English
WhenMissSharphadperformedtheheroicalactmentionedinthelastchapter,andhadseentheDixonary,flyingoverthepavementofthelittlegarden,fallatlengthatthefeetoftheastonishedMissJemima,theyounglady’scountenance,whichhadbeforewornanalmostlividlookofhatred,assumedasmilethatperhapswasscarcelymoreagreeable,andshesankbackinthecarriageinaneasyframeofmind,saying—”SomuchfortheDixonary;and,thankGod,I’moutofChiswick.”
MissSedleywasalmostasflurriedattheactofdefianceasMissJemimahadbeen;for,consider,itwasbutoneminutethatshehadleftschool,andtheimpressionsofsixyearsarenotgotoverinthatspaceoftime.
Nay,withsomepersonsthoseawesandterrorsofyouthlastforeverandever.
Iknow,forinstance,anoldgentlemanofsixty-eight,whosaidtomeonemorningatbreakfast,withaveryagitatedcountenance,“IdreamedlastnightthatIwasfloggedbyDr.Raine.”
Fancyhadcarriedhimbackfive-and-fiftyyearsinthecourseofthatevening.
Dr.Raineandhisrodwerejustasawfultohiminhisheart,then,atsixty-eight,astheyhadbeenatthirteen.
IftheDoctor,withalargebirch,hadappearedbodilytohim,evenattheageofthreescoreandeight,andhadsaidinawfulvoice,“Boy,takedownyourpant—”?
Well,well,MissSedleywasexceedinglyalarmedatthisactofinsubordination.
“Howcouldyoudoso,Rebecca?”atlastshesaid,afterapause.
“Why,doyouthinkMissPinkertonwillcomeoutandordermebacktotheblack-hole?”saidRebecca,laughing.
“No:but—”
“Ihatethewholehouse,”continuedMissSharpinafury.
“IhopeImayneverseteyesonitagain.
IwishitwereinthebottomoftheThames,Ido;andifMissPinkertonwerethere,Iwouldn’tpickherout,thatIwouldn’t.
OhowIshouldliketoseeherfloatinginthewateryonder,turbanandall,withhertrainstreamingafterher,andhernoselikethebeakofawherry.”
“Hush!”criedMissSedley.
“Why,willtheblackfootmantelltales?”criedMissRebecca,laughing.
“HemaygobackandtellMissPinkertonthatIhateherwithallmysoul;andIwishhewould;andIwishIhadameansofprovingit,too.
FortwoyearsIhaveonlyhadinsultsandoutragefromher.
Ihavebeentreatedworsethananyservantinthekitchen.
Ihaveneverhadafriendorakindword,exceptfromyou.
Ihavebeenmadetotendthelittlegirlsinthelowerschoolroom,andtotalkFrenchtotheMisses,untilIgrewsickofmymothertongue.
ButthattalkingFrenchtoMissPinkertonwascapitalfun,wasn’tit?
Shedoesn’tknowawordofFrench,andwastooproudtoconfessit.
Ibelieveitwasthatwhichmadeherpartwithme;andsothankHeavenforFrench.VivelaFrance!Vivel’Empereur!ViveBonaparte!”
“ORebecca,Rebecca,forshame!”criedMissSedley;forthiswasthegreatestblasphemyRebeccahadasyetuttered;andinthosedays,inEngland,tosay,“LongliveBonaparte!”
wasasmuchastosay,“LongliveLucifer!”
“Howcanyou—howdareyouhavesuchwicked,revengefulthoughts?”
“Revengemaybewicked,butit’snatural,”answeredMissRebecca.“I’mnoangel.”And,tosaythetruth,shecertainlywasnot.
