Sheknewhoweachtenantofthecottagespaidorowedhislittlerent。ShesteppedasidewhenMrs。
Rougemonttheactresspassedwithherdubiousfamily。SheflungupherheadwhenMrs。Pestler，theapothecary’slady，drovebyinherhusband’sprofessionalone-horsechaise。ShehadcolloquieswiththegreengroceraboutthepennorthofturnipswhichMr。Sedleyloved；shekeptaneyeuponthemilkmanandthebaker’sboy；andmadevisitationstothebutcher，whosoldhundredsofoxenverylikelywithlessadothanwasmadeaboutMrs。Sedley’sloinofmutton：andshecountedthepotatoesunderthejointonSundays，onwhichdays，dressedinherbest，shewenttochurchtwiceandreadBlair’sSermonsintheevening。
Onthatday，for“business“preventedhimonweekdaysfromtakingsuchapleasure，itwasoldSedley’sdelighttotakeouthislittlegrandsonGeorgytotheneighbouringparksorKensingtonGardens，toseethesoldiersortofeedtheducks。Georgylovedtheredcoats，andhisgrandpapatoldhimhowhisfatherhadbeenafamoussoldier，andintroducedhimtomanysergeantsandotherswithWaterloomedalsontheirbreasts，towhomtheoldgrandfatherpompouslypresentedthechildasthesonofCaptainOsborneofthe——th，whodiedgloriouslyonthegloriouseighteenth。Hehasbeenknowntotreatsomeofthesenon-commissionedgentlementoaglassofporter，and，indeed，intheirfirstSundaywalkswasdisposedtospoillittleGeorgy，sadlygorgingtheboywithapplesandparliament，tothedetrimentofhishealth——
untilAmeliadeclaredthatGeorgeshouldnevergooutwithhisgrandpapaunlessthelatterpromisedsolemnly，andonhishonour，nottogivethechildanycakes，lollipops，orstallproducewhatever。
BetweenMrs。Sedleyandherdaughtertherewasasortofcoolnessaboutthisboy，andasecretjealousy——foroneeveninginGeorge’sveryearlydays，Amelia，whohadbeenseatedatworkintheirlittleparlourscarcelyremarkingthattheoldladyhadquittedtheroom，ranupstairsinstinctivelytothenurseryatthecriesofthechild，whohadbeenasleepuntilthatmoment——andtherefoundMrs。SedleyintheactofsurreptitiouslyadministeringDaffy’sElixirtotheinfant。Amelia，thegentlestandsweetestofeverydaymortals，whenshefoundthismeddlingwithhermaternalauthority，thrilledandtrembledalloverwithanger。Hercheeks，ordinarilypale，nowflushedup，untiltheywereasredastheyusedtobewhenshewasachildoftwelveyearsold。Sheseizedthebabyoutofhermother’sarmsandthengraspedatthebottle，leavingtheoldladygapingather，furious，andholdingtheguiltytea-spoon。
Ameliaflungthebottlecrashingintothefire-place。
“IwillNOThavebabypoisoned，Mamma。”criedEmmy，rockingtheinfantaboutviolentlywithbothherarmsroundhimandturningwithflashingeyesathermother。
“Poisoned，Amelia！”saidtheoldlady；“thislanguagetome？”
“HeshallnothaveanymedicinebutthatwhichMr。
Pestlersendsforhin。HetoldmethatDaffy’sElixirwaspoison。”
“Verygood：youthinkI’mamurderessthen。”repliedMrs。Sedley。”Thisisthelanguageyouusetoyourmother。
Ihavemetwithmisfortunes：Ihavesunklowinlife：I
havekeptmycarriage，andnowwalkonfoot：butIdidnotknowIwasamurderessbefore，andthankyoufortheNEWS。”
“Mamma。”saidthepoorgirl，whowasalwaysreadyfortears——“youshouldn’tbeharduponme。I——Ididn’tmean——Imean，Ididnotwishtosayyouwouldtoanywrongtothisdearchild，only——“
“Oh，no，mylove，——onlythatIwasamurderess；inwhichcaseIhadbettergototheOldBailey。ThoughI
didn’tpoisonYOU，whenyouwereachild，butgaveyouthebestofeducationandthemostexpensivemastersmoneycouldprocure。Yes；I’venursedfivechildrenandburiedthree；andtheoneIlovedthebestofall，andtendedthroughcroup，andteething，andmeasles，andhooping-cough，andbroughtupwithforeignmasters，regardlessofexpense，andwithaccomplishmentsatMinervaHouse——whichIneverhadwhenIwasagirl——whenIwastoogladtohonourmyfatherandmother，thatImightlivelongintheland，andtobeuseful，andnottomopealldayinmyroomandactthefinelady——saysI’mamurderess。Ah，Mrs。Osborne！mayYOUnevernourishaviperinyourbosom，that’sMYprayer。”
“Mamma，Mamma！”criedthebewilderedgirl；andthechildinherarmssetupafranticchorusofshouts。
“Amurderess，indeed！GodownonyourkneesandpraytoGodtocleanseyourwickedungratefulheart，Amelia，andmayHeforgiveyouasIdo。”AndMrs。
Sedleytossedoutoftheroom，hissingoutthewordpoisononcemore，andsoendinghercharitablebenediction。
