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diff --git a/21975-h/21975-h.htm b/21975-h/21975-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..57c51e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/21975-h/21975-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4255 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Barbadoes Girl, by Mrs. Hofland. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + + h1 { text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + font-size: 3em; + } + + h2,h3 { text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + pre {font-size: 80%;} + + .ralign {position: absolute; right: 30%;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 130%; + } + + .pagenum { visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + a {text-decoration: none;} + + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i1 {display: block; margin-left: .5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Barbadoes Girl, by Mrs. Hofland + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Barbadoes Girl + A Tale for Young People + +Author: Mrs. Hofland + +Release Date: June 30, 2007 [EBook #21975] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BARBADOES GIRL *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Anne Storer and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net +(This file was made using scans of public domain works in +the International Children's Digital Library.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p>Transcriber’s Note: Table of Contents added.</p> + +<hr style="width: 95%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 407px;"> +<img src="images/illus_001.png" width="407" height="600" alt="Untitled" title="" /> +</div> + +<h2>THE</h2> + +<h1>BARBADOES GIRL.</h1> + +<h2>A Tale for Young People.</h2> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>BY MRS. HOFLAND.</h2> + +<p class="center">AUTHOR OF</p> + +<p class="center">THE CLERGYMAN’S WIDOW; THE SISTERS; BLIND FARMER;<br /> +AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS; ELLEN THE TEACHER;<br /> +GOOD GRANDMOTHER; MERCHANT’S WIDOW;<br /> +ETC., ETC., ETC.</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p style="margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25%;"> +The indulgence of passion makes bitter work for repentance, and produces a +feeble old age. <span class="ralign"><span class="smcap">Bacon.</span></span></p> + +<p style="margin-left: 25%; text-indent: 1em; margin-right: 25%;"> +As violent contrary winds endanger a ship, so it is with turbulent emotions +in the mind; whereas such as are favourable awaken the understanding, keep +in motion the will, and make the whole man more vigorous. +<span class="ralign"><span class="smcap">Addison.</span></span></p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p class="center"><em>A NEW EDITION, REVISED.</em></p> + +<h3>BOSTON:</h3> +<h2>CHASE AND NICHOLS,</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">43 Washington Street.</span><br /><br /> +<strong>1863.</strong></p> + +<hr style="width: 95%;" /> + +<p><strong>CONTENTS:</strong></p> + +<p style="margin-left: 15%;"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a><br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 95%;" /> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 5]</span></p> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>THE</h3> + +<h2>BARBADOES GIRL.</h2> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 269px; margin-top: -1%;"> +<img src="images/illus_004.png" width="269" height="300" alt="A" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>S Mr. Harewood was one evening sitting with his wife and children, he told +them that he expected soon to receive among them the daughter of a friend, +who had lately died in the West Indies.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harewood’s family consisted of his wife, two sons, and a daughter: the +eldest, named Edmund, was about twelve years of age; Charles, the second, +was scarcely ten; and Ellen, the daughter, had just passed her eighth +birthday: they were all sensible, affectionate<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 6]</span> children, but a little +different in disposition, the eldest being grave and studious, the second +lively and active, and as he was nearer to Ellen’s age, she was often +inclined to romp with him, when she should have minded her book; but she +was so fond of her mamma, and was educated with such a proper sense of the +duty and obedience she owed her, that a word or a look never failed to +restrain the exuberance of her spirits.</p> + +<p>Children are alike naturally curious and fond of society; the moment, +therefore, Mr. Harewood mentioned their expected guest, every one had some +question to ask respecting her; but as Ellen’s was uttered with most +mildness and modesty, she was first answered; and her brother Charles, +taking this hint, listened quietly to the following conversation, not +joining in it, till he felt that he had a right to do so, from having +practised a forbearance that cost him some effort.</p> + +<p><em>Ellen.</em>—Pray, papa, what is this little girl’s name, and how old is she?</p> + +<p><em>Father.</em>—She is called Matilda Sophia Hanson: her father was a man of +good fortune, and she is an only child; I believe, however, his affairs are +in an unsettled state, as her mother is under the necessity of remaining +some time in the country, in order to settle<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 7]</span> them. It is at her earnest +request that I have been prevailed upon to accept the charge of her +daughter. I believe she is about a year younger than you; but as the growth +of people in warm countries is more rapid than in this, I expect to see her +quite as tall and forward as you, Ellen.</p> + +<p><em>Ellen.</em>—But, dear papa, how will she get here from a place on the other +side of the globe? I mean, who will bring her? for I know, of course, that +she must come in a ship.</p> + +<p><em>Father.</em>—She will be attended by a negro servant, who has always waited +upon her; and who will return after she is safely landed, I suppose.</p> + +<p><em>Ellen.</em>—Poor thing! how she will cry when she leaves her own dear mamma, +when she is to cross the wide sea! and then again, when she parts with her +good nurse; I dare say she will kiss her very fondly, though she is a +black.</p> + +<p><em>Charles.</em>—Oh, she will forget her sorrow when she sees so many things +that are quite new to her. I’m afraid she’ll think Ellen, and us boys, very +silly, ignorant creatures, compared to her, who has seen so much of the +world: upon my word, we must be all upon our good behaviour.</p> + +<p><em>Father.</em>—I hope you will behave well, not<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 8]</span> merely from conscious +inferiority, but because you would be both impolite and unkind, if you +omitted any thing in your power that could render a stranger happy, who is +so entirely thrown upon our protection—one, too, who has lost a fond +father, and is parted from a tender mother.</p> + +<p><em>Edmund.</em>—But, papa, as Miss Hanson is coming to England for education, +and is yet very young, surely Charles must be wrong in supposing that she +is wiser, or, I ought to say, better informed, than we are, since it is +utterly improbable that she should have had the benefit of such +instructions as we have enjoyed.</p> + +<p><em>Father.</em>—True, my dear; but yet she will, of course, be acquainted with +many things to which you are necessarily entire strangers, although I must +remark that Charles’s expression, “she has seen much of the world,” is not +proper; for it is only applied to people who have mixed much with +society—not to those whose travels have shown them only land and water. +However, coming from a distant country, a society very different from ours, +and people to whom you are strangers, she cannot fail to possess many ideas +and much knowledge which are unknown to you; I therefore hope her residence +with us for a time will prove mutually advantageous;<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 9]</span> but if the advantage +should prove to be on your side, I trust you will never abuse it by +laughing, or in any way insulting and teazing your visitant; such conduct +would ensure most serious displeasure.</p> + +<p><em>Mother.</em>—It would prove them not only very ignorant, and deficient in the +education which even savages give their children, but prove that they were +devoid of that spirit of courtesy which is recommended in the Scriptures, +and which every Christian child will nourish in his heart and display in +his manners: the same holy apostle, who inculcated the highest doctrines of +his Divine Master, says also—“Be affable, be courteous, bearing one with +another.”</p> + +<p>The children for a few moments looked very serious, and each appeared to be +inwardly making some kind of promise or resolution to themselves respecting +the expected stranger: at length, Ellen, looking up, said to her mamma, +with great earnestness—“Indeed, mamma, I will love Miss Hanson as much as +if she were my sister, if she will permit me to do it.”</p> + +<p>“You had better say, Ellen, that you will be as kind to her as if she were +your sister; for until we know more of her, it is not possible for us to +promise so much; nor is it advisable to give our hearts at first sight,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 10]</span> +even to those who have yet stronger claims upon our good will and friendly +services.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Harewood added his approbation of this sentiment, for he knew it was +one that could not be repeated too often to young people, who are ever apt +to take up either partialities or prejudices too strongly, and whose +judgment has ever occasion for the attempering lessons of experience.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>AT length the long-wished-for day arrived, and the young foreigner made her +appearance in the family of Mr. Harewood. She was a fine, handsome-looking +girl, and though younger in fact, was taller and older-looking than Ellen, +but was not nearly so well shaped, as indolence, and the habit of being +carried about instead of walking, had occasioned her to stoop, and to move +as if her limbs were too weak to support her.</p> + +<p>The kindness and politeness with which she was received in the family of +Mr. Harewood, did not appear to affect the Barbadoes girl in any other way +than to increase that self-importance which was evidently her +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 11]</span>characteristic; and even the mild, affectionate Ellen, who had predisposed +her heart to love her very dearly, shrunk from the proud and haughty +expression which frequently animated her features, and was surprised to +hear her name her mamma with as much indifference as if she were a common +acquaintance; for Ellen did not know that the indulgence of bad passions +hardens the heart, and renders it insensible to those sweet and tender ties +which are felt by the good and amiable, and which constitute their highest +happiness.</p> + +<p>In a very short time, it became apparent that passion and peevishness were +also the traits of this unfortunate child, who had been indulged in the +free exercise of a railing tongue, and even of a clawing hand, towards the +numerous negro dependants that swarmed in her father’s mansion, over whom +she had exercised all the despotic sovereignty of a queen, with the +capriciousness of a petted child, and thereby obtained a habit of tyranny +over all whom she deemed her inferiors, as appeared from the style in which +she now conducted herself constantly towards the menials of Mr. Harewood’s +family, and not unfrequently towards the superiors.</p> + +<p>For a few days Mr. Harewood bore with this conduct, and only opposed it +with <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 12]</span>gentleness and persuasion; but as it became evident that this +gentleness emboldened the mistaken child to proceed to greater rudeness, he +commenced a new style of treatment, and the English education of Matilda, +so far as concerned that most important part of all education, the +management of the temper, in the following manner:</p> + +<p>On the family being seated at the dinner-table, Miss Hanson called out, in +a loud and angry tone, “Give me some beer!”</p> + +<p>Mr. Harewood had previously instructed the servant who waited upon them how +to act, in case he was thus addressed; and in consequence of his master’s +commands, the man took no notice whatever of this claim upon his attention.</p> + +<p>“Give me some beer!” cried she again, in so fierce a manner that the boys +started, and poor Ellen blushed very deeply, not only from the sense of +shame which she felt for the vulgarity of the young lady’s manners, but +from a kind of terror, on hearing such a shrill and threatening voice.</p> + +<p>The servant still took no notice of her words, though he did not do it with +an air of defiance, but rather as if it were not addressed to him.</p> + +<p>The little angry child muttered, loud enough to be heard—“What a fool the<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 13]</span> +wretch is!” but as nobody answered what was in fact addressed to no one, +she was at length compelled to look for redress to Mrs. Harewood, whom, +regarding with a mixture of rage and scorn, she now addressed—“Pray, +ma’am, why don’t <em>you</em> tell the man to give me some beer? I suppose he’ll +understand <em>you</em>, though he seems a fool, and deaf.”</p> + +<p>“My children are accustomed to say—‘Please, Thomas, give me some beer;’ +or, ‘I’ll thank you for a little beer;’ and the loud rude manner in which +you spoke, probably astonished and confused him. As, however, I certainly +understand you, I will endeavour to relieve you.—Pray, Thomas, be so kind +as to give Miss Hanson some beer,” said Mrs. Harewood.</p> + +<p>Thomas instantly offered it; but the little girl cried out in a rage—“I +won’t have it—no! that I won’t, from that man: I’ll have my own negro to +wait—that I will!—Must I say <em>please</em> to a servant? must a nasty man in a +livery be <em>kind</em> to me?—no! no! no! Zebby, Zebby, I say, come here!”</p> + +<p>The poor black woman, hearing the loud tones of her young lady, to which +she had been pretty well used, instantly ran into the room, before Mr. +Harewood had time to prevent it, and very humbly cried out—“What does +Missy please wanty?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 14]</span>“Some beer, you black beetle!”</p> + +<p>“Is, Missy,” said the poor woman, with a sigh, reaching the beer from +Thomas with a trembling hand, as if she expected the glass to be thrown in +her face.</p> + +<p>Charles had with great difficulty refrained from laughter on the outset of +this scene; but indignation now suffused his countenance. The young vixen +was an acute observer, and, had she not been cruelly neglected, might have +been a sensible child. It instantly struck her, that his features disputed +her right; and, determined not to endure this from any one, she instantly +threw the beer in the face of poor Zebby, saying—“There’s that for <em>you</em>, +madam.”</p> + +<p>It was not in the forbearance of the children to repress their feelings; +even Edmund exclaimed—“What a brute!”</p> + +<p>Ellen involuntarily started up, and hid her face in her mother’s lap, while +Charles most good-naturedly offered his handkerchief to the aggrieved +Zebby, kindly condoling with her on her misfortune.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harewood now, for the first time, spoke.—“Zebby,” said he, in a calm +but stern tone, “it is my strict command, that so long as you reside under +my roof, you never give that young lady any thing again, nor hold any +conversation with her: if you<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 15]</span> disobey my commands, I shall be under the +necessity of discharging you.”</p> + +<p>The young lady checked herself, and for a moment looked alarmed; but +recovering, she said—“She is not <em>yours</em>, and you sha’n’t discharge her: +she is my <em>own</em> slave, and I will do what I please with her; poor papa +bought her for me, as soon as I was born, and I’ll use her as I please.”</p> + +<p>“But you know your mamma told you, that as soon as she arrived in England +she would be <em>free</em>, and might either return or remain, as <em>she</em> pleased. +Now it so happens that she is much pleased with my family, and having a +sincere regard for your mother, she this morning requested Mrs. Harewood to +engage her in any service she could undertake: convinced that she was +worthy our protection, we have done this, and therefore all <em>your</em> claims +upon her are over.”</p> + +<p>The little girl, bursting into a passionate flood of tears, ran out of the +room.</p> + +<p>Poor Zebby, courtesying, said—“Sir, me hopes you will have much pity on +Missy—she was spoily all her life, by poor massa—her mamma good, very +good; and when Missy pinch Zebby, and pricky with pin, then good mississ +she be angry; but massa say only—‘Poo! poo! she be child—naughty<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 16]</span> tricks +wear off in time.’ He be warm man himself.”</p> + +<p>The poor negro’s defence affected the little circle, and Mr. Harewood +observing it, said—“You perceive, my dear children, that this child is in +fact far more an object of compassion than blame, for she has been +permitted to indulge every bad propensity of her nature, and their growth +has destroyed that which was good; of course, her life has been unhappy in +itself, yet punishment has not produced amendment. Poor thing! how many of +the sweetest pleasures of existence are unknown to her! She is a stranger +to the satisfaction of obliging others, and to the consciousness of +overcoming herself, which, I trust, you all know to be an inestimable +blessing. I truly pity her; but I am compelled to treat her as if I blamed +her only; I am obliged to be harsh, in order that I may be useful, and give +pain to produce ease.”</p> + +<p>In about an hour, finding that no one approached, and feeling the want of +the dinner her shameful rudeness and petulance had interrupted, and which +she had but just begun, Matilda came down stairs, with the air of a person +who is struggling to hide, by effrontery, the chagrin she is conscious of +deserving: no person took any notice of her entrance,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 17]</span> and all appearance +of the good meal she wanted was removed. There was a certain something in +the usually-smiling faces of the heads of the mansion that acted as a +repellent to her, and she sat for some time silent; but at length she spoke +to Ellen, who, from her gentle meekness, was ever easy of access, and whom, +intending to mortify, she accosted thus—“Nelly, did you eat my chicken?”</p> + +<p>Charles burst into a loud laugh, as Ellen, who had never heard herself thus +addressed, for a moment looked rather foolish; on which he answered for +her, with a somewhat provoking sauciness of countenance—“No, Matty, she +did not eat your chicken.”</p> + +<p>“My name is not Matty—it is Matilda Sophia, and you are a great booby for +calling me so; but Nelly, or Nell, is short for Ellen, and by one of those +names I shall call her, whenever I choose, if it be only to vex <em>you</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps, too, you will choose to prick her, and pinch her, Miss Matilda +Sophia Hanson?” answered Charles, sneeringly, drawing out her name as long +and as pompously as it was possible.</p> + +<p>“Fie, Charles!” said Edmund; “I am sure you act as if you had forgotten all +that papa told us about Miss Hanson.”</p> + +<p>Charles, after a moment’s thought, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 18]</span>acknowledged that he was wrong, very, +very wrong.</p> + +<p>Matilda was much struck with this; she was well aware that, under the same +circumstances, she should have said much more than he had, and she was +curious as to what had been said of her, which could have produced this +effect on a boy generally so vivacious and warm-tempered as Charles. After +cogitating upon it some time, she at length concluded that Mr. Harewood had +endeavoured to impress on the minds of his family the consequence she +possessed, as an only child and a great heiress; and although he had +appeared so lately to act under a very different impression, yet it was +very possible that he had only done so because he was out of temper +himself, and, now his mind was become tranquil again, he had repented of +his conduct, and been anxious to prevent his children from following his +example in this respect.</p> + +<p>The more Matilda thought of this, the more fully she fixed it in her mind +as an article of belief; but yet there was something in the calm, firm +tones of Mr. Harewood, when he spoke to her, and in his present open, yet +unbending countenance, when he happened to cast his eyes towards her, which +rendered her unsatisfied with the answer she<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 19]</span> thus gave her own internal +inquiries; and although she had been exceedingly angry with him, for +presuming to speak to her, she yet felt as if his esteem, and indeed his +forgiveness, were necessary for her happiness; and her pride, thus +strengthened, contended with her fears and consciousness of guilt and +folly; and while she resolved inwardly to keep up her dignity with the +young ones, she yet, from time to time, cast an anxious eye towards her new +monitor.</p> + +<p>In a short time, to Matilda’s great relief, Mr. Harewood stepped into the +library to get a book; and the children, in the hope that, when he +returned, he would kindly indulge them, either by reading to them, or +relating occasionally such anecdotes or observations as the work he read +might furnish him with, left their seats, and pressed round the place where +their parents were sitting.</p> + +<p>Matilda did not like to be left alone, nor did she feel as if she had a +right to be held as a child among the rest: again her pride and her +repentance had a great struggle, and she knew not to which she should give +the preference, for her heart swelled alike with pride and sorrow; she +moved towards the same place, and sought, in the bustle of the moment, to +divert the painful feeling which oppressed her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 20]</span>In a few moments, Mr. Harewood was heard to shut the library-door; and as, +of course, he might be expected to re-enter very soon, and would now be +much nearer to her than he had been, and would certainly adopt some more +decided kind of conduct and language towards her, Matilda became again +extremely desirous of knowing what he really had said about her, and she +two or three times essayed to speak; but a little remaining modesty, which +was nearly all the good which her unhappy education had left her, prevented +her, until she found that she had no time beyond the present instant left +for satisfying her curiosity on so important a point, when, in a +considerable flutter of spirits, she whispered to Ellen, but in a voice +sufficiently articulate to be heard by others—“Pray what did your papa say +of me?”</p> + +<p>“That you were very much to be pitied.”</p> + +<p>“Pitied! Pray what am I to be pitied for?”</p> + +<p>Ellen blushed very deeply: she could not answer a question which called +down confusion on the head of her who asked it—one, too, whom she was +inclined to love, and whose petulance towards herself, however unprovoked, +she had already forgiven. She looked wistfully in the face of her mamma,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 21]</span> +who replied for her—“We all think you are much to be pitied, because you +are evidently a poor, little, forlorn, ignorant child, without friends, and +under the dominion of a cruel enemy, that renders you so frightful, it is +scarcely possible for even the most humane people to treat you with +kindness, or even endure you.”</p> + +<p>Matilda involuntarily started up, and examined herself in the +looking-glass.—“If I had happened to be your <em>own</em> daughter, ma’am,” she +said, crying again, “you would not have thought me ugly; but because I come +from Barbadoes, you don’t like me; and it is cruel and wicked to treat me +so. But I will go back—I will—I will.”</p> + +<p>“I wish most sincerely you had never come, for it is painful to me to +witness the folly and sin you are guilty of; but, since you are here, I +will endeavour to bear with you, until I have found a good school to send +you to. If you would give yourself time to consider, you would know that +the enemy I spoke of is your own temper, which would render even perfect +beauty hideous; you know very well that I received you with the greatest +kindness, and that you have outraged that kindness. But I can forgive you, +because I see that you are a silly child, who fancies herself of +importance;<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 22]</span> whereas children, however they may be situated, are poor +dependent creatures.”</p> + +<p>Matilda answered only by a scornful toss of her head, and uttering the +word—“Dependent!”</p> + +<p>“Edmund,” said Mrs. Harewood, taking no notice of her insolent look, “you +are a strong healthy boy, forward in your education, capable of reflection, +and decidedly superior, not only in age, but wisdom, to any other in the +room; answer me candidly, as if you were speaking to a boy like +yourself—Do you feel it possible so to conduct yourself, that, if you were +left alone in the world, you could be happy and independent?”</p> + +<p>“My dear mamma,” said Edmund, “you must be laughing at me; a pretty figure +I should cut, if I were to set up for a man, without any one to advise me +how to act, to tell me when I was wrong, and to manage every thing for me! +how could I do right without my papa, or some proper guardian? and how +could I be happy without you, mamma?”</p> + +<p>As Edmund spoke, he threw his arms round his mother; and the others +followed his example, saying—“No, no, we could do nothing without you and +dear papa; pray do stay with us, and make us good.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 23]</span>As they spoke, the tears were in their eyes, and Matilda was affected: she +remembered the tenderness of her own mother, and how often she had turned a +deaf ear to her expostulations. She was convinced that these children, at +this very time, enjoyed a sweeter pleasure than she had ever experienced +from the gratification of her desires, and she even longed to confess her +folly, and gain her share of Mrs. Harewood’s caresses; but pride still +struggled in her heart; and though her reason was convinced of the truth, +that children are indeed dependent on their friends for all that renders +life valuable, yet her temper still got the better, and she resolutely held +her tongue, though she ceased to look haughty and ill-humoured.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>THIS interesting display of natural feelings was interrupted by the hasty +re-entrance of Mr. Harewood, followed by Betty, the housemaid, who, in +entering the door in a hurry, had fallen down a step, and hurt her +forehead, and was now brought forward by her<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 24]</span> good master, to claim the +assistance of her kind and skilful mistress.</p> + +<p>The children were full of concern and condolence with Betty, and with great +tenderness shrunk when they saw their mamma bathe her forehead with +vinegar, as they knew it must smart exceedingly: and Ellen could not help +saying—“How good Betty is! she never says oh!”</p> + +<p>“No, Miss,” said Betty, “I know your mamma does it for my good; and though +she gives me some pain, yet she saves me from a great deal more.”</p> + +<p>In a few minutes, Betty declared the smarting was quite gone; and the +children were so glad, that Matilda began to think, though they were +foolish, yet they were certainly happy, and she wished she could feel as +happy as they did.</p> + +<p>When Betty was gone, the tea came in, and Mrs. Harewood ordered a large +plate of toast, as she recollected Matilda’s scanty dinner. Thomas once +handed it all round, and Mr. Harewood then said—“Set it down; when the +children want it, they will ask you for it.”