English
Andnow,beingreceivedasamemberoftheamiablefamilywhoseportraitswehavesketchedintheforegoingpages,itbecamenaturallyRebecca’sdutytomakeherself,asshesaid,agreeabletoherbenefactors,andtogaintheirconfidencetotheutmostofherpower.
Whocanbutadmirethisqualityofgratitudeinanunprotectedorphan;and,ifthereenteredsomedegreeofselfishnessintohercalculations,whocansaybutthatherprudencewasperfectlyjustifiable?
“Iamaloneintheworld,”saidthefriendlessgirl.
“Ihavenothingtolookforbutwhatmyownlabourcanbringme;andwhilethatlittlepink-facedchitAmelia,withnothalfmysense,hastenthousandpoundsandanestablishmentsecure,poorRebecca(andmyfigureisfarbetterthanhers)hasonlyherselfandherownwitstotrustto.
Well,letusseeifmywitscannotprovidemewithanhonourablemaintenance,andifsomedayortheotherIcannotshowMissAmeliamyrealsuperiorityoverher.
NotthatIdislikepoorAmelia:whocandislikesuchaharmless,good-naturedcreature?
—onlyitwillbeafinedaywhenIcantakemyplaceaboveherintheworld,aswhy,indeed,shouldInot?”
Thusitwasthatourlittleromanticfriendformedvisionsofthefutureforherself—normustwebescandalisedthat,inallhercastlesintheair,ahusbandwastheprincipalinhabitant.
Ofwhatelsehaveyoungladiestothink,buthusbands?
Ofwhatelsedotheirdearmammasthink?
“Imustbemyownmamma,”saidRebecca;notwithoutatinglingconsciousnessofdefeat,asshethoughtoverherlittlemisadventurewithJosSedley.
SoshewiselydeterminedtorenderherpositionwiththeQueen’sCrawleyfamilycomfortableandsecure,andtothisendresolvedtomakefriendsofeveryonearoundherwhocouldatallinterferewithhercomfort.
AsmyLadyCrawleywasnotoneofthesepersonages,andawoman,moreover,soindolentandvoidofcharacterasnottobeoftheleastconsequenceinherownhouse,Rebeccasoonfoundthatitwasnotatallnecessarytocultivatehergoodwill—indeed,impossibletogainit.
Sheusedtotalktoherpupilsabouttheir“poormamma”;and,thoughshetreatedthatladywitheverydemonstrationofcoolrespect,itwastotherestofthefamilythatshewiselydirectedthechiefpartofherattentions.
Withtheyoungpeople,whoseapplauseshethoroughlygained,hermethodwasprettysimple.
Shedidnotpestertheiryoungbrainswithtoomuchlearning,but,onthecontrary,letthemhavetheirownwayinregardtoeducatingthemselves;forwhatinstructionismoreeffectualthanself-instruction?
Theeldestwasratherfondofbooks,andastherewasintheoldlibraryatQueen’sCrawleyaconsiderableprovisionofworksoflightliteratureofthelastcentury,bothintheFrenchandEnglishlanguages(theyhadbeenpurchasedbytheSecretaryoftheTapeandSealingWaxOfficeattheperiodofhisdisgrace),andasnobodyevertroubledthebook-shelvesbutherself,Rebeccawasenabledagreeably,and,asitwere,inplaying,toimpartagreatdealofinstructiontoMissRoseCrawley.
SheandMissRosethusreadtogethermanydelightfulFrenchandEnglishworks,amongwhichmaybementionedthoseofthelearnedDr.Smollett,oftheingeniousMr.HenryFielding,ofthegracefulandfantasticMonsieurCrebillontheyounger,whomourimmortalpoetGraysomuchadmired,andoftheuniversalMonsieurdeVoltaire.
Once,whenMr.Crawleyaskedwhattheyoungpeoplewerereading,thegovernessreplied“Smollett.”
“Oh,Smollett,”saidMr.Crawley,quitesatisfied.
“Hishistoryismoredull,butbynomeanssodangerousasthatofMr.Hume.Itishistoryyouarereading?”
“Yes,”saidMissRose;without,however,addingthatitwasthehistoryofMr.HumphreyClinker.
OnanotheroccasionhewasratherscandalisedatfindinghissisterwithabookofFrenchplays;butasthegovernessremarkedthatitwasforthepurposeofacquiringtheFrenchidiominconversation,hewasfaintobecontent.
Mr.Crawley,asadiplomatist,wasexceedinglyproudofhisownskillinspeakingtheFrenchlanguage(forhewasoftheworldstill),andnotalittlepleasedwiththecomplimentswhichthegovernesscontinuallypaidhimuponhisproficiency.
MissViolet’stasteswere,onthecontrary,morerudeandboisterousthanthoseofhersister.
Sheknewthesequesteredspotswherethehenslaidtheireggs.
Shecouldclimbatreetorobthenestsofthefeatheredsongstersoftheirspeckledspoils.
Andherpleasurewastoridetheyoungcolts,andtoscourtheplainslikeCamilla.
Shewasthefavouriteofherfatherandofthestablemen.
