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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/33510-8.txt b/33510-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e742913 --- /dev/null +++ b/33510-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3376 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories for Helen, by Eliza Leslie + +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: Stories for Helen + +Author: Eliza Leslie + +Release Date: August 23, 2010 [EBook #33510] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FOR HELEN *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: THE TELL TALE.] + + + + + STORIES FOR HELEN + + BY + + MISS ELIZA LESLIE, + + AUTHOR OF STORIES FOR EMMA, STORIES FOR ADELAIDE, ETC. + + "Our most important are our earliest years."--_Cowper._ + + + PHILADELPHIA: + HENRY F. ANNERS. + CHESNUT STREET. + + + + + Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845, + + BY ELIZA LESLIE, + + In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern + District of Pennsylvania. + + Printed by King & Baird. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + + +The following stories have been selected by the author, from a small +volume originally published with the title of Atlantic Tales. They have +been carefully revised; and she indulges the hope that her juvenile +readers may derive from them a little instruction blended with a little +amusement. + +PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER 1, 1845. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + Page. + + The Tell-Tale, 5 + + The Boarding School Feast, 28 + + The Week of Idleness, 67 + + Madeline Malcolm, 98 + + + + +THE TELL-TALE. + + "_How all occasions do inform against me!_" + _Shakspeare._ + + +Rosamond Evering was one of those indiscreet mischievous girls who are +in the daily practice of repeating every thing they see and hear; +particularly all the unpleasant remarks, and unfavourable opinions that +happen to be unguardedly expressed in their presence. She did not +content herself with relating only as much as she actually saw and +heard; but (as is always the case with tell-tales) she dealt greatly in +exaggeration, and her stories never failed to exceed the reality in all +their worst points. + +This unamiable and dangerous propensity of their daughter, gave great +pain to Mr. and Mrs. Evering, who tried in vain to correct it. They +represented to her that as parents cannot be _constantly_ on their guard +in presence of their own family, and that as grown persons do not +_always_ remember or observe when children are in the room, many things +are inadvertently said, which, though of little consequence as long as +they remain unknown, may be of great and unfortunate importance if +disclosed and exaggerated. And as children are incapable of forming an +accurate judgment as to what may be told with safety, or what ought to +be kept secret, their wisest and most proper course is to repeat no +remarks and to relate no conversations whatever; but more particularly +those which they may chance to hear from persons older than themselves. + +But neither reproof nor punishment seemed to make any lasting impression +on Rosamond Evering; and scarce a day passed that she did not exhibit +some vexatious specimen of her besetting sin. A few instances will +suffice. + +Mrs. Evering had a very excellent cook, a black woman, that had lived +with her more than six years, and whom she considered an invaluable +servant. One morning, when Venus (for that was her name) had just left +the parlour, after receiving her orders for dinner, Mr. Evering +remarked, in a low voice, to his lady, "Certainly, the name of Venus +was never so unsuitably bestowed as on this poor woman. I have rarely +seen a negro whose face had a greater resemblance to that of a baboon." +In this remark Mrs. Evering acquiesced. + +Rosamond was at this time sitting in a corner, looking over her lessons. +Just before she went to school, her mother thought of a change in the +preparations for dinner, and not wishing to give the old cook the +trouble of coming up from the kitchen a second time, she desired +Rosamond to go down and tell Venus she would have the turkey boiled +rather than roasted. Rosamond went down and delivered the message; but +fixing her eyes on the cook's face, she thought she had never seen Venus +look so ugly, and she said to her, "Venus, my father thinks you are the +ugliest negro he ever saw (_even for a negro_) and he says your face is +just like a monkey's, only worse." Having made this agreeable +communication, Rosamond went out of the kitchen and departed for school, +leaving Venus speechless with anger and astonishment; for though in +other respects a very good woman, she was extremely vain, and had always +considered herself among the handsomest of her race. + +As soon as Venus found herself able to speak, she went into the parlour +with her eyes flashing fire, and told Mrs. Evering that she must provide +herself with another cook, as she was determined to leave her that very +day. Mrs. Evering with much surprise inquired the reason, and Venus +replied, that "she would not live in any house where she was called an +ugly neger, the ugliest even of all negers, and likened to a brute +beast." + +Mrs. Evering, who had forgotten her husband's remark, asked the cook +what she meant; and Venus explained by repeating all that Rosamond had +told her. Mrs. Evering endeavoured to pacify her, but in vain. Ignorant +people when once offended are very difficult to appease, and Venus had +been hurt on the tenderest point. She would listen to nothing that Mrs. +Evering could urge to induce her to stay; but exclaimed in a high +passion, "I never was called a neger before. I am not a neger but a +coloured woman. I was born and raised on a great plantation in Virginny +where there was hundreds of slaves, all among the Randolphs and sich +like quality, and nobody never called me a neger. And now when I'm free, +and come here to Philadelphy where nobody has no servants without they +hires them, lo! and behold, I'm called a neger, and an ugly neger too, +and a neger-monkey besides. No, no, I'll not stay; and Nancy the +chambermaid may do the cooking till you get somebody else. And a pretty +way she'll do it in. I'm glad I shan't be here to eat Nancy's cooking. I +never know'd any _white trash_ that could cook; much less Irish." + +Finally, Mrs. Evering was obliged to give Venus her wages and let here +go at once, as she protested "she would never eat another meal's +victuals in the house." + +When Rosamond came from school, her mother reprimanded her severely; and +when her father heard of the mischief she had caused, he would not +permit her to accompany the family to a concert that evening, as she had +been promised the day before. + +After the departure of Venus, it was a long time before Mrs. Evering +could suit herself with a cook. Several were tried in succession but +none were good; and to Rosamond's great regret, they were never able to +get a woman whose skill in making pies, and puddings, and cakes, bore +any comparison to that of Venus. + +Still this lesson did not cure her fault; she still told tales, and +still suffered in consequence. + +One day, Mrs. Renwick, a lady who lived next door, sent a message to +Mrs. Evering, requesting that she would lend her a pot of red currant +jelly, as she was quite out of that article, of which she shortly +intended making a supply; and as Mr. Renwick had invited some company to +dinner, some jelly would be wanted to eat with the canvass-back ducks. + +Mrs. Evering lent her a pot, and as soon as currants were in the market, +Mrs. Renwick sent her in return some jelly of her own making. It was not +nice, and Mrs. Evering observed to her sister, Mrs. Norwood, who +happened to be present: "I do not think Mrs. Renwick has been very +successful with her jelly. It is so thin it is almost liquid, and so +dark that it looks as if made of black currants. I suspect she has +boiled it too long, and has not put in sugar enough." + +Next day as they were coming from school together, Mrs. Renwick's little +daughter, Marianne, said to Rosamond, "My mother made some currant jelly +on Tuesday, and yesterday when it was cold, she gave me a whole +saucer-full to eat with my slice of bread, at twelve o'clock." + +"She might well give you a whole saucer-full," replied Rosamond, "for I +do not think it was worth saving for any better purpose. She sent in a +pot to my mother, in return for some she had borrowed of her. Now _my_ +mother's jelly is always so firm that you might cut it with a knife, and +so bright and sparkling that it dazzles your eyes. I heard her tell my +aunt Norwood, that Mrs. Renwick's jelly was the worst she had ever seen, +that it was as thin and sour as plain currant juice, and dark and +dirty-looking beside." + +Marianne Renwick was much displeased at the disrespectful manner in +which her mother's jelly had been spoken of. She let go Rosamond's arm, +and turning up another street, walked home by herself, swelling with +resentment, and told her mother all that had passed. + +Mrs. Renwick was a lady very easily offended; and she always signified +her anger as soon as she felt it. She immediately sent to a +confectioner's for a pot of the very best red currant jelly, and had it +carried into Mrs. Evering; accompanied by a note implying "that she +regretted to hear that her jelly had not been so fortunate as to meet +the approbation of so competent a judge of sweetmeats; but that, as she +would be sorry if Mrs. Evering should lose any thing by it, she had sent +her a pot made by one of the very first confectioners in the city; and +she hoped it would be found an ample equivalent for that she had most +unhappily borrowed." + +Rosamond was in the parlour when the note and the pot of jelly arrived, +and she coloured and looked so confused, that her mother immediately +guessed she had been the cause of Mrs. Renwick's having taken offence. +Reproof had no effect on Rosamond except for a moment; but that she +might frequently be reminded of her fault, she was not allowed to taste +currant jelly till the next summer. Mrs. Renwick, however, remained +implacable; and could never be prevailed on to visit Mrs. Evering again. + +Mr. Evering had an aunt, the widow of a western merchant who had made a +large fortune in business. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Marbury +had removed to Philadelphia, which was her native place; and, being very +plain in her habits and ideas, she had bought a small neat house in a +retired street, where she kept but two servants, and expended more money +in presents to her relations, than in any superfluities for herself. She +generally went to a place of worship in her own neighbourhood; but +hearing that a very celebrated minister from Boston was to preach one +Sunday in the church to which her nephew's family belonged, she sent a +message to Mr. Evering requesting that he would call for her with his +carriage and give her a seat in his pew, that she might have an +opportunity of hearing this distinguished stranger. Mr. and Mrs. Evering +were both out when the message arrived, so that no answer could be sent +till their return; which was not till evening. + +It was dusk, and the lamps not being yet lighted, they did not perceive +that Rosamond was lying on an ottoman in one of the recesses, or they +would not have spoken as they did while she was present. + +"I am very sorry," said Mrs. Evering, "that Mrs. Marbury has fixed on +to-morrow for going to church with us, for I intended asking Miss +Leeson, who will be delighted to have an opportunity of hearing this +celebrated preacher; and his discourse, however excellent, will be lost +on aunt Marbury, who always falls asleep soon after she has heard the +text, that being all she ever remembers of a sermon. So that in reality, +one preacher is the same to her as another; though she goes regularly to +church twice a-day, and never could be convinced that she sleeps half +the time. And then she is unfortunately so fat, and takes up so much +room in the pew." + +"My dear," said Mr. Evering, "we must show Mrs. Marbury as much kindness +and civility as we possibly can, for she is a most excellent woman, is +very liberal to us now, and at her death will undoubtedly leave us the +greatest part of her large property. Even if we had no personal regard +for the good old lady, it would be very impolitic in us to offend her." + +When the room was lighted, Mr. and Mrs. Evering saw Rosamond on the +ottoman, and felt so much uneasiness at her having heard their +conversation, that they thought it best to caution her against repeating +it. "Oh!" exclaimed Rosamond, "do you think I would be so wicked as to +tell aunt Marbury what you have just been saying about her?" + +"You have often," said Mrs. Evering, "told things almost as improper to +be repeated." + +"But never with any bad intention," replied Rosamond, "I am sure my +feelings are always good." + +"I know not," said her father, "how it is possible that people with good +feelings and good intentions can take pleasure in repeating whatever +they hear to a person's disadvantage, and above all to the very object +of the unfavourable remarks. Beside the cruelty of causing them poignant +and unnecessary pain, and wounding their self-love, there is the +wickedness of embroiling them with their friends; or at least destroying +their confidence, and imbittering their hearts. And all these +consequences have frequently ensued from the tattling of a tell-tale +child." + +The next morning was Saturday; and the servants being all very busy, +Mrs. Evering desired Rosamond to stop, as she returned from taking her +music-lesson, and inform her aunt Marbury that they would be happy to +accommodate her with a seat in their pew on Sunday morning; and that +they would call for her in the carriage, as she had requested. + +"Now, Rosamond," said Mrs. Evering, "can I trust you? Will you, for +once, be discreet, and refrain from repeating to your aunt Marbury, what +you unluckily overheard last evening?" + +"O! indeed, dear mother," replied Rosamond, "bad as you think me, I am +not quite wicked enough for that." + +"But I fear the force of habit," said Mrs. Evering. "I believe I had +better send Peter with the message." + +"No," answered Rosamond, "I am anxious to retrieve my character. Rely on +me this once; and you will see how prudent and honourable I can be." + +On her way home from her music-lesson, Rosamond stopped at her aunt's, +and delivered the message, exactly as it had been given to her. + +While Rosamond was eating a piece of the nice plum-cake that her aunt +always kept in the house for the gratification of her young visitors, +Mrs. Marbury said to her, "This weather is quite too warm for the +season; should it continue, it will be very oppressive in church +to-morrow." + +"No doubt," answered Rosamond, "and most probably _our_ church will be +crowded in every part. I wonder, aunt, that you are anxious to go, as +you certainly _must_ be, when you sent so long beforehand to engage a +seat in our pew." + +"In truth," returned Mrs. Marbury, "I am willing to suffer some +inconvenience from the heat, for the sake of hearing this great +preacher." + +"But, aunt," said Rosamond, "if you get sleepy, you will not hear him +after all." + +"O!" replied Mrs. Marbury, "I am never sleepy in church. I am always so +attentive that I never feel in the least drowsy." + +"O! indeed, aunt, I have often seen you asleep in church," exclaimed +Rosamond. + +"Impossible, Rosamond, impossible," cried Mrs. Marbury. "You are +entirely mistaken. It must have been merely your own imagination." + +"Why, dear aunt," said Rosamond, "my father and mother, as well as +myself, have all seen you asleep in church. If it was not true, the +whole family could not imagine it. It was but last evening, I heard my +mother say, that she wished you had not taken a notion to go to church +with us on Sunday, as it would prevent her from inviting Miss Leeson, +whom she likes far better than you. She said, beside, that fat people +take up so much room, that they are always encumbrances every where; and +that there was no use at all in your going to church, as you slept +soundly all the time you were there, and even breathed so hard as to +disturb the congregation." + +"And what did your father say to all this?" asked Mrs. Marbury, turning +very pale, and looking much shocked and mortified. + +"My father," answered Rosamond, "said that, on account of your money, we +must endure you, and all the inconveniences belonging to you; for if you +were kept in good humour, he had no doubt of your leaving him all your +property when you die." + +Mrs. Marbury looked aghast. She burst into tears, and Rosamond, finding +that she had gone quite too far, vainly attempted to pacify her. + +"You may go home, child," exclaimed Mrs. Marbury, sobbing with anger, +"you may go home, and tell your father and mother that I shall not +trouble them with my company at church or any where else; and when I +die, I shall leave my money to the hospital or to some other +institution. How have I been deceived! But I shall take care in future +not to bestow my affection on those that have any expectations from me." + +Rosamond, now very much frightened, declared that she could not take +such a message to her parents; and begged her aunt to screen her from +their displeasure, by not informing them of the communication she had so +indiscreetly made. + +Her alarm and agitation were so great, that Mrs. Marbury consented, out +of pity, not to betray her to her father and mother; and to excuse +herself from going to church with them (which she declared she could +never do again) by alleging the heat of the weather, and the probable +crowd. + +"And now, Rosamond," said her aunt Marbury, "do not think that I feel at +all obliged to you for having opened my eyes as to the manner in which +your parents really regard me. Their behaviour to me, as far as I could +judge for myself, has always been exactly what I wished it; and if +their kindness was not sincere, I still thought it so, and was happy in +being deceived. And now, after what you have told me, how can I again +think of them as I have hitherto done? You have acted basely towards +them in repeating their private conversation, and cruelly to your kind +aunt, in giving her unnecessary pain and mortification. You have caused +much mischief; and who has been the gainer? Not yourself certainly. You +have lost my good opinion, for I can never like a tell-tale. I had heard +something of your being addicted to this vice; but till now I could not +believe it. I shall not betray you to your parents, though you have so +shamefully betrayed _them_ to _me_. But you may rely on it, that sooner +or later the discovery will be made, to your utter shame and confusion. +Now you may go home, with the assurance that you can no longer be a +welcome visitor at my house." + +Rosamond departed, overwhelmed with compunction; and in the resolution +(which she had so often made and so often broken) never again to be +guilty of a similar fault. She gave her aunt's message to her parents, +and Miss Leeson was invited to accompany them next day to church. + +Two days after, Mrs. Evering went to visit Mrs. Marbury, and to her +great surprise heard from the servants that she had left town with some +western friends who were returning home; and that she purposed being +absent from Philadelphia five or six months; dividing her time among +various places on the other side of the Alleghanies, and probably +extending her tour to Louisiana, where she owned some land. + +Her going away so suddenly without apprising them of her intention, was +totally inexplicable to Mr. and Mrs. Evering; and they justly concluded +that she must have taken some offence. Rosamond well knew the cause, and +rightly supposed that her aunt finding herself unable to meet the family +with her former feelings towards them, had thought it best to avoid +seeing them for a very long time. + +The confusion visible in Rosamond's face and manner when Mrs. Marbury +was spoken of, aroused the suspicions of her father and mother: and on +their questioning her closely, she confessed, with many tears, that she +had really informed her aunt of what had passed on the subject of her +accompanying them to church. But as tell-tales have very little candour +where themselves are concerned, and as tale-telling always leads to +lying, she steadily denied that she had been guilty of the slightest +exaggeration in her report to Mrs. Marbury; protesting that she had told +her nothing but the simple truth. + +From that time, Rosamond was not allowed to visit or call at any house +unaccompanied by her mother, who was almost afraid to trust her out of +her sight. Her parents avoided discussing any thing of the least +consequence in _her_ presence; always remembering to send her out of the +room. This mode of treatment very much mortified her; but she could not +help acknowledging that she deserved it. + +Her father received no intelligence from Mrs. Marbury. He and Mrs. +Evering both wrote to her at different times, endeavouring to mollify +her displeasure; but not knowing exactly where she was, the letters were +not directed to the right places, and did not reach her. + +For a long time Rosamond was so unusually discreet, that her parents +began to hope that her odious fault was entirely cured. + +One day, her chamber having been washed in the afternoon, it was found +too damp for her to sleep in with safety to her health; and her mother +told her that she must, that night, occupy the room adjoining hers. This +room, which was but seldom used, was separated from Mrs. Evering's +apartment by a very thin partition; and communicated with it by a door +which was almost always kept closed; the bed in each of these chambers +being placed against it. + +Rosamond, having been awakened in the night by the fighting of some cats +in the yard, heard her father and mother in earnest conversation. They +had totally forgotten her vicinity to them; and as tell-tales are never +wanting in curiosity, she sat up in her bed and applying her ear to the +key-hole of the door, she distinctly heard every word they said, though +they were speaking in a low voice. + +She was soon able to comprehend the subject of their conversation. Mr. +Evering was lamenting that the failure of a friend for whom he had +endorsed to a large amount, had brought him into unexpected +difficulties; but he hoped that he would be able to go on till the sums +due to him by some western merchants should arrive. + +Next evening, Rosamond was permitted to go to a juvenile cotillon-party, +held once a fortnight, at the ball-room of her dancing-master. To this +place her mother always accompanied her; and while Mrs. Evering was +sitting in conversation with some ladies, a boy named George Granby, who +was frequently the partner of Rosamond at these balls, came up and +asked her to dance. They were obliged to go to the farthest end of the +room before they could get places in a cotillon; and while they were +waiting for the music to begin, George, who thought Rosamond a very +pretty girl, asked her if she would also be his partner in the +country-dance. She replied that Henry Harford had engaged her, at the +last ball, for this country-dance. + +"Oh!" replied George Granby, "Henry Harford will not be here to-night; +his father failed yesterday." + +"True," said Rosamond, "I wonder I should have forgotten Mr. Harford's +failure, when my father lost so much by him. But when the fathers fail, +must the children stay away from balls?" + +"Certainly," replied George, "it would be considered very improper for +the family to be seen in any place of amusement when its head is in so +much trouble, and when they have lost all they possessed." + +"O then," exclaimed Rosamond, "I hope _my_ father will not fail till the +cotillon-parties are over for the season. There are but two more, and I +should be very sorry to give them up. I hope he will be able to go on, +at least till after that time. How sorry I shall be when he _does_ +fail." + +"I believe you," said George; "but what makes you talk about your +father's failing? I thought he was considered safe enough." + +"Ah! you know but little about it," answered Rosamond. "I heard him tell +my mother last night, that he was in hourly dread of failing, in +consequence of the great losses by Mr. Harford, and of his own business +having gone on badly for a long time. However, say nothing about it, for +such things ought not to be told." + +"They ought not, indeed," said the boy. + +As soon as George Granby went home, he repeated what he had heard from +Rosamond, to his father, who was one of Mr. Evering's creditors. The +consequence was, that Mr. Granby and all the principal creditors took +immediate measures to secure themselves; and Mr. Evering (who could have +gone on till he got through his difficulties, had he been allowed time, +and had the state of his affairs remained unsuspected,) became a +bankrupt through the worse than indiscretion of his daughter. Had Mrs. +Marbury been in town, or where he could have had speedy communication +with her, he doubted not that she would have lent him assistance to +ward off the impending blow. But she had gone away in a fit of +displeasure, occasioned, also, by the tattling of Rosamond. + +Mr. Granby, who was the chief creditor and a man of contracted feelings +and great severity, showed no liberality on the occasion; and proceeded +to the utmost extremity that the law would warrant. Every article of Mr. +Evering's property was taken; and indeed, since it had come to this, his +principles would not allow him to reserve any thing whatever from his +creditors. + +The scene that ensued in the Evering family, on the day following the +ball, can better be imagined than described. Mr. Granby had at once +informed Mr. Evering of the source from whence he had derived his +information with respect to the posture of his affairs; and when +Rosamond found this new and terrible proof of the fatal effects of her +predominant vice, she went into an hysteric fit, and was so ill all +night, that her parents, in addition to their other troubles, had to +fear for the life of their daughter. The sufferings of her mind brought +on a fever; and it was more than a week before she was able to leave her +bed. + +Her father and mother kindly forgave her, and avoided all reference to +her fault. But she could not forgive herself, and on the day that they +left their handsome residence in one of the principal streets, and +removed to a small mean-looking house in the suburbs, her agony was more +than words can express. All their furniture was sold at auction, even +Rosamond's piano, and her mother's work-table. Their most expensive +articles of clothing were put away, as in their present circumstances it +would be improper to wear them. The house they now inhabited, contained +only one little parlour with a kitchen back of it, and three small rooms +upstairs. Their furniture was limited to what was barely useful, and of +the cheapest kind. Their table was as plain as possible; and their only +servant a very young half-grown girl. + +This sad change in their way of living, added to the stings of +self-reproach, almost broke Rosamond's heart; and her pride was much +shocked when she found that her father had applied for the situation of +clerk in a counting-house, as a means of supporting his family till +something better should offer. + +At length Mrs. Marbury returned; having hurried back to Philadelphia as +soon as the intelligence of her nephew's failure had reached her. How +did she blame herself for having taken such serious offence at what now +appeared to her almost too trifling to remember. All her former regard +for the Evering family returned. She sought them immediately in their +humble retreat, and offered Mr. Evering her assistance to the utmost +farthing she could command. + +To conclude, Mr. Evering's affairs were again put in train. He resumed +his business; and a few years restored him to his former situation. + +This sad, but salutary lesson produced a lasting effect on Rosamond; and +from that time, she kept so strict a watch over her ruling passion, that +she succeeded in entirely eradicating it. She grew up a discreet and +amiable girl; and no one who knew her in after years, could have +believed that till the age of fourteen she had been an incorrigible +tell-tale. + + + + +THE BOARDING-SCHOOL FEAST. + + "They hear a voice in every wind, + And snatch a fearful joy." + _Gray._ + + +It is a very common subject of complaint with boarding-school children +(and there is often sufficient foundation for it) that they are too much +restricted in their food, and that their diet is not only inferior in +quality to what it ought to be, but frequently deficient in quantity +also. There was certainly, however, no cause for any dissatisfaction of +this sort at Mrs. Middleton's boarding-school, in Philadelphia. The +table was in every respect excellent; and a basket of bread or biscuit, +and sometimes of gingerbread, was handed round to all the pupils, every +morning at eleven o'clock. Mrs. Middleton's young ladies were strangers +to the common boarding-school practice of coaxing or bribing the +servants to procure them cakes and tarts from the confectioners; for the +table was sufficiently supplied with those articles, made in such a +manner as to be agreeable to the taste without endangering the health; +and they were every day allowed some sort of fruit, of the best quality +the market could furnish. + +At last, a young lady named Henrietta Harwood became a member of Mrs. +Middleton's seminary. Miss Harwood had been for several years a pupil of +one of those too numerous establishments, where the comfort of the +children is sacrificed to the vanity of a governess, who rests her +claims to encouragement principally on the merits of elegantly furnished +parlours, an expensive style of dress, frequent evening parties, and +occasional balls. In schools where outward show is the leading +principle, the internal economy is generally conducted on the most +parsimonious plan, and while the masters (who attend only at certain +hours) are such as are considered the most fashionable, the female +teachers that live in the house, are too often vulgar girls obtained at +a low salary, and who frequently are in league with the elder pupils in +ridiculing and plotting against the governess. + +Most of the faults and follies that were likely to be acquired at a +show-boarding-school, Henrietta Harwood brought with her to the +excellent and well-conducted establishment of Mrs. Middleton: but she +had some redeeming qualities that made her rather a favourite with her +new companions, and disposed her governess to hope that all would come +right at last. + +One evening, the elder young ladies were sitting very comfortably at +their different occupations, round the table in the front school-room. +The window-shutters were closed, a good fire was burning in the stove, +and Mrs. Middleton had just sent them a basket of apples, according to +her custom in the winter evenings. After finishing a very fine one, +Henrietta Harwood exclaimed--"Well--I wonder at myself for eating these +apples!" + +_Miss Brownlow._ Why, I am sure they are the very best Newtown pippins. + +_Henrietta._ That is true, Brownie: but at Madame Disette's we had +something better of evenings than mere apples. + +_Miss Brownlow._ What had you? + +_Henrietta._ We had sometimes cheesecakes, and sometimes tarts; with +very frequently pound-cake and jumbles; and sometimes we had even little +mince-pies, and oyster-patties. + +_Miss Wilcox._ O, delicious! What an excellent governess! How could you +ever consent to leave her? I thought Mrs. Middleton allowed us a great +many good things; but she does not send us cheesecakes and tarts of an +evening. + +_Henrietta._ O, do not mistake! We might have gone without them all our +lives, before Madame Disette would have sent us any thing of the sort. +She did not even allow us apples of an evening, or a piece of bread +between breakfast and dinner. Why, one summer evening, she bought at the +door some common ice-cream, of a black man that was carrying it through +the streets in a tin pot; and when we thought that, _for once_, she had +certainly treated us, she charged the ice-cream in our quarter-bills. +No, no,--we got nothing from _her_, but stale bread; bad butter; sloppy +tea; coffee without taste or colour; skinny meat, half-cooked one day, +cold the next, and hashed or rather coddled the third. Then, for a +dessert, we were regaled with sour knotty apples in the winter, +worm-eaten cherries in the summer, and dry squashy pears in the autumn; +and once a week we had boiled rice, or baked bread and milk, by way of +pudding. Though after the scholars had eaten their allowance, and made +their curtsies and gone up to the school-room, she always had something +nice brought for herself, and her sister, and niece: and of which poor +Benson, the under teacher, was never invited to partake. + +_Miss Wilcox._ But how did you get such nice things in the evening? + +_Henrietta._ We bought them, to be sure: bought them with our own money. +That was the only way. When the little girls had all gone to bed, and +Madame Disette, and Madame Trompeur, and Mademoiselle Mensonge were +engaged in the parlour with their company, we all (that is, the first +class) subscribed something; and we commissioned the chambermaid to +bring us whatever we wanted from the confectioner's. O, what delightful +feasts we had! + +_Miss Thomson._ Did Madame Disette never find you out? + +_Henrietta._ O, no!--we laid our plans too cunningly. And Benson, the +teacher, was a good creature, and always joined our party; so we knew +she would not tell. + +_Miss Scott._ I am sure we never could prevail on our teacher, Miss +Loxley, to be concerned in such things. _She_ would think it so very +improper. + +_Henrietta._ Well, we must take an opportunity when Miss Loxley is not +at home. Mrs. Middleton permits her to go out whenever she requests it. +She does not keep her so closely confined as Madame Disette did poor +Benson. + +_Miss Scott._ Mrs. Middleton has so much reliance on her elder pupils, +that she is not afraid to trust us sometimes without Miss Loxley. And +we, certainly, have never yet abused her confidence. + +_Henrietta._ O, you are undoubtedly a most exemplary set! But you never +had one like _me_ among you. I shall soon put a little spirit into you +all, and get you out of this strict-propriety sort of way. I do not +despair even of my friend Isabella Caldwell, the good girl of the +school. + +_Isabella._ Our way is a very satisfactory one. It is impossible for +boarding-school girls to be happier than we are. Our minds are not +exhausted with long and difficult lessons, and with studies beyond our +capacity. When school-hours are over, we have full time for recreation, +and are amply provided with the means of amusing ourselves. We have a +library of entertaining books; and we have liberty to divert ourselves +with all sorts of juvenile plays and games. Then how much attention is +paid to our health and our comforts, and how kindly and judiciously are +we treated in every respect! Certainly, we ought to think ourselves +happy. + +_Henrietta._ Ay! so you are made to say in the letters which you write +home to your parents. All our French letters, at Madame Disette's were +written first by her niece Mademoiselle Mensonge; and the English +letters were manufactured by poor Benson; and then we copied them in our +very best hands, with a new pen at every paragraph. They were all nearly +the same; and told of nothing but the superabundant kindness and +liberality of Madame Disette, our high respect and esteem for Madame +Trompeur, her sister, and our vast affection for her amiable niece, +Mademoiselle Mensonge: together with our perfect health, and extreme +felicity. In every letter we grew happier and happier. + +_Miss Snodgrass._ And were you not so in reality? + +_Henrietta._ No, indeed,--all the happiness we had was of our own +making, for we derived none from any thing our governess did for us; +though we were obliged in our letters to call her our beloved Madame +Disette, and to express the most fervent hopes that we might one day +exactly resemble her; which, I am sure, was the last thing we could have +desired; for she was one of the ugliest women that I ever saw in my +life. + +_Miss Thomson._ But you might have wished to resemble her in mind and +manners. + +_Henrietta._ Why, as to that, her mind was worse than her face, and her +manners we all thought absolutely ridiculous. Benson could mimic her +exactly. + +_Miss Marley._ I do not wonder that your parents took you away from such +a school. + +_Henrietta._ The school was certainly bad enough. We had dirty, +uncomfortable chambers; scanty fires; a mean table, and all such +inconveniences. But then it was a very fashionable school; all the +masters were foreigners, and above all things there was a great point +made of our speaking French. We knew the common phrases perfectly well. +We could all say, _Comment vous portez vous_,--_Je vous remerçie_,--_Il +fait beau-temps_,--_Donnez-moi un epingle_,--_Lequel aimez-vous mieux, +le bleu ou le vert?_ and many other things equally sensible and +interesting. This was what was called French conversation, and we were +all able to join in it, after taking lessons in French a very few +quarters. + +But after all, we had a great deal of fun, and that made up for every +thing. Madame Disette and her sister and niece, always hurried over the +school-business as fast as possible, that they might have time to pay +and receive visits; and every evening they were either out, or engaged +at home with company; so that we had nobody to watch us but poor Benson, +and none of us cared for _her_. And then we could make her do just as we +pleased. She only got seventy-five dollars a year, for which she was +obliged to perform all the drudgery of the school, even to washing and +dressing the little girls; putting them to bed; darning their stockings +and mending their clothes; besides doing all Madame Disette's plain +sewing. Poor Benson could not afford to dress half so well as the +chambermaid. So how could we have any respect for her? Even the servants +despised her, and never would do any thing she asked them. + +_Miss Snodgrass._ Well, we all respect Miss Loxley. She gets a good +salary, dresses genteelly, is treated with proper consideration by +every one in the house, and we obey her just as we do Mrs. Middleton. + +_Henrietta._ Yes, and for those very reasons, we never can ask her to +assist in any little private scheme of our own. Benson was certainly a +much more convenient person. But to resume our first subject--I do +really long for a feast. + +_Miss Roberts._ Well,--Mrs. Middleton occasionally gives us a feast as +you call it; for instance, on the birth-day of the young lady who is +head of her class. + +_Henrietta._ O, but then at these regular feasts Mrs. Middleton is +always present herself. I like to steal a little secret pleasure, +unsuspected by any one that would check it. Ah! you have never dealt in +mysteries; you know not how delightful they are. One half the enjoyment +is in planning and carrying on the plot. Come now, girls, let us get up +a little feast to-morrow evening. You know Miss Loxley will be out +again, as her aunt is still sick; and the French teacher always goes +home at dusk, as she does not sleep here. + +_Miss Watkins._ But if Mrs. Middleton should discover us. + +_Henrietta._ No. Her sister and brother-in-law are coming to spend the +evening with her, and to bring a lady and gentleman from Connecticut. +To-morrow is the very best night we can possibly have. Leave it all to +me, and I will engage that there shall be no discovery; and we will get +the little girls to bed very early, that we may have the longer time to +enjoy ourselves. + +_Several of the young ladies._ O, indeed we are afraid! + +_Henrietta._ Nonsense--I will answer for it that there shall be no cause +for fear. Why, we did these things fifty times at Madame Disette's, and +were never once detected. Come, I will lay down a dollar as the first +contribution towards the feast. Brownie, how much will you give? + +_Miss Brownlow._ I will give half a dollar. + +_Miss Watkins._ And I will give a dollar and a half. I have always +plenty of money. + +_Henrietta._ Well done, Watty. And you Scotty, how much? + +_Miss Scott._ A quarter of a dollar is all I have left. + +_Miss Wilcox._ And I have only ten cents. + +_Henrietta._ O, poor Coxey! But never mind, you shall have as large a +share of the good things as any of us, notwithstanding you can only +muster ten cents. And now, Snoddy? + +_Miss Snodgrass._ Why, I will give a quarter of a dollar and eight +cents. I have another quarter of a dollar, but I wish to keep it to buy +a bottle of Cologne water. + +_Henrietta._ Pho.--Try to live another week without the Cologne. + +_Miss Snodgrass._ No indeed,--I never in my life had a bottle of Cologne +water all to myself, to use just as I pleased; and I really have set my +mind on it. + +_Henrietta._ Well, we must try to do without Snoddy's other +quarter-dollar. Well, Bob, what say you? + +_Miss Roberts._ I will give half a dollar. + +_Henrietta._ O, Bob, Bob! You have more than that, I am sure. + +_Miss Roberts._ Yes, I have another half dollar, but I wish to buy the +book of Fairy Tales you told me of. + +_Henrietta._ O, never mind buying the Fairy Tales! I will tell you all +of them without charging for my trouble. Come now, be good and give the +whole dollar, and we will have an iced pound-cake. + +_Miss Roberts._ Well, if you will _certainly_ tell me all the Fairy +Tales. + +_Henrietta._ Every one of them; twice over if you choose. And now, +Marley. + +_Miss Marley._ I know all this is very improper. + +_Henrietta._ Just for once in your life try how it seems to be improper. + +_Miss Marley._ Well then for this time only--Here are three quarters of +a dollar. + +_Henrietta._ Now, Tommy! + +_Miss Thomson._ I have not resolution to resist. There are half a dollar +and twelve cents. + +_Henrietta._ And now, Isabella Caldwell,--though last not least. + +_Isabella._ Excuse me, Henrietta: my contribution will be far less than +that of any other young lady. In fact, nothing at all. + +_Henrietta._ Nothing at all! Why Miss Caldwell, I did not expect this of +you! I always supposed you to be very generous. + +_Isabella._ I wish to be generous whenever it is in my power. + +_Henrietta._ Well, dear Isabella, if you have no money, we will not +press you. We shall be happy to have you at our little feast, even if +you do not contribute a cent towards it. + +_All._ O, yes! We must not lose Isabella Caldwell. + +_Isabella._ I am much obliged to you, my dear girls. But it is not the +want of money that prevents me from joining you. I _have_ money. But I +wish not, on any terms, to belong to your party; and I shall retire to +my own room. In short, I do not think it right to be planning a feast +without the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton, who is so good and so indulgent +that it is a shame to deceive her. + +_Henrietta._ Then I suppose. Miss Caldwell, you intend to betray us; to +disclose the whole plan to Mrs. Middleton? + +_Isabella._ You insult me by such a suspicion. I appeal to all the young +ladies if they ever knew me guilty of telling tales, or repeating any +thing which might be a disadvantage to another. + +_All._ O, no, no! Isabella is to be trusted. She will never betray us. + +_Henrietta._ Then in plain terms, Miss Caldwell, I really think, if you +have money, you might spare a little for our feast. + +_Isabella._ I want the whole of it for another purpose. And I shall get +no more before next week. + +_Henrietta._ Well, this is very strange. I know you do not care for +finery, and that you never lay out your pocket-money in little articles +of dress. And as for books of amusement, it was but yesterday that your +father sent you a whole box full. I _must_ say, that though you are +called generous--I cannot help thinking you a little--a very little-- + +_Isabella._ Mean, I suppose you would say. + +_Henrietta._ Why, I must not exactly call you _mean_--But I cannot help +thinking you rather--_meanish_. + +_Isabella._ I will not be called mean. My refusal proceeds from other +motives than you suppose. + +_Henrietta._ Young ladies, I will be judged by you all. Is it natural +for a girl of fifteen, who likes cakes, and pastry, and every sort of +sweet thing, to be so very conscientious as to refuse to join in a +little bit of pleasure that can injure no one, that will never be +discovered, and that all her companions have assented to with few or no +scruples. No, no, Isabella, I believe that your only object in declining +to be one of our party, is to save your money. + +_Isabella._ O, what injustice you do me! + +_Henrietta._ Prove it to be injustice by joining us without further +objection. + +_Miss Watkins._ Henrietta, we do not care for Isabella's money. Let her +keep it if she wishes. We can afford to entertain her as our guest. I +am sorry so much should have been said about it. + +_Isabella_ (_taking her purse out of her bag._) There then; here are two +half-dollars. I will prove to you that I am neither mean nor selfish. + +_All._ We will not take your money. + +_Isabella._ Yes, take it.