Thesearebuttrivialincidentstorecountinthelifeofourheroine。Hertaledoesnotdealinwonders，asthegentlereaderhasalreadynodoubtperceived；andifajournalhadbeenkeptofherproceedingsduringthesevenyearsafterthebirthofherson，therewouldbefoundfewincidentsmoreremarkableinitthanthatofthemeasles，recordedintheforegoingpage。Yes，oneday，andgreatlytoherwonder，theReverendMr。Binny，justmentioned，askedhertochangehernameofOsborneforhisown；when，withdeepblushesandtearsinhereyesandvoice，shethankedhimforhisregardforher，expressedgratitudeforhisattentionstoherandtoherpoorlittleboy，butsaidthatshenever，nevercouldthinkofanybut——butthehusbandwhomshehadlost。
Onthetwenty-fifthofApril，andtheeighteenthofJune，thedaysofmarriageandwidowhood，shekeptherroomentirely，consecratingthemandwedonotknowhowmanyhoursofsolitarynight-thought，herlittleboysleepinginhiscribbyherbedsidetothememoryofthatdepartedfriend。Duringthedayshewasmoreactive。
ShehadtoteachGeorgetoreadandtowriteandalittletodraw。Shereadbooks，inorderthatshemighttellhimstoriesfromthem。Ashiseyesopenedandhismindexpandedundertheinfluenceoftheoutwardnatureroundabouthim，shetaughtthechild，tothebestofherhumblepower，toacknowledgetheMakerofall，andeverynightandeverymorningheandshe——inthatawfulandtouchingcommunionwhichIthinkmustbringathrilltotheheartofeverymanwhowitnessesorwhoremembersit——themotherandthelittleboy——prayedtoOurFathertogether，themotherpleadingwithallhergentleheart，thechildlispingafterherasshespoke。AndeachtimetheyprayedtoGodtoblessdearPapa，asifhewerealiveandintheroomwiththem。
Towashanddressthisyounggentleman——totakehimforarunofthemornings，beforebreakfast，andtheretreatofgrandpapafor“business“——tomakeforhimthemostwonderfulandingeniousdresses，forwhichendthethriftywidowcutupandalteredeveryavailablelittlebitoffinerywhichshepossessedoutofherwardrobeduringhermarriage——forMrs。Osborneherselfgreatlytohermother’svexation，whopreferredfineclothes，especiallysincehermisfortunesalwaysworeablackgownandastrawbonnetwithablackribbon——occupiedhermanyhoursoftheday。Othersshehadtospare，attheserviceofhermotherandheroldfather。Shehadtakenthepainstolearn，andusedtoplaycribbagewiththisgentlemanonthenightswhenhedidnotgotohisclub。Shesangforhimwhenhewassominded，anditwasagoodsign，forheinvariablyfellintoacomfortablesleepduringthemusic。Shewroteouthisnumerousmemorials，letters，prospectuses，andprojects。Itwasinherhandwritingthatmostoftheoldgentleman’sformeracquaintanceswereinformedthathehadbecomeanagentfortheBlackDiamondandAnti-CinderCoalCompanyandcouldsupplyhisfriendsandthepublicwiththebestcoalsat——s。perchaldron。Allhedidwastosignthecircularswithhisflourishandsignature，anddirecttheminashaky，clerklikehand。OneofthesepaperswassenttoMajorDobbin，——Regt。，careofMessrs。CoxandGreenwood；
buttheMajorbeinginMadrasatthetime，hadnoparticularcallforcoals。Heknew，though，thehandwhichhadwrittentheprospectus。GoodGod！whatwouldhenothavegiventoholditinhisown！Asecondprospectuscameout，informingtheMajorthatJ。SedleyandCompany，havingestablishedagenciesatOporto，Bordeaux，andSt。Mary’s，wereenabledtooffertotheirfriendsandthepublicgenerallythefinestandmostcelebratedgrowthsofports，sherries，andclaretwinesatreasonablepricesandunderextraordinaryadvantages。
Actinguponthishint，Dobbinfuriouslycanvassedthegovernor，thecommander-in-chief，thejudges，theregiments，andeverybodywhomheknewinthePresidency，andsenthometoSedleyandCo。ordersforwinewhichperfectlyastonishedMr。SedleyandMr。Clapp，whowastheCo。inthebusiness。Butnomoreorderscameafterthatfirstburstofgoodfortune，onwhichpooroldSedleywasabouttobuildahouseintheCity，aregimentofclerks，adocktohimself，andcorrespondentsallovertheworld。Theoldgentleman’sformertasteinwinehadgone：thecursesofthemess-roomassailedMajorDobbinfortheviledrinkshehadbeenthemeansofintroducingthere；andheboughtbackagreatquantityofthewineandsolditatpublicoutcry，atanenormouslosstohimself。
