English
Maryhadlikedtolookathermotherfromadistanceandshehadthoughtherverypretty,butassheknewverylittleofhershecouldscarcelyhavebeenexpectedtoloveherortomissherverymuchwhenshewasgone.
Shedidnotmissheratall,infact,andasshewasaself-absorbedchildshegaveherentirethoughttoherself,asshehadalwaysdone.
Ifshehadbeenoldershewouldnodoubthavebeenveryanxiousatbeingleftaloneintheworld,butshewasveryyoung,andasshehadalwaysbeentakencareof,shesupposedshealwayswouldbe.
Whatshethoughtwasthatshewouldliketoknowifshewasgoingtonicepeople,whowouldbepolitetoherandgiveherherownwayasherAyahandtheothernativeservantshaddone.
SheknewthatshewasnotgoingtostayattheEnglishclergyman’shousewhereshewastakenatfirst.Shedidnotwanttostay.
TheEnglishclergymanwaspoorandhehadfivechildrennearlyallthesameageandtheyworeshabbyclothesandwerealwaysquarrelingandsnatchingtoysfromeachother.
Maryhatedtheiruntidybungalowandwassodisagreeabletothemthatafterthefirstdayortwonobodywouldplaywithher.
Bytheseconddaytheyhadgivenheranicknamewhichmadeherfurious.
ItwasBasilwhothoughtofitfirst.Basilwasalittleboywithimpudentblueeyesandaturned-upnose,andMaryhatedhim.
Shewasplayingbyherselfunderatree,justasshehadbeenplayingthedaythecholerabrokeout.
ShewasmakingheapsofearthandpathsforagardenandBasilcameandstoodneartowatchher.
Presentlyhegotratherinterestedandsuddenlymadeasuggestion.
“Whydon’tyouputaheapofstonesthereandpretenditisarockery?”hesaid.“Thereinthemiddle,”andheleanedoverhertopoint.
“Goaway!”criedMary.“Idon’twantboys.Goaway!”
ForamomentBasillookedangry,andthenhebegantotease.Hewasalwaysteasinghissisters.Hedancedroundandroundherandmadefacesandsangandlaughed.
“MistressMary,quitecontrary,
Howdoesyourgardengrow?
Withsilverbells,andcockleshells,
Andmarigoldsallinarow.”
Hesangituntiltheotherchildrenheardandlaughed,too;andthecrosserMarygot,themoretheysang“MistressMary,quitecontrary”;andafterthataslongasshestayedwiththemtheycalledher“MistressMaryQuiteContrary”whentheyspokeofhertoeachother,andoftenwhentheyspoketoher.
“Youaregoingtobesenthome,”Basilsaidtoher,“attheendoftheweek.Andwe’regladofit.”
“Iamgladofit,too,”answeredMary.“Whereishome?”
“Shedoesn’tknowwherehomeis!”saidBasil,withseven-year-oldscorn.“It’sEngland,ofcourse.
OurgrandmamalivesthereandoursisterMabelwassenttoherlastyear.Youarenotgoingtoyourgrandmama.Youhavenone.Youaregoingtoyouruncle.HisnameisMr.ArchibaldCraven.”
“Idon’tknowanythingabouthim,”snappedMary.
“Iknowyoudon’t,”Basilanswered.“Youdon’tknowanything.Girlsneverdo.
Iheardfatherandmothertalkingabouthim.
Helivesinagreat,big,desolateoldhouseinthecountryandnoonegoesnearhim.
He’ssocrosshewon’tletthem,andtheywouldn’tcomeifhewouldletthem.He’sahunchback,andhe’shorrid.”
“Idon’tbelieveyou,”saidMary;andsheturnedherbackandstuckherfingersinherears,becauseshewouldnotlistenanymore.
Butshethoughtoveritagreatdealafterward;andwhenMrs.CrawfordtoldherthatnightthatshewasgoingtosailawaytoEnglandinafewdaysandgotoheruncle,Mr.ArchibaldCraven,wholivedatMisselthwaiteManor,shelookedsostonyandstubbornlyuninterestedthattheydidnotknowwhattothinkabouther.