--Any thing rather than suspect me of what I do +not deserve. And now let me entreat, that in _my_ presence nothing more +may be said of this feast. Change the subject, and talk of something +else. Or, rather, I will retire to bed, and leave you to make your +arrangements for to-morrow night. + +The real reason why Isabella Caldwell was so unwilling to be a +contributor to the expense of the feast, was, that she had intended +appropriating her pocket-money to a much better purpose. Her allowance +was a dollar a week; and she knew that a coloured woman, named Diana, +(who had formerly been a servant in her father's family before they +removed to the country) was now struggling with severe poverty. Diana +was the widow of a negro sailor who had perished at sea, and she was the +mother of three children, all too small to put out, and whom she +supported by taking in washing. But during a long illness brought on by +overworking herself, she lost several of her customers who had given +their washing to others. Isabella had solicited Mrs. Middleton to allow +her to employ Diana, rather than the woman who then washed for the +school. Mrs. Middleton readily consented. + +The weather had become very cold, and Isabella saw with regret that +Diana came to fetch and carry the clothes-bag without either coat or +cloak; nothing in fact to cover her shoulders but an old yellow cotton +shawl. Isabella pitied her extremely, and resolved in her own mind not +to lay out a cent of her money till she had saved enough to buy Diana a +cloak. Her father, who was a man of large fortune, had placed, at the +beginning of the year, a sum of money in Mrs. Middleton's hands to +defray Isabella's expenses, exclusive of her tuition; with directions to +give her every week a dollar to dispose of as she pleased. + +Isabella had now been saving her money for four weeks, and had that +morning received her weekly allowance, which completed the sum necessary +to buy a good plaid cloak, and she had determined to go the following +morning and make the purchase, and to give it to Diana when she came to +take the clothes. Isabella had now the exact money; and that was the +reason she was so unwilling to devote any part of it to the expenses of +the feast. Beside which, she could not, in her heart, approve of any +species of pleasure that was to be enjoyed in secret, and kept from the +knowledge of her excellent governess. She felt the usual repugnance of +modest and benevolent people with regard to speaking of her own acts of +charity. This reluctance she, however, carried too far, when rather than +acknowledge that she was keeping her money to buy a cloak for her poor +washerwoman, she suffered herself to be prevailed on to give up part of +the sum, as an addition to the fund that was raising for the banquet. + +She went to bed sadly out of spirits, and much displeased with herself. +She had seen at a store, just such a cloak as she wished to get for +Diana; and she had anticipated the delight and gratitude of the poor +woman on receiving it, and the comfort it would afford her during the +inclement season, and for many succeeding winters. "And now," thought +she, "poor Diana must go without a cloak, and the money will be wasted +in cakes and tarts; which, however nice they may be, will cause us no +further pleasure after we have once swallowed them. However, perhaps the +weather will be less severe to-morrow; and next week I shall have +another dollar, and I then will again be able to buy Diana the cloak. I +am sorry that I promised it to her when she was here last. I cannot bear +the idea of seeing her, and telling her that she must wait for the cloak +a week longer. I hope the weather will be mild and fine to-morrow." + +But Isabella's hope was not realized; and when she rose in the morning, +she found it snowing very fast. The cold was intense. The ground had +been for several days already covered with a deep snow which had frozen +very hard. There was a piercing north-east wind; and, altogether, it was +the most inclement morning of the whole winter. Isabella hoped that +Diana would not come for the clothes that day, as the weather would be a +sufficient excuse; though the poor woman had never before been otherwise +than punctual. But in a short time, she saw Diana coming round the +corner, walking very fast, her arms wrapped in her shawl, and holding +down her head to avoid, as much as possible, the snow that was driving +in her face. "Ah!" thought Isabella, "she hopes to get the cloak this +dreadful morning, and to wear it home. How sadly she will be +disappointed! But I cannot see or speak to her." She then tied up her +clothes-bag, and desired the chambermaid to take it down and give it to +Diana, and tell her that she could not see her that morning. + +Isabella could not forbear going again to the window; and she saw Diana +come up the area steps into the street, carrying the clothes-bag, and +looking disappointed. Isabella, with a heavy heart, watched her till she +turned the corner, shrinking from the storm, and shivering along in her +old thin shawl. "Oh!" thought Isabella, "how very badly the +confectionary will taste to me this evening, when I think that my +contribution towards it, has obliged me to break my promise to this poor +woman; and that it will cause her, for at least another week, to endure +all the sufferings of exposure to cold without sufficient covering." + + * * * * * + +Henrietta Harwood, as leader of the conspiracy, was extremely busy every +moment that she could snatch from the presence of Mrs. Middleton and the +teachers, in making arrangements for the feast of the evening. There was +a great deal of whispering and consulting, between her and the elder +girls, as to what they should have; and a great deal of talking on the +stairs to Mary the chambermaid; who, for the bribe of a quarter of a +dollar, had consented to procure for them whatever they wished, without +the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton. It was unanimously agreed that none of +the _little_ girls were to be let into the secret, as their discretion +was not to be depended on; and there was much lamentation that the +bed-hour for the children was so late as eight o'clock. The little girls +all slept in one large room, and as soon as they had gone to be prepared +for bed, under the superintendence of Mary, Henrietta proposed that +herself and six other young ladies should volunteer to assist in +undressing them. "You know," said she, "there are eight of the children, +and if we each take a child and leave one to Mary, they can be got to +bed in an eighth part of the time that it will require for Mary to +attend to all of them herself. Just, you know, as they have quilting +frolics and husking frolics in the country, when a whole week's work is +accomplished in a few hours, by assembling a great many persons to join +in it." + +This proposal was immediately assented to; and a committee of half a +dozen young ladies, with Henrietta at their head, adjourned to the +children's apartment. "Come, little chits," said Henrietta, "as it is a +cold night, we are going to have an undressing frolic, and to help Mary +to put you all to bed: for the sooner you are tucked up in your nests +the better it will be for you,--and for us too," she added in a low +voice aside to Miss Thomson. "Here, Rosalie Sunbridge," she continued, +"come to me, I will do the honours for _you_, as you are a sort of pet +of mine." + +The elder girls then began undressing the little ones with such violence +that strings snapped, buttons were jerked off, and stockings torn in the +process. The children wondered why the young ladies were seized with +such a sudden and unusual fit of kindness, and why they went so +energetically to work in getting them undressed and put to bed. + +An altercation, however, ensued between Henrietta Harwood and Rosalie +Sunbridge, who declared that it was her mother's particular desire that +her hair behind should be curled in papers every night; a ceremony that +Henrietta proposed omitting, telling her that there was already +sufficient curl remaining in her hair to last all the next day, and +reminding her that there was no such trouble with the hair of the other +little girls. "That is because they have no hair to curl," replied +Rosalie; "you know that they are all closely cropped. But if you will +not roll up mine in papers, Miss Harwood, I would rather have Mary to +put me to bed, though you _do_ call me your pet." "Well, well, hush, and +I _will_ do it," said Henrietta; "but it shall be done in a new way +which saves a great deal of trouble, and makes very handsome curls when +the hair is opened out next morning." So saying, she snatched up a great +piece of coarse brown paper, and seizing the little girl's hind hair in +her hand, she rolled it all up in one large curl; Rosalie crying out at +the violence with which she pulled, and the other children laughing, +when it was done, at the huge knob, and telling Rosalie she had a +knocker at her back. + +In a short time the night-gowns and night-caps were scrambled on, and +the children all deposited in their respective beds, and all hastily +kissed by their undressers; who hurried out of the room, anxious to +enter upon their anticipated delights. + +"Now, good Mary, dear Mary," said Henrietta, "do tell me if you have +got every thing?" "Every thing, miss," replied Mary, "except the +calves-foot jelly; and the money fell short of that. But I have got +the iced pound-cake, and the mince pies, and the oyster patties, and +the little cocoa-nut puddings, and the bottle of lemon-syrup, and all +the other things. They are snug and safe in the market-basket in the +back-kitchen-closet; and nobody can never guess nothing about it." + +Just at this moment the man-servant came to tell the young ladies that +Mrs. Middleton wished them all to go down into the front parlour to look +at some prints. These prints were the coloured engravings of Wall's +beautiful views on the Hudson, and which had just been purchased by Mrs. +Middleton's brother-in-law, who was going to leave the city the +following morning. At any other time the young ladies (at least those +who had a taste for drawing) would have been grateful for Mrs. +Middleton's kindness in allowing them an opportunity of looking at these +fine landscapes; but _now_ every moment that detained them from the +feast, seemed like an hour. Henrietta murmured almost aloud; and they +all went down with reluctance, except Isabella Caldwell, who had made up +her mind not to partake of the banquet. + +In the mean time, little Rosalie Sunbridge, who was a very cunning +child, and had a great deal of curiosity, suspected that something more +than usual was going on, from the alertness of the young ladies in +hurrying the children to bed. _Her_ bed being nearest to the door, she +had overheard the elder girls in earnest consultation with the +chambermaid in the passage, and although she could not distinguish +exactly what was said, she understood that something very delightful was +to go on that evening in the front school-room. Having a great desire to +know precisely what was in agitation, she waited a short time till all +her companions were asleep; and then getting up softly, she opened one +of the shutters to let in a little light, as the storm had subsided and +there was a faint moon. She then got her merino coat, and put it on over +her night-gown, and covering her feet with her carpet moccasins that she +might make no noise in walking, she stole softly into the front +school-room, determined to watch all that went on. + +Two lamps were burning on the table; but no person was in the room; the +young ladies having all gone down into the parlour to look at the +prints. Rosalie, by climbing on a chair, managed, with much difficulty, +to get on the upper shelf of a large closet; having hastily cleared a +space for herself to lie down in, among the books and rolls of maps. +Then pushing away the chair, she drew the closet-door nearly close; +leaving only a small crack, through which she could observe all that was +done. + +Presently, she saw Mary come cautiously into the room with a basket, and +taking out of it the materials for the feast, the girl arranged them all +to great advantage on the table. When this was accomplished, she went +down stairs; and immediately after, the young ladies, having looked +hastily at the prints, all came up, and expressed much satisfaction at +the inviting appearance of the banquet. Isabella lighted a small lamp, +and said she was going to bed. + +"Why, Caldwell," exclaimed Henrietta, "are you absolutely in earnest? +What, after contributing to the expense of the feast, will you really +leave us before it begins, and go dismally to bed? See how nice every +thing looks." + +"Every thing, indeed, looks nice," replied Isabella, "but still I have +no desire to partake of them. I am out of spirits, and I have other +reasons for not wishing to join your party." "Just take something before +you go," said Henrietta. "No," answered Isabella, "I feel as if I could +not taste a single article on the table." + +She then withdrew to her room, and her companions took their seats and +began to regale themselves; Henrietta presiding at the head of the +table. They would have enjoyed their feast very much, only that, +notwithstanding their expected security, they were in continual dread of +being discovered. They started, and listened at every little noise; +fearing that Miss Loxley might possibly have returned, or that Mrs. +Middleton might possibly be coming up stairs. + +"Really," said Henrietta, "it is a great pity that poor Isabella +Caldwell, after she gave her dollar with so much reluctance, should +refuse to take any share of our feast. Perhaps to-morrow she will think +better of it. Suppose we save something for her. I dare say she will +have no objection to eat some of these good things in the morning." + +"Put by one of the little cocoa-nut puddings for her," said Miss Scott. +"And one of the mince pies," said another young lady. "And a large slice +of pound-cake," said a third. "And a bunch of white grapes," said a +fourth. + +Henrietta then selected some of the nicest articles of their banquet, to +offer to Isabella in the morning; and after some consultation, it was +concluded to deposit them, for the present, in the farthest corner of +the upper shelf of the closet; which upper shelf was only used as a +repository for old maps and old copy books, and waste paper, and with +these the things could be very conveniently covered. "Do not take a +light to the closet," said Miss Marley, "you may set something on fire. +If you stand on tiptoe and raise your arm as high as you can, you may +easily reach the upper shelf." + +Henrietta accordingly walked to the closet; and was in the act of +shoving a mince-pie into a dark corner of the upper shelf, when suddenly +she gave a start and a shriek, and let fall the cocoa-nut pudding which +she held in her hand. "What is the matter?" exclaimed all the girls at +once. "Oh!" cried Henrietta, "when I reached up the mince-pie to the top +shelf, it was taken from me by a cold hand that met mine--I felt the +fingers." "Impossible," said some of the girls. "What could it actually +be?" cried others. Just then, Rosalie made a rustling among the loose +papers on the top shelf. "There it is again," screamed Henrietta. "Oh!" +cried Miss Watkins, "we have done very wrong to plot this feast in +secret, and something dreadful is going to happen to us as a +punishment." + +Another rustling set all the young ladies to screaming; and, with one +accord, they rushed towards the door, with such force as to overset the +table and all its contents. The lamps were broken and extinguished in +the fall; several of the girls were thrown down by the others; and the +shrieks were so violent that Mrs. Middleton heard them into the parlour, +where, her friends having left her, she was sitting with Miss Loxley, +who had just come in; and taking a light with them, the two ladies ran +up to the front school-room. + +The scene which then presented itself transfixed them with astonishment. +The floor was strewed with the remains of the feast. The oil from the +shattered lamps was running among the cakes and pies, which were also +drenched with water from a broken pitcher; near which the bottle of +lemon-syrup was lying in fragments. The table was thrown down on its +side. Some of the young ladies were still prostrate on the floor, and +all were screaming. Rosalie (frightened at the uproar she had caused) +was on her hands and knees, looking out from the upper shelf of the +closet, and crying "O, take me down, take me down! somebody bring a +chair and take me down." + +Isabella Caldwell, hearing the noise, had thrown on her flannel gown, +and ran also to see what was the matter. As soon as the surprise of Mrs. +Middleton would allow her to speak, she inquired the cause of all this +disturbance; but she could get no other answer than that there was some +horrible thing in the closet. "There is indeed something in the closet," +said Mrs. Middleton, perceiving Rosalie. "Miss Sunbridge, how came you +up there, and in that dress? and what is the meaning of all this?" + +The young ladies, having recovered from their terror when they found it +to be groundless, and Miss Loxley having taken down Rosalie, Henrietta +made a candid confession of the whole business. Acknowledging herself to +be the proposer and leader of the plot, she expressed her readiness to +submit to any punishment Mrs. Middleton might think proper to inflict on +her, but hoped that her governess would have the goodness to pardon all +the other young ladies; none of whom would have thought of a secret +feast, if she had not suggested it to them. "Above all," continued +Henrietta, "I must exculpate Isabella Caldwell, who declined going to +table with us or partaking of any thing, but retired to her bed; as may +be known by her being now in her night-clothes." + +Mrs. Middleton was touched with the generosity of Henrietta Harwood, in +taking all the blame on herself to exonerate her companions; and as her +kind heart would not allow her to send any of her pupils to bed in the +anticipation of being punished the next day, she said, "Miss Harwood, I +will for this time permit your misdemeanour to go unpunished, but I +require a promise from you that it shall never be repeated. Make that +promise sincerely, and I feel assured that you will keep it." + +"O, yes, indeed, dear madam!" sobbed Henrietta, "you are too kind; and I +cannot forgive myself for having persuaded my companions to join in a +plot which I knew you would disapprove." + +"Go now to your beds," said Mrs. Middleton, "and I will send a servant +to clear away the disorder of this room. Rosalie, I see, has already +slipped off to hers." + +Next morning, before school commenced, Mrs. Middleton addressed the +young ladies mildly but impressively, on the proceedings of the day +before. She dwelt on the general impropriety of all secret contrivances; +on the injury done to the integrity of the ignorant servant-girl, by +bribing her to deceive her employer; on the danger of making themselves +sick by eating such a variety of sweet things; and on the folly of +expending in those dainties, money which might be much better employed. + +"That," said Henrietta, "was one of Isabella Caldwell's objections to +joining our feasting party. I am now convinced that she had in view some +more sensible manner of disposing of her money. I regret that she was +prevailed on to contribute her dollar, as she must have had an excellent +reason for her unwillingness; and she seemed really unhappy, and went to +bed without touching any of our good things." + +"I can guess how it was," said Miss Loxley. "One very cold morning last +week, I met Diana, Miss Caldwell's washerwoman, going up stairs with the +clean clothes, and having nothing on her shoulders but an old cotton +shawl. I asked her if she had no cloak, and she replied that she had +not; but added, that Miss Isabella had been so kind as to promise her +one, which was to be ready for her when she came again. I suspect that +Miss Caldwell has been saving her money for the laudable purpose of +furnishing this poor woman with a cloak." + +"Oh! no doubt she has," exclaimed Henrietta. "Why, dear Isabella, did +you not say so? and bad as I am, I would not have persisted in +persuading you out of your dollar." + +"The woman, however, did not get her cloak," resumed Miss Loxley, "for I +again saw her without one, yesterday, though the weather had increased +in severity." + +"It is true," said Isabella. "The cloak was to have cost four dollars, +and after subscribing one dollar to the feast, I could not buy it; as I +had not then sufficient money." + +_Mrs. Middleton._ Miss Harwood, had you often these feasts at Madame +Disette's. + +_Henrietta._ Oh! very often, and as the teacher, Miss Benson, was always +one of the party, we managed so well, that Madame Disette never +discovered us. Or if she had any suspicion, she said nothing about it; +for after all, she cared very little what we did out of school-hours +provided that our proceedings _cost her nothing_. + +_Mrs. Middleton._ You must not speak so disrespectfully of your former +governess. But I will explain to you that _I_ care very much what you +do, even in your hours of recreation. It is when the business of the +school is over, and they are no longer in the presence of their +instructors, that girls are in the greatest danger of forming bad +habits, and imitating bad examples. All deceit, all tricks, are highly +unjustifiable. A little feast may seem in itself of small moment; but if +you persist in plotting little feasts, you will eventually be led on to +plot things of more importance, and which may lead to the worst +consequences. Then, as I always allow you as large a portion of sweet +things as comports with your health, it is the more reprehensible in you +to seek to procure them for yourselves, without my knowledge. Tell me +now, do any of you feel the better for last night's frolic? + +_Miss Thomson._ O, no, no! Miss Watkins and Miss Roberts were sick all +night; and, indeed, none of us feel very well this morning. + +_Mrs. Middleton._ I observed that you all had very little appetite for +your breakfast. + +_Miss Brownlow._ And then _I_ had my new frock spoiled when I fell down +in the lamp-oil. + +_Miss Wilcox._ And I got some lamp-oil into my mouth. I tasted it all +night. Even my nose was rubbed in it, as I lay struggling on the floor. + +_Miss Snodgrass._ And _I_ fell with my knees on half a dozen pieces of +orange, and stained my black silk frock, so that it is no longer fit to +wear. + +_Miss Marley._ And _I_ was thrown down with the back of my head on a +bunch of grapes, mashing them to a jelly. + +_Miss Scott._ But _my_ hair was so very sticky, with falling into the +lemon syrup, that I was obliged, this morning, to wash it all over with +warm soap-suds. + +_Miss Roberts._ And _I_ put my foot into the bottom of the broken +pitcher, and cut my heel so that it bled through the stocking. + +_Miss Watkins._ Still, nothing of this would have happened if Rosalie +Sunbridge had stayed in her bed. It was her hiding in the closet and +frightening us, that caused all the mischief. + +_Rosalie._ I am sure I was punished enough for my curiosity; for when I +got on the closet-shelf I was obliged to lie so cramped that I was +almost stiff; and I was half dead with cold, notwithstanding I had put +on my merino coat. And then I was longing all the time for some of the +good things I saw you eating; so that when Miss Harwood came to hide the +mince-pie, I could not forbear taking it out of her hand. When I found +that you were all so terrified, I thought I would make a noise among the +loose papers to frighten you still more, supposing that you would all +quit the room; and that then I could come down from the shelf, and +regale myself awhile, before I stole back to-bed. I did not foresee that +you would overset the table in your flight, and make such a violent +noise. But I will never again attempt to pry into other people's +secrets. + +_Mrs Middleton._ I hope you never will. This feast, you see, has caused +nothing but discomfort, which is the case with all things that are in +themselves improper. Yet I think the greatest sufferer is Isabella +Caldwell's washerwoman, who has, in consequence, been disappointed of +her cloak. + +_Isabella._ Next week, madam, when I receive my allowance, I hope to be +able to buy it for her. + +_Mrs. Middleton._ You need not wait till next week. The poor woman shall +suffer no longer for a cloak. Here is a dollar in advance; and after +school, you can go out and purchase it, so that it may be ready for her +to-morrow when she brings home your clothes. + +_Isabella._ Dear Mrs. Middleton, how much I thank you. + + * * * * * + +The young ladies having promised that they would attempt no more private +feasts, Mrs. Middleton kissed, and forgave them. After school, Isabella, +accompanied by Miss Loxley, went out and bought the plaid cloak, which +was sent home directly. Next day, she longed for Diana to arrive with +the clothes, that she might enjoy her pleasure on receiving so useful a +gift, but, to her great disappointment they were brought home by another +mulatto woman, who informed Isabella that she was Diana's next door +neighbour, and that poor Diana having taken a violent cold from being +out in the snow-storm, was now confined to her bed with the rheumatism. +"Ah!" thought Isabella, "perhaps if she had had this good warm cloak to +go home in, the day before yesterday, she might have escaped the +rheumatism. I see now that whenever we allow ourselves to be persuaded +to do a thing which we know to be wrong, evil is sure to come from it." + +She desired the woman to wait a few minutes; and hastening to Mrs. +Middleton, begged that she would allow her to go and see poor Diana, +who, she feared was in great distress. Mrs. Middleton readily consented, +and had a basket filled with various things, which she gave to the woman +to carry with the plaid cloak to Diana. She sent by Isabella a bottle of +camphor, and some cotton wadding, for Diana's rheumatism, and a medicine +for her to take internally. Miss Loxley accompanied Isabella; and they +found Diana in bed and very ill, and every thing about her evincing +extreme poverty. Isabella engaged the woman to stay with Diana till she +got well, and to take care of her and her children, promising to pay her +for her trouble. When they returned and made their report to Mrs. +Middleton, she wrote a note to her physician, requesting him to visit +Diana and attend her as long as was necessary. + +Next week, Henrietta Harwood, and the other young ladies, subscribed all +their allowance of pocket-money for the relief of Diana; who very soon +was well enough to resume her work. It is unnecessary to add that their +contribution to the support of the poor woman and her family, gave them +far more pleasure than they had derived from the unfortunate feast. They +never, of course, attempted another. And Henrietta Harwood, at Mrs. +Middleton's school, lost all the faults she had acquired at Madame +Disette's. + + + + +THE WEEK OF IDLENESS. + + "Their only labour was to kill the time, + And labour dire it was, and weary wo." + _Thomson._ + + +Adelaide and Rosalind, the daughters of Mr. Edington, looked forward +with much pleasure to the arrival of their cousin, Josephine +Sherborough, from Maryland. She was to spend the summer with them, at +their father's country residence on the beautiful bay of New York, a few +miles below the city; and, though they had never seen her, they were +disposed to regard Josephine as a very agreeable addition to their +family society. Having had the misfortune to lose their mother, Adelaide +and Rosalind had been for several years under the entire care of their +governess, Mrs. Mortlake; a highly accomplished and most amiable woman, +whom they loved and respected as if she had been their parent, and by +whose instructions they had greatly profited. + +It was on a beautiful evening in June, that Josephine Sherborough was +_certainly_ expected, after several disappointments within the last two +or three weeks. The Miss Edingtons and their governess were seated on +one of the settees in the portico that extended along the front of Mr. +Edington's house. Mrs. Mortlake was sewing, Rosalind reading aloud, and +Adelaide, with her drawing materials before her, was earnestly engaged +in colouring a sketch of a fishing-boat at anchor, beautifully reflected +in the calm water, and tinted with the glowing rays of the declining +sun. As she put in the last touches, she hoped, before the summer was +over, that she should improve so much in her drawing as to be enabled to +attempt a view of the bay with its green shores; its island fortresses; +and its numerous ships, some going out on a voyage to distant regions, +others coming home with the merchandise and the news of Europe. + +"Now," exclaimed Adelaide, "I see the smoke of the steamboat, just +behind Castle Williams. My father and Josephine will soon be here. I am +glad my drawing is so nearly completed. In a few minutes it will be +finished." + +"And in a few minutes," said Rosalind, "I shall conclude the story that +I am reading." + +"Do you not now think," asked Mrs. Mortlake, "I was right in proposing +that we should protract our usual afternoon occupations an hour beyond +the usual time, as we are expecting the arrival of your father and your +cousin? This last hour would have seemed twice its real length, if we +had done nothing, all the while, but strain our eyes in gazing up the +bay for the steamboat, saying every few minutes, 'Oh, I wish they were +come!'" + +In a short time, Adelaide exclaimed, "Here is the steamboat. I see they +are depositing several trunks in the little boat at the side. And now it +is let down to the water. And now a gentleman and a young lady descend +the steps, and take their seats in it. How fast it cuts its way through +the foam that is raised by the tow-line. In a moment it will touch the +wharf. Here they come. There is my father; and it _must_ be Josephine +that is with him!" + +The sisters then ran down the steps of the portico, and in a moment were +at the landing-place, where Mr. Edington, as soon as he had assisted +her to step on shore, introduced them to Josephine Sherborough, a fat, +fair, pale young lady, about fourteen, with a remarkably placid +countenance which immediately won the regard of Rosalind: who determined +in her own mind that Josephine was a very sweet girl, and that they +should, ever hereafter, be intimate and most particular friends. +Adelaide, who was two years older than Rosalind, and who had more +penetration, was not so violently prepossessed in favour of her cousin, +whose face she thought deficient in animation, and whose movements were +more slow and heavy than those of any young girl she had ever seen. + +When tea was over, the sisters proposed to Josephine a walk round the +garden, which was large and very beautiful; but she complained of being +excessively tired, and said that she would much rather go to bed. This +somewhat surprised her cousins, as they knew that Josephine had been +three days in the city with the friends under whose care she had come +from Maryland; and they thought that she must have had ample time to +recover from the fatigue of her journey: to which her last little trip +in the steamboat could not have added much. Rosalind, who was a year +younger than Josephine, accompanied her to the chamber prepared for her +accommodation, where Josephine, looking round disconsolately, inquired +if there was no servant to undress her. Rosalind volunteered to perform +this office; and Josephine said she would ring the bell for one of the +maids, when she wished to get up in the morning. + +She kept the family waiting breakfast for her till nine o'clock, and +then came down in a white slip or loose gown; her hair still pinned up; +her eyes half shut; and her face evidently not washed. Mr. Edington, +whose business in the city made it necessary for him to be there at an +early hour, had long since breakfasted, and gone up to town in the boat; +and after a few days, the rest of the family ceased to wait for her; and +the housekeeper was directed to have a fresh breakfast prepared for Miss +Sherborough whenever she came down. + +The first days of Josephine's visit ought, in Rosalind's opinion, to +have been devoted entirely to the amusement of their guest, and she was +urgent with Mrs. Mortlake, to allow Adelaide and herself a week of +holiday. Their governess told them that she would have been willing to +grant this indulgence if Josephine was to remain with them a week only: +but as she was to stay all summer, it would, of course, be impossible +for them, every day, to give up their usual occupations; and therefore +it was better to begin as they were to go on. She reminded Rosalind that +if they were attentive and industrious, they would get through their +lessons the sooner, and have the more time for recreation with their +visitor. + +After Josephine had breakfasted, Mrs. Mortlake offered to show her the +children's library, that she might amuse herself with any of the books +she chose, while her cousins were engaged in their morning employments. +Josephine thanked her; but said she could entertain herself very well +without books, and that she believed she would take a walk in the +garden. She accordingly put on her bonnet, and strolled up and down the +walks, gazing listlessly at the flowers. She attempted to gather some +strawberries, but found it too fatiguing to stoop down to the beds; and +satisfied herself with plucking currants and gooseberries from the +bushes. She then sat in the arbour for awhile, and looked all the time +straight down the middle walk. When she was tired of the arbour, she +established herself on a circular bench which ran round a large walnut +tree; and then she counted all the windows at the back part of the +house. When this was accomplished, she counted them all over again. And +then, finding the sun had become very powerful, she went into the +front-parlour, the shutters of which were bowed to exclude the heat, and +throwing herself at full length on the sofa, she in a few minutes fell +into a profound sleep, from which she did not awaken till her cousins +entered the room in search of her, after their lessons were over. They +took her up stairs into the apartment they called their play-room, and +showed her a variety of things which would have been very amusing to a +girl that knew how to be amused. There was a lacquered Chinese cabinet, +containing a great number of curiosities brought by their uncle from +Canton: and a large box with shelves, on which were various specimens of +Indian ingenuity, presented to the children by a gentleman who had +travelled all over the country beyond the Mississippi. Their library +consisted of a beautiful and entertaining selection of juvenile books; +and they had a port-folio filled with fine prints of such subjects as +are particularly interesting to young people. They showed her a +representation of the grand procession at the coronation of the +sovereign of England, printed on a long narrow roll of paper pasted on +silk; which paper was unwound like a ribbon-yard from a Tunbridge-ware +box, and it could be screwed up again after being sufficiently seen. It +was many yards in length, and the figures (which were almost +innumerable) were elegantly designed, and beautifully coloured. They had +also a little theatre, with a great number of scenes; and a variety of +very small dolls, dressed in appropriate habits to personate the actors. +Beside all these things, they had a closet full of amusing toys; and in +short the play-room was amply stored with a profusion of whatever was +necessary to the enjoyment of their leisure hours. + +But all was lost on Josephine. While Adelaide and Rosalind were +assiduous in showing and explaining to her every thing, she heard them +with listlessness and apathy, and made not the slightest remark. At +last, she said "We will reserve some of these sights for to-morrow. I +must go and dress myself for dinner. Oh! how I hate to dress. It is an +odious task. I must have Mary to assist me again; for I never _can_ get +through the fatigue of dressing myself, and fixing my hair." + +In the afternoon, Adelaide and Rosalind took their sewing, and seated +themselves with Mrs. Mortlake in the porch. As Josephine appeared to +have no work, Mrs. Mortlake gave her a volume of Miss Edgeworth's Moral +Tales, and requested her to read one of them aloud. Josephine took the +book and began to read "The Prussian Vase," but with so monotonous and +inarticulate a tone, or rather drawl, that it was painful to hear her: +and her cousins were not sorry when, at the end of three or four pages, +she stopped, and complained that she was too much fatigued to read any +more. + +Mrs. Mortlake then desired Adelaide, who read extremely well, to take +the book and continue the story, but in a short time Josephine was +discovered to be asleep. When Adelaide ceased reading, Josephine awoke, +and saying that she could not live without her afternoon nap, went up +stairs to lie down on her bed. + +She slept till near tea-time, and when tea was over, her cousins and +Mrs. Mortlake prepared for a walk, and invited Josephine to join them. +This she did; but in less than ten minutes she complained so much of +fatigue, that Rosalind turned back and accompanied her home, and she +reclined on the settee in the porch till the lamps were lighted in the +front-parlour. The girls then showed Josephine a portable diorama, +containing twelve beautiful coloured views of castles, abbeys, temples, +and mountain scenery. Each of these exquisite little landscapes was +fixed, in turn, as the back scene of a sort of miniature stage. The +skies and lights of these views were all transparent, and there were +other skies which turned on rollers, and represented sunrise, moonlight, +sunshine, and thunder-clouds. These second skies being placed behind +those of the picture, were slowly unrolled by turning a small handle, +and produced the most varied and beautiful effects on the scenery, which +could thus at pleasure be illuminated gradually with sunshine or +moonbeams, or darkened with the clouds of a gathering storm. But +Josephine saw this charming exhibition without a single comment; being +evidently much inclined to yawn as she looked at it. And getting again +very sleepy, she soon retired to her bed. + +Next morning, Mrs. Mortlake invited her to bring her sewing into the +school-room, and sit there while her cousins were at their lessons. But +Josephine replied that she hated sewing, and never did any. However, she +took her seat in the school-room, and a kitten soon after came purring +round her; so she put it on her lap, and stroked and patted it till the +lessons were over, and the girls went up stairs to amuse themselves +till dinner-time. + +Adelaide tried to induce Josephine to look at some of the beautiful +prints in the port-folio; but she found it necessary to explain them +all, as if she was showing them to a child of three years old. + +Rosalind proposed that they should all go on the roof of the house (it +being flat on the top and guarded with a railing) to look at the beauty +and wide extent of the prospect; and taking their parasols to screen +their heads from the sun, they went up through a very convenient +trap-door at the head of an easy little staircase. The view from the +roof of Mr. Edington's house was certainly very fine, comprising the bay +with its islands and fortresses; its boats and vessels of every +description; the distant lighthouse at Sandy Hook, and the blue ocean +rolling beyond it: and at the other end of the scene, behind a forest of +masts, rose the city of New York with its numerous spires glittering in +the sunlight. + +Fine as the prospect was, Josephine showed no symptom of admiration; but +as they came down through the garret-passage, she spied an old +rocking-chair standing in a corner among some lumber. (Parlour +rocking-chairs were not yet in general use.) She turned her head, and +looked at it with longing eyes. "Ah!" said she, "that is the very thing +I have been suffering for ever since I left home. Do let me beg to have +it in my room." The chair, accordingly, was carried into the apartment +of Josephine, who immediately seated herself, and began to rock with +great satisfaction; at which most interesting amusement she continued +till near dinner-time. The rocking-chair was next day taken into the +school-room, and with that and the kitten, Josephine appeared to get +through the morning rather contentedly. + +The afternoon was again devoted to a long nap: and in the evening +Josephine reclined on the front-parlour sofa, and entertained herself by +running her finger a hundred times over the brass nails. + +Several days passed on in a similar manner. One morning when they were +all in the play-room, Josephine said to her cousins, "What a very hard +life you are obliged to endure. Neither of you have a moment of rest, +from the time you leave your beds in the morning, till you return to +them at night. First, there is your rising with the sun, and going to +work in your little gardens. I am sure you might make your father's +gardener do all that business." + +_Adelaide_. But we take great pleasure in it; and when we see our +flowers growing and blooming, the interest they excite in us is much +increased by knowing that we have raised them from the seed, or planted +the roots ourselves; and that we have assisted their growth by watering, +weeding, tying them, and clearing them from insects. And is it not +pleasant to find that the fruit-stones, we planted a few years since in +our little orchard, have produced trees that are now loaded with fruit? +The red cherries, we had last evening after tea, were from one of my +trees; and the large black cherries were from Rosalind's. And in August, +we shall have our own plums and peaches. + +_Josephine_. I am sure it is much less trouble to buy these things, than +to cultivate them; and as to the amusement, I can see none. Then there +are those awful lessons that are always to come on after breakfast. The +writing, and cyphering, and grammar, and geography, and history, one +day: and the French, and music, and drawing, the next: and-the reading +and sewing every afternoon; and the walk every evening. Even your +play-time (as you call it) is a time of perpetual fatigue: your plays +all seem to require so much skill and ingenuity. And then on Saturday +morning, to think that you are obliged to go into the housekeeper's room +and learn to make cakes, and pastry, and sweetmeats, and all such +things. I am sure if I was never to eat cakes till I assisted in making +them, I should go without all my life. It seems to me that your whole +existence is a course of uninterrupted toil. + +_Rosalind_. There is much truth in what you say, my dear Josephine. But +I own it never struck me before. + +_Adelaide_. We have always been perfectly happy in our occupations and +amusements: and the longest day in summer seems too short for us. + +_Josephine_. Too short, perhaps, to get through such a quantity of work; +for I consider all this as _real hard work_. I am glad that I have not +been brought up in such a laborious manner. My parents love me too much +to make me uncomfortable, even for a moment; or to cause me in any way +the slightest fatigue. I have spent my whole life in ease and peace; +doing nothing but what I pleased, and never learning but when I chose. +I have not been troubled with either a school or a governess; my mother +(who was herself educated at a boarding-school) having determined, as I +was her only child, to instruct me at home. + +Adelaide saw that it was in vain to argue the point any farther. But the +foolish reasoning of Josephine made a great impression on Rosalind; so +true it is, that "evil communication corrupts good manners," and she was +seized with an earnest desire to participate in the happiness of doing +nothing. + +Next morning, Rosalind went to her lessons with great reluctance, and +consequently did not perform them well. On the following day she was +equally deficient; and in the afternoon when Josephine went up stairs to +take her nap, Rosalind, looking after her, exclaimed, "Happy girl! How I +envy her!" + +"Envy her!" said Adelaide, "of all the people I am acquainted with, I +think Josephine Sherborough is the least to be envied." + +_Rosalind._ She is not troubled with lessons, and sewing, as we are. She +can do whatever she pleases the whole day long. No wonder she is fat, +when she is so perfectly comfortable. For my part, I expect, in the +course of another year, to be worn to a skeleton with such incessant +application. + +_Adelaide._ But without application how is it possible to learn? + +_Rosalind._ I would rather put off my learning till I am older, and have +strength to bear such dreadful fatigue. + +_Adelaide._ I do not find it fatiguing. I am sure our lessons are not +very long, and Mrs. Mortlake is so kind and gentle, that it is a +pleasure to be instructed by her; and she explains every thing so +sensibly and intelligibly. + +_Rosalind._ But where is the use of learning every thing before we grow +up? + +_Adelaide._ Because, as Mrs. Mortlake says, children (if they are not +_too young_) learn faster than grown persons; their memories are better, +as they have not yet been overloaded, and they have nothing of +importance to divert their attention from their lessons. + +_Rosalind._ I would rather grow up as ignorant as our tenant's wife, +Dutch Katy, than be made such a slave as I am now. I am sure Katy's life +is an easy one compared to mine. + +_Adelaide, smiling._ Consider it not so deeply. + +_Rosalind._ Yes, I will, for I am out of patience. I wish it was the +fashion to be ignorant. + +_Adelaide._ Fortunately it is _not_. To say nothing of the disgrace of +being ignorant when it is known we have had opportunities of acquiring +knowledge, persons whose minds are vacant, have but few enjoyments. For +instance, as Josephine knows nothing of music, it gives her no pleasure +to hear the finest singing and playing, even such as Mrs. Mortlake's. As +she has no idea of drawing, she takes not the least delight in looking +at beautiful pictures. Having never been in the habit of reading, she +wonders how it is possible to be amused with a book; and as she has no +knowledge of history or geography, she often, when she _does_ read, is +puzzled with allusions to those subjects; and a French word is as +unintelligible to her, as if it were Greek. Plants and animals do not +interest her, because she has scarcely an idea of the properties or +attributes of any of the productions of Nature. And what is worse than +all, she takes no pleasure in listening to the conversation of sensible +people, because she is incapable of understanding it: her comprehension +being only equal to the most frivolous topics. + +_Rosalind._ Notwithstanding all this, her life passes calmly and +pleasantly; and I am sure she is much happier than we are. + +_Adelaide._ Speak for yourself, dear Rosalind. For my part, I do not +wish to be more happy than I am. + +_Rosalind._ Well, I thought so too, till I knew Josephine. And she is by +no means so dull as you suppose. + +_Adelaide._ Perhaps she is not naturally stupid; but indulgence and +indolence have so benumbed her understanding, that it seems now +incapable of the smallest effort. + +At this moment Mrs. Mortlake came down with a book in her hand, for the +afternoon reading. + +"Rosalind," said she, "as my room is over the porch, and the windows are +open, I could not avoid hearing all you have just been saying, +particularly as you spoke very loudly. As I do not wish to see either of +my pupils _unhappy_, I will gratify your desire, and both you and +Adelaide (if it is also her wish) may pass a week entirely without +occupation; in short, a week of idleness." + +_Adelaide._ O no, dear Mrs. Mortlake: I have no desire to avail myself +of your offer. I would much rather continue my usual employments. + +_Rosalind._ A week of entire leisure! O, how delightful! + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ But, during that time, neither you nor Josephine must +come into the school-room. + +_Rosalind._ O, indeed! we shall not desire it. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ Neither must you read. + +_Rosalind._ Well!--I am sure I have read enough to last my lifetime. +Where is the use of reading story-books that are all invention, +describing people that never lived; or of poring over voyages and +travels to countries I shall never visit; or of studying the histories +of dead kings. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not sew. + +_Rosalind._ I never _did_ find it very entertaining to stick a needle +and thread into a piece of muslin, and pull it through again. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not draw. + +_Rosalind._ I do not see the pleasure of rubbing red, and blue, and +green paint on little plates; and dabbling in tumblers of water with +camel's-hair pencils, and daubing colours on white paper. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not play on the piano, nor on the harp. + +_Rosalind._ Well! What sense is there in pressing down your fingers +first on bits of ivory, and then on bits of ebony; and staring at +crotchets and quavers all the time? or where is the use of twanging and +jerking the strings of a harp? + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not work in your garden. + +_Rosalind._ So much the better. Then I shall neither dirty my hands with +pulling up the weeds, nor splash my feet with the water-pot. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ You may sleep as much as you please; but you must not +rise before nine o'clock. + +_Rosalind._ O, how delightful, not to be obliged to jump out of bed at +daylight! Dearest Mrs. Mortlake, if I could have a _month_ of ease and +comfort, instead of only a week--- + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ Well,--if at the end of the week you still desire it, +perhaps I may protract the indulgence to a longer period. + +_Rosalind._ Dear Mrs. Mortlake, how kind you are. When shall my +happiness begin? As to-morrow is Saturday, when we _always_ have a half +holiday, and next day Sunday, when we go to the city to attend church, I +think, notwithstanding my impatience, I would rather commence my week of +felicity regularly on Monday morning. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ Very well, then. On Monday morning let it be. + +_Adelaide._ I am sorry to hear you call your anticipated week of +idleness a week of felicity. + +_Rosalind._ Oh! I am sure I shall find it so; and you will regret not +having also accepted Mrs. Mortlake's kind offer. + +_Adelaide._ I fear no regret on that subject. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ Say no more, Adelaide. Wait till we see the event of +Rosalind's experiment. + +_Rosalind._ I hope Josephine's afternoon nap will not be as long as +usual: I am so impatient to tell her. O, how we shall enjoy ourselves +together! + + * * * * * + +When Josephine awoke and heard of the new arrangement, she was as much +delighted as _she_ could be at any thing; and she begged that Rosalind +might be allowed to share her chamber during this happy week. + +Monday morning came; and Rosalind (such is the power of habit) awoke, as +usual, with the dawn; but soon recollected that she was not to get up +till nine o'clock. She saw the light gleaming through the Venetian +shutters, and she heard the morning song of the scarlet oriole, whose +nest was in a locust tree close to the window; and the twittering of the +martins as they flew about their box, which was affixed to the wall just +below the roof of the house. She heard Adelaide, who was in the next +room, get up to dress herself, and exclaim as she threw open the +shutters, "O, what a beautiful sunrise!" Rosalind felt some desire to +enjoy the loveliness of the early morning; but determined to remain in +bed, and indulge herself with another nap. She turned and shook her +pillow, and tumbled about for a long time before she could get to sleep; +and at last she awoke again just as the clock was striking seven. She +had still two hours to remain in bed, and she found the time extremely +tedious. "Are you asleep, Josephine?" said she. "No," replied Josephine, +"I am never asleep after this hour." + +_Rosalind._ Why, then, do you remain in bed? + +_Josephine._ O, because I hate to get up. + +_Rosalind._ Well then let us talk. + +_Josephine._ O, no! I never talk in bed. For, even when I do not sleep, +I am not quite awake. + +At length it was nine; and at the first stroke of the clock, Rosalind +started from her bed, and began to wash and dress herself. When the +girls went down stairs, they found the family breakfast had long been +over, and they had theirs on a little table in a corner of the room. +Rosalind thought her breakfast did not taste very well; probably, +because remaining so long in bed, had taken away her appetite. + +After breakfast, they went out and walked a little while in the most +shady part of the garden. Then they sat down; first in the arbour of +honeysuckles, then on the green bank behind the ice-house; then on a +garden chair; and then on the bench at the foot of the great walnut +tree. They picked a few currants and ate them; and they gathered some +roses and smelled them. For some time they held their parasols over +their heads; and then they shut them, and made marks on the gravel with +the ends of the ivory sticks. They looked awhile at a nursery of young +peach-trees at one side of the garden; and then they turned and looked +towards a clover-field on the other side. Josephine pulled the strings +of her reticule backwards and forwards; and Rosalind counted the +palisades in the fence of the kitchen-garden. At last a bright idea +struck her; and she gathered some dandelions that were going to seed, +and blew off the down; recommending the same amusement to Josephine, +who, after two or three trials, gave it up. + +"Suppose we go to the play-room," said Rosalind. Josephine assented, and +they slowly walked back to the house, and ascended the stairs. "Now," +said Rosalind, "we can play domino _in the morning_. Generally, we never +amuse ourselves with any of those little games in the day-time; though +we have domino, draughts, and loto, sometimes in the evening." They +played domino awhile in a very spiritless manner, and then they tried +draughts and loto, which they also soon gave up; Josephine saying that +all these games required too much attention. She then had recourse to +the rocking-chair, and Rosalind took some white paper and cut fly-traps; +in which amusements they tried to get rid of the time till near the +dinner-hour, when they combed their hair, and changed their dresses. +Adelaide did not join them in the play-room, being much engaged with a +very amusing book. + +After dinner, Rosalind, accompanied Josephine to her room to take a nap +likewise. But she found it so warm, and turned and tossed about so much, +and had such difficulty in fixing herself in a comfortable position, +that she thought, if it was not for the name of taking a nap, she had +better have stayed up as usual. Josephine had less difficulty, being +accustomed to afternoon-sleeping; and at length Rosalind shut her eyes, +and fell into a sort of uneasy doze. + +When they awoke, Rosalind proposed that they should put on their frocks, +and go down into the porch, where Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide were +reading and sewing. But Josephine thought it would be much less trouble +to sit in their loose gowns until near tea-time. To this Rosalind +agreed, and they sat and gazed at the river. But it happened _this_ +afternoon that no ships came in, and only one went out; and all the +steamboats kept far over towards the opposite shore. They were glad when +the bell rung for tea; for when people do nothing, their meals are a +sort of amusement, and are therefore expected with anxious interest. In +the evening, they declined joining Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide in their +usual long walk, and took a short stroll under the willows on the bank +of the river; after which they returned to the parlour, where Mr. +Edington sat reading the newspaper, and Josephine threw herself on the +sofa; while Rosalind sat beside her on a chair, and played with the +kitten. + +Next morning, their amusements in the garden were a little diversified +by playing jack-stones and platting ribbon-grass; and when they went up +to the play-room, Rosalind, looking among her old toys, found a doll +long since laid aside, and a basket with its clothes. She offered the +doll to Josephine proposing that she should dress it: but Josephine said +"I would rather look at you, while _you_ do it." Rosalind accordingly +dressed the doll in two different suits, one after another; but soon +grew tired, and had recourse to an ivory cup and ball, which she failed +to catch with as much dexterity as usual. She gave Josephine a wooden +lemon, which on being opened in the middle, contained a number of other +lemons one within another, and diminishing in size till the last and +smallest was no bigger than a pea. When Josephine had got through the +lemon, Rosalind took it, and resigned the cup and ball to her cousin, +who soon gave it up, as she could never make the cup catch the ball; and +she again finished the morning with her never-failing resource the +rocking-chair. + +Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday having been passed in this manner, on +Thursday Rosalind began to acknowledge to herself, what she had indeed +suspected on the first day, that a life of entire idleness was not quite +so agreeable as she had supposed. Having no useful or interesting +occupation to diversify her time, she found that play had lost its +relish; and now that she could play all day, she found all plays +tiresome. These three days had appeared to her of never-ending length; +and she began to think that when her week of idleness had expired she +would not solicit Mrs. Mortlake to prolong the term. + +On Thursday afternoon Rosalind gave up her nap, and went and seated +herself at the open window, that she might hear Mrs. Mortlake and +Adelaide read aloud in the porch. And next morning, she actually stopped +and listened at the school-room door while Adelaide was repeating her +French lesson; and she returned again, and stood behind the door, to +hear Mrs. Mortlake instructing her sister in a new song accompanied on +the harp. All that day and the next, she felt as if she was actually +sick of doing nothing; and she absolutely languished to be allowed once +more to take a book and read, or to draw, or play on the piano. Even +sewing, she thought, would now seem delightful to her. + +On Saturday morning Rosalind met Adelaide in her brown linen apron with +long sleeves, going into the housekeeper's room to assist in making +cakes and pastry. She longed to go in with her, and to do her part as +formerly; and her longing increased when she heard the sound of beating +eggs, and grinding spice. She had hitherto looked forward with great +pleasure to her holiday on Saturday afternoon. Now, after doing nothing +all the week, Saturday afternoon had no charms for her; and she was glad +to find it was to be devoted to a ride in the carriage, through a +pleasant part of the adjacent country. + +"Well, Rosalind," said Josephine, as they were taking off their bonnets, +after their return from the ride, "you have now spent a week in _my_ +way. Do you not wish you could pass your whole life in the same manner?" + +_Rosalind._ No, indeed--nor even another week. This week of idleness has +seemed to me like a month; and I have no desire to renew the +experiment. I have never in my life gone to bed so tired as after those +days of doing nothing. I find that want of occupation is to me absolute +misery; though it may be very delightful to _you_, as you have been +brought up in a different manner, and have never been accustomed to any +sort of employment. Yet, still I think you would be much happier, if you +had something to do. + +In the evening Mr. Edington said to his youngest daughter, "Well, +Rosalind, how do you like your week of idleness? Are you going to +request Mrs. Mortlake to lengthen the term of your enjoyment?" + +_Rosalind._ O no, dear father; it has been no enjoyment to _me_. On the +contrary, I am glad to think that it is now over. I have found it +absolutely a punishment. + +_Mr. Edington._ So I suspected. + +_Rosalind._ And I deserved it, for allowing myself to become +dissatisfied with the manner in which Mrs. Mortlake chose that I should +occupy myself. I am tired of lying in bed, tired of idleness, and tired +of play. So, dear Mrs. Mortlake, be so kind as to let me rise at +daylight on Monday morning, to work in my garden, and resume my lessons +as usual. You may depend on it I shall never again wish for a single +day of idleness. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ I am very glad to hear you say so, my dear Rosalind. +And I do not despair of at length convincing Josephine that she would be +more happy if she had some regular employment. + +That night Rosalind returned to her own chamber, and next morning she +was up at daylight. It being Sunday, they went as usual to church in the +city, and Rosalind was now delighted to pass the remainder of the day in +reading a volume of Mrs. Sherwood's excellent work, the Lady of the +Manor. A book now seemed like a novelty to her. + +Next day Rosalind went through her lessons with a pleasure she had never +felt before; and when they were over, she highly enjoyed her two hours' +recreation after dinner. She took no more afternoon naps; and after a +short time even Josephine was persuaded to give them up, and found it +possible, with some practice, to keep awake while her cousins or Mrs. +Mortlake were reading aloud in the porch. + +Finally, Josephine became ashamed of being the only idle person in Mr. +Edington's house, and was prevailed on by her uncle and Mrs. Mortlake to +join her cousins in their lessons. By degrees, and by giving her only a +very little to learn at a time, and by having constantly before her such +good examples as Adelaide and Rosalind, she entirely conquered her love +of idleness. She was really not deficient in natural capacity, and she +soon began to take pleasure in trying to improve herself; so that when +she returned to Maryland, she carried with her a newly acquired taste +for rational pursuits, which she never afterwards lost. + + + + +MADELINE MALCOLM. + + Now here--now there--in noise and mischief ever. + _Rogers._ + + +"Well, Juliet, how is your friend, Cecilia Selden?" said Edward +Lansdowne to his sister, as they were sitting by the parlour fire, in +the interval between daylight and darkness. It was the evening after his +arrival from Princeton college to spend a fortnight at Christmas with +his family in Philadelphia. + +_Juliet._ I believe Cecilia is very well. At least she was so when last +I saw her, about five weeks since. + +_Edward._ Is it five weeks since you have seen Cecilia Selden? You were +formerly almost inseparable. I hope there has been no quarrel between +you. + +_Juliet._ None at all. But--somehow--I am tired of Cecilia Selden. She +is certainly a very dull companion. + +_Edward._ Dull! You once thought her very amusing. For my part, _I_ +always found her so. She has read a great deal, is highly accomplished, +and as she travels every summer with her parents, she has had +opportunities of seeing a variety of interesting places and people. And +above all, she has an excellent natural understanding. + +_Juliet._ But she is always so sensible and so correct, and every thing +that she says and does is so very proper. + +_Edward._ So much the better. You will improve by being intimate with +her. + +_Juliet._ I never shall be intimate again with Cecilia Selden. She is +too particular, too fastidious. She does not like Madeline Malcolm. + +_Edward._ And who is Madeline Malcolm? I never heard of her before. + +_Juliet._ Her father is our next door neighbour. You know we did not +live in this house when you were last in Philadelphia. The very day we +moved, Madeline Malcolm came in to see us, in the midst of all our +bustle and confusion, and stayed the whole afternoon. She said she had +long been desirous of becoming acquainted with me, was delighted that +we were now near neighbours, and therefore could not forbear running in +to commence the intimacy immediately. + +_Edward._ But "in the midst of all your bustle and confusion," it must +have been very in convenient to receive a visitor, and to entertain her +the whole afternoon. + +_Juliet._ Why,--we were a little disconcerted at first, but she begged +of us not to consider her a stranger. She was just as sociable as if she +had known us for seven years; and she was so queer, and there was so +much fun in every thing she said and did, that she kept me laughing all +the time. + +_Edward._ I should like to see this prodigy of fun. + +_Juliet._ No doubt you will soon have that pleasure; for she runs in and +out, the back way, ten times a-day. + +Juliet had scarcely spoken when they heard a voice in the entry, singing +"I'd be a butterfly," and Madeline Malcolm, a tall, black-eyed, +red-cheeked girl, with long ringlets of dark hair, came flying into the +parlour, exclaiming, "What, still by fire-light--I shall have to pull +your Peter's ears myself, if he does not mind his business and light the +astral lamp sooner. O! here he comes. Now, Peter, proceed; and take +yourself off as soon as you have accomplished the feat. Well,--now that +there is no longer any danger of falling over this young gentleman, I +must beg leave to be introduced to him in form. I surmise that he is the +most learned Mr. Edward Lansdowne of Nassau-Hall, Princeton. Ah! I have +torn my frock on the fender. Just like me, you know." Juliet immediately +introduced her brother. "Well, Ned," exclaimed Miss Malcolm, "you have +come to make us happy at last. Your sister has talked so much about you +that I have actually been longing for your arrival. Come, tell us the +best news at college. I have a cousin there, but he has not been in town +since the rebellion before the last. I suppose he goes to New York to +take his frolics. Come, tell us all the particulars of your last +'Barring out;' I suppose it was conducted according to the newest +fashion. Juliet, did you ever see any thing like Ned's face? A sort of +mixed expression; trying to smile and be agreeable, but looking all the +time as if he could bar _me_ out himself." + +In this manner she ran on for near half an hour, Juliet laughing +heartily, and Edward not at all. At last she rose to go away, and when +Juliet invited her to stay all the evening, she said she _must_ go +home, for they were to have waffles at tea, and she would not miss them +on any consideration. However, the tea-table in Mrs. Lansdowne's parlour +being now set, she took a spoonful of honey which she dripped all over +the cloth, and then giving Juliet a hearty kiss, she seized Edward's arm +saying, "Come, Ned, escort me home. I am going in at the front-door this +time, and there is always ice on our steps, so be sure to take care that +I do not fall." + +When Edward took his leave at Madeline's door, she shook hands with him, +saying, "Am I not a wild creature? You see how my spirits run away with +me." + +Edward came back with a countenance of almost disgust. "If this is your +new friend," said he to his sister, "I must say that I consider her +scarcely endurable. Why, she never saw me before this evening, and yet +she is as familiar as if she had known me all her life. To think of her +calling me Ned." + +"Ah!" said Juliet with a smile, "I suspect _that_ to be the grand +offence, after all. But depend upon it, you will like her better when +you know her better." + +"I very much doubt my ever liking her at all," replied Edward. + + * * * * * + +Nothing could exceed the sociability of Madeline Malcolm. She +breakfasted, dined, and drank tea at Mrs. Lansdowne's table nearly as +often as at her father's; and she frequently ran in early in the +morning, and scampered into Juliet's chamber before she had risen. Mr. +and Mrs. Lansdowne (both whose dispositions were remarkably amiable and +indulgent) did not approve of their daughter's intimacy with Madeline. +They had spoken to her on the subject; but Madeline's frank and +caressing manner, and her perpetual good-humour, had so won the heart of +Juliet, that it was painful to her to hear a word against her friend, as +she called her. So her parents concluded to let it pass for the present; +trusting to Juliet's becoming eventually disgusted by some outrageous +folly of Madeline's, who seemed to think her professed volatility an +excuse for every thing; and that the appellation of _a wild creature_, +which she took pride in giving herself, would screen her from any +resentment her unwarrantable conduct might provoke. + +Still, as Edward observed, she had a great deal of selfishness and +cunning; as is generally the case with wild creatures; for when females +have so little of the delicacy of their sex as to throw aside the +restraints of propriety, the same want of delicacy makes them totally +regardless of the feelings or convenience of others, and renders them +callous to every thing like real sympathy or kindness of heart. + +At home, Madeline was allowed to do exactly as she pleased; her father's +thoughts were perpetually in his counting-house, and her step-mother, +who spent all her time in the nursery, was incessantly occupied with the +care of a large family of young children, of whom Madeline never took +the least account. And she was so much at Mr. Lansdowne's that Juliet +had few opportunities of returning her visits. + +She borrowed all Juliet's best books, and did not scruple to lend them +again to any person that she knew. Some of the books were never +returned; and others were brought back soiled, torn, and in a most +deplorable condition. One of her jokes was to take up Juliet's +muslin-work, and disfigure it with what she called gobble-stitch. She +came in one day and found the parlour unoccupied, and Juliet's +drawing-box on the table, with a beautiful landscape nearly finished. +Madeline sat down and daubed at it till it was quite spoiled, and when +Juliet discovered her at this employment, she turned it off with a +laugh, insisting that she had greatly improved the picture. She found +Juliet one evening engaged in copying a very scarce and beautiful song, +which she had borrowed from her music-master, and which had never been +published in America. On Juliet's being called up stairs for a few +moments to her mother, Madeline took the pen, and scribbled on the +margin of the borrowed music, some nonsensical verses of her own +composition, in ridicule of the music-master. + +Edward presented his sister at Christmas with a set of a new English +magazine, which contained biographical sketches and finely engraved +portraits of some of the most celebrated female authors. Madeline came +in soon after the arrival of the books; and having looked them over, she +insisted on carrying one of the volumes home with her. Next day she +brought it back, with a pair of spectacles drawn with a pen and ink +round the eyes of each of the portraits that, as she said, "The learned +ladies might look still wiser." Upon this Edward immediately left the +room, lest his indignation should induce him to say too much, and +Juliet could not help warmly expressing her dissatisfaction. But +Madeline pacified her by hanging round her neck and pleading that her +love of fun was constantly leading her to do mischievous things; and +that she was sure her darling Juliet loved her too well not to forgive +her. + +Cecilia Selden, a sensible and amiable girl, and formerly Juliet's most +intimate friend, was an object of Madeline's particular dislike and +ridicule; of which Cecilia perceived so many palpable symptoms, that she +left off visiting at Mrs. Lansdowne's house; to the great regret of +Edward. + +Mrs. Templeton, a lady that lived at the distance of a few squares, gave +a juvenile ball, to which Juliet and Edward were invited, and also +Madeline with several of her little brothers and sisters. Soon after +Juliet had gone up to her room to commence dressing, Madeline came in +followed by a servant with two bandboxes, and exclaiming, "Well, Juliet, +I have brought all my trappings, and have come here to dress with _you_, +that I may escape being put in requisition at home to assist in +decorating the brats, who will entirely fill up _our_ carriage, so I am +going to the ball in _yours_. There now, get away from the glass and +let me begin." + +Juliet removed from the glass, and throwing a shawl over her shoulders, +sat down by the fire, determined to wait patiently till Madeline had +finished her toilet. But this was no expeditious matter. Madeline always +professed to be too giddy to have her clothes in order, or to think of +any thing before the last moment. Every article that she was to wear +this evening required some alteration, which Juliet was called upon to +make, till Lucy, a mulatto seamstress that lived in the family, came up +to assist the young ladies in dressing. Madeline's white satin +under-frock was longer than the tulle dress that she wore over it: and +after it was put on, it was necessary to make it shorter by turning the +hem up all round and running it along with a needle and thread. Her +satin belt would not meet, and after a great deal of pulling and +squeezing in vain, the only remedy was to take off the hooks and eyes +and set them nearer to the ends. She desired Lucy to arrange her hair +for her, which was a difficult task, as Madeline would not hold still a +moment; and after it was at last accomplished, she declared that Lucy +had made a fright of her, and demolished the whole structure with her +own hands, strewing the floor with hair-pins and flowers. She then +called Juliet to her assistance; and, in the course of time, her hair +was finished to her satisfaction. + +When Madeline was dressed, she took a lamp from the mantlepiece and +setting it on the floor, that she might see her feet to advantage with +her embroidered silk stockings and white satin shoes, she began to caper +and dance; and in performing one of her best steps she kicked down the +lamp, which splashed all over her right foot, and over the lower part of +her dress, beside deluging the carpet with oil. She screamed violently, +and her volatility seemed to forsake her when she held up her beautiful +tulle dress bespattered with lamp-oil. Juliet endeavoured to console +her, and lent her another pair of silk stockings, and Lucy was sent to +the nearest shoemaker's to bring several pair of white satin shoes that +Madeline might choose from among them. But what was to be done with the +disfigured frock? Madeline declared she had no other dress that was +handsome enough to wear that evening, and said she would rather stay +away from the ball than not look as she wished. Juliet, who was about +the same size, offered to lend her a frock, even the clear muslin she +was to wear that night herself; but Madeline said that Juliet's dresses +were all too plain for her, and that she had set her mind upon the white +silk-sprigged tulle, and nothing else. + +She continued to lament her misfortune, when a thought struck her that +it was possible to conceal the spots of oil by arranging artificial +flowers round the lower part of the dress. But Juliet had no such +flowers, not having yet begun to wear them, and her mother had long +since left them off. Madeline's whole stock of flowers, was already +disposed of on her head, and she protested against taking out a single +one; saying, that it required a multitude to cover all the oil-stains. + +At last she exclaimed, "I have just thought of it, Juliet,--There +are plenty of flowers in the French vases on your front-parlour +mantle-piece.[A] I will have _them_. They will do exactly."--"But," +said Juliet, "I know not that my mother will approve of the flowers +being taken out of the vases."--"Nonsense," replied Madeline. "What +a vastly proper person you are. Tell her that your volatile friend +Madeline took them; and she will expect nothing better of such a +wild creature." + + [A] It was formerly the fashion to decorate the mantle-piece + with artificial flowers placed in china vases under glass + shades. + +So saying, she ran down stairs, and found Edward dressed for the ball, +and waiting for them in the parlour. "Here, Ned, my boy," said she, "off +with those glass shades, and hand me out the flowers from the vases. I +have kicked over a lamp and splashed my frock with oil, and I must have +all the flowers I can get, to hide the stains. Why do you look so +dubious? I will send them safely back again to-morrow morning. What, +won't you give them to me? Oh! then I shall make bold to help myself to +them."--She jumped on a chair, and was going to lift one of the glass +shades, when Edward, fearful of the consequences, stepped up and took +out the flowers for her; and when she had obtained them all, she ran off +with them in her lap, dropping them along the stairs as she went. + +When she entered the chamber, she called out to Juliet, "Come now, dear +creature, down on your knees with a pin-cushion in your hand, and pin +these flowers all nicely round my frock, so as to cover every one of the +vile oil-spots." "Shall _I_ do it, miss?" said the maid, who had just +finished wiping up the oil that had fallen on the carpet, and which, +however, left a large splash of grease. "Miss Juliet will rumple her +dress if she stoops down to put on the flowers."--"So much the better," +said Madeline, "it will be an advantage to that new muslin to have a +little of the stiffness taken out. Come, Lucy, you may hold the candle." +Juliet then stooped down, and in a most painful posture proceeded to pin +the flowers round Madeline's frock, which she did so adroitly as to +conceal all the spots of oil. + +Just as this business was completed a servant brought into the room a +small red morocco case, inclosing a beautiful pearl necklace, and +accompanied by a note from her grandfather, in which he requested her +acceptance of it as a new-year's gift, and desired that she would wear +it on that evening at Mrs. Templeton's ball. + +While Juliet was admiring the necklace, Madeline took it out of her +hand, saying, "Let me see how this looks on _my_ neck. Beautiful--really +beautiful. Ah, Juliet, it is so pretty I cannot bear to take it off +again. Come _I_ shall wear it this evening."--"But indeed," said Juliet, +"I should like very much to wear it myself; particularly as it is my +grandfather's request."--"Nonsense," answered Madeline; "grandpa is not +going to the ball himself, and how will he know whether you wear it or +not? And your father and mother are both at the theatre, and are +ignorant even of its arrival. I forgot to bring a necklace with me: so +this comes quite _apropos_. Come, I am not going to give it up this +evening. Possession, you know, is nine points of the law: and your white +neck requires no pearls to set it off." + +"You know very well that my neck is _not_ white," said Juliet. + +"Well then," replied Madeline, "if it is brown, the pearls will make it +look browner still. Positively you shall not have it to-night, if I run +for it." Upon which she ran down stairs into the front-parlour, and +pretended to hide behind the window-curtain, to save herself, as she +told Edward, from the vengeance of Juliet, whose new necklace she had +seized and carried off. Edward did not think this a very good joke; +however, he made no comment, and his sister coming down immediately +after, he handed her and Madeline into the carriage, and accompanied +them to Mrs. Templeton's. + +At the ball the volatility of Madeline reached its climax. She talked, +laughed, flirted, jumped, and occasionally appealed to those in the same +cotillon to know if they had ever seen such a wild creature. Edward, +however, could not help observing her unkindness and rudeness to the +little children, whom she pushed about and scolded, whenever they came +in her way. Two of her younger sisters were preparing to dance together, +when Madeline and Edward, who were looking for a place, came up. "This +cotillon is completed," said Edward, "and so, I believe, are all the +others. Let us stand by, and look on. I always enjoy seeing the children +dance." "No indeed," said Madeline, "I had rather dance myself. Here, +Ellen and Clara, go and sit down, and give us your places." The children +began to object; but she pushed them away and commenced the cotillon, +saying she was determined to dance every set. + +The next set, however, no one asked Madeline to dance. She looked very +much displeased at being obliged to sit still, and was yet more so, when +Charles Templeton brought up a very handsome little midshipman, in his +uniform, who, on being introduced to both the young ladies, immediately +requested the pleasure of Miss Lansdowne's hand for the next set. + +Juliet stood up with the midshipman; but there was some delay in forming +the cotillons, and her partner perceived that one of his shoe-strings +was broken. He asked Charles Templeton, who was in the next cotillon, if +he would put him in a way of repairing the accident; and Charles desired +the midshipman to accompany him to his room for the purpose. Madeline, +who had heard all that passed, stepped up to Juliet and said to +her--"Juliet, as you are one of the modest people, I suppose it will +embarrass you to stand here till your partner comes back again; so do +you sit down, and I will stand and keep your place for you. You know I +have brass enough for any thing." + +Juliet, grateful for Madeline's unexpected kindness, and feeling really +some embarrassment at standing up in the cotillon without her partner, +consented willingly, and took Madeline's seat. In a few minutes the +midshipman returned, and looked much surprised when he saw another young +lady in the place of his partner; but before he had time to consider why +it was so, the music commenced, and Madeline began to right and left, +and led off the cotillon; disappointing Juliet of her dance. + +The midshipman, however, did not speak to Madeline during the whole set; +and when he had led her to a seat, he left her, and went up to Edward, +and expressed his surprise that Miss Lansdowne, after being engaged to +dance with him, had substituted another young lady in her place. Edward, +to whom his sister had explained how it happened, repeated her account +to the midshipman, who was much vexed, and went immediately to apologize +to Juliet, and to ask her hand for the next set, which she was obliged +to refuse, as she was pre-engaged both for that set and the following. + +"So," said Madeline, as she passed Juliet on her way to the cotillon +with a new partner, "you see I tricked you out of the smart young +midshipman, who is the prettiest fellow in the room, and I was +determined not to sit still a single set." + +Madeline's volatility attracted the attention of the whole company, and +the delight of finding herself an object of general notice gave her +fresh spirits as she ran to the very top of the country-dance, +oversetting a little boy on her way, afterwards romping down the middle, +and throwing herself into a seat the moment she had got to the bottom. + +Soon after, while refreshments were handed round, she took an +opportunity of purposely spilling a glass of lemonade on Cecilia +Selden's pink crape frock, and she threw a piece of orange-peel in +Edward's way that he might slip on it, which he did, and very nearly +fell down. + +Juliet, who had recently recovered from a severe cold, brought with her +into the ball-room a very handsome blue silk scarf, which her mother had +lent her, enjoining her to put it on whenever she was not dancing, as a +guard against being suddenly chilled when in a perspiration. Madeline, +happening to look at Juliet, observed the scarf and thought it very +becoming. She suddenly twitched it off Juliet's shoulders and threw it +over her own, saying, "Now, Juliet, you have been beautified with this +scarf long enough. It is my turn to wear it awhile." Poor Juliet knew +not how to object, though her seat (the only one she had been able to +obtain) was directly against a window, from which there was a draught of +air on the back of her neck. The consequence was a renewal of her cold, +and a sore throat which confined her for several days to the house. + +The above may serve as a specimen of Madeline's various exploits at the +ball. After Juliet and her brother had got home, Edward stood for half +an hour in the middle of the parlour-floor with his bed-candle in his +hand, while he expostulated with his sister on her strange infatuation +for her new friend; declaring that, with all her volatility and apparent +frankness and good-humour, he had never known a girl more artful, +selfish, and heartless than Madeline Malcolm. + +Instead of returning the flowers and the necklace on the following +morning, as she ought to have done, Madeline wore them in the evening to +another ball; and finally when Mrs. Lansdowne sent for the flowers, they +came home in a most deplorable state, soiled, crushed, and broken; so +that they were no longer fit to ornament the vases, and some of them +were entirely lost. + +Madeline did not come in to see Juliet till she knew that she had quite +recovered from her sore-throat; having, as she afterward told her, a +perfect antipathy to a sick-room, and a mortal dislike to the dismals. +She forgot to return the necklace till Juliet, with many blushes, and +much confusion, at last reminded her of it. "Why," said she, "you seem +very uneasy about that necklace. Between friends like us, every thing +ought to be common." Madeline, however, had never offered to lend Juliet +the smallest article belonging to herself. + +The next time Madeline came, she brought the necklace in her hand. +"Here," said she "is this most important affair; I took a fancy to wear +it round my _head_ at Mrs. Linton's, and I can assure you I had a great +deal of pulling and stretching to get it to clasp. Why did grandpapa +give you such a short necklace? However, soon after I began to dance, +snap went the thread, and down came all the pearls showering about the +floor. How I laughed; but I set all the beaux in the cotillon to picking +them up, and I suppose they found the most of them. You see I have +brought you a handful. And now you can amuse yourself with stringing +them again. Come now, don't look so like Ned.--How can you expect a wild +creature as I am, to be careful of flowers, and beads, and all such +trumpery? I dare say, you are now thinking that your sober Cecilia +Selden would have returned the pearls 'in good order and well +conditioned.' But I never allow any one to get angry with me: you know I +am a privileged person. So now look agreeable, and smile immediately. +Smile, smile, I tell you." Juliet _did_ smile, and Madeline throwing her +arms round her neck, kissed her, exclaiming, as she patted her cheek, +"There's my own good baby. She always, at last, does as I bid her." + +The next day Juliet heard that the windows of Mr. Malcolm's house were +all shut up; but she was not long in suspense as to the cause, for +shortly after, Madeline came running in the back way, and said with a +most afflicted countenance, "O, Juliet, you may pity me now if you never +did before. We have just heard from New Orleans of the death of aunt +Medford, my father's only sister." + +_Juliet._ I am very sorry you have received such bad news. + +_Madeline._ Oh! but the worst of it is, that it will prevent our going +to the play to-night. We had engaged seats with the Rosemores, in a +delightful box. We were going to see the Belle's Stratagem, with the +masquerade, and the song, and the minuet, and the new French dancers. I +would not have missed such an entertainment for a hundred dollars. How +very provoking that the bad news did not arrive one day later. If it had +not come till to-morrow I should not have cared, for then our charming +evening at the theatre would have been over. And now, to think that +instead of going to the play, I must stay at home and look at my father +grieving for old aunt Medford. There now, Juliet, your face is again in +the style of Ned's. Positively, if you are so particular, I shall cut +your acquaintance. Those that I consider my friends must enter into all +my "whims and oddities," and not expect me to act according to rule. I +hate hypocrisy. Why should I pretend to grieve for aunt Medford when I +have never seen her since I was six years old? + +_Juliet._ But sympathy for your father-- + +_Madeline._ Why, where is the use of sympathy? When people are in grief, +sympathy only makes them worse. + +_Juliet._ If you yourself were in affliction, Madeline, you would find +the sympathy of your family and friends very gratifying. + +_Madeline._ Wait till _I am_ in affliction and then I will tell you. +"_Toujours gai_," is my motto, and "_vive la bagatelle_" for ever. + +So saying, she danced out of the room, and went home; but in a short +time she returned, looking very mysterious, and peeping in at the door +to ascertain if Juliet was alone. "Juliet, love," said Madeline in a low +voice, "come with me into the back parlour, lest we should be +interrupted. I have something of great consequence to tell you." + +As Madeline often dealt in mysteries, Juliet thought this new secret +nothing more than usual, and accompanied her into the back parlour, +where Madeline cautiously bolted the folding-doors and locked the side +door. "Now, Juliet," said she in an under voice, "I know I may depend on +your secrecy." "Certainly you may," replied Juliet. + +_Madeline._ Well then, I must confide to you a plan that has just struck +me. I cannot bear the idea of giving up the play to-night, and you know +it is out of the question for any of the family to be _seen_ there. + +_Juliet._ Of course none of you can go to the theatre when your house is +shut up for the death of a near relation, and when Mr. Malcolm is in +such deep affliction. + +_Madeline._ It is certainly a great pity that aunt Medford died; +particularly just at the time she did, as it will spoil all our gayety +for the winter. No more plays, and balls, and parties this season. +People ought always to die in the summer. But you know, dear Juliet, I +have not seen my aunt Medford for ten years, and I really have forgotten +all about her. So, how can you expect me to be inconsolable? And I +cannot endure the thought of being disappointed in going to the theatre. +I might as well go, as stay at home and think about it all the evening. + +_Juliet._ O no, indeed! Even if you have no personal regard for your +aunt, respect for your father's feelings and a proper regard for +decorum, ought to subdue your desire of going at this time to a place of +public amusement. + +_Madeline._ That is exactly such a speech as Cecilia Selden would make +on a similar occasion. It is a pity "the truly wise man" is not here. +How Neddy would applaud. + +_Juliet._ But where is the use of talking in this manner. You know you +_cannot_ go to the theatre. + +_Madeline._ I know I _can_. + +_Juliet._ How? In what way? I do not understand you. + +_Madeline._ My going to the theatre to-night depends principally on +_you_. + +_Juliet._ On me! + +_Madeline._ Yes, for I will not venture alone, and you must go with me. + +_Juliet._ Go with you--_I_ go with you! + +_Madeline._ Yes. + +_Juliet._ And who else? + +_Madeline._ Nobody else. Now don't look as if you were ready to run +through the wall to get away from me; but listen and understand. Our +nursery-maid, Kitty, has permission to go this evening and stay all +night with a sick sister. So when she is off, I can easily slip into +her room and select a suit of her clothes, (which I believe will nearly +fit me,) and she has a tolerably large wardrobe for a servant. Then I +will steal in the back way, bringing a suit for you. Don't look shocked. +I shall tell my father and mother that being very low-spirited, I am +coming in here to spend a quiet evening with you. I heard Mrs. +Lansdowne, when I was here yesterday, propose to your father to leave +her at her sister, Mrs. Wilmar's, on his way to the Wistar party +to-night, and call for her as he comes back; which of course will not be +before ten o'clock at the very earliest. Therefore the coast will be +clear, as I suppose Ned will go to his beloved Athenĉum. So you see +every thing seems to conspire fortunately to forward our plot. + +_Juliet._ _Our_ plot. O! do not call it _ours_. I never will have any +thing to do with a plot. + +_Madeline._ Yes, but you _must_ though. Why this is nothing. I have +plotted a hundred things in the course of my life, and so I shall again. +Well, now hear the whole. I will slip in the back-way, and you must be +alone in your room ready to receive me. After we have put on our +disguises, we will go down stairs very softly and steal out at the alley +gate. Then we will make the best of our way to the theatre, and go in +at the gallery-door, passing, of course as two servant-girls. When we +have reached the gallery we will mix with the crowd, and sit at our ease +and enjoy the play; at least the masquerade-scene, which I would not +miss for the world. I am absolutely dying to see the French dancers. +Nobody can possibly discover us under our disguises. We will not go till +the first act is over, and the audience settled; and we will come away +before the last scene of the comedy. Then after we get home we will +resume our proper dresses, and present ourselves to our parents, looking +as demure as if we had been sitting by the fire, and talking sensibly, +all the evening. No one will ever know what we have really been doing. +It will be a most charming frolic, and something for you and I to laugh +about, ten years hence. I always enjoy these queer exploits that no one +else has courage to undertake. + +_Juliet_ (_firmly._) Madeline, I will _not_ disguise myself like a +servant-girl; and I will _never_ accompany you secretly to the theatre, +nor to any other place. + +Juliet spoke in so firm a tone, that Madeline was at first abashed, and +remained for a few moments silent. But, not easily repelled, she soon +recovered from her confusion, and exerted all her eloquence to prevail +on her dear friend, as she called her, to join in the scheme. By turns +she flattered, caressed, and ridiculed her, and then tried to win her +consent by representing the delights of the masquerade-scene, as she had +heard it described by a lady who had recently seen the comedy of the +Belle's Stratagem. Juliet held out steadily for a long time. But at +length her firmness gave way, and she finally yielded; as Madeline had +foreseen. Her reluctance was so great, that her consent was, after all, +rather extorted than given, and Madeline, having kissed her rather +oftener than usual, ran gayly to her own home, singing "I won't be a +nun." + +After Madeline had gone, Juliet felt so uneasy at having suffered +herself to be persuaded against her conscience, that she was on the +point of calling her back and retracting her promise. When she went to +dinner, the consciousness of her intended deceit destroyed her appetite, +and made her feel as if she could not raise her eyes towards her +parents, or answer them when they spoke to her. + +Edward bent on her a scrutinizing glance, and saw that all was not +right; but supposing that she had committed some fault in the course of +the morning for which her mother had seriously reprimanded her, he was +unwilling to notice her apparent mortification, and tried to divert the +attention of his parents by talking to them of Cooper's last novel, +which had been published that morning, and of which he had already gone +through the first volume. + +Mrs. Lansdowne, however, remarking that her daughter did not eat, +inquired if she felt unwell, and Juliet replied that she had a violent +headache: which was literally true. After dinner, her mother recommended +that she should retire to her room and lie down, which she gladly did: +her mind being too much agitated to take interest in any occupation. +Once in the afternoon, she heard Edward come up stairs and tap at her +door; but fearing that he had observed her confusion at dinner, and that +he might ask her some question concerning it, she lay still, and did not +answer to his knock, so that, supposing her to be asleep, he softly +withdrew. + +Towards evening, her mother came to inquire after her: and Juliet, +unwilling to meet the family at table in her present state of +discomposure, requested to have her tea sent up. "My dear," said Mrs. +Lansdowne, "as you are not well, I will not go to my sister Wilmar's +this evening, but I will stay at home and sit with you." + +"O, no, dear mother!" replied Juliet, "I know you wish to see aunt +Wilmar: I am sure my tea will relieve my headache, and I have no doubt, +when I have drunk it, I shall feel well enough to rise, and sit up all +the evening." Accordingly, after Juliet had taken her tea, she rose and +adjusted her dress, and when Mrs. Lansdowne came up again, she found her +daughter sitting by the fire with a book, and apparently so much +recovered, that she felt no scruples about leaving her, as she was +really desirous of passing the evening with Mrs. Wilmar, who was +confined to the house with the influenza. + +At last Juliet heard her father and mother depart, and Edward went out +soon after. In a few minutes, Madeline came cautiously up stairs, and +glided into the chamber, carrying a large bundle. "All's safe," said +she, "the coast is _quite_ clear, and we have not a moment to lose. It +is a fine moonlight night." + +Juliet's courage now failed entirely; and she vehemently besought +Madeline to give up a scheme fraught with so much risk and impropriety. +But Madeline was immovable, declaring that she had set her heart on it, +and that she enjoyed nothing so much as what she called an +out-of-the-way frolic. "Since you are so cowardly, Juliet," said she, "I +wish I could venture to go alone; but wild as I am, I confess I am not +quite equal to that--Come, now, off with your frock, and get yourself +dressed in these delectable habiliments." + +She then began to unfasten Juliet's dress, who pale, trembling, and with +tears in her eyes, arrayed herself in the clothes that Madeline had +brought for her. The gown was a very dirty one of dark blue domestic +gingham, and she put on with it a yellowish chequered handkerchief, and +a check apron. Over this she pinned an old red woollen shawl, and she +covered her head with a coarse and broken black Leghorn bonnet. The +clothes that Madeline had allotted to herself were a little better, +consisting of a dark calico frock, a coarse tamboured muslin collar, an +old straw bonnet very yellow and faded, and a plaid cloak which belonged +to the cook, and which she had taken out of a closet in the garret. + +The two young ladies did not know, or did not recollect, that when +_real_ servant-girls go to the theatre, they generally dress as well as +they can, and take pains to appear to the best advantage. The clothes +that Madeline had selected were quite too dirty and shabby for the +occasion. To complete their costume, she gave Juliet a pair of coarse +calf-skin shoes, which were so large that as she walked her feet seemed +to rise up out of them. Madeline, for her part, put on a pair of +carpet-moccasins over her slippers. + +After they were dressed and ready to depart for the theatre, Juliet's +tremor increased, and she was again on the point of relinquishing her +share in the business; but she again yielded to the solicitations of +Madeline, who led her softly down stairs by the light of the moon that +shone in at the staircase windows. They stole, undiscovered, across the +yard and out at the alley-gate; and finding themselves in the street, +began to walk very fast, as people generally do when they are going to +the play. + +When they came in view of the theatre, they saw no persons there, except +two or three gentlemen who went in at the pit-door. Juliet's heart +failed entirely; and she shrank back as Madeline, taking her hand, +attempted to pull her towards the door that admitted the gallery-people. +"We have now gone too far to recede," whispered Madeline,--"You must +stand by me now. I _will not_ go back, and _you must_ come forward. +Here, take my money and put it down with yours--I forgot my gloves, and +my hands will betray me, so I must keep them wrapped up in my cloak." + +Juliet laid the money on the ledge before the doorkeeper, who looked at +them with some surprise. They pulled their bonnets more closely over +their faces, and passed up the stairs; Madeline running as fast as +possible, and Juliet entreating her in a low voice to stop a little, as +she could not keep pace with her. They soon found themselves in the +gallery, and being assisted over the benches by a very polite black man, +they took their seats among some coloured people about the centre of the +middle row. + +The crowd and heat were intolerable. Juliet kept her eyes cast down; +afraid to look round the house, or even to steal a glance towards the +stage. Madeline, however, looked round boldly, and in a few minutes, to +her great consternation, she perceived Edward Lansdowne standing up in +the back part of one of the stage-boxes. Having finished his novel, and +feeling no inclination to read any more that night, he had concluded to +go to the theatre, reminded of it by seeing the bill in the evening +paper. "Juliet," whispered Madeline, "there is my evil genius." "Where, +where?" exclaimed Juliet, thrown almost off her guard. "If we can +distinguish _him_ at so great a distance, he can also discover +_us_."