</p> + +<p>All the children remembered poor Matilda’s wants, and in order that she +might have plenty, without any more being ordered, or any thing in +reference to the past being<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 25]</span> mentioned, with true delicacy of feeling, +forbore to eat any more, so that Matilda could not repeat their words in +asking, which she now determined to do. She was very hungry, and the toast +looked very tempting, as it stood before the fire.</p> + +<p>Matilda looked at the toast, and then at the footman; her cheek glowed, her +eye was subdued, but her tongue did not move. Thomas, however, handed her +the toast, and she then articulately said—“Thank you.”</p> + +<p>This was heard, but no notice was taken; they knew that much false shame +attends the first efforts to subdue pride and passion, and they feared lest +even approbation should be misconstrued.</p> + +<p>In order to divert the general attention, Mrs. Harewood said—“I forgot to +ask Betty what made her run in such a hurry as to occasion her accident, +for I gave her leave to go out, and stay till nine o’clock, and it is only +seven now, I believe.”</p> + +<p>“I believe, madam,” said Thomas, very respectfully, “she came home in +haste, because her sister has twins; and as you promised her some caudle, +she came to tell the cook to make it, and likewise to get some little +matter of clothing, from her own clothes, for the baby that is +unprovided.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 26]</span>“Poor woman!” said Mrs. Harewood; “we must all help; this little stranger +has a claim on us.”</p> + +<p>Ellen clapped her hands—“Oh, mamma, may I make it a nightcap?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, my dear; I will get some old linen, and cut out a few things, after +tea.”</p> + +<p>“I will give you a crown, my dear,” said Mr. Harewood; “as I cannot assist +in sewing, I must help to buy needles and thread.”</p> + +<p>“And I will give you a shilling, mamma,” said Edmund, “if you please.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear,” said Charles, “I am very sorry, but I have only fourpence, +because I spent all my money on my new kite; but if that will do any good, +mamma——”</p> + +<p>“It will do good, Charles, and I will not grieve you by refusing it, +because I see you are sorry that you have no more, which will teach you +another time to be provident, and then you will not be under the necessity +of giving your last farthing, or refusing to be charitable, when such a +case occurs again.”</p> + +<p>Ellen handed Charles’s fourpence to her mamma; and as she did so, she put a +sixpence between the pence, so as not to be seen by Matilda, lest it should +seem like a reproach to her; and as she slipped the whole into her mother’s +hand, she said—“I hope,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 27]</span> mamma, you will be so good as to let Miss Hanson +make a little cap for the baby?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t like to sew,” said Matilda, rising; “at least not such things as +these: I think a bit of calico to wrap the pickaninnies in is the best, and +I’ll give that to buy some with.”</p> + +<p>As she spoke she threw half-a-guinea on the table, with the air of one +desirous of exhibiting both generosity and wealth, and looked round with an +eye that asked for admiration.</p> + +<p>No notice was taken. Mrs. Harewood opening her own purse, took out +half-a-crown, and then counted all that she had got. In doing it, Ellen +perceived not her sixpence, and she then, with modesty, but without any +shame, said—“I believe my sixpence must have slipped down.”</p> + +<p>“I did not know you gave me one, child.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but she did, for I saw her,” said Mr. Harewood, “though she was not +aware that I did. She gave it in silence, not from affectation, but a kind +motive towards one who could not appreciate it; but we will say no more on +this point. Ellen, you have gratified your father: I see in your conduct +the germ of a gentlewoman, and, what is infinitely more precious, of a +Christian.”</p> + +<p>Ellen sprung to her father’s arms, and in his affectionate kiss found a +rich reward.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 28]</span>For a moment, Matilda thought to herself, what a piece of work is here +about sixpence, while they take no notice at all of a bright golden +half-guinea! but still her understanding combated this thought, for she +knew that all the present company saw beyond the surface, and estimated the +gift according to the spirit of the donor.</p> + +<p>Betty now came in, and Mrs. Harewood gave her the money, telling her to buy +some frocks with it. Observing the servant eye the half-guinea, she +said—“<em>That</em> was the gift of Miss Hanson; she is very rich, it seems, and +gives out of her abundance. I am sure you will be grateful to <em>her</em>; but if +your fellow-servants, Betty, should spare, out of the little time they +have, enough to assist you in the making of these things, they will be the +best friends you meet with; for labour is much greater charity than money.”</p> + +<p>Betty replied, that she was much obliged to all her friends, both above and +below, and especially to poor Zebby, who had offered, with her lady’s +leave, to sit up all night with her sister.</p> + +<p>“She has not only my leave, but my approbation, especially as your accident +has rendered you unable. Tell Zebby I will spare her for a week, on this +truly charitable occasion.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 29]</span>With many thanks, Betty withdrew, and Ellen was soon, like her mamma, busy +with her needle. Mr. Harewood, drawing a celestial globe towards him, began +to give his sons some instruction, which interested them exceedingly; all +were employed, all happy, but Matilda, whose uneasiness was in fact +considerably augmented by the idea of Zebby leaving the house; for though +she used her ill, she had a regard for her, the extent of which she was not +aware of till now that her heart was a little softened, and her judgment +enlightened, by the transactions of the day.</p> + +<p>After fidgeting about for some time, she at length took up a needle and +threaded it, and then drawing more timidly towards Mrs. Harewood, she +said—“I don’t mind if I do sew a little bit.”</p> + +<p>Eager to seize upon any good symptom, Mrs. Harewood gave her a little cap, +carefully doubled down, saying—“You see this is double; in these +countries, the babies, or pickaninnies, as you call them, must be kept +warm.”</p> + +<p>“I called that woman’s twins pickaninnies, because I thought she was +poor—a kind of servant; we do not call white children so—only little +negroes.”</p> + +<p>“They are all the same with us, and will be so with you, I hope, by and by; +indeed<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 30]</span> they always were with sensible good people. But, Matilda, what long +stitches you are taking! I shall have all your work to pick out again.”</p> + +<p>“I believe I cannot sew, indeed.”</p> + +<p>“So it appears; nor can you play a tune, nor read a French lesson, nor +write, nor draw: poor little girl! you have a great deal to learn: but, +however, keep up your spirits; if you are diligent and tractable, you will +conquer all your difficulties; humility and industry will enable you to +learn every thing.”</p> + +<p>“How very strange it is,” said Matilda to herself, “that these people +appear to pity me, instead of envying me, as they used to do in Barbadoes, +and as I thought they would do here! besides, they are not angry with me, +even when they find fault with me, and they seem to wish me to be good for +the sake of being happy.”</p> + +<p>These thoughts somewhat soothed the perturbed bosom of the poor child until +the hour of rest, when the remembrance of the good-tempered negro’s +destination rose to her mind, and she lamented her absence, and blamed her +exceedingly for leaving <em>her</em> to go after a woman she had never seen in her +life: but the next day, it was apparent that the lesson she had received +was not lost upon her;<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 31]</span> she appeared ashamed of her ignorance, and willing +to learn; and as all her young friends were very willing to instruct her, +in whatever they had the power, she soon began to make some progress in her +education; she was a child of good capacity, and, when roused to exertion, +unusually quick; and being at an age when the mind expands quickly, it was +no wonder that she soon gave evident marks of improvement. It was observed, +that as her mind became enlightened, her manners were softened, and her +petulance less obtrusive, though she was seen to suffer daily from the +habitual violence of her temper, and the disposition to insolence, which +unchecked power is so apt to foster in young minds.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood found the care of Matilda greatly increase her task of +managing her family, as one naughty child frequently makes another, by +raising up a spirit of contention and ill-humour; and Charles was so +frequently led into sallies of passion, or tempted to ridicule the fault in +his new companion, that his parents often lamented that they had accepted +such a burdensome charge: but when they saw any symptoms of improvement in +her, they were ever happy to foster the good seed; and in the consciousness +that they were not only raising up a<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 32]</span> human mind to virtue and happiness, +but preparing an immortal soul for heaven, they thought little of their own +trouble, and were even truly thankful that she had been intrusted to their +careful examination and affectionate discipline.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>AT the end of the week, Zebby came home, according to appointment; and +having paid her respects to her excellent lady, she ran up stairs, and +entered the apartment where the two young ladies were getting the tasks +assigned them by Mrs. Harewood. When Matilda first beheld her she had a +great inclination to embrace her, for her heart bounded towards the only +creature she had been acquainted with from her cradle; but she suddenly +checked herself, and pretended to continue her reading; but Ellen spoke to +her kindly, though she told her that she was so situated, as not to be able +to chat at present.</p> + +<p>Zebby comprehended this, and would have withdrawn; but not to have a single +word from her, whom in her heart, she still<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 33]</span> considered as her young +mistress, the faithful creature could not endure; after waiting some +minutes in vain, she dropped a second humble courtesy, and said—“How you +do, Missy? me very glad see you larn booky, but me hopes you spare one +look, one wordy, for poor Zebby; me go away one long weeky, to nurse white +man baby, pretty as you, Missy.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Matilda, reproachingly, “you went away and left me very +willingly, though it was to wait on a person you never saw before.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, Missy! you no lovee me, and poor white woman lovee me much. You makee +beer spit in my face—she givee me tea-gruel out of her own cup. You callee +me black beetle—she callee me good girly, good nursy, good every ting.”</p> + +<p>Matilda gave a deep sigh; she well remembered that it was on the very day +of her outrage that Zebby had quitted her, and in her altered sense of +justice, she could not help seeing the truth of the poor negro’s statement; +she looked up, with an ingenuous sense of error depicted on her +countenance, and said—“I am sorry, Zebby, that I used you so ill, but I +will never do it again.”</p> + +<p>The poor African was absolutely astonished, for never had the voice of +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 34]</span>concession been heard from the lips of Matilda before, even to her own +parents; and the idea of her humility and kindness in this acknowledgment +so deeply affected the faithful creature, that, after gazing at her in +admiration for a moment, she burst into tears, and then clasping her hands, +she exclaimed, in a broken manner—“Oh, tankee God! tankee God! pretty +Missy be good girly at last! her lovee her good mamma—her pity poor +negro—her go up stair when her die. Oh, me be so glad! great God lovee my +dear Missy now!”</p> + +<p>Matilda felt the tears suffuse her own eyes, as the kind heart of her late +faithful slave thus gave vent to its natural and devout emotions; and she +gave her hand to Zebby, who kissed it twenty times. Ellen was so delighted +with this proof of good disposition in Matilda, and with the honest +effusions of the poor negro, that she could not forbear gratifying her own +affectionate little heart, by running to tell her dear mamma, who truly +rejoiced in every proof of Matilda’s amendment, and doubted not but it +would prove the forerunner of virtue, in a child who appeared convinced of +her faults, and desirous of improving herself.</p> + +<p>It was now near Christmas, and Mrs. Harewood was inquiring for a +boarding-school<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 35]</span> where she could place Miss Hanson. She would have +preferred to keep her at home, and have a governess, who might attend to +the instructions necessary both for her and Ellen; but the bad temper and +insolent airs of Matilda had prevented this, as Mrs. Harewood could not +bear the idea of subjecting an amiable young person, whom she designed for +that situation, to be tormented with such a girl. She knew that, in +schools, two faults seldom fail to be cured: these are impertinence, or +insolence, and affectation—one rendering a person disagreeable, the other +ridiculous; and every member in the community of which a school consists, +is ready to assist the ruler in punishing the one, and laughing at the +other.</p> + +<p>One morning, when Matilda got out of bed, she went to look whether the +morning was fine, and the moment she got to the window, eagerly cried out, +in great surprise—“Ellen, Ellen! get up this moment, and come to the +window; the whole world is covered with white! and see, there are thousands +and thousands of little white feathers coming from the skies, as if the +angels were emptying feather-beds upon the earth.”</p> + +<p>“It snows,” said Ellen, calmly; “I recollect my papa told us you had never +seen it snow.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 36]</span>“What is snow?”</p> + +<p>“We will ask Edmund; he can tell you much better than I can.”</p> + +<p>The surprising appearance thus witnessed, induced Matilda to hasten down +stairs, where Edmund was writing his Latin exercise.—“Do pray tell me,” +she cried, “what snow is, and why I never saw it before?”</p> + +<p>“Snow,” said Edmund, “is nothing but drops of rain, which, in passing +through the cold air, become congealed or frozen. If you take this pretty +light substance into your warm hand, it will melt and become a rain-drop +again.”</p> + +<p>As Edmund spoke, he opened the window a very little way, caught some snow, +and showed her the effect he spoke of.</p> + +<p>“But why did I never see this in Barbadoes?”</p> + +<p>“Because Barbadoes lies nearer to the sun than England, and is much warmer, +even in winter; therefore the rain-drops never pass through that region of +cold air which freezes them in northern climates. If you were to go farther +north, you would find still more snow and ice, the same I saw you looking +at yesterday. I will lend you a little book, where you will see a +description of a palace of ice, and of whole mountains of snow, called +Glaciers; and, if you please, I will<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 37]</span> show you that part of the globe, or +earth, in which those effects begin to take place. But, my dear Ellen, pray +lend Matilda your tippet, for she looks as much frozen as the snow; she +must take great care of herself in this cold climate.”</p> + +<p>Ellen threw the pinafore she was going to put on over the neck of the +shuddering Matilda, and then ran nimbly before them towards the globe, on +which Edmund was going to lecture, neither of them looking in Matilda’s +face; but Charles, who just then happened to enter, perceived that silent +tears were coursing each other down her cheek. His compassion was moved; he +apprehended that the cold, which he felt himself to be severe, had made her +ill, and he inquired what was the matter with her, in a tone of real +commiseration.</p> + +<p>“I am so—so very ignorant,” said Matilda, sobbing.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s it!” cried Charles, gaily; “then you and I may shake hands, for +I am ignorant too.”</p> + +<p>“Oh no, European children know every thing, but I am little better than a +negro; I find what your mamma said was very true—I know nothing at all.”</p> + +<p>“Dear Matilda, how can you say so?” said Edmund; “though you have not read +as<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 38]</span> much as we have, yet you have seen a great deal more than any of us, +and you are the youngest of the company, you know. Consider, you have +crossed the Atlantic Ocean, seen groves of orange-trees and spices grow, +and the whole process of sugar-making. You know the inside of a ship as +well as a house, and we never saw any thing better than a sloop, or sailed +any where but on the Thames.”</p> + +<p>“Besides,” said Charles, “you have seen monkeys and parrots, and many other +creatures, in their own country, and many curious fish on your voyage. Oh, +you understand natural history much better than we do.”</p> + +<p>“And if you understand nothing at all,” added Ellen, kindly pressing her +hand, “mamma says it is only <em>wilful</em> ignorance that is blameable.”</p> + +<p>Matilda wept still more while the children thus tried to comfort her. This +distressed them all; but they rejoiced to see their parents enter the room, +persuaded that they would be able to comfort her better, and Ellen +instantly besought their attention to the subject by relating as much of +the foregoing conversation as was necessary.</p> + +<p>“No, no, it is not exactly <em>that</em> I am crying for,” said Matilda, +interrupting her; “it is because I have been so very naughty, and you are +all so—so—so——”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 39]</span>“So what, my dear?” said Mr. Harewood, drawing her towards him, and placing +her by his side, in the same manner he was accustomed to let Ellen stand, +when she was much in his favour.</p> + +<p>The action, however kindly meant, for a time redoubled her tears; and the +children, understanding their mamma’s look, withdrew to the room where they +usually breakfasted, without the least symptom of discontent, although they +perceived their mamma fill a cup of tea for Matilda at her own table.</p> + +<p>When they were gone, and the little girl had somewhat recovered, Mr. +Harewood whispered her—“Did you mean to say, my dear, that my children +were so clever, or so proud, or so what?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, sir, they are so <em>good</em>! that was what I wanted to say; for there was +Edmund who always looked so grave, and was poring over his books, he talked +to me quite kindly, and never made the least game of me, for all I must +look like a fool in his eyes, who has seen the snow all his life. And then +Charles, who is so full of fun and nonsense, and who I always thought could +not abide me, he spoke to me as if he was sorry for me, and made it out +that we were both ignorant alike; and when I remembered how I had looked at +them, and behaved to them, I felt<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 40]</span> as if my heart would break. Ellen is +always so good, that I did not think so much of her kindness, but nobody +knows——”</p> + +<p>Again the repentant girl wept, and at length with difficulty +proceeded—“Nobody knows how dearly I love her, and <em>you</em> too.”</p> + +<p>She received the kindest assurances from both Mr. and Mrs. Harewood of +their affection, and that they fully believed she would conquer her bad +temper, now she saw how much it was not only her duty, but happiness to do +so; and Mr. Harewood assured her that he had no doubt, but in the course of +a few years, he should see her as sensible, good, and well-informed, as his +own children.</p> + +<p>“And then I shall not be an object of pity, sir?”</p> + +<p>“No, you will be one of affection and esteem.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I doubt that must never, <em>never</em> be!”</p> + +<p>“Never despair; though you have many battles with yourself, yet never +relinquish the hope of final conquest, and be assured you will find every +victory easier than the last. When you find pride rising in your heart, +think on your ignorance, and it will make you humble; and when you are +inclined to be angry with those around you, remember what you have this day +confessed respecting their kindness, and it will make<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 41]</span> you bear with the +present vexation; and if at any time you are discomfited in any pursuit, +either of virtue or knowledge, recollect what I now say, that, with many +faults, yet you have some merit, and may therefore reasonably hope to +attain more.”</p> + +<p>“Have I indeed?” said the now-humbled girl.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you have an inquiring mind, which is one great step towards the +attainment of knowledge, and you are sincere and open-hearted, which +enables your friends to see what is the real bent of your disposition, and +to give you the advice really necessary; and I hope, with this groundwork +of good, you will be a very different girl when your mother again sees +you.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Harewood left Matilda quieted, but deeply impressed by what he had +said.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>FROM this time, Matilda felt as if her heart was lightened of a heavy load, +and she looked up to Mr. and Mrs. Harewood as friends, whom it was her duty +to obey and her privilege to love; and to the<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 42]</span> children, as brothers, whose +pleasures were as dear to her as her own; and the warmth and openness of +her temper naturally led her to display more than usual friendship, +wherever she professed it at all. Happily, with all her faults, she was +neither mean, artful, nor deceitful; so that the worst part of her +disposition lay open to the observation of those good friends, who, like +skilful physicians, only wounded to cure her.</p> + +<p>The errors of Matilda were those which never fail to attach to extreme +indulgence—pride, impetuosity, haughtiness, insolence, and idleness. +Accustomed to consider all around her as born for her use and amusement, +she commanded where she should have entreated, and resisted where she ought +to have obeyed; but when she found that her wealth, power, and consequence +were unknown, or utterly disregarded, and that she could only be esteemed +for her good qualities, even her self-love tended to cure her of her +idleness; and instead of drawling out—“Zebby, bring me this,” “You fool, +fetch me the other,” she administered to her own wants, and obtained her +wishes at so much less expense than she had once thought possible, that +even her own convenience taught her the wisdom of<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 43]</span> waiting upon herself. +She imputed the change, which could not fail to be remarked, to the +climate—and unquestionably it is more easy and pleasant to be active in a +cold country, than a hot one; but her friends were well aware that the +change in her mind was greater than that of her country, and they forwarded +this happy effect, by rendering the studies in which she engaged as +delightful to her as possible, in order that, by prosecuting them, she +might become less liable to rest her happiness on the vain pomp, useless +show, and tyrannical power, which were wont to delight her.</p> + +<p>As, however, all bad habits are slowly eradicated, and it by no means +follows that even the error we have lamented and acknowledged should be so +torn from the heart that no traces remain, so it would happen, from time to +time, that Matilda would fly into violent passions with the servants around +her, as with her young companions; and even when these were suppressed, she +was apt to give herself airs of importance, and descant on the privileges +she enjoyed in her own country, where she was fanned when she was hot, by +slaves upon their knees, and borne about in a stately palanquin; where the +most exquisite fruits were continually presented to court her palate,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 44]</span> and +the most costly dresses that money could procure purchased to please her; +where every slave trembled at her anger, or rejoiced in her smile; and +where she would one day return to reign as absolute as an empress.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Ellen, one night, as this conversation took place in the +play-room, “I must own I should like to live at Barbadoes for one thing—I +should like to set all the slaves at liberty, and dress their little +children, and make all happy; as to all the other <em>good</em> things and <em>grand</em> +things, I really think we have quite sufficient of them at home; for I +suppose there are no more books nor charities in your country than ours, +Matilda; and surely there can be no greater pleasure in this world, than +reading the ‘Parent’s Assistant,’ and giving clothes and food to poor +children when they are really hungry and starving?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly not,” cried Charles; “depend upon it, Ellen, England is the +finest land in the world; and though I should like to see oranges and +pine-apples grow, I confess, and the poor slaves at their merry meeting, +all dancing away, with their woolly heads and white teeth, as happy as +princes, yet, depend upon it, there is nothing else half so beautiful as +with us. England is unquestionably<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 45]</span> the most beautiful, excellent, rich, +delightful country upon the globe.”</p> + +<p>As Charles spoke, he fixed his eyes upon Edmund; for although the ardour of +his spirits rendered him a great dealer in positive assertions, he was yet +so conscious of his inferiority in knowledge to his eldest brother, that he +seldom felt satisfied with them, unless they were stamped by his brother’s +approbation.</p> + +<p>Edmund, in answer to his appealing eye, said—“I am as well convinced as +you can be, Charles, that England combines more advantages than any other +country, and that we either have in ourselves, or obtain from other +countries, whatever is most worthy of possession; and the two good things +which Ellen considers the greatest pleasures of existence, are undoubtedly +to be had here in perfection; but I must own I should like to see Barbadoes +prodigiously, for a property which none of you have yet mentioned.”</p> + +<p>“What, have not <em>I</em> mentioned it?” said Matilda.</p> + +<p>“No, Matilda; you have been so much taken up with fine verandas, grand +dinners, kneeling slaves, luxurious palanquins, orange groves, and +delicious sweetmeats, that you have never once boasted of your pure air, +and the glories of your evening sky, where<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 46]</span> all the planets shine with such +a glowing lustre, that, Mr. Edwards tells us, Venus is there a kind of +moon, in the light she sheds upon the earth, and those stars which are +scarcely to be discerned here, are beheld in that enchanting air as bright +as the stars of Orion with us.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” cried Charles, “that must all be because Barbadoes, and the other +West India islands, are so much nearer the sun, and I cannot say I have any +desire to be in such a hot neighbourhood.”</p> + +<p>“No, Charles, that is not the reason; for although it is the fact, yet you +cannot suppose that their difference can be perceptible, in that respect, +to those heavenly bodies which appear to resemble only diamond sparks, from +their immense distance. The brilliancy of which I speak arises from the +greater purity of the air: we frequently see objects here through a kind of +veil, which, though too thin to be perceptible, has yet its effect upon all +objects: in some cases it alters, or rather bestows, a colour which does +not properly belong to them; frequently impairs their form and beauty, but +sometimes adds to their sublimity, and invests them with imposing +greatness, proportioned to the obscurity with which they are enveloped.