Georgy Osborne was now fairly established in his grandfather's mansion

in Russell Square, occupant of his father's room in the house and heir

apparent of all the splendours there. The good looks, gallant bearing,

and gentlemanlike appearance of the boy won the grandsire's heart for

him. Mr. Osborne was as proud of him as ever he had been of the elder

George.

The child had many more luxuries and indulgences than had been awarded

his father. Osborne's commerce had prospered greatly of late years.

His wealth and importance in the City had very much increased. He had

been glad enough in former days to put the elder George to a good

private school; and a commission in the army for his son had been a

source of no small pride to him; for little George and his future

prospects the old man looked much higher. He would make a gentleman of

the little chap, was Mr. Osborne's constant saying regarding little

Georgy. He saw him in his mind's eye, a collegian, a Parliament man, a

Baronet, perhaps. The old man thought he would die contented if he

could see his grandson in a fair way to such honours. He would have

none but a tip-top college man to educate him--none of your quacks and

pretenders--no, no. A few years before, he used to be savage, and

inveigh against all parsons, scholars, and the like declaring that they

were a pack of humbugs, and quacks that weren't fit to get their living

but by grinding Latin and Greek, and a set of supercilious dogs that

pretended to look down upon British merchants and gentlemen, who could

buy up half a hundred of 'em. He would mourn now, in a very solemn

manner, that his own education had been neglected, and repeatedly point

out, in pompous orations to Georgy, the necessity and excellence of

classical acquirements.

When they met at dinner the grandsire used to ask the lad what he had

been reading during the day, and was greatly interested at the report

the boy gave of his own studies, pretending to understand little George

when he spoke regarding them. He made a hundred blunders and showed

his ignorance many a time. It did not increase the respect which the

child had for his senior. A quick brain and a better education

elsewhere showed the boy very soon that his grandsire was a dullard,

and he began accordingly to command him and to look down upon him; for

his previous education, humble and contracted as it had been, had made

a much better gentleman of Georgy than any plans of his grandfather

could make him. He had been brought up by a kind, weak, and tender

woman, who had no pride about anything but about him, and whose heart

was so pure and whose bearing was so meek and humble that she could not

but needs be a true lady. She busied herself in gentle offices and

quiet duties; if she never said brilliant things, she never spoke or

thought unkind ones; guileless and artless, loving and pure, indeed how

could our poor little Amelia be other than a real gentlewoman!




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