AsforJos，whowasbythistimepromotedtoaseatattheRevenueBoardatCalcutta，hewaswildwithragewhenthepostbroughthimoutabundleoftheseBacchanalianprospectuses，withaprivatenotefromhisfather，tellingJosthathisseniorcounteduponhiminthisenterprise，andhadconsignedaquantityofselectwinestohim，asperinvoice，drawingbillsuponhimfortheamountofthesame。Jos，whowouldnomorehaveitsupposedthathisfather，JosSedley’sfather，oftheBoardofRevenue，wasawinemerchantaskingfororders，thanthathewasJackKetch，refusedthebillswithscorn，wrotebackcontumeliouslytotheoldgentleman，biddinghimtomindhisownaffairs；andtheprotestedpapercomingback，SedleyandCo。hadtotakeitup，withtheprofitswhichtheyhadmadeoutoftheMadrasventure，andwithalittleportionofEmmy’ssavings。
Besidesherpensionoffiftypoundsayear，therehadbeenfivehundredpounds，asherhusband’sexecutorstated，leftintheagent’shandsatthetimeofOsborne’sdemise，whichsum，asGeorge’sguardian，Dobbinproposedtoputoutat8percentinanIndianhouseofagency。Mr。Sedley，whothoughttheMajorhadsomeroguishintentionsofhisownaboutthemoney，wasstronglyagainstthisplan；andhewenttotheagentstoprotestpersonallyagainsttheemploymentofthemoneyinquestion，whenhelearned，tohissurprise，thattherehadbeennosuchsumintheirhands，thatallthelateCaptain’sassetsdidnotamounttoahundredpounds，andthatthefivehundredpoundsinquestionmustbeaseparatesum，ofwhichMajorDobbinknewtheparticulars。
Morethaneverconvincedthattherewassomeroguery，oldSedleypursuedtheMajor。Ashisdaughter’snearestfriend，hedemandedwithahighhandastatementofthelateCaptain’saccounts。Dobbin’sstammering，blushing，andawkwardnessaddedtotheother’sconvictionsthathehadaroguetodealwith，andinamajestictonehetoldthatofficerapieceofhismind，ashecalledit，simplystatinghisbeliefthattheMajorwasunlawfullydetaininghislateson-in-law’smoney。
Dobbinatthislostallpatience，andifhisaccuserhadnotbeensooldandsobroken，aquarrelmighthaveensuedbetweenthemattheSlaughters’Coffee-house，inaboxofwhichplaceofentertainmentthegentlemenhadtheircolloquy。”Comeupstairs，sir。”lispedouttheMajor。”Iinsistonyourcomingupthestairs，andIwillshowwhichistheinjuredparty，poorGeorgeorI“；and，draggingtheoldgentlemanuptohisbedroom，heproducedfromhisdeskOsborne’saccounts，andabundleofIOU’swhichthelatterhadgiven，who，todohimjustice，wasalwaysreadytogiveanIOU。”HepaidhisbillsinEngland。”Dobbinadded，“buthehadnotahundredpoundsintheworldwhenhefell。Iandoneortwoofhisbrotherofficersmadeupthelittlesum，whichwasallthatwecouldspare，andyoudaretellusthatwearetryingtocheatthewidowandtheorphan。”
Sedleywasverycontriteandhumbled，thoughthefactisthatWilliamDobbinhadtoldagreatfalsehoodtotheoldgentleman；havinghimselfgiveneveryshillingofthemoney，havingburiedhisfriend，andpaidallthefeesandchargesincidentuponthecalamityandremovalofpoorAmelia。
AbouttheseexpensesoldOsbornehadnevergivenhimselfanytroubletothink，noranyotherrelativeofAmelia，norAmeliaherself，indeed。ShetrustedtoMajorDobbinasanaccountant，tookhissomewhatconfusedcalculationsforgranted，andneveroncesuspectedhowmuchshewasinhisdebt。
Twiceorthriceintheyear，accordingtoherpromise，shewrotehimletterstoMadras，lettersallaboutlittleGeorgy。Howhetreasuredthesepapers！WheneverAmeliawroteheanswered，andnotuntilthen。Buthesentoverendlessremembrancesofhimselftohisgodsonandtoher。Heorderedandsentaboxofscarfsandagrandivorysetofchess-menfromChina。Thepawnswerelittlegreenandwhitemen，withrealswordsandshields；theknightswereonhorseback，thecastleswereonthebacksofelephants。”Mrs。Mango’sownsetatthePinerieswasnotsofine。”Mr。Pestlerremarked。Thesechess-menwerethedelightofGeorgy’slife，whoprintedhisfirstletterinacknowledgementofthisgiftofhisgodpapa。Hesentoverpreservesandpickles，whichlattertheyounggentlemantriedsurreptitiouslyinthesideboardandhalf-killedhimselfwitheating。Hethoughtitwasajudgementuponhimforstealing，theyweresohot。EmmywroteacomicallittleaccountofthismishaptotheMajor：itpleasedhimtothinkthatherspiritswererallyingandthatshecouldbemerrysometimesnow。Hesentoverapairofshawls，awhiteoneforherandablackonewithpalm-leavesforhermother，andapairofredscarfs，aswinterwrappers，foroldMr。SedleyandGeorge。