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand all that Edmund says,”<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 47]</span> observed Ellen, “but I should +be glad to know whether something is not the matter with the sun when it +looks copper-colour like the lid of a stewpan; because in summer-time, I +remember, when we were out in the fields, it used to be bright golden +yellow, so glorious and full of shine, as it were, that looking at it, even +for a moment, made my eyes ache, and thousands of black and green spots to +come into them.”</p> + +<p>“My dear Ellen, though you did not understand all the words I used, it is +yet plain you did comprehend the sense, as you have brought forward an +example of this effect of the atmosphere, which we all witness every day; +the fogs and exhalations through which we view the sun are the cause of +that dingy appearance you remark: and even in the summer-time, as the sun +descends, you may perceive he becomes more and more red and dark as he +approaches the horizon. I have therefore no doubt but the veil, or vapoury +substance, of which I speak, is but a little distance from the earth; for I +observe, that as the sun rises into the heavens, he grows more brilliant +from surmounting this veil.”</p> + +<p>“Did you find this out of yourself, Edmund?”</p> + +<p>“I noticed it one day to papa, and he explained it; he told me, too, that +all the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 48]</span>beautiful variety of colours which we observe in the setting sun +must be imputed to this cause; he taught me at the same time to distinguish +shadows in the water by reflection, and those which are refracted, and many +other things, which rendered me much more delighted with the country than I +had ever been before, and more fond of dear papa for taking the trouble to +inform me.”</p> + +<p>“Well then,” said Ellen, “when we go down to Richmond next summer, you must +explain every thing to us, and we will love you better than ever, dear +Edmund; and I will say the Ode to Eton College to you in my very best +manner; perhaps Matilda will be able to say it before then, and——”</p> + +<p>“Go on, Ellen.”</p> + +<p>“I want to know—<em>we</em> want to know what it means in that poem, where it +says,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">‘Grateful Science still adores<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Her Henry’s holy shade.’<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>What is a holy shade, Edmund?”</p> + +<p>“It is a poetical expression, my dear, meaning that we of the present day +are grateful to the founder, Henry the Sixth, who was a religious, and +probably a learned man, although very unfortunate as a king.”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” cried Ellen, “I remember all about him; he was deposed by Edward the +Fourth,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 49]</span> whose two sons were afterwards murdered in the Tower by their +wicked uncle, Richard the Third.”</p> + +<p>“I remember <em>that</em>,” said Matilda, timidly, yet with that kind of pleasure +which indicated a sense of approaching her superior in knowledge, and being +sensible that this was the only kind of superiority worth possessing.</p> + +<p>Scarcely, however, had she spoken, when Charles, throwing himself into a +theatrical attitude, exclaimed—“Ay! but do you remember the man that +looked like <em>him</em>—to this same Henry, ‘<em>Who drew Priam’s curtains in the +dead of night, and would have told him half his Troy was burnt?</em>’”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed,” said both the girls, staring.</p> + +<p>Charles burst into a loud laugh at their innocent surprise at his violent +gesticulation and grimace.</p> + +<p>“I know what you mean,” said Ellen, rather poutingly; “yes, I know it very +well, though I don’t choose to talk about things of that kind, because I +have always been told that none but ignorant and foolish people did so.”</p> + +<p>“But I entreat you,” said Charles, “to tell me what you think I mean, for I +am sure you surprise me now as much as I did you.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I suppose Henry’s holy shade<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 50]</span> means spirit, and it was that which +drew Priam’s curtains in the dead of night, (or which he thought did,) +though it was probably only the housemaid.”</p> + +<p>Again Charles burst into an immoderate fit of laughter, +exclaiming—“Housemaid! admirable! upon my word, Ellen, you have found a +personage in the old king’s establishment Homer never thought of.”</p> + +<p>“I never read Homer,” said Ellen, simply.</p> + +<p>“No, child, you need not tell us that,” continued Charles, most provokingly +continuing to laugh, until poor Ellen was completely disconcerted, and +looked in the face of Edmund with such an appealing air, that he assumed a +look of much more serious remonstrance than was usual as he thus addressed +his brother—“You may laugh as long as you please, sir, but your whole +conduct in this affair has shown so much less knowledge, as well as good +sense, than Ellen herself has displayed, that really I should not wonder if +a moment’s recollection made you cry as heartily as you now laugh.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed!” said Charles, suddenly stopping.</p> + +<p>“Yes, <em>indeed</em>! In the first place, there can be surely no doubt but you +and I have read a great deal more than the girls, and could at any time +puzzle and distress them<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 51]</span> by various quotations; but when they make +inquiries to increase their own stock of knowledge, it is our duty, and +ought to be our pleasure, to give them information, not confusion, which +you evidently intended to do; besides, it is rude, almost inhuman, to +oppress any person, even by the possession of that which is in itself +praiseworthy; and as the end of all conversation is, or ought to be, +improvement, a person who in any manner checks the spirit of inquiry and +free discussion, hinders that end. We all know that English history is all +that Ellen has dipped into, and in the little she presumed to utter on the +subject, she was perfectly correct; whereas you, in your exhibition of more +reading, made a palpable error, since Homer names maids repeatedly as +belonging to the palace, and we cannot doubt their being employed as our +housemaids are, since their offices are often particularized.”</p> + +<p>“A mighty piece of work, truly,” said Charles, “for just quoting two lines +of Shakspeare!”</p> + +<p>“No, no, Charles, ’tis not for the quotation, but the manner, and you +cannot but see yourself how erroneous an idea was taken up in consequence; +how often does papa say people can never be too plain and simple, too +downright and unequivocal, in their <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 52]</span>explanations to children, otherwise +they plant words rather than ideas in their minds, and create a confusion +which it may take many a year of after-thought to unravel?”</p> + +<p>“I was very foolish,” said Charles, looking at Ellen with the air of one +that wondered how it had been possible to give pain to that little gentle +heart, which sought only to bestow pleasure on all around it. He was about +to speak, but before he had time, his fond sister had read his heart, and +throwing her arms around his neck, she exclaimed—“I know you meant +nothing, dear Charles; no, I know you didn’t; only you are so fond of being +funny.”</p> + +<p>The eyes of Charles did indeed now twinkle with a tear; and Matilda, who +was quick to discern, and acute in all her feelings, was much affected. +When they retired, she revolved all the conversation in her mind; she saw +clearly that virtue and knowledge were the only passports to happiness; and +the remembrance of her mother’s desire to teach her various things, which +she had either shunned from idleness, or rejected with insolence and +ill-humour, rose to her mind; and the unhappy indulgence of her father +appeared to her in far different colours to what she had ever beheld it. +She became frequently disturbed, and full of painful <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 53]</span>reflection; yet she +evidently took much pains in attaining knowledge of the task assigned her, +and in conquering those risings of temper which were become inherent in her +mind. Notwithstanding her frequent fits of abstraction, in which it was +evident some great grief was uppermost in her mind, yet, as her nature led +her to be communicative, and she was never subject to be sullen, the family +did not press her to reveal her trouble, thinking that at the proper time +she would repose confidence in them; and accordingly, as she sat one day +alone with Mrs. Harewood, the following conversation took place between +them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>MATILDA, after a long silence, in which she was endeavouring, but in vain, +to arrange her ideas and calm the incessant beating of her heart, said, +timidly and abruptly, with her eyes fixed on the carpet—“Do you think, +ma’am, that if Ellen had ever been very, <em>very</em> naughty and saucy to <em>you</em>, +who are so good to <em>her</em>, that you could ever really in your heart forgive +her?”</p> + +<p>“I certainly should consider it my duty<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 54]</span> to punish her for her +disobedience, by withholding my usual expressions of love and my general +indulgences from her; but I should undoubtedly forgive her, because, in the +first place, God has commanded me to forgive all trespasses, and in the +second, my heart would be drawn naturally towards my own child.”</p> + +<p>“But surely, dear Mrs. Harewood, it is worse for an <em>own</em> child to behave +ill to a parent than any other person?”</p> + +<p>“Undoubtedly, my dear, for it unites the crime of ingratitude to that of +disobedience; besides, it is cruel and unnatural to be guilty of insolence +and hard-heartedness towards the hand which has reared and fostered us all +our lives—which has loved us in despite of our faults—watched over our +infancy—instructed our childhood—nursed us in sickness, and prayed for us +before we could pray for ourselves.”</p> + +<p>“My mamma has done all this for me a thousand times,” cried Matilda, +bursting into tears of bitter contrition, which, for some time, Mrs. +Harewood suffered to flow unrestrained; at length she checked herself, but +it was only to vent her sorrow by self-accusation—“Oh, ma’am! you cannot +think how very ill I have behaved to my dear, dear mother—I have been +saucy to her, and<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 55]</span> bad to every body about me; many a time have I vexed her +on purpose; and when she scolded me, I was so pert and disobedient—you can +form no idea how bad I was. If she spoke ever so gently to me, I used to +tell my papa she had been scolding me, and then he would blame her and +justify me; and many a time I have heard deep sighs, that seemed to come +from the very bottom of her heart, and the tears would stand in her sweet +eyes as she looked at me. Oh, wicked, wicked child that I was, to grieve +such a good mamma! and now we are parted such a long, long way, and I +cannot beg her pardon—I cannot show her that I am trying to be good; +perhaps she may die, as poor papa did, and I shall never, <em>never</em> see her +more.”</p> + +<p>The agonies of the repentant girl, as this afflictive thought came over her +mind, arose to desperation; and Mrs. Harewood, who felt much for her, +endeavoured to bestow some comfort upon her; but poor Matilda, who was ever +violent, even in her better feelings, could not, for a long time, listen to +the kind voice of her consoler—she could only repeat her own faults, +recapitulate all the crimes she had been guilty of, and display, in all +their native hideousness, such traits of ill-humour, petulance, +ungovernable<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 56]</span> fury, outrageous passion, and vile revenge, as are the +natural offspring of the human heart, when its bad propensities are matured +by indulgence, particularly in those warm countries, where the mind +partakes the nature of the soil, and slavery in one race of beings gives +power to all the bad passions of another.</p> + +<p>At length the storm of anguish so far gave way, that Mrs. Harewood was able +to command her attention, and she seized this precious season of penitence +and humility to imprint the leading truths of Christianity, and those plain +and invaluable doctrines which are deducible from them, and evident to the +capacity of any sensible child, without leading from the more immediate +object of her anxiety; as Mrs. Harewood very justly concluded, that if she +saw her error as a child, and could be brought to conquer her faults as +such, it would include every virtue to be expected at her time of life, and +would lay the foundation of all those which we estimate in the female +character.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” cried Matilda, sobbing, “if I could kneel at her feet, if I could +humble myself lower than the lowest negro to my dear mamma, and once hear +her say she forgave me, I could be comforted; but I do not like to be +comforted without this; I am<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 57]</span> angry at myself, and I ought to be angry.”</p> + +<p>“But, my dear little girl,” replied Mrs. Harewood, “though you cannot thus +humble yourself in your body, yet you are conscious that you are humbled in +your mind, and that your penitence will render you guarded for the time to +come; and let it be your consolation to know, though your mother is absent, +the ears of your heavenly Father are ever open to your sorrows; and that, +if you lament your sins to him, he will assuredly accept your repentance, +and dispose the heart of your dear mother to accept it also. I sincerely +pity you, not as heretofore, for your folly, but for your sorrow; and in +order to enable you to comprehend what I mean by repenting before God, I +will compose you a short prayer, which will both express your feelings, and +remind you of your duty towards yourself and your mother.”</p> + +<p>Matilda received this act of kindness from her good friend with real +gratitude; and when she had committed it to memory, and adopted it in +addressing Almighty God, she found her spirits revive, with the hope that +she should one day prove worthy of that kind parent, whom, when she lived +with her, she was too apt to slight and disobey.<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 58]</span> As her judgment became +more enlightened, she saw more clearly into the errors of her past +education, and became perfectly aware that the love of her too-indulgent +father had been productive of innumerable pains, as well as faults. She +found herself much more happy now than she had ever been in her life; yet +she had never so few indulgences—she had no slaves to wait on her, no +little black children to execute her commands and submit to her temper; she +was not coaxed to the dainties of a luxurious table, nor had costly clothes +spread before her to court her choice, nor any foolish friend to repeat all +she said, as if she were a prodigy of wit and talent; and all these things, +she well remembered, were accorded to her as a kind of inheritance in +Barbadoes; but, along with them, she remembered having violent passions, in +which she committed excesses, for which she afterwards felt keen remorse, +because she saw how they wounded her mother, and shamed even her doting +father—ill-humour and low spirits, that rendered every thing irksome to +her, and many pains and fevers, from which she was now entirely free; and +she found, in the conversation, books, and instructions of her young +friends, amusement to which nothing she had enjoyed before would bear<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 59]</span> +comparison; for what in life is so delightful as knowledge, except the +sense of having performed some particular benefit to our fellow-creatures?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>IT will be readily supposed that, with the hopes now entertained of +Matilda’s conduct, Mrs. Harewood did not hesitate to provide the governess +we have spoken of, and accordingly Miss Campbell was soon established in +the family.</p> + +<p>She found Matilda rapid in her ideas, persevering in her pursuits, but +prone to resentment on every trifling occasion, and still subject to +finding herself cause for repentance. On these occasions Miss Campbell +conducted herself with composure and dignity, as if she considered a +petulant child below the notice of a sensible woman: by this means the +pride of the culprit was humbled; she was taught to retread her first +steps, and perceive that she was an insignificant being, obliged to the +suffrage of her friends, and only capable of being valuable in proportion +to her docility and amiable conduct.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 60]</span>Mrs. Harewood had been accustomed to give her children the treat of a ball +at Christmas; but on this year she put it off until midsummer, partly +because she was afraid, in so large a party, and with such various +dispositions, Matilda might not be able to conduct herself with perfect +propriety during a whole evening, and partly because she wished her to +learn to dance; for although this was, in her eyes, a very secondary +accomplishment, when compared to solid knowledge, yet, as a healthful and +innocent amusement, and called for in order to form the person in that +station of life in which Matilda was likely to move, she desired to see her +acquire at least as much of it as would preserve her from the appearance of +awkwardness. It was an object of anxiety with this truly maternal friend to +save her from all unnecessary mortification, at the same time she earnestly +desired to see her tractable, humble, and gentle.</p> + +<p>Time now passed away pleasantly, for all were occupied, and therefore +happy: the idle are subject to many errors, and therefore many sorrows, +from which the busy are exempt.</p> + +<p>The good governess studied the temper and disposition of her pupils, and +drew them forth in the happiest manner; not by <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 61]</span>making exhibitions of their +attainments to others, but by showing them what was necessary to themselves +for their improvement. She considered the work of education as sowing good +seed, which shall spring up with vigour in advancing life, in proportion to +the depth of the soil and its preparation for receiving it.</p> + +<p>Whilst Miss Campbell inculcated those branches of polite learning which +give a grace to virtue, she was still more desirous of inculcating virtue +itself, by grafting it on religious principle, and that “fear of God, which +is the beginning of wisdom.”</p> + +<p>The children of Mrs. Harewood had been taught, from their earliest days, +that prudence and charity must go hand in hand; but it remained for Miss +Campbell to impress this salutary truth on the mind of Matilda, who was +naturally very generous, but debased that feeling by ostentation, and ever +sought to indulge it with a vain and hurtful profusion, until she became +enlightened by her young preceptress, who likewise, in many other points, +regulated those desires in her pupils which blend good and evil, and +require a firm and delicate management. She was very solicitous to render +them active, both personally and mentally, knowing that the health of both<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 62]</span> +body and mind depends upon their due exercise, and that a taste for study +is yet perfectly compatible with those various exertions to which the +duties of a woman always call her, in whatever sphere she may have occasion +to move.</p> + +<p>Miss Campbell wished to save her pupils alike from that perpetual +fidgetiness, which renders so many females unable to amuse themselves for a +single hour, unless their hands, feet, and tongue are employed, and that +pertinacious love of reading, which renders them utterly unable to enter +into the common claims of society, while a new story is perused, or a new +study developed; she considered these errors as diseases in the mental +habit it was her duty to prevent or eradicate, since they must be ever +inconsistent with general duty and individual happiness.</p> + +<p>Time passed—the vacation arrived, and the young people had the pleasure of +all meeting again. Matilda was nearly as glad as Ellen to see Edmund and +Charles, who, on their own parts, were much improved, and delighted to find +the girls so. Matilda was in every respect altered, and although she had +not Ellen’s sweetness of temper, yet she had greatly conquered her +propensity to passion, was very obliging in her general<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 63]</span> manners, and +considerate to her inferiors, and attached to Ellen, her governess, and Mr. +and Mrs. Harewood, with a tenderness and gratitude that was very amiable +and even affecting.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>ONE day, when Edmund and Charles had been at home about a week, the latter +ran eagerly into the sitting-parlour, crying out—“Oh, mamma! there is +Betty’s sister down stairs, with the poor little twins in her arms, which +were born just when Matilda came; they have short frocks now, but I +perceive they have no shoes: suppose we young ones subscribe, and buy them +some, poor things! there is my eighteen-penny piece for shoes, +mamma—shoes, and hats too, if we can raise money enough.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood could not help smiling at Charles’s eagerness, as she +remembered the useful mortification he had experienced the last time his +charity was called upon; and as she took up the money, she observed to +him—“I am glad to see this, Charles; it is a proof you are more provident +than you used to be; and, with your propensity to<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 64]</span> spending, it requires no +little effort to save, in a large school, where there are always many +temptations. I think your proposal is a very good one; and whilst I am +collecting the money, pray step down stairs, and tell Betty to bring up the +little innocents—we shall all be glad to see them.”</p> + +<p>Charles flew out of the room, and in less than a minute returned with the +mother, carrying a babe in each arm. She was a very decent woman, the widow +of a soldier, who died before his poor children were born; she now +endeavoured to maintain herself and them by taking in washing, together +with the pay of the parish, which, although small, she received very +thankfully, and managed very carefully.</p> + +<p>“Look, mamma! what pretty little feet they have,” cried Ellen; “I am sure +Charles was a good boy to think about shoes for them—was it not very kind +of him, Matilda? because you know little boys seldom love little babies so +much as girls do.”</p> + +<p>Matilda answered “yes,” mechanically, for her mind was abstracted, and +affected by the remembrance this scene was calculated to inspire. Mrs. +Harewood, feeling for her evident embarrassment, sent the poor woman down +stairs to take some refreshment, and then laid a three-shilling piece, as +her own<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 65]</span> share of the contribution, besides Charles’s subscription on the +table.</p> + +<p>Edmund laid a shilling on the table, saying—“If more is wanted, I will +give you another with great pleasure: I hope, mamma, you <em>know</em> that I +will?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Edmund, I <em>do</em> know that you will do any thing in your power, for you +are regular and prudent, as well as a kind-hearted boy, and therefore have +always got something to spare for the wants of others; I perceive, too, +that you have the good sense to examine the nature of the claim made upon +you, and that you give accordingly; <em>you</em> are aware, and I wish all the +young ones to be so likewise, that this, although an act of charity, is not +called for by any immediate distress; it is not one of those cases which +wring the heart and drain the purse, for the poor woman is neither +unprovided with lodgings nor food, and we ought always to keep something +for the sake of sufferers of that description: I wish you, children, to be +free and liberal, for we are told in the scriptures that ‘God loveth a +cheerful giver;’ but, in order to render you also frequent givers, you must +be prudent ones.”</p> + +<p>“I have only one shilling in the world,” said Ellen, laying it on the +table.</p> + +<p>“Then sixpence is as much as you ought<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 66]</span> to give,” said Mrs. Harewood, +giving her a sixpence in change, when, observing that she took it with an +air of reluctance, she said—“My dear Ellen, be satisfied; you are a little +girl, and have not half your brother’s allowance, you know—it is +sufficient.”</p> + +<p>While this was passing, Matilda had been fumbling in her pocket, and +blushing excessively; her mind was full of painful recollections, yet +fraught with gleams of satisfaction; but she wished very much to do two +very contrary things, and whilst she still hesitated, Miss Campbell +said—“Here is another sixpence, ma’am, which I will take, and give you an +eighteen-pence, as I wish to give you a shilling, with Edmund’s proviso.”</p> + +<p>“But,” said Matilda, with a mixture of eagerness and hesitation, “then +there will be no change for me, and I wish to give the same as Ellen; don’t +I want change, ma’am? I—I believe I do.”</p> + +<p>There was, in this confusion, and the blush which deepened in her cheek, a +something which showed Mrs. Harewood a great deal of what was passing in +the mind of this self-convicted, but compassionate and ingenuous girl. Mrs. +Harewood took her shilling, and returned her sixpence, which she evidently +received with pain, but an effort to smile,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 67]</span> as Ellen had done, in return +for the smile of her mamma.</p> + +<p>After a short pause, Mrs. Harewood said—“Well, Matilda, your delicacy is +now satisfied—you have not affected any display of humanity, or +ostentatious exhibition of wealth, in order to humble your young friends; +but I perceive your heart is not satisfied; that heart is really interested +in these babes, and, conscious that it is in your power to do more, you are +mortified at stopping short of your own wishes and their wants.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear, ma’am,” replied Matilda, “you have read all the thoughts of my +heart, (at least all but one,) and if you think it right, and Ellen will +not think me proud, I will indeed be very glad if you will accept a crown +for my subscription.”</p> + +<p>“I shall receive it with pleasure; and I can venture to assure you, that my +children will neither feel envy, anger, nor any other emotion, except joy, +at seeing the little objects of their care benefited, and you happy; for +they have been taught only to value such actions, according to the motive +in one party, and their usefulness to the other: but, Matilda, if it is not +a very great secret, I should be glad to know what that <em>one</em> other thought +in your heart was, which I did not guess, upon this occasion?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 68]</span>Matilda did not find this question so easy of reply as Mrs. Harewood had +expected it to be; she blushed and hung down her head; but, on perceiving +that Mrs. Harewood was going to release her from all necessity of reply, +she struggled to conquer what she deemed a weakness in herself, and +answered thus—“Why, my dear madam, I was thinking what a little proud, +stubborn, ill-behaved girl I was, at the time when these twins were born, +and we first made a subscription for this poor woman; I remembered, too, +how miserable I was, and altogether how much I had to lament, and I felt as +if I could like to do something, to prove how thankful I am to God for +bringing me into a family like yours, where every day of my life I may +learn something good, and where I have been a great deal more happy than +ever I was before, even in the house with my own parents.”</p> + +<p>Matilda stopped a moment, as if she thought her confession had perhaps +infringed on her duty; but recollecting that all her past sorrow had been +laid to the proper account, which was her own bad temper and pride, she +again proceeded in it.