h time they prayed to God to bless dear Papa, as
if he were alive and in the room with them. To wash and dress this
young gentleman--to take him for a run of the mornings, before
breakfast, and the retreat of grandpapa for "business"--to make for him
the most wonderful and ingenious dresses, for which end the thrifty
widow cut up and altered every available little bit of finery which she
possessed out of her wardrobe during her marriage--for Mrs. Osborne
herself (greatly to her mother's vexation, who preferred fine clothes,
especially since her misfortunes) always wore a black gown and a straw
bonnet with a black ribbon--occupied her many hours of the day. Others
she had to spare, at the service of her mother and her old father. She
had taken the pains to learn, and used to play cribbage with this
gentleman on the nights when he did not go to his club. She sang for
him when he was so minded, and it was a good sign, for he invariably
fell into a comfortable sleep during the music. She wrote out his
numerous memorials, letters, prospectuses, and projects. It was in her
handwriting that most of the old gentleman's former acquaintances were
informed that he had become an agent for the Black Diamond and
Anti-Cinder Coal Company and could supply his friends and the public
with the best coals at --s. per chaldron. All he did was to sign the
circulars with his flourish and signature, and direct them in a shaky,
clerklike hand. One of these papers was sent to Major Dobbin,--Regt.,
care of Messrs. Cox and Greenwood; but the Major being in Madras at
the time, had no particular call for coals. He knew, though, the hand
which had written the prospectus. Good God! what would he not have
given to hold it in his own! A second prospectus came out, informing
the Major that J. Sedley and Company, having established agencies at
Oporto, Bordeaux, and St. Mary's, were enabled to offer to their
friends and the public generally the finest and most celebrated growths
of ports, sherries, and claret wines at reasonable prices and under
extraordinary advantages. Acting upon this hint, Dobbin furiously
canvassed the governor, the commander-in-chief, the judges, the
regiments, and everybody whom he knew in the Presidency, and sent home
to Sedley and Co. orders for wine which perfectly astonished Mr.
Sedley and Mr. Clapp, who was the Co. in the business. But no more
orders came after that first burst of good fortune, on which poor old