Foritmayberemarkedinthecourseofthislittleconversation(whichtookplaceasthecoachrolledalonglazilybytheriverside)thatthoughMissRebeccaSharphastwicehadoccasiontothankHeaven,ithasbeen,inthefirstplace,forriddingherofsomepersonwhomshehated,andsecondly,forenablinghertobringherenemiestosomesortofperplexityorconfusion;neitherofwhichareveryamiablemotivesforreligiousgratitude,orsuchaswouldbeputforwardbypersonsofakindandplacabledisposition.
MissRebeccawasnot,then,intheleastkindorplacable.
Alltheworldusedherill,saidthisyoungmisanthropist,andwemaybeprettycertainthatpersonswhomalltheworldtreatsill,deserveentirelythetreatmenttheyget.
Theworldisalooking-glass,andgivesbacktoeverymanthereflectionofhisownface.
Frownatit,anditwillinturnlooksourlyuponyou;laughatitandwithit,anditisajollykindcompanion;andsoletallyoungpersonstaketheirchoice.
Thisiscertain,thatiftheworldneglectedMissSharp,sheneverwasknowntohavedoneagoodactioninbehalfofanybody;norcanitbeexpectedthattwenty-fouryoungladiesshouldallbeasamiableastheheroineofthiswork,MissSedley(whomwehaveselectedfortheveryreasonthatshewasthebest-naturedofall,otherwisewhatonearthwastohavepreventedusfromputtingupMissSwartz,orMissCrump,orMissHopkins,asheroineinherplace!)
itcouldnotbeexpectedthateveryoneshouldbeofthehumbleandgentletemperofMissAmeliaSedley;shouldtakeeveryopportunitytovanquishRebecca’shard-heartednessandill-humour;and,byathousandkindwordsandoffices,overcome,foronceatleast,herhostilitytoherkind.
MissSharp’sfatherwasanartist,andinthatqualityhadgivenlessonsofdrawingatMissPinkerton’sschool.
Hewasacleverman;apleasantcompanion;acarelessstudent;withagreatpropensityforrunningintodebt,andapartialityforthetavern.
Whenhewasdrunk,heusedtobeathiswifeanddaughter;andthenextmorning,withaheadache,hewouldrailattheworldforitsneglectofhisgenius,andabuse,withagooddealofcleverness,andsometimeswithperfectreason,thefools,hisbrotherpainters.
Asitwaswiththeutmostdifficultythathecouldkeephimself,andasheowedmoneyforamileroundSoho,wherehelived,hethoughttobetterhiscircumstancesbymarryingayoungwomanoftheFrenchnation,whowasbyprofessionanopera-girl.
ThehumblecallingofherfemaleparentMissSharpneveralludedto,butusedtostatesubsequentlythattheEntrechatswereanoblefamilyofGascony,andtookgreatprideinherdescentfromthem.
Andcuriousitisthatassheadvancedinlifethisyounglady’sancestorsincreasedinrankandsplendour.
Rebecca’smotherhadhadsomeeducationsomewhere,andherdaughterspokeFrenchwithpurityandaParisianaccent.
Itwasinthosedaysratherarareaccomplishment,andledtoherengagementwiththeorthodoxMissPinkerton.
Forhermotherbeingdead,herfather,findinghimselfnotlikelytorecover,afterhisthirdattackofdeliriumtremens,wroteamanlyandpatheticlettertoMissPinkerton,recommendingtheorphanchildtoherprotection,andsodescendedtothegrave,aftertwobailiffshadquarrelledoverhiscorpse.
RebeccawasseventeenwhenshecametoChiswick,andwasboundoverasanarticledpupil;herdutiesbeingtotalkFrench,aswehaveseen;andherprivilegestolivecostfree,and,withafewguineasayear,togatherscrapsofknowledgefromtheprofessorswhoattendedtheschool.
Shewassmallandslightinperson;pale,sandy-haired,andwitheyeshabituallycastdown:whentheylookeduptheywereverylarge,odd,andattractive;soattractivethattheReverendMr.Crisp,freshfromOxford,andcuratetotheVicarofChiswick,theReverendMr.Flowerdew,fellinlovewithMissSharp;beingshotdeadbyaglanceofhereyeswhichwasfiredallthewayacrossChiswickChurchfromtheschool-pewtothereading-desk.