Shewasthedarling,andwithaltheterrorofthecook;forshediscoveredthehauntsofthejam-pots,andwouldattackthemwhentheywerewithinherreach.
Sheandhersisterwereengagedinconstantbattles.
Anyofwhichpeccadilloes,ifMissSharpdiscovered,shedidnottellthemtoLadyCrawley;whowouldhavetoldthemtothefather,orworse,toMr.Crawley;butpromisednottotellifMissVioletwouldbeagoodgirlandlovehergoverness.
WithMr.CrawleyMissSharpwasrespectfulandobedient.
SheusedtoconsulthimonpassagesofFrenchwhichshecouldnotunderstand,thoughhermotherwasaFrenchwoman,andwhichhewouldconstruetohersatisfaction:and,besidesgivingherhisaidinprofaneliterature,hewaskindenoughtoselectforherbooksofamoreserioustendency,andaddresstohermuchofhisconversation.
Sheadmired,beyondmeasure,hisspeechattheQuashimaboo-AidSociety;tookaninterestinhispamphletonmalt:wasoftenaffected,eventotears,byhisdiscoursesofanevening,andwouldsay—”Oh,thankyou,sir,”withasigh,andalookuptoheaven,thatmadehimoccasionallycondescendtoshakehandswithher.
“Bloodiseverything,afterall,”wouldthataristocraticreligionistsay.
“HowMissSharpisawakenedbymywords,whennotoneofthepeoplehereistouched.Iamtoofineforthem—toodelicate.
Imustfamiliarisemystyle—butsheunderstandsit.HermotherwasaMontmorency.”
Indeeditwasfromthisfamousfamily,asitappears,thatMissSharp,bythemother’sside,wasdescended.
Ofcourseshedidnotsaythathermotherhadbeenonthestage;itwouldhaveshockedMr.Crawley’sreligiousscruples.
Howmanynobleemigreshadthishorridrevolutionplungedinpoverty!
Shehadseveralstoriesaboutherancestorsereshehadbeenmanymonthsinthehouse;someofwhichMr.CrawleyhappenedtofindinD’Hozier’sdictionary,whichwasinthelibrary,andwhichstrengthenedhisbeliefintheirtruth,andinthehigh-breedingofRebecca.
Arewetosupposefromthiscuriosityandpryingintodictionaries,couldourheroinesupposethatMr.Crawleywasinterestedinher?—no,onlyinafriendlyway.
HavewenotstatedthathewasattachedtoLadyJaneSheepshanks?
HetookRebeccatotaskonceortwiceabouttheproprietyofplayingatbackgammonwithSirPitt,sayingthatitwasagodlessamusement,andthatshewouldbemuchbetterengagedinreading“Thrump’sLegacy,”or“TheBlindWasherwomanofMoorfields,”oranyworkofamoreseriousnature;butMissSharpsaidherdearmotherusedoftentoplaythesamegamewiththeoldCountdeTrictracandthevenerableAbbeduCornet,andsofoundanexcuseforthisandotherworldlyamusements.
ButitwasnotonlybyplayingatbackgammonwiththeBaronet,thatthelittlegovernessrenderedherselfagreeabletoheremployer.
Shefoundmanydifferentwaysofbeingusefultohim.
Shereadover,withindefatigablepatience,allthoselawpapers,withwhich,beforeshecametoQueen’sCrawley,hehadpromisedtoentertainher.
Shevolunteeredtocopymanyofhisletters,andadroitlyalteredthespellingofthemsoastosuittheusagesofthepresentday.
Shebecameinterestedineverythingappertainingtotheestate,tothefarm,thepark,thegarden,andthestables;andsodelightfulacompanionwasshe,thattheBaronetwouldseldomtakehisafter-breakfastwalkwithouther(andthechildrenofcourse),whenshewouldgiveheradviceastothetreeswhichweretobeloppedintheshrubberies,thegarden-bedstobedug,thecropswhichweretobecut,thehorseswhichweretogotocartorplough.
BeforeshehadbeenayearatQueen’sCrawleyshehadquitewontheBaronet’sconfidence;andtheconversationatthedinner-table,whichbeforeusedtobeheldbetweenhimandMr.Horrocksthebutler,wasnowalmostexclusivelybetweenSirPittandMissSharp.
ShewasalmostmistressofthehousewhenMr.Crawleywasabsent,butconductedherselfinhernewandexaltedsituationwithsuchcircumspectionandmodestyasnottooffendtheauthoritiesofthekitchenandstable,amongwhomherbehaviourwasalwaysexceedinglymodestandaffable.
Shewasquiteadifferentpersonfromthehaughty,shy,dissatisfiedlittlegirlwhomwehaveknownpreviously,andthischangeoftemperprovedgreatprudence,asinceredesireofamendment,oratanyrategreatmoralcourageonherpart.
WhetheritwastheheartwhichdictatedthisnewsystemofcomplaisanceandhumilityadoptedbyourRebecca,istobeprovedbyherafter-history.
Asystemofhypocrisy,whichlaststhroughwholeyears,isoneseldomsatisfactorilypractisedbyapersonofone-and-twenty;however,ourreaderswillrecollect,that,thoughyounginyears,ourheroinewasoldinlifeandexperience,andwehavewrittentonopurposeiftheyhavenotdiscoveredthatshewasaverycleverwoman.