</p> + +<p>“When I thought on these things, I came close up to you; but my heart beat +so quick, I could not speak, or else I had a guinea in<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 69]</span> my hand, the last +my dear mamma gave me, and I wished very much to give you <em>that</em>; but then +the memory of my foolish pride, the last time, came again into my mind—I +became ashamed, and determined in all things to be guided by Ellen, who is +almost a year older than I, and a great deal better.”</p> + +<p>“No, no—not <em>better</em>,” said Ellen, warmly; and even her brothers, who +loved her very dearly, struck with the same admiration of Matilda’s +frankness and generosity, exclaimed—“You are as good as Ellen <em>now</em>, +Matilda—indeed you are!”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood, tenderly kissing her, assured her of her approbation, +saying—“All you have said, my dear, tends decidedly to prove that your +mind is indeed properly impressed with your duty both towards God and man, +and that you have the most sincere desire to conquer those faults which you +have already greatly amended; therefore I am determined to permit you to +exercise your benevolence, in the most extensive manner that your heart +could wish, knowing, as I do, that your fortune is fully equal to any act +of charity, and that your good mamma will not fail to approve of it.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, thank you, dear Mrs. Harewood! oh, you are my English mother, +and I love you much more than any other <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 70]</span>person in the world, except my +Barbadoes mamma.”</p> + +<p>The children eagerly crowded round their mother’s chair, to hear what the +good news was, which promised to benefit Sally, and make Matilda happy.</p> + +<p>“I know,” said Mrs. Harewood, “that the purchase of a mangle would set up +the poor woman in her profession as a washerwoman, and enable her to earn +at least ten shillings a-week more. It was my intention to purchase one for +her myself at Christmas; but I could not do it before, as my charity-purse +has been very much run upon lately. When Mr. Harewood comes in, I will ask +for the money, and to-morrow we will all go in the coach, and see Matilda +purchase it: but, my dear girl, suppose you just step and inform the poor +woman of your intention, which I am certain you had rather do without +witnesses; it will not only increase her pleasure, but enable her to +prepare her apartment for such a noble and useful piece of furniture.”</p> + +<p>Matilda left the room, but returned almost immediately.</p> + +<p>“You have been very quick,” said Ellen, in rather a murmuring voice; “I +wanted to know what she said and how she looked when you told her the good +news.”</p> + +<p>“I did not speak to her myself—I <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 71]</span>commissioned Zebby to do it, for I knew +it would give her quite as much pleasure as the poor woman herself could +receive; and surely she has a right to receive every good I can bestow, as +a slight atonement for the pain I have so very frequently given her.”</p> + +<p>Scarcely had Matilda given this proof of consideration and amiable feeling, +when Sally and Zebby rushed into the room together, followed by Betty, who +was truly grateful for the kindness thus bestowed on her sister.</p> + +<p>Sally, with tears of joy, thanked her young benefactress; her words were +few, but they were those of respect and thankfulness, and showed she was +deeply sensible of the benefit she experienced.</p> + +<p>Poor Zebby, delighted with the goodness of her young mistress, audibly +expressed her pleasure, with all the characteristic warmth of her country, +and not a little proud of those virtues which she fancied she had assisted +to nurture.—“Oh,” cried she, “dis be my own beautiful Missy own goodness; +she makee joy in her mamma heart; she makee poor negro all happy—singee +and dancee every body; no more whip, massa Buckraman—every body +delight—every body glad—every body good Christian, when Missy go back!”</p> + +<p>The spontaneous effusion of joy, uttered<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 72]</span> by this daughter of nature, +affected all the party, and the joyful bustle had not subsided when Mr. +Harewood entered. On being informed of the cause, he gave his full assent, +and produced the money necessary for the purchase of the mangle.</p> + +<p>The following day was pleasantly employed in arranging the poor woman’s new +acquisition; and when Matilda saw her grateful, happy countenance, and +learned the manner in which the machine would be worked, and its usefulness +in smoothing linen, she felt the value of a useful life, and a sense of her +own importance, distinct from the idle consequence which is the result of +vanity and pride, but perfectly compatible with the self-distrust and true +humility which was now happily taking a deep root in her young mind.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood was gratified in perceiving such results of her maternal care +for Matilda: still she did not relax in her vigilance; for she well knew, +that along with corn will spring up tares in every young mind, and that the +virtue of one day does not exempt from the vice of another, during the +years of early life; and there were still many points in which the errors +of her Barbadoes education were but too visible, and which called for the +pruning hand of a sensible and pious friend.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 73]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>THE foolish indulgence of Mr. Hanson had in no respect been more injurious +to his only daughter, than in the unrestrained permission to eat whatever +she liked, and as much of it as she could swallow.</p> + +<p>On arriving at Mr. Harewood’s, she found herself at a loss for many of the +sweet and rich dishes she had been accustomed to eat of at her father’s +luxurious table; for although theirs was very well served, it consisted +generally of plain and wholesome viands. Under these circumstances, Matilda +made what she considered very poor dinners, and she endeavoured to supply +her loss by procuring sweet things and trash, through the medium of Zebby, +who, in this particular, was more liable to mislead her than any other +person, because she knew to what she had been used, having frequently +waited upon her, when the little gormandizer had eaten the whole of any +delicacy which happened to be provided for the company.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood took great pains to correct this evil, especially on Ellen’s +account; for as Matilda was not covetous, she was ever ready to share with +her only companion the<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 74]</span> raisins and almonds, figs, gingerbread, biscuits, +or comfits, which she was continually munching; and this Mrs. Harewood had +a particular objection to, not only because it is bad for the health, and +lays the foundation for innumerable evils in the constitution, but because +it renders young people hateful in their appearance, since nothing can be +more unladylike or disagreeable, than the circumstance of being called to +speak when the mouth is full, or displaying the greediness of their +appetite, by cramming between meals, stealing out of a room to fill the +mouth in the passage, or silently moving the jaws about, and being obliged +to blush with shame when caught in such disgraceful tricks.</p> + +<p>In order to guard against this habit, Mrs. Harewood positively forbade her +servants from bringing any thing of the kind into the house; but poor +Zebby, from habit, still obeyed her young Missy, and, besides, she had no +idea that the enjoyments of fortune were good for any thing else than to +pamper the appetite; so that it was a long time before she could be brought +to desist from so pernicious a practice. As, however, the mind of Matilda +strengthened, and she began to employ herself diligently in those new +branches of education now imparted to<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 75]</span> her, she insensibly became weaned +from this bad practice; and at length, inspired with a sincere desire to +imitate her young friends, she broke herself entirely from this disgusting +habit, and willingly adopted, in every thing, the simple wholesome fare +partaken by her young friends.</p> + +<p>It was undoubtedly owing to this temperance that she preserved her health, +and even enjoyed it more than ever, notwithstanding the change of climate; +but, alas! the good sense, resolution, and forbearance she thus acted with, +was not followed by the humble companion of her voyage.</p> + +<p>The change Zebby experienced in Mr. Harewood’s comfortable kitchen, from +the simple food to which, as a slave, she had been accustomed in the West +Indies, was still greater, though in an exactly contrary line, than that of +her young lady. Zebby soon learned to eat of the good roast and boiled she +sat down to, and exchanged the simple beverage of water for porter and +beer, in consequence of which she became much disordered in her health; and +when Mrs. Harewood prescribed a little necessary physic, as her mild +persuasions were enforced by no threat, and the prescription appeared to +the unenlightened negro a kind of punishment she had no inclination to +endure, there was no<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 76]</span> getting her to swallow the bitter but salutary +potion.</p> + +<p>Zebby had been a long time feverish and subject to headaches, when the +circumstance mentioned in the last chapter took place, which so exhilarated +her spirits, that she declared she would be the first person who should use +the new mangle which “her pretty Missy givee poor Sally.”</p> + +<p>It is well known that the negroes are naturally averse to bodily labour, +and that, although their faithfulness and affection render them capable of +enduring extreme hardship and many privations, yet they are rarely +voluntarily industrious; and it was therefore a proof of Zebby’s real +kindness, that she thus exerted herself.</p> + +<p>Unhappily, a mode of labour entirely new to her, and, in her present sickly +state, requiring more strength than she possessed, although, had she used +it freely some time before, it would have done her good, was now too much +for her, and she came home complaining, in doleful accents, that “poor +Zebby have achies all over—is sometimes so hot as Barbadoes, sometimes so +cold as London.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood was well aware that the good-tempered negro was seized with +fever, and she sent immediately for her <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 77]</span>apothecary, who confirmed her +fears, and prescribed for her; but as there was no getting her to swallow +medicine, he was obliged to bleed her, and put a blister on her head, +which, however, did not prevent her from becoming delirious for several +days.</p> + +<p>Poor Zebby was, at this time, troubled with the most distressing desire to +return to Barbadoes, and all her ravings were to this purpose; and they +were naturally very affecting to Matilda, who never heard them without +being a little desirous of uniting her own wishes to behold her native +country, especially when she heard it coupled with the name of that only, +and now fondly-beloved parent, from whom she was so far separated, and her +tears flowed freely when she visited the bedside of the poor African. But +her sorrow increased exceedingly when she learned the danger in which poor +Zebby stood, and found that her death was daily expected by all around; +bitter indeed were the tears she then shed, and she would have given the +world to have recalled those hasty expressions, angry blows, and capricious +actions, which had so often afflicted her humble attendant, whose fidelity, +love, humility, and services, she now could fully estimate, and whose loss +she would deeply deplore.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 78]</span>Mrs. Harewood endeavoured to comfort her under this affliction, by leading +her to view the consolations which religion offers to the afflicted in +general, and she explained the nature of that beneficent dispensation +whereby the learned and the ignorant, the poor and the rich, the slave and +his master, are alike brought to receive salvation as the free gift of God, +through the mediation of our merciful Redeemer; and comforted her with the +hope, that although poor Zebby’s mind was but little enlightened, and her +faith comparatively uninformed, yet as, to the best of her knowledge, she +had been devout and humble, resting her claims for future happiness on that +corner-stone, “the goodness of God in Christ Jesus,” so there was no reason +to fear that she would not leave this world for a far better, for “a house +not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”</p> + +<p>Matilda’s mind was deeply impressed with this holy and happy consolation, +but yet she could not help lamenting her own loss, in one whom she no +longer considered her slave, and little better than a beast of burden, but +as her countrywoman, her friend, the partaker of that precious faith by +which alone the most wise, wealthy, and great, can hope to inherit the +kingdom of<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 79]</span> heaven; and she could not help praying for her restoration to +health, with all the fervour of which her heart was capable; and many a +promise mingled with her prayer, that, if it pleased God to restore her, +she would never treat her ill again: and these promises she likewise +repeated to Mrs. Harewood and her governess.</p> + +<p>Neither of these ladies lost the opportunity thus offered, of impressing on +her mind the duties which every woman, whatever may be her rank or +situation in life, does indeed owe to those whom Providence hath placed +under her. They explained, in particular, the necessity of forbearance in +point of manners, and of consideration in her daily employments—“If,” said +the good mistress, “I ring the bell twice or thrice, where once would +answer every purpose, provided I gave myself the trouble of considering +what I really wanted, I not only waste my servant’s time, which would +supply my wants, and therefore injure myself in one sense, but I waste the +strength which is her only means of subsistence, and I awaken that vexation +of temper, which, although perhaps suppressed before me, will yet rankle in +her bosom, and probably induce her to commit some injury on my property, +which is an actual sin in her: thus <em>my</em> folly leads to <em>her</em><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 80]</span> guilt, and +the very least mischief that can accrue is her unhappiness; for who can be +happy whose temper is perpetually ruffled by the cruel thoughtlessness of +those who have the absolute disposal of their time, their talents, and, in +a great measure, their dispositions?”</p> + +<p>“Depend upon it,” added Miss Campbell, “that as we are assured in the +Scriptures, that ‘for every idle word we shall be brought to account,’ so, +in a particular manner, must we be judged for all those idle words and +actions which have inflicted on any of our fellow-creatures pains we have +no right to bestow, or tempted them to sins they had no inclination to +follow; the petty tyrannies of our whims, changes, and fancies—of our +scoldings, complainings, peremptory orders, and causeless contradictions, +will all one day swell that awful list of sins, of which it may be truly +said, ‘we cannot answer one in a thousand.’”</p> + +<p>When Miss Campbell ceased speaking, Ellen, who, although not affected so +violently as Matilda, had yet felt much for Zebby’s situation, and was +seriously desirous of profiting by all she heard, said in a low voice—“I +will do every thing for myself—I will never trouble Susan, or Betty, or +any body.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 81]</span>Mrs. Harewood knew the bent of her daughter’s mind, and that although, from +the sweetness of her temper and the mildness of her manners, she was not +likely to fall into Matilda’s errors, there were others of an opposite +class, from which it was necessary to guard her; she therefore +added—“Although consideration and kindness are certainly the first duties +to be insisted upon in our conduct, yet there are others of not less +importance. It is the place of every mistress to exact obedience to +reasonable commands and the execution of all proper services. If she does +not do this, she deserts her own station in society, defeats the intentions +she was called to fulfil, and which made her the guide and guardian, not +the companion and fellow-server, of her servants. In abandoning them to +their own discretion, she lays upon them a burden which, either from +ignorance or habit, they are probably unequal to endure, since it is +certain that many truly respectable persons in this class have been only so +while they were under the controlling eye or leading mind of their +superiors. Besides, all uncommon levity of manners, like all unbecoming +freedom in conversation, more frequently arises from weakness or idleness +in the parties, and ought to be guarded against in our<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 82]</span> conduct, as never +failing to be degradatory to ourselves, and very far from beneficial to +those they affect to serve: it is possible to be very friendly, yet very +firm; to be gentle, yet resolute, and at once a fellow-Christian and a good +master to those whom Providence hath rendered our dependants.”</p> + +<p>Ellen listened to this with attention, and endeavoured to understand and +apply it; but both she and Matilda continued to pay the most affectionate +attentions to poor Zebby, whose disorder in a few days took a more +favourable turn than could have been expected, although the delirium did +not immediately subside, but rather affected her general temper, which, +under its influence, appeared as remarkably unpleasant and tormenting to +herself and all around, as it was formerly kind and obliging.</p> + +<p>This period was indeed trying to Matilda, who was by no means sufficiently +confirmed in her virtuous resolutions, or good habits, to endure reproaches +where she merited thanks, even in a case where she was aware of deranged +intellect and real affection, either of which ought to have led her to +endure the wild sallies and troublesome pettishness of the suffering negro. +It must however be allowed, that if she did not do all she ought, she yet +did more than could have been once<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 83]</span> expected, and very greatly increased +the esteem and approbation of her friends.</p> + +<p>Matilda, when she was not influenced by the bodily indolence which was +natural to her as a West-Indian, and which was rather a misfortune than her +fault, was apt to be too active and bustling for the stillness required in +a sick chamber; and whatever she did, was done with a rapidity and +noisiness, more in unison with her own ardent desire of doing good, than +the actual welfare of the person she sought to relieve; whereas Ellen never +for a moment lost sight of that gentle care and considerate pity, which was +natural to a mind attuned to tenderness from its very birth; and many a +time would she say—“Hush, Matilda! don’t speak so loud; have a care how +you shut the door,” &c.</p> + +<p>One day they both happened to go in just as the nurse was going to give the +patient a basin of broth—“Let me give it her,” said Matilda; “you know she +always likes me to give her any thing.”</p> + +<p>“Sometimes she does, when she knows you; but her head wanders to-day +sadly.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” replied Matilda, in her hurrying manner, and taking the broth +from the woman in such a way that the basin shook upon the plate; on which +Ellen said<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 84]</span>—“Have a care, the broth seems very hot; indeed, <em>too</em> hot for +Zebby to take.”</p> + +<p>Matilda fancied this caution an indirect attack upon her care, and she went +to the bedside immediately, and bolting up to the patient, who was sitting, +raised by pillows, she offered the broth to her, saying—“Come, Zebby, let +me feed you with this nice food—it will do you good.”</p> + +<p>The warm fume of the basin was offensive to the invalid—“Me no likee +brothies,” said she; and as it was not instantly removed, she unhappily +pushed away the plate, and turned the scalding contents of the basin +completely into the bosom of poor Matilda, as she reclined towards her.</p> + +<p>Shrieking with pain, and stamping with anger, Matilda instantly cried out +that she was murdered, and the wretch should be flayed alive.</p> + +<p>Ellen, shocked, terrified, and truly sorry, called out in an agony—“Mamma, +dear mamma, come here this moment! poor Matilda is scalded to death!”</p> + +<p>The nurse, the servants, and Mrs. Harewood herself, were in a few moments +with the sufferer; and the latter, although she despatched the footman for +a surgeon, did not for a moment neglect the assistance and relief in her +own power to bestow; she<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 85]</span> scraped some white lead<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> into a little thick +cream, and applied it with a feather all over the scalded parts; and in a +very short time the excruciating pain was relieved, and the fire so well +drawn out by it, that when the surgeon arrived he made no change in the +application, but desired it might be persisted in, and said—“He had no +doubt of a cure being speedily obtained, if the patient were calm.”</p> + +<p>During the former part of this time, Matilda continued to scream +incessantly, with the air of a person whose unmerited and intolerable +sufferings gave a right to violence; and even when she became comparatively +easy, she yet uttered bitter complaints against Zebby, as the cause of the +mischief; never taking into consideration her own share of it, nor +recollecting that she acted both thoughtlessly and stubbornly in neglecting +the advice of Ellen; and that although her principal motive was the +endeavour to benefit Zebby, yet there was a deficiency in actual kindness, +when she offered her broth it was impossible for the poor creature to +taste. Such, however, was the commiseration for her injury felt by all +those around her, that no one would, in the moment of her punishment, say a +word that<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 86]</span> could be deemed unkind; and soothings, rather than exhortations, +were all that were uttered.</p> + +<p>At length the storm was appeased; Matilda, declaring herself much easier, +was laid upon the sofa, and a gentle anodyne being given to her, she closed +her eyes, and if she did not sleep, she appeared in a state of stupor, +which much resembled sleep. It so happened, that the hot liquid had, in +falling, thrown many drops upon her face, which gave her so much pain at +the moment, that she thought she was scalded much worse than she really +was, as did those around her; but Ellen, as she watched her slumbers, now +perceived that this was a very transient injury, and she observed to her +mamma, that she hoped Matilda’s good looks would not be spoiled by the +accident, at least that her beauty would be restored before her mother’s +arrival from the West Indies.</p> + +<p>“Before that time,” returned Mrs. Harewood, “I trust Matilda will have +attained such a degree of mental beauty, as would render the total +destruction of her personal beauty a trifling loss, in comparison, to the +eye of a thinking and good mother, such as I apprehend Mrs. Hanson to be.”</p> + +<p>“But surely, mamma, it is a good thing to be handsome? I mean, if people +happen to<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 87]</span> be handsome, it is a pity they should lose their beauty.”</p> + +<p>“It is, my dear, to a certain degree a pity; for a pretty face, like a +pleasant prospect, gives pleasure to the beholder, and leads the mind to +contemplate the great Author of beauty in his works, and rejoice in the +perfection every where visible in nature. The possessors of beauty may, +however, so often spare it with advantage to themselves and their near +connections, that the loss of it, provided there is neither sickness, nor +any very disgusting appearance, left behind, does not appear to me a very +great misfortune.”</p> + +<p>“But surely, mamma, people may be both very pretty and very good?”</p> + +<p>“Undoubtedly, my dear; but such are the temptations handsome people are +subject to, that they are much more frequently to be pitied than envied; +yet envy from the illiberal and malicious seldom fails to pursue them; and +when they are neither vain nor arrogant, generally points them out as +both.”</p> + +<p>“I have often wished to be handsome, mamma, because I thought people would +love me if I were; but if that is the case, I must have been mistaken, +mamma.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed you were, my child; personal charms, however attractive to the eye, +do not blind, or even engage the heart, unless<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 88]</span> they are accompanied by +good qualities, which would have their effect, you know, without +beauty—nay, even in ugly persons, when we become thoroughly acquainted +with them. Can you suppose, Ellen, that if you were as handsome as the +picture over the chimney-piece, that you would be more dear to me on that +account, or that you would, in any respect, contribute more to my +happiness?”</p> + +<p>“You would not love me better, dear mamma, but yet you would be more proud +of me, I should think.”</p> + +<p>“Then I must be a very weak woman to be proud of that which implied no +merit, either in you or me, and which the merest accident might, as we +perceive, destroy in a moment; but this I must add, that if, with +extraordinary beauty, you possessed sufficient good sense to remain as +simple in your manners, and as active in the pursuit of intellectual +endowments, as I hope to see you, <em>then</em> I might be <em>proud</em> of you, as the +usual expression is; for I beg you to remember that, strictly speaking, it +is wrong to be proud of any thing.”</p> + +<p>“Zebby always said that Mr. Hanson was very proud of Matilda—I suppose it +was of her beauty.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so too, and you could not have<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 89]</span> brought forward a more decisive +proof of the folly and sin of pride, and the inefficacy of beauty to +procure love, than in the conduct and qualities of the persons in question. +Mr. Hanson’s pride of his daughter’s beauty rendered him blind to her +faults, or averse to correcting them; and from his indulgence, the effect +of that very beauty for which he sacrificed every real excellence, was so +completely impaired, that I am sure, with all your predilection for a +pretty face, you will allow that Matilda, with all those red spots +plastered with white ointment, is a thousand times more agreeable than +Matilda with bright eyes and ruddy cheeks on her first landing.”</p> + +<p>“Oh yes, yes!” cried Ellen, looking at her with the tenderest affection, +and relapsing into tears, which had frequently visited her eyes since the +time of the terrible accident.</p> + +<p>The opiate had now spent itself, and Matilda, giving a slight shudder, +awoke, and looked at Ellen with a kind of recollective gaze, that recalled +the events of the morning, and which was succeeded by a sense of pain.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter, Ellen? you are crying—have you been scalded?”</p> + +<p>“No,” said the affectionate child, “but <em>you</em> have.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 90]</span>A confused recollection of all the particulars of the affair now came to +Matilda’s memory; and as by degrees they arose on her mind, she became +ashamed of the extreme impatience she had exhibited, and surprised that +Ellen could love and pity so much a girl whose conduct was so little likely +to ensure affection and respect; and although the pain became every moment +more troublesome, she forbore most magnanimously to complain, until the +changes in her complexion induced Mrs. Harewood to say,—“I think, Matilda, +we had better apply the ointment again to your wound—you are still +suffering from the fire, I see.”