ThisinfatuatedyoungmanusedsometimestotaketeawithMissPinkerton,towhomhehadbeenpresentedbyhismamma,andactuallyproposedsomethinglikemarriageinaninterceptednote,whichtheone-eyedapple-womanwaschargedtodeliver.
Mrs.CrispwassummonedfromBuxton,andabruptlycarriedoffherdarlingboy;buttheidea,even,ofsuchaneagleintheChiswickdovecotcausedagreatflutterinthebreastofMissPinkerton,whowouldhavesentawayMissSharpbutthatshewasboundtoherunderaforfeit,andwhonevercouldthoroughlybelievetheyounglady’sprotestationsthatshehadneverexchangedasinglewordwithMr.Crisp,exceptunderherowneyesonthetwooccasionswhenshehadmethimattea.
Bythesideofmanytallandbouncingyoungladiesintheestablishment,RebeccaSharplookedlikeachild.
Butshehadthedismalprecocityofpoverty.
Manyadunhadshetalkedto,andturnedawayfromherfather’sdoor;manyatradesmanhadshecoaxedandwheedledintogood-humour,andintothegrantingofonemealmore.
Shesatecommonlywithherfather,whowasveryproudofherwit,andheardthetalkofmanyofhiswildcompanions—oftenbutill-suitedforagirltohear.
Butsheneverhadbeenagirl,shesaid;shehadbeenawomansinceshewaseightyearsold.
Oh,whydidMissPinkertonletsuchadangerousbirdintohercage?
Thefactis,theoldladybelievedRebeccatobethemeekestcreatureintheworld,soadmirably,ontheoccasionswhenherfatherbroughthertoChiswick,usedRebeccatoperformthepartoftheingenue;andonlyayearbeforethearrangementbywhichRebeccahadbeenadmittedintoherhouse,andwhenRebeccawassixteenyearsold,MissPinkertonmajestically,andwithalittlespeech,madeherapresentofadoll—whichwas,bytheway,theconfiscatedpropertyofMissSwindle,discoveredsurreptitiouslynursingitinschool-hours.
Howthefatheranddaughterlaughedastheytrudgedhometogetheraftertheeveningparty(itwasontheoccasionofthespeeches,whenalltheprofessorswereinvited)andhowMissPinkertonwouldhaveragedhadsheseenthecaricatureofherselfwhichthelittlemimic,Rebecca,managedtomakeoutofherdoll.
Beckyusedtogothroughdialogueswithit;itformedthedelightofNewmanStreet,GerrardStreet,andtheArtists’quarter:andtheyoungpainters,whentheycametotaketheirgin-and-waterwiththeirlazy,dissolute,clever,jovialsenior,usedregularlytoaskRebeccaifMissPinkertonwasathome:shewasaswellknowntothem,poorsoul!asMr.LawrenceorPresidentWest.
OnceRebeccahadthehonourtopassafewdaysatChiswick;afterwhichshebroughtbackJemima,anderectedanotherdollasMissJemmy:forthoughthathonestcreaturehadmadeandgivenherjellyandcakeenoughforthreechildren,andaseven-shillingpieceatparting,thegirl’ssenseofridiculewasfarstrongerthanhergratitude,andshesacrificedMissJemmyquiteaspitilesslyashersister.
Thecatastrophecame,andshewasbroughttotheMallastoherhome.
Therigidformalityoftheplacesuffocatedher:theprayersandthemeals,thelessonsandthewalks,whichwerearrangedwithaconventualregularity,oppressedheralmostbeyondendurance;andshelookedbacktothefreedomandthebeggaryoftheoldstudioinSohowithsomuchregret,thateverybody,herselfincluded,fanciedshewasconsumedwithgriefforherfather.