Tilltheterminationofhernaturallife，thisbreachbetweenMrs。Sedleyandherdaughterwasneverthoroughlymended。Thequarrelgavetheelderladynumberlessadvantageswhichshedidnotfailtoturntoaccountwithfemaleingenuityandperseverance。Forinstance，shescarcelyspoketoAmeliaformanyweeksafterwards。
Shewarnedthedomesticsnottotouchthechild，asMrs。
Osbornemightbeoffended。SheaskedherdaughtertoseeandsatisfyherselfthattherewasnopoisonpreparedinthelittledailymessesthatwereconcoctedforGeorgy。
Whenneighboursaskedaftertheboy’shealth，shereferredthempointedlytoMrs。Osborne。SHEneverventuredtoaskwhetherthebabywaswellornot。SHE
wouldnottouchthechildalthoughhewashergrandson，andownpreciousdarling，forshewasnotUSEDtochildren，andmightkillit。AndwheneverMr。Pestlercameuponhishealinginquisition，shereceivedthedoctorwithsuchasarcasticandscornfuldemeanour，asmadethesurgeondeclarethatnotLadyThistlewoodherself，whomhehadthehonourofattendingprofessionally，couldgiveherselfgreaterairsthanoldMrs。Sedley，fromwhomhenevertookafee。AndverylikelyEmmywasjealoustoo，uponherownpart，aswhatmotherisnot，ofthosewhowouldmanageherchildrenforher，orbecomecandidatesforthefirstplaceintheiraffections。Itiscertainthatwhenanybodynursedthechild，shewasuneasy，andthatshewouldnomoreallowMrs。Clapporthedomestictodressortendhimthanshewouldhaveletthemwashherhusband’sminiaturewhichhungupoverherlittlebed——thesamelittlebedfromwhichthepoorgirlhadgonetohis；andtowhichsheretirednowformanylong，silent，tearful，buthappyyears。
InthisroomwasallAmelia’sheartandtreasure。Hereitwasthatshetendedherboyandwatchedhimthroughthemanyillsofchildhood，withaconstantpassionoflove。TheelderGeorgereturnedinhimsomehow，onlyimproved，andasifcomebackfromheaven。Inahundredlittletones，looks，andmovements，thechildwassolikehisfatherthatthewidow’sheartthrilledassheheldhimtoit；andhewouldoftenaskthecauseofhertears。Itwasbecauseofhislikenesstohisfather，shedidnotscrupletotellhim。Shetalkedconstantlytohimaboutthisdeadfather，andspokeofherloveforGeorgetotheinnocentandwonderingchild；muchmorethansheeverhaddonetoGeorgehimself，ortoanyconfidanteofheryouth。Toherparentsshenevertalkedaboutthismatter，shrinkingfrombaringherhearttothem。LittleGeorgeverylikelycouldunderstandnobetterthanthey，butintohisearsshepouredhersentimentalsecretsunreservedly，andintohisonly。Theveryjoyofthiswomanwasasortofgrief，orsotender，atleast，thatitsexpressionwastears。Hersensibilitiesweresoweakandtremulousthatperhapstheyoughtnottobetalkedaboutinabook。IwastoldbyDr。Pestlernowamostflourishinglady’sphysician，withasumptuousdarkgreencarriage，aprospectofspeedyknighthood，andahouseinManchesterSquarethathergriefatweaningthechildwasasightthatwouldhaveunmannedaHerod。Hewasverysoft-heartedmanyyearsago，andhiswifewasmortallyjealousofMrs。Amelia，thenandlongafterwards。
Perhapsthedoctor’sladyhadgoodreasonforherjealousy：mostwomensharedit，ofthosewhoformedthesmallcircleofAmelia’sacquaintance，andwerequiteangryattheenthusiasmwithwhichtheothersexregardedher。Foralmostallmenwhocamenearherlovedher；thoughnodoubttheywouldbeatalosstotellyouwhy。Shewasnotbrilliant，norwitty，norwiseovermuch，norextraordinarilyhandsome。Butwherevershewentshetouchedandcharmedeveryoneofthemalesex，asinvariablyassheawakenedthescornandincredulityofherownsisterhood。Ithinkitwasherweaknesswhichwasherprincipalcharm——akindofsweetsubmissionandsoftness，whichseemedtoappealtoeachmanshemetforhissympathyandprotection。Wehaveseenhowintheregiment，thoughshespokebuttofewofGeorge’scomradesthere，alltheswordsoftheyoungfellowsatthemess-tablewouldhaveleaptfromtheirscabbardstofightroundher；andsoitwasinthelittlenarrowlodging-houseandcircleatFulham，sheinterestedandpleasedeverybody。IfshehadbeenMrs。
