“Howhappyyouwillbetoseeyourdarlinglittleboyagain！”LadyCrawleysaid，takingleaveofherkinswoman。
“Ohsohappy！”saidRebecca，throwingupthegreeneyes。
Shewasimmenselyhappytobefreeoftheplace，andyetloathtogo。Queen’sCrawleywasabominablystupid，andyettheairtherewassomehowpurerthanthatwhichshehadbeenaccustomedtobreathe。Everybodyhadbeendull，buthadbeenkindintheirway。”ItisalltheinfluenceofalongcourseofThreePerCents。”Beckysaidtoherself，andwasrightverylikely。
However，theLondonlampsflashedjoyfullyasthestagerolledintoPiccadilly，andBriggshadmadeabeautifulfireinCurzonStreet，andlittleRawdonwasuptowelcomebackhispapaandmamma。
CHAPTERXLII
WhichTreatsoftheOsborneFamilyConsiderabletimehaselapsedsincewehaveseenourrespectablefriend，oldMr。OsborneofRussellSquare。Hehasnotbeenthehappiestofmortalssincelastwemethim。
Eventshaveoccurredwhichhavenotimprovedhistemper，andinmoreinstancesthanonehehasnotbeenallowedtohavehisownway。Tobethwartedinthisreasonabledesirewasalwaysveryinjurioustotheoldgentleman；andresistancebecamedoublyexasperatingwhengout，age，loneliness，andtheforceofmanydisappointmentscombinedtoweighhimdown。Hisstiffblackhairbegantogrowquitewhitesoonafterhisson’sdeath；his-facegrewredder；hishandstrembledmoreandmoreashepouredouthisglassofportwine。HeledhisclerksadirelifeintheCity：hisfamilyathomewerenotmuchhappier。IdoubtifRebecca，whomwehaveseenpiouslyprayingforConsols，wouldhaveexchangedherpovertyandthedare-devilexcitementandchancesofherlifeforOsborne’smoneyandthehumdrumgloomwhichenvelopedhim。HehadproposedforMissSwartz，buthadbeenrejectedscornfullybythepartisansofthatlady，whomarriedhertoayoungsprigofScotchnobility。Hewasamantohavemarriedawomanoutoflowlifeandbulliedherdreadfullyafterwards；butnopersonpresentedherselfsuitabletohistaste，and，instead，hetyrannizedoverhisunmarrieddaughter，athome。Shehadafinecarriageandfinehorsesandsatattheheadofatableloadedwiththegrandestplate。Shehadacheque-book，aprizefootmantofollowherwhenshewalked，unlimitedcredit，andbowsandcomplimentsfromallthetradesmen，andalltheappurtenancesofanheiress；butshespentawoefultime。
Thelittlecharity-girlsattheFoundling，thesweeperessatthecrossing，thepoorestunder-kitchen-maidintheservants’hall，washappycomparedtothatunfortunateandnowmiddle-agedyounglady。
FrederickBullock，Esq。，ofthehouseofBullock，Hulker，andBullock，hadmarriedMariaOsborne，notwithoutagreatdealofdifficultyandgrumblingonMr。Bullock’spart。
Georgebeingdeadandcutoutofhisfather’swill，Frederickinsistedthatthehalfoftheoldgentleman’spropertyshouldbesettleduponhisMaria，andindeed，foralongtime，refused，“tocometothescratch“itwasMr。
Frederick’sownexpressiononanyotherterms。OsbornesaidFredhadagreedtotakehisdaughterwithtwentythousand，andheshouldbindhimselftonomore。”Fredmighttakeit，andwelcome，orleaveit，andgoandbehanged。”Fred，whosehopeshadbeenraisedwhenGeorgehadbeendisinherited，thoughthimselfinfamouslyswindledbytheoldmerchant，andforsometimemadeasifhewouldbreakoffthematchaltogether。OsbornewithdrewhisaccountfromBullockandHulker’s，wenton’Changewithahorsewhipwhichhesworehewouldlayacrossthebackofacertainscoundrelthatshouldbenameless，anddemeanedhimselfinhisusualviolentmanner。JaneOsbornecondoledwithhersisterMariaduringthisfamilyfeud。”Ialwaystoldyou，Maria，thatitwasyourmoneyhelovedandnotyou。”shesaid，soothingly。
“Heselectedmeandmymoneyatanyrate；hedidn’tchooseyouandyours。”repliedMaria，tossingupherhead。
Therapturewas，however，onlytemporary。Fred’sfatherandseniorpartnerscounselledhimtotakeMaria，evenwiththetwentythousandsettled，halfdown，andhalfatthedeathofMr。Osborne，withthechancesofthefurtherdivisionoftheproperty。Sohe“knuckleddown。”againtousehisownphrase，andsentoldHulkerwithpeaceableoverturestoOsborne。Itwashisfather，hesaid，whowouldnothearofthematch，andhadmadethedifficulties；hewasmostanxioustokeeptheengagement。TheexcusewassulkilyacceptedbyMr。Osborne。HulkerandBullockwereahighfamilyoftheCityaristocracy，andconnectedwiththe“nobs“attheWestEnd。Itwassomethingfortheoldmantobeabletosay，“Myson，sir，ofthehouseofHulker，Bullock，andCo。，sir；mydaughter’scousin，LadyMaryMango，sir，daughteroftheRightHon。TheEarlofCastlemouldy。”Inhisimaginationhesawhishousepeopledbythe“nobs。”SoheforgaveyoungBullockandconsentedthatthemarriageshouldtakeplace。