Shehadalittleroominthegarret,wherethemaidsheardherwalkingandsobbingatnight;butitwaswithrage,andnotwithgrief.
Shehadnotbeenmuchofadissembler,untilnowherlonelinesstaughthertofeign.
Shehadnevermingledinthesocietyofwomen:herfather,reprobateashewas,wasamanoftalent;hisconversationwasathousandtimesmoreagreeabletoherthanthetalkofsuchofherownsexasshenowencountered.
Thepompousvanityoftheoldschoolmistress,thefoolishgood-humourofhersister,thesillychatandscandaloftheeldergirls,andthefrigidcorrectnessofthegovernessesequallyannoyedher;andshehadnosoftmaternalheart,thisunluckygirl,otherwisetheprattleandtalkoftheyoungerchildren,withwhosecareshewaschieflyintrusted,mighthavesoothedandinterestedher;butshelivedamongthemtwoyears,andnotonewassorrythatshewentaway.
Thegentletender-heartedAmeliaSedleywastheonlypersontowhomshecouldattachherselfintheleast;andwhocouldhelpattachingherselftoAmelia?
Thehappinessthesuperioradvantagesoftheyoungwomenroundabouther,gaveRebeccainexpressiblepangsofenvy.
“Whatairsthatgirlgivesherself,becausesheisanEarl’sgrand-daughter,”shesaidofone.
“HowtheycringeandbowtothatCreole,becauseofherhundredthousandpounds!
Iamathousandtimesclevererandmorecharmingthanthatcreature,forallherwealth.
IamaswellbredastheEarl’sgrand-daughter,forallherfinepedigree;andyeteveryonepassesmebyhere.
Andyet,whenIwasatmyfather’s,didnotthemengiveuptheirgayestballsandpartiesinordertopasstheeveningwithme?”
Shedeterminedatanyratetogetfreefromtheprisoninwhichshefoundherself,andnowbegantoactforherself,andforthefirsttimetomakeconnectedplansforthefuture.
Shetookadvantage,therefore,ofthemeansofstudytheplaceofferedher;andasshewasalreadyamusicianandagoodlinguist,shespeedilywentthroughthelittlecourseofstudywhichwasconsiderednecessaryforladiesinthosedays.
Hermusicshepractisedincessantly,andoneday,whenthegirlswereout,andshehadremainedathome,shewasoverheardtoplayapiecesowellthatMinervathought,wisely,shecouldspareherselftheexpenseofamasterforthejuniors,andintimatedtoMissSharpthatshewastoinstructtheminmusicforthefuture.
Thegirlrefused;andforthefirsttime,andtotheastonishmentofthemajesticmistressoftheschool.
“IamheretospeakFrenchwiththechildren,”Rebeccasaidabruptly,“nottoteachthemmusic,andsavemoneyforyou.Givememoney,andIwillteachthem.”
Minervawasobligedtoyield,and,ofcourse,dislikedherfromthatday.
“Forfive-and-thirtyyears,”shesaid,andwithgreatjustice,“Ineverhaveseentheindividualwhohasdaredinmyownhousetoquestionmyauthority.Ihavenourishedaviperinmybosom.”
“Aviper—afiddlestick,”saidMissSharptotheoldlady,almostfaintingwithastonishment.“YoutookmebecauseIwasuseful.
Thereisnoquestionofgratitudebetweenus.
Ihatethisplace,andwanttoleaveit.
IwilldonothingherebutwhatIamobligedtodo.”
ItwasinvainthattheoldladyaskedherifshewasawareshewasspeakingtoMissPinkerton?
Rebeccalaughedinherface,withahorridsarcasticdemoniacallaughter,thatalmostsenttheschoolmistressintofits.
“Givemeasumofmoney,”saidthegirl,“andgetridofme—or,ifyoulikebetter,getmeagoodplaceasgovernessinanobleman’sfamily—youcandosoifyouplease.”