--"You forget," replied Madeline, "that we are in disguise." These +words, though uttered in a whisper, were evidently heard by the people +round, who all turned to look at them; and some tried to peep under +their bonnets, which made Juliet draw hers down over her face till her +sight was entirely obscured by it. + +The play went on; but Madeline and Juliet could not enjoy it, all their +attention being engaged by the continual fear of discovery. Juliet, +however heard enough to convince her that her parents would never have +taken her to see the Belle's Stratagem; as when they did indulge her +with a visit to the theatre, they always selected a night when the play +was unexceptionable, and the whole entertainment such as a young lady +could witness with propriety. + +At length came the masquerade-scene, and in a short time the French +dancers appeared. Just then, a short, fat, red-faced and very vulgar +Englishwoman who sat behind Madeline and Juliet, gave each of them a +twitch on the shoulder, saying, in a broad Yorkshire dialect, "I'll +thank you gals or ladies or whatsomdever you be, to take off your +bunnets and let a body have some chance of seeing the show; for I've +been popping my ead back and furrads atween you ever sence you comed +hin, and thof I've as good a right to see as any body else, I've ardly +got a squint at the hactors yet." + +The girls were now in a most critical dilemma. To take off their bonnets +seemed out of the question, as the exposure of their heads would no +doubt betray them, and their fear and perplexity were so great that they +had not presence of mind either to speak or move. + +"Don't pertend that you don't ear me," said the Englishwoman, giving +them both a hard push forward with her huge hands. "I bees a true King +Georgeswoman, and won't be put upon by none of the Yankees, not I, thof +I _am_ come to their country. I pays my money as well as you, and I've +jist as good a right to see the show; and if you won't take off them big +bunnets, I'll be bound I'll make you, if there's even a row about it. +I've raised a row afore this time when I've been put upon." + +"Oh! let us go, let us go," said Juliet, gasping with terror, and +seizing Madeline's arm. + +"Honly wait," continued the Englishwoman, "till I tells my usband, who +sets ahind here, to call 'turn 'em out.' You _may_ be ladies. But I bees +an onest oman, and if I've come to a land of liberty, the more reason +that I should make free to speak my mind; and if we're all hequal, why +then nobody han't no right to put upon me." + +By this time the two girls, in an agony of trepidation, had scrambled +over the benches and got to the door, expecting every instant to hear +the dreaded words, "turn them out," and to see Edward's eyes directed +towards them, with those of the whole audience. Scarcely conscious of +what they were doing, they ran down the gallery-stairs, and flew out of +the door into the street. As is usual toward the latter part of the +play, a number of boys had collected about the fruit-stalls waiting for +checks, that they might gain admittance to see the farce; and as +Madeline ran past them, her cloak flew open, and the moonbeams shone +brightly on a brilliant ring which she always wore on her fore-finger. +This with something in their appearance that would cause even +unpractised eyes to suspect that they were young ladies, attracted the +attention of the boys, who stared at them with surprise and curiosity. + +Madeline and Juliet ran down the street in breathless terror. They had +gone about a square from the theatre before they recollected that their +way home lay in a contrary direction, and that they ought to go _up_ the +street instead of _down_. "Oh! we are going _from_ home instead of +_towards_ it," exclaimed Juliet; and they immediately turned about and +ran up Chestnut street. They again passed the theatre, terrified, +bewildered, their bonnets falling back and discovering their frightened +faces in full view; Madeline's cloak half untied and flying out behind +her, and Juliet still grasping one corner of her shawl (which had fallen +entirely off her shoulders) and dragging it after her along the +pavement. On seeing them running back in this forlorn condition, the +boys set up a loud shout, and calling out "Hurrah for the ladies," +pursued them up Chestnut street. + +A young gentleman who had left the theatre a few minutes before, and was +walking leisurely up the street, turned round to discover the meaning of +all the noise that was coming after him, and caught Juliet, breathless +and almost dead, by her two hands. "Juliet," he exclaimed, "my sister +Juliet!" "Oh, Edward!" she shrieked, and fell into his arms drowned in +tears. + +"Save me, save me," cried Madeline, catching him by the coat. "Madeline +too!" said Edward. "What does all this mean?" + +Another gentleman now came up, and ordered off the boys, reprimanding +them severely for chasing two unprotected females; and Edward taking one +of the girls under each arm, walked on in silence, much affected by the +sobbing of Juliet. + +Madeline soon recovered herself, and attempted an explanation of the +strange predicament in which he had found them; passing it off as a very +good joke, and a further proof of her ungovernable volatility. + +Edward remained silent. He would not reproach her, but he determined in +his mind what course to pursue. He took leave of Madeline at her own +door, and on entering his father's house, he told Juliet that she had +better, as soon as possible, divest herself of her disguise. Juliet +could not speak, but she wept on her brother's shoulder; and Edward +kissed her cheek, and bade her good night. + +She retired to bed, but she could not sleep; and in the morning she rose +earlier than usual, and went into the parlour, where she knew she would +find Edward. She looked very pale, and her eyes were swimming in tears. +"Oh! Edward," said she, "what did my father and mother say, when they +came home last night, and you told them all that happened?" + +"I told them nothing," replied Edward, "I love you too well to betray +you. I have kept your secret, and I shall never disclose it. But I must +have a recompense." + +_Juliet._ Any, any recompense, dearest Edward. What can you ask that I +could possibly refuse. + +_Edward._ I require you, from this day, to give up all acquaintance with +Madeline Malcolm. Your infatuation for a girl who, under the name of +wildness and volatility, sets all propriety at defiance, is to me +astonishing. Henceforward let there be no more intimacy between you. It +must be checked before it leads to consequences still worse than the +adventures of last night. + +_Juliet._ I acknowledge that Madeline is too regardless of decorum, and +that she says and does many strange and improper things: but then she +has so good a heart. + +_Edward._ Tell me one proof of it. You have fallen into the common +error of supposing that all persons who profess to be giddy, wild, and +reckless, have kind feelings and good hearts. On the contrary, they may +too often be classed with the most selfish, cold, and heartless people +in the world; for they have seldom either sense or sensibility, and +while resolutely bent on the gratification of their own whims, are +generally regardless of the peace and convenience of those about them. +When I first went to college I thought as you do. I supposed that the +most careless, noisy, and desperate boys must necessarily have kind and +generous feelings. But I found the contrary to my cost; and I am now +convinced, that, with some few exceptions, the best hearts are generally +united with the best heads and the best manners. + +_Juliet._ But even if I never visit Madeline myself, how shall I prevent +her running in to me as she does, two or three times a day? + +_Edward._ Very easily. Write her a concise note, intimating that you do +not consider it proper to continue your acquaintance with her. + +_Juliet._ Oh! Edward, I never can do that. + +_Edward._ Is not this the recompense I am entitled to, for keeping your +secret? + +_Juliet._ Indeed, Edward, you are too cruel. + +_Edward._ Severe, perhaps, but not cruel. The exigency of the case +requires decisive measures. "I am cruel only to be kind," and you will +thank me for it hereafter. + +_Juliet._ Well then, I _will_ write the note. And if it _must be done_ I +will do it immediately; for if I allow myself to think about it long, it +will grieve me so much that I shall never have resolution to go through +with it. (_She goes to the desk and writes._) There now, Edward, read +this note. + +_Edward_, (_reading_.) "Though convinced that it is better our intimacy +should cease, it is not without regret that I decline all further +intercourse with Madeline Malcolm. For her health and happiness I offer +my best wishes; but in future we can only meet as strangers. + + "JULIET LANSDOWNE." + +Now seal and send it. + +_Juliet._ Oh, Edward! it is hard to give up Madeline. But I believe you +are right, and I ought not to regret it. + +_Edward._ I _know_ I am right. + +Juliet then rang the bell for a servant, to whom with a quivering lip +and hesitating hand she gave the note, desiring him to leave it next +door for Miss Malcolm. + +After breakfast, when Juliet was again alone with her brother, she said +to him, "Edward, I have never yet concealed any thing from my parents. I +think if I were to disclose to them the whole truth, I should feel less +miserable." + +Edward approved of this determination, and they went together to their +mother, to whom Juliet candidly related the whole history of their going +to the theatre in disguise. She kindly endeavoured to throw as little +blame on Madeline as possible; and Edward tried to apologize for +Juliet's partiality for this dangerous girl, and for the yielding +gentleness of disposition with which his sister had allowed herself to +be influenced by her; and for her want of judgment in not perceiving the +faults of Madeline in as strong a light as they appeared to every one +else. + +Mrs. Lansdowne's pleasure, on finding that her daughter had consented to +give up this very improper intimacy, counterbalanced her regret at +Juliet's having been persuaded by Madeline to join in the folly and +indecorum of the preceding evening. For this, however, she thought the +girls had been sufficiently punished by all they had suffered at the +theatre, and during their ignominious flight from it. + +Madeline's parents had no suspicion of her having been at the play in +disguise, and the idea of confessing it to them never for a moment +entered her head. She was highly indignant at Juliet's note; and +fortunately her resentment was too great to allow her to make any +attempt at renewing their intimacy. She took care, however, to let no +one suppose that the acquaintance had ceased by Juliet's desire; telling +every body that Juliet Lansdowne was a little fool, and that she had +grown quite tired of her. + +In the spring, Mr. Malcolm removed with his family to New York, and +their house next door to Mr. Lansdowne's was immediately taken by the +father of Cecilia Selden who had again become the intimate friend of +Juliet. + + +THE END. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +Punctuation has been standardised. Hyphenation and spelling have been +retained as appear in the original publication except as follows: + + Page 6 + Mrs. Evering had a very excellant cook, a _changed to_ + Mrs. Evering had a very excellent cook, a + + Page 35 + vous remerçie_,--_Il fait beau-tems_ _changed to_ + vous remerçie_,--_Il fait beau-temps_ + + Page 72 + and then she counted all the window sat _changed to_ + and then she counted all the windows at + + Page 109 + I will have _them_. They will de _changed to_ + I will have _them_. They will do + + Page 114 + kindness, and feeling really some embarrasment _changed to_ + kindness, and feeling really some embarrassment + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories for Helen, by Eliza Leslie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FOR HELEN *** + +***** This file should be named 33510-8.txt or 33510-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/5/1/33510/ + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +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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font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: .2em; word-spacing: .1em;} +.author {font-size: 1.2em; letter-spacing: .2em; word-spacing: .1em;} +.books {font-size: .9em;} +.pub {font-size: 1em; letter-spacing: .1em; word-spacing: .1em;} +.pub2 {font-size: 1.3em; letter-spacing: .2em; word-spacing: .1em;} +.noi {text-indent: 0em;} +#box2 {margin: 5em auto 5em auto; width: 26em; border: 1px solid #dcdcdc; clear: left; + padding: .5em 1em .5em 1em;} +#boxtn {margin: 5em auto 5em auto; width: 26em; border: 1px solid #dcdcdc; clear: left; + padding: .5em 1em .5em 1em; background-color: #f5f5f5;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories for Helen, by Eliza Leslie + +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: Stories for Helen + +Author: Eliza Leslie + +Release Date: August 23, 2010 [EBook #33510] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FOR HELEN *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr /> + +<h1>STORIES FOR HELEN</h1> + +<hr class="hr3" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="600" height="413" alt="Frontispiece" title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE TELL TALE.</span> +</div> + +<hr /> + + +<div class="tp"> +<p class="center"><span class="title">STORIES FOR HELEN</span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +BY<br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +<span class="author">MISS ELIZA LESLIE,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="books">AUTHOR OF STORIES FOR EMMA, STORIES FOR ADELAIDE, ETC.</span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +"Our most important are our earliest years."—<i>Cowper.</i></p> + +<hr class="hr5" /> + + +<p class="center"><span class="pub">PHILADELPHIA:</span><br /> +<span class="pub2">HENRY F. ANNERS.</span><br /> +<span class="pub">CHESNUT STREET.</span></p> +</div> + +<hr /> +<p class="center"> +Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845,<br /> +<br /> +<span class="author">BY ELIZA LESLIE,</span><br /> +<br /> +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern +District of Pennsylvania.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="center">Printed by King & Baird.</p> + + + +<hr class="hra" /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +ADVERTISEMENT.</h2> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<p>The following stories have been selected by the author, from a small +volume originally published with the title of Atlantic Tales. They have +been carefully revised; and she indulges the hope that her juvenile +readers may derive from them a little instruction blended with a little +amusement.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Philadelphia, October 1, 1845.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></span></p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="contents" id="contents"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">Page.</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Tell-Tale,</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#tell">5</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Boarding School Feast,</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#boarding">28</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Week of Idleness,</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#week">67</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Madeline Malcolm,</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#Madeline">98</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +<a name="tell" id="tell"></a>THE TELL-TALE.</h2> + +<div class="block"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"<i>How all occasions do inform against me!</i>"<br /></span> +</div></div> +<div class="right"> +<span class="right"><i>Shakspeare.</i></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 180px;"> +<img src="images/r.jpg" width="180" height="149" alt="Drop capital R" title="" /> +</div> + + +<p class="noi"><span class="hidden">R</span>OSAMOND EVERING was one of those indiscreet mischievous girls who are +in the daily practice of repeating every thing they see and hear; +particularly all the unpleasant remarks, and unfavourable opinions that +happen to be unguardedly expressed in their presence. She did not +content herself with relating only as much as she actually saw and +heard; but (as is always the case with tell-tales) she dealt greatly in +exaggeration, and her stories never failed to exceed the reality in all +their worst points.</p> + +<p>This unamiable and dangerous propensity of their daughter, gave great +pain to Mr. and Mrs. Evering, who tried in vain to correct it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> They +represented to her that as parents cannot be <i>constantly</i> on their guard +in presence of their own family, and that as grown persons do not +<i>always</i> remember or observe when children are in the room, many things +are inadvertently said, which, though of little consequence as long as +they remain unknown, may be of great and unfortunate importance if +disclosed and exaggerated. And as children are incapable of forming an +accurate judgment as to what may be told with safety, or what ought to +be kept secret, their wisest and most proper course is to repeat no +remarks and to relate no conversations whatever; but more particularly +those which they may chance to hear from persons older than themselves.</p> + +<p>But neither reproof nor punishment seemed to make any lasting impression +on Rosamond Evering; and scarce a day passed that she did not exhibit +some vexatious specimen of her besetting sin. A few instances will +suffice.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Evering had a very +<a name="excellent" id="excellent"></a><ins title="Original has excellant">excellent</ins> cook, a black woman, +that had lived with her more than six years, and whom she considered an +invaluable servant. One morning, when Venus (for that was her name) had +just left the parlour, after receiving her orders for dinner, Mr. +Evering remarked, in a low voice, to his lady,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> "Certainly, the name of +Venus was never so unsuitably bestowed as on this poor woman. I have +rarely seen a negro whose face had a greater resemblance to that of a +baboon." In this remark Mrs. Evering acquiesced.</p> + +<p>Rosamond was at this time sitting in a corner, looking over her lessons. +Just before she went to school, her mother thought of a change in the +preparations for dinner, and not wishing to give the old cook the +trouble of coming up from the kitchen a second time, she desired +Rosamond to go down and tell Venus she would have the turkey boiled +rather than roasted. Rosamond went down and delivered the message; but +fixing her eyes on the cook's face, she thought she had never seen Venus +look so ugly, and she said to her, "Venus, my father thinks you are the +ugliest negro he ever saw (<i>even for a negro</i>) and he says your face is +just like a monkey's, only worse." Having made this agreeable +communication, Rosamond went out of the kitchen and departed for school, +leaving Venus speechless with anger and astonishment; for though in +other respects a very good woman, she was extremely vain, and had always +considered herself among the handsomest of her race.</p> + +<p>As soon as Venus found herself able to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> speak, she went into the parlour +with her eyes flashing fire, and told Mrs. Evering that she must provide +herself with another cook, as she was determined to leave her that very +day. Mrs. Evering with much surprise inquired the reason, and Venus +replied, that "she would not live in any house where she was called an +ugly neger, the ugliest even of all negers, and likened to a brute +beast."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Evering, who had forgotten her husband's remark, asked the cook +what she meant; and Venus explained by repeating all that Rosamond had +told her. Mrs. Evering endeavoured to pacify her, but in vain. Ignorant +people when once offended are very difficult to appease, and Venus had +been hurt on the tenderest point. She would listen to nothing that Mrs. +Evering could urge to induce her to stay; but exclaimed in a high +passion, "I never was called a neger before. I am not a neger but a +coloured woman. I was born and raised on a great plantation in Virginny +where there was hundreds of slaves, all among the Randolphs and sich +like quality, and nobody never called me a neger. And now when I'm free, +and come here to Philadelphy where nobody has no servants without they +hires them, lo! and behold, I'm called a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> neger, and an ugly neger too, +and a neger-monkey besides. No, no, I'll not stay; and Nancy the +chambermaid may do the cooking till you get somebody else. And a pretty +way she'll do it in. I'm glad I shan't be here to eat Nancy's cooking. I +never know'd any <i>white trash</i> that could cook; much less Irish."</p> + +<p>Finally, Mrs. Evering was obliged to give Venus her wages and let here +go at once, as she protested "she would never eat another meal's +victuals in the house."</p> + +<p>When Rosamond came from school, her mother reprimanded her severely; and +when her father heard of the mischief she had caused, he would not +permit her to accompany the family to a concert that evening, as she had +been promised the day before.</p> + +<p>After the departure of Venus, it was a long time before Mrs. Evering +could suit herself with a cook. Several were tried in succession but +none were good; and to Rosamond's great regret, they were never able to +get a woman whose skill in making pies, and puddings, and cakes, bore +any comparison to that of Venus.</p> + +<p>Still this lesson did not cure her fault; she still told tales, and +still suffered in consequence.</p> + +<p>One day, Mrs. Renwick, a lady who lived next door, sent a message to +Mrs. Evering, requesting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> that she would lend her a pot of red currant +jelly, as she was quite out of that article, of which she shortly +intended making a supply; and as Mr. Renwick had invited some company to +dinner, some jelly would be wanted to eat with the canvass-back ducks.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Evering lent her a pot, and as soon as currants were in the market, +Mrs. Renwick sent her in return some jelly of her own making. It was not +nice, and Mrs. Evering observed to her sister, Mrs. Norwood, who +happened to be present: "I do not think Mrs. Renwick has been very +successful with her jelly. It is so thin it is almost liquid, and so +dark that it looks as if made of black currants. I suspect she has +boiled it too long, and has not put in sugar enough."</p> + +<p>Next day as they were coming from school together, Mrs. Renwick's little +daughter, Marianne, said to Rosamond, "My mother made some currant jelly +on Tuesday, and yesterday when it was cold, she gave me a whole +saucer-full to eat with my slice of bread, at twelve o'clock."</p> + +<p>"She might well give you a whole saucer-full," replied Rosamond, "for I +do not think it was worth saving for any better purpose. She sent in a +pot to my mother, in return for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> some she had borrowed of her. Now <i>my</i> +mother's jelly is always so firm that you might cut it with a knife, and +so bright and sparkling that it dazzles your eyes. I heard her tell my +aunt Norwood, that Mrs. Renwick's jelly was the worst she had ever seen, +that it was as thin and sour as plain currant juice, and dark and +dirty-looking beside."</p> + +<p>Marianne Renwick was much displeased at the disrespectful manner in +which her mother's jelly had been spoken of. She let go Rosamond's arm, +and turning up another street, walked home by herself, swelling with +resentment, and told her mother all that had passed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Renwick was a lady very easily offended; and she always signified +her anger as soon as she felt it. She immediately sent to a +confectioner's for a pot of the very best red currant jelly, and had it +carried into Mrs. Evering; accompanied by a note implying "that she +regretted to hear that her jelly had not been so fortunate as to meet +the approbation of so competent a judge of sweetmeats; but that, as she +would be sorry if Mrs. Evering should lose any thing by it, she had sent +her a pot made by one of the very first confectioners in the city; and +she hoped it would be found an ample<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> equivalent for that she had most +unhappily borrowed."</p> + +<p>Rosamond was in the parlour when the note and the pot of jelly arrived, +and she coloured and looked so confused, that her mother immediately +guessed she had been the cause of Mrs. Renwick's having taken offence. +Reproof had no effect on Rosamond except for a moment; but that she +might frequently be reminded of her fault, she was not allowed to taste +currant jelly till the next summer. Mrs. Renwick, however, remained +implacable; and could never be prevailed on to visit Mrs. Evering again.</p> + +<p>Mr. Evering had an aunt, the widow of a western merchant who had made a +large fortune in business. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Marbury +had removed to Philadelphia, which was her native place; and, being very +plain in her habits and ideas, she had bought a small neat house in a +retired street, where she kept but two servants, and expended more money +in presents to her relations, than in any superfluities for herself. She +generally went to a place of worship in her own neighbourhood; but +hearing that a very celebrated minister from Boston was to preach one +Sunday in the church to which her nephew's family<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> belonged, she sent a +message to Mr. Evering requesting that he would call for her with his +carriage and give her a seat in his pew, that she might have an +opportunity of hearing this distinguished stranger. Mr. and Mrs. Evering +were both out when the message arrived, so that no answer could be sent +till their return; which was not till evening.</p> + +<p>It was dusk, and the lamps not being yet lighted, they did not perceive +that Rosamond was lying on an ottoman in one of the recesses, or they +would not have spoken as they did while she was present.</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry," said Mrs. Evering, "that Mrs. Marbury has fixed on +to-morrow for going to church with us, for I intended asking Miss +Leeson, who will be delighted to have an opportunity of hearing this +celebrated preacher; and his discourse, however excellent, will be lost +on aunt Marbury, who always falls asleep soon after she has heard the +text, that being all she ever remembers of a sermon. So that in reality, +one preacher is the same to her as another; though she goes regularly to +church twice a-day, and never could be convinced that she sleeps half +the time. And then she is unfortunately so fat, and takes up so much +room in the pew."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +"My dear," said Mr. Evering, "we must show Mrs. Marbury as much kindness +and civility as we possibly can, for she is a most excellent woman, is +very liberal to us now, and at her death will undoubtedly leave us the +greatest part of her large property. Even if we had no personal regard +for the good old lady, it would be very impolitic in us to offend her."</p> + +<p>When the room was lighted, Mr. and Mrs. Evering saw Rosamond on the +ottoman, and felt so much uneasiness at her having heard their +conversation, that they thought it best to caution her against repeating +it. "Oh!" exclaimed Rosamond, "do you think I would be so wicked as to +tell aunt Marbury what you have just been saying about her?"</p> + +<p>"You have often," said Mrs. Evering, "told things almost as improper to +be repeated."</p> + +<p>"But never with any bad intention," replied Rosamond, "I am sure my +feelings are always good."</p> + +<p>"I know not," said her father, "how it is possible that people with good +feelings and good intentions can take pleasure in repeating whatever +they hear to a person's disadvantage, and above all to the very object +of the unfavourable remarks. Beside the cruelty of causing them poignant +and unnecessary pain, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> wounding their self-love, there is the +wickedness of embroiling them with their friends; or at least destroying +their confidence, and imbittering their hearts. And all these +consequences have frequently ensued from the tattling of a tell-tale +child."</p> + +<p>The next morning was Saturday; and the servants being all very busy, +Mrs. Evering desired Rosamond to stop, as she returned from taking her +music-lesson, and inform her aunt Marbury that they would be happy to +accommodate her with a seat in their pew on Sunday morning; and that +they would call for her in the carriage, as she had requested.</p> + +<p>"Now, Rosamond," said Mrs. Evering, "can I trust you? Will you, for +once, be discreet, and refrain from repeating to your aunt Marbury, what +you unluckily overheard last evening?"</p> + +<p>"O! indeed, dear mother," replied Rosamond, "bad as you think me, I am +not quite wicked enough for that."</p> + +<p>"But I fear the force of habit," said Mrs. Evering. "I believe I had +better send Peter with the message."</p> + +<p>"No," answered Rosamond, "I am anxious to retrieve my character. Rely on +me this once; and you will see how prudent and honourable I can be."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +On her way home from her music-lesson, Rosamond stopped at her aunt's, +and delivered the message, exactly as it had been given to her.</p> + +<p>While Rosamond was eating a piece of the nice plum-cake that her aunt +always kept in the house for the gratification of her young visitors, +Mrs. Marbury said to her, "This weather is quite too warm for the +season; should it continue, it will be very oppressive in church +to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"No doubt," answered Rosamond, "and most probably <i>our</i> church will be +crowded in every part. I wonder, aunt, that you are anxious to go, as +you certainly <i>must</i> be, when you sent so long beforehand to engage a +seat in our pew."</p> + +<p>"In truth," returned Mrs. Marbury, "I am willing to suffer some +inconvenience from the heat, for the sake of hearing this great +preacher."</p> + +<p>"But, aunt," said Rosamond, "if you get sleepy, you will not hear him +after all."</p> + +<p>"O!" replied Mrs. Marbury, "I am never sleepy in church. I am always so +attentive that I never feel in the least drowsy."</p> + +<p>"O! indeed, aunt, I have often seen you asleep in church," exclaimed +Rosamond.</p> + +<p>"Impossible, Rosamond, impossible," cried Mrs. Marbury. "You are +entirely mistaken. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> must have been merely your own imagination."</p> + +<p>"Why, dear aunt," said Rosamond, "my father and mother, as well as +myself, have all seen you asleep in church. If it was not true, the +whole family could not imagine it. It was but last evening, I heard my +mother say, that she wished you had not taken a notion to go to church +with us on Sunday, as it would prevent her from inviting Miss Leeson, +whom she likes far better than you. She said, beside, that fat people +take up so much room, that they are always encumbrances every where; and +that there was no use at all in your going to church, as you slept +soundly all the time you were there, and even breathed so hard as to +disturb the congregation."</p> + +<p>"And what did your father say to all this?" asked Mrs. Marbury, turning +very pale, and looking much shocked and mortified.</p> + +<p>"My father," answered Rosamond, "said that, on account of your money, we +must endure you, and all the inconveniences belonging to you; for if you +were kept in good humour, he had no doubt of your leaving him all your +property when you die."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Marbury looked aghast. She burst into tears, and Rosamond, finding +that she had gone quite too far, vainly attempted to pacify her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +"You may go home, child," exclaimed Mrs. Marbury, sobbing with anger, +"you may go home, and tell your father and mother that I shall not +trouble them with my company at church or any where else; and when I +die, I shall leave my money to the hospital or to some other +institution. How have I been deceived! But I shall take care in future +not to bestow my affection on those that have any expectations from me."</p> + +<p>Rosamond, now very much frightened, declared that she could not take +such a message to her parents; and begged her aunt to screen her from +their displeasure, by not informing them of the communication she had so +indiscreetly made.</p> + +<p>Her alarm and agitation were so great, that Mrs. Marbury consented, out +of pity, not to betray her to her father and mother; and to excuse +herself from going to church with them (which she declared she could +never do again) by alleging the heat of the weather, and the probable +crowd.</p> + +<p>"And now, Rosamond," said her aunt Marbury, "do not think that I feel at +all obliged to you for having opened my eyes as to the manner in which +your parents really regard me. Their behaviour to me, as far as I could +judge for myself, has always been exactly what I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> wished it; and if +their kindness was not sincere, I still thought it so, and was happy in +being deceived. And now, after what you have told me, how can I again +think of them as I have hitherto done? You have acted basely towards +them in repeating their private conversation, and cruelly to your kind +aunt, in giving her unnecessary pain and mortification. You have caused +much mischief; and who has been the gainer? Not yourself certainly. You +have lost my good opinion, for I can never like a tell-tale. I had heard +something of your being addicted to this vice; but till now I could not +believe it. I shall not betray you to your parents, though you have so +shamefully betrayed <i>them</i> to <i>me</i>. But you may rely on it, that sooner +or later the discovery will be made, to your utter shame and confusion. +Now you may go home, with the assurance that you can no longer be a +welcome visitor at my house."</p> + +<p>Rosamond departed, overwhelmed with compunction; and in the resolution +(which she had so often made and so often broken) never again to be +guilty of a similar fault. She gave her aunt's message to her parents, +and Miss Leeson was invited to accompany them next day to church.</p> + +<p>Two days after, Mrs. Evering went to visit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> Mrs. Marbury, and to her +great surprise heard from the servants that she had left town with some +western friends who were returning home; and that she purposed being +absent from Philadelphia five or six months; dividing her time among +various places on the other side of the Alleghanies, and probably +extending her tour to Louisiana, where she owned some land.</p> + +<p>Her going away so suddenly without apprising them of her intention, was +totally inexplicable to Mr. and Mrs. Evering; and they justly concluded +that she must have taken some offence. Rosamond well knew the cause, and +rightly supposed that her aunt finding herself unable to meet the family +with her former feelings towards them, had thought it best to avoid +seeing them for a very long time.</p> + +<p>The confusion visible in Rosamond's face and manner when Mrs. Marbury +was spoken of, aroused the suspicions of her father and mother: and on +their questioning her closely, she confessed, with many tears, that she +had really informed her aunt of what had passed on the subject of her +accompanying them to church. But as tell-tales have very little candour +where themselves are concerned, and as tale-telling always leads to +lying, she steadily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> denied that she had been guilty of the slightest +exaggeration in her report to Mrs. Marbury; protesting that she had told +her nothing but the simple truth.</p> + +<p>From that time, Rosamond was not allowed to visit or call at any house +unaccompanied by her mother, who was almost afraid to trust her out of +her sight. Her parents avoided discussing any thing of the least +consequence in <i>her</i> presence; always remembering to send her out of the +room. This mode of treatment very much mortified her; but she could not +help acknowledging that she deserved it.</p> + +<p>Her father received no intelligence from Mrs. Marbury. He and Mrs. +Evering both wrote to her at different times, endeavouring to mollify +her displeasure; but not knowing exactly where she was, the letters were +not directed to the right places, and did not reach her.</p> + +<p>For a long time Rosamond was so unusually discreet, that her parents +began to hope that her odious fault was entirely cured.</p> + +<p>One day, her chamber having been washed in the afternoon, it was found +too damp for her to sleep in with safety to her health; and her mother +told her that she must, that night, occupy the room adjoining hers. This +room, which was but seldom used, was separated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> from Mrs. Evering's +apartment by a very thin partition; and communicated with it by a door +which was almost always kept closed; the bed in each of these chambers +being placed against it.</p> + +<p>Rosamond, having been awakened in the night by the fighting of some cats +in the yard, heard her father and mother in earnest conversation. They +had totally forgotten her vicinity to them; and as tell-tales are never +wanting in curiosity, she sat up in her bed and applying her ear to the +key-hole of the door, she distinctly heard every word they said, though +they were speaking in a low voice.</p> + +<p>She was soon able to comprehend the subject of their conversation. Mr. +Evering was lamenting that the failure of a friend for whom he had +endorsed to a large amount, had brought him into unexpected +difficulties; but he hoped that he would be able to go on till the sums +due to him by some western merchants should arrive.</p> + +<p>Next evening, Rosamond was permitted to go to a juvenile cotillon-party, +held once a fortnight, at the ball-room of her dancing-master. To this +place her mother always accompanied her; and while Mrs. Evering was +sitting in conversation with some ladies, a boy named George Granby, who +was frequently the partner of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> Rosamond at these balls, came up and +asked her to dance. They were obliged to go to the farthest end of the +room before they could get places in a cotillon; and while they were +waiting for the music to begin, George, who thought Rosamond a very +pretty girl, asked her if she would also be his partner in the +country-dance. She replied that Henry Harford had engaged her, at the +last ball, for this country-dance.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" replied George Granby, "Henry Harford will not be here to-night; +his father failed yesterday."</p> + +<p>"True," said Rosamond, "I wonder I should have forgotten Mr. Harford's +failure, when my father lost so much by him. But when the fathers fail, +must the children stay away from balls?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied George, "it would be considered very improper for +the family to be seen in any place of amusement when its head is in so +much trouble, and when they have lost all they possessed."</p> + +<p>"O then," exclaimed Rosamond, "I hope <i>my</i> father will not fail till the +cotillon-parties are over for the season. There are but two more, and I +should be very sorry to give them up. I hope he will be able to go on, +at least<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> till after that time. How sorry I shall be when he <i>does</i> +fail."</p> + +<p>"I believe you," said George; "but what makes you talk about your +father's failing? I thought he was considered safe enough."</p> + +<p>"Ah! you know but little about it," answered Rosamond. "I heard him tell +my mother last night, that he was in hourly dread of failing, in +consequence of the great losses by Mr. Harford, and of his own business +having gone on badly for a long time. However, say nothing about it, for +such things ought not to be told."</p> + +<p>"They ought not, indeed," said the boy.</p> + +<p>As soon as George Granby went home, he repeated what he had heard from +Rosamond, to his father, who was one of Mr. Evering's creditors. The +consequence was, that Mr. Granby and all the principal creditors took +immediate measures to secure themselves; and Mr. Evering (who could have +gone on till he got through his difficulties, had he been allowed time, +and had the state of his affairs remained unsuspected,) became a +bankrupt through the worse than indiscretion of his daughter. Had Mrs. +Marbury been in town, or where he could have had speedy communication +with her, he doubted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> not that she would have lent him assistance to +ward off the impending blow. But she had gone away in a fit of +displeasure, occasioned, also, by the tattling of Rosamond.</p> + +<p>Mr. Granby, who was the chief creditor and a man of contracted feelings +and great severity, showed no liberality on the occasion; and proceeded +to the utmost extremity that the law would warrant. Every article of Mr. +Evering's property was taken; and indeed, since it had come to this, his +principles would not allow him to reserve any thing whatever from his +creditors.</p> + +<p>The scene that ensued in the Evering family, on the day following the +ball, can better be imagined than described. Mr. Granby had at once +informed Mr. Evering of the source from whence he had derived his +information with respect to the posture of his affairs; and when +Rosamond found this new and terrible proof of the fatal effects of her +predominant vice, she went into an hysteric fit, and was so ill all +night, that her parents, in addition to their other troubles, had to +fear for the life of their daughter. The sufferings of her mind brought +on a fever; and it was more than a week before she was able to leave her +bed.</p> + +<p>Her father and mother kindly forgave her, and avoided all reference to +her fault. But she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> could not forgive herself, and on the day that they +left their handsome residence in one of the principal streets, and +removed to a small mean-looking house in the suburbs, her agony was more +than words can express. All their furniture was sold at auction, even +Rosamond's piano, and her mother's work-table. Their most expensive +articles of clothing were put away, as in their present circumstances it +would be improper to wear them. The house they now inhabited, contained +only one little parlour with a kitchen back of it, and three small rooms +upstairs. Their furniture was limited to what was barely useful, and of +the cheapest kind. Their table was as plain as possible; and their only +servant a very young half-grown girl.</p> + +<p>This sad change in their way of living, added to the stings of +self-reproach, almost broke Rosamond's heart; and her pride was much +shocked when she found that her father had applied for the situation of +clerk in a counting-house, as a means of supporting his family till +something better should offer.</p> + +<p>At length Mrs. Marbury returned; having hurried back to Philadelphia as +soon as the intelligence of her nephew's failure had reached her. How +did she blame herself for having taken such serious offence at what now +appeared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> to her almost too trifling to remember. All her former regard +for the Evering family returned. She sought them immediately in their +humble retreat, and offered Mr. Evering her assistance to the utmost +farthing she could command.</p> + +<p>To conclude, Mr. Evering's affairs were again put in train. He resumed +his business; and a few years restored him to his former situation.</p> + +<p>This sad, but salutary lesson produced a lasting effect on Rosamond; and +from that time, she kept so strict a watch over her ruling passion, that +she succeeded in entirely eradicating it. She grew up a discreet and +amiable girl; and no one who knew her in after years, could have +believed that till the age of fourteen she had been an incorrigible +tell-tale.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +<a name="boarding" id="boarding"></a>THE BOARDING-SCHOOL FEAST.</h2> + +<div class="block2"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="io">"They hear a voice in every wind,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And snatch a fearful joy."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="right"> +<span class="right"><i>Gray.</i></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 121px;"> +<img src="images/i.jpg" width="121" height="149" alt="Drop capital I" title="" /> +</div> + + +<p class="noi"><span class="hidden">I</span>T is a very common subject of complaint with boarding-school children +(and there is often sufficient foundation for it) that they are too much +restricted in their food, and that their diet is not only inferior in +quality to what it ought to be, but frequently deficient in quantity +also. There was certainly, however, no cause for any dissatisfaction of +this sort at Mrs. Middleton's boarding-school, in Philadelphia. The +table was in every respect excellent; and a basket of bread or biscuit, +and sometimes of gingerbread, was handed round to all the pupils, every +morning at eleven o'clock. Mrs. Middleton's young ladies were strangers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +to the common boarding-school practice of coaxing or bribing the +servants to procure them cakes and tarts from the confectioners; for the +table was sufficiently supplied with those articles, made in such a +manner as to be agreeable to the taste without endangering the health; +and they were every day allowed some sort of fruit, of the best quality +the market could furnish.</p> + +<p>At last, a young lady named Henrietta Harwood became a member of Mrs. +Middleton's seminary. Miss Harwood had been for several years a pupil of +one of those too numerous establishments, where the comfort of the +children is sacrificed to the vanity of a governess, who rests her +claims to encouragement principally on the merits of elegantly furnished +parlours, an expensive style of dress, frequent evening parties, and +occasional balls. In schools where outward show is the leading +principle, the internal economy is generally conducted on the most +parsimonious plan, and while the masters (who attend only at certain +hours) are such as are considered the most fashionable, the female +teachers that live in the house, are too often vulgar girls obtained at +a low salary, and who frequently are in league<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> with the elder pupils in +ridiculing and plotting against the governess.</p> + +<p>Most of the faults and follies that were likely to be acquired at a +show-boarding-school, Henrietta Harwood brought with her to the +excellent and well-conducted establishment of Mrs. Middleton: but she +had some redeeming qualities that made her rather a favourite with her +new companions, and disposed her governess to hope that all would come +right at last.</p> + +<p>One evening, the elder young ladies were sitting very comfortably at +their different occupations, round the table in the front school-room. +The window-shutters were closed, a good fire was burning in the stove, +and Mrs. Middleton had just sent them a basket of apples, according to +her custom in the winter evenings. After finishing a very fine one, +Henrietta Harwood exclaimed—"Well—I wonder at myself for eating these +apples!"</p> + +<p><i>Miss Brownlow.</i> Why, I am sure they are the very best Newtown pippins.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> That is true, Brownie: but at Madame Disette's we had +something better of evenings than mere apples.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Brownlow.</i> What had you?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +<i>Henrietta.</i> We had sometimes cheesecakes, and sometimes tarts; with +very frequently pound-cake and jumbles; and sometimes we had even little +mince-pies, and oyster-patties.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Wilcox.</i> O, delicious! What an excellent governess! How could you +ever consent to leave her? I thought Mrs. Middleton allowed us a great +many good things; but she does not send us cheesecakes and tarts of an +evening.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, do not mistake! We might have gone without them all our +lives, before Madame Disette would have sent us any thing of the sort. +She did not even allow us apples of an evening, or a piece of bread +between breakfast and dinner. Why, one summer evening, she bought at the +door some common ice-cream, of a black man that was carrying it through +the streets in a tin pot; and when we thought that, <i>for once</i>, she had +certainly treated us, she charged the ice-cream in our quarter-bills. +No, no,—we got nothing from <i>her</i>, but stale bread; bad butter; sloppy +tea; coffee without taste or colour; skinny meat, half-cooked one day, +cold the next, and hashed or rather coddled the third. Then, for a +dessert, we were regaled with sour knotty apples in the winter, +worm-eaten cherries in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> summer, and dry squashy pears in the autumn; +and once a week we had boiled rice, or baked bread and milk, by way of +pudding. Though after the scholars had eaten their allowance, and made +their curtsies and gone up to the school-room, she always had something +nice brought for herself, and her sister, and niece: and of which poor +Benson, the under teacher, was never invited to partake.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Wilcox.</i> But how did you get such nice things in the evening?</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> We bought them, to be sure: bought them with our own money. +That was the only way. When the little girls had all gone to bed, and +Madame Disette, and Madame Trompeur, and Mademoiselle Mensonge were +engaged in the parlour with their company, we all (that is, the first +class) subscribed something; and we commissioned the chambermaid to +bring us whatever we wanted from the confectioner's. O, what delightful +feasts we had!</p> + +<p><i>Miss Thomson.</i> Did Madame Disette never find you out?</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, no!—we laid our plans too cunningly. And Benson, the +teacher, was a good creature, and always joined our party; so we knew +she would not tell.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +<i>Miss Scott.</i> I am sure we never could prevail on our teacher, Miss +Loxley, to be concerned in such things. <i>She</i> would think it so very +improper.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Well, we must take an opportunity when Miss Loxley is not +at home. Mrs. Middleton permits her to go out whenever she requests it. +She does not keep her so closely confined as Madame Disette did poor +Benson.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Scott.</i> Mrs. Middleton has so much reliance on her elder pupils, +that she is not afraid to trust us sometimes without Miss Loxley. And +we, certainly, have never yet abused her confidence.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, you are undoubtedly a most exemplary set! But you never +had one like <i>me</i> among you. I shall soon put a little spirit into you +all, and get you out of this strict-propriety sort of way. I do not +despair even of my friend Isabella Caldwell, the good girl of the +school.</p> + +<p><i>Isabella.</i> Our way is a very satisfactory one. It is impossible for +boarding-school girls to be happier than we are. Our minds are not +exhausted with long and difficult lessons, and with studies beyond our +capacity. When school-hours are over, we have full time for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> recreation, +and are amply provided with the means of amusing ourselves. We have a +library of entertaining books; and we have liberty to divert ourselves +with all sorts of juvenile plays and games. Then how much attention is +paid to our health and our comforts, and how kindly and judiciously are +we treated in every respect! Certainly, we ought to think ourselves +happy.