Itwasagrandaffair——thebridegroom’srelativesgivingthebreakfast，theirhabitationsbeingnearSt。George’s，HanoverSquare，wherethebusinesstookplace。The“nobsoftheWestEnd“wereinvited，andmanyofthemsignedthebook。Mr。MangoandLadyMaryMangowerethere，withthedearyoungGwendolineandGuineverMangoasbridesmaids；ColonelBludyeroftheDragoonGuardseldestsonofthehouseofBludyerBrothers，MincingLane，anothercousinofthebridegroom，andtheHonourableMrs。
Bludyer；theHonourableGeorgeBoulter，LordLevant’sson，andhislady，MissMangothatwas；LordViscountCastletoddy；HonourableJamesMcMullandMrs。McMullformerlyMissSwartz；andahostoffashionables，whohaveallmarriedintoLombardStreetanddoneagreatdealtoennobleCornhill。
TheyoungcouplehadahousenearBerkeleySquareandasmallvillaatRoehampton，amongthebankingcolonythere。Fredwasconsideredtohavemaderatheramesalliancebytheladiesofhisfamily，whosegrandfatherhadbeeninaCharitySchool，andwhowerealliedthroughthehusbandswithsomeofthebestbloodinEngland。AndMariawasbound，bysuperiorprideandgreatcareinthecompositionofhervisiting-book，tomakeupforthedefectsofbirth，andfeltitherdutytoseeherfatherandsisteraslittleaspossible。
Thatsheshouldutterlybreakwiththeoldman，whohadstillsomanyscoresofthousandpoundstogiveaway，isabsurdtosuppose。FredBullockwouldneverallowhertodothat。Butshewasstillyoungandincapableofhidingherfeelings；andbyinvitingherpapaandsistertoherthird-
rateparties，andbehavingverycoldlytothemwhentheycame，andbyavoidingRussellSquare，andindiscreetlybeggingherfathertoquitthatodiousvulgarplace，shedidmoreharmthanallFrederick’sdiplomacycouldrepair，andperilledherchanceofherinheritancelikeagiddyheedlesscreatureasshewas。
SoRussellSquareisnotgoodenoughforMrs。Maria，hay？”
saidtheoldgentleman，rattlingupthecarriagewindowsasheandhisdaughterdroveawayonenightfromMrs。
FrederickBullock’s，afterdinner。”Sosheinvitesherfatherandsistertoasecondday’sdinnerifthosesides，orontrys，asshecalls’em，weren’tservedyesterday，I’md——d，andtomeetCityfolksandlitterymen，andkeepstheEarlsandtheLadies，andtheHonourablestoherself。
Honourables？DamnHonourables。IamaplainBritishmerchantIam，andcouldbuythebeggarlyhoundsoverandover。Lords，indeed！——why，atoneofherswarreysI
sawoneof’emspeaktoadamfiddler——afellarIdespise。
Andtheywon’tcometoRussellSquare，won’tthey？Why，I’lllaymylifeI’vegotabetterglassofwine，andpayabetterfigureforit，andcanshowahandsomerserviceofsilver，andcanlayabetterdinneronmymahogany，thanevertheyseeontheirs——thecringing，sneaking，stuck-upfools。Driveonquick，James：IwanttogetbacktoRussellSquare——ha，ha！”andhesankbackintothecornerwithafuriouslaugh。Withsuchreflectionsonhisownsuperiormerit，itwasthecustomoftheoldgentlemannotunfrequentlytoconsolehimself。
JaneOsbornecouldnotbutconcurintheseopinionsrespectinghersister’sconduct；andwhenMrs。Frederick’sfirst-born，FrederickAugustusHowardStanleyDevereuxBullock，wasborn，oldOsborne，whowasinvitedtothechristeningandtobegodfather，contentedhimselfwithsendingthechildagoldcup，withtwentyguineasinsideitforthenurse。”That’smorethananyofyourLordswillgive，I’LLwarrant。”hesaidandrefusedtoattendattheceremony。
Thesplendourofthegift，however，causedgreatsatisfactiontothehouseofBullock。Mariathoughtthatherfatherwasverymuchpleasedwithher，andFrederickauguredthebestforhislittlesonandheir。