</p> + +<p>“If you please, ma’am.”</p> + +<p>With a light and skilful hand, Mrs. Harewood again touched the wounds, and +immediate ease followed; but ere she had finished her tender operation, +Matilda caught that kind hand, and, pressing it fondly to her lips, bathed +it with her tears; they were those of gratitude and contrition.</p> + +<p>“I fear you are in much pain <em>still</em>,” said her kind friend, though she +partly comprehended her feelings.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no! you have given me ease; but if you had not, I would not have +minded, I feared, indeed I am certain, that I behaved very ill, quite +shamefully, this <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 91]</span>morning; and you are so—so good to me, that—that——”</p> + +<p>Matilda was choked by her sobs, and Mrs. Harewood took the opportunity of +soothing her, not by praising her for virtues she had not exercised, but by +calling upon her to show them in her future conduct; although she did so +far conciliate as to say, that the suddenness of the injury, in some +measure, excused the violence she had manifested.</p> + +<p>Matilda gave a deep sigh and shook her head, in a manner which manifested +how far this went in palliation, and was aware that much of error remained +unatoned. She inquired how Zebby was, and if she was sensible.</p> + +<p>“She has been so ever since your accident, which appeared to recall her +wandering senses by fixing them to one point; and as her fever is really +abated, I trust she will soon be better.”</p> + +<p>Matilda hastily sprang from the sofa, and though in doing so she +necessarily greatly increased the pain under which she laboured, yet she +suppressed all complaint, and hurried forward to Zebby’s room, followed by +Mrs. Harewood and Ellen; the former of whom was extremely desirous at once +to permit her to ease her heart, and yet to prevent her<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 92]</span> from injuring +herself, by adding to the inflammation of her wound.</p> + +<p>It was a truly affecting spectacle to behold Matilda soothing and +comforting the poor black woman, who had not for a moment ceased to +reproach herself, since the screams of the young lady had brought her to +her senses, and her invectives to the knowledge of her own share in the +transaction. It was in vain that the nurse and the servants of Mrs. +Harewood had endeavoured to reconcile her, by the repeated assurance, that +let the young lady say what she pleased, yet no harm could reach her: that +in old England, every servant had law and justice as much on their side as +their master could have.</p> + +<p>This was no consolation to the faithful negro, who appeared rather to +desire even unmerited punishment than seek for excuse; she incessantly +upbraided herself for having killed pretty Missy, and breaking the heart of +her good mistress; and when she beheld the plastered face of Matilda, these +self-reproaches increased to the most distressing degree, and threatened a +complete relapse to the disorder she had yet hardly escaped from.</p> + +<p>“You could not help it, Zebby; it was all an accident, and ought to be +chiefly attributed to my own foolishness,” said Matilda.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no! it was me bad and foolish.<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 93]</span> Missy, me naughty, <em>same</em> you used to +be—pushee here and pushee there, in bad pets—it was all me—breaky heart +of poor Missis—she comee over great seas; thinkee see you all good and +pretty as Englis lady; and den you be shocking figure, all cover with +spotee—oh deary! oh deary! perhaps come fever, then you go to the death, +you will be bury in dark hole, and mamma never, <em>never</em> see you again.”</p> + +<p>The desponding tones of this speech went far beyond its words, and Matilda +combining with it the caution she had heard the medical gentleman make +respecting fever, and the first exclamation of Ellen, that—“Matilda was +scalded to death,” induced her to suppose that there was really danger in +her case; and after repeatedly assuring Zebby of her entire forgiveness and +regard, she returned to the apartment she had quitted, with a slow step, +and an air of awe and solemnity, such as her friends had never witnessed +before.</p> + +<p>After Matilda had lain down on the sofa some minutes, she desired Ellen to +get her materials for writing, but soon found that the pain in her breast +rendered it impossible for her to execute her design.</p> + +<p>“I will write for you,” said Ellen.</p> + +<p>“That won’t do—I wanted, with my own<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 94]</span> hand, to assure dear mamma that poor +Zebby was not to blame, nor any body else.”</p> + +<p>“My dear,” said Mrs. Harewood, “we can do that by and by, when your mamma +comes over.”</p> + +<p>“But if, ma’am—if I should <em>die</em>?”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood could scarcely forbear an inward smile, but she answered her +with seriousness, and did not lose the opportunity of imprinting upon her +mind many salutary truths connected with her present situation, not +forgetting to impress strongly the necessity which every Christian has of +being ever ready to obey that awful summons, which may be expected at any +hour, and from which there is no appeal; but she concluded by an assurance +that in a few days the present disorder would be completely removed, in +case she guarded her own temper from impetuosity, and observed the regimen +prescribed to her.</p> + +<p>When Matilda’s fears on this most important point were subsided, she +adverted to her face, but it was only to inquire whether it was likely to +be well before her mother came, she being naturally and properly desirous +of saving her dear parent from any pain which could arise from her +appearance; and when her fears on this head were likewise relieved, she +became more composed in<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 95]</span> her spirits, and more anxious than ever to prove, +by future good conduct, her sense of contrition for the past, and +resolution for the future; and although she was most thankful for the +sympathy of her friends, she never sought it by useless complainings, or +aggravated her sufferings in order to win their pity or elicit their +praise; and by her perseverance and patience, a cure was obtained much +sooner than could have been expected from the nature of the accident.</p> + +<p>Zebby regularly amended, as she perceived the great object of her anxiety +amend also; and the sense she entertained of her late danger, the gratitude +she felt for the kindness she had been treated with, and, above all, the +self-denial to which she perceived her young lady accustomed herself, in +order to recover, induced her henceforward to become temperate in her use +of food, and tractable as to the means necessary for preserving her health, +and to perceive her duty with regard to the commands given by her young +lady, to whom she was now more truly attached than ever: for the attachment +of improved minds goes far beyond that of ignorance.</p> + + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The author has found this prescription very efficacious in +various cases of scalds.</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 96]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>WHEN Matilda was fully recovered from the pain of her accident, her good +friends had the satisfaction to perceive that the most salutary effects had +arisen from the disposition with which she had borne it. She had become +sensible how much we must all be indebted to our fellow-creatures, in any +privation of health and ease, and this had taught her to be humble and +thankful to all who contributed to her comfort; and from necessarily +suppressing both her appetite and her temper, she had gained a command of +both, which she had been a stranger to before. From being unable to join in +any play requiring personal activity, she had been obliged to find her +amusement in reading; and as that most excellent and delightful work, “The +Parent’s Assistant,” by Miss Edgeworth, had been presented to her just +before, she made herself completely mistress of those admirable tales, and +by conversing much upon them with Mr. and Mrs. Harewood, with whom she +usually sat, she became deeply imbued with all the important precepts they +are intended to convey, as well as the stories they so agreeably relate.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 97]</span>One evening, when the whole family were assembled, the disorder which had +afflicted Zebby became the subject of conversation; Miss Campbell +observing, “that the poor woman had undoubtedly been as nervous as any fine +lady, and therefore given another proof, in addition to the multitude which +must affect every person of judgment and feeling, that there was indeed no +difference of constitution, feeling, or character, between white people and +black ones, when they were placed in similar circumstances.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly not,” said Mr. Harewood, “and in a short time this doctrine will +be more fully proved by the emancipation of all the blacks, who will, I +trust, become diligent servants and happy householders, no longer the +slaves of tyrants, but the servants of upright masters.”</p> + +<p>“But I am told, mamma,” said Edmund, “that the proprietors of West India +property will all be ruined; people say, this will come upon them as a +retribution for past sins; but as many of these sins were committed in days +that are past, and the present inhabitants, in many instances, have behaved +exceedingly well, I must own I wish sincerely this may not be the case. Can +you tell me any thing about it?”</p> + +<p>“They all deserve to be ruined,” <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 98]</span>interrupted Charles, “who have done such +bad things as the planters do. Oh, how I wish I could be there when all the +slaves are set at liberty! with what delight should I join in their +universal shout of joy and freedom, and in all their innocent festivals!”</p> + +<p>Edmund shook his head—“I should like the slaves to be happy as well as +you; but I don’t like for any body to be ruined, especially people who are +so nerveless and inactive as those who have resided in warm islands; surely +it is not true?”</p> + +<p>Edmund looked again inquiringly.</p> + +<p>“I am sorry to say,” answered Mrs. Harewood, “that in many cases much +suffering may be apprehended; but our government will undoubtedly soften +every evil to the inhabitants, as far as they can do it consistent with +their views: you know the emancipation of the slaves takes place gradually, +and by that means enables people to collect their money, to divert the +channels of their merchandise, or to make themselves friends of those who +have hitherto been held by the arm of power only. The grand shout of a +multitude restored to freedom is undoubtedly very attractive, and enough to +warm the heart of a benevolent enthusiast like Charles; but it is not +advisable to set food in great quantities before a starving man, lest he +eat<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 99]</span> himself into a surfeit. Ignorance is always in danger of using power +very ill, since we see that even the enlightened are frequently prone to +misuse it.”</p> + +<p>“Then I hope, mamma, it will turn out better than people think; and there +will be very little individual suffering from it.”</p> + +<p>“I am sorry to say, my dear, that notwithstanding what I have said, I yet +fear many persons will suffer; I know a widow myself, who is returning to +this country nearly destitute, after living many years in a state of +luxury; very happily she has only one child, and has not suffered her past +prosperity so to unnerve her mind, as to render her useless and desponding +in the day of adversity. On the contrary, she has the magnanimity to +rejoice in the freedom of the slaves, although that freedom has destroyed +her fortune.”</p> + +<p>At this moment, every eye was involuntarily bent on Matilda, who, feeling +undoubtedly some degree of compunction and shame, when she either thought +on her own former conduct, or the state of her country, had kept aloof till +now. At this moment she started, and, with a look of most anxious inquiry, +she cried—“Oh, ma’am! surely you do not mean my poor mamma? And yet—yes, +certainly you mean her—she has lived many years in prosperity—she has but +one child,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 100]</span> and she is possessed of a pious, good heart, and a kind, +generous spirit, and would not wish the poor negroes to remain slaves—she +would rather work herself than injure any body. Dear Miss Campbell, pray +make me clever and good like yourself, and then I will be a governess, and +get money, and support dear mamma—<em>indeed</em> I will.”</p> + +<p>The amazing rapidity with which these words were uttered, and the +perturbation of spirits which accompanied them, prevented Matilda from +perceiving that Mrs. Harewood was anxious to interrupt her; and even when +that good friend began to speak, she was too much affected and disturbed to +listen to her. She went on to say, with an agitated voice, but ingenuous +countenance—“I cannot help crying, to be sure; but indeed I am not sorry +that the poor slaves are to have their liberty, and I do not mind the money +we have lost; I only want to see my dear mamma, and to comfort her, and to +tell her that I would not be the mistress of bought slaves for all the +world; for I <em>now</em> know that in the sight of God they are my equals, and if +good, my superiors. I <em>know</em> that Jesus Christ died to save them as well as +me, and that he will not forgive them who insult him, by daring to buy and +sell those whom he has purchased with his own blood; and<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 101]</span> besides, I do not +wish to possess them; for if I did, I should be proud and cruel and +miserable, as I used to be.”</p> + +<p>The anxious, troubled heart of Matilda now found refuge in abundant tears, +and, throwing herself on the bosom of her maternal friend, she shed them +freely there; and as the storm of grief subsided, Mrs. Harewood obtained +her attention to these words—“My dear Matilda, your vivid imagination, and +the quickness of feeling, which even in a good cause is too apt to hurry +you away, have led you into unnecessary trouble; it is not <em>your</em> mamma, +but a Mrs. Weston, of Jamaica, of whom I spoke. I can, however, scarcely +regret the pain you have experienced, because it has caused you to express +sentiments which do you honour, and which must give great pleasure to your +mother.”</p> + +<p>“But my mamma is coming over soon?”</p> + +<p>“She <em>is</em>, my dear, but under very different circumstances, her property +being all well disposed of, and settled in the English funds; and be it +your comfort to know, that although your father was a proprietor of West +India estates, yet his fortune was not accumulated by the infamous traffic +to which we allude; although, like other people, he held slaves for the +purposes of agriculture and domestic labour, he had an estate in this<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 102]</span> +country, which enabled him to support an expensive establishment, without +recurring to those practices too common among the planters in your +country.”</p> + +<p>“And has the lady of whom you spoke no estate, no money, to support herself +and her little girl?”</p> + +<p>“She has <em>not</em>, my dear; but I trust her friends in England will provide +her with some situation, in which her talents will enable her both to +support herself and benefit others; and by this means the cup of affliction +now may hereafter prove one of blessedness: her little girl is only six +years old, and will therefore be but a trifling expense to her for some +years to come.”</p> + +<p>Matilda now wiped her eyes, but was observed for a considerable time +involved in deep thought, and silent thanksgiving to God, and no one around +thought it right to interrupt the silent aspirations of her heart; but as +soon as her countenance resumed its usual expression, and she rose from her +seat, the young ones surrounded her, and with cheerful looks congratulated +her on the change in her feelings, which they were aware a few moments must +have produced; for, as Edmund observed, though it was very right to be +resigned to every change which it pleased God to send, yet it was +undoubtedly<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 103]</span> a great pleasure to know that a dear parent enjoyed not only +the power of living in her usual style of comfort, but that she preserved +the power of bestowing a part of her fortune to feed the poor, and to +communicate knowledge, and sow the seeds of virtue in the minds of the +young and uninformed.</p> + +<p>Matilda listened to their congratulations with gratitude and pleasure, and +looked forward with exultation, chastened by a proper diffidence of +herself, to the time when, with her beloved mother, she should be employed +in acts of beneficence and social enjoyment—“So passing through things +temporal, as not to lose the things that are eternal.”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>ON the following midsummer vacation, Mrs. Harewood complied with the wishes +of her young family, by consenting to give a ball to their young friends; +and as she disapproved very much of late hours, the whole party were +invited to dinner, in order that the dance might commence early.</p> + +<p>The day previous to this entertainment was a very busy one, as the young +people<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 104]</span> were permitted to display their taste by arranging the ball-room, +and ornamenting it in the best manner they were able with flowers, under +the inspection and with the assistance of Miss Campbell. The boys, attended +by the footman, went out into the country, and returned laden with +beautiful spoils from the hedges and copses, consisting of branches of +trees, brushwood, and maythorn, together with those green plants which at +this season of the year are found in abundance, such as clivers, coltswort, +and the various mallows. When these were brought home, the young ladies +tied gay flowers, made of various-coloured paper, upon them, at distances, +with green worsted; and when these ornaments were finished, the branches +themselves were tied together with strong cord, which was hidden by the +foliage. By this means they were made into long wreaths, which were hung in +festoons all round the room, and had an exceedingly beautiful effect, while +over the doors and windows arches were formed of the same materials; but +when the greens were brought nearer to the eye, natural flowers were used, +which, being cut very short in the stem, preserved themselves fresh and +beautiful, and perfumed the place with the most delightful odours.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 105]</span>Though this employment was charming, yet it was necessarily fatiguing, and +the children went to bed at an early hour. Not long after they had retired, +Mr. and Mrs. Harewood heard a carriage, and while they were conjecturing +who it might be, to their great surprise, the long-expected stranger, Mrs. +Hanson, was announced.</p> + +<p>They were truly rejoiced to see her; for, although personally unknown to +them, they were much disposed to esteem and love her, both from the style +of her letters, and the many traits of her conduct and character given by +Zebby, who was an able eulogist, since she ever spoke from the heart, and +although ignorant, was by nature acute and penetrating.</p> + +<p>The anxious mother, sensible that forms were not necessary to be attended +to, in addressing the worthy couple to whom she came a welcome, though +unknown guest, first inquired after her only child. When told that she was +in bed, and fast asleep, having been much fatigued when she retired, she +immediately declared that she would not have Matilda awoke for her own +gratification—a declaration which confirmed the good opinion the family +already entertained of her. She could not, however, resist the very natural +desire she felt of be<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 106]</span>holding that dear object of her solicitude, from whom +she had been so long parted; and she therefore visited her room, and, +softly kissing her forehead, observed, to the great satisfaction of Mrs. +Harewood, that she had never seen her look so well before, which was +certainly the fact, though her weariness had induced some degree of +paleness.</p> + +<p>Tears rose to the eyes of the fond mother, and often, often were they +turned to the bed which contained all her earthly treasure, ere she could +tear herself away; and Mrs. Harewood felt aware that silent prayers +occupied her heart for the future welfare and progressive virtue of a being +naturally so very dear, and whose bad passions, at the time of their +parting, had given so little rational hope of future felicity, either to +herself or her widowed parent. Sympathizing truly with her feelings, and +aware of the extreme delicacy of the subject, especially to one of whose +peculiar feelings she knew so little, Mrs. Harewood left it to time to show +the change in Matilda.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hanson was recalled from the fond reverie the sight of her daughter +had involved her in, by the voice of Zebby, who had only just learned the +arrival of that dear mistress she had ever so justly estimated.<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 107]</span> The two +ladies descended, and found the happy negro weeping for joy, and running +about the breakfast-parlour and dining-room, seeking for her lady, whom, +when she beheld, she danced about like a wild woman; one moment being ready +to cast herself at her feet, and the next longing to embrace her.</p> + +<p>“I am very glad to see you, Zebby,” said Mrs. Hanson, “and very happy to +find you still my daughter’s servant, as I know you will suit her much +better in many respects than any Englishwoman possibly could.”</p> + +<p>“Me love Missy ver much, madam, but me no Missy maid now; me housemaid for +madam Harewood now; me makee de bed, sweepy de stair, do all sort ting; me +never wait on Missy, no, never.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hanson gave a deep sigh, and said to Mrs. Harewood—“I fear you have +had some trouble in procuring a maid for my daughter, ma’am?”</p> + +<p>“When your daughter came to us, you may remember, my good madam, that we +undertook to treat her in every respect as if she were our own; we <em>have</em> +done it, and you will be able to judge to-morrow how far your dear girl is +benefited or injured by sharing the attentions of Ellen’s nursemaid, +Ellen’s governess, and Ellen’s mother.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hanson felt that she was much <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 108]</span>indebted to the kindness evidently +intended by this arrangement, especially as it was a plain case, that Zebby +had been retained in the family for her accommodation; yet she could not +help thinking that the contrast between Matilda’s past and present +situation was too great: although she had a thousand times desired that +some great change might be adopted in her education, yet her heart shrunk +at the idea of the discipline which she had so long felt to be necessary. +She was afraid that the terrible passions her child had manifested, had +rendered terrible changes necessary, and a train of inflictions and +privations arose to her view, which maternal tenderness was unequal to +contemplate unmoved; she therefore apologized to her friends, and retired +to her room, but her pillow was strewed with those thorns which solicitude +had planted there.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>THE following morning the young people arose early, and were surprised to +find Mrs. Harewood also stirring; her amiable, affectionate heart promised +itself a treat, in witnessing the sweet emotions of Matilda, on<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 109]</span> hearing +the joyful tidings of her mother’s arrival; nor was she disappointed—the +delighted girl manifested all the rapture of which her warm susceptible +heart was capable; and on hearing her mother slept in the crimson room, was +hastily bending her steps to the chamber, thus named from the colour of the +bed.</p> + +<p>“But, my dear, it is yet early; your mamma was much fatigued with her long +journey from Falmouth: is it not a pity to disturb her, especially as she +has already seen and kissed you, although she would not awake you?”</p> + +<p>Matilda stopped—“I do <em>so</em> wish to see mamma,” said she, “and to hear her +speak! but then to awake her for my own pleasure would be selfish, as I +used to be—I won’t be selfish.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right, my dear—you are now proving yourself truly +affectionate—you are preferring mamma to yourself.”</p> + +<p>“But I may just stand at the door and listen to her breathing, and so wait +till she moves.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, my dear.”</p> + +<p>Away flew Matilda, happiest of the happy; and she had scarcely been ten +minutes on her station when Mrs. Hanson’s bell rang, and Matilda instantly +opened the door, in silent but delightful expectation.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 110]</span>“Is my daughter awake?” said the fond mother.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, yes, dear mamma, I am here!” cried she, springing to the +outstretched arms of her loved parent, who, in embracing her joyfully, yet +felt solicitude mingle with her joy, from the consciousness that her +earthly happiness was centred in this single object, and that upon her +future conduct rested the peace of both.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hanson did not rise for some hours, and her daughter breakfasted with +her, and spent the time principally in making inquiries after their old +friends in Barbadoes, so that Mrs. Hanson had no opportunity of observing +how her daughter was looked upon in the family, and on this eventful day, +the ball in the evening was naturally the subject uppermost on Matilda’s +mind, so that there was yet no development of her real improvement.</p> + +<p>At length Mrs. Hanson arose; her maid came in to dress her, and whilst this +took place, the mother beheld with delight the improvement which had taken +place in her darling’s person, which was taller, and considerably better +formed, as she had cured herself of stooping, and all her motions indicated +sprightliness and agility.</p> + +<p>Whilst Mrs. Hanson congratulated herself<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 111]</span> on this appearance, Zebby tapped +at the door, and, on being admitted, said, with a very long face and +doleful accent—“Oh dear, Missy, very bad ting have happened; de milliner +have sentee home Miss Ellen new frock, and no sentee yours. She say she +cannot makee till next week, because she very busy for little girls that +losee their mamma, and must have blackee clothes to-morrow day.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hanson’s heart sunk, and she felt as if her pleasure for this day at +least was over, for she fully expected to see Matilda fly into a rage with +the messenger, the milliner, and indeed all the house; and she could +scarcely believe her own senses, when Matilda replied calmly—“Well, Zebby, +it cannot be helped, and it does not signify much; I am sure Mrs. Harewood +will excuse my want of a new dress on this occasion. To be sure, I should +have liked to look the same as dear Ellen; but how can I think of such a +trifling disappointment, when I remember it was caused by those unhappy +children, who are now mourning for their mamma?”</p> + +<p>So saying, she turned, and eagerly threw her arms round a mother, who, in +the course of her whole life, had not embraced her with equal satisfaction; +but before she had time to express her pleasure, and injure her who<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 112]</span> caused +it, by the exaggerated praise which sprung to her lips, Matilda had run +down stairs, just to peep at Ellen’s new dress, speak of the delight she +experienced in having gained her mother’s society, and consult Miss +Campbell as to the frock she must substitute for the one intended to be +worn; and when Mrs. Hanson was left alone, she almost fancied that the +foregoing scene was a kind of drama, which had been introduced for the +purpose of surprising and pleasing her.