TheelderandyoungersonofthehouseofCrawleywere,likethegentlemanandladyintheweather-box,neverathometogether—theyhatedeachothercordially:indeed,RawdonCrawley,thedragoon,hadagreatcontemptfortheestablishmentaltogether,andseldomcamethitherexceptwhenhisauntpaidherannualvisit.
Thegreatgoodqualityofthisoldladyhasbeenmentioned.
Shepossessedseventythousandpounds,andhadalmostadoptedRawdon.
Shedislikedhereldernephewexceedingly,anddespisedhimasamilksop.
Inreturnhedidnothesitatetostatethathersoulwasirretrievablylost,andwasofopinionthathisbrother’schanceinthenextworldwasnotawhitbetter.
“Sheisagodlesswomanoftheworld,”wouldMr.Crawleysay;“sheliveswithatheistsandFrenchmen.
MymindshudderswhenIthinkofherawful,awfulsituation,andthat,nearassheistothegrave,sheshouldbesogivenuptovanity,licentiousness,profaneness,andfolly.”
Infact,theoldladydeclinedaltogethertohearhishour’slectureofanevening;andwhenshecametoQueen’sCrawleyalone,hewasobligedtopretermithisusualdevotionalexercises.
“Shutupyoursarmons,Pitt,whenMissCrawleycomesdown,”saidhisfather;“shehaswrittentosaythatshewon’tstandthepreachifying.”
“O,sir!considertheservants.”
“Theservantsbehanged,”saidSirPitt;andhissonthoughtevenworsewouldhappenweretheydeprivedofthebenefitofhisinstruction.
“Why,hangit,Pitt!”saidthefathertohisremonstrance.“Youwouldn’tbesuchaflatastoletthreethousandayeargooutofthefamily?”
“Whatismoneycomparedtooursouls,sir?”continuedMr.Crawley.
“Youmeanthattheoldladywon’tleavethemoneytoyou?”—andwhoknowsbutitwasMr.Crawley’smeaning?
OldMissCrawleywascertainlyoneofthereprobate.
ShehadasnuglittlehouseinParkLane,and,assheateanddrankagreatdealtoomuchduringtheseasoninLondon,shewenttoHarrowgateorCheltenhamforthesummer.
Shewasthemosthospitableandjovialofoldvestals,andhadbeenabeautyinherday,shesaid.
(Alloldwomenwerebeautiesonce,weverywellknow.)
Shewasabelesprit,andadreadfulRadicalforthosedays.
ShehadbeeninFrance(whereSt.Just,theysay,inspiredherwithanunfortunatepassion),andloved,everafter,Frenchnovels,Frenchcookery,andFrenchwines.
ShereadVoltaire,andhadRousseaubyheart;talkedverylightlyaboutdivorce,andmostenergeticallyoftherightsofwomen.
ShehadpicturesofMr.Foxineveryroominthehouse:whenthatstatesmanwasinopposition,Iamnotsurethatshehadnotflungamainwithhim;andwhenhecameintooffice,shetookgreatcreditforbringingovertohimSirPittandhiscolleagueforQueen’sCrawley,althoughSirPittwouldhavecomeoverhimself,withoutanytroubleonthehonestlady’spart.
ItisneedlesstosaythatSirPittwasbroughttochangehisviewsafterthedeathofthegreatWhigstatesman.
ThisworthyoldladytookafancytoRawdonCrawleywhenaboy,senthimtoCambridge(inoppositiontohisbrotheratOxford),and,whentheyoungmanwasrequestedbytheauthoritiesofthefirst-namedUniversitytoquitafteraresidenceoftwoyears,sheboughthimhiscommissionintheLifeGuardsGreen.
Aperfectandcelebrated“blood,”ordandyabouttown,wasthisyoungofficer.
Boxing,rat-hunting,thefivescourt,andfour-in-handdrivingwerethenthefashionofourBritisharistocracy;andhewasanadeptinallthesenoblesciences.
Andthoughhebelongedtothehouseholdtroops,who,asitwastheirdutytorallyroundthePrinceRegent,hadnotshowntheirvalourinforeignserviceyet,RawdonCrawleyhadalready(aproposofplay,ofwhichhewasimmoderatelyfond)foughtthreebloodyduels,inwhichhegaveampleproofsofhiscontemptfordeath.
“Andforwhatfollowsafterdeath,”wouldMr.Crawleyobserve,throwinghisgooseberry-colouredeyesuptotheceiling.
Hewasalwaysthinkingofhisbrother’ssoul,orofthesoulsofthosewhodifferedwithhiminopinion:itisasortofcomfortwhichmanyoftheseriousgivethemselves.
Silly,romanticMissCrawley,farfrombeinghorrifiedatthecourageofherfavourite,alwaysusedtopayhisdebtsafterhisduels;andwouldnotlistentoawordthatwaswhisperedagainsthismorality.
“Hewillsowhiswildoats,”shewouldsay,“andisworthfarmorethanthatpulinghypocriteofabrotherofhis.”
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