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Ay! so you are made to say in the letters which you write +home to your parents. All our French letters, at Madame Disette's were +written first by her niece Mademoiselle Mensonge; and the English +letters were manufactured by poor Benson; and then we copied them in our +very best hands, with a new pen at every paragraph. They were all nearly +the same; and told of nothing but the superabundant kindness and +liberality of Madame Disette, our high respect and esteem for Madame +Trompeur, her sister, and our vast affection for her amiable niece, +Mademoiselle Mensonge: together with our perfect health, and extreme +felicity. In every letter we grew happier and happier.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Snodgrass.</i> And were you not so in reality?</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> No, indeed,—all the happiness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> we had was of our own +making, for we derived none from any thing our governess did for us; +though we were obliged in our letters to call her our beloved Madame +Disette, and to express the most fervent hopes that we might one day +exactly resemble her; which, I am sure, was the last thing we could have +desired; for she was one of the ugliest women that I ever saw in my +life.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Thomson.</i> But you might have wished to resemble her in mind and +manners.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Why, as to that, her mind was worse than her face, and her +manners we all thought absolutely ridiculous. Benson could mimic her +exactly.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Marley.</i> I do not wonder that your parents took you away from such +a school.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> The school was certainly bad enough. We had dirty, +uncomfortable chambers; scanty fires; a mean table, and all such +inconveniences. But then it was a very fashionable school; all the +masters were foreigners, and above all things there was a great point +made of our speaking French. We knew the common phrases perfectly well. +We could all say, <i>Comment vous portez vous</i>,—<i>Je vous remerçie</i>,—<i>Il +fait +<a name="temps" id="temps"></a><ins title="Original has beau-tems">beau-temps</ins></i>,—<i>Donnez-moi un epingle</i>,—<i>Lequel +aimez-vous mieux,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> le bleu ou le vert?</i> and many other things equally +sensible and interesting. This was what was called French conversation, +and we were all able to join in it, after taking lessons in French a +very few quarters.</p> + +<p>But after all, we had a great deal of fun, and that made up for every +thing. Madame Disette and her sister and niece, always hurried over the +school-business as fast as possible, that they might have time to pay +and receive visits; and every evening they were either out, or engaged +at home with company; so that we had nobody to watch us but poor Benson, +and none of us cared for <i>her</i>. And then we could make her do just as we +pleased. She only got seventy-five dollars a year, for which she was +obliged to perform all the drudgery of the school, even to washing and +dressing the little girls; putting them to bed; darning their stockings +and mending their clothes; besides doing all Madame Disette's plain +sewing. Poor Benson could not afford to dress half so well as the +chambermaid. So how could we have any respect for her? Even the servants +despised her, and never would do any thing she asked them.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Snodgrass.</i> Well, we all respect Miss Loxley. She gets a good +salary, dresses genteelly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> is treated with proper consideration by +every one in the house, and we obey her just as we do Mrs. Middleton.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Yes, and for those very reasons, we never can ask her to +assist in any little private scheme of our own. Benson was certainly a +much more convenient person. But to resume our first subject—I do +really long for a feast.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Roberts.</i> Well,—Mrs. Middleton occasionally gives us a feast as +you call it; for instance, on the birth-day of the young lady who is +head of her class.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, but then at these regular feasts Mrs. Middleton is +always present herself. I like to steal a little secret pleasure, +unsuspected by any one that would check it. Ah! you have never dealt in +mysteries; you know not how delightful they are. One half the enjoyment +is in planning and carrying on the plot. Come now, girls, let us get up +a little feast to-morrow evening. You know Miss Loxley will be out +again, as her aunt is still sick; and the French teacher always goes +home at dusk, as she does not sleep here.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Watkins.</i> But if Mrs. Middleton should discover us.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +<i>Henrietta.</i> No. Her sister and brother-in-law are coming to spend the +evening with her, and to bring a lady and gentleman from Connecticut. +To-morrow is the very best night we can possibly have. Leave it all to +me, and I will engage that there shall be no discovery; and we will get +the little girls to bed very early, that we may have the longer time to +enjoy ourselves.</p> + +<p><i>Several of the young ladies.</i> O, indeed we are afraid!</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Nonsense—I will answer for it that there shall be no cause +for fear. Why, we did these things fifty times at Madame Disette's, and +were never once detected. Come, I will lay down a dollar as the first +contribution towards the feast. Brownie, how much will you give?</p> + +<p><i>Miss Brownlow.</i> I will give half a dollar.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Watkins.</i> And I will give a dollar and a half. I have always +plenty of money.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Well done, Watty. And you Scotty, how much?</p> + +<p><i>Miss Scott.</i> A quarter of a dollar is all I have left.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Wilcox.</i> And I have only ten cents.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, poor Coxey! But never mind, you shall have as large a +share of the good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> things as any of us, notwithstanding you can only +muster ten cents. And now, Snoddy?</p> + +<p><i>Miss Snodgrass.</i> Why, I will give a quarter of a dollar and eight +cents. I have another quarter of a dollar, but I wish to keep it to buy +a bottle of Cologne water.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Pho.—Try to live another week without the Cologne.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Snodgrass.</i> No indeed,—I never in my life had a bottle of Cologne +water all to myself, to use just as I pleased; and I really have set my +mind on it.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Well, we must try to do without Snoddy's other +quarter-dollar. Well, Bob, what say you?</p> + +<p><i>Miss Roberts.</i> I will give half a dollar.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, Bob, Bob! You have more than that, I am sure.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Roberts.</i> Yes, I have another half dollar, but I wish to buy the +book of Fairy Tales you told me of.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, never mind buying the Fairy Tales! I will tell you all +of them without charging for my trouble. Come now, be good and give the +whole dollar, and we will have an iced pound-cake.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Roberts.</i> Well, if you will <i>certainly</i> tell me all the Fairy +Tales.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +<i>Henrietta.</i> Every one of them; twice over if you choose. And now, +Marley.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Marley.</i> I know all this is very improper.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Just for once in your life try how it seems to be improper.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Marley.</i> Well then for this time only—Here are three quarters of +a dollar.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Now, Tommy!</p> + +<p><i>Miss Thomson.</i> I have not resolution to resist. There are half a dollar +and twelve cents.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> And now, Isabella Caldwell,—though last not least.</p> + +<p><i>Isabella.</i> Excuse me, Henrietta: my contribution will be far less than +that of any other young lady. In fact, nothing at all.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Nothing at all! Why Miss Caldwell, I did not expect this of +you! I always supposed you to be very generous.</p> + +<p><i>Isabella.</i> I wish to be generous whenever it is in my power.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Well, dear Isabella, if you have no money, we will not +press you. We shall be happy to have you at our little feast, even if +you do not contribute a cent towards it.</p> + +<p><i>All.</i> O, yes! We must not lose Isabella Caldwell.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +<i>Isabella.</i> I am much obliged to you, my dear girls. But it is not the +want of money that prevents me from joining you. I <i>have</i> money. But I +wish not, on any terms, to belong to your party; and I shall retire to +my own room. In short, I do not think it right to be planning a feast +without the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton, who is so good and so indulgent +that it is a shame to deceive her.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Then I suppose. Miss Caldwell, you intend to betray us; to +disclose the whole plan to Mrs. Middleton?</p> + +<p><i>Isabella.</i> You insult me by such a suspicion. I appeal to all the young +ladies if they ever knew me guilty of telling tales, or repeating any +thing which might be a disadvantage to another.</p> + +<p><i>All.</i> O, no, no! Isabella is to be trusted. She will never betray us.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Then in plain terms, Miss Caldwell, I really think, if you +have money, you might spare a little for our feast.</p> + +<p><i>Isabella.</i> I want the whole of it for another purpose. And I shall get +no more before next week.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Well, this is very strange. I know you do not care for +finery, and that you never lay out your pocket-money in little articles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +of dress. And as for books of amusement, it was but yesterday that your +father sent you a whole box full. I <i>must</i> say, that though you are +called generous—I cannot help thinking you a little—a very little—</p> + +<p><i>Isabella.</i> Mean, I suppose you would say.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Why, I must not exactly call you <i>mean</i>—But I cannot help +thinking you rather—<i>meanish</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Isabella.</i> I will not be called mean. My refusal proceeds from other +motives than you suppose.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Young ladies, I will be judged by you all. Is it natural +for a girl of fifteen, who likes cakes, and pastry, and every sort of +sweet thing, to be so very conscientious as to refuse to join in a +little bit of pleasure that can injure no one, that will never be +discovered, and that all her companions have assented to with few or no +scruples. No, no, Isabella, I believe that your only object in declining +to be one of our party, is to save your money.</p> + +<p><i>Isabella.</i> O, what injustice you do me!</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Prove it to be injustice by joining us without further +objection.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Watkins.</i> Henrietta, we do not care for Isabella's money. Let her +keep it if she wishes. We can afford to entertain her as our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> guest. I +am sorry so much should have been said about it.</p> + +<p><i>Isabella</i> (<i>taking her purse out of her bag.</i>) There then; here are two +half-dollars. I will prove to you that I am neither mean nor selfish.</p> + +<p><i>All.</i> We will not take your money.</p> + +<p><i>Isabella.</i> Yes, take it.—Any thing rather than suspect me of what I do +not deserve. And now let me entreat, that in <i>my</i> presence nothing more +may be said of this feast. Change the subject, and talk of something +else. Or, rather, I will retire to bed, and leave you to make your +arrangements for to-morrow night.</p> + +<p>The real reason why Isabella Caldwell was so unwilling to be a +contributor to the expense of the feast, was, that she had intended +appropriating her pocket-money to a much better purpose. Her allowance +was a dollar a week; and she knew that a coloured woman, named Diana, +(who had formerly been a servant in her father's family before they +removed to the country) was now struggling with severe poverty. Diana +was the widow of a negro sailor who had perished at sea, and she was the +mother of three children, all too small to put out, and whom she +supported by taking in washing. But during a long illness brought on by +overworking herself, she lost several of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> her customers who had given +their washing to others. Isabella had solicited Mrs. Middleton to allow +her to employ Diana, rather than the woman who then washed for the +school. Mrs. Middleton readily consented.</p> + +<p>The weather had become very cold, and Isabella saw with regret that +Diana came to fetch and carry the clothes-bag without either coat or +cloak; nothing in fact to cover her shoulders but an old yellow cotton +shawl. Isabella pitied her extremely, and resolved in her own mind not +to lay out a cent of her money till she had saved enough to buy Diana a +cloak. Her father, who was a man of large fortune, had placed, at the +beginning of the year, a sum of money in Mrs. Middleton's hands to +defray Isabella's expenses, exclusive of her tuition; with directions to +give her every week a dollar to dispose of as she pleased.</p> + +<p>Isabella had now been saving her money for four weeks, and had that +morning received her weekly allowance, which completed the sum necessary +to buy a good plaid cloak, and she had determined to go the following +morning and make the purchase, and to give it to Diana when she came to +take the clothes. Isabella had now the exact money; and that was the +reason she was so unwilling to devote any part<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> of it to the expenses of +the feast. Beside which, she could not, in her heart, approve of any +species of pleasure that was to be enjoyed in secret, and kept from the +knowledge of her excellent governess. She felt the usual repugnance of +modest and benevolent people with regard to speaking of her own acts of +charity. This reluctance she, however, carried too far, when rather than +acknowledge that she was keeping her money to buy a cloak for her poor +washerwoman, she suffered herself to be prevailed on to give up part of +the sum, as an addition to the fund that was raising for the banquet.</p> + +<p>She went to bed sadly out of spirits, and much displeased with herself. +She had seen at a store, just such a cloak as she wished to get for +Diana; and she had anticipated the delight and gratitude of the poor +woman on receiving it, and the comfort it would afford her during the +inclement season, and for many succeeding winters. "And now," thought +she, "poor Diana must go without a cloak, and the money will be wasted +in cakes and tarts; which, however nice they may be, will cause us no +further pleasure after we have once swallowed them. However, perhaps the +weather will be less severe to-morrow; and next week I shall have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +another dollar, and I then will again be able to buy Diana the cloak. I +am sorry that I promised it to her when she was here last. I cannot bear +the idea of seeing her, and telling her that she must wait for the cloak +a week longer. I hope the weather will be mild and fine to-morrow."</p> + +<p>But Isabella's hope was not realized; and when she rose in the morning, +she found it snowing very fast. The cold was intense. The ground had +been for several days already covered with a deep snow which had frozen +very hard. There was a piercing north-east wind; and, altogether, it was +the most inclement morning of the whole winter. Isabella hoped that +Diana would not come for the clothes that day, as the weather would be a +sufficient excuse; though the poor woman had never before been otherwise +than punctual. But in a short time, she saw Diana coming round the +corner, walking very fast, her arms wrapped in her shawl, and holding +down her head to avoid, as much as possible, the snow that was driving +in her face. "Ah!" thought Isabella, "she hopes to get the cloak this +dreadful morning, and to wear it home. How sadly she will be +disappointed! But I cannot see or speak to her." She then tied up her +clothes-bag, and desired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> the chambermaid to take it down and give it to +Diana, and tell her that she could not see her that morning.</p> + +<p>Isabella could not forbear going again to the window; and she saw Diana +come up the area steps into the street, carrying the clothes-bag, and +looking disappointed. Isabella, with a heavy heart, watched her till she +turned the corner, shrinking from the storm, and shivering along in her +old thin shawl. "Oh!" thought Isabella, "how very badly the +confectionary will taste to me this evening, when I think that my +contribution towards it, has obliged me to break my promise to this poor +woman; and that it will cause her, for at least another week, to endure +all the sufferings of exposure to cold without sufficient covering."</p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<p>Henrietta Harwood, as leader of the conspiracy, was extremely busy every +moment that she could snatch from the presence of Mrs. Middleton and the +teachers, in making arrangements for the feast of the evening. There was +a great deal of whispering and consulting, between her and the elder +girls, as to what they should have; and a great deal of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> talking on the +stairs to Mary the chambermaid; who, for the bribe of a quarter of a +dollar, had consented to procure for them whatever they wished, without +the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton. It was unanimously agreed that none of +the <i>little</i> girls were to be let into the secret, as their discretion +was not to be depended on; and there was much lamentation that the +bed-hour for the children was so late as eight o'clock. The little girls +all slept in one large room, and as soon as they had gone to be prepared +for bed, under the superintendence of Mary, Henrietta proposed that +herself and six other young ladies should volunteer to assist in +undressing them. "You know," said she, "there are eight of the children, +and if we each take a child and leave one to Mary, they can be got to +bed in an eighth part of the time that it will require for Mary to +attend to all of them herself. Just, you know, as they have quilting +frolics and husking frolics in the country, when a whole week's work is +accomplished in a few hours, by assembling a great many persons to join +in it."</p> + +<p>This proposal was immediately assented to; and a committee of half a +dozen young ladies, with Henrietta at their head, adjourned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> to the +children's apartment. "Come, little chits," said Henrietta, "as it is a +cold night, we are going to have an undressing frolic, and to help Mary +to put you all to bed: for the sooner you are tucked up in your nests +the better it will be for you,—and for us too," she added in a low +voice aside to Miss Thomson. "Here, Rosalie Sunbridge," she continued, +"come to me, I will do the honours for <i>you</i>, as you are a sort of pet +of mine."</p> + +<p>The elder girls then began undressing the little ones with such violence +that strings snapped, buttons were jerked off, and stockings torn in the +process. The children wondered why the young ladies were seized with +such a sudden and unusual fit of kindness, and why they went so +energetically to work in getting them undressed and put to bed.</p> + +<p>An altercation, however, ensued between Henrietta Harwood and Rosalie +Sunbridge, who declared that it was her mother's particular desire that +her hair behind should be curled in papers every night; a ceremony that +Henrietta proposed omitting, telling her that there was already +sufficient curl remaining in her hair to last all the next day, and +reminding her that there was no such trouble with the hair of the other +little girls. "That is because<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> they have no hair to curl," replied +Rosalie; "you know that they are all closely cropped. But if you will +not roll up mine in papers, Miss Harwood, I would rather have Mary to +put me to bed, though you <i>do</i> call me your pet." "Well, well, hush, and +I <i>will</i> do it," said Henrietta; "but it shall be done in a new way +which saves a great deal of trouble, and makes very handsome curls when +the hair is opened out next morning." So saying, she snatched up a great +piece of coarse brown paper, and seizing the little girl's hind hair in +her hand, she rolled it all up in one large curl; Rosalie crying out at +the violence with which she pulled, and the other children laughing, +when it was done, at the huge knob, and telling Rosalie she had a +knocker at her back.</p> + +<p>In a short time the night-gowns and night-caps were scrambled on, and +the children all deposited in their respective beds, and all hastily +kissed by their undressers; who hurried out of the room, anxious to +enter upon their anticipated delights.</p> + +<p>"Now, good Mary, dear Mary," said Henrietta, "do tell me if you have got +every thing?" "Every thing, miss," replied Mary, "except the calves-foot +jelly; and the money fell short of that. But I have got the iced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +pound-cake, and the mince pies, and the oyster patties, and the little +cocoa-nut puddings, and the bottle of lemon-syrup, and all the other +things. They are snug and safe in the market-basket in the +back-kitchen-closet; and nobody can never guess nothing about it."</p> + +<p>Just at this moment the man-servant came to tell the young ladies that +Mrs. Middleton wished them all to go down into the front parlour to look +at some prints. These prints were the coloured engravings of Wall's +beautiful views on the Hudson, and which had just been purchased by Mrs. +Middleton's brother-in-law, who was going to leave the city the +following morning. At any other time the young ladies (at least those +who had a taste for drawing) would have been grateful for Mrs. +Middleton's kindness in allowing them an opportunity of looking at these +fine landscapes; but <i>now</i> every moment that detained them from the +feast, seemed like an hour. Henrietta murmured almost aloud; and they +all went down with reluctance, except Isabella Caldwell, who had made up +her mind not to partake of the banquet.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, little Rosalie Sunbridge, who was a very cunning +child, and had a great deal of curiosity, suspected that something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> more +than usual was going on, from the alertness of the young ladies in +hurrying the children to bed. <i>Her</i> bed being nearest to the door, she +had overheard the elder girls in earnest consultation with the +chambermaid in the passage, and although she could not distinguish +exactly what was said, she understood that something very delightful was +to go on that evening in the front school-room. Having a great desire to +know precisely what was in agitation, she waited a short time till all +her companions were asleep; and then getting up softly, she opened one +of the shutters to let in a little light, as the storm had subsided and +there was a faint moon. She then got her merino coat, and put it on over +her night-gown, and covering her feet with her carpet moccasins that she +might make no noise in walking, she stole softly into the front +school-room, determined to watch all that went on.</p> + +<p>Two lamps were burning on the table; but no person was in the room; the +young ladies having all gone down into the parlour to look at the +prints. Rosalie, by climbing on a chair, managed, with much difficulty, +to get on the upper shelf of a large closet; having hastily cleared a +space for herself to lie down in, among the books and rolls of maps. +Then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> pushing away the chair, she drew the closet-door nearly close; +leaving only a small crack, through which she could observe all that was +done.</p> + +<p>Presently, she saw Mary come cautiously into the room with a basket, and +taking out of it the materials for the feast, the girl arranged them all +to great advantage on the table. When this was accomplished, she went +down stairs; and immediately after, the young ladies, having looked +hastily at the prints, all came up, and expressed much satisfaction at +the inviting appearance of the banquet. Isabella lighted a small lamp, +and said she was going to bed.</p> + +<p>"Why, Caldwell," exclaimed Henrietta, "are you absolutely in earnest? +What, after contributing to the expense of the feast, will you really +leave us before it begins, and go dismally to bed? See how nice every +thing looks."</p> + +<p>"Every thing, indeed, looks nice," replied Isabella, "but still I have +no desire to partake of them. I am out of spirits, and I have other +reasons for not wishing to join your party." "Just take something before +you go," said Henrietta. "No," answered Isabella, "I feel as if I could +not taste a single article on the table."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +She then withdrew to her room, and her companions took their seats and +began to regale themselves; Henrietta presiding at the head of the +table. They would have enjoyed their feast very much, only that, +notwithstanding their expected security, they were in continual dread of +being discovered. They started, and listened at every little noise; +fearing that Miss Loxley might possibly have returned, or that Mrs. +Middleton might possibly be coming up stairs.</p> + +<p>"Really," said Henrietta, "it is a great pity that poor Isabella +Caldwell, after she gave her dollar with so much reluctance, should +refuse to take any share of our feast. Perhaps to-morrow she will think +better of it. Suppose we save something for her. I dare say she will +have no objection to eat some of these good things in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Put by one of the little cocoa-nut puddings for her," said Miss Scott. +"And one of the mince pies," said another young lady. "And a large slice +of pound-cake," said a third. "And a bunch of white grapes," said a +fourth.</p> + +<p>Henrietta then selected some of the nicest articles of their banquet, to +offer to Isabella in the morning; and after some consultation, it was +concluded to deposit them, for the present,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> in the farthest corner of +the upper shelf of the closet; which upper shelf was only used as a +repository for old maps and old copy books, and waste paper, and with +these the things could be very conveniently covered. "Do not take a +light to the closet," said Miss Marley, "you may set something on fire. +If you stand on tiptoe and raise your arm as high as you can, you may +easily reach the upper shelf."</p> + +<p>Henrietta accordingly walked to the closet; and was in the act of +shoving a mince-pie into a dark corner of the upper shelf, when suddenly +she gave a start and a shriek, and let fall the cocoa-nut pudding which +she held in her hand. "What is the matter?" exclaimed all the girls at +once. "Oh!" cried Henrietta, "when I reached up the mince-pie to the top +shelf, it was taken from me by a cold hand that met mine—I felt the +fingers." "Impossible," said some of the girls. "What could it actually +be?" cried others. Just then, Rosalie made a rustling among the loose +papers on the top shelf. "There it is again," screamed Henrietta. "Oh!" +cried Miss Watkins, "we have done very wrong to plot this feast in +secret, and something dreadful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> is going to happen to us as a +punishment."</p> + +<p>Another rustling set all the young ladies to screaming; and, with one +accord, they rushed towards the door, with such force as to overset the +table and all its contents. The lamps were broken and extinguished in +the fall; several of the girls were thrown down by the others; and the +shrieks were so violent that Mrs. Middleton heard them into the parlour, +where, her friends having left her, she was sitting with Miss Loxley, +who had just come in; and taking a light with them, the two ladies ran +up to the front school-room.</p> + +<p>The scene which then presented itself transfixed them with astonishment. +The floor was strewed with the remains of the feast. The oil from the +shattered lamps was running among the cakes and pies, which were also +drenched with water from a broken pitcher; near which the bottle of +lemon-syrup was lying in fragments. The table was thrown down on its +side. Some of the young ladies were still prostrate on the floor, and +all were screaming. Rosalie (frightened at the uproar she had caused) +was on her hands and knees, looking out from the upper shelf of the +closet, and crying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> "O, take me down, take me down! somebody bring a +chair and take me down."</p> + +<p>Isabella Caldwell, hearing the noise, had thrown on her flannel gown, +and ran also to see what was the matter. As soon as the surprise of Mrs. +Middleton would allow her to speak, she inquired the cause of all this +disturbance; but she could get no other answer than that there was some +horrible thing in the closet. "There is indeed something in the closet," +said Mrs. Middleton, perceiving Rosalie. "Miss Sunbridge, how came you +up there, and in that dress? and what is the meaning of all this?"</p> + +<p>The young ladies, having recovered from their terror when they found it +to be groundless, and Miss Loxley having taken down Rosalie, Henrietta +made a candid confession of the whole business. Acknowledging herself to +be the proposer and leader of the plot, she expressed her readiness to +submit to any punishment Mrs. Middleton might think proper to inflict on +her, but hoped that her governess would have the goodness to pardon all +the other young ladies; none of whom would have thought of a secret +feast, if she had not suggested it to them. "Above all," continued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +Henrietta, "I must exculpate Isabella Caldwell, who declined going to +table with us or partaking of any thing, but retired to her bed; as may +be known by her being now in her night-clothes."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Middleton was touched with the generosity of Henrietta Harwood, in +taking all the blame on herself to exonerate her companions; and as her +kind heart would not allow her to send any of her pupils to bed in the +anticipation of being punished the next day, she said, "Miss Harwood, I +will for this time permit your misdemeanour to go unpunished, but I +require a promise from you that it shall never be repeated. Make that +promise sincerely, and I feel assured that you will keep it."</p> + +<p>"O, yes, indeed, dear madam!" sobbed Henrietta, "you are too kind; and I +cannot forgive myself for having persuaded my companions to join in a +plot which I knew you would disapprove."</p> + +<p>"Go now to your beds," said Mrs. Middleton, "and I will send a servant +to clear away the disorder of this room. Rosalie, I see, has already +slipped off to hers."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +Next morning, before school commenced, Mrs. Middleton addressed the +young ladies mildly but impressively, on the proceedings of the day +before. She dwelt on the general impropriety of all secret contrivances; +on the injury done to the integrity of the ignorant servant-girl, by +bribing her to deceive her employer; on the danger of making themselves +sick by eating such a variety of sweet things; and on the folly of +expending in those dainties, money which might be much better employed.</p> + +<p>"That," said Henrietta, "was one of Isabella Caldwell's objections to +joining our feasting party. I am now convinced that she had in view some +more sensible manner of disposing of her money. I regret that she was +prevailed on to contribute her dollar, as she must have had an excellent +reason for her unwillingness; and she seemed really unhappy, and went to +bed without touching any of our good things."</p> + +<p>"I can guess how it was," said Miss Loxley. "One very cold morning last +week, I met Diana, Miss Caldwell's washerwoman, going up stairs with the +clean clothes, and having nothing on her shoulders but an old cotton +shawl. I asked her if she had no cloak, and she replied that she had +not; but added,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> that Miss Isabella had been so kind as to promise her +one, which was to be ready for her when she came again. I suspect that +Miss Caldwell has been saving her money for the laudable purpose of +furnishing this poor woman with a cloak."</p> + +<p>"Oh! no doubt she has," exclaimed Henrietta. "Why, dear Isabella, did +you not say so? and bad as I am, I would not have persisted in +persuading you out of your dollar."</p> + +<p>"The woman, however, did not get her cloak," resumed Miss Loxley, "for I +again saw her without one, yesterday, though the weather had increased +in severity."</p> + +<p>"It is true," said Isabella. "The cloak was to have cost four dollars, +and after subscribing one dollar to the feast, I could not buy it; as I +had not then sufficient money."</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Middleton.</i> Miss Harwood, had you often these feasts at Madame +Disette's.</p> + +<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Oh! very often, and as the teacher, Miss Benson, was always +one of the party, we managed so well, that Madame Disette never +discovered us. Or if she had any suspicion, she said nothing about it; +for after all, she cared very little what we did out of school-hours +provided that our proceedings <i>cost her nothing</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +<i>Mrs. Middleton.</i> You must not speak so disrespectfully of your former +governess. But I will explain to you that <i>I</i> care very much what you +do, even in your hours of recreation. It is when the business of the +school is over, and they are no longer in the presence of their +instructors, that girls are in the greatest danger of forming bad +habits, and imitating bad examples. All deceit, all tricks, are highly +unjustifiable. A little feast may seem in itself of small moment; but if +you persist in plotting little feasts, you will eventually be led on to +plot things of more importance, and which may lead to the worst +consequences. Then, as I always allow you as large a portion of sweet +things as comports with your health, it is the more reprehensible in you +to seek to procure them for yourselves, without my knowledge. Tell me +now, do any of you feel the better for last night's frolic?</p> + +<p><i>Miss Thomson.</i> O, no, no! Miss Watkins and Miss Roberts were sick all +night; and, indeed, none of us feel very well this morning.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Middleton.</i> I observed that you all had very little appetite for +your breakfast.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Brownlow.</i> And then <i>I</i> had my new frock spoiled when I fell down +in the lamp-oil.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +<i>Miss Wilcox.</i> And I got some lamp-oil into my mouth. I tasted it all +night. Even my nose was rubbed in it, as I lay struggling on the floor.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Snodgrass.</i> And <i>I</i> fell with my knees on half a dozen pieces of +orange, and stained my black silk frock, so that it is no longer fit to +wear.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Marley.</i> And <i>I</i> was thrown down with the back of my head on a +bunch of grapes, mashing them to a jelly.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Scott.</i> But <i>my</i> hair was so very sticky, with falling into the +lemon syrup, that I was obliged, this morning, to wash it all over with +warm soap-suds.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Roberts.</i> And <i>I</i> put my foot into the bottom of the broken +pitcher, and cut my heel so that it bled through the stocking.</p> + +<p><i>Miss Watkins.</i> Still, nothing of this would have happened if Rosalie +Sunbridge had stayed in her bed. It was her hiding in the closet and +frightening us, that caused all the mischief.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalie.</i> I am sure I was punished enough for my curiosity; for when I +got on the closet-shelf I was obliged to lie so cramped that I was +almost stiff; and I was half dead with cold, notwithstanding I had put +on my merino<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> coat. And then I was longing all the time for some of the +good things I saw you eating; so that when Miss Harwood came to hide the +mince-pie, I could not forbear taking it out of her hand. When I found +that you were all so terrified, I thought I would make a noise among the +loose papers to frighten you still more, supposing that you would all +quit the room; and that then I could come down from the shelf, and +regale myself awhile, before I stole back to-bed. I did not foresee that +you would overset the table in your flight, and make such a violent +noise. But I will never again attempt to pry into other people's +secrets.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs Middleton.</i> I hope you never will. This feast, you see, has caused +nothing but discomfort, which is the case with all things that are in +themselves improper. Yet I think the greatest sufferer is Isabella +Caldwell's washerwoman, who has, in consequence, been disappointed of +her cloak.</p> + +<p><i>Isabella.</i> Next week, madam, when I receive my allowance, I hope to be +able to buy it for her.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Middleton.</i> You need not wait till next week. The poor woman shall +suffer no longer for a cloak. Here is a dollar in advance;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> and after +school, you can go out and purchase it, so that it may be ready for her +to-morrow when she brings home your clothes.</p> + +<p><i>Isabella.</i> Dear Mrs. Middleton, how much I thank you.</p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<p>The young ladies having promised that they would attempt no more private +feasts, Mrs. Middleton kissed, and forgave them. After school, Isabella, +accompanied by Miss Loxley, went out and bought the plaid cloak, which +was sent home directly. Next day, she longed for Diana to arrive with +the clothes, that she might enjoy her pleasure on receiving so useful a +gift, but, to her great disappointment they were brought home by another +mulatto woman, who informed Isabella that she was Diana's next door +neighbour, and that poor Diana having taken a violent cold from being +out in the snow-storm, was now confined to her bed with the rheumatism. +"Ah!" thought Isabella, "perhaps if she had had this good warm cloak to +go home in, the day before yesterday, she might have escaped the +rheumatism. I see now that whenever we allow ourselves to be persuaded +to do a thing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> which we know to be wrong, evil is sure to come from it."</p> + +<p>She desired the woman to wait a few minutes; and hastening to Mrs. +Middleton, begged that she would allow her to go and see poor Diana, +who, she feared was in great distress. Mrs. Middleton readily consented, +and had a basket filled with various things, which she gave to the woman +to carry with the plaid cloak to Diana. She sent by Isabella a bottle of +camphor, and some cotton wadding, for Diana's rheumatism, and a medicine +for her to take internally. Miss Loxley accompanied Isabella; and they +found Diana in bed and very ill, and every thing about her evincing +extreme poverty. Isabella engaged the woman to stay with Diana till she +got well, and to take care of her and her children, promising to pay her +for her trouble. When they returned and made their report to Mrs. +Middleton, she wrote a note to her physician, requesting him to visit +Diana and attend her as long as was necessary.</p> + +<p>Next week, Henrietta Harwood, and the other young ladies, subscribed all +their allowance of pocket-money for the relief of Diana; who very soon +was well enough to resume her work. It is unnecessary to add that their +contribution to the support of the poor woman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> and her family, gave them +far more pleasure than they had derived from the unfortunate feast. They +never, of course, attempted another. And Henrietta Harwood, at Mrs. +Middleton's school, lost all the faults she had acquired at Madame +Disette's.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +<a name="week" id="week"></a>THE WEEK OF IDLENESS.</h2> + +<div class="block3"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="io">"Their only labour was to kill the time,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And labour dire it was, and weary wo."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="right"> +<span class="right"><i>Thomson.</i></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 180px;"> +<img src="images/a.jpg" width="180" height="169" alt="Drop capital A" title="" /> +</div> + + +<p class="noi"><span class="hidden">A</span>delaide and Rosalind, the daughters of Mr. Edington, looked forward +with much pleasure to the arrival of their cousin, Josephine +Sherborough, from Maryland. She was to spend the summer with them, at +their father's country residence on the beautiful bay of New York, a few +miles below the city; and, though they had never seen her, they were +disposed to regard Josephine as a very agreeable addition to their +family society. Having had the misfortune to lose their mother, Adelaide +and Rosalind had been for several years under the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> entire care of their +governess, Mrs. Mortlake; a highly accomplished and most amiable woman, +whom they loved and respected as if she had been their parent, and by +whose instructions they had greatly profited.</p> + +<p>It was on a beautiful evening in June, that Josephine Sherborough was +<i>certainly</i> expected, after several disappointments within the last two +or three weeks. The Miss Edingtons and their governess were seated on +one of the settees in the portico that extended along the front of Mr. +Edington's house. Mrs. Mortlake was sewing, Rosalind reading aloud, and +Adelaide, with her drawing materials before her, was earnestly engaged +in colouring a sketch of a fishing-boat at anchor, beautifully reflected +in the calm water, and tinted with the glowing rays of the declining +sun. As she put in the last touches, she hoped, before the summer was +over, that she should improve so much in her drawing as to be enabled to +attempt a view of the bay with its green shores; its island fortresses; +and its numerous ships, some going out on a voyage to distant regions, +others coming home with the merchandise and the news of Europe.</p> + +<p>"Now," exclaimed Adelaide, "I see the smoke of the steamboat, just +behind Castle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> Williams. My father and Josephine will soon be here. I am +glad my drawing is so nearly completed. In a few minutes it will be +finished."</p> + +<p>"And in a few minutes," said Rosalind, "I shall conclude the story that +I am reading."</p> + +<p>"Do you not now think," asked Mrs. Mortlake, "I was right in proposing +that we should protract our usual afternoon occupations an hour beyond +the usual time, as we are expecting the arrival of your father and your +cousin? This last hour would have seemed twice its real length, if we +had done nothing, all the while, but strain our eyes in gazing up the +bay for the steamboat, saying every few minutes, 'Oh, I wish they were +come!'"</p> + +<p>In a short time, Adelaide exclaimed, "Here is the steamboat. I see they +are depositing several trunks in the little boat at the side. And now it +is let down to the water. And now a gentleman and a young lady descend +the steps, and take their seats in it. How fast it cuts its way through +the foam that is raised by the tow-line. In a moment it will touch the +wharf. Here they come. There is my father; and it <i>must</i> be Josephine +that is with him!"</p> + +<p>The sisters then ran down the steps of the portico, and in a moment were +at the landing-place, where Mr. Edington, as soon as he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> assisted +her to step on shore, introduced them to Josephine Sherborough, a fat, +fair, pale young lady, about fourteen, with a remarkably placid +countenance which immediately won the regard of Rosalind: who determined +in her own mind that Josephine was a very sweet girl, and that they +should, ever hereafter, be intimate and most particular friends. +Adelaide, who was two years older than Rosalind, and who had more +penetration, was not so violently prepossessed in favour of her cousin, +whose face she thought deficient in animation, and whose movements were +more slow and heavy than those of any young girl she had ever seen.</p> + +<p>When tea was over, the sisters proposed to Josephine a walk round the +garden, which was large and very beautiful; but she complained of being +excessively tired, and said that she would much rather go to bed. This +somewhat surprised her cousins, as they knew that Josephine had been +three days in the city with the friends under whose care she had come +from Maryland; and they thought that she must have had ample time to +recover from the fatigue of her journey: to which her last little trip +in the steamboat could not have added much. Rosalind, who was a year +younger than Josephine, accompanied her to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> the chamber prepared for her +accommodation, where Josephine, looking round disconsolately, inquired +if there was no servant to undress her. Rosalind volunteered to perform +this office; and Josephine said she would ring the bell for one of the +maids, when she wished to get up in the morning.</p> + +<p>She kept the family waiting breakfast for her till nine o'clock, and +then came down in a white slip or loose gown; her hair still pinned up; +her eyes half shut; and her face evidently not washed. Mr. Edington, +whose business in the city made it necessary for him to be there at an +early hour, had long since breakfasted, and gone up to town in the boat; +and after a few days, the rest of the family ceased to wait for her; and +the housekeeper was directed to have a fresh breakfast prepared for Miss +Sherborough whenever she came down.</p> + +<p>The first days of Josephine's visit ought, in Rosalind's opinion, to +have been devoted entirely to the amusement of their guest, and she was +urgent with Mrs. Mortlake, to allow Adelaide and herself a week of +holiday. Their governess told them that she would have been willing to +grant this indulgence if Josephine was to remain with them a week only: +but as she was to stay all summer, it would, of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> course, be impossible +for them, every day, to give up their usual occupations; and therefore +it was better to begin as they were to go on. She reminded Rosalind that +if they were attentive and industrious, they would get through their +lessons the sooner, and have the more time for recreation with their +visitor.