登陆注册
19465800000092

第92章

A Quarrel About an HeiressLove may be felt for any young lady endowed with such qualities as Miss Swartz possessed; and a great dream of ambition entered into old Mr.Osborne's soul, which she was to realize.He encouraged, with the utmost enthusiasm and friendliness, his daughters' amiable attachment to the young heiress, and protested that it gave him the sincerest pleasure as a father to see the love of his girls so well disposed.

"You won't find," he would say to Miss Rhoda, "that splendour and rank to which you are accustomed at the West End, my dear Miss, at our humble mansion in Russell Square.My daughters are plain, disinterested girls, but their hearts are in the right place, and they've conceived an attachment for you which does them honour--I say, which does them honour.I'm a plain, simple, humble British merchant--an honest one, as my respected friends Hulker and Bullock will vouch, who were the correspondents of your late lamented father.You'll find us a united, simple, happy, and I think I may say respected, family--a plain table, a plain people, but a warm welcome, my dear Miss Rhoda--Rhoda, let me say, for my heart warms to you, it does really.I'm a frank man, and I like you.A glass of Champagne! Hicks, Champagne to Miss Swartz."There is little doubt that old Osborne believed all he said, and that the girls were quite earnest in their protestations of affection for Miss Swartz.People in Vanity Fair fasten on to rich folks quite naturally.If the simplest people are disposed to look not a little kindly on great Prosperity (for I defy any member of the British public to say that the notion of Wealth has not something awful and pleasing to him; and you, if you are told that the man next you at dinner has got half a million, not to look at him with a certain interest)--if the simple look benevolently on money, how much more do your old worldlings regard it! Their affections rush out to meet and welcome money.Their kind sentiments awaken spontaneously towards the interesting possessors of it.I know some respectable people who don't consider themselves at liberty to indulge in friendship for any individual who has not a certain competency, or place in society.They give a loose to their feelings on proper occasions.And the proof is, that the major part of the Osborne family, who had not, in fifteen years, been able to get up a hearty regard for Amelia Sedley, became as fond of Miss Swartz in the course of a single evening as the most romantic advocate of friendship at first sight could desire.

What a match for George she'd be (the sisters and Miss Wirt agreed), and how much better than that insignificant little Amelia! Such a dashing young fellow as he is, with his good looks, rank, and accomplishments, would be the very husband for her.Visions of balls in Portland Place, presentations at Court, and introductions to half the peerage, filled the minds of the young ladies;who talked of nothing but George and his grand acquaintances to their beloved new friend.

Old Osborne thought she would be a great match, too, for his son.He should leave the army; he should go into Parliament; he should cut a figure in the fashion and in the state.His blood boiled with honest British exultation, as he saw the name of Osborne ennobled in the person of his son, and thought that he might be the progenitor of a glorious line of baronets.He worked in the City and on 'Change, until he knew everything relating to the fortune of the heiress, how her money was placed, and where her estates lay.Young Fred Bullock, one of his chief informants, would have liked to make a bid for her himself (it was so the young banker expressed it), only he was booked to Maria Osborne.But not being able to secure her as a wife, the disinterested Fred quite approved of her as a sister-in-law."Let George cut in directly and win her," was his advice."Strike while the iron's hot, you know--while she's fresh to the town: in a few weeks some d-- fellow from the West End will come in with a title and a rotten rent-roll and cut all us City men out, as Lord Fitzrufus did last year with Miss Grogram, who was actually engaged to Podder, of Podder & Brown's.The sooner it is done the better, Mr.Osborne; them's my sentiments," the wag said; though, when Osborne had left the bank parlour, Mr.Bullock remembered Amelia, and what a pretty girl she was, and how attached to George Osborne; and he gave up at least ten seconds of his valuable time to regretting the misfortune which had befallen that unlucky young woman.

While thus George Osborne's good feelings, and his good friend and genius, Dobbin, were carrying back the truant to Amelia's feet, George's parent and sisters were arranging this splendid match for him, which they never dreamed he would resist.

When the elder Osborne gave what he called "a hint,"there was no possibility for the most obtuse to mistake his meaning.He called kicking a footman downstairs a hint to the latter to leave his service.With his usual frankness and delicacy he told Mrs.Haggistoun that he would give her a cheque for five thousand pounds on the day his son was married to her ward; and called that proposal a hint, and considered it a very dexterous piece of diplomacy.He gave George finally such another hint regarding the heiress; and ordered him to marry her out of hand, as he would have ordered his butler to draw a cork, or his clerk to write a letter.

