　weather；
and　embrace　Mrs。　Veal　with　tearful　gratitude　for　the
delightful　evening　she　had　passed；　when；　the　company
having　retired　and　Georgy　gone　off　with　Mr。　Rowson；　his
attendant；　poor　Mrs。　Osborne　put　on　her　cloaks　and
her　shawls　preparatory　to　walking　home。
As　for　the　learning　which　Georgy　imbibed　under　this
valuable　master　of　a　hundred　sciences；　to　judge　from
the　weekly　reports　which　the　lad　took　home　to　his
grandfather；　his　progress　was　remarkable。　　The　names　of　a
score　or　more　of　desirable　branches　of　knowledge　were
printed　in　a　table；　and　the　pupil's　progress　in　each　was
marked　by　the　professor。　　In　Greek　Georgy　was
pronounced　aristos；　in　Latin　optimus；　in　French　tres　bien；
and　so　forth；　and　everybody　had　prizes　for　everything
at　the　end　of　the　year。　　Even　Mr。　Swartz；　the　wooly…
headed　young　gentleman；　and　half…brother　to　the
Honourable　Mrs。　Mac　Mull；　and　Mr。　Bluck；　the　neglected
young　pupil　of　three…and…twenty　from　the　agricultural
district；　and　that　idle　young　scapegrace　of　a　Master　Todd
before　mentioned；　received　little　eighteen…penny　books；
with　〃Athene〃　engraved　on　them；　and　a　pompous　Latin
inscription　from　the　professor　to　his　young　friends。
The　family　of　this　Master　Todd　were　hangers…on　of
the　house　of　Osborne。　　The　old　gentleman　had　advanced
Todd　from　being　a　clerk　to　be　a　junior　partner　in　his
establishment。
Mr。　Osborne　was　the　godfather　of　young　Master　Todd
（who　in　subsequent　life　wrote　Mr。　Osborne　Todd　on　his
cards　and　became　a　man　of　decided　fashion）；　while　Miss
Osborne　had　accompanied　Miss　Maria　Todd　to　the　font；
and　gave　her　protegee　a　prayer…book；　a　collection　of
tracts；　a　volume　of　very　low　church　poetry；　or　some
such　memento　of　her　goodness　every　year。　　Miss　O。　　drove
the　Todds　out　in　her　carriage　now　and　then；　when　they
were　ill；　her　footman；　in　large　plush　smalls　and
waistcoat；　brought　jellies　and　delicacies　from　Russell　Square　to
Coram　Street。　　Coram　Street　trembled　and　looked　up　to
Russell　Square　indeed；　and　Mrs。　Todd；　who　had　a　pretty
hand　at　cutting　out　paper　trimmings　for　haunches　of
mutton；　and　could　make　flowers；　ducks；　&c。；　out　of　turnips
and　carrots　in　a　very　creditable　manner；　would　go　to　〃the
Square；〃　as　it　was　called；　and　assist　in　the　preparations
incident　to　a　great　dinner；　without　even　so　much　as
thinking　of　sitting　down　to　the　banquet。　　If　any　guest　failed　at
the　eleventh　hour；　Todd　was　asked　to　dine。　　Mrs。　Todd　and
Maria　came　across　in　the　evening；　slipped　in　with　a　muffled
knock；　and　were　in　the　drawing…room　by　the　time　Miss
Osborne　and　the　ladies　under　her　convoy　reached　that
apartmentand　ready　to　fire　off　duets　and　sing　until
the　gentlemen　came　up。　　Poor　Maria　Todd；　poor　young
lady！　　How　she　had　to　work　and　thrum　at　these　duets
and　sonatas　in　the　Street；　before　they　appeared　in　public
in　the　Square！
Thus　it　seemed　to　be　decreed　by　fate　that　Georgy
was　to　domineer　over　everybody　with　whom　he　came　in
contact；　and　that　friends；　relatives；　and　domestics　were
all　to　bow　the　knee　before　the　little　fellow。　　It　must
be　owned　that　he　accommodated　himself　very　willingly
to　this　arrangement。　　Most　people　do　so。　　And　Georgy
liked　to　play　the　part　of　master　and　perhaps　had　a
natural　aptitude　for　it。
In　Russell　Square　everybody　was　afraid　of　Mr。　Osborne；
and　Mr。　Osborne　was　afraid　of　Georgy。　　The　boy's
dashing　manners；　and　offhand　rattle　about　books　and
learning；　his　likeness　to　his　father　（dead　unreconciled　in
Brussels　yonder）　awed　the　old　gentleman　and　gave　the
young　boy　the　mastery。　　The　old　man　would　start　at
some　hereditary　feature　or　tone　unconsciously　used　by
the　little　lad；　and　fancy　that　George's　father　was　again
before　him。　　He　tried　by　indulgence　to　the　grandson　to
make　up　for　harshness　to　the　elder　George。　　People　were
surprised　at　his　gentleness　to　the　boy。　　He　growled　and
swore　at　Miss　Osborne　as　usual；　and　would　smile　when
George　came　down　late　for　breakfast。
Miss　Osborne；　George's　aunt；　was　a　faded　old　spinster；
broken　down　by　more　than　forty　years　of　dulness　and
coarse　usage。　　It　was　easy　for　a　lad　of　spirit　to　master　her。
And　whenever　George　wanted　anything　from　her；　from　the
jam…pots　in　her　cupboards　to　the　cracked　and　dry　old
colours　in　her　paint…box　（the　old　paint…box　which　she
had　had　when　she　was　a　pupil　of　Mr。　Smee　and　was
still　almost　young　and　blooming）；　Georgy　took　possession
of　the　object　of　his　desire；　which　obtained；　he　took　no
further　notice　of　his　aunt。
For　his　friends　and　cronies；　he　had　a　pompous　old
schoolmaster；　who　flattered　him；　and　a　toady；　his　senior；
whom　he　could　thrash。　　It　was　dear　Mrs。　Todd's　delight　to
leave　him　with　her　youngest　daughter；　Rosa　Jemima；　a
darling　child　of　eight　years　old。　　The　little　pair　looked　so
well　together；　she　would　say　（but　not　to　the　folks　in　〃the
Square；〃　we　may　be　sure）　〃who　knows　what　might
happen？　Don't　they　make　a　pretty　little　couple？〃　the
fond　mother　thought。
The　broken…spirited；　old；　maternal　grandfather　was
likewise