Tickleus’satEalingSchoolinRussellSquare。George’sgrandfathergavetheboyacoupleofsovereignsforthatfeatandpromisedtorewardhimfurtherforeveryboyabovehisownsizeandagewhomhewhoppedinasimilarmanner。Itisdifficulttosaywhatgoodtheoldmansawinthesecombats；hehadavaguenotionthatquarrellingmadeboyshardy，andthattyrannywasausefulaccomplishmentforthemtolearn。Englishyouthhavebeensoeducatedtimeoutofmind，andwehavehundredsofthousandsofapologistsandadmirersofinjustice，misery，andbrutality，asperpetratedamongchildren。FlushedwithpraiseandvictoryoverMasterToffy，Georgewishednaturallytopursuehisconquestsfurther，andonedayashewasstruttingaboutinprodigiouslydandifiednewclothes，nearSt。Pancras，andayoungbaker’sboymadesarcasticcommentsuponhisappearance，theyouthfulpatricianpulledoffhisdandyjacketwithgreatspirit，andgivingitinchargetothefriendwhoaccompaniedhimMasterTodd，ofGreatCoramStreet，RussellSquare，sonofthejuniorpartnerofthehouseofOsborneandCo。，Georgetriedtowhopthelittlebaker。Butthechancesofwarwereunfavourablethistime，andthelittlebakerwhoppedGeorgy，whocamehomewitharuefulblackeyeandallhisfineshirtfrilldabbledwiththeclaretdrawnfromhisownlittlenose。Hetoldhisgrandfatherthathehadbeenincombatwithagiant，andfrightenedhispoormotheratBromptonwithlong，andbynomeansauthentic，accountsofthebattle。
ThisyoungTodd，ofCoramStreet，RussellSquare，wasMasterGeorge’sgreatfriendandadmirer。Theybothhadatasteforpaintingtheatricalcharacters；forhardbakeandraspberrytarts；forslidingandskatingintheRegent’sParkandtheSerpentine，whentheweatherpermitted；forgoingtotheplay，whithertheywereoftenconducted，byMr。Osborne’sorders，byRowson，MasterGeorge’sappointedbody-servant，withwhomtheysatingreatcomfortinthepit。
Inthecompanyofthisgentlemantheyvisitedalltheprincipaltheatresofthemetropolis；knewthenamesofalltheactorsfromDruryLanetoSadler’sWells；andperformed，indeed，manyoftheplaystotheToddfamilyandtheiryouthfulfriends，withWest’sfamouscharacters，ontheirpasteboardtheatre。Rowson，thefootman，whowasofagenerousdisposition，wouldnotunfrequently，whenincash，treathisyoungmastertooystersaftertheplay，andtoaglassofrum-shrubforanight-cap。
WemaybeprettycertainthatMr。Rowsonprofitedinhisturnbyhisyoungmaster’sliberalityandgratitudeforthepleasurestowhichthefootmaninductedhim。
AfamoustailorfromtheWestEndofthetown——
Mr。OsbornewouldhavenoneofyourCityorHolbornbunglers，hesaid，fortheboythoughaCitytailorwasgoodenoughforHIM——wassummonedtoornamentlittleGeorge’sperson，andwastoldtosparenoexpenseinsodoing。So，Mr。Woolsey，ofConduitStreet，gavealoosetohisimaginationandsentthechildhomefancytrousers，fancywaistcoats，andfancyjacketsenoughtofurnishaschooloflittledandies。Georgyhadlittlewhitewaistcoatsforeveningparties，andlittlecutvelvetwaistcoatsfordinners，andadearlittledarlingshawldressing-gown，foralltheworldlikealittleman。Hedressedfordinnereveryday，“likearegularWestEndswell。”ashisgrandfatherremarked；oneofthedomesticswasaffectedtohisspecialservice，attendedhimathistoilette，answeredhisbell，andbroughthimhislettersalwaysonasilvertray。