同类推荐
  • 阿毗达磨顺正理论

    阿毗达磨顺正理论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 韬晦术

    韬晦术

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 古文观止

    古文观止

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 庐陵官下记

    庐陵官下记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说未曾有正法经

    佛说未曾有正法经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 绑架黑道老公

    绑架黑道老公

    悲剧,被老妈逼嫁火速找对象!好不容易被她找到个符合她条件的男人,郁闷的是这男人居然不肯开口答应婚事!哼,不识相,非得逼她绑架他,一根绳子绑在他的身上,单手一拧:“走!跟老娘去、登、记!”
  • 风起九洲:盛宠轻狂妃

    风起九洲:盛宠轻狂妃

    一场风暴,让万千界面交汇,也使得她的灵魂流落到九洲大陆,成为一个被人设计而死于非命的女子。当潋滟的双眸再次睁开,面对众人的痴笑折辱,她冷淡已对,以铁血手腕镇压众人。一场精心设计的阴谋,一个阴差阳错的误会,使他们的命运阴差阳错的交缠在一起,从此以后,天上地下,生死相随。
  • 不做下堂妃

    不做下堂妃

    他,嚣张狂妄,冷漠无情,为了得到她的心,他血洗江湖,结仇天下!但转身之后,却亲手将她献给圣上!原来,爱情只不过是他权谋利益的一颗棋子!那她又何必死死纠缠?乱世君心,她不要也罢!
  • 异界之屠魔战神

    异界之屠魔战神

    “创世之始,分天、地、渊三界。”“创世之力化为天。”“创世之灵化为地。”“创世之躯化为渊。”“我看见!创世开天。”“我看见!神灭魔陨。”“我看见!惨淡人间。”“我还看见!风一样的男子,携万千神芒,斩三界混沌。”
  • 血魔神之神战

    血魔神之神战

    穿越后南风云开始了不一样的人生。也是一段惊险刺激的旅程!同时也是游戏中的独行侠!
  • 召唤内心的巨人

    召唤内心的巨人

    帮你唤醒沉睡的意志,治疗你被挫折得千疮百孔的心灵。 帮助你战胜自我,超越自我,走出人生的低谷,唤醒内心沉睡已久的力量。 “境由心生”,有什么样的心境,就有什么样的人生。本书力求内容全面、新颖,事例融议论于一体,通过分析人生的各个弱点,找出了人们心理阴影产生的内在症结,对启发人们如何发掘自身的潜在力量,具有极强的现实意义。
  • 末世最强屠夫

    末世最强屠夫

    在希望公园的地下,一个早已荒废十年的研究基地内,四号屠夫已然苏醒。当身为病毒进化基因体的他,重见天日之时,便是屠夫踏上灭绝末世的开始。能力强化,吸取末世最新的病毒感染体,造就完美体质。放射操纵,爆发最为强大的意识与战力,掌控末日世界。融合变化,任何攻击防御形态集于一身,打造最强屠夫。【类似虐杀原型的末世流,非系统流】【书友群:80813865,共同探讨剧情】【本书杀戮气氛严重,感情戏份不多,不喜者勿入】【收藏的看官记得给推荐票哈】【慢热类型,切记切记】
  • 极印神魄之弈炼寰宇

    极印神魄之弈炼寰宇

    恒古宇宙,沧海茫茫。丛林法则,强者为尊。天地异象出,神秘精元降临。上古之战一触即发,神秘雷伊诞生,手持上古神印,杀上九天,一剑在手,八方云动。肩负着雷伊一族的使命,踏上了一条不寻常之路……
  • 思路决定出路(第三册)

    思路决定出路(第三册)

    留意一下我们平时的工作和生活,总会有碰壁的时候。我们每天要处理的事情很多,你是否可以全身心地投入,有条不紊、高效率、高质量地完成任务,还是整天发牢骚,埋怨事情多了,思维乱了,没头绪做事?以上两者的区别在于有没有清晰的思路,有没有按照思路去做。“成功不是不可能,思路决定出路”。《思路决定出路》这本书让大家知道了任何一件成功的事情背后都有一个正确的过程或方法,更要有一个正确的思路。无论是对于公司内部员工培训还是个人的成长,本书都是最佳的范本与参考书。
  • 帝少的契约新娘

    帝少的契约新娘

    人前,他是冷酷俊逸,翻手为云覆手为雨的集团总裁。人后,他是花样翻新技术超强的豪门权少。人前,她是不苟言笑一板一眼的集团小职员,人后,她是他见不得光的契约伴侣。“冼少,我们一共睡过三次,还剩二十七次,睡完我就自由了”“想自由?明天早上九点,民政局门口见。”“我不同意”“那好,27次变成2700次。”一纸契约,一场交易。他为爱沦陷,她被爱禁锢。