Andintheirfurtherdisputesshealwaysreturnedtothispoint,“Getmeasituation—wehateeachother,andIamreadytogo.”
WorthyMissPinkerton,althoughshehadaRomannoseandaturban,andwasastallasagrenadier,andhadbeenuptothistimeanirresistibleprincess,hadnowillorstrengthlikethatofherlittleapprentice,andinvaindidbattleagainsther,andtriedtooveraweher.
Attemptingoncetoscoldherinpublic,Rebeccahituponthebefore-mentionedplanofansweringherinFrench,whichquiteroutedtheoldwoman.
Inordertomaintainauthorityinherschool,itbecamenecessarytoremovethisrebel,thismonster,thisserpent,thisfirebrand;andhearingaboutthistimethatSirPittCrawley’sfamilywasinwantofagoverness,sheactuallyrecommendedMissSharpforthesituation,firebrandandserpentasshewas.
“Icannot,certainly,”shesaid,“findfaultwithMissSharp’sconduct,excepttomyself;andmustallowthathertalentsandaccomplishmentsareofahighorder.
Asfarastheheadgoes,atleast,shedoescredittotheeducationalsystempursuedatmyestablishment.”
Andsotheschoolmistressreconciledtherecommendationtoherconscience,andtheindentureswerecancelled,andtheapprenticewasfree.
Thebattleheredescribedinafewlines,ofcourse,lastedforsomemonths.
AndasMissSedley,beingnowinherseventeenthyear,wasabouttoleaveschool,andhadafriendshipforMissSharp(”’tistheonlypointinAmelia’sbehaviour,”saidMinerva,“whichhasnotbeensatisfactorytohermistress”),MissSharpwasinvitedbyherfriendtopassaweekwithherathome,beforesheentereduponherdutiesasgovernessinaprivatefamily.
Thustheworldbeganforthesetwoyoungladies.
ForAmeliaitwasquiteanew,fresh,brilliantworld,withallthebloomuponit.
ItwasnotquiteanewoneforRebecca—(indeed,ifthetruthmustbetoldwithrespecttotheCrispaffair,thetart-womanhintedtosomebody,whotookanaffidavitofthefacttosomebodyelse,thattherewasagreatdealmorethanwasmadepublicregardingMr.CrispandMissSharp,andthathisletterwasinanswertoanotherletter).
Butwhocantellyoutherealtruthofthematter?
Atallevents,ifRebeccawasnotbeginningtheworld,shewasbeginningitoveragain.
BythetimetheyoungladiesreachedKensingtonturnpike,Ameliahadnotforgottenhercompanions,buthaddriedhertears,andhadblushedverymuchandbeendelightedatayoungofficeroftheLifeGuards,whospiedherashewasridingby,andsaid,“Ademfinegal,egad!”
andbeforethecarriagearrivedinRussellSquare,agreatdealofconversationhadtakenplaceabouttheDrawing-room,andwhetherornotyoungladiesworepowderaswellashoopswhenpresented,andwhethershewastohavethathonour:totheLordMayor’sballsheknewshewastogo.
Andwhenatlengthhomewasreached,MissAmeliaSedleyskippedoutonSambo’sarm,ashappyandashandsomeagirlasanyinthewholebigcityofLondon.
Bothheandcoachmanagreedonthispoint,andsodidherfatherandmother,andsodideveryoneoftheservantsinthehouse,astheystoodbobbing,andcurtseying,andsmiling,inthehalltowelcometheiryoungmistress.
YoumaybesurethatsheshowedRebeccaovereveryroomofthehouse,andeverythingineveryoneofherdrawers;andherbooks,andherpiano,andherdresses,andallhernecklaces,brooches,laces,andgimcracks.