Theshawlswereworthfiftyguineasapieceattheveryleast，asMrs。Sedleyknew。SheworehersinstateatchurchatBrompton，andwascongratulatedbyherfemalefriendsuponthesplendidacquisition。Emmy’s，too，becameprettilyhermodestblackgown。”Whatapityitisshewon’tthinkofhim！”Mrs。SedleyremarkedtoMrs。ClappandtoallherfriendsofBrompton。”Josneversentussuchpresents，Iamsure，andgrudgesuseverything。ItisevidentthattheMajorisoverheadandearsinlovewithher；andyet，wheneverIsomuchashintit，sheturnsredandbeginstocryandgoesandsitsupstairswithherminiature。I’msickofthatminiature。Iwishwehadneverseenthoseodiouspurse-proudOsbornes。”
AmidstsuchhumblescenesandassociatesGeorge’searlyyouthwaspassed，andtheboygrewupdelicate，sensitive，imperious，woman-bred——domineeringthegentlemotherwhomhelovedwithpassionateaffection。Heruledalltherestofthelittleworldroundabouthim。
Ashegrew，theelderswereamazedathishaughtymannerandhisconstantlikenesstohisfather。Heaskedquestionsabouteverything，asinquiringyouthwilldo。Theprofundityofhisremarksandinterrogatoriesastonishedhisoldgrandfather，whoperfectlyboredtheclubatthetavernwithstoriesaboutthelittlelad’slearningandgenius。Hesufferedhisgrandmotherwithagood-humouredindifference。Thesmallcircleroundabouthimbelievedthattheequaloftheboydidnotexistupontheearth。Georgyinheritedhisfather’spride，andperhapsthoughttheywerenotwrong。
Whenhegrewtobeaboutsixyearsold，Dobbinbegantowritetohimverymuch。TheMajorwantedtohearthatGeorgywasgoingtoaschoolandhopedhewouldacquithimselfwithcreditthere：orwouldhehaveagoodtutorathome？Itwastimethatheshouldbegintolearn；
andhisgodfatherandguardianhintedthathehopedtobeallowedtodefraythechargesoftheboy’seducation，whichwouldfallheavilyuponhismother’sstraitenedincome。TheMajor，inaword，wasalwaysthinkingaboutAmeliaandherlittleboy，andbyorderstohisagentskeptthelatterprovidedwithpicture-books，paint-boxes，desks，andallconceivableimplementsofamusementandinstruction。ThreedaysbeforeGeorge’ssixthbirthdayagentlemaninagig，accompaniedbyaservant，droveuptoMr。Sedley’shouseandaskedtoseeMasterGeorgeOsborne：itwasMr。Woolsey，militarytailor，ofConduitStreet，whocameattheMajor’sordertomeasuretheyounggentlemanforasuitofclothes。HehadhadthehonourofmakingfortheCaptain，theyounggentleman’sfather。
Sometimes，too，andbytheMajor’sdesirenodoubt，hissisters，theMissesDobbin，wouldcallinthefamilycarriagetotakeAmeliaandthelittleboytodriveiftheyweresoinclined。ThepatronageandkindnessoftheseladieswasveryuncomfortabletoAmelia，butsheboreitmeeklyenough，forhernaturewastoyield；and，besides，thecarriageanditssplendoursgavelittleGeorgyimmensepleasure。Theladiesbeggedoccasionallythatthechildmightpassadaywiththem，andhewasalwaysgladtogotothatfinegarden-houseatDenmarkHill，wheretheylived，andwherethereweresuchfinegrapesinthehot-housesandpeachesonthewalls。
OnedaytheykindlycameovertoAmeliawithnewswhichtheywereSUREwoulddelighther——somethingVERY
interestingabouttheirdearWilliam。
“Whatwasit：washecominghome？”sheaskedwithpleasurebeaminginhereyes。
“Oh，no——nottheleast——buttheyhadverygoodreasontobelievethatdearWilliamwasabouttobemarried——
andtoarelationofaverydearfriendofAmelia’s——toMissGlorvinaO’Dowd，SirMichaelO’Dowd’ssister，whohadgoneouttojoinLadyO’DowdatMadras——averybeautifulandaccomplishedgirl，everybodysaid。”
Ameliasaid“Oh！”AmeliawasveryVERYhappyindeed。
ButshesupposedGlorvinacouldnotbelikeheroldacquaintance，whowasmostkind——but——butshewasveryhappyindeed。AndbysomeimpulseofwhichI
cannotexplainthemeaning，shetookGeorgeinherarmsandkissedhimwithanextraordinarytenderness。Hereyeswerequitemoistwhensheputthechilddown；andshescarcelyspokeawordduringthewholeofthedrive——thoughshewassoveryhappyindeed。