</p> + +<p>But observation confirmed her hopes, and justified her happiness. She +descended at dinner-time, and was introduced to the children of the family, +who, although little seen among so large a party, yet won her regard, from +the unaffected kindness and ease with which they treated her daughter; and +she observed, with approbation, that Matilda and Ellen were dressed exactly +alike; the latter having declined wearing the frock bought for her, since +her friend’s could not be procured. Mrs. Hanson could not fail to love +Ellen, in whose countenance the good temper, modesty, and sensibility which +characterized her, were strongly expressed; but she had not much time to +comment upon it, for the young party were now coming in, and attention was +in some degree divided. In a short time dinner was announced, and<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 113]</span> the +company, about thirty in number, were soon commodiously arranged round the +hospitable table.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood had thought it right to disperse her own family among her +guests, in order that they might pay proper attention to those near them, +as by that means she hoped that none of the invited would be neglected; and +according to this arrangement, which was made the preceding day, Matilda +took the place appointed for her, which happened to be at some distance +from her mamma, who sat, of course, next to Mrs. Harewood. In the bustle of +so large a party, Mrs. Hanson could scarcely observe even her daughter at +the beginning of the meal; but when the second course came in, she saw with +some pain a large dish of custards placed exactly before Matilda; and on +one of the company observing she had never seen such a noble dish of +custards before, Mrs. Hanson said—“Matilda is remarkably fond of them; I +am sorry they are so near her, for they are not wholesome.”</p> + +<p>“We seldom have such things on that account,” said Mrs. Harewood; “but I +must own I think them well placed, because Matilda can help her friends to +them with ease.”</p> + +<p>These words drew the attention of the young ones, and Matilda soon received +so<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 114]</span> many plates to supply, that there appeared little probability of her +sharing in the feast. Edmund was near her, and gladly receiving his +mother’s approving smile, he secured one for Matilda, which he put upon her +plate just before the last was demanded.</p> + +<p>Ellen was equally busy distributing tarts near the bottom of the table. The +footman brought her a custard, which he said Miss Hanson had sent for her.</p> + +<p>“She is very good,” said Ellen, “but I had rather take a jelly, if she will +excuse my returning it.”</p> + +<p>The happy mother perceived that Matilda had sent Ellen the very custard +which Edmund’s kindness had ensured for <em>her</em>. Delicious tears sprang to +her eyes; she perceived that Matilda was indeed a different creature; that +she had not only conquered a disgraceful propensity, but acquired a habit +of generous attention to others, of which there was at one period no hopes +in her character.</p> + +<p>The dancing now commenced, and the West Indian acquitted herself with great +propriety; for although she did not perform so well as the greater part of +the company, yet she was never awkward; and when at a loss for the figure, +she listened with modesty, and obeyed with precision the rules laid down to +her. Many of the party now <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 115]</span>assembled were amiable and obliging, but in so +large a number, some were of course present, whose manners were less +agreeable: but as Matilda considered herself one of the family, so she +deemed it her duty to partake their cares, and render every person as happy +as possible. She neither suffered rudeness to disturb her temper, nor +awkwardness to excite her contempt; her conduct, under every temptation of +this nature, was uniformly marked by self-command, modesty, and civility.</p> + +<p>There was in this young party two Master Eustons, who, happening to be +richer and a little older than the rest of the party, thought themselves +entitled to quiz all around them at some times, and lord it over them at +others. On their first coming into the room, they sought out Matilda, as a +proper companion for them, because they had heard her named as a great +West-Indian heiress; but when they saw her a modest, unassuming girl, they +rather shunned her, as not being likely to enter into their sports. These +boys would not have been voluntarily chosen as companions for his own by +such a careful and observant father as Mr. Harewood, but they were the +nephews of an old friend of his, and were then on a visit to their uncle, +who would have felt himself<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 116]</span> neglected if Mr. Harewood had not invited +them; and as, that gentleman very justly observed to his excellent lady, +his children must necessarily mix with the world, both at school and +elsewhere, it was desirable that they should do it sometimes under the eye +of those kind parents, who might teach them how to distinguish what was +good, and lead them, from general company, to choose particular society.</p> + +<p>There was also a young lady who wished to render herself the particular +companion of Matilda, for the same reason the Eustons had done, because she +considered her the most wealthy child in the place; and from her person, +and the elegance she observed in her mamma’s dress and manners, she +concluded that in a few years she would be the most dashing. It is +astonishing how soon the eye of even a child can discriminate, in that +particular which has been rendered the sole subject of its studies and the +grand object of its wishes; so that people who pique themselves upon being +men of the world, or women of fashion, are rivalled in all their boasted +knowledge and discernment by young creatures, whose faculties they may deem +very inefficient, and which are indeed so in all the higher requisites of +mind and the attainments of knowledge.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 117]</span>The parents of Miss Holdup, the young lady in question, had acquired a +large fortune, but were both called, at a very early period, from the +enjoyment of it; and this their only child was placed, by the will of her +father, under the sole guardianship of his solicitor, a man of integrity +and of large fortune, and without any children of his own; so that the +little girl had apparently every blessing her desolate situation demanded, +for kindness was accorded to her in the family, as an orphan, without a +rival, and her fortune was well secured by the skill of her guardian.</p> + +<p>But, alas! false judgment and mistaken indulgence rendered this situation +totally subversive of her improvement and her happiness; the lady to whose +care she was immediately consigned was a vain and dissipated woman, who had +no greater pleasure than in spending the fortune, laboriously acquired by +her industrious spouse, in all the various amusements the metropolis +presents to the idle and extravagant part of the community; and although +she was what is generally termed a very good-natured woman, yet the moment +her schemes of diversion or expense were thwarted, she could be as pettish, +sullen, or even vulgar and violent, as the lowest servant. She piqued<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 118]</span> +herself on being a woman of family, and when little Miss Holdup came into +her household, the first care she took with her was to eradicate, as far as +possible, the memory of her parents, and all their former connections, from +her mind.—“My dear child, now you are, by great good fortune, got into a +gentleman’s family, remember you must never mention those creatures in the +city your mamma used to visit. I must have no cheese-factor cousins +introduced at my table; no, nor even the great linen-draper’s daughter that +gave you the doll; you have money enough to buy dolls of your own, and must +have no more concern with those kind of people now.”</p> + +<p>“But,” said the child, “I suppose I may talk about Miss Turner and her +sister Anne, because they nursed me through the measles, and my father said +I must always be grateful—I suppose he meant thankful, ma’am, for their +kindness.”</p> + +<p>“Who are they, child? if they are decent people, it alters the case +entirely.”</p> + +<p>“They are not decent people,” said the child, pettishly; “they are very +genteel people, and dress quite beautifully, and have a country-house, +where I have played many a time; and they have a fine <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 119]</span>instrument, and more +books than you have, and I love them dearly.”</p> + +<p>“But who are they, my dear?”</p> + +<p>“Why, to be sure, they are their father’s daughters, Mr. Turner, the great +baker; every body knows Mr. Turner’s shop, I suppose.”</p> + +<p>The lady was distressed. She began a speech, endeavouring to prove, that +although gratitude was very good in its place, yet, when it was advisable +to forget its object, then it was no longer good, but foolish, and +improper, and unfashionable; but she checked herself in the midst of this +exordium, by recollecting that the intellects of her pupil were unequal to +all investigation, but that her inclination, youth, and temper could be +more easily wrought upon. She began to load her with finery, take her to +the play, though she fell asleep in the second act, speak of her in her own +hearing as a wit and a beauty, shake her head knowingly whenever her city +connections were alluded to; and therefore it was no wonder that in a short +time the child forgot the friends she had loved, grew ashamed of the +parents she had honoured, learnt to prattle on subjects of which she knew +nothing, and to affect all the premature airs of a woman, with more than +the usual ignorance<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 120]</span> of a child, as children are now usually instructed.</p> + +<p>Perhaps a womanized child of this description is the most disagreeable +thing in existence, and is rendered only the more so, from any talent or +natural acuteness it may happen to possess, since that never fails to give +a spice of sin to what would otherwise be mere folly. The thinking mind +shudders at the airs of infantine coquetry and malicious sneers, which are +merely ludicrous to another stander-by; but how any person can be either +indifferent to such a waste and perversion of human nature, or behold it +with pleasure, is inconceivable. Mrs. Thornton was, however, so far the +dupe of her own folly, that she conceived Miss Holdup the finest child she +had ever known, and a decisive proof of her own talents for education. It +was true, she had lavished upon her all her stores of information, in the +same way that, agreeably to her own notions of dress and pleasure, she had +expended upon her sums which her husband thought prodigious; and the result +of both had been to make her what might be truly called a grand serious +pantomime, or an artificial curiosity, for nature was completely banished +her composition.</p> + +<p>“Look at my lovely ward,” she would<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 121]</span> exclaim, in rapture; “how totally +different she is from any other child! she will never be mistaken for one +of the lower order!”</p> + +<p>True; but neither could she be mistaken for a gentlewoman: the appearance +of the child was that of a figurante, ready equipped for her part at the +opera; for, although in her twelfth year, she wore trowsers and petticoats +that did not reach to her knees; they were, it is true, trimmed with the +most costly Mechlin, formed by the most tasteful milliner; but as her shape +was by no means graceful, and her mode of life, by harassing her into puny +ill health, kept her wretchedly thin, she resembled at a distance a small +windmill about to be set in motion; and when near her, it was impossible +not to believe that her clothes had been stripped to the middle, for the +sake of washing her bony shoulders perfectly clean.</p> + +<p>But, alas! the interior was more naked, or dressed in some parts merely for +exhibition: the poor child knew the steps of the last new dance and the +name of new music; she could finger a little, and knew a few words of +French from the vocabulary; but to the history of her country she was a +perfect stranger, and, what was far worse, was ignorant of all religion, +all duties. When she was out of temper, which was an <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 122]</span>increasing evil as +she grew up, she was told only that it “spoiled her face;” if she were +guilty of gluttony, she was warned against injuring her shape; but the real +motive of good action, the foundation of pure principles, the necessity of +self-control, were utterly unknown to her; she never saw them acted upon, +nor heard them explained.</p> + +<p>Such was the girl who now, with a bustling parade of affection, singled out +Matilda as the only child whom she thought worthy of her patronage, and +whom she intended to win and to use, when it suited her, in the very same +way that ladies of twice her age so frequently make their selection of +friends in the acquaintance of an hour.</p> + +<p>Miss Holdup was disappointed in perceiving that Matilda did not act as if +she were much pleased, or much flattered, by her partiality; but this she +imputed to pride, and being very proud herself, she concluded that, on a +little farther acquaintance, it would only render them better friends. +Besides, she observed that Ellen was at present the dearest friend of +Matilda; and although she considered this a degrading choice, yet she had +patience to wait, and cunning enough to aid, the time when Matilda should +see the superiority of such a girl as herself to poor Ellen, whom she +concluded to be simple,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 123]</span> because she perceived her to be modest and mild.</p> + +<p>In the blithesome round of gaiety inspired by dancing, designs and airs of +all kinds were for a time forgotten, and the sprightly movements of the +feet kept pace with the hilarity of heart which banishes, for a time, all +those unnatural combinations which disgrace the ingenuous breast of early +life; but when a pause was given for the purpose of refreshment, various +little parties were formed for conversation, and Miss Holdup contrived to +monopolize Matilda, in a way that was painful to Ellen, disrespectful to +the rest of the party, and embarrassing to her who was thus singled out; +who became, with some, an object of envy, because the most fashionable girl +distinguished her; with others, one of contempt, for the same reason. It +will be readily conceived that Miss Holdup was never insignificant: where +she did not attract admiration, she never failed to excite contempt: and as +the party were, of course, for the most part amiable and well-educated +children, whom Mr. and Mrs. Harewood held up as examples to their own, so +the greater number, by many, regarded this young lady as a weak, ridiculous +girl, whose appearance excited surprise and disgust, and whom nothing but +good manners could prevent them<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 124]</span> from laughing at; and Matilda felt herself +involved, from her union with her, in that kind of snare which, of all +others, was the most galling to her, as from her very cradle she could +never endure to be laughed at.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood perceived, from the expression of her countenance, that she +laboured under very considerable vexation, and she was at times afraid +that, by some irritating expression or haughty toss, Matilda would tarnish +the honours of the day, by giving a pang to the heart of that fond and +still happy parent, whose eyes were continually bent upon her, but who +wished to see her act on the present occasion, without those influences her +more immediate presence was likely to inspire. While with all the anxiety +of a true friend, this good lady watched Matilda, a quick rattling sound +was heard against the windows, and Matilda, a little surprised by the +sound, and desirous of escaping the tedious and affected conversation of +Miss Holdup, inquired what it was that she heard.</p> + +<p>“Quiz the West Indian,” said the younger Euston; “she never saw it hail +before.”</p> + +<p>With a very grave face, the elder immediately came up to her, and told her +it was raining comfits—“If you please,” said he, “you may see them through +the windows, for it is not dark, though the moon is clouded.”<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 125]</span></p> + +<p>Matilda went eagerly to the window, for she was curious to observe a +phenomenon entirely new to her. She soon perceived thousands of little +balls, that fell as hard as stones, lying on the ground and the window +frames, and she was desirous of examining them further; but just as she was +turning to make inquiries of her friend Edmund, young Euston interrupted +her, by saying—“Well, Miss Hanson, you now see the comfits; would you like +to taste them? if you please, I will get you a spoonful.”</p> + +<p>“I should like to have a few certainly,” replied she, “and will feel +obliged to you to procure me some of them.”</p> + +<p>“Hush, hush!” said the young ones to each other, all desirous to see how +Matilda would look, many merely from that love of play which is inherent at +their age, others from a malicious spirit which is too frequently blended +with a passion for fun. Mr. Harewood apparently took no notice, but he +hovered about them, and had the satisfaction of hearing several girls +condemn the Eustons, and profess an intention of saving Matilda from +swallowing the cold hailstones.</p> + +<p>“You may be easy,” said Edmund, as they stood consulting together on the +subject, when in ran the youth with eagerness, crying—“Here is a spoonful +of beautiful <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 126]</span>comfits; now open your mouth and shut your eyes—that is the +way to taste them in perfection.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir; I do not want to eat them; I know they must be snow, some +kind of condensed snow, or ice, and I wished to examine them.”</p> + +<p>“Snow! how you talk!—it never snows in July.”</p> + +<p>“It never snows at all in my country—of course I know little about it; but +unless Edmund assures me to the contrary, I shall certainly conclude that +these little balls are frozen rain-drops, of the same nature with snow.”</p> + +<p>“You are perfectly right, Matilda,” said Edmund, “and you have quizzed your +quizzers very completely.”</p> + +<p>“Miss Hanson has studied natural philosophy,” said a young lady, +sneeringly, being one of those who sought Miss Holdup’s acquaintance. “I +always thought that young ladies in the West India islands studied physical +subjects more than any other.”</p> + +<p>“Physical subjects!” exclaimed several of the party; “how very strange a +study! what a very singular thing for girls to think of!”</p> + +<p>“I think you are quite mistaken,” said Ellen, with more spirit than was +usual to<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 127]</span> her; for, although she could not conceive that there was any harm +in the study, she saw plainly that some spleen was intended against +Matilda, and she loved her too dearly, to stand by whilst any wound was +inflicted which her interference might avert. Though the most gentle and +unoffending in her nature, yet she was capable of warm and active +friendship, and, of course, was not a little astounded and hurt when the +young lady replied—“Surely, Miss Harewood, you cannot be ignorant that all +our great medical practitioners torture and kill animals, for the purpose +of ascertaining the nature of diseases, and, in many cases, undoubtedly for +the purpose of learning how much suffering bodies of a certain size and +texture are capable of enduring? Now I don’t doubt, Miss Hanson, being so +wise in other matters, can tell you exactly how much pain is necessary to +kill a slave, how many stripes a child can endure, and how long hunger, +beating, and torturing, may be applied without producing death; and prove +that in case they do destroy a few blackies, that don’t signify, if they +can afford to buy more.”</p> + +<p>“Well, and suppose Miss Hanson did kill some of those creatures,” cried +Miss Holdup, “she can afford to buy more; at least, her mamma can, which is +much the same; though<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 128]</span> to be sure, ’tis a fine thing to be independent. For +my part, I think there is ten times more said about those filthy negroes +than signifies: dear me! they are not to compare to my Frisky; ’tis the +most angelic creature of a dog! worth fifty blacks any day, unless, to be +sure, they were in handsome liveries.”</p> + +<p>Matilda had suffered in every nerve while the first lady spoke, but the +defence of the second hurt her ten times more, as it appeared to indicate a +hardness of heart, a daring to make light of a most solemn subject, and one +to which she had given much serious thought, and she hastily plucked away +the arm Miss Holdup had taken, and would have retired, but she was hemmed +in by a circle, and could not escape. The young lady replied to her +advocate, in a fawning voice—“Ah, dear Miss Holdup! you are fond of +defending any body you take a fancy for; but I am certain, if you were +really on the spot, you could not bear to <em>see</em> those things your <em>new</em> +friend has been in the habit of <em>doing</em>. I am told, mere children amuse +themselves in Barbadoes with sticking pins into the legs of little +children, dropping scalding sealing-wax upon their arms, and cutting lines +and stars in their necks with knives and scissors.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” added one of the Eustons, “and<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 129]</span> the most delicate ladies are waited +upon by naked slaves, whose bare backs are probably bleeding from the +recent effects of a sound whipping, inflicted, probably, because Missy’s +dolly had fallen, and broken her nose, out of Missy’s own hands.”</p> + +<p>“Shocking creatures!”—“Dreadful wretches!”—“Wicked creatures!”—“How +terrible!”—“How abominable!” were exclamations naturally uttered on every +side, and those who, on Matilda’s innocent triumph, had in the first +instance pressed around her, now withdrew from her side, shrinking as from +something monstrous and loathsome in nature; and such was the bustle and +confusion between those who were eager to inquire, and those who were more +eager to inform, that the few who endeavoured to divert attention from the +subject, or insist upon the pictures presented being overcharged, could not +be heard.</p> + +<p>Matilda, overwhelmed with burning blushes, was utterly unable to articulate +a syllable, much less to stem the torrent which, in accusing her country in +general terms, was aimed at her in particular: her conscience accused her +of many crimes, which, though far removed from atrocity like this, were yet +utterly unjustifiable, and, as she now believed, might have led to the +utmost limits<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 130]</span> of tyranny, cruelty, and oppression; and all she felt or +feared in her own conduct, seemed to rise to her memory, and stamp +conscious guilt on her expressive features; and while thus labouring under +the torments of a wounded spirit, the Eustons, rejoicing in her confusion, +pointed it out as a certain proof of her conscience upbraiding her, and a +fresh volley of crimes and accusations were poured forth. It was in vain +that Edmund attempted to be heard, and that Charles challenged every one to +fight in her behalf, and that Ellen, with distressed vociferation and tears +gushing into her eyes, kept again and again exclaiming—“It is <em>not</em> +true—I am sure it is not; there are many good people in the West Indies, +and nobody can be so wicked in the wide world. You tell these tales on +purpose to make us ill—fie! fie!”</p> + +<p>The agonized countenance of Ellen, by presenting a striking contrast to its +usual expression of mild benevolence, told Mr. Harewood it was time for him +to interfere. He had, for some minutes, hovered near, perceiving some kind +of conspiracy, and thinking that his presence would be less observed than +that of either of the ladies; and at his near approach, the aggrieved, +accused, discomfited Matilda, whose eyes had been long cast on the ground, +ventured<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 131]</span> to look up; for although she had a considerable general feeling +of awe for Mr. Harewood, yet she had the most perfect reliance on his +justice and kindness; and ashamed and conscious of past error as she now +was, she yet felt assured of his protection and mercy.</p> + +<p>The moment her eye met his, she felt all her hopes confirmed; and in the +joy and exultation it gave her, she acquired strength to burst through the +crowd; rushing forward, she sought refuge in his arms, and laid her burning +cheek on the kind hand he extended towards her.</p> + +<p>Ellen, at this moment, was, for the first time, attended to, as she cried +out, with still stronger pathos—“Dear papa, I am so glad you are here! for +you will tell us the <em>truth</em>—you will convince every body, that people in +the West Indies do not torture their poor slaves for nothing but their own +wicked pleasure.”</p> + +<p>“My dear little advocate, as I have never been in the West Indies, I have +no right to contradict such evidence as has been brought forward by +respectable witnesses.”</p> + +<p>A cry of exultation began to pass the lips of the Euston party; but they +were silent, as Mr. Harewood began to speak again.</p> + +<p>“I am the more inclined to think these<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 132]</span> cruelties may sometimes take place +in our islands, because I have myself witnessed similar effects in this +country, where the barbarians who practised them were much curtailed in +their power, and proved rather the disposition than the actual treatment of +which you speak towards their unhappy victims.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed!” exclaimed they, with anxious curiosity, pressing nearer to the +speaker.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” added Mr. Harewood, raising his voice, and assuming a serious +aspect, “I have this very evening heard words applied to the heart of an +unoffending individual, more painful than the lash, and seen looks directed +against her, more torturing than any of the hateful operations you have +mentioned; and I have not the least hesitation in saying, that those who +could thus treat an amiable fellow-creature, and one who, as a stranger, is +thrown upon their kindness, and entitled at least to their politeness, +would, if they had the power, wound the body also, and might, by hardening +their hearts against the claims of humanity, in a short time become capable +of every possible enormity.”</p> + +<p>An awful silence, strikingly contrasted with the late lively dance and its +following conversational bustle, now sat on every<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 133]</span> tongue; the +self-convicted were ashamed of their conduct, the doubtful satisfied, and +the friendly delighted; and desirous of stamping an important lesson, in +the moment of awakened feeling and intelligence, Mr. Harewood continued to +say—“Human nature, alas! is full of bad propensities; and when situation +and the power of indulgence strengthen them, no wonder that man becomes +selfish first, then hard-hearted, and lastly, even ferocious towards +others. When, enlightened by education and taught by religion, he rises +from this state of barbarity, and becomes not only civilized, but humane, +gentle, condescending, and charitable, he merits great praise, for he has +achieved great labour—he has conquered great difficulty; the very angels +in heaven rejoice over him; and this child, this blushing, trembling, +self-condemning, but self-corrected child, has done this. Look up, my dear +Matilda! let who will sneer at you, I am proud of you; and there is not one +person present who would not honour themselves, if they could secure your +friendship. I was the first to correct you, nor will I ever flatter you; +but I will always protect and defend you, so long as you continue to merit +the high regard I now feel for you.”