Mangoherself，ofthegreathouseofMango，Plantain，andCo。，CrutchedFriars，andthemagnificentproprietressofthePineries，Fulham，whogavesummerdejeunersfrequentedbyDukesandEarls，anddroveabouttheparishwithmagnificentyellowliveriesandbayhorses，suchastheroyalstablesatKensingtonthemselvescouldnotturnout——IsayhadshebeenMrs。Mangoherself，orherson’swife，LadyMaryMangodaughteroftheEarlofCastlemouldy，whocondescendedtomarrytheheadofthefirm，thetradesmenoftheneighbourhoodcouldnotpayhermorehonourthantheyinvariablyshowedtothegentleyoungwidow，whenshepassedbytheirdoors，ormadeherhumblepurchasesattheirshops。
ThusitwasnotonlyMr。Pestler，themedicalman，butMr。Lintontheyoungassistant，whodoctoredtheservantmaidsandsmalltradesmen，andmightbeseenanydayreadingtheTimesinthesurgery，whoopenlydeclaredhimselftheslaveofMrs。Osborne。Hewasapersonableyounggentleman，morewelcomeatMrs。Sedley’slodgingsthanhisprincipal；andifanythingwentwrongwithGeorgy，hewoulddropintwiceorthriceinthedaytoseethelittlechap，andwithoutsomuchasthethoughtofafee。Hewouldabstractlozenges，tamarinds，andotherproducefromthesurgery-drawersforlittleGeorgy’sbenefit，andcompoundeddraughtsandmixturesforhimofmiraculoussweetness，sothatitwasquiteapleasuretothechildtobeailing。HeandPestler，hischief，satuptwowholenightsbytheboyinthatmomentousandawfulweekwhenGeorgyhadthemeasles；andwhenyouwouldhavethought，fromthemother’sterror，thattherehadneverbeenmeaslesintheworldbefore。
Wouldtheyhavedoneasmuchforotherpeople？DidtheysitupforthefolksatthePineries，whenRalphPlantagenet，andGwendoline，andGuineverMangohadthesamejuvenilecomplaint？DidtheysitupforlittleMaryClapp，thelandlord’sdaughter，whoactuallycaughtthediseaseoflittleGeorgy？Truthcompelsonetosay，no。
Theysleptquiteundisturbed，atleastasfarasshewasconcerned——pronouncedherstobeaslightcase，whichwouldalmostcureitself，sentherinadraughtortwo，andthrewinbarkwhenthechildrallied，withperfectindifference，andjustforform’ssake。
Again，therewasthelittleFrenchchevalieropposite，whogavelessonsinhisnativetongueatvariousschoolsintheneighbourhood，audwhomightbeheardinhisapartmentofnightsplayingtremulousoldgavottesandminuetsonawheezyoldfiddle。Wheneverthispowderedandcourteousoldman，whonevermissedaSundayattheconventchapelatHammersmith，andwhowasinallrespects，thoughts，conduct，andbearingutterlyunlikethebeardedsavagesofhisnation，whocurseperfidiousAlbion，andscowlatyoufromovertheircigars，intheQuadrantarcadesatthepresentday——whenevertheoldChevalierdeTalonrougespokeofMistressOsborne，hewouldfirstfinishhispinchofsnuff，flickawaytheremainingparticlesofdustwithagracefulwaveofhishand，gatheruphisfingersagainintoabunch，and，bringingthemuptohismouth，blowthemopenwithakiss，exclaiming，Ah！ladivinecreature！HevowedandprotestedthatwhenAmeliawalkedintheBromptonLanesflowersgrewinprofusionunderherfeet。HecalledlittleGeorgyCupid，andaskedhimnewsofVenus，hismamma；
andtoldtheastonishedBettyFlanaganthatshewasoneoftheGraces，andthefavouriteattendantoftheReinedesAmours。
Instancesmightbemultipliedofthiseasilygainedandunconsciouspopularity。DidnotMr。Binny，themildandgenteelcurateofthedistrictchapel，whichthefamilyattended，callassiduouslyuponthewidow，dandlethelittleboyonhisknee，andoffertoteachhimLatin，totheangeroftheelderlyvirgin，hissister，whokepthouseforhim？“Thereisnothinginher，Beilby。”thelatterladywouldsay。”Whenshecomestoteahereshedoesnotspeakawordduringthewholeevening。Sheisbutapoorlackadaisicalcreature，anditismybeliefhasnoheartatall。Itisonlyherprettyfacewhichallyougentlemenadmireso。MissGrits，whohasfivethousandpounds，andexpectationsbesides，hastwiceasmuchcharacter，andisathousandtimesmoreagreeabletomytaste；andifsheweregood-lookingIknowthatyouwouldthinkherperfection。”
VerylikelyMissBinnywasrighttoagreatextent。ItIStheprettyfacewhichcreatessympathyintheheartsofmen，thosewickedrogues。AwomanmaypossessthewisdomandchastityofMinerva，andwegivenoheedtoher，ifshehasaplainface。Whatfollywillnotapairofbrighteyesmakepardonable？Whatdulnessmaynotredlipsandsweetaccentsrenderpleasant？Andso，withtheirusualsenseofjustice，ladiesarguethatbecauseawomanishandsome，thereforesheisafool。Oladies，ladies！therearesomeofyouwhoareneitherhandsomenorwise。