Theytriedtobekindtoher,butsheonlyturnedherfaceawaywhenMrs.Crawfordattemptedtokissher,andheldherselfstifflywhenMr.Crawfordpattedhershoulder.
“Sheissuchaplainchild,”Mrs.Crawfordsaidpityingly,afterward.
“Andhermotherwassuchaprettycreature.
Shehadaveryprettymanner,too,andMaryhasthemostunattractivewaysIeversawinachild.
Thechildrencallher‘MistressMaryQuiteContrary,’andthoughit’snaughtyofthem,onecan’thelpunderstandingit.”
“PerhapsifhermotherhadcarriedherprettyfaceandherprettymannersoftenerintothenurseryMarymighthavelearnedsomeprettywaystoo.
Itisverysad,nowthepoorbeautifulthingisgone,torememberthatmanypeopleneverevenknewthatshehadachildatall.”
“Ibelieveshescarcelyeverlookedather,”sighedMrs.Crawford.
“WhenherAyahwasdeadtherewasnoonetogiveathoughttothelittlething.
Thinkoftheservantsrunningawayandleavingherallaloneinthatdesertedbungalow.
ColonelMcGrewsaidhenearlyjumpedoutofhisskinwhenheopenedthedoorandfoundherstandingbyherselfinthemiddleoftheroom.”
MarymadethelongvoyagetoEnglandunderthecareofanofficer’swife,whowastakingherchildrentoleavetheminaboarding-school.
Shewasverymuchabsorbedinherownlittleboyandgirl,andwasrathergladtohandthechildovertothewomanMr.ArchibaldCravensenttomeether,inLondon.
ThewomanwashishousekeeperatMisselthwaiteManor,andhernamewasMrs.Medlock.
Shewasastoutwoman,withveryredcheeksandsharpblackeyes.
Sheworeaverypurpledress,ablacksilkmantlewithjetfringeonitandablackbonnetwithpurplevelvetflowerswhichstuckupandtrembledwhenshemovedherhead.
Marydidnotlikeheratall,butassheveryseldomlikedpeopletherewasnothingremarkableinthat;besideswhichitwasveryevidentMrs.Medlockdidnotthinkmuchofher.
“Myword!she’saplainlittlepieceofgoods!”shesaid.“Andwe’dheardthathermotherwasabeauty.Shehasn’thandedmuchofitdown,hasshe,ma’am?”
“Perhapsshewillimproveasshegrowsolder,”theofficer’swifesaidgood-naturedly.“Ifshewerenotsosallowandhadanicerexpression,herfeaturesarerathergood.Childrenaltersomuch.”
“She’llhavetoalteragooddeal,”answeredMrs.Medlock.
“And,there’snothinglikelytoimprovechildrenatMisselthwaite—ifyouaskme!”
TheythoughtMarywasnotlisteningbecauseshewasstandingalittleapartfromthematthewindowoftheprivatehoteltheyhadgoneto.
Shewaswatchingthepassingbusesandcabsandpeople,butsheheardquitewellandwasmadeverycuriousaboutheruncleandtheplacehelivedin.
Whatsortofaplacewasit,andwhatwouldhebelike?Whatwasahunchback?Shehadneverseenone.PerhapstherewerenoneinIndia.
Sinceshehadbeenlivinginotherpeople’shousesandhadhadnoAyah,shehadbeguntofeellonelyandtothinkqueerthoughtswhichwerenewtoher.
Shehadbeguntowonderwhyshehadneverseemedtobelongtoanyoneevenwhenherfatherandmotherhadbeenalive.
Otherchildrenseemedtobelongtotheirfathersandmothers,butshehadneverseemedtoreallybeanyone’slittlegirl.
Shehadhadservants,andfoodandclothes,butnoonehadtakenanynoticeofher.
Shedidnotknowthatthiswasbecauseshewasadisagreeablechild;butthen,ofcourse,shedidnotknowshewasdisagreeable.
Sheoftenthoughtthatotherpeoplewere,butshedidnotknowthatshewassoherself.