</p> + +<p>After Josephine had breakfasted, Mrs. Mortlake offered to show her the +children's library, that she might amuse herself with any of the books +she chose, while her cousins were engaged in their morning employments. +Josephine thanked her; but said she could entertain herself very well +without books, and that she believed she would take a walk in the +garden. She accordingly put on her bonnet, and strolled up and down the +walks, gazing listlessly at the flowers. She attempted to gather some +strawberries, but found it too fatiguing to stoop down to the beds; and +satisfied herself with plucking currants and gooseberries from the +bushes. She then sat in the arbour for awhile, and looked all the time +straight down the middle walk. When she was tired of the arbour, she +established herself on a circular bench which ran round a large walnut +tree; and then she counted all the +<a name="windows" id="windows"></a><ins title="Original has window sat">windows at</ins> sat the back +part of the house. When this was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> accomplished, she counted them all +over again. And then, finding the sun had become very powerful, she went +into the front-parlour, the shutters of which were bowed to exclude the +heat, and throwing herself at full length on the sofa, she in a few +minutes fell into a profound sleep, from which she did not awaken till +her cousins entered the room in search of her, after their lessons were +over. They took her up stairs into the apartment they called their +play-room, and showed her a variety of things which would have been very +amusing to a girl that knew how to be amused. There was a lacquered +Chinese cabinet, containing a great number of curiosities brought by +their uncle from Canton: and a large box with shelves, on which were +various specimens of Indian ingenuity, presented to the children by a +gentleman who had travelled all over the country beyond the Mississippi. +Their library consisted of a beautiful and entertaining selection of +juvenile books; and they had a port-folio filled with fine prints of +such subjects as are particularly interesting to young people. They +showed her a representation of the grand procession at the coronation of +the sovereign of England, printed on a long narrow roll of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> paper pasted +on silk; which paper was unwound like a ribbon-yard from a +Tunbridge-ware box, and it could be screwed up again after being +sufficiently seen. It was many yards in length, and the figures (which +were almost innumerable) were elegantly designed, and beautifully +coloured. They had also a little theatre, with a great number of scenes; +and a variety of very small dolls, dressed in appropriate habits to +personate the actors. Beside all these things, they had a closet full of +amusing toys; and in short the play-room was amply stored with a +profusion of whatever was necessary to the enjoyment of their leisure +hours.</p> + +<p>But all was lost on Josephine. While Adelaide and Rosalind were +assiduous in showing and explaining to her every thing, she heard them +with listlessness and apathy, and made not the slightest remark. At +last, she said "We will reserve some of these sights for to-morrow. I +must go and dress myself for dinner. Oh! how I hate to dress. It is an +odious task. I must have Mary to assist me again; for I never <i>can</i> get +through the fatigue of dressing myself, and fixing my hair."</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, Adelaide and Rosalind took their sewing, and seated +themselves with Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> Mortlake in the porch. As Josephine appeared to +have no work, Mrs. Mortlake gave her a volume of Miss Edgeworth's Moral +Tales, and requested her to read one of them aloud. Josephine took the +book and began to read "The Prussian Vase," but with so monotonous and +inarticulate a tone, or rather drawl, that it was painful to hear her: +and her cousins were not sorry when, at the end of three or four pages, +she stopped, and complained that she was too much fatigued to read any +more.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Mortlake then desired Adelaide, who read extremely well, to take +the book and continue the story, but in a short time Josephine was +discovered to be asleep. When Adelaide ceased reading, Josephine awoke, +and saying that she could not live without her afternoon nap, went up +stairs to lie down on her bed.</p> + +<p>She slept till near tea-time, and when tea was over, her cousins and +Mrs. Mortlake prepared for a walk, and invited Josephine to join them. +This she did; but in less than ten minutes she complained so much of +fatigue, that Rosalind turned back and accompanied her home, and she +reclined on the settee in the porch till the lamps were lighted in the +front-parlour. The girls then showed Josephine a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> portable diorama, +containing twelve beautiful coloured views of castles, abbeys, temples, +and mountain scenery. Each of these exquisite little landscapes was +fixed, in turn, as the back scene of a sort of miniature stage. The +skies and lights of these views were all transparent, and there were +other skies which turned on rollers, and represented sunrise, moonlight, +sunshine, and thunder-clouds. These second skies being placed behind +those of the picture, were slowly unrolled by turning a small handle, +and produced the most varied and beautiful effects on the scenery, which +could thus at pleasure be illuminated gradually with sunshine or +moonbeams, or darkened with the clouds of a gathering storm. But +Josephine saw this charming exhibition without a single comment; being +evidently much inclined to yawn as she looked at it. And getting again +very sleepy, she soon retired to her bed.</p> + +<p>Next morning, Mrs. Mortlake invited her to bring her sewing into the +school-room, and sit there while her cousins were at their lessons. But +Josephine replied that she hated sewing, and never did any. However, she +took her seat in the school-room, and a kitten soon after came purring +round her; so she put it on her lap, and stroked and patted it till the +lessons<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> were over, and the girls went up stairs to amuse themselves +till dinner-time.</p> + +<p>Adelaide tried to induce Josephine to look at some of the beautiful +prints in the port-folio; but she found it necessary to explain them +all, as if she was showing them to a child of three years old.</p> + +<p>Rosalind proposed that they should all go on the roof of the house (it +being flat on the top and guarded with a railing) to look at the beauty +and wide extent of the prospect; and taking their parasols to screen +their heads from the sun, they went up through a very convenient +trap-door at the head of an easy little staircase. The view from the +roof of Mr. Edington's house was certainly very fine, comprising the bay +with its islands and fortresses; its boats and vessels of every +description; the distant lighthouse at Sandy Hook, and the blue ocean +rolling beyond it: and at the other end of the scene, behind a forest of +masts, rose the city of New York with its numerous spires glittering in +the sunlight.</p> + +<p>Fine as the prospect was, Josephine showed no symptom of admiration; but +as they came down through the garret-passage, she spied an old +rocking-chair standing in a corner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> among some lumber. (Parlour +rocking-chairs were not yet in general use.) She turned her head, and +looked at it with longing eyes. "Ah!" said she, "that is the very thing +I have been suffering for ever since I left home. Do let me beg to have +it in my room." The chair, accordingly, was carried into the apartment +of Josephine, who immediately seated herself, and began to rock with +great satisfaction; at which most interesting amusement she continued +till near dinner-time. The rocking-chair was next day taken into the +school-room, and with that and the kitten, Josephine appeared to get +through the morning rather contentedly.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was again devoted to a long nap: and in the evening +Josephine reclined on the front-parlour sofa, and entertained herself by +running her finger a hundred times over the brass nails.</p> + +<p>Several days passed on in a similar manner. One morning when they were +all in the play-room, Josephine said to her cousins, "What a very hard +life you are obliged to endure. Neither of you have a moment of rest, +from the time you leave your beds in the morning, till you return to +them at night. First, there is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> your rising with the sun, and going to +work in your little gardens. I am sure you might make your father's +gardener do all that business."</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide</i>. But we take great pleasure in it; and when we see our +flowers growing and blooming, the interest they excite in us is much +increased by knowing that we have raised them from the seed, or planted +the roots ourselves; and that we have assisted their growth by watering, +weeding, tying them, and clearing them from insects. And is it not +pleasant to find that the fruit-stones, we planted a few years since in +our little orchard, have produced trees that are now loaded with fruit? +The red cherries, we had last evening after tea, were from one of my +trees; and the large black cherries were from Rosalind's. And in August, +we shall have our own plums and peaches.</p> + +<p><i>Josephine</i>. I am sure it is much less trouble to buy these things, than +to cultivate them; and as to the amusement, I can see none. Then there +are those awful lessons that are always to come on after breakfast. The +writing, and cyphering, and grammar, and geography, and history, one +day: and the French, and music, and drawing, the next: and-the reading +and sewing every afternoon; and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> walk every evening. Even your +play-time (as you call it) is a time of perpetual fatigue: your plays +all seem to require so much skill and ingenuity. And then on Saturday +morning, to think that you are obliged to go into the housekeeper's room +and learn to make cakes, and pastry, and sweetmeats, and all such +things. I am sure if I was never to eat cakes till I assisted in making +them, I should go without all my life. It seems to me that your whole +existence is a course of uninterrupted toil.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind</i>. There is much truth in what you say, my dear Josephine. But +I own it never struck me before.</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide</i>. We have always been perfectly happy in our occupations and +amusements: and the longest day in summer seems too short for us.</p> + +<p><i>Josephine</i>. Too short, perhaps, to get through such a quantity of work; +for I consider all this as <i>real hard work</i>. I am glad that I have not +been brought up in such a laborious manner. My parents love me too much +to make me uncomfortable, even for a moment; or to cause me in any way +the slightest fatigue. I have spent my whole life in ease and peace; +doing nothing but what I pleased, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> never learning but when I chose. +I have not been troubled with either a school or a governess; my mother +(who was herself educated at a boarding-school) having determined, as I +was her only child, to instruct me at home.</p> + +<p>Adelaide saw that it was in vain to argue the point any farther. But the +foolish reasoning of Josephine made a great impression on Rosalind; so +true it is, that "evil communication corrupts good manners," and she was +seized with an earnest desire to participate in the happiness of doing +nothing.</p> + +<p>Next morning, Rosalind went to her lessons with great reluctance, and +consequently did not perform them well. On the following day she was +equally deficient; and in the afternoon when Josephine went up stairs to +take her nap, Rosalind, looking after her, exclaimed, "Happy girl! How I +envy her!"</p> + +<p>"Envy her!" said Adelaide, "of all the people I am acquainted with, I +think Josephine Sherborough is the least to be envied."</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> She is not troubled with lessons, and sewing, as we are. She +can do whatever she pleases the whole day long. No wonder she is fat, +when she is so perfectly comfortable. For my part, I expect, in the +course of another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> year, to be worn to a skeleton with such incessant +application.</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide.</i> But without application how is it possible to learn?</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> I would rather put off my learning till I am older, and have +strength to bear such dreadful fatigue.</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide.</i> I do not find it fatiguing. I am sure our lessons are not +very long, and Mrs. Mortlake is so kind and gentle, that it is a +pleasure to be instructed by her; and she explains every thing so +sensibly and intelligibly.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> But where is the use of learning every thing before we grow +up?</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide.</i> Because, as Mrs. Mortlake says, children (if they are not +<i>too young</i>) learn faster than grown persons; their memories are better, +as they have not yet been overloaded, and they have nothing of +importance to divert their attention from their lessons.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> I would rather grow up as ignorant as our tenant's wife, +Dutch Katy, than be made such a slave as I am now. I am sure Katy's life +is an easy one compared to mine.</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide, smiling.</i> Consider it not so deeply.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Yes, I will, for I am out of patience.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> I wish it was the +fashion to be ignorant.</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide.</i> Fortunately it is <i>not</i>. To say nothing of the disgrace of +being ignorant when it is known we have had opportunities of acquiring +knowledge, persons whose minds are vacant, have but few enjoyments. For +instance, as Josephine knows nothing of music, it gives her no pleasure +to hear the finest singing and playing, even such as Mrs. Mortlake's. As +she has no idea of drawing, she takes not the least delight in looking +at beautiful pictures. Having never been in the habit of reading, she +wonders how it is possible to be amused with a book; and as she has no +knowledge of history or geography, she often, when she <i>does</i> read, is +puzzled with allusions to those subjects; and a French word is as +unintelligible to her, as if it were Greek. Plants and animals do not +interest her, because she has scarcely an idea of the properties or +attributes of any of the productions of Nature. And what is worse than +all, she takes no pleasure in listening to the conversation of sensible +people, because she is incapable of understanding it: her comprehension +being only equal to the most frivolous topics.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +<i>Rosalind.</i> Notwithstanding all this, her life passes calmly and +pleasantly; and I am sure she is much happier than we are.</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide.</i> Speak for yourself, dear Rosalind. For my part, I do not +wish to be more happy than I am.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Well, I thought so too, till I knew Josephine. And she is by +no means so dull as you suppose.</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide.</i> Perhaps she is not naturally stupid; but indulgence and +indolence have so benumbed her understanding, that it seems now +incapable of the smallest effort.</p> + +<p>At this moment Mrs. Mortlake came down with a book in her hand, for the +afternoon reading.</p> + +<p>"Rosalind," said she, "as my room is over the porch, and the windows are +open, I could not avoid hearing all you have just been saying, +particularly as you spoke very loudly. As I do not wish to see either of +my pupils <i>unhappy</i>, I will gratify your desire, and both you and +Adelaide (if it is also her wish) may pass a week entirely without +occupation; in short, a week of idleness."</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide.</i> O no, dear Mrs. Mortlake: I have no desire to avail myself +of your offer. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> would much rather continue my usual employments.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> A week of entire leisure! O, how delightful!</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> But, during that time, neither you nor Josephine must +come into the school-room.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> O, indeed! we shall not desire it.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> Neither must you read.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Well!—I am sure I have read enough to last my lifetime. +Where is the use of reading story-books that are all invention, +describing people that never lived; or of poring over voyages and +travels to countries I shall never visit; or of studying the histories +of dead kings.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> You must not sew.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> I never <i>did</i> find it very entertaining to stick a needle +and thread into a piece of muslin, and pull it through again.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> You must not draw.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> I do not see the pleasure of rubbing red, and blue, and +green paint on little plates; and dabbling in tumblers of water with +camel's-hair pencils, and daubing colours on white paper.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +<i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> You must not play on the piano, nor on the harp.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Well! What sense is there in pressing down your fingers +first on bits of ivory, and then on bits of ebony; and staring at +crotchets and quavers all the time? or where is the use of twanging and +jerking the strings of a harp?</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> You must not work in your garden.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> So much the better. Then I shall neither dirty my hands with +pulling up the weeds, nor splash my feet with the water-pot.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> You may sleep as much as you please; but you must not +rise before nine o'clock.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> O, how delightful, not to be obliged to jump out of bed at +daylight! Dearest Mrs. Mortlake, if I could have a <i>month</i> of ease and +comfort, instead of only a week—-</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> Well,—if at the end of the week you still desire it, +perhaps I may protract the indulgence to a longer period.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Dear Mrs. Mortlake, how kind you are. When shall my +happiness begin? As to-morrow is Saturday, when we <i>always</i> have a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> half +holiday, and next day Sunday, when we go to the city to attend church, I +think, notwithstanding my impatience, I would rather commence my week of +felicity regularly on Monday morning.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> Very well, then. On Monday morning let it be.</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide.</i> I am sorry to hear you call your anticipated week of +idleness a week of felicity.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Oh! I am sure I shall find it so; and you will regret not +having also accepted Mrs. Mortlake's kind offer.</p> + +<p><i>Adelaide.</i> I fear no regret on that subject.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> Say no more, Adelaide. Wait till we see the event of +Rosalind's experiment.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> I hope Josephine's afternoon nap will not be as long as +usual: I am so impatient to tell her. O, how we shall enjoy ourselves +together!</p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<p>When Josephine awoke and heard of the new arrangement, she was as much +delighted as <i>she</i> could be at any thing; and she begged that Rosalind +might be allowed to share her chamber during this happy week.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +Monday morning came; and Rosalind (such is the power of habit) awoke, as +usual, with the dawn; but soon recollected that she was not to get up +till nine o'clock. She saw the light gleaming through the Venetian +shutters, and she heard the morning song of the scarlet oriole, whose +nest was in a locust tree close to the window; and the twittering of the +martins as they flew about their box, which was affixed to the wall just +below the roof of the house. She heard Adelaide, who was in the next +room, get up to dress herself, and exclaim as she threw open the +shutters, "O, what a beautiful sunrise!" Rosalind felt some desire to +enjoy the loveliness of the early morning; but determined to remain in +bed, and indulge herself with another nap. She turned and shook her +pillow, and tumbled about for a long time before she could get to sleep; +and at last she awoke again just as the clock was striking seven. She +had still two hours to remain in bed, and she found the time extremely +tedious. "Are you asleep, Josephine?" said she. "No," replied Josephine, +"I am never asleep after this hour."</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Why, then, do you remain in bed?</p> + +<p><i>Josephine.</i> O, because I hate to get up.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +<i>Rosalind.</i> Well then let us talk.</p> + +<p><i>Josephine.</i> O, no! I never talk in bed. For, even when I do not sleep, +I am not quite awake.</p> + +<p>At length it was nine; and at the first stroke of the clock, Rosalind +started from her bed, and began to wash and dress herself. When the +girls went down stairs, they found the family breakfast had long been +over, and they had theirs on a little table in a corner of the room. +Rosalind thought her breakfast did not taste very well; probably, +because remaining so long in bed, had taken away her appetite.</p> + +<p>After breakfast, they went out and walked a little while in the most +shady part of the garden. Then they sat down; first in the arbour of +honeysuckles, then on the green bank behind the ice-house; then on a +garden chair; and then on the bench at the foot of the great walnut +tree. They picked a few currants and ate them; and they gathered some +roses and smelled them. For some time they held their parasols over +their heads; and then they shut them, and made marks on the gravel with +the ends of the ivory sticks. They looked awhile at a nursery of young +peach-trees at one side of the garden; and then they turned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> and looked +towards a clover-field on the other side. Josephine pulled the strings +of her reticule backwards and forwards; and Rosalind counted the +palisades in the fence of the kitchen-garden. At last a bright idea +struck her; and she gathered some dandelions that were going to seed, +and blew off the down; recommending the same amusement to Josephine, +who, after two or three trials, gave it up.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we go to the play-room," said Rosalind. Josephine assented, and +they slowly walked back to the house, and ascended the stairs. "Now," +said Rosalind, "we can play domino <i>in the morning</i>. Generally, we never +amuse ourselves with any of those little games in the day-time; though +we have domino, draughts, and loto, sometimes in the evening." They +played domino awhile in a very spiritless manner, and then they tried +draughts and loto, which they also soon gave up; Josephine saying that +all these games required too much attention. She then had recourse to +the rocking-chair, and Rosalind took some white paper and cut fly-traps; +in which amusements they tried to get rid of the time till near the +dinner-hour, when they combed their hair, and changed their dresses. +Adelaide did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> join them in the play-room, being much engaged with a +very amusing book.</p> + +<p>After dinner, Rosalind, accompanied Josephine to her room to take a nap +likewise. But she found it so warm, and turned and tossed about so much, +and had such difficulty in fixing herself in a comfortable position, +that she thought, if it was not for the name of taking a nap, she had +better have stayed up as usual. Josephine had less difficulty, being +accustomed to afternoon-sleeping; and at length Rosalind shut her eyes, +and fell into a sort of uneasy doze.</p> + +<p>When they awoke, Rosalind proposed that they should put on their frocks, +and go down into the porch, where Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide were +reading and sewing. But Josephine thought it would be much less trouble +to sit in their loose gowns until near tea-time. To this Rosalind +agreed, and they sat and gazed at the river. But it happened <i>this</i> +afternoon that no ships came in, and only one went out; and all the +steamboats kept far over towards the opposite shore. They were glad when +the bell rung for tea; for when people do nothing, their meals are a +sort of amusement, and are therefore expected with anxious interest. In +the evening, they declined joining<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide in their +usual long walk, and took a short stroll under the willows on the bank +of the river; after which they returned to the parlour, where Mr. +Edington sat reading the newspaper, and Josephine threw herself on the +sofa; while Rosalind sat beside her on a chair, and played with the +kitten.</p> + +<p>Next morning, their amusements in the garden were a little diversified +by playing jack-stones and platting ribbon-grass; and when they went up +to the play-room, Rosalind, looking among her old toys, found a doll +long since laid aside, and a basket with its clothes. She offered the +doll to Josephine proposing that she should dress it: but Josephine said +"I would rather look at you, while <i>you</i> do it." Rosalind accordingly +dressed the doll in two different suits, one after another; but soon +grew tired, and had recourse to an ivory cup and ball, which she failed +to catch with as much dexterity as usual. She gave Josephine a wooden +lemon, which on being opened in the middle, contained a number of other +lemons one within another, and diminishing in size till the last and +smallest was no bigger than a pea. When Josephine had got through the +lemon, Rosalind took it, and resigned the cup<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> and ball to her cousin, +who soon gave it up, as she could never make the cup catch the ball; and +she again finished the morning with her never-failing resource the +rocking-chair.</p> + +<p>Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday having been passed in this manner, on +Thursday Rosalind began to acknowledge to herself, what she had indeed +suspected on the first day, that a life of entire idleness was not quite +so agreeable as she had supposed. Having no useful or interesting +occupation to diversify her time, she found that play had lost its +relish; and now that she could play all day, she found all plays +tiresome. These three days had appeared to her of never-ending length; +and she began to think that when her week of idleness had expired she +would not solicit Mrs. Mortlake to prolong the term.</p> + +<p>On Thursday afternoon Rosalind gave up her nap, and went and seated +herself at the open window, that she might hear Mrs. Mortlake and +Adelaide read aloud in the porch. And next morning, she actually stopped +and listened at the school-room door while Adelaide was repeating her +French lesson; and she returned again, and stood behind the door, to +hear Mrs. Mortlake instructing her sister in a new song accompanied on +the harp. All that day and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> the next, she felt as if she was actually +sick of doing nothing; and she absolutely languished to be allowed once +more to take a book and read, or to draw, or play on the piano. Even +sewing, she thought, would now seem delightful to her.</p> + +<p>On Saturday morning Rosalind met Adelaide in her brown linen apron with +long sleeves, going into the housekeeper's room to assist in making +cakes and pastry. She longed to go in with her, and to do her part as +formerly; and her longing increased when she heard the sound of beating +eggs, and grinding spice. She had hitherto looked forward with great +pleasure to her holiday on Saturday afternoon. Now, after doing nothing +all the week, Saturday afternoon had no charms for her; and she was glad +to find it was to be devoted to a ride in the carriage, through a +pleasant part of the adjacent country.</p> + +<p>"Well, Rosalind," said Josephine, as they were taking off their bonnets, +after their return from the ride, "you have now spent a week in <i>my</i> +way. Do you not wish you could pass your whole life in the same manner?"</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> No, indeed—nor even another week. This week of idleness has +seemed to me like a month; and I have no desire to renew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> the +experiment. I have never in my life gone to bed so tired as after those +days of doing nothing. I find that want of occupation is to me absolute +misery; though it may be very delightful to <i>you</i>, as you have been +brought up in a different manner, and have never been accustomed to any +sort of employment. Yet, still I think you would be much happier, if you +had something to do.</p> + +<p>In the evening Mr. Edington said to his youngest daughter, "Well, +Rosalind, how do you like your week of idleness? Are you going to +request Mrs. Mortlake to lengthen the term of your enjoyment?"</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> O no, dear father; it has been no enjoyment to <i>me</i>. On the +contrary, I am glad to think that it is now over. I have found it +absolutely a punishment.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. Edington.</i> So I suspected.</p> + +<p><i>Rosalind.</i> And I deserved it, for allowing myself to become +dissatisfied with the manner in which Mrs. Mortlake chose that I should +occupy myself. I am tired of lying in bed, tired of idleness, and tired +of play. So, dear Mrs. Mortlake, be so kind as to let me rise at +daylight on Monday morning, to work in my garden, and resume my lessons +as usual. You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> may depend on it I shall never again wish for a single +day of idleness.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> I am very glad to hear you say so, my dear Rosalind. +And I do not despair of at length convincing Josephine that she would be +more happy if she had some regular employment.</p> + +<p>That night Rosalind returned to her own chamber, and next morning she +was up at daylight. It being Sunday, they went as usual to church in the +city, and Rosalind was now delighted to pass the remainder of the day in +reading a volume of Mrs. Sherwood's excellent work, the Lady of the +Manor. A book now seemed like a novelty to her.</p> + +<p>Next day Rosalind went through her lessons with a pleasure she had never +felt before; and when they were over, she highly enjoyed her two hours' +recreation after dinner. She took no more afternoon naps; and after a +short time even Josephine was persuaded to give them up, and found it +possible, with some practice, to keep awake while her cousins or Mrs. +Mortlake were reading aloud in the porch.</p> + +<p>Finally, Josephine became ashamed of being the only idle person in Mr. +Edington's house, and was prevailed on by her uncle and Mrs. Mortlake to +join her cousins in their lessons.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> By degrees, and by giving her only a +very little to learn at a time, and by having constantly before her such +good examples as Adelaide and Rosalind, she entirely conquered her love +of idleness. She was really not deficient in natural capacity, and she +soon began to take pleasure in trying to improve herself; so that when +she returned to Maryland, she carried with her a newly acquired taste +for rational pursuits, which she never afterwards lost.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +<a name="Madeline" id="Madeline"></a>MADELINE MALCOLM.</h2> + +<div class="block4"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now here—now there—in noise and mischief ever.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="right"> +<span class="right"><i>Rogers.</i></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 180px;"> +<img src="images/w.jpg" width="180" height="153" alt="Drop capital W" title="" /> +</div> + + +<p class="noi"><span class="hidden">"W</span>ell, Juliet, how is your friend, Cecilia Selden?" said Edward +Lansdowne to his sister, as they were sitting by the parlour fire, in +the interval between daylight and darkness. It was the evening after his +arrival from Princeton college to spend a fortnight at Christmas with +his family in Philadelphia.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> I believe Cecilia is very well. At least she was so when last +I saw her, about five weeks since.</p> + +<p><i>Edward.</i> Is it five weeks since you have seen Cecilia Selden? You were +formerly almost inseparable. I hope there has been no quarrel between +you.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +<b>Juliet.</b> None at all. But—somehow—I am tired of Cecilia Selden. She is +certainly a very dull companion.</p> + +<p><i>Edward.</i> Dull! You once thought her very amusing. For my part, <i>I</i> +always found her so. She has read a great deal, is highly accomplished, +and as she travels every summer with her parents, she has had +opportunities of seeing a variety of interesting places and people. And +above all, she has an excellent natural understanding.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> But she is always so sensible and so correct, and every thing +that she says and does is so very proper.</p> + +<p><i>Edward.</i> So much the better. You will improve by being intimate with +her.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> I never shall be intimate again with Cecilia Selden. She is +too particular, too fastidious. She does not like Madeline Malcolm.</p> + +<p><i>Edward.</i> And who is Madeline Malcolm? I never heard of her before.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> Her father is our next door neighbour. You know we did not +live in this house when you were last in Philadelphia. The very day we +moved, Madeline Malcolm came in to see us, in the midst of all our +bustle and confusion, and stayed the whole afternoon. She said she had +long been desirous of becoming acquainted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> with me, was delighted that +we were now near neighbours, and therefore could not forbear running in +to commence the intimacy immediately.</p> + +<p><i>Edward.</i> But "in the midst of all your bustle and confusion," it must +have been very in convenient to receive a visitor, and to entertain her +the whole afternoon.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> Why,—we were a little disconcerted at first, but she begged +of us not to consider her a stranger. She was just as sociable as if she +had known us for seven years; and she was so queer, and there was so +much fun in every thing she said and did, that she kept me laughing all +the time.</p> + +<p><i>Edward.</i> I should like to see this prodigy of fun.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> No doubt you will soon have that pleasure; for she runs in and +out, the back way, ten times a-day.</p> + +<p>Juliet had scarcely spoken when they heard a voice in the entry, singing +"I'd be a butterfly," and Madeline Malcolm, a tall, black-eyed, +red-cheeked girl, with long ringlets of dark hair, came flying into the +parlour, exclaiming, "What, still by fire-light—I shall have to pull +your Peter's ears myself, if he does not mind his business and light the +astral lamp sooner.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> O! here he comes. Now, Peter, proceed; and take +yourself off as soon as you have accomplished the feat. Well,—now that +there is no longer any danger of falling over this young gentleman, I +must beg leave to be introduced to him in form. I surmise that he is the +most learned Mr. Edward Lansdowne of Nassau-Hall, Princeton. Ah! I have +torn my frock on the fender. Just like me, you know." Juliet immediately +introduced her brother. "Well, Ned," exclaimed Miss Malcolm, "you have +come to make us happy at last. Your sister has talked so much about you +that I have actually been longing for your arrival. Come, tell us the +best news at college. I have a cousin there, but he has not been in town +since the rebellion before the last. I suppose he goes to New York to +take his frolics. Come, tell us all the particulars of your last +'Barring out;' I suppose it was conducted according to the newest +fashion. Juliet, did you ever see any thing like Ned's face? A sort of +mixed expression; trying to smile and be agreeable, but looking all the +time as if he could bar <i>me</i> out himself."</p> + +<p>In this manner she ran on for near half an hour, Juliet laughing +heartily, and Edward not at all. At last she rose to go away, and when +Juliet invited her to stay all the evening,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> she said she <i>must</i> go +home, for they were to have waffles at tea, and she would not miss them +on any consideration. However, the tea-table in Mrs. Lansdowne's parlour +being now set, she took a spoonful of honey which she dripped all over +the cloth, and then giving Juliet a hearty kiss, she seized Edward's arm +saying, "Come, Ned, escort me home. I am going in at the front-door this +time, and there is always ice on our steps, so be sure to take care that +I do not fall."</p> + +<p>When Edward took his leave at Madeline's door, she shook hands with him, +saying, "Am I not a wild creature? You see how my spirits run away with +me."</p> + +<p>Edward came back with a countenance of almost disgust. "If this is your +new friend," said he to his sister, "I must say that I consider her +scarcely endurable. Why, she never saw me before this evening, and yet +she is as familiar as if she had known me all her life. To think of her +calling me Ned."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Juliet with a smile, "I suspect <i>that</i> to be the grand +offence, after all. But depend upon it, you will like her better when +you know her better."</p> + +<p>"I very much doubt my ever liking her at all," replied Edward.</p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +Nothing could exceed the sociability of Madeline Malcolm. She +breakfasted, dined, and drank tea at Mrs. Lansdowne's table nearly as +often as at her father's; and she frequently ran in early in the +morning, and scampered into Juliet's chamber before she had risen. Mr. +and Mrs. Lansdowne (both whose dispositions were remarkably amiable and +indulgent) did not approve of their daughter's intimacy with Madeline. +They had spoken to her on the subject; but Madeline's frank and +caressing manner, and her perpetual good-humour, had so won the heart of +Juliet, that it was painful to her to hear a word against her friend, as +she called her. So her parents concluded to let it pass for the present; +trusting to Juliet's becoming eventually disgusted by some outrageous +folly of Madeline's, who seemed to think her professed volatility an +excuse for every thing; and that the appellation of <i>a wild creature</i>, +which she took pride in giving herself, would screen her from any +resentment her unwarrantable conduct might provoke.</p> + +<p>Still, as Edward observed, she had a great deal of selfishness and +cunning; as is generally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> the case with wild creatures; for when females +have so little of the delicacy of their sex as to throw aside the +restraints of propriety, the same want of delicacy makes them totally +regardless of the feelings or convenience of others, and renders them +callous to every thing like real sympathy or kindness of heart.</p> + +<p>At home, Madeline was allowed to do exactly as she pleased; her father's +thoughts were perpetually in his counting-house, and her step-mother, +who spent all her time in the nursery, was incessantly occupied with the +care of a large family of young children, of whom Madeline never took +the least account. And she was so much at Mr. Lansdowne's that Juliet +had few opportunities of returning her visits.</p> + +<p>She borrowed all Juliet's best books, and did not scruple to lend them +again to any person that she knew. Some of the books were never +returned; and others were brought back soiled, torn, and in a most +deplorable condition. One of her jokes was to take up Juliet's +muslin-work, and disfigure it with what she called gobble-stitch. She +came in one day and found the parlour unoccupied, and Juliet's +drawing-box on the table, with a beautiful landscape nearly finished. +Madeline sat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> down and daubed at it till it was quite spoiled, and when +Juliet discovered her at this employment, she turned it off with a +laugh, insisting that she had greatly improved the picture. She found +Juliet one evening engaged in copying a very scarce and beautiful song, +which she had borrowed from her music-master, and which had never been +published in America. On Juliet's being called up stairs for a few +moments to her mother, Madeline took the pen, and scribbled on the +margin of the borrowed music, some nonsensical verses of her own +composition, in ridicule of the music-master.</p> + +<p>Edward presented his sister at Christmas with a set of a new English +magazine, which contained biographical sketches and finely engraved +portraits of some of the most celebrated female authors. Madeline came +in soon after the arrival of the books; and having looked them over, she +insisted on carrying one of the volumes home with her. Next day she +brought it back, with a pair of spectacles drawn with a pen and ink +round the eyes of each of the portraits that, as she said, "The learned +ladies might look still wiser." Upon this Edward immediately left the +room, lest his indignation should induce him to say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> too much, and +Juliet could not help warmly expressing her dissatisfaction. But +Madeline pacified her by hanging round her neck and pleading that her +love of fun was constantly leading her to do mischievous things; and +that she was sure her darling Juliet loved her too well not to forgive +her.</p> + +<p>Cecilia Selden, a sensible and amiable girl, and formerly Juliet's most +intimate friend, was an object of Madeline's particular dislike and +ridicule; of which Cecilia perceived so many palpable symptoms, that she +left off visiting at Mrs. Lansdowne's house; to the great regret of +Edward.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Templeton, a lady that lived at the distance of a few squares, gave +a juvenile ball, to which Juliet and Edward were invited, and also +Madeline with several of her little brothers and sisters. Soon after +Juliet had gone up to her room to commence dressing, Madeline came in +followed by a servant with two bandboxes, and exclaiming, "Well, Juliet, +I have brought all my trappings, and have come here to dress with <i>you</i>, +that I may escape being put in requisition at home to assist in +decorating the brats, who will entirely fill up <i>our</i> carriage, so I am +going to the ball in <i>yours</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> There now, get away from the glass and +let me begin."</p> + +<p>Juliet removed from the glass, and throwing a shawl over her shoulders, +sat down by the fire, determined to wait patiently till Madeline had +finished her toilet. But this was no expeditious matter. Madeline always +professed to be too giddy to have her clothes in order, or to think of +any thing before the last moment. Every article that she was to wear +this evening required some alteration, which Juliet was called upon to +make, till Lucy, a mulatto seamstress that lived in the family, came up +to assist the young ladies in dressing. Madeline's white satin +under-frock was longer than the tulle dress that she wore over it: and +after it was put on, it was necessary to make it shorter by turning the +hem up all round and running it along with a needle and thread. Her +satin belt would not meet, and after a great deal of pulling and +squeezing in vain, the only remedy was to take off the hooks and eyes +and set them nearer to the ends. She desired Lucy to arrange her hair +for her, which was a difficult task, as Madeline would not hold still a +moment; and after it was at last accomplished, she declared that Lucy +had made a fright of her, and demolished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> the whole structure with her +own hands, strewing the floor with hair-pins and flowers. She then +called Juliet to her assistance; and, in the course of time, her hair +was finished to her satisfaction.</p> + +<p>When Madeline was dressed, she took a lamp from the mantlepiece and +setting it on the floor, that she might see her feet to advantage with +her embroidered silk stockings and white satin shoes, she began to caper +and dance; and in performing one of her best steps she kicked down the +lamp, which splashed all over her right foot, and over the lower part of +her dress, beside deluging the carpet with oil. She screamed violently, +and her volatility seemed to forsake her when she held up her beautiful +tulle dress bespattered with lamp-oil. Juliet endeavoured to console +her, and lent her another pair of silk stockings, and Lucy was sent to +the nearest shoemaker's to bring several pair of white satin shoes that +Madeline might choose from among them. But what was to be done with the +disfigured frock? Madeline declared she had no other dress that was +handsome enough to wear that evening, and said she would rather stay +away from the ball than not look as she wished. Juliet, who was about +the same size, offered to lend her a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> frock, even the clear muslin she +was to wear that night herself; but Madeline said that Juliet's dresses +were all too plain for her, and that she had set her mind upon the white +silk-sprigged tulle, and nothing else.</p> + +<p>She continued to lament her misfortune, when a thought struck her that +it was possible to conceal the spots of oil by arranging artificial +flowers round the lower part of the dress. But Juliet had no such +flowers, not having yet begun to wear them, and her mother had long +since left them off. Madeline's whole stock of flowers, was already +disposed of on her head, and she protested against taking out a single +one; saying, that it required a multitude to cover all the oil-stains.</p> + +<p>At last she exclaimed, "I have just thought of it, Juliet,—There are +plenty of flowers in the French vases on your front-parlour +mantle-piece.<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> I will have <i>them</i>. They will +<a name="do" id="do"></a><ins title="Original has de">do</ins> +exactly."—"But," said Juliet, "I know not that my mother will approve +of the flowers being taken out of the vases."—"Nonsense," replied +Madeline. "What a vastly proper person you are. Tell her that your +volatile <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>friend Madeline took them; and she will expect nothing better +of such a wild creature."</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> It was formerly the fashion to decorate the mantle-piece +with artificial flowers placed in china vases under glass shades.</p></div> + +<p>So saying, she ran down stairs, and found Edward dressed for the ball, +and waiting for them in the parlour. "Here, Ned, my boy," said she, "off +with those glass shades, and hand me out the flowers from the vases. I +have kicked over a lamp and splashed my frock with oil, and I must have +all the flowers I can get, to hide the stains. Why do you look so +dubious? I will send them safely back again to-morrow morning. What, +won't you give them to me? Oh! then I shall make bold to help myself to +them."—She jumped on a chair, and was going to lift one of the glass +shades, when Edward, fearful of the consequences, stepped up and took +out the flowers for her; and when she had obtained them all, she ran off +with them in her lap, dropping them along the stairs as she went.</p> + +<p>When she entered the chamber, she called out to Juliet, "Come now, dear +creature, down on your knees with a pin-cushion in your hand, and pin +these flowers all nicely round my frock, so as to cover every one of the +vile oil-spots." "Shall <i>I</i> do it, miss?" said the maid, who had just +finished wiping up the oil that had fallen on the carpet, and which, +however, left a large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> splash of grease. "Miss Juliet will rumple her +dress if she stoops down to put on the flowers."—"So much the better," +said Madeline, "it will be an advantage to that new muslin to have a +little of the stiffness taken out. Come, Lucy, you may hold the candle." +Juliet then stooped down, and in a most painful posture proceeded to pin +the flowers round Madeline's frock, which she did so adroitly as to +conceal all the spots of oil.</p> + +<p>Just as this business was completed a servant brought into the room a +small red morocco case, inclosing a beautiful pearl necklace, and +accompanied by a note from her grandfather, in which he requested her +acceptance of it as a new-year's gift, and desired that she would wear +it on that evening at Mrs. Templeton's ball.</p> + +<p>While Juliet was admiring the necklace, Madeline took it out of her +hand, saying, "Let me see how this looks on <i>my</i> neck. Beautiful—really +beautiful. Ah, Juliet, it is so pretty I cannot bear to take it off +again. Come <i>I</i> shall wear it this evening."—"But indeed," said Juliet, +"I should like very much to wear it myself; particularly as it is my +grandfather's request."