Georgy，afterbreakfast，wouldsitinthearm-chairinthedining-roomandreadtheMorningPost，justlikeagrown-upman。”HowheDUdamandswear。”theservantswouldcry，delightedathisprecocity。ThosewhorememberedtheCaptainhisfather，declaredMasterGeorgewashisPa，everyinchofhim。Hemadethehouselivelybyhisactivity，hisimperiousness，hisscolding，andhisgood-nature。
George’seducationwasconfidedtoaneighbouringscholarandprivatepedagoguewho“preparedyoungnoblemenandgentlemenfortheUniversities，thesenate，andthelearnedprofessions：whosesystemdidnotembracethedegradingcorporalseveritiesstillpractisedattheancientplacesofeducation，andinwhosefamilythepupilswouldfindtheelegancesofrefinedsocietyandtheconfidenceandaffectionofahome。”ItwasinthiswaythattheReverendLawrenceVealofHartStreet，Bloomsbury，anddomesticChaplaintotheEarlofBareacres，strovewithMrs。Vealhiswifetoenticepupils。
Bythusadvertisingandpushingsedulously，thedomesticChaplainandhisLadygenerallysucceededinhavingoneortwoscholarsbythem——whopaidahighfigureandwerethoughttobeinuncommonlycomfortablequarters。TherewasalargeWestIndian，whomnobodycametosee，withamahoganycomplexion，awoollyhead，andanexceedinglydandyfiedappearance；therewasanotherhulkingboyofthree-and-twentywhoseeducationhadbeenneglectedandwhomMr。andMrs。Vealweretointroduceintothepoliteworld；thereweretwosonsofColonelBanglesoftheEastIndiaCompany’sService：thesefoursatdowntodinneratMrs。Veal’sgenteelboard，whenGeorgywasintroducedtoherestablishment。
Georgywas，likesomedozenotherpupils，onlyadayboy；hearrivedinthemorningundertheguardianshipofhisfriendMr。Rowson，andifitwasfine，wouldrideawayintheafternoononhispony，followedbythegroom。Thewealthofhisgrandfatherwasreportedintheschooltobeprodigious。TheRev。Mr。VealusedtocomplimentGeorgyuponitpersonally，warninghimthathewasdestinedforahighstation；thatitbecamehimtoprepare，bysedulityanddocilityinyouth，fortheloftydutiestowhichhewouldbecalledinmatureage；
thatobedienceinthechildwasthebestpreparationforcommandintheman；andthathethereforebeggedGeorgewouldnotbringtoffeeintotheschoolandruinthehealthoftheMastersBangles，whohadeverythingtheywantedattheelegantandabundanttableofMrs。Veal。
Withrespecttolearning，“theCurriculum。”asMr。
Veallovedtocallit，wasofprodigiousextent，andtheyounggentlemeninHartStreetmightlearnasomethingofeveryknownscience。TheRev。Mr。Vealhadanorrery，anelectrifyingmachine，aturninglathe，atheatreinthewash-house，achemicalapparatus，andwhathecalledaselectlibraryofalltheworksofthebestauthorsofancientandmoderntimesandlanguages。
HetooktheboystotheBritishMuseumanddescantedupontheantiquitiesandthespecimensofnaturalhistorythere，sothataudienceswouldgatherroundhimashespoke，andallBloomsburyhighlyadmiredhimasaprodigiouslywell-informedman。Andwheneverhespokewhichhedidalmostalways，hetookcaretoproducetheveryfinestandlongestwordsofwhichthevocabularygavehimtheuse，rightlyjudgingthatitwasascheaptoemployahandsome，large，andsonorousepithet，astousealittlestingyone。
ThushewouldsaytoGeorgeinschool，“Iobservedonmyreturnhomefromtakingtheindulgenceofanevening’sscientificconversationwithmyexcellentfriendDoctorBulders——atruearchaeologian，gentlemen，atruearchaeologian——thatthewindowsofyourveneratedgrandfather’salmostprincelymansioninRussellSquarewereilluminatedasifforthepurposesoffestivity。AmIrightinmyconjecturethatMr。Osborneentertainedasocietyofchosenspiritsroundhissumptuousboardlastnight？”