</p> + +<p>The sweetest tears she had ever shed now<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 134]</span> ran down the cheeks of Matilda, +as Mr. Harewood pronounced this eulogy; and it will be easily conceived, +that all the really good and sensible part of the company eagerly sought to +soothe her spirits, and convince her of their regard, while her late +tormentors either slunk away, as much ashamed as they were despised, or by +an ingenuous confession of error, paved the way for returning esteem.</p> + +<p>Miss Holdup arrogated to herself great praise for having defended what she +called the right side; and so delighted was poor Ellen with every body and +every thing which favoured her young friend, that she began to take a great +fancy to the silly affected girl, merely because she thought that she loved +Matilda; but Matilda herself felt that her severest pang had arisen from +the very defence thus adopted; and while she thanked Miss Holdup for her +good wishes, she yet shrank more than ever from forming an intimate +acquaintance with one whom she considered as little better than an +automaton figure on which fine clothes might be hung, and whose tongue had +been taught to move, for the purpose of repeating the silly gibberish which +ill-formed women repeat to uninformed children, in order to render<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 135]</span> them as +stupid, proud, and silly as themselves.</p> + +<p>On the following day, the party were naturally the subject of conversation, +and Mrs. Hanson had great pleasure in finding that the bedizened doll, who +had been so decidedly her daughter’s companion the evening before, was by +no means her chosen one, that distinction being reserved for Ellen only, +whose kind heart would have been almost broken, had she imagined such a +partiality indeed reciprocal, but who was as free from jealousy of Miss +Holdup, as she was full of confidence in Matilda.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood on this occasion remarked, that she had never seen two girls +more likely to form a mutual and lasting friendship than Ellen and Matilda, +because they were likely mutually to benefit each other, since they would, +she trusted, possess the same good principles and dispositions, but each +having a character of her own, would become serviceable to the other. +Matilda had more discrimination and firmness than Ellen, who, on her part, +had a forbearance, patience, and gentleness, which nature as well as habit +had in a degree left her friend but poorly provided with; but she said it +would not be surprising if their mutual affection and reciprocal admiration +should, in time, ingraft<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 136]</span> the virtues of each upon the other, and she hoped +to see Matilda as meek as Ellen, and Ellen as firm and energetic as +Matilda.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>THE happy family-party at Mr. Harewood’s was necessarily soon broken up, as +Mrs. Hanson took a house at Brompton, on account of the mildness of the +air, and the young friends were then separated. Their removal was +facilitated by the arrival of that West-Indian lady and her little girl, +whom we have already mentioned, as being stripped of nearly all her +possessions, and whom Mr. and Mrs. Harewood were desirous of accommodating +in their house, until some plan for her future situation should be fixed +upon. They were not of that number who can receive a rich friend with +pleasure, and leave a poor one to shift for themselves; on the contrary, +Mrs. Weston and her little Harriet were received by them, not only with +affection, but with all consideration due to her former situation.</p> + +<p>As soon as Mrs. Hanson had arranged her household at Brompton, she hastened +to<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 137]</span> invite Mr. and Mrs. Harewood and their family to spend an early day +with her, and was then introduced to Mrs. Weston, whom she knew well by +report, and for whose altered situation she was truly concerned, especially +after she became acquainted with her, as the suavity of her manners, the +quiet dignity of mind, and unaffected resignation with which she bore her +misfortunes, could not fail to prepossess her in favour of so wise and good +a sufferer, who was likewise so cheerful and willing to be happy.</p> + +<p>Harriet was a little girl, about six years old at this time, a tolerably +good child but certainly subject to the same errors (though in a far less +degree) which had formerly distinguished Matilda; and as she wanted +incessantly somebody to do something for her, and there was no longer a +slave at her command, her mother was too frequently obliged to be that +servant—a circumstance which rendered the young Harewoods much less fond +of Harriet than they would otherwise have been, and which, at times, tried +the temper of even the gentle Ellen.</p> + +<p>Matilda’s whole mind was absorbed by this little girl, on whom she +continually cast looks of the deepest interest; her mother imputed the +serious air she wore to a regret<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 138]</span> very natural at her age, on revisiting +the house where she had been so happy, and she felt some fears lest it +should continue to haunt her mind: she had likewise many forebodings as to +the future education of her daughter, being sensible that she had enjoyed +advantages in Mr. Harewood’s house of no common character; and she very +candidly related all that was passing in her mind to that kind lady, whose +maternal love for her child rendered her the most proper judge for the +future, as she had proved herself the truest friend for the past.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood very strenuously recommended her to procure a good governess +for her daughter, as it was hardly to be expected that she could bring +herself to part with her only child, otherwise a school might have been +more advantageous to a girl of such an active and social disposition; but, +above all, she pressed Mrs. Hanson to endeavour to preserve in her that +spirit of humility which never fails to produce obedience, subdue passion, +and open the mind for the reception and nurture of every virtue.</p> + +<p>On the arrival of Mrs. Hanson, Mrs. Harewood had left the real improvements +of Matilda to be discovered by circumstances; and as the mother and +daughter were seldom apart, she had not spoken of the kind and<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 139]</span> charitable +actions which Matilda had performed, fearful of injuring by praise those +blossoms which were now only beginning to expand; but she now dilated on +them with pleasure, both to the happy mother and Mrs. Weston; and such was +the effect of this discourse on the former, that tears of pleasure and +gratitude to Heaven ran down her cheek. Matilda, although still engaged +with the child, catching a view of her mother under this emotion, could not +forbear running up to her, and tenderly inquired what was the matter.</p> + +<p>“Nothing at all, my love, at least nothing painful; we have been speaking +of you—I am anxious to engage you a governess.”</p> + +<p>“Well, mamma, and will Mrs. Weston be so good as to undertake me?”</p> + +<p>The ladies all started, but by no means with any symptom of dismay, +although Mrs. Hanson said, with some confusion, to Mrs. Weston—“My little +girl takes a great liberty, ma’am, but you must pardon her premature +request; she fancies you are an old friend, I believe, because you are her +countrywoman.”</p> + +<p>“I wish sincerely I had any other claim to being considered her friend, +madam, as in that case——”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Weston suddenly checked herself,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 140]</span> her colour rose, and the tears stood +in her eyes.</p> + +<p>“Suffer me, my dear friend, to interpret your silence for Mrs. Hanson;—in +<em>that</em> case you would not object to undertaking the charge which Matilda +has very innocently, though very abruptly, been willing to assign to you?”</p> + +<p>“If you are a faithful interpreter, I will call you a most agreeable one,” +said Mrs. Hanson, “for Mrs. Weston would be an equal acquisition to both me +and my daughter.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Weston wiped her eyes—“Believe me, dear ladies,” said she, “I am +grateful for your good opinion, and truly desirous of profiting by your +kind offer; but you are both mothers, and will, I am certain, consider my +situation as such. I am but newly arrived; it will take some time to wean +my poor child from her habits; and to send one so very young to school, is +a painful consideration; in a few months I shall be happy indeed to avail +myself of your goodness, and enter with pleasure on so promising a task.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hanson was just going to express her entire approbation of this +proposal, when Matilda, with a modest, but earnest air, entreated +permission to speak, which was immediately granted.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 141]</span>“Do not think me vain nor presuming, dear Mrs. Weston, if I say, that, +whilst you are my governess, I will, with my mamma’s permission, become +little Harriet’s governess; I am quite sure it will do us both a great deal +of good, for she will every hour remind me how much more naughty and +tiresome and provoking I used to be when I first came over, and teach me to +endure with patience, and remove with gentleness and firmness, the errors +which, in so young and engaging a child, claim my compassion rather than +blame. I shall love her very dearly, I am certain, because I see she is of +a loving temper, notwithstanding her faults; and I am certain, if she feels +as I do, she will love me for curing her of them; then I will teach her all +I know, and as I shall improve every day, you know I shall improve her +also! Dear mamma, pray let me try! I do not know any way in which a girl +like me can show gratitude to God so effectually, as in endeavouring to +make my fellow-creature as happy as myself, and especially my own little +countrywoman.”</p> + +<p>The tenderness and earnestness with which this request was urged, as well +as the excellent motive, ensured its success; and in a few days the mother +and daughter removed together to Brompton, and a regular system<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 142]</span> of +education was entered upon, which was indeed attended with the most happy +effects, although it is probable that Matilda found her new office abound +with trials, of which she could form no idea until experience taught her. +It is however certain, that she received as much benefit as she +communicated, and that she learned the lessons of virtue whilst imparting +them to her little pupil, who proved a very tractable and intelligent +child, after she had become weaned from those habits which were in a great +measure inseparable from her late situation in life. It is probable that +but for this stimulus to her exertions, Matilda would have neglected her +education, and sunk into indolent habits, for want of those excitements +which she had found in the society of Ellen and her brothers; whereas now +she endeavoured, at every meeting with this dear family, to exhibit some +improvement or attainment in her pupil, and these were inevitably connected +with her own.</p> + +<p>But notwithstanding the advantages Matilda possessed, and her earnest +desire to profit by them, and even the actual improvement she evinced, our +young readers must not suppose either that she was perfect, or that she had +attained that standard of excellence of which she was capable. Many a<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 143]</span> +moment of petulance occurred with her provoking little pupil, and airs of +arrogance were apt to swell her bosom, upon those occasions which called +out the superiority of her fortune, or the exhibition of those talents +which could not fail to be remarked in her situation of life. But on these +occasions it was never difficult for Mrs. Weston or her good mamma to +recall her to a sense of the folly and guilt of indulging such a temper; +for her religious principles were deeply ingrafted, and her sensibility +genuine and active; so that the moment her mind perceived that she was +wounding a fellow-creature, and thereby offending God, her heart revolted +from her own conduct, and she lost not a moment in retracting the +assertions of anger, and rendering, as far as she was able, every atonement +for her error.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>TIME passed, and the children of either house exhibited those gradual +changes which are scarcely perceptible to a parent’s eye, under which they +so constantly remain. The young men exchanged school for college;<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 144]</span> the +girls, under the protecting guardianship of their mothers, were taken into +public; and a new sense of care, on a new ground, pervaded those anxious +hearts, which beat but for their beloved offspring, and which were perhaps +most solicitous for them, at the time they were indulging the innocent and +artless gaiety natural to their age.</p> + +<p>As Edmund Harewood had ever been a thoughtful youth, and possessed talents +which were likely to render his study of the law beneficial both to himself +and the community, Mr. Harewood changed his opinion as to the profession he +intended him to pursue, and directed him to prepare for the bar, to the +entire satisfaction of the young man.</p> + +<p>Charles had for some time evinced a great desire to enter the army; but as +his mother could not conquer her feelings, so far as to permit it, he was +at length induced to resign the scheme entirely; but his anxiety to travel +continuing as strong as ever, Mr. Harewood promised, if possible, to +procure him some situation in life which would allow him to indulge his +wishes, consistent with his duty; but this was conceded on the express +terms of his diligent application to study; and as he perceived himself the +positive necessity of becoming a good <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 145]</span>linguist, he applied himself to +learning the modern languages with great assiduity.</p> + +<p>Ellen grew up a pretty girl, but her figure was diminutive, and the +gentleness and docility which had been ever her happiest characteristic, +diffused a charm of feminine softness over her whole person, which was to +many very attractive, though not striking. The equanimity of her temper had +the effect of perpetuating that smooth and dimpled description of +countenance which is peculiar to childhood; so that, although a year older +than Matilda, she appeared younger; and when they were seen together among +strangers, she was considered as a younger sister, supported by the kind +attentions of her superior; for Matilda, although very modest, was +dignified, and her person, being elegant and tall, confirmed the idea.</p> + +<p>In a short time, Mrs. Hanson received several offers from men of fortune +for Matilda, all of which were politely but positively refused; for the +poor girl always showed a decided dread of leaving her mother, and very +justly observed, that a very intimate acquaintance was necessary between +persons who bound themselves to so sacred and indissoluble a connection as +marriage; and although naturally too generous and ingenuous to suspect +others of acting from <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 146]</span>unworthy motives, she was yet aware that a young +woman who has a large fortune in her own disposal, and who has neither +father nor brother to investigate the private character of those who +address her, has need of a more than ordinary share of prudence, and will +be wise in delaying a consent which deprives her of all control over the +wealth of which Providence has appointed her steward.</p> + +<p>Although thus wise in her decision on this important point, and ever +assigning reasons which showed how utterly unbiassed her affections were +towards the candidates for her favour, yet Matilda did not always act with +equal wisdom; she was excessively fond of dancing, and as she acquitted +herself with uncommon grace, perhaps vanity furnished her with an +additional motive for her desire to partake this amusement more frequently +than it suited her mamma; and once she accepted an invitation to a private +ball, when Mrs. Weston was her chaperon. Waltzing was introduced, and +Matilda, though by no means pleased with the general style of the dance, +was struck with certain movements which she thought graceful, and the day +following began to practise them with her young <em>protégée</em>.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 147]</span>“I think you waltz very well,” said Mrs. Weston.</p> + +<p>“I soon should do so, I dare say, if I practised it; but as it was new to +me, I durst not venture last night, although I made a kind of half promise +to Sir Theodore Branson, that I would do it the very next time we met.”</p> + +<p>“Do you call that waltzing?” said Mrs. Hanson, laying down her netting; “it +appears to me to be more the work of the hands than the feet a great deal; +and you go round and round, child, very foolishly, till one grows giddy to +look at you—so, so—well, and what, do the gentlemen stand by to grow +giddy too?”</p> + +<p>“Dear mamma, the gentlemen waltz with the ladies; I said, you know, that +Sir Theodore wished me to do it, but I refused.”</p> + +<p>“You did perfectly right; I should have been much hurt if you had waltzed +with any man.”</p> + +<p>“It is very fashionable, mother.”</p> + +<p>“More the pity; but I am sure I need no argument against it to you, +Matilda.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, mamma, I see nothing against it—I think it very graceful; and I +am sure, if you had seen Lady Emma Lovell last night, you would have +thought so too.”</p> + +<p>“My admiration of her person would not<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 148]</span> for a moment have changed my +opinion of her conduct. I see beautiful women, who expose their persons in +a manner I decidedly condemn (as I know, Matilda, you do likewise); looking +at them as fine <em>statues</em>, I may admire the work of the great Artificer; +but the moment I consider them as <em>women</em> filling a respectable place in +society, the wives and daughters of men of rank and probity, and, what is +still stronger, women professing, at least nominally, to be members of the +Christian church, I turn from them with disgust and sorrow; and though I +sincerely despise all affectation of more exalted purity than others, I yet +will never hesitate to give my voice against a folly so unworthy of my sex, +and which can be only tolerated by women whose vanity has destroyed that +delicacy which is our best recommendation.”</p> + +<p>Matilda applied all her mother said to waltzing, and thought it was equally +just with the strictures she herself felt true, with regard to the mode of +dress adopted by some whom she met in public. Ellen and herself were ever +well, and even fashionably, dressed; but yet they avoided the fault they +condemned: for some time, the sisterly affection which really subsisted +between them, induced them to appear in similar dresses; but as Matilda +rose to womanhood,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 149]</span> a fear lest Ellen should be induced to expense, added +to some jokes that were passed upon her respecting Charles, induced her to +forego this plan, and Ellen had too much good sense to pursue it further; +and, as the acquaintance of Mrs. Hanson increased, Matilda was necessarily +led into parties where Ellen could not meet her; so that they became in +some degree divided in person, but their attachment remained the same. Mrs. +Hanson was desirous that her daughter should take a more extensive view of +society than was necessary for Ellen; she dreaded an early marriage for +her, although she thought it desirable to bring her into society, being +persuaded that young women of large fortune too frequently are rendered +unhappy in the marriage state, by being dazzled at their first outset in +life by the novelty, and gaiety of the scene around them, which leads them +to expect a continuance of the same brilliant career, incompatible with the +duties of that state into which they incautiously plunge; whereas a short +time passed in life, would show them the inefficacy of trifling amusement +and splendid show to procure real satisfaction, and lead them to +investigate those circumstances in the minds and situations of their +admirers, most likely to ensure their future felicity, and most consonant<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 150]</span> +with their real wants and wishes. The judicious mother saw, with the truest +pleasure, that the well-turned mind of her daughter ever pointed to the +scenes of simple enjoyment and virtuous intelligence which illumined her +early years; but, in her peculiar situation, she was aware that Matilda, to +a certain degree, should adopt the apostle’s advice—“Try all things, +cleave to that which is good.”</p> + +<p>On the other hand, Mr. and Mrs. Harewood, as the young people advanced +towards maturity, had felt it a point of delicacy, however sincere and +ardent their friendship might be, in a slight degree to abstain from that +intimate and daily intercourse which had so long and happily subsisted +between the families. The days were past when Charles could romp with, or +Edmund instruct, Matilda; and although they held the same rank in society, +yet as the noble fortune of Matilda (increased materially by the retired +way in which her mother lived during her infancy) entitled her to marry a +nobleman, Mr. Harewood did not choose that the presence of his sons should +cause reports which might prevent her from receiving offers of this nature. +He was attached to Matilda, as if she had indeed been his child, but he was +too independent, as well as too honest, to render<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 151]</span> either his present +affection, or his past services, the medium of increasing the general +regard Matilda had manifested for both his sons into a decided predilection +for either: nor was he aware that either of the young men had for her that +peculiar attachment which a man ought to feel for a wife. Edmund was wrapt +<em>apparently</em> in a profession which is in its own nature absorbing, and +Charles appeared too eager to travel to have any tendency to early +marriage.</p> + +<p>About a week after the foregoing conversation had taken place between +Matilda and her mother, the former went again to a ball, with a lady of +rank, who engaged to be her guardian for the night, as Mrs. Hanson and Mrs. +Weston had both caught severe colds, from being out late together.</p> + +<p>Lady Araminta Montague, the conductor of Matilda for the evening, was a +fashionable and showy woman, who never appeared in public without being +surrounded by all those who affected to be considered persons of taste, and +fitted to move in the first style. She was now sought with more than common +avidity, on account of her attractive companion, whom she endeavoured to +show off in the happiest manner, by leading the light conversation of the +moment to subjects familiar to Matilda’s observation, or likely<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 152]</span> to draw +from her those remarks in which the ability and talent she possessed would +be naturally, yet strikingly, displayed. Of this species of kindness +Matilda was wholly unconscious, as it was one which her own friends had +never adopted; when, therefore, she found herself the universal centre of +attraction in the room, it was no wonder that her spirits were unusually +elated, and her vanity took the lead; so that when the sprightly dance +added its intoxicating powers, and her mind was entranced by the pleasure +of the moment, she forgot the resolutions and opinions formed in a wiser +hour.</p> + +<p>When the first two country-dances were over, several parties began, as on +the preceding night, to form into couples for the purpose of waltzing, at +that time a novelty in this country; and while Matilda was looking at them, +to her surprise, Sir Theodore Branson just entered the room, and asked the +honour of her hand, which he almost claimed as a promise.</p> + +<p>This young gentleman was considered the handsomest man, and the most +elegant dancer, in the circles of fashion. That he was at once a shallow +coxcomb and an encroaching acquaintance, unfortunately did not prevent many +young ladies from desiring him as a partner; and when Matilda <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 153]</span>perceived +the leer of envy, and the pause of observation directed towards her, she +half gave him her hand, being conscious that her own figure and style of +dancing would be superior to any other of the candidates for admiration +that had preceded her; yet she paused, remembering her mother’s words, and, +with a kind of anxious, fearful gaze, that fell like a veil over the +exultation and gaiety of her features, she looked an appeal to the lady who +was her guide, or ought to have been.</p> + +<p>“Really, my dear, I don’t know what to say; but as the thing is new, if you +are not quite <em>au fait</em>, you will be pardoned, and Sir Theodore is so +admirable a partner, I really think you may venture to try.”</p> + +<p>Matilda, in a calmer moment, would have seen how totally distinct her +ladyship’s fears were from those of her mother; but the flutter of her +spirits, the demands of her vanity, and the address of her partner, +combined to hurry her forward, and she found herself in the midst of the +group before she was aware: it was then too late to recede: the motion for +a short time restored her spirits; but as the arm of Sir Theodore encircled +her waist, deep confusion overwhelmed her, she blushed to a degree that was +absolutely painful; and though unable, in the hurry of the motion, to +entertain a positive reflection, yet a<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 154]</span> thousand thoughts seemed to press +at once for admittance, all tinged with self-reproach; and at length, +unable to endure them, she suddenly laid her hand upon her forehead, and +ran, or rather reeled, to her seat.</p> + +<p>As it was the nature of the dance to produce the sensation of dizziness, +this circumstance excited no particular attention, and her partner merely +rallied her upon it, with that air of <em>badinage</em> young men now-a-days +pretty generally adopt. Every word he uttered was distressing to Matilda, +who felt as if she were insulted by his freedom, and had degraded herself +too far to enjoy the right of resenting it; her native pride, however, +contending with her self-condemnation, she removed her hand from her eyes, +in order to give him a look which would repel his impertinence, and, to her +utter astonishment, saw three gentlemen standing before, and looking +earnestly upon her; two of these were her friends, Edmund and Charles +Harewood.</p> + +<p>The moment she looked up, the first withdrew, but Charles and the stranger +advanced; they did not, however, find it very easy to approach her, guarded +as she was by the officious Sir Theodore; but as Charles was not easily +balked in any intention he had formed, he succeeded in inquiring after her<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 155]</span> +health, and introducing his friend Mr. Belmont to her.</p> + +<p>“I am very glad—I mean I did not know you were here,” said Matilda +confusedly.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Belmont introduced us. We only arrived from Oxford yesterday, and +Ellen, being very anxious that Mr. Belmont should see you, proposed our +coming hither.”</p> + +<p>A little relieved from observing that Edmund still did not join them, under +whose eye she felt that she should have shrunk, Matilda ventured to look at +Mr. Belmont, recollecting that she had frequently heard him mentioned as +the friend of both the brothers, during their residence at Oxford, and that +he had been the visitant of the family the preceding winter, when she was +on an excursion to Bath; she knew that he was highly esteemed by the +family, and, aware in what a favourable point of view their affection for +her would lead them to represent her, the idea that her first introduction +had taken place at a moment which, of all others, she most regretted, was +really insupportable to her.