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。