ShethoughtMrs.Medlockthemostdisagreeablepersonshehadeverseen,withhercommon,highlycoloredfaceandhercommonfinebonnet.
WhenthenextdaytheysetoutontheirjourneytoYorkshire,shewalkedthroughthestationtotherailwaycarriagewithherheadupandtryingtokeepasfarawayfromherasshecould,becauseshedidnotwanttoseemtobelongtoher.
Itwouldhavemadeherangrytothinkpeopleimaginedshewasherlittlegirl.
ButMrs.Medlockwasnotintheleastdisturbedbyherandherthoughts.
Shewasthekindofwomanwhowould“standnononsensefromyoungones.”
Atleast,thatiswhatshewouldhavesaidifshehadbeenasked.
ShehadnotwantedtogotoLondonjustwhenhersisterMaria’sdaughterwasgoingtobemarried,butshehadacomfortable,wellpaidplaceashousekeeperatMisselthwaiteManorandtheonlywayinwhichshecouldkeepitwastodoatoncewhatMr.ArchibaldCraventoldhertodo.Sheneverdaredeventoaskaquestion.
“CaptainLennoxandhiswifediedofthecholera,”Mr.Cravenhadsaidinhisshort,coldway.
“CaptainLennoxwasmywife’sbrotherandIamtheirdaughter’sguardian.Thechildistobebroughthere.
YoumustgotoLondonandbringheryourself.”
Soshepackedhersmalltrunkandmadethejourney.
Marysatinhercorneroftherailwaycarriageandlookedplainandfretful.
Shehadnothingtoreadortolookat,andshehadfoldedherthinlittleblack-glovedhandsinherlap.
Herblackdressmadeherlookyellowerthanever,andherlimplighthairstraggledfromunderherblackcrepehat.
“Amoremarred-lookingyoungoneIneversawinmylife,”Mrs.Medlockthought.
(MarredisaYorkshirewordandmeansspoiledandpettish.)
Shehadneverseenachildwhosatsostillwithoutdoinganything;andatlastshegottiredofwatchingherandbegantotalkinabrisk,hardvoice.
“IsupposeImayaswelltellyousomethingaboutwhereyouaregoingto,”shesaid.“Doyouknowanythingaboutyouruncle?”
“No,”saidMary.
“Neverheardyourfatherandmothertalkabouthim?”
“No,”saidMaryfrowning.Shefrownedbecausesherememberedthatherfatherandmotherhadnevertalkedtoheraboutanythinginparticular.Certainlytheyhadnevertoldherthings.
“Humph,”mutteredMrs.Medlock,staringatherqueer,unresponsivelittleface.Shedidnotsayanymoreforafewmomentsandthenshebeganagain.
“Isupposeyoumightaswellbetoldsomething—toprepareyou.Youaregoingtoaqueerplace.”
Marysaidnothingatall,andMrs.Medlocklookedratherdiscomfitedbyherapparentindifference,but,aftertakingabreath,shewenton.
“Notbutthatit’sagrandbigplaceinagloomyway,andMr.Craven’sproudofitinhisway—andthat’sgloomyenough,too.
Thehouseissixhundredyearsoldandit’sontheedgeofthemoor,andthere’snearahundredroomsinit,thoughmostofthem’sshutupandlocked.
Andthere’spicturesandfineoldfurnitureandthingsthat’sbeenthereforages,andthere’sabigparkrounditandgardensandtreeswithbranchestrailingtotheground—someofthem.”Shepausedandtookanotherbreath.
“Butthere’snothingelse,”sheendedsuddenly.
Maryhadbeguntolisteninspiteofherself.
ItallsoundedsounlikeIndia,andanythingnewratherattractedher.
Butshedidnotintendtolookasifshewereinterested.
Thatwasoneofherunhappy,disagreeableways.Soshesatstill.
“Well,”saidMrs.Medlock.“Whatdoyouthinkofit?”
“Nothing,”sheanswered.“Iknownothingaboutsuchplaces.”
ThatmadeMrs.Medlocklaughashortsortoflaugh.