SheinsisteduponRebeccaacceptingthewhitecornelianandtheturquoiserings,andasweetspriggedmuslin,whichwastoosmallforhernow,thoughitwouldfitherfriendtoanicety;andshedeterminedinherhearttoaskhermother’spermissiontopresentherwhiteCashmereshawltoherfriend.Couldshenotspareit?
andhadnotherbrotherJosephjustbroughthertwofromIndia?
WhenRebeccasawthetwomagnificentCashmereshawlswhichJosephSedleyhadbroughthometohissister,shesaid,withperfecttruth,“thatitmustbedelightfultohaveabrother,”andeasilygotthepityofthetender-heartedAmeliaforbeingaloneintheworld,anorphanwithoutfriendsorkindred.
“Notalone,”saidAmelia;“youknow,Rebecca,Ishallalwaysbeyourfriend,andloveyouasasister—indeedIwill.”
“Ah,buttohaveparents,asyouhave—kind,rich,affectionateparents,whogiveyoueverythingyouaskfor;andtheirlove,whichismorepreciousthanall!
Mypoorpapacouldgivemenothing,andIhadbuttwofrocksinalltheworld!
Andthen,tohaveabrother,adearbrother!Oh,howyoumustlovehim!”
Amelialaughed.
“What!don’tyoulovehim?you,whosayyouloveeverybody?”
“Yes,ofcourse,Ido—only—”
“Onlywhat?”
“OnlyJosephdoesn’tseemtocaremuchwhetherIlovehimornot.
Hegavemetwofingerstoshakewhenhearrivedaftertenyears’absence!
Heisverykindandgood,buthescarcelyeverspeakstome;Ithinkheloveshispipeagreatdealbetterthanhis”—buthereAmeliacheckedherself,forwhyshouldshespeakillofherbrother?
“Hewasverykindtomeasachild,”sheadded;“Iwasbutfiveyearsoldwhenhewentaway.”
“Isn’theveryrich?”saidRebecca.“TheysayallIndiannabobsareenormouslyrich.”
“Ibelievehehasaverylargeincome.”
“Andisyoursister-in-lawaniceprettywoman?”
“La!Josephisnotmarried,”saidAmelia,laughingagain.
PerhapsshehadmentionedthefactalreadytoRebecca,butthatyoungladydidnotappeartohaverememberedit;indeed,vowedandprotestedthatsheexpectedtoseeanumberofAmelia’snephewsandnieces.
ShewasquitedisappointedthatMr.Sedleywasnotmarried;shewassureAmeliahadsaidhewas,andshedotedsoonlittlechildren.
“IthinkyoumusthavehadenoughofthematChiswick,”saidAmelia,ratherwonderingatthesuddentendernessonherfriend’spart;andindeedinlaterdaysMissSharpwouldneverhavecommittedherselfsofarastoadvanceopinions,theuntruthofwhichwouldhavebeensoeasilydetected.
Butwemustrememberthatsheisbutnineteenasyet,unusedtotheartofdeceiving,poorinnocentcreature!
andmakingherownexperienceinherownperson.
Themeaningoftheaboveseriesofqueries,astranslatedintheheartofthisingeniousyoungwoman,wassimplythis:“IfMr.JosephSedleyisrichandunmarried,whyshouldInotmarryhim?
Ihaveonlyafortnight,tobesure,butthereisnoharmintrying.”
Andshedeterminedwithinherselftomakethislaudableattempt.
SheredoubledhercaressestoAmelia;shekissedthewhitecorneliannecklaceassheputiton;andvowedshewouldnever,neverpartwithit.
Whenthedinner-bellrangshewentdownstairswithherarmroundherfriend’swaist,asisthehabitofyoungladies.
Shewassoagitatedatthedrawing-roomdoor,thatshecouldhardlyfindcouragetoenter.“Feelmyheart,howitbeats,dear!”saidshetoherfriend.
“No,itdoesn’t,”saidAmelia.“Comein,don’tbefrightened.Papawon’tdoyouanyharm.”
Share this article to
FINISH