</p> + +<p>Lady Araminta endeavoured, by her praise, to remove the chagrin which her +ingenuous countenance (ever the faithful harbinger of her thoughts) +betrayed so plainly—“I assure you, my dear,” said she, “that for some +time<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 156]</span> you performed very prettily; didn’t you think so, Mr. Harewood?”</p> + +<p>“Pardon me, my lady, from differing with you—I have seen a country actress +do it much better: indeed I said so at the moment—Belmont knows I did; and +my brother observed that——”</p> + +<p>At this moment the country-dance was recommenced, and Matilda was hurried +away, although her solicitude to hear what Edmund said amounted to misery; +but as Charles was addressing Lady Araminta, not her, it was impossible to +ask; besides, no small portion of anger at Edmund mingled with her +anxiety—he had never yet approached her. She knew indeed that his ideas of +feminine decorum were rigid; but still he had no right to resent her +conduct, or he might have told her as a friend, as he used to do, wherein +she erred. As these thoughts struck upon her mind, he passed her in the +dance, and made her a profound bow of recognition; she watched to the +bottom, and perceived him engaged in earnest conversation with a very +lovely young person, whom she remembered as one of those who refused to +waltz; again her heart smote her, yet her anger was the most predominant +emotion, and she felt as if Edmund Harewood had injured her beyond +forgiveness.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 157]</span>The waltzing recommenced, but the very name of it was now hateful to +Matilda, and she hastily entreated Lady Araminta to order her carriage. +Charles was near; accustomed to read her thoughts, he advanced to offer his +hand to lead her down stairs—“You are not well, Matilda,” said he, +tenderly—“at least not comfortable—I am sure you are not.”</p> + +<p>Matilda replied only by a smothered sigh.</p> + +<p>“They tell me,” continued Charles, “that you are about to marry Sir +Theodore Branson?”</p> + +<p>“’Tis false,” said Matilda, quickly, her bosom evidently palpitating with +shame and anger.</p> + +<p>“Then how could you think of waltzing with him? I am sure neither Edmund +nor myself would have dared (brothers as we once deemed ourselves) to have +taken—but—really I beg pardon, Miss Hanson; while I condemn another, I +intrude too far myself.”</p> + +<p>Matilda was just stepping into the carriage; she turned her eyes on +Charles—they were full of tears, tears such as he had seen in her +repentant eyes in early days; he was affected with them—he felt that the +latter part of his speech had hurt her—that she was not the fashionable +belle, but still the good girl he must love and admire.—“Then,” cried he,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 158]</span> +eagerly, “you will not marry that sprig of a baronet—eh, Matilda?”</p> + +<p>“I will not <em>indeed</em>.”</p> + +<p>“And do you not mean to waltz again?”</p> + +<p>“No; I was a fool once, but——”</p> + +<p>The carriage drove off, and Charles returned with a light heart to the +ball-room; but that of Edmund was very heavy, and the friends shortly left +the gay scene, and returned to Mr. Harewood’s.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>“I WILL never go any where again without you, indeed, mother, I am +determined,” said Matilda, with a sorrowful air, the following morning.</p> + +<p>This was the prelude to a confession of error, which in part relieved the +mind of Matilda: but she was still uneasy—she felt as if Charles would be +her apologist with his family, for an error they were likely to blame in +her; but the ardour of his manner made her feel much concerned for +<em>him</em>—he was dear to her—she felt for him a sister’s affection, but felt +that she could never be more to him than she was then. Anxious and +restless, she earnestly desired to see Ellen,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 159]</span> whose gentleness and +dispassionate good sense would soothe the fretfulness and allay the +uneasiness she felt; yet she could not bring herself to call on the +family—she had not the courage to meet Mr. and Mrs. Harewood, nor the +calmness with which she desired to see the brothers. While she was debating +what course to pursue, to her infinite relief she heard that Ellen had just +called with her father, and that both of them were in the library. Before +she had time to welcome them, Ellen, running up stairs, hurried with her +into the dressing-room, and closed the door with an air of secrecy which +showed her expectation of giving or receiving intelligence of importance, +and there was in her countenance an expression which combined both joy and +sorrow, and was really indefinable.</p> + +<p>Full of her own cares, and anxious to conceal the most interesting part of +them, Matilda for some time remained silent, nor did Ellen find the courage +requisite for her own communication; so that this much desired visit +promised little eventual satisfaction. To account for the situation of +Ellen, it is necessary to trace the events of the morning in her father’s +house.</p> + +<p>When the family were assembled to breakfast, the conversation naturally +turned upon<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 160]</span> the ball of the evening before; and Ellen, with friendly zeal, +sought to exculpate her friend Matilda from the errors which Mr. Belmont +seemed to think her guilty of, in exhibiting herself in a dance, by no +means decorous, with a young man of Sir Theodore’s description.—“I do not +say,” added he, “that it was a positively wrong thing, nor do I much wonder +at it; for a fine young woman, and an heiress, may be led a great way, by +the flatterers and sycophants who surround her; but I must own I expected +better things from the chosen friend of Ellen Harewood, from a girl +educated by a pious and sensible mother, and one said to possess a sound +understanding.”</p> + +<p>Edmund was silent, but his varying complexion bespoke the strong interest +he felt in the subject; Charles, on the contrary, warmly entered into it, +declaring that a few words which passed between Matilda and him clearly +proved that she had been misled by her party; that her sense of propriety +was as strong as ever; and, in short, that she was a dear, amiable, good +girl, whom he would defend as long as he lived.</p> + +<p>The warmth of Charles’s assertion called a smile from every one. During the +time he spoke, his father had been called out; the servant now entered, +desiring <em>his</em> presence<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 161]</span> also; and it appeared that their early visitant +was a man of great importance, and the cause of his calling at this time, +by awakening curiosity, suspended conversation. In a few minutes he +departed, and Mr. Harewood returned to the breakfast-room, saying as he +entered—“I am going to announce a piece of excellent news, although it is +accompanied by a loss we must submit to; our dear Charles is appointed to +be secretary to the embassy to ——, now preparing to embark.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harewood burst into tears; but as soon as she could speak, she +expressed her joy, while Ellen, in a broken voice, exclaimed—“Oh, what +will Matilda say, poor girl?”</p> + +<p>Edmund rushed out of the room, as if to seek his brother, but Mr. Belmont +well knew it was to conceal his emotion; no other person seemed to notice +Ellen’s unfortunate ejaculation, and when the door was closed, Mr. Belmont +congratulated the parents upon a circumstance so honourable and desirable +to their younger son; and as they well knew the sincerity of his character, +and the affection he felt for Charles, they freely confided to him their +feelings at the event; while Ellen innocently declared that she was very +glad he happened to be with them at the time, as he would be a substitute +for dear Charles.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 162]</span>“Ah!” said Mr. Belmont, “if you, Ellen, could persuade your parents, and, +what is in this case of more importance, your <em>own</em> heart, to consider me +not only now, but ever, a member of your family, I should be happy indeed.”</p> + +<p>Ellen, rather surprised at this speech than its import, for she had long +half hoped, half feared, to think on this interesting but awful subject, +turned to her mother, and hid her blushing cheek upon her shoulder, while +the parents exchanged looks of satisfaction with each other, and esteem +towards the speaker.</p> + +<p>“Mine, Ellen,” continued Mr. Belmont, “is neither a sudden nor violent +passion; I approach you by no flattery—I dazzle you by no exhibition; but +as I trust both my fortune and character will bear the scrutiny of your +friends, your only task, my sweet girl, is to examine your own heart, and +inquire there how far I am agreeable to your wishes. I have been a silent +admirer of your virtues, and I can be a patient attendant for your +decision.”</p> + +<p>Ellen gave one glance towards her mother—it answered all her wishes; she +turned, deeply blushing, to Mr. Belmont, and timidly, yet with an air of +perfect confidence, tendered him her hand; she would have spoken, but the +variety of emotion so suddenly called<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 163]</span> forth by the departure of her +brother, and the declaration of her lover, overpowered her, and he received +thus a silent, but a full consent to his wishes.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, Edmund had conquered the more immediate pang that +laboured at his heart, and, entering the library, had grasped the hand of +Charles, and uttered a few words of congratulation, but it was in a voice +so broken, that there was more of sorrow than joy in it.</p> + +<p>Charles had not the slightest doubt of his brother’s affection, he did not +therefore doubt for a moment the sincerity of his assertion, but he was +persuaded that the idea of his own situation, as being two years older, and +yet likely to remain dependent on his father for some years, was a sensible +mortification to him; and, feeling for his situation, he said—“Ay, my dear +fellow, there is a difference between us <em>now</em>, sure enough; but there is +no doubt of your doing well by and by; besides, you are the eldest, and +deserve to be so; I am sure father can never do too much for such a son as +you are, Edmund.”</p> + +<p>Edmund gazed in astonishment to hear Charles express himself with so much +ease, at a time when he expected his heart must be overpowered with +trouble; his fears lately<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 164]</span> excited by the agitation and warmth with which +Charles had vindicated Matilda, and the unguarded exclamation of Ellen, who +evidently thought her younger brother the favourite, now took another turn; +he surveyed Charles; he was just twenty-three—a tall, handsome young man, +and one who had ever been admired by the ladies. “Perhaps,” said he, +“internally, poor Matilda loves him, but without having her affection +returned: this accounts for the many great offers she has refused, for the +sympathy of Ellen, who knows her heart, and for the vindication she +undoubtedly made to him last night; whereas to <em>me</em> she was cold and +unintelligible.”</p> + +<p>While these painful thoughts rankled in the mind of the young barrister, +his happy brother was flying all over the house, receiving from the +servants the mixed congratulation of joy in his success and sorrow for his +departure; he had also joined the <em>coterie</em> in the parlour, wrung the hand +of his future brother-in-law, kissed his mother and Ellen, and thanked his +father twenty times for all his generous cares, before Edmund could muster +philosophy enough to join the family, and listen to its arrangements for +the day.</p> + +<p>It was at length agreed that Edmund should assist his mother in making up +a<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 165]</span> package of books, &c., for the traveller, who, accompanied by Belmont, +should visit the city for necessary arrangements; and Mr. Harewood, who +knew that Ellen would naturally wish to see Matilda, agreed to accompany +her thither, being at once desirous to communicate this various +intelligence to Mrs. Hanson, and to witness the effect Charles’s departure +would have upon Matilda, whom, at the bottom of his heart, he certainly +desired to have for a daughter, although he would have rejoiced in her +alliance with any worthy man.</p> + +<p>We return now to the young ladies in the dressing-room, each eager to hear +and to speak, yet each oppressed, though very differently, with solicitude. +At length, Ellen, her breast labouring with sighs, and fear lest she should +wound the heart of her friend, thus spoke: “We are going to lose Charles: +he has got an appointment, Matilda.”</p> + +<p>“And is he pleased with it, Ellen?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes! he seems quite happy: he is running all over the house, just in +his old way, and the servants are all laughing and crying about him, as if +he were still a school-boy.”</p> + +<p>“I am heartily glad of it—he has my sincerest good wishes, and I feel +certain of his success.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 166]</span>Ellen looked in the face of Matilda, to see if she did <em>indeed</em> rejoice; +she perceived a tear twinkle in the corner of her young friend’s eye, but +it was not the tear of sorrow. Ellen could now read the heart on subjects +of this kind; she felt that she had been completely mistaken in Matilda’s +supposed predilection, and she was almost sorry to see her so happy.</p> + +<p>“There is a—a—another affair going on at our house,” said Ellen, after a +pause.</p> + +<p>Matilda felt her heart beat with unusual violence; she could not speak, but +her very soul peeped out of her eyes to say—“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“It is not a parting; it—it—is a joining.”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” said Matilda, calling all her fortitude to her aid, “you are going to +have a wedding, eh?”</p> + +<p>“I believe it will come to that, indeed, some time.”</p> + +<p>Matilda turned as pale as death; but her colour rushed suddenly back to her +cheeks, as at this moment the door opened, and Mr. Harewood and Mrs. Hanson +broke on their <em>tête-à-tête</em>. The former felt assured that poor Matilda had +heard the destination of Charles, and was suffering under it; but as he +could hardly believe Mrs. Hanson would consent to her marriage with his +youngest son, and as he thought Charles himself had no<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 167]</span> thoughts of +marriage at this time, he could not allow himself to rejoice in her +predilection. To relieve her, he said—“Well, my dear, you heard how we are +situated, some of us parting for a time, some uniting for ever; I am sure +you rejoice in all that is good, in either of these cases.”</p> + +<p>Matilda, overpowered, burst into sudden tears.</p> + +<p>“My daughter is very nervous this morning,” said Mrs. Hanson; “she cannot +help being affected with such material changes in the state of those she +loves so well; you are aware her tears are those of joy, Mr. Harewood.”</p> + +<p>Matilda struggled to recover her composure, and, turning to Mr. Harewood, +she put both her hands into his, and said, with a low but earnest +voice—“My dear, <em>dear</em> sir, I do most truly rejoice in the prospect of any +good that can befall your family; I saw the—the young lady—the +bride-elect—she is very pretty—I hope she will be as good as she is +handsome; and I——”</p> + +<p>Matilda suddenly stopped, unable to articulate the rest of her good wishes, +and Mr. Harewood eagerly said—“As to <em>that</em> we will say nothing; I trust +Ellen will make a good wife; I am sure she has had a good example.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Ellen!</em>” screamed Matilda; “is it you,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 168]</span> Ellen? <em>you</em> that are going to be +married—you?”</p> + +<p>“Dear me, how astonished you look! I suppose I shall be married some time. +I told you that perhaps Mr. Belmont might, <em>some time</em>——”</p> + +<p>“My dear, <em>dear</em> Ellen, pardon my dulness, and accept my sincerest +congratulations. May Heaven bless you, and him you prefer, and make you +both as happy as you deserve to be!”</p> + +<p>“So, so!” cried Mr. Harewood; “if we had never come up stairs, this mighty +secret, which, for my part, I told an hour ago down stairs, would never +have been revealed. But pray, Matilda, who did you conclude was the +marrying person at our house, if it were not Ellen?”</p> + +<p>“You have sons, sir,” tremulously articulated Matilda, not choosing to +trust her tongue with a name that dwelt ever on her heart.</p> + +<p>“Oh, tut, tut, there is no marrying for my boys. Charles is disposed of, +and if Edmund can take a wife at thirty, he will be better off than many in +his profession; he is now but a little past five-and-twenty, you know.”</p> + +<p>“He danced with a very beautiful woman last night,” said Matilda, eagerly, +and with recovered vivacity.</p> + +<p>“So I understand; she is a bride, and his<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 169]</span> first fee was given for a +consultation on her marriage-settlements.”</p> + +<p>Matilda breathed; the lustre of her eye, the glow on her cheek, could not +be mistaken by the fond parent, who now clearly understood the cause of +Matilda’s frequent despondency, and the refusals she had given to all +offers of marriage.</p> + +<p>“I wish,” said Mrs. Hanson, “that you and Mrs. Harewood and our young +friends would dine with me: I am really impatient to be introduced to Mr. +Belmont.”</p> + +<p>“As you please, madam; the wanderer must certainly see you once more, and I +do not know that he can choose a better day.”</p> + +<p>Ellen proposed writing a note to her mother, and left the room with Mrs. +Hanson, when Mr. Harewood, perceiving that Matilda was again in confusion, +said, by way of diverting her attention—“You have seen Mr. Belmont, Miss +Hanson?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I have; and <em>he</em> has seen <em>me</em>, to my sorrow. You remind me of a +folly I have by no means forgiven in myself. I still want the eye of a +tutor, you see.”</p> + +<p>“Charles has, however, been your advocate so effectually, that I believe +not one of the family will ever remember it again.”</p> + +<p>“Not <em>one</em>!” said Matilda, blushing deeply.</p> + +<p>“Not <em>one</em>! Charles is a warm advocate.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 170]</span>“He is a dear good boy, and always was; I love him very much, and while I +rejoice in his good fortune, I shall be sorry to part with him.”</p> + +<p>Matilda’s frankness assured Mr. Harewood that her heart was free where he +had supposed it bound; he was anxious to read her farther; he saw that she +even sought investigation from him, in whom she confided as a friend and +father; but he again shrunk from the idea of undue influence, and while he +walked about irresolute, time passed, and Edmund and his mother entered the +drawing-room, and Matilda was called to receive them.</p> + +<p>An air of coldness and restraint pervaded the manners of both Edmund and +Matilda, to divert which, Mrs. Hanson began to relate the error into which +her daughter had fallen, from the <em>mauvaise honte</em> of Ellen, as she +supposed, and this led them to speak of the ball, and the characters of the +persons present. Of course, poor Matilda was again tormented by hearing +that Sir Theodore was universally believed to be her affianced lover, and +she expressed the most unqualified vexation at the report, declaring that +she would not go once into public again for seven years, rather than +encourage the presumption of the man, or the idle gossip of his admirers.</p> + +<p>As she spoke, Edmund was observed to gaze upon her with delight, and exult +in the<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 171]</span> declaration, as if it were necessary for his happiness; but when +she ceased to speak, he relapsed into melancholy.</p> + +<p>“The only way to silence such reports effectually,” said Mrs. Hanson, with +a tender smile, “will be to place yourself under the protection of some +worthy man, whose character you can indeed approve. I have ever objected to +your marrying under age, but I have no objection at all to your gaining +liberty, and relinquishing it at the same time. I hope, therefore, in +another year, to see you follow the example of Ellen, provided you can +choose as well as she has done.”</p> + +<p>“It is the only thing in which I cannot obey you, my dear mother,” replied +Matilda.</p> + +<p>Hurt with the extreme paleness which overspread the countenance of their +inestimable son, Mr. and Mrs. Harewood withdrew to the window; and Ellen, +whose heart wanted a pretext for watching the arrival of Belmont, joined +them; when Mrs. Hanson, drawing closer to Edmund, said—“I fear you will +not soon join these marrying people, my young friend?”</p> + +<p>“I shall never marry, madam,” answered he abruptly.</p> + +<p>“<em>Never!</em> you are too positive, sir; men at your age change their minds +frequently.”</p> + +<p>“Matilda knows that I am not subject to<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 172]</span> change; she may accuse me of many +errors, but not of that.”</p> + +<p>“I can accuse <em>you</em> of <em>nothing</em>,” said Matilda; “I wish you could say the +same of me.”</p> + +<p>“Matilda! Miss Hanson! I accuse you! what right have I to accuse you?”</p> + +<p>“Every right. I behaved ill—you condemned me—I saw you did; and—you +punished me. I felt your punishment last night—to-day you forgive me; and +your forgiveness is—why should I not own it? is dear to me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Matilda, do not distract me by this generosity! you will throw me off +my guard—you will induce me to make a declaration that may part us for +ever.”</p> + +<p>Edmund looked at Mrs. Hanson; her brow was open, pleasure swam in her eye, +and she held her hand towards him as she said—“My dear Edmund, allow me to +ask what you mean by that look of mistrust to me? what right have you to +suppose that I am less generous than yourself, or that I desire to see my +child ungrateful to her young preceptor, or insensible of his merits?”</p> + +<p>“Madam! Matilda! what does all this mean? is it possible that I can have +obtained such an advocate as Mrs. Hanson?”</p> + +<p>“Edmund, can you really want an <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 173]</span>advocate with poor erring Matilda? or can +you for a moment accuse her of a fault, which never yet came amongst the +numerous catalogue of her early sins?”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hanson joined the group at the window, and in a few moments they all +descended together, to welcome Charles and Belmont, who soon understood the +happy footing on which those so dear to them were placed; and Charles +enjoyed a hearty laugh at the jealousy he had excited, though he could not +regret a circumstance which had in any measure led to a conclusion so +desirable.</p> + +<p>When poor Zebby, whose sable forehead was now shaded by gray locks, was +told all that had happened, she exclaimed with her usual enthusiasm,—“All +right—all happy—Missy have goodee friend, goodee husban—him alway mild +and kind; Missy very goodee too—some time little warm, but never, <em>never</em> +when she lookee at massa; him melt her heart, guide her steps, both go hand +in hand to heaven.”</p> + +<p>The negro’s conception of this union has every prospect of being verified, +and proves that the simplest and most uninformed of human beings may yet +enjoy the light of reason, and a just perception of the characters of those +around them.</p> + +<p>When Charles had bade adieu to his<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 174]</span> family, the lovers of Matilda and Ellen +were each urgent for their respective marriages: but the awfulness of that +sacred engagement into which they were about to enter, the consciousness +they entertained of the goodness of their parents, and the happiness of the +state they were quitting, held the young ladies for some time in a state of +apparent suspense, and almost incertitude. This was neither the effect of +want of confidence in the men they loved, nor of that spirit of coquetry by +which the vain and frivolous part of the sex seek to prolong what they +consider the day of their power. Far different ideas pervaded their minds +and influenced their conduct; for not only the tenderness of their +affection for their parents, but the sense of their responsibility as +Christian wives, called to new duties and new avocations, appointed to +guide their inferiors, and submit to their future husbands, pressed upon +their hearts; and when at length the solemn ceremony took place, it was to +each party rather a day of serious thoughtfulness and fearful anxiety, than +one of exultation and exhibition.</p> + +<p>In a short time this solicitude vanished, and a sense of happiness, +confidence, and unbounded affection spread over their minds the most +delightful serenity, and rendered every<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 175]</span> act of duty an act of pleasure. +Matilda looked to Edmund as the guardian of her conduct, and he found in +her the reward of his virtues, the companion whose vivacity enlivened the +fatigue of study, and whose benevolence extended the circle of his +enjoyments; and although apparently of very different tempers, the +affection they felt for each other, and the well-regulated minds they both +possessed, rendered them proverbially good and happy.</p> + +<p>After residing a few years abroad, and increasing his knowledge and +reputation, Charles returned, and is now become the husband of Miss Weston, +who is an amiable and virtuous young woman, well calculated to render him +happy. The mother of this young lady still resides with Mrs. Hanson, to +whom her society is particularly valuable, since the removal of Matilda, +whose eldest child is the frequent inmate of her house.</p> + +<p>Happy in themselves, and a blessing to the circle around them, Mr. and Mrs. +Belmont reside during the greatest part of the year upon the family estate +of Mr. Belmont in Staffordshire. Ellen, as a country gentlewoman, extends a +quiet but beneficial influence through an extensive neighbourhood, and is +universally beloved and respected.</p> + +<p>We will now take leave of the Barbadoes<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 176]</span> Girl and her friends, with the +sincere wish that all who read her story may, like her, endeavour to +correct in themselves those irregularities of temper, and proneness to +pride and vanity, which, more or less, are the growth of every human heart, +and which can never rise and flourish there, but to the destruction of +every virtue and every comfort; and we earnestly desire them to hold in +mind, that, in order to purify the heart from these unhallowed guests, a +deep sense of religion must be the motive, and a strict principle of +self-control the agent, by which so desirable an end can alone be obtained.</p> + +<p>This little story, written rather to instruct than amuse, can only close +with consistency, by briefly recapitulating the lesson it has, perhaps +feebly, but sincerely, endeavoured to inculcate, viz., the necessity of +watchfulness over our hearts—the excellence and advantage of being open +and ingenuous—the efficacy of repentance towards God, and humility even +towards man—and the peculiar necessity of guarding the heart, as with a +tenfold barrier, to those who are blest with riches and prosperity.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Barbadoes Girl, by Mrs. Hofland + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BARBADOES GIRL *** + +***** This file should be named 21975-h.htm or 21975-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/9/7/21975/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Anne Storer and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net +(This file was made using scans of public domain works in +the International Children's Digital Library.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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