“Eh!”shesaid,“butyouarelikeanoldwoman.Don’tyoucare?”
“Itdoesn’tmatter”saidMary,“whetherIcareornot.”
“Youarerightenoughthere,”saidMrs.Medlock.“Itdoesn’t.
Whatyou’retobekeptatMisselthwaiteManorforIdon’tknow,unlessbecauseit’stheeasiestway.
He’snotgoingtotroublehimselfaboutyou,that’ssureandcertain.
Henevertroubleshimselfaboutnoone.”
Shestoppedherselfasifshehadjustrememberedsomethingintime.
“He’sgotacrookedback,”shesaid.“Thatsethimwrong.Hewasasouryoungmanandgotnogoodofallhismoneyandbigplacetillhewasmarried.”
Mary’seyesturnedtowardherinspiteofherintentionnottoseemtocare.
Shehadneverthoughtofthehunchback’sbeingmarriedandshewasatriflesurprised.
Mrs.Medlocksawthis,andasshewasatalkativewomanshecontinuedwithmoreinterest.
Thiswasonewayofpassingsomeofthetime,atanyrate.
“Shewasasweet,prettythingandhe’dhavewalkedtheworldovertogetherabladeo’grassshewanted.
Nobodythoughtshe’dmarryhim,butshedid,andpeoplesaidshemarriedhimforhismoney.Butshedidn’t—shedidn’t,”positively.“Whenshedied—”
Marygavealittleinvoluntaryjump.
“Oh!Didshedie?”
sheexclaimed,quitewithoutmeaningto.
ShehadjustrememberedaFrenchfairystoryshehadoncereadcalled“RiquetalaHouppe.”
IthadbeenaboutapoorhunchbackandabeautifulprincessandithadmadehersuddenlysorryforMr.ArchibaldCraven.
“Yes,shedied,”Mrs.Medlockanswered.“Anditmadehimqueererthanever.Hecaresaboutnobody.Hewon’tseepeople.
Mostofthetimehegoesaway,andwhenheisatMisselthwaiteheshutshimselfupintheWestWingandwon’tletanyonebutPitcherseehim.
Pitcher’sanoldfellow,buthetookcareofhimwhenhewasachildandheknowshisways.”
ItsoundedlikesomethinginabookanditdidnotmakeMaryfeelcheerful.
Ahousewithahundredrooms,nearlyallshutupandwiththeirdoorslocked—ahouseontheedgeofamoor—whatsoeveramoorwas—soundeddreary.
Amanwithacrookedbackwhoshuthimselfupalso!
Shestaredoutofthewindowwithherlipspinchedtogether,anditseemedquitenaturalthattherainshouldhavebeguntopourdowningrayslantinglinesandsplashandstreamdownthewindow-panes.
Iftheprettywifehadbeenaliveshemighthavemadethingscheerfulbybeingsomethinglikeherownmotherandbyrunninginandoutandgoingtopartiesasshehaddoneinfrocks“fulloflace.”Butshewasnotthereanymore.
“Youneedn’texpecttoseehim,becausetentooneyouwon’t,”saidMrs.Medlock.
“Andyoumustn’texpectthattherewillbepeopletotalktoyou.
You’llhavetoplayaboutandlookafteryourself.
You’llbetoldwhatroomsyoucangointoandwhatroomsyou’retokeepoutof.There’sgardensenough.
Butwhenyou’reinthehousedon’tgowanderingandpokingabout.Mr.Cravenwon’thaveit.”
“Ishallnotwanttogopokingabout,”saidsourlittleMaryandjustassuddenlyasshehadbeguntoberathersorryforMr.ArchibaldCravenshebegantoceasetobesorryandtothinkhewasunpleasantenoughtodeserveallthathadhappenedtohim.
Andsheturnedherfacetowardthestreamingpanesofthewindowoftherailwaycarriageandgazedoutatthegrayrain-stormwhichlookedasifitwouldgoonforeverandever.
Shewatcheditsolongandsteadilythatthegraynessgrewheavierandheavierbeforehereyesandshefellasleep.
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