Vanity Fair - Page 388/573

She was never seen angry but twice or thrice in her life, and it was in

one of these moods that Mr. Osborne's attorney had the fortune to

behold her. She rose up trembling and flushing very much as soon as,

after reading the letter, Mr. Poe handed it to her, and she tore the

paper into a hundred fragments, which she trod on. "I marry again! I

take money to part from my child! Who dares insult me by proposing

such a thing? Tell Mr. Osborne it is a cowardly letter, sir--a cowardly

letter--I will not answer it. I wish you good morning, sir--and she

bowed me out of the room like a tragedy Queen," said the lawyer who

told the story.

Her parents never remarked her agitation on that day, and she never

told them of the interview. They had their own affairs to interest

them, affairs which deeply interested this innocent and unconscious

lady. The old gentleman, her father, was always dabbling in

speculation. We have seen how the wine company and the coal company had

failed him. But, prowling about the City always eagerly and restlessly

still, he lighted upon some other scheme, of which he thought so well

that he embarked in it in spite of the remonstrances of Mr. Clapp, to

whom indeed he never dared to tell how far he had engaged himself in

it. And as it was always Mr. Sedley's maxim not to talk about money

matters before women, they had no inkling of the misfortunes that were

in store for them until the unhappy old gentleman was forced to make

gradual confessions.

The bills of the little household, which had been settled weekly, first

fell into arrear. The remittances had not arrived from India, Mr.

Sedley told his wife with a disturbed face. As she had paid her bills

very regularly hitherto, one or two of the tradesmen to whom the poor

lady was obliged to go round asking for time were very angry at a delay

to which they were perfectly used from more irregular customers.

Emmy's contribution, paid over cheerfully without any questions, kept

the little company in half-rations however. And the first six months

passed away pretty easily, old Sedley still keeping up with the notion

that his shares must rise and that all would be well.

No sixty pounds, however, came to help the household at the end of the

half year, and it fell deeper and deeper into trouble--Mrs. Sedley, who

was growing infirm and was much shaken, remained silent or wept a great

deal with Mrs. Clapp in the kitchen. The butcher was particularly

surly, the grocer insolent: once or twice little Georgy had grumbled

about the dinners, and Amelia, who still would have been satisfied with

a slice of bread for her own dinner, could not but perceive that her

son was neglected and purchased little things out of her private purse

to keep the boy in health.