LittleGeorgy，whohadconsiderablehumour，andusedtomimicMr。Vealtohisfacewithgreatspiritanddexterity，wouldreplythatMr。V。wasquitecorrectinhissurmise。
“ThenthosefriendswhohadthehonourofpartakingofMr。Osborne’shospitality，gentlemen，hadnoreason，Iwilllayanywager，tocomplainoftheirrepast。I
myselfhavebeenmorethanoncesofavoured。Bytheway，MasterOsborne，youcamealittlelatethismorning，andhavebeenadefaulterinthisrespectmorethanonce。
Imyself，Isay，gentlemen，humbleasIam，havebeenfoundnotunworthytoshareMr。Osborne’seleganthospitality。AndthoughIhavefeastedwiththegreatandnobleoftheworld——forIpresumethatImaycallmyexcellentfriendandpatron，theRightHonourableGeorgeEarlofBareacres，oneofthenumber——yetIassureyouthattheboardoftheBritishmerchantwastothefullasrichlyserved，andhisreceptionasgratifyingandnoble。Mr。Bluck，sir，wewillresume，ifyouplease，thatpassageofEutropis，whichwasinterruptedbythelatearrivalofMasterOsborne。”
TothisgreatmanGeorge’seducationwasforsometimeentrusted。Ameliawasbewilderedbyhisphrases，butthoughthimaprodigyoflearning。ThatpoorwidowmadefriendsofMrs。Veal，forreasonsofherown。ShelikedtobeinthehouseandseeGeorgycomingtoschoolthere。ShelikedtobeaskedtoMrs。Veal’sconversazioni，whichtookplaceonceamonthasyouwereinformedonpinkcards，withAOHNHengravedonthem，andwheretheprofessorwelcomedhispupilsandtheirfriendstoweakteaandscientificconversation。PoorlittleAmelianevermissedoneoftheseentertainmentsandthoughtthemdelicioussolongasshemighthaveGeorgysittingbyher。
AndshewouldwalkfromBromptoninanyweather，andembraceMrs。Vealwithtearfulgratitudeforthedelightfuleveningshehadpassed，when，thecompanyhavingretiredandGeorgygoneoffwithMr。Rowson，hisattendant，poorMrs。Osborneputonhercloaksandhershawlspreparatorytowalkinghome。
AsforthelearningwhichGeorgyimbibedunderthisvaluablemasterofahundredsciences，tojudgefromtheweeklyreportswhichtheladtookhometohisgrandfather，hisprogresswasremarkable。Thenamesofascoreormoreofdesirablebranchesofknowledgewereprintedinatable，andthepupil’sprogressineachwasmarkedbytheprofessor。InGreekGeorgywaspronouncedaristos，inLatinoptimus，inFrenchtresbien，andsoforth；andeverybodyhadprizesforeverythingattheendoftheyear。EvenMr。Swartz，thewooly-
headedyounggentleman，andhalf-brothertotheHonourableMrs。MacMull，andMr。Bluck，theneglectedyoungpupilofthree-and-twentyfromtheagriculturaldistrict，andthatidleyoungscapegraceofaMasterToddbeforementioned，receivedlittleeighteen-pennybooks，with“Athene“engravedonthem，andapompousLatininscriptionfromtheprofessortohisyoungfriends。
ThefamilyofthisMasterToddwerehangers-onofthehouseofOsborne。TheoldgentlemanhadadvancedToddfrombeingaclerktobeajuniorpartnerinhisestablishment。