OnecanfancythepangswithwhichMissOsborneinhersolitudeinRussellSquarereadtheMorningPost，wherehersister’snameoccurredeverynowandthen，inthearticlesheaded“FashionableReunions。”andwhereshehadanopportunityofreadingadescriptionofMrs。F。Bullock’scostume，whenpresentedatthedrawingroombyLadyFredericaBullock。Jane’sownlife，aswehavesaid，admittedofnosuchgrandeur。Itwasanawfulexistence。
Shehadtogetupofblackwinter’smorningstomakebreakfastforherscowlingoldfather，whowouldhaveturnedthewholehouseoutofdoorsifhisteahadnotbeenreadyathalf-pasteight。Sheremainedsilentoppositetohim，listeningtotheurnhissing，andsittingintremorwhiletheparentreadhispaperandconsumedhisaccustomedportionofmuffinsandtea。Athalf-pastnineheroseandwenttotheCity，andshewasalmostfreetilldinner-time，tomakevisitationsinthekitchenandtoscoldtheservants；todriveabroadanddescenduponthetradesmen，whowereprodigiouslyrespectful；toleavehercardsandherpapa’satthegreatglumrespectablehousesoftheirCityfriends；ortositaloneinthelargedrawing-
room，expectingvisitors；andworkingatahugepieceofworstedbythefire，onthesofa，hardbythegreatIphigeniaclock，whichtickedandtolledwithmournfulloudnessinthedrearyroom。Thegreatglassoverthemantelpiece，facedbytheothergreatconsoleglassattheoppositeendoftheroom，increasedandmultipliedbetweenthemthebrownHollandbaginwhichthechandelierhung，untilyousawthesebrownHollandbagsfadingawayinendlessperspectives，andthisapartmentofMissOsborne’sseemedthecentreofasystemofdrawing-rooms。Whensheremovedthecordovanleatherfromthegrandpianoandventuredtoplayafewnotesonit，itsoundedwithamournfulsadness，startlingthedismalechoesofthehouse。George’spicturewasgone，andlaidupstairsinalumber-roominthegarret；andthoughtherewasaconsciousnessofhim，andfatheranddaughterofteninstinctivelyknewthattheywerethinkingofhim，nomentionwasevermadeofthebraveandoncedarlingson。
Atfiveo’clockMr。Osbornecamebacktohisdinner，whichheandhisdaughtertookinsilenceseldombroken，exceptwhenhesworeandwassavage，ifthecookingwasnottohisliking，orwhichtheysharedtwiceinamonthwithapartyofdismalfriendsofOsborne’srankandage。OldDr。
GulpandhisladyfromBloomsburySquare；oldMr。
Frowser，theattorney，fromBedfordRow，averygreatman，andfromhisbusiness，hand-in-glovewiththe“nobsattheWestEnd“；oldColonelLivermore，oftheBombayArmy，andMrs。Livermore，fromUpperBedfordPlace；oldSergeantToffyandMrs。Toffy；andsometimesoldSirThomasCoffinandLadyCoffin，fromBedfordSquare。SirThomaswascelebratedasahangingjudge，andtheparticulartawnyportwasproducedwhenhedinedwithMr。Osborne。
ThesepeopleandtheirlikegavethepompousRussellSquaremerchantpompousdinnersbackagain。Theyhadsolemnrubbersofwhist，whentheywentupstairsafterdrinking，andtheircarriageswerecalledathalfpastten。
Manyrichpeople，whomwepoordevilsareinthehabitofenvying，leadcontentedlyanexistencelikethatabovedescribed。JaneOsbornescarcelyevermetamanundersixty，andalmosttheonlybachelorwhoappearedintheirsocietywasMr。Smirk，thecelebratedladies’doctor。
Ican’tsaythatnothinghadoccurredtodisturbthemonotonyofthisawfulexistence：thefactis，therehadbeenasecretinpoorJane’slifewhichhadmadeherfathermoresavageandmorosethanevennature，pride，andover-feedinghadmadehim。ThissecretwasconnectedwithMissWirt，whohadacousinanartist，Mr。Smee，verycelebratedsinceasaportrait-painterandR。A。，butwhooncewasgladenoughtogivedrawinglessonstoladiesoffashion。Mr。SmeehasforgottenwhereRussellSquareisnow，buthewasgladenoughtovisititintheyear1818，whenMissOsbornehadinstructionfromhim。
SmeeformerlyapupilofSharpeofFrithStreet，adissolute，irregular，andunsuccessfulman，butamanwithgreatknowledgeofhisartbeingthecousinofMissWirt，wesay，andintroducedbyhertoMissOsborne，whosehandandheartwerestillfreeaftervariousincompleteloveaffairs，feltagreatattachmentforthislady，anditisbelievedinspiredoneinherbosom。MissWirtwastheconfidanteofthisintrigue。Iknownotwhethersheusedtoleavetheroomwherethemasterandhispupilwerepainting，inordertogivethemanopportunityforexchangingthosevowsandsentimentswhichcannotbeutteredadvantageouslyinthepresenceofathirdparty；I