Mr。OsbornewasthegodfatherofyoungMasterToddwhoinsubsequentlifewroteMr。OsborneToddonhiscardsandbecameamanofdecidedfashion，whileMissOsbornehadaccompaniedMissMariaToddtothefont，andgaveherprotegeeaprayer-book，acollectionoftracts，avolumeofverylowchurchpoetry，orsomesuchmementoofhergoodnesseveryyear。MissO。drovetheToddsoutinhercarriagenowandthen；whentheywereill，herfootman，inlargeplushsmallsandwaistcoat，broughtjelliesanddelicaciesfromRussellSquaretoCoramStreet。CoramStreettrembledandlookeduptoRussellSquareindeed，andMrs。Todd，whohadaprettyhandatcuttingoutpapertrimmingsforhaunchesofmutton，andcouldmakeflowers，ducks，&c。，outofturnipsandcarrotsinaverycreditablemanner，wouldgoto“theSquare。”asitwascalled，andassistinthepreparationsincidenttoagreatdinner，withoutevensomuchasthinkingofsittingdowntothebanquet。Ifanyguestfailedattheeleventhhour，Toddwasaskedtodine。Mrs。ToddandMariacameacrossintheevening，slippedinwithamuffledknock，andwereinthedrawing-roombythetimeMissOsborneandtheladiesunderherconvoyreachedthatapartment——andreadytofireoffduetsandsinguntilthegentlemencameup。PoorMariaTodd；pooryounglady！HowshehadtoworkandthrumattheseduetsandsonatasintheStreet，beforetheyappearedinpublicintheSquare！
ThusitseemedtobedecreedbyfatethatGeorgywastodomineerovereverybodywithwhomhecameincontact，andthatfriends，relatives，anddomesticswerealltobowthekneebeforethelittlefellow。Itmustbeownedthatheaccommodatedhimselfverywillinglytothisarrangement。Mostpeopledoso。AndGeorgylikedtoplaythepartofmasterandperhapshadanaturalaptitudeforit。
InRussellSquareeverybodywasafraidofMr。Osborne，andMr。OsbornewasafraidofGeorgy。Theboy’sdashingmanners，andoffhandrattleaboutbooksandlearning，hislikenesstohisfatherdeadunreconciledinBrusselsyonderawedtheoldgentlemanandgavetheyoungboythemastery。Theoldmanwouldstartatsomehereditaryfeatureortoneunconsciouslyusedbythelittlelad，andfancythatGeorge’sfatherwasagainbeforehim。HetriedbyindulgencetothegrandsontomakeupforharshnesstotheelderGeorge。Peopleweresurprisedathisgentlenesstotheboy。HegrowledandsworeatMissOsborneasusual，andwouldsmilewhenGeorgecamedownlateforbreakfast。
MissOsborne，George’saunt，wasafadedoldspinster，brokendownbymorethanfortyyearsofdulnessandcoarseusage。Itwaseasyforaladofspirittomasterher。
AndwheneverGeorgewantedanythingfromher，fromthejam-potsinhercupboardstothecrackedanddryoldcoloursinherpaint-boxtheoldpaint-boxwhichshehadhadwhenshewasapupilofMr。Smeeandwasstillalmostyoungandblooming，Georgytookpossessionoftheobjectofhisdesire，whichobtained，hetooknofurthernoticeofhisaunt。
Forhisfriendsandcronies，hehadapompousoldschoolmaster，whoflatteredhim，andatoady，hissenior，whomhecouldthrash。ItwasdearMrs。Todd’sdelighttoleavehimwithheryoungestdaughter，RosaJemima，adarlingchildofeightyearsold。Thelittlepairlookedsowelltogether，shewouldsaybutnottothefolksin“theSquare。”wemaybesure“whoknowswhatmighthappen？Don’ttheymakeaprettylittlecouple？”thefondmotherthought。
Thebroken-spirited，old，maternalgrandfatherwaslikewisesubjecttothelittletyrant。Hecouldnothelprespectingaladwhohadsuchfineclothesandrodewithagroombehindhim。Georgy，onhisside，wasintheconstanthabitofhearingcoarseabuseandvulgarsatirelevelledatJohnSedleybyhispitilessoldenemy，Mr。
Osborne。Osborneusedtocalltheothertheoldpauper，theoldcoal-man，theoldbankrupt，andbymanyothersuchnamesofbrutalcontumely。HowwaslittleGeorgetorespectamansoprostrate？Afewmonthsafterhewaswithhispaternalgrandfather，Mrs。Sedleydied。
Therehadbeenlittlelovebetweenherandthechild。
Hedidnotcaretoshowmuchgrief。Hecamedowntovisithismotherinafinenewsuitofmourning，andwasveryangrythathecouldnotgotoaplayuponwhichhehadsethisheart。