—"Nonsense," answered Madeline; "grandpa is not +going to the ball himself, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> how will he know whether you wear it or +not? And your father and mother are both at the theatre, and are +ignorant even of its arrival. I forgot to bring a necklace with me: so +this comes quite <i>apropos</i>. Come, I am not going to give it up this +evening. Possession, you know, is nine points of the law: and your white +neck requires no pearls to set it off."</p> + +<p>"You know very well that my neck is <i>not</i> white," said Juliet.</p> + +<p>"Well then," replied Madeline, "if it is brown, the pearls will make it +look browner still. Positively you shall not have it to-night, if I run +for it." Upon which she ran down stairs into the front-parlour, and +pretended to hide behind the window-curtain, to save herself, as she +told Edward, from the vengeance of Juliet, whose new necklace she had +seized and carried off. Edward did not think this a very good joke; +however, he made no comment, and his sister coming down immediately +after, he handed her and Madeline into the carriage, and accompanied +them to Mrs. Templeton's.</p> + +<p>At the ball the volatility of Madeline reached its climax. She talked, +laughed, flirted, jumped, and occasionally appealed to those in the same +cotillon to know if they had ever seen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> such a wild creature. Edward, +however, could not help observing her unkindness and rudeness to the +little children, whom she pushed about and scolded, whenever they came +in her way. Two of her younger sisters were preparing to dance together, +when Madeline and Edward, who were looking for a place, came up. "This +cotillon is completed," said Edward, "and so, I believe, are all the +others. Let us stand by, and look on. I always enjoy seeing the children +dance." "No indeed," said Madeline, "I had rather dance myself. Here, +Ellen and Clara, go and sit down, and give us your places." The children +began to object; but she pushed them away and commenced the cotillon, +saying she was determined to dance every set.</p> + +<p>The next set, however, no one asked Madeline to dance. She looked very +much displeased at being obliged to sit still, and was yet more so, when +Charles Templeton brought up a very handsome little midshipman, in his +uniform, who, on being introduced to both the young ladies, immediately +requested the pleasure of Miss Lansdowne's hand for the next set.</p> + +<p>Juliet stood up with the midshipman; but there was some delay in forming +the cotillons, and her partner perceived that one of his shoe-strings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +was broken. He asked Charles Templeton, who was in the next cotillon, if +he would put him in a way of repairing the accident; and Charles desired +the midshipman to accompany him to his room for the purpose. Madeline, +who had heard all that passed, stepped up to Juliet and said to +her—"Juliet, as you are one of the modest people, I suppose it will +embarrass you to stand here till your partner comes back again; so do +you sit down, and I will stand and keep your place for you. You know I +have brass enough for any thing."</p> + +<p>Juliet, grateful for Madeline's unexpected kindness, and feeling really +some +<a name="embarrassment" id="embarrassment"></a><ins title="Original has embarrasment">embarrassment</ins> at standing up in the cotillon +without her partner, consented willingly, and took Madeline's seat. In a +few minutes the midshipman returned, and looked much surprised when he +saw another young lady in the place of his partner; but before he had +time to consider why it was so, the music commenced, and Madeline began +to right and left, and led off the cotillon; disappointing Juliet of her +dance.</p> + +<p>The midshipman, however, did not speak to Madeline during the whole set; +and when he had led her to a seat, he left her, and went up to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> Edward, +and expressed his surprise that Miss Lansdowne, after being engaged to +dance with him, had substituted another young lady in her place. Edward, +to whom his sister had explained how it happened, repeated her account +to the midshipman, who was much vexed, and went immediately to apologize +to Juliet, and to ask her hand for the next set, which she was obliged +to refuse, as she was pre-engaged both for that set and the following.</p> + +<p>"So," said Madeline, as she passed Juliet on her way to the cotillon +with a new partner, "you see I tricked you out of the smart young +midshipman, who is the prettiest fellow in the room, and I was +determined not to sit still a single set."</p> + +<p>Madeline's volatility attracted the attention of the whole company, and +the delight of finding herself an object of general notice gave her +fresh spirits as she ran to the very top of the country-dance, +oversetting a little boy on her way, afterwards romping down the middle, +and throwing herself into a seat the moment she had got to the bottom.</p> + +<p>Soon after, while refreshments were handed round, she took an +opportunity of purposely spilling a glass of lemonade on Cecilia +Selden's pink crape frock, and she threw a piece<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> of orange-peel in +Edward's way that he might slip on it, which he did, and very nearly +fell down.</p> + +<p>Juliet, who had recently recovered from a severe cold, brought with her +into the ball-room a very handsome blue silk scarf, which her mother had +lent her, enjoining her to put it on whenever she was not dancing, as a +guard against being suddenly chilled when in a perspiration. Madeline, +happening to look at Juliet, observed the scarf and thought it very +becoming. She suddenly twitched it off Juliet's shoulders and threw it +over her own, saying, "Now, Juliet, you have been beautified with this +scarf long enough. It is my turn to wear it awhile." Poor Juliet knew +not how to object, though her seat (the only one she had been able to +obtain) was directly against a window, from which there was a draught of +air on the back of her neck. The consequence was a renewal of her cold, +and a sore throat which confined her for several days to the house.</p> + +<p>The above may serve as a specimen of Madeline's various exploits at the +ball. After Juliet and her brother had got home, Edward stood for half +an hour in the middle of the parlour-floor with his bed-candle in his +hand,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> while he expostulated with his sister on her strange infatuation +for her new friend; declaring that, with all her volatility and apparent +frankness and good-humour, he had never known a girl more artful, +selfish, and heartless than Madeline Malcolm.</p> + +<p>Instead of returning the flowers and the necklace on the following +morning, as she ought to have done, Madeline wore them in the evening to +another ball; and finally when Mrs. Lansdowne sent for the flowers, they +came home in a most deplorable state, soiled, crushed, and broken; so +that they were no longer fit to ornament the vases, and some of them +were entirely lost.</p> + +<p>Madeline did not come in to see Juliet till she knew that she had quite +recovered from her sore-throat; having, as she afterward told her, a +perfect antipathy to a sick-room, and a mortal dislike to the dismals. +She forgot to return the necklace till Juliet, with many blushes, and +much confusion, at last reminded her of it. "Why," said she, "you seem +very uneasy about that necklace. Between friends like us, every thing +ought to be common." Madeline, however, had never offered to lend Juliet +the smallest article belonging to herself.</p> + +<p>The next time Madeline came, she brought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> the necklace in her hand. +"Here," said she "is this most important affair; I took a fancy to wear +it round my <i>head</i> at Mrs. Linton's, and I can assure you I had a great +deal of pulling and stretching to get it to clasp. Why did grandpapa +give you such a short necklace? However, soon after I began to dance, +snap went the thread, and down came all the pearls showering about the +floor. How I laughed; but I set all the beaux in the cotillon to picking +them up, and I suppose they found the most of them. You see I have +brought you a handful. And now you can amuse yourself with stringing +them again. Come now, don't look so like Ned.—How can you expect a wild +creature as I am, to be careful of flowers, and beads, and all such +trumpery? I dare say, you are now thinking that your sober Cecilia +Selden would have returned the pearls 'in good order and well +conditioned.' But I never allow any one to get angry with me: you know I +am a privileged person. So now look agreeable, and smile immediately. +Smile, smile, I tell you." Juliet <i>did</i> smile, and Madeline throwing her +arms round her neck, kissed her, exclaiming, as she patted her cheek, +"There's my own good baby. She always, at last, does as I bid her."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +The next day Juliet heard that the windows of Mr. Malcolm's house were +all shut up; but she was not long in suspense as to the cause, for +shortly after, Madeline came running in the back way, and said with a +most afflicted countenance, "O, Juliet, you may pity me now if you never +did before. We have just heard from New Orleans of the death of aunt +Medford, my father's only sister."</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> I am very sorry you have received such bad news.</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> Oh! but the worst of it is, that it will prevent our going +to the play to-night. We had engaged seats with the Rosemores, in a +delightful box. We were going to see the Belle's Stratagem, with the +masquerade, and the song, and the minuet, and the new French dancers. I +would not have missed such an entertainment for a hundred dollars. How +very provoking that the bad news did not arrive one day later. If it had +not come till to-morrow I should not have cared, for then our charming +evening at the theatre would have been over. And now, to think that +instead of going to the play, I must stay at home and look at my father +grieving for old aunt Medford. There now, Juliet, your face is again in +the style of Ned's. Positively, if you are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> so particular, I shall cut +your acquaintance. Those that I consider my friends must enter into all +my "whims and oddities," and not expect me to act according to rule. I +hate hypocrisy. Why should I pretend to grieve for aunt Medford when I +have never seen her since I was six years old?</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> But sympathy for your father—</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> Why, where is the use of sympathy? When people are in grief, +sympathy only makes them worse.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> If you yourself were in affliction, Madeline, you would find +the sympathy of your family and friends very gratifying.</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> Wait till <i>I am</i> in affliction and then I will tell you. +"<i>Toujours gai</i>," is my motto, and "<i>vive la bagatelle</i>" for ever.</p> + +<p>So saying, she danced out of the room, and went home; but in a short +time she returned, looking very mysterious, and peeping in at the door +to ascertain if Juliet was alone. "Juliet, love," said Madeline in a low +voice, "come with me into the back parlour, lest we should be +interrupted. I have something of great consequence to tell you."</p> + +<p>As Madeline often dealt in mysteries, Juliet thought this new secret +nothing more than usual, and accompanied her into the back parlour,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +where Madeline cautiously bolted the folding-doors and locked the side +door. "Now, Juliet," said she in an under voice, "I know I may depend on +your secrecy." "Certainly you may," replied Juliet.</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> Well then, I must confide to you a plan that has just struck +me. I cannot bear the idea of giving up the play to-night, and you know +it is out of the question for any of the family to be <i>seen</i> there.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> Of course none of you can go to the theatre when your house is +shut up for the death of a near relation, and when Mr. Malcolm is in +such deep affliction.</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> It is certainly a great pity that aunt Medford died; +particularly just at the time she did, as it will spoil all our gayety +for the winter. No more plays, and balls, and parties this season. +People ought always to die in the summer. But you know, dear Juliet, I +have not seen my aunt Medford for ten years, and I really have forgotten +all about her. So, how can you expect me to be inconsolable? And I +cannot endure the thought of being disappointed in going to the theatre. +I might as well go, as stay at home and think about it all the evening.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> O no, indeed! Even if you have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> no personal regard for your +aunt, respect for your father's feelings and a proper regard for +decorum, ought to subdue your desire of going at this time to a place of +public amusement.</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> That is exactly such a speech as Cecilia Selden would make +on a similar occasion. It is a pity "the truly wise man" is not here. +How Neddy would applaud.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> But where is the use of talking in this manner. You know you +<i>cannot</i> go to the theatre.</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> I know I <i>can</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> How? In what way? I do not understand you.</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> My going to the theatre to-night depends principally on +<i>you</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> On me!</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> Yes, for I will not venture alone, and you must go with me.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> Go with you—<i>I</i> go with you!</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> Yes.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> And who else?</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> Nobody else. Now don't look as if you were ready to run +through the wall to get away from me; but listen and understand. Our +nursery-maid, Kitty, has permission to go this evening and stay all +night with a sick sister. So when she is off, I can easily slip<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> into +her room and select a suit of her clothes, (which I believe will nearly +fit me,) and she has a tolerably large wardrobe for a servant. Then I +will steal in the back way, bringing a suit for you. Don't look shocked. +I shall tell my father and mother that being very low-spirited, I am +coming in here to spend a quiet evening with you. I heard Mrs. +Lansdowne, when I was here yesterday, propose to your father to leave +her at her sister, Mrs. Wilmar's, on his way to the Wistar party +to-night, and call for her as he comes back; which of course will not be +before ten o'clock at the very earliest. Therefore the coast will be +clear, as I suppose Ned will go to his beloved Athenĉum. So you see +every thing seems to conspire fortunately to forward our plot.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> <i>Our</i> plot. O! do not call it <i>ours</i>. I never will have any +thing to do with a plot.</p> + +<p><i>Madeline.</i> Yes, but you <i>must</i> though. Why this is nothing. I have +plotted a hundred things in the course of my life, and so I shall again. +Well, now hear the whole. I will slip in the back-way, and you must be +alone in your room ready to receive me. After we have put on our +disguises, we will go down stairs very softly and steal out at the alley +gate. Then we will make the best of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> our way to the theatre, and go in +at the gallery-door, passing, of course as two servant-girls. When we +have reached the gallery we will mix with the crowd, and sit at our ease +and enjoy the play; at least the masquerade-scene, which I would not +miss for the world. I am absolutely dying to see the French dancers. +Nobody can possibly discover us under our disguises. We will not go till +the first act is over, and the audience settled; and we will come away +before the last scene of the comedy. Then after we get home we will +resume our proper dresses, and present ourselves to our parents, looking +as demure as if we had been sitting by the fire, and talking sensibly, +all the evening. No one will ever know what we have really been doing. +It will be a most charming frolic, and something for you and I to laugh +about, ten years hence. I always enjoy these queer exploits that no one +else has courage to undertake.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet</i> (<i>firmly.</i>) Madeline, I will <i>not</i> disguise myself like a +servant-girl; and I will <i>never</i> accompany you secretly to the theatre, +nor to any other place.</p> + +<p>Juliet spoke in so firm a tone, that Madeline was at first abashed, and +remained for a few moments silent. But, not easily repelled, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> soon +recovered from her confusion, and exerted all her eloquence to prevail +on her dear friend, as she called her, to join in the scheme. By turns +she flattered, caressed, and ridiculed her, and then tried to win her +consent by representing the delights of the masquerade-scene, as she had +heard it described by a lady who had recently seen the comedy of the +Belle's Stratagem. Juliet held out steadily for a long time. But at +length her firmness gave way, and she finally yielded; as Madeline had +foreseen. Her reluctance was so great, that her consent was, after all, +rather extorted than given, and Madeline, having kissed her rather +oftener than usual, ran gayly to her own home, singing "I won't be a +nun."</p> + +<p>After Madeline had gone, Juliet felt so uneasy at having suffered +herself to be persuaded against her conscience, that she was on the +point of calling her back and retracting her promise. When she went to +dinner, the consciousness of her intended deceit destroyed her appetite, +and made her feel as if she could not raise her eyes towards her +parents, or answer them when they spoke to her.</p> + +<p>Edward bent on her a scrutinizing glance, and saw that all was not +right; but supposing that she had committed some fault in the course<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> of +the morning for which her mother had seriously reprimanded her, he was +unwilling to notice her apparent mortification, and tried to divert the +attention of his parents by talking to them of Cooper's last novel, +which had been published that morning, and of which he had already gone +through the first volume.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lansdowne, however, remarking that her daughter did not eat, +inquired if she felt unwell, and Juliet replied that she had a violent +headache: which was literally true. After dinner, her mother recommended +that she should retire to her room and lie down, which she gladly did: +her mind being too much agitated to take interest in any occupation. +Once in the afternoon, she heard Edward come up stairs and tap at her +door; but fearing that he had observed her confusion at dinner, and that +he might ask her some question concerning it, she lay still, and did not +answer to his knock, so that, supposing her to be asleep, he softly +withdrew.</p> + +<p>Towards evening, her mother came to inquire after her: and Juliet, +unwilling to meet the family at table in her present state of +discomposure, requested to have her tea sent up. "My dear," said Mrs. +Lansdowne, "as you are not well, I will not go to my sister Wilmar's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +this evening, but I will stay at home and sit with you."</p> + +<p>"O, no, dear mother!" replied Juliet, "I know you wish to see aunt +Wilmar: I am sure my tea will relieve my headache, and I have no doubt, +when I have drunk it, I shall feel well enough to rise, and sit up all +the evening." Accordingly, after Juliet had taken her tea, she rose and +adjusted her dress, and when Mrs. Lansdowne came up again, she found her +daughter sitting by the fire with a book, and apparently so much +recovered, that she felt no scruples about leaving her, as she was +really desirous of passing the evening with Mrs. Wilmar, who was +confined to the house with the influenza.</p> + +<p>At last Juliet heard her father and mother depart, and Edward went out +soon after. In a few minutes, Madeline came cautiously up stairs, and +glided into the chamber, carrying a large bundle. "All's safe," said +she, "the coast is <i>quite</i> clear, and we have not a moment to lose. It +is a fine moonlight night."</p> + +<p>Juliet's courage now failed entirely; and she vehemently besought +Madeline to give up a scheme fraught with so much risk and impropriety. +But Madeline was immovable, declaring that she had set her heart on it, +and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> that she enjoyed nothing so much as what she called an +out-of-the-way frolic. "Since you are so cowardly, Juliet," said she, "I +wish I could venture to go alone; but wild as I am, I confess I am not +quite equal to that—Come, now, off with your frock, and get yourself +dressed in these delectable habiliments."</p> + +<p>She then began to unfasten Juliet's dress, who pale, trembling, and with +tears in her eyes, arrayed herself in the clothes that Madeline had +brought for her. The gown was a very dirty one of dark blue domestic +gingham, and she put on with it a yellowish chequered handkerchief, and +a check apron. Over this she pinned an old red woollen shawl, and she +covered her head with a coarse and broken black Leghorn bonnet. The +clothes that Madeline had allotted to herself were a little better, +consisting of a dark calico frock, a coarse tamboured muslin collar, an +old straw bonnet very yellow and faded, and a plaid cloak which belonged +to the cook, and which she had taken out of a closet in the garret.</p> + +<p>The two young ladies did not know, or did not recollect, that when +<i>real</i> servant-girls go to the theatre, they generally dress as well as +they can, and take pains to appear to the best advantage. The clothes +that Madeline had selected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> were quite too dirty and shabby for the +occasion. To complete their costume, she gave Juliet a pair of coarse +calf-skin shoes, which were so large that as she walked her feet seemed +to rise up out of them. Madeline, for her part, put on a pair of +carpet-moccasins over her slippers.</p> + +<p>After they were dressed and ready to depart for the theatre, Juliet's +tremor increased, and she was again on the point of relinquishing her +share in the business; but she again yielded to the solicitations of +Madeline, who led her softly down stairs by the light of the moon that +shone in at the staircase windows. They stole, undiscovered, across the +yard and out at the alley-gate; and finding themselves in the street, +began to walk very fast, as people generally do when they are going to +the play.</p> + +<p>When they came in view of the theatre, they saw no persons there, except +two or three gentlemen who went in at the pit-door. Juliet's heart +failed entirely; and she shrank back as Madeline, taking her hand, +attempted to pull her towards the door that admitted the gallery-people. +"We have now gone too far to recede," whispered Madeline,—"You must +stand by me now. I <i>will not</i> go back, and <i>you must</i> come forward. +Here, take my money and put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> it down with yours—I forgot my gloves, and +my hands will betray me, so I must keep them wrapped up in my cloak."</p> + +<p>Juliet laid the money on the ledge before the doorkeeper, who looked at +them with some surprise. They pulled their bonnets more closely over +their faces, and passed up the stairs; Madeline running as fast as +possible, and Juliet entreating her in a low voice to stop a little, as +she could not keep pace with her. They soon found themselves in the +gallery, and being assisted over the benches by a very polite black man, +they took their seats among some coloured people about the centre of the +middle row.</p> + +<p>The crowd and heat were intolerable. Juliet kept her eyes cast down; +afraid to look round the house, or even to steal a glance towards the +stage. Madeline, however, looked round boldly, and in a few minutes, to +her great consternation, she perceived Edward Lansdowne standing up in +the back part of one of the stage-boxes. Having finished his novel, and +feeling no inclination to read any more that night, he had concluded to +go to the theatre, reminded of it by seeing the bill in the evening +paper. "Juliet," whispered Madeline, "there is my evil genius." "Where,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +where?" exclaimed Juliet, thrown almost off her guard. "If we can +distinguish <i>him</i> at so great a distance, he can also discover +<i>us</i>."—"You forget," replied Madeline, "that we are in disguise." These +words, though uttered in a whisper, were evidently heard by the people +round, who all turned to look at them; and some tried to peep under +their bonnets, which made Juliet draw hers down over her face till her +sight was entirely obscured by it.</p> + +<p>The play went on; but Madeline and Juliet could not enjoy it, all their +attention being engaged by the continual fear of discovery. Juliet, +however heard enough to convince her that her parents would never have +taken her to see the Belle's Stratagem; as when they did indulge her +with a visit to the theatre, they always selected a night when the play +was unexceptionable, and the whole entertainment such as a young lady +could witness with propriety.</p> + +<p>At length came the masquerade-scene, and in a short time the French +dancers appeared. Just then, a short, fat, red-faced and very vulgar +Englishwoman who sat behind Madeline and Juliet, gave each of them a +twitch on the shoulder, saying, in a broad Yorkshire dialect, "I'll +thank you gals or ladies or whatsomdever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> you be, to take off your +bunnets and let a body have some chance of seeing the show; for I've +been popping my ead back and furrads atween you ever sence you comed +hin, and thof I've as good a right to see as any body else, I've ardly +got a squint at the hactors yet."</p> + +<p>The girls were now in a most critical dilemma. To take off their bonnets +seemed out of the question, as the exposure of their heads would no +doubt betray them, and their fear and perplexity were so great that they +had not presence of mind either to speak or move.</p> + +<p>"Don't pertend that you don't ear me," said the Englishwoman, giving +them both a hard push forward with her huge hands. "I bees a true King +Georgeswoman, and won't be put upon by none of the Yankees, not I, thof +I <i>am</i> come to their country. I pays my money as well as you, and I've +jist as good a right to see the show; and if you won't take off them big +bunnets, I'll be bound I'll make you, if there's even a row about it. +I've raised a row afore this time when I've been put upon."</p> + +<p>"Oh! let us go, let us go," said Juliet, gasping with terror, and +seizing Madeline's arm.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +"Honly wait," continued the Englishwoman, "till I tells my usband, who +sets ahind here, to call 'turn 'em out.' You <i>may</i> be ladies. But I bees +an onest oman, and if I've come to a land of liberty, the more reason +that I should make free to speak my mind; and if we're all hequal, why +then nobody han't no right to put upon me."</p> + +<p>By this time the two girls, in an agony of trepidation, had scrambled +over the benches and got to the door, expecting every instant to hear +the dreaded words, "turn them out," and to see Edward's eyes directed +towards them, with those of the whole audience. Scarcely conscious of +what they were doing, they ran down the gallery-stairs, and flew out of +the door into the street. As is usual toward the latter part of the +play, a number of boys had collected about the fruit-stalls waiting for +checks, that they might gain admittance to see the farce; and as +Madeline ran past them, her cloak flew open, and the moonbeams shone +brightly on a brilliant ring which she always wore on her fore-finger. +This with something in their appearance that would cause even +unpractised eyes to suspect that they were young ladies, attracted the +attention<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> of the boys, who stared at them with surprise and curiosity.</p> + +<p>Madeline and Juliet ran down the street in breathless terror. They had +gone about a square from the theatre before they recollected that their +way home lay in a contrary direction, and that they ought to go <i>up</i> the +street instead of <i>down</i>. "Oh! we are going <i>from</i> home instead of +<i>towards</i> it," exclaimed Juliet; and they immediately turned about and +ran up Chestnut street. They again passed the theatre, terrified, +bewildered, their bonnets falling back and discovering their frightened +faces in full view; Madeline's cloak half untied and flying out behind +her, and Juliet still grasping one corner of her shawl (which had fallen +entirely off her shoulders) and dragging it after her along the +pavement. On seeing them running back in this forlorn condition, the +boys set up a loud shout, and calling out "Hurrah for the ladies," +pursued them up Chestnut street.</p> + +<p>A young gentleman who had left the theatre a few minutes before, and was +walking leisurely up the street, turned round to discover the meaning of +all the noise that was coming after him, and caught Juliet, breathless +and almost dead, by her two hands. "Juliet," he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> exclaimed, "my sister +Juliet!" "Oh, Edward!" she shrieked, and fell into his arms drowned in +tears.</p> + +<p>"Save me, save me," cried Madeline, catching him by the coat. "Madeline +too!" said Edward. "What does all this mean?"</p> + +<p>Another gentleman now came up, and ordered off the boys, reprimanding +them severely for chasing two unprotected females; and Edward taking one +of the girls under each arm, walked on in silence, much affected by the +sobbing of Juliet.</p> + +<p>Madeline soon recovered herself, and attempted an explanation of the +strange predicament in which he had found them; passing it off as a very +good joke, and a further proof of her ungovernable volatility.</p> + +<p>Edward remained silent. He would not reproach her, but he determined in +his mind what course to pursue. He took leave of Madeline at her own +door, and on entering his father's house, he told Juliet that she had +better, as soon as possible, divest herself of her disguise. Juliet +could not speak, but she wept on her brother's shoulder; and Edward +kissed her cheek, and bade her good night.</p> + +<p>She retired to bed, but she could not sleep; and in the morning she rose +earlier than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> usual, and went into the parlour, where she knew she would +find Edward. She looked very pale, and her eyes were swimming in tears. +"Oh! Edward," said she, "what did my father and mother say, when they +came home last night, and you told them all that happened?"</p> + +<p>"I told them nothing," replied Edward, "I love you too well to betray +you. I have kept your secret, and I shall never disclose it. But I must +have a recompense."</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> Any, any recompense, dearest Edward. What can you ask that I +could possibly refuse.</p> + +<p><i>Edward.</i> I require you, from this day, to give up all acquaintance with +Madeline Malcolm. Your infatuation for a girl who, under the name of +wildness and volatility, sets all propriety at defiance, is to me +astonishing. Henceforward let there be no more intimacy between you. It +must be checked before it leads to consequences still worse than the +adventures of last night.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> I acknowledge that Madeline is too regardless of decorum, and +that she says and does many strange and improper things: but then she +has so good a heart.</p> + +<p><i>Edward.</i> Tell me one proof of it. You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> have fallen into the common +error of supposing that all persons who profess to be giddy, wild, and +reckless, have kind feelings and good hearts. On the contrary, they may +too often be classed with the most selfish, cold, and heartless people +in the world; for they have seldom either sense or sensibility, and +while resolutely bent on the gratification of their own whims, are +generally regardless of the peace and convenience of those about them. +When I first went to college I thought as you do. I supposed that the +most careless, noisy, and desperate boys must necessarily have kind and +generous feelings. But I found the contrary to my cost; and I am now +convinced, that, with some few exceptions, the best hearts are generally +united with the best heads and the best manners.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> But even if I never visit Madeline myself, how shall I prevent +her running in to me as she does, two or three times a day?</p> + +<p><i>Edward.</i> Very easily. Write her a concise note, intimating that you do +not consider it proper to continue your acquaintance with her.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> Oh! Edward, I never can do that.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +<i>Edward.</i> Is not this the recompense I am entitled to, for keeping your +secret?</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> Indeed, Edward, you are too cruel.</p> + +<p><i>Edward.</i> Severe, perhaps, but not cruel. The exigency of the case +requires decisive measures. "I am cruel only to be kind," and you will +thank me for it hereafter.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> Well then, I <i>will</i> write the note. And if it <i>must be done</i> I +will do it immediately; for if I allow myself to think about it long, it +will grieve me so much that I shall never have resolution to go through +with it. (<i>She goes to the desk and writes.</i>) There now, Edward, read +this note.</p> + +<p><i>Edward</i>, (<i>reading</i>.) "Though convinced that it is better our intimacy +should cease, it is not without regret that I decline all further +intercourse with Madeline Malcolm. For her health and happiness I offer +my best wishes; but in future we can only meet as strangers.</p> + +<pre> +"<span class="smcap">Juliet Lansdowne.</span>" +</pre> + +<p>Now seal and send it.</p> + +<p><i>Juliet.</i> Oh, Edward! it is hard to give up Madeline. But I believe you +are right, and I ought not to regret it.</p> + +<p><i>Edward.</i> I <i>know</i> I am right.</p> + +<p>Juliet then rang the bell for a servant, to whom with a quivering lip +and hesitating hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> she gave the note, desiring him to leave it next +door for Miss Malcolm.</p> + +<p>After breakfast, when Juliet was again alone with her brother, she said +to him, "Edward, I have never yet concealed any thing from my parents. I +think if I were to disclose to them the whole truth, I should feel less +miserable."</p> + +<p>Edward approved of this determination, and they went together to their +mother, to whom Juliet candidly related the whole history of their going +to the theatre in disguise. She kindly endeavoured to throw as little +blame on Madeline as possible; and Edward tried to apologize for +Juliet's partiality for this dangerous girl, and for the yielding +gentleness of disposition with which his sister had allowed herself to +be influenced by her; and for her want of judgment in not perceiving the +faults of Madeline in as strong a light as they appeared to every one +else.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lansdowne's pleasure, on finding that her daughter had consented to +give up this very improper intimacy, counterbalanced her regret at +Juliet's having been persuaded by Madeline to join in the folly and +indecorum of the preceding evening. For this, however, she thought the +girls had been sufficiently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> punished by all they had suffered at the +theatre, and during their ignominious flight from it.</p> + +<p>Madeline's parents had no suspicion of her having been at the play in +disguise, and the idea of confessing it to them never for a moment +entered her head. She was highly indignant at Juliet's note; and +fortunately her resentment was too great to allow her to make any +attempt at renewing their intimacy. She took care, however, to let no +one suppose that the acquaintance had ceased by Juliet's desire; telling +every body that Juliet Lansdowne was a little fool, and that she had +grown quite tired of her.</p> + +<p>In the spring, Mr. Malcolm removed with his family to New York, and +their house next door to Mr. Lansdowne's was immediately taken by the +father of Cecilia Selden who had again become the intimate friend of +Juliet.</p> + + +<h4>THE END.</h4> + + + +<hr /> + +<div id="boxtn"> +<p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> + +<p class="noi">Punctuation has been standardised. Hyphenation and spelling have been +retained as appear in the original publication except as follows:</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 6<br /> +Mrs. Evering had a very excellant cook, a <i>changed to</i><br /> +Mrs. Evering had a very <a href="#excellent">excellent</a> cook, a</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 35<br /> +<i>vous remerçie</i>,—<i>Il fait beau-tems</i> <i>changed to</i><br /> +<i>vous remerçie</i>,—<i>Il fait <a href="#temps">beau-temps</a></i></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 72<br /> +and then she counted all the window sat <i>changed to</i><br /> +and then she counted all the <a href="#windows">windows at</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 109<br /> +I will have <i>them</i>. They will de <i>changed to</i><br /> +I will have <i>them</i>. They will <a href="#do">do</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 114<br /> +kindness, and feeling really some embarrasment <i>changed to</i><br /> +kindness, and feeling really some <a href="#embarrassment">embarrassment</a></p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories for Helen, by Eliza Leslie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FOR HELEN *** + +***** This file should be named 33510-h.htm or 33510-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/5/1/33510/ + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +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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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: Stories for Helen + +Author: Eliza Leslie + +Release Date: August 23, 2010 [EBook #33510] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FOR HELEN *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: THE TELL TALE.] + + + + + STORIES FOR HELEN + + BY + + MISS ELIZA LESLIE, + + AUTHOR OF STORIES FOR EMMA, STORIES FOR ADELAIDE, ETC. + + "Our most important are our earliest years."--_Cowper._ + + + PHILADELPHIA: + HENRY F. ANNERS. + CHESNUT STREET. + + + + + Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845, + + BY ELIZA LESLIE, + + In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern + District of Pennsylvania. + + Printed by King & Baird. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + + +The following stories have been selected by the author, from a small +volume originally published with the title of Atlantic Tales. They have +been carefully revised; and she indulges the hope that her juvenile +readers may derive from them a little instruction blended with a little +amusement. + +PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER 1, 1845. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + Page. + + The Tell-Tale, 5 + + The Boarding School Feast, 28 + + The Week of Idleness, 67 + + Madeline Malcolm, 98 + + + + +THE TELL-TALE. + + "_How all occasions do inform against me!_" + _Shakspeare._ + + +Rosamond Evering was one of those indiscreet mischievous girls who are +in the daily practice of repeating every thing they see and hear; +particularly all the unpleasant remarks, and unfavourable opinions that +happen to be unguardedly expressed in their presence. She did not +content herself with relating only as much as she actually saw and +heard; but (as is always the case with tell-tales) she dealt greatly in +exaggeration, and her stories never failed to exceed the reality in all +their worst points. + +This unamiable and dangerous propensity of their daughter, gave great +pain to Mr. and Mrs. Evering, who tried in vain to correct it. They +represented to her that as parents cannot be _constantly_ on their guard +in presence of their own family, and that as grown persons do not +_always_ remember or observe when children are in the room, many things +are inadvertently said, which, though of little consequence as long as +they remain unknown, may be of great and unfortunate importance if +disclosed and exaggerated. And as children are incapable of forming an +accurate judgment as to what may be told with safety, or what ought to +be kept secret, their wisest and most proper course is to repeat no +remarks and to relate no conversations whatever; but more particularly +those which they may chance to hear from persons older than themselves. + +But neither reproof nor punishment seemed to make any lasting impression +on Rosamond Evering; and scarce a day passed that she did not exhibit +some vexatious specimen of her besetting sin. A few instances will +suffice. + +Mrs. Evering had a very excellent cook, a black woman, that had lived +with her more than six years, and whom she considered an invaluable +servant. One morning, when Venus (for that was her name) had just left +the parlour, after receiving her orders for dinner, Mr. Evering +remarked, in a low voice, to his lady, "Certainly, the name of Venus +was never so unsuitably bestowed as on this poor woman. I have rarely +seen a negro whose face had a greater resemblance to that of a baboon." +In this remark Mrs. Evering acquiesced. + +Rosamond was at this time sitting in a corner, looking over her lessons. +Just before she went to school, her mother thought of a change in the +preparations for dinner, and not wishing to give the old cook the +trouble of coming up from the kitchen a second time, she desired +Rosamond to go down and tell Venus she would have the turkey boiled +rather than roasted. Rosamond went down and delivered the message; but +fixing her eyes on the cook's face, she thought she had never seen Venus +look so ugly, and she said to her, "Venus, my father thinks you are the +ugliest negro he ever saw (_even for a negro_) and he says your face is +just like a monkey's, only worse." Having made this agreeable +communication, Rosamond went out of the kitchen and departed for school, +leaving Venus speechless with anger and astonishment; for though in +other respects a very good woman, she was extremely vain, and had always +considered herself among the handsomest of her race. + +As soon as Venus found herself able to speak, she went into the parlour +with her eyes flashing fire, and told Mrs. Evering that she must provide +herself with another cook, as she was determined to leave her that very +day. Mrs. Evering with much surprise inquired the reason, and Venus +replied, that "she would not live in any house where she was called an +ugly neger, the ugliest even of all negers, and likened to a brute +beast." + +Mrs. Evering, who had forgotten her husband's remark, asked the cook +what she meant; and Venus explained by repeating all that Rosamond had +told her. Mrs. Evering endeavoured to pacify her, but in vain. Ignorant +people when once offended are very difficult to appease, and Venus had +been hurt on the tenderest point. She would listen to nothing that Mrs. +Evering could urge to induce her to stay; but exclaimed in a high +passion, "I never was called a neger before. I am not a neger but a +coloured woman. I was born and raised on a great plantation in Virginny +where there was hundreds of slaves, all among the Randolphs and sich +like quality, and nobody never called me a neger. And now when I'm free, +and come here to Philadelphy where nobody has no servants without they +hires them, lo! and behold, I'm called a neger, and an ugly neger too, +and a neger-monkey besides. No, no, I'll not stay; and Nancy the +chambermaid may do the cooking till you get somebody else. And a pretty +way she'll do it in. I'm glad I shan't be here to eat Nancy's cooking. I +never know'd any _white trash_ that could cook; much less Irish." + +Finally, Mrs. Evering was obliged to give Venus her wages and let here +go at once, as she protested "she would never eat another meal's +victuals in the house." + +When Rosamond came from school, her mother reprimanded her severely; and +when her father heard of the mischief she had caused, he would not +permit her to accompany the family to a concert that evening, as she had +been promised the day before. + +After the departure of Venus, it was a long time before Mrs. Evering +could suit herself with a cook. Several were tried in succession but +none were good; and to Rosamond's great regret, they were never able to +get a woman whose skill in making pies, and puddings, and cakes, bore +any comparison to that of Venus. + +Still this lesson did not cure her fault; she still told tales, and +still suffered in consequence. + +One day, Mrs. Renwick, a lady who lived next door, sent a message to +Mrs. Evering, requesting that she would lend her a pot of red currant +jelly, as she was quite out of that article, of which she shortly +intended making a supply; and as Mr. Renwick had invited some company to +dinner, some jelly would be wanted to eat with the canvass-back ducks. + +Mrs. Evering lent her a pot, and as soon as currants were in the market, +Mrs. Renwick sent her in return some jelly of her own making. It was not +nice, and Mrs. Evering observed to her sister, Mrs. Norwood, who +happened to be present: "I do not think Mrs. Renwick has been very +successful with her jelly. It is so thin it is almost liquid, and so +dark that it looks as if made of black currants. I suspect she has +boiled it too long, and has not put in sugar enough." + +Next day as they were coming from school together, Mrs. Renwick's little +daughter, Marianne, said to Rosamond, "My mother made some currant jelly +on Tuesday, and yesterday when it was cold, she gave me a whole +saucer-full to eat with my slice of bread, at twelve o'clock." + +"She might well give you a whole saucer-full," replied Rosamond, "for I +do not think it was worth saving for any better purpose. She sent in a +pot to my mother, in return for some she had borrowed of her. Now _my_ +mother's jelly is always so firm that you might cut it with a knife, and +so bright and sparkling that it dazzles your eyes. I heard her tell my +aunt Norwood, that Mrs. Renwick's jelly was the worst she had ever seen, +that it was as thin and sour as plain currant juice, and dark and +dirty-looking beside." + +Marianne Renwick was much displeased at the disrespectful manner in +which her mother's jelly had been spoken of. She let go Rosamond's arm, +and turning up another street, walked home by herself, swelling with +resentment, and told her mother all that had passed. + +Mrs. Renwick was a lady very easily offended; and she always signified +her anger as soon as she felt it. She immediately sent to a +confectioner's for a pot of the very best red currant jelly, and had it +carried into Mrs. Evering; accompanied by a note implying "that she +regretted to hear that her jelly had not been so fortunate as to meet +the approbation of so competent a judge of sweetmeats; but that, as she +would be sorry if Mrs. Evering should lose any thing by it, she had sent +her a pot made by one of the very first confectioners in the city; and +she hoped it would be found an ample equivalent for that she had most +unhappily borrowed." + +Rosamond was in the parlour when the note and the pot of jelly arrived, +and she coloured and looked so confused, that her mother immediately +guessed she had been the cause of Mrs. Renwick's having taken offence. +Reproof had no effect on Rosamond except for a moment; but that she +might frequently be reminded of her fault, she was not allowed to taste +currant jelly till the next summer. Mrs. Renwick, however, remained +implacable; and could never be prevailed on to visit Mrs. Evering again. + +Mr. Evering had an aunt, the widow of a western merchant who had made a +large fortune in business. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Marbury +had removed to Philadelphia, which was her native place; and, being very +plain in her habits and ideas, she had bought a small neat house in a +retired street, where she kept but two servants, and expended more money +in presents to her relations, than in any superfluities for herself. She +generally went to a place of worship in her own neighbourhood; but +hearing that a very celebrated minister from Boston was to preach one +Sunday in the church to which her nephew's family belonged, she sent a +message to Mr. Evering requesting that he would call for her with his +carriage and give her a seat in his pew, that she might have an +opportunity of hearing this distinguished stranger. Mr. and Mrs. Evering +were both out when the message arrived, so that no answer could be sent +till their return; which was not till evening. + +It was dusk, and the lamps not being yet lighted, they did not perceive +that Rosamond was lying on an ottoman in one of the recesses, or they +would not have spoken as they did while she was present. + +"I am very sorry," said Mrs. Evering, "that Mrs. Marbury has fixed on +to-morrow for going to church with us, for I intended asking Miss +Leeson, who will be delighted to have an opportunity of hearing this +celebrated preacher; and his discourse, however excellent, will be lost +on aunt Marbury, who always falls asleep soon after she has heard the +text, that being all she ever remembers of a sermon. So that in reality, +one preacher is the same to her as another; though she goes regularly to +church twice a-day, and never could be convinced that she sleeps half +the time. And then she is unfortunately so fat, and takes up so much +room in the pew." + +"My dear," said Mr. Evering, "we must show Mrs. Marbury as much kindness +and civility as we possibly can, for she is a most excellent woman, is +very liberal to us now, and at her death will undoubtedly leave us the +greatest part of her large property. Even if we had no personal regard +for the good old lady, it would be very impolitic in us to offend her." + +When the room was lighted, Mr. and Mrs. Evering saw Rosamond on the +ottoman, and felt so much uneasiness at her having heard their +conversation, that they thought it best to caution her against repeating +it. "Oh!" exclaimed Rosamond, "do you think I would be so wicked as to +tell aunt Marbury what you have just been saying about her?" + +"You have often," said Mrs. Evering, "told things almost as improper to +be repeated." + +"But never with any bad intention," replied Rosamond, "I am sure my +feelings are always good." + +"I know not," said her father, "how it is possible that people with good +feelings and good intentions can take pleasure in repeating whatever +they hear to a person's disadvantage, and above all to the very object +of the unfavourable remarks. Beside the cruelty of causing them poignant +and unnecessary pain, and wounding their self-love, there is the +wickedness of embroiling them with their friends; or at least destroying +their confidence, and imbittering their hearts. And all these +consequences have frequently ensued from the tattling of a tell-tale +child." + +The next morning was Saturday; and the servants being all very busy, +Mrs. Evering desired Rosamond to stop, as she returned from taking her +music-lesson, and inform her aunt Marbury that they would be happy to +accommodate her with a seat in their pew on Sunday morning; and that +they would call for her in the carriage, as she had requested. + +"Now, Rosamond," said Mrs. Evering, "can I trust you? Will you, for +once, be discreet, and refrain from repeating to your aunt Marbury, what +you unluckily overheard last evening?" + +"O! indeed, dear mother," replied Rosamond, "bad as you think me, I am +not quite wicked enough for that." + +"But I fear the force of habit," said Mrs. Evering. "I believe I had +better send Peter with the message." + +"No," answered Rosamond, "I am anxious to retrieve my character. Rely on +me this once; and you will see how prudent and honourable I can be." + +On her way home from her music-lesson, Rosamond stopped at her aunt's, +and delivered the message, exactly as it had been given to her. + +While Rosamond was eating a piece of the nice plum-cake that her aunt +always kept in the house for the gratification of her young visitors, +Mrs. Marbury said to her, "This weather is quite too warm for the +season; should it continue, it will be very oppressive in church +to-morrow." + +"No doubt," answered Rosamond, "and most probably _our_ church will be +crowded in every part. I wonder, aunt, that you are anxious to go, as +you certainly _must_ be, when you sent so long beforehand to engage a +seat in our pew." + +"In truth," returned Mrs. Marbury, "I am willing to suffer some +inconvenience from the heat, for the sake of hearing this great +preacher." + +"But, aunt," said Rosamond, "if you get sleepy, you will not hear him +after all." + +"O!" replied Mrs. Marbury, "I am never sleepy in church. I am always so +attentive that I never feel in the least drowsy." + +"O! indeed, aunt, I have often seen you asleep in church," exclaimed +Rosamond. + +"Impossible, Rosamond, impossible," cried Mrs. Marbury. "You are +entirely mistaken. It must have been merely your own imagination." + +"Why, dear aunt," said Rosamond, "my father and mother, as well as +myself, have all seen you asleep in church. If it was not true, the +whole family could not imagine it. It was but last evening, I heard my +mother say, that she wished you had not taken a notion to go to church +with us on Sunday, as it would prevent her from inviting Miss Leeson, +whom she likes far better than you. She said, beside, that fat people +take up so much room, that they are always encumbrances every where; and +that there was no use at all in your going to church, as you slept +soundly all the time you were there, and even breathed so hard as to +disturb the congregation." + +"And what did your father say to all this?" asked Mrs. Marbury, turning +very pale, and looking much shocked and mortified. + +"My father," answered Rosamond, "said that, on account of your money, we +must endure you, and all the inconveniences belonging to you; for if you +were kept in good humour, he had no doubt of your leaving him all your +property when you die." + +Mrs. Marbury looked aghast. She burst into tears, and Rosamond, finding +that she had gone quite too far, vainly attempted to pacify her. + +"You may go home, child," exclaimed Mrs. Marbury, sobbing with anger, +"you may go home, and tell your father and mother that I shall not +trouble them with my company at church or any where else; and when I +die, I shall leave my money to the hospital or to some other +institution. How have I been deceived! But I shall take care in future +not to bestow my affection on those that have any expectations from me." + +Rosamond, now very much frightened, declared that she could not take +such a message to her parents; and begged her aunt to screen her from +their displeasure, by not informing them of the communication she had so +indiscreetly made. + +Her alarm and agitation were so great, that Mrs. Marbury consented, out +of pity, not to betray her to her father and mother; and to excuse +herself from going to church with them (which she declared she could +never do again) by alleging the heat of the weather, and the probable +crowd. + +"And now, Rosamond," said her aunt Marbury, "do not think that I feel at +all obliged to you for having opened my eyes as to the manner in which +your parents really regard me. Their behaviour to me, as far as I could +judge for myself, has always been exactly what I wished it; and if +their kindness was not sincere, I still thought it so, and was happy in +being deceived. And now, after what you have told me, how can I again +think of them as I have hitherto done? You have acted basely towards +them in repeating their private conversation, and cruelly to your kind +aunt, in giving her unnecessary pain and mortification. You have caused +much mischief; and who has been the gainer? Not yourself certainly. You +have lost my good opinion, for I can never like a tell-tale. I had heard +something of your being addicted to this vice; but till now I could not +believe it. I shall not betray you to your parents, though you have so +shamefully betrayed _them_ to _me_. But you may rely on it, that sooner +or later the discovery will be made, to your utter shame and confusion. +Now you may go home, with the assurance that you can no longer be a +welcome visitor at my house." + +Rosamond departed, overwhelmed with compunction; and in the resolution +(which she had so often made and so often broken) never again to be +guilty of a similar fault. She gave her aunt's message to her parents, +and Miss Leeson was invited to accompany them next day to church. + +Two days after, Mrs. Evering went to visit Mrs. Marbury, and to her +great surprise heard from the servants that she had left town with some +western friends who were returning home; and that she purposed being +absent from Philadelphia five or six months; dividing her time among +various places on the other side of the Alleghanies, and probably +extending her tour to Louisiana, where she owned some land. + +Her going away so suddenly without apprising them of her intention, was +totally inexplicable to Mr. and Mrs. Evering; and they justly concluded +that she must have taken some offence. Rosamond well knew the cause, and +rightly supposed that her aunt finding herself unable to meet the family +with her former feelings towards them, had thought it best to avoid +seeing them for a very long time. + +The confusion visible in Rosamond's face and manner when Mrs. Marbury +was spoken of, aroused the suspicions of her father and mother: and on +their questioning her closely, she confessed, with many tears, that she +had really informed her aunt of what had passed on the subject of her +accompanying them to church. But as tell-tales have very little candour +where themselves are concerned, and as tale-telling always leads to +lying, she steadily denied that she had been guilty of the slightest +exaggeration in her report to Mrs. Marbury; protesting that she had told +her nothing but the simple truth. + +From that time, Rosamond was not allowed to visit or call at any house +unaccompanied by her mother, who was almost afraid to trust her out of +her sight. Her parents avoided discussing any thing of the least +consequence in _her_ presence; always remembering to send her out of the +room. This mode of treatment very much mortified her; but she could not +help acknowledging that she deserved it. + +Her father received no intelligence from Mrs. Marbury. He and Mrs. +Evering both wrote to her at different times, endeavouring to mollify +her displeasure; but not knowing exactly where she was, the letters were +not directed to the right places, and did not reach her. + +For a long time Rosamond was so unusually discreet, that her parents +began to hope that her odious fault was entirely cured. + +One day, her chamber having been washed in the afternoon, it was found +too damp for her to sleep in with safety to her health; and her mother +told her that she must, that night, occupy the room adjoining hers. This +room, which was but seldom used, was separated from Mrs. Evering's +apartment by a very thin partition; and communicated with it by a door +which was almost always kept closed; the bed in each of these chambers +being placed against it. + +Rosamond, having been awakened in the night by the fighting of some cats +in the yard, heard her father and mother in earnest conversation. They +had totally forgotten her vicinity to them; and as tell-tales are never +wanting in curiosity, she sat up in her bed and applying her ear to the +key-hole of the door, she distinctly heard every word they said, though +they were speaking in a low voice. + +She was soon able to comprehend the subject of their conversation. Mr. +Evering was lamenting that the failure of a friend for whom he had +endorsed to a large amount, had brought him into unexpected +difficulties; but he hoped that he would be able to go on till the sums +due to him by some western merchants should arrive. + +Next evening, Rosamond was permitted to go to a juvenile cotillon-party, +held once a fortnight, at the ball-room of her dancing-master. To this +place her mother always accompanied her; and while Mrs. Evering was +sitting in conversation with some ladies, a boy named George Granby, who +was frequently the partner of Rosamond at these balls, came up and +asked her to dance. They were obliged to go to the farthest end of the +room before they could get places in a cotillon; and while they were +waiting for the music to begin, George, who thought Rosamond a very +pretty girl, asked her if she would also be his partner in the +country-dance. She replied that Henry Harford had engaged her, at the +last ball, for this country-dance. + +"Oh!" replied George Granby, "Henry Harford will not be here to-night; +his father failed yesterday." + +"True," said Rosamond, "I wonder I should have forgotten Mr. Harford's +failure, when my father lost so much by him. But when the fathers fail, +must the children stay away from balls?" + +"Certainly," replied George, "it would be considered very improper for +the family to be seen in any place of amusement when its head is in so +much trouble, and when they have lost all they possessed." + +"O then," exclaimed Rosamond, "I hope _my_ father will not fail till the +cotillon-parties are over for the season. There are but two more, and I +should be very sorry to give them up. I hope he will be able to go on, +at least till after that time. How sorry I shall be when he _does_ +fail." + +"I believe you," said George; "but what makes you talk about your +father's failing? I thought he was considered safe enough." + +"Ah! you know but little about it," answered Rosamond. "I heard him tell +my mother last night, that he was in hourly dread of failing, in +consequence of the great losses by Mr. Harford, and of his own business +having gone on badly for a long time. However, say nothing about it, for +such things ought not to be told." + +"They ought not, indeed," said the boy. + +As soon as George Granby went home, he repeated what he had heard from +Rosamond, to his father, who was one of Mr. Evering's creditors. The +consequence was, that Mr. Granby and all the principal creditors took +immediate measures to secure themselves; and Mr. Evering (who could have +gone on till he got through his difficulties, had he been allowed time, +and had the state of his affairs remained unsuspected,) became a +bankrupt through the worse than indiscretion of his daughter. Had Mrs. +Marbury been in town, or where he could have had speedy communication +with her, he doubted not that she would have lent him assistance to +ward off the impending blow. But she had gone away in a fit of +displeasure, occasioned, also, by the tattling of Rosamond. + +Mr. Granby, who was the chief creditor and a man of contracted feelings +and great severity, showed no liberality on the occasion; and proceeded +to the utmost extremity that the law would warrant. Every article of Mr. +Evering's property was taken; and indeed, since it had come to this, his +principles would not allow him to reserve any thing whatever from his +creditors. + +The scene that ensued in the Evering family, on the day following the +ball, can better be imagined than described. Mr. Granby had at once +informed Mr. Evering of the source from whence he had derived his +information with respect to the posture of his affairs; and when +Rosamond found this new and terrible proof of the fatal effects of her +predominant vice, she went into an hysteric fit, and was so ill all +night, that her parents, in addition to their other troubles, had to +fear for the life of their daughter. The sufferings of her mind brought +on a fever; and it was more than a week before she was able to leave her +bed. + +Her father and mother kindly forgave her, and avoided all reference to +her fault. But she could not forgive herself, and on the day that they +left their handsome residence in one of the principal streets, and +removed to a small mean-looking house in the suburbs, her agony was more +than words can express. All their furniture was sold at auction, even +Rosamond's piano, and her mother's work-table. Their most expensive +articles of clothing were put away, as in their present circumstances it +would be improper to wear them. The house they now inhabited, contained +only one little parlour with a kitchen back of it, and three small rooms +upstairs. Their furniture was limited to what was barely useful, and of +the cheapest kind. Their table was as plain as possible; and their only +servant a very young half-grown girl. + +This sad change in their way of living, added to the stings of +self-reproach, almost broke Rosamond's heart; and her pride was much +shocked when she found that her father had applied for the situation of +clerk in a counting-house, as a means of supporting his family till +something better should offer. + +At length Mrs. Marbury returned; having hurried back to Philadelphia as +soon as the intelligence of her nephew's failure had reached her. How +did she blame herself for having taken such serious offence at what now +appeared to her almost too trifling to remember. All her former regard +for the Evering family returned. She sought them immediately in their +humble retreat, and offered Mr. Evering her assistance to the utmost +farthing she could command. + +To conclude, Mr. Evering's affairs were again put in train. He resumed +his business; and a few years restored him to his former situation. + +This sad, but salutary lesson produced a lasting effect on Rosamond; and +from that time, she kept so strict a watch over her ruling passion, that +she succeeded in entirely eradicating it. She grew up a discreet and +amiable girl; and no one who knew her in after years, could have +believed that till the age of fourteen she had been an incorrigible +tell-tale. + + + + +THE BOARDING-SCHOOL FEAST. + + "They hear a voice in every wind, + And snatch a fearful joy." + _Gray._ + + +It is a very common subject of complaint with boarding-school children +(and there is often sufficient foundation for it) that they are too much +restricted in their food, and that their diet is not only inferior in +quality to what it ought to be, but frequently deficient in quantity +also. There was certainly, however, no cause for any dissatisfaction of +this sort at Mrs. Middleton's boarding-school, in Philadelphia. The +table was in every respect excellent; and a basket of bread or biscuit, +and sometimes of gingerbread, was handed round to all the pupils, every +morning at eleven o'clock. Mrs. Middleton's young ladies were strangers +to the common boarding-school practice of coaxing or bribing the +servants to procure them cakes and tarts from the confectioners; for the +table was sufficiently supplied with those articles, made in such a +manner as to be agreeable to the taste without endangering the health; +and they were every day allowed some sort of fruit, of the best quality +the market could furnish. + +At last, a young lady named Henrietta Harwood became a member of Mrs. +Middleton's seminary. Miss Harwood had been for several years a pupil of +one of those too numerous establishments, where the comfort of the +children is sacrificed to the vanity of a governess, who rests her +claims to encouragement principally on the merits of elegantly furnished +parlours, an expensive style of dress, frequent evening parties, and +occasional balls. In schools where outward show is the leading +principle, the internal economy is generally conducted on the most +parsimonious plan, and while the masters (who attend only at certain +hours) are such as are considered the most fashionable, the female +teachers that live in the house, are too often vulgar girls obtained at +a low salary, and who frequently are in league with the elder pupils in +ridiculing and plotting against the governess. + +Most of the faults and follies that were likely to be acquired at a +show-boarding-school, Henrietta Harwood brought with her to the +excellent and well-conducted establishment of Mrs. Middleton: but she +had some redeeming qualities that made her rather a favourite with her +new companions, and disposed her governess to hope that all would come +right at last. + +One evening, the elder young ladies were sitting very comfortably at +their different occupations, round the table in the front school-room. +The window-shutters were closed, a good fire was burning in the stove, +and Mrs. Middleton had just sent them a basket of apples, according to +her custom in the winter evenings. After finishing a very fine one, +Henrietta Harwood exclaimed--"Well--I wonder at myself for eating these +apples!" + +_Miss Brownlow._ Why, I am sure they are the very best Newtown pippins. + +_Henrietta._ That is true, Brownie: but at Madame Disette's we had +something better of evenings than mere apples. + +_Miss Brownlow._ What had you? + +_Henrietta._ We had sometimes cheesecakes, and sometimes tarts; with +very frequently pound-cake and jumbles; and sometimes we had even little +mince-pies, and oyster-patties. + +_Miss Wilcox._ O, delicious! What an excellent governess! How could you +ever consent to leave her? I thought Mrs. Middleton allowed us a great +many good things; but she does not send us cheesecakes and tarts of an +evening. + +_Henrietta._ O, do not mistake! We might have gone without them all our +lives, before Madame Disette would have sent us any thing of the sort. +She did not even allow us apples of an evening, or a piece of bread +between breakfast and dinner. Why, one summer evening, she bought at the +door some common ice-cream, of a black man that was carrying it through +the streets in a tin pot; and when we thought that, _for once_, she had +certainly treated us, she charged the ice-cream in our quarter-bills. +No, no,--we got nothing from _her_, but stale bread; bad butter; sloppy +tea; coffee without taste or colour; skinny meat, half-cooked one day, +cold the next, and hashed or rather coddled the third. Then, for a +dessert, we were regaled with sour knotty apples in the winter, +worm-eaten cherries in the summer, and dry squashy pears in the autumn; +and once a week we had boiled rice, or baked bread and milk, by way of +pudding. Though after the scholars had eaten their allowance, and made +their curtsies and gone up to the school-room, she always had something +nice brought for herself, and her sister, and niece: and of which poor +Benson, the under teacher, was never invited to partake. + +_Miss Wilcox._ But how did you get such nice things in the evening? + +_Henrietta._ We bought them, to be sure: bought them with our own money. +That was the only way. When the little girls had all gone to bed, and +Madame Disette, and Madame Trompeur, and Mademoiselle Mensonge were +engaged in the parlour with their company, we all (that is, the first +class) subscribed something; and we commissioned the chambermaid to +bring us whatever we wanted from the confectioner's. O, what delightful +feasts we had! + +_Miss Thomson._ Did Madame Disette never find you out? + +_Henrietta._ O, no!--we laid our plans too cunningly. And Benson, the +teacher, was a good creature, and always joined our party; so we knew +she would not tell. + +_Miss Scott._ I am sure we never could prevail on our teacher, Miss +Loxley, to be concerned in such things. _She_ would think it so very +improper. + +_Henrietta._ Well, we must take an opportunity when Miss Loxley is not +at home. Mrs. Middleton permits her to go out whenever she requests it. +She does not keep her so closely confined as Madame Disette did poor +Benson. + +_Miss Scott._ Mrs. Middleton has so much reliance on her elder pupils, +that she is not afraid to trust us sometimes without Miss Loxley. And +we, certainly, have never yet abused her confidence. + +_Henrietta._ O, you are undoubtedly a most exemplary set! But you never +had one like _me_ among you. I shall soon put a little spirit into you +all, and get you out of this strict-propriety sort of way. I do not +despair even of my friend Isabella Caldwell, the good girl of the +school. + +_Isabella._ Our way is a very satisfactory one. It is impossible for +boarding-school girls to be happier than we are. Our minds are not +exhausted with long and difficult lessons, and with studies beyond our +capacity. When school-hours are over, we have full time for recreation, +and are amply provided with the means of amusing ourselves. We have a +library of entertaining books; and we have liberty to divert ourselves +with all sorts of juvenile plays and games. Then how much attention is +paid to our health and our comforts, and how kindly and judiciously are +we treated in every respect! Certainly, we ought to think ourselves +happy. + +_Henrietta._ Ay! so you are made to say in the letters which you write +home to your parents. All our French letters, at Madame Disette's were +written first by her niece Mademoiselle Mensonge; and the English +letters were manufactured by poor Benson; and then we copied them in our +very best hands, with a new pen at every paragraph. They were all nearly +the same; and told of nothing but the superabundant kindness and +liberality of Madame Disette, our high respect and esteem for Madame +Trompeur, her sister, and our vast affection for her amiable niece, +Mademoiselle Mensonge: together with our perfect health, and extreme +felicity. In every letter we grew happier and happier. + +_Miss Snodgrass._ And were you not so in reality? + +_Henrietta._ No, indeed,--all the happiness we had was of our own +making, for we derived none from any thing our governess did for us; +though we were obliged in our letters to call her our beloved Madame +Disette, and to express the most fervent hopes that we might one day +exactly resemble her; which, I am sure, was the last thing we could have +desired; for she was one of the ugliest women that I ever saw in my +life. + +_Miss Thomson._ But you might have wished to resemble her in mind and +manners. + +_Henrietta._ Why, as to that, her mind was worse than her face, and her +manners we all thought absolutely ridiculous. Benson could mimic her +exactly. + +_Miss Marley._ I do not wonder that your parents took you away from such +a school. + +_Henrietta._ The school was certainly bad enough. We had dirty, +uncomfortable chambers; scanty fires; a mean table, and all such +inconveniences. But then it was a very fashionable school; all the +masters were foreigners, and above all things there was a great point +made of our speaking French. We knew the common phrases perfectly well. +We could all say, _Comment vous portez vous_,--_Je vous remercie_,--_Il +fait beau-temps_,--_Donnez-moi un epingle_,--_Lequel aimez-vous mieux, +le bleu ou le vert?_ and many other things equally sensible and +interesting. This was what was called French conversation, and we were +all able to join in it, after taking lessons in French a very few +quarters. + +But after all, we had a great deal of fun, and that made up for every +thing. Madame Disette and her sister and niece, always hurried over the +school-business as fast as possible, that they might have time to pay +and receive visits; and every evening they were either out, or engaged +at home with company; so that we had nobody to watch us but poor Benson, +and none of us cared for _her_. And then we could make her do just as we +pleased. She only got seventy-five dollars a year, for which she was +obliged to perform all the drudgery of the school, even to washing and +dressing the little girls; putting them to bed; darning their stockings +and mending their clothes; besides doing all Madame Disette's plain +sewing. Poor Benson could not afford to dress half so well as the +chambermaid. So how could we have any respect for her? Even the servants +despised her, and never would do any thing she asked them. + +_Miss Snodgrass._ Well, we all respect Miss Loxley. She gets a good +salary, dresses genteelly, is treated with proper consideration by +every one in the house, and we obey her just as we do Mrs. Middleton. + +_Henrietta._ Yes, and for those very reasons, we never can ask her to +assist in any little private scheme of our own. Benson was certainly a +much more convenient person. But to resume our first subject--I do +really long for a feast. + +_Miss Roberts._ Well,--Mrs. Middleton occasionally gives us a feast as +you call it; for instance, on the birth-day of the young lady who is +head of her class. + +_Henrietta._ O, but then at these regular feasts Mrs. Middleton is +always present herself. I like to steal a little secret pleasure, +unsuspected by any one that would check it. Ah! you have never dealt in +mysteries; you know not how delightful they are. One half the enjoyment +is in planning and carrying on the plot. Come now, girls, let us get up +a little feast to-morrow evening. You know Miss Loxley will be out +again, as her aunt is still sick; and the French teacher always goes +home at dusk, as she does not sleep here. + +_Miss Watkins._ But if Mrs. Middleton should discover us. + +_Henrietta._ No. Her sister and brother-in-law are coming to spend the +evening with her, and to bring a lady and gentleman from Connecticut. +To-morrow is the very best night we can possibly have. Leave it all to +me, and I will engage that there shall be no discovery; and we will get +the little girls to bed very early, that we may have the longer time to +enjoy ourselves. + +_Several of the young ladies._ O, indeed we are afraid! + +_Henrietta._ Nonsense--I will answer for it that there shall be no cause +for fear. Why, we did these things fifty times at Madame Disette's, and +were never once detected. Come, I will lay down a dollar as the first +contribution towards the feast. Brownie, how much will you give? + +_Miss Brownlow._ I will give half a dollar. + +_Miss Watkins._ And I will give a dollar and a half. I have always +plenty of money. + +_Henrietta._ Well done, Watty. And you Scotty, how much? + +_Miss Scott._ A quarter of a dollar is all I have left. + +_Miss Wilcox._ And I have only ten cents. + +_Henrietta._ O, poor Coxey! But never mind, you shall have as large a +share of the good things as any of us, notwithstanding you can only +muster ten cents. And now, Snoddy? + +_Miss Snodgrass._ Why, I will give a quarter of a dollar and eight +cents. I have another quarter of a dollar, but I wish to keep it to buy +a bottle of Cologne water. + +_Henrietta._ Pho.--Try to live another week without the Cologne. + +_Miss Snodgrass._ No indeed,--I never in my life had a bottle of Cologne +water all to myself, to use just as I pleased; and I really have set my +mind on it. + +_Henrietta._ Well, we must try to do without Snoddy's other +quarter-dollar. Well, Bob, what say you? + +_Miss Roberts._ I will give half a dollar. + +_Henrietta._ O, Bob, Bob! You have more than that, I am sure. + +_Miss Roberts._ Yes, I have another half dollar, but I wish to buy the +book of Fairy Tales you told me of. + +_Henrietta._ O, never mind buying the Fairy Tales! I will tell you all +of them without charging for my trouble. Come now, be good and give the +whole dollar, and we will have an iced pound-cake. + +_Miss Roberts._ Well, if you will _certainly_ tell me all the Fairy +Tales. + +_Henrietta._ Every one of them; twice over if you choose. And now, +Marley. + +_Miss Marley._ I know all this is very improper. + +_Henrietta._ Just for once in your life try how it seems to be improper. + +_Miss Marley._ Well then for this time only--Here are three quarters of +a dollar. + +_Henrietta._ Now, Tommy! + +_Miss Thomson._ I have not resolution to resist. There are half a dollar +and twelve cents. + +_Henrietta._ And now, Isabella Caldwell,--though last not least. + +_Isabella._ Excuse me, Henrietta: my contribution will be far less than +that of any other young lady. In fact, nothing at all. + +_Henrietta._ Nothing at all! Why Miss Caldwell, I did not expect this of +you! I always supposed you to be very generous. + +_Isabella._ I wish to be generous whenever it is in my power. + +_Henrietta._ Well, dear Isabella, if you have no money, we will not +press you. We shall be happy to have you at our little feast, even if +you do not contribute a cent towards it. + +_All._ O, yes! We must not lose Isabella Caldwell. + +_Isabella._ I am much obliged to you, my dear girls. But it is not the +want of money that prevents me from joining you. I _have_ money. But I +wish not, on any terms, to belong to your party; and I shall retire to +my own room. In short, I do not think it right to be planning a feast +without the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton, who is so good and so indulgent +that it is a shame to deceive her. + +_Henrietta._ Then I suppose. Miss Caldwell, you intend to betray us; to +disclose the whole plan to Mrs. Middleton? + +_Isabella._ You insult me by such a suspicion. I appeal to all the young +ladies if they ever knew me guilty of telling tales, or repeating any +thing which might be a disadvantage to another. + +_All._ O, no, no! Isabella is to be trusted. She will never betray us. + +_Henrietta._ Then in plain terms, Miss Caldwell, I really think, if you +have money, you might spare a little for our feast. + +_Isabella._ I want the whole of it for another purpose. And I shall get +no more before next week. + +_Henrietta._ Well, this is very strange. I know you do not care for +finery, and that you never lay out your pocket-money in little articles +of dress. And as for books of amusement, it was but yesterday that your +father sent you a whole box full. I _must_ say, that though you are +called generous--I cannot help thinking you a little--a very little-- + +_Isabella._ Mean, I suppose you would say. + +_Henrietta._ Why, I must not exactly call you _mean_--But I cannot help +thinking you rather--_meanish_. + +_Isabella._ I will not be called mean. My refusal proceeds from other +motives than you suppose. + +_Henrietta._ Young ladies, I will be judged by you all. Is it natural +for a girl of fifteen, who likes cakes, and pastry, and every sort of +sweet thing, to be so very conscientious as to refuse to join in a +little bit of pleasure that can injure no one, that will never be +discovered, and that all her companions have assented to with few or no +scruples. No, no, Isabella, I believe that your only object in declining +to be one of our party, is to save your money. + +_Isabella._ O, what injustice you do me! + +_Henrietta._ Prove it to be injustice by joining us without further +objection. + +_Miss Watkins._ Henrietta, we do not care for Isabella's money. Let her +keep it if she wishes. We can afford to entertain her as our guest. I +am sorry so much should have been said about it. + +_Isabella_ (_taking her purse out of her bag._) There then; here are two +half-dollars. I will prove to you that I am neither mean nor selfish. + +_All._ We will not take your money. + +_Isabella._ Yes, take it.--Any thing rather than suspect me of what I do +not deserve. And now let me entreat, that in _my_ presence nothing more +may be said of this feast. Change the subject, and talk of something +else. Or, rather, I will retire to bed, and leave you to make your +arrangements for to-morrow night. + +The real reason why Isabella Caldwell was so unwilling to be a +contributor to the expense of the feast, was, that she had intended +appropriating her pocket-money to a much better purpose. Her allowance +was a dollar a week; and she knew that a coloured woman, named Diana, +(who had formerly been a servant in her father's family before they +removed to the country) was now struggling with severe poverty. Diana +was the widow of a negro sailor who had perished at sea, and she was the +mother of three children, all too small to put out, and whom she +supported by taking in washing. But during a long illness brought on by +overworking herself, she lost several of her customers who had given +their washing to others. Isabella had solicited Mrs. Middleton to allow +her to employ Diana, rather than the woman who then washed for the +school. Mrs. Middleton readily consented. + +The weather had become very cold, and Isabella saw with regret that +Diana came to fetch and carry the clothes-bag without either coat or +cloak; nothing in fact to cover her shoulders but an old yellow cotton +shawl. Isabella pitied her extremely, and resolved in her own mind not +to lay out a cent of her money till she had saved enough to buy Diana a +cloak. Her father, who was a man of large fortune, had placed, at the +beginning of the year, a sum of money in Mrs. Middleton's hands to +defray Isabella's expenses, exclusive of her tuition; with directions to +give her every week a dollar to dispose of as she pleased. + +Isabella had now been saving her money for four weeks, and had that +morning received her weekly allowance, which completed the sum necessary +to buy a good plaid cloak, and she had determined to go the following +morning and make the purchase, and to give it to Diana when she came to +take the clothes. Isabella had now the exact money; and that was the +reason she was so unwilling to devote any part of it to the expenses of +the feast. Beside which, she could not, in her heart, approve of any +species of pleasure that was to be enjoyed in secret, and kept from the +knowledge of her excellent governess. She felt the usual repugnance of +modest and benevolent people with regard to speaking of her own acts of +charity. This reluctance she, however, carried too far, when rather than +acknowledge that she was keeping her money to buy a cloak for her poor +washerwoman, she suffered herself to be prevailed on to give up part of +the sum, as an addition to the fund that was raising for the banquet. + +She went to bed sadly out of spirits, and much displeased with herself. +She had seen at a store, just such a cloak as she wished to get for +Diana; and she had anticipated the delight and gratitude of the poor +woman on receiving it, and the comfort it would afford her during the +inclement season, and for many succeeding winters. "And now," thought +she, "poor Diana must go without a cloak, and the money will be wasted +in cakes and tarts; which, however nice they may be, will cause us no +further pleasure after we have once swallowed them. However, perhaps the +weather will be less severe to-morrow; and next week I shall have +another dollar, and I then will again be able to buy Diana the cloak. I +am sorry that I promised it to her when she was here last. I cannot bear +the idea of seeing her, and telling her that she must wait for the cloak +a week longer. I hope the weather will be mild and fine to-morrow." + +But Isabella's hope was not realized; and when she rose in the morning, +she found it snowing very fast. The cold was intense. The ground had +been for several days already covered with a deep snow which had frozen +very hard. There was a piercing north-east wind; and, altogether, it was +the most inclement morning of the whole winter. Isabella hoped that +Diana would not come for the clothes that day, as the weather would be a +sufficient excuse; though the poor woman had never before been otherwise +than punctual. But in a short time, she saw Diana coming round the +corner, walking very fast, her arms wrapped in her shawl, and holding +down her head to avoid, as much as possible, the snow that was driving +in her face. "Ah!" thought Isabella, "she hopes to get the cloak this +dreadful morning, and to wear it home. How sadly she will be +disappointed! But I cannot see or speak to her." She then tied up her +clothes-bag, and desired the chambermaid to take it down and give it to +Diana, and tell her that she could not see her that morning. + +Isabella could not forbear going again to the window; and she saw Diana +come up the area steps into the street, carrying the clothes-bag, and +looking disappointed. Isabella, with a heavy heart, watched her till she +turned the corner, shrinking from the storm, and shivering along in her +old thin shawl. "Oh!" thought Isabella, "how very badly the +confectionary will taste to me this evening, when I think that my +contribution towards it, has obliged me to break my promise to this poor +woman; and that it will cause her, for at least another week, to endure +all the sufferings of exposure to cold without sufficient covering." + + * * * * * + +Henrietta Harwood, as leader of the conspiracy, was extremely busy every +moment that she could snatch from the presence of Mrs. Middleton and the +teachers, in making arrangements for the feast of the evening. There was +a great deal of whispering and consulting, between her and the elder +girls, as to what they should have; and a great deal of talking on the +stairs to Mary the chambermaid; who, for the bribe of a quarter of a +dollar, had consented to procure for them whatever they wished, without +the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton. It was unanimously agreed that none of +the _little_ girls were to be let into the secret, as their discretion +was not to be depended on; and there was much lamentation that the +bed-hour for the children was so late as eight o'clock. The little girls +all slept in one large room, and as soon as they had gone to be prepared +for bed, under the superintendence of Mary, Henrietta proposed that +herself and six other young ladies should volunteer to assist in +undressing them. "You know," said she, "there are eight of the children, +and if we each take a child and leave one to Mary, they can be got to +bed in an eighth part of the time that it will require for Mary to +attend to all of them herself. Just, you know, as they have quilting +frolics and husking frolics in the country, when a whole week's work is +accomplished in a few hours, by assembling a great many persons to join +in it." + +This proposal was immediately assented to; and a committee of half a +dozen young ladies, with Henrietta at their head, adjourned to the +children's apartment. "Come, little chits," said Henrietta, "as it is a +cold night, we are going to have an undressing frolic, and to help Mary +to put you all to bed: for the sooner you are tucked up in your nests +the better it will be for you,--and for us too," she added in a low +voice aside to Miss Thomson. "Here, Rosalie Sunbridge," she continued, +"come to me, I will do the honours for _you_, as you are a sort of pet +of mine." + +The elder girls then began undressing the little ones with such violence +that strings snapped, buttons were jerked off, and stockings torn in the +process. The children wondered why the young ladies were seized with +such a sudden and unusual fit of kindness, and why they went so +energetically to work in getting them undressed and put to bed. + +An altercation, however, ensued between Henrietta Harwood and Rosalie +Sunbridge, who declared that it was her mother's particular desire that +her hair behind should be curled in papers every night; a ceremony that +Henrietta proposed omitting, telling her that there was already +sufficient curl remaining in her hair to last all the next day, and +reminding her that there was no such trouble with the hair of the other +little girls. "That is because they have no hair to curl," replied +Rosalie; "you know that they are all closely cropped. But if you will +not roll up mine in papers, Miss Harwood, I would rather have Mary to +put me to bed, though you _do_ call me your pet." "Well, well, hush, and +I _will_ do it," said Henrietta; "but it shall be done in a new way +which saves a great deal of trouble, and makes very handsome curls when +the hair is opened out next morning." So saying, she snatched up a great +piece of coarse brown paper, and seizing the little girl's hind hair in +her hand, she rolled it all up in one large curl; Rosalie crying out at +the violence with which she pulled, and the other children laughing, +when it was done, at the huge knob, and telling Rosalie she had a +knocker at her back. + +In a short time the night-gowns and night-caps were scrambled on, and +the children all deposited in their respective beds, and all hastily +kissed by their undressers; who hurried out of the room, anxious to +enter upon their anticipated delights. + +"Now, good Mary, dear Mary," said Henrietta, "do tell me if you have +got every thing?" "Every thing, miss," replied Mary, "except the +calves-foot jelly; and the money fell short of that. But I have got +the iced pound-cake, and the mince pies, and the oyster patties, and +the little cocoa-nut puddings, and the bottle of lemon-syrup, and all +the other things. They are snug and safe in the market-basket in the +back-kitchen-closet; and nobody can never guess nothing about it." + +Just at this moment the man-servant came to tell the young ladies that +Mrs. Middleton wished them all to go down into the front parlour to look +at some prints. These prints were the coloured engravings of Wall's +beautiful views on the Hudson, and which had just been purchased by Mrs. +Middleton's brother-in-law, who was going to leave the city the +following morning. At any other time the young ladies (at least those +who had a taste for drawing) would have been grateful for Mrs. +Middleton's kindness in allowing them an opportunity of looking at these +fine landscapes; but _now_ every moment that detained them from the +feast, seemed like an hour. Henrietta murmured almost aloud; and they +all went down with reluctance, except Isabella Caldwell, who had made up +her mind not to partake of the banquet. + +In the mean time, little Rosalie Sunbridge, who was a very cunning +child, and had a great deal of curiosity, suspected that something more +than usual was going on, from the alertness of the young ladies in +hurrying the children to bed. _Her_ bed being nearest to the door, she +had overheard the elder girls in earnest consultation with the +chambermaid in the passage, and although she could not distinguish +exactly what was said, she understood that something very delightful was +to go on that evening in the front school-room. Having a great desire to +know precisely what was in agitation, she waited a short time till all +her companions were asleep; and then getting up softly, she opened one +of the shutters to let in a little light, as the storm had subsided and +there was a faint moon. She then got her merino coat, and put it on over +her night-gown, and covering her feet with her carpet moccasins that she +might make no noise in walking, she stole softly into the front +school-room, determined to watch all that went on. + +Two lamps were burning on the table; but no person was in the room; the +young ladies having all gone down into the parlour to look at the +prints. Rosalie, by climbing on a chair, managed, with much difficulty, +to get on the upper shelf of a large closet; having hastily cleared a +space for herself to lie down in, among the books and rolls of maps. +Then pushing away the chair, she drew the closet-door nearly close; +leaving only a small crack, through which she could observe all that was +done. + +Presently, she saw Mary come cautiously into the room with a basket, and +taking out of it the materials for the feast, the girl arranged them all +to great advantage on the table. When this was accomplished, she went +down stairs; and immediately after, the young ladies, having looked +hastily at the prints, all came up, and expressed much satisfaction at +the inviting appearance of the banquet. Isabella lighted a small lamp, +and said she was going to bed. + +"Why, Caldwell," exclaimed Henrietta, "are you absolutely in earnest? +What, after contributing to the expense of the feast, will you really +leave us before it begins, and go dismally to bed? See how nice every +thing looks." + +"Every thing, indeed, looks nice," replied Isabella, "but still I have +no desire to partake of them. I am out of spirits, and I have other +reasons for not wishing to join your party." "Just take something before +you go," said Henrietta. "No," answered Isabella, "I feel as if I could +not taste a single article on the table." + +She then withdrew to her room, and her companions took their seats and +began to regale themselves; Henrietta presiding at the head of the +table. They would have enjoyed their feast very much, only that, +notwithstanding their expected security, they were in continual dread of +being discovered. They started, and listened at every little noise; +fearing that Miss Loxley might possibly have returned, or that Mrs. +Middleton might possibly be coming up stairs. + +"Really," said Henrietta, "it is a great pity that poor Isabella +Caldwell, after she gave her dollar with so much reluctance, should +refuse to take any share of our feast. Perhaps to-morrow she will think +better of it. Suppose we save something for her. I dare say she will +have no objection to eat some of these good things in the morning." + +"Put by one of the little cocoa-nut puddings for her," said Miss Scott. +"And one of the mince pies," said another young lady. "And a large slice +of pound-cake," said a third. "And a bunch of white grapes," said a +fourth. + +Henrietta then selected some of the nicest articles of their banquet, to +offer to Isabella in the morning; and after some consultation, it was +concluded to deposit them, for the present, in the farthest corner of +the upper shelf of the closet; which upper shelf was only used as a +repository for old maps and old copy books, and waste paper, and with +these the things could be very conveniently covered. "Do not take a +light to the closet," said Miss Marley, "you may set something on fire. +If you stand on tiptoe and raise your arm as high as you can, you may +easily reach the upper shelf." + +Henrietta accordingly walked to the closet; and was in the act of +shoving a mince-pie into a dark corner of the upper shelf, when suddenly +she gave a start and a shriek, and let fall the cocoa-nut pudding which +she held in her hand. "What is the matter?" exclaimed all the girls at +once. "Oh!" cried Henrietta, "when I reached up the mince-pie to the top +shelf, it was taken from me by a cold hand that met mine--I felt the +fingers." "Impossible," said some of the girls. "What could it actually +be?" cried others. Just then, Rosalie made a rustling among the loose +papers on the top shelf. "There it is again," screamed Henrietta. "Oh!" +cried Miss Watkins, "we have done very wrong to plot this feast in +secret, and something dreadful is going to happen to us as a +punishment." + +Another rustling set all the young ladies to screaming; and, with one +accord, they rushed towards the door, with such force as to overset the +table and all its contents. The lamps were broken and extinguished in +the fall; several of the girls were thrown down by the others; and the +shrieks were so violent that Mrs. Middleton heard them into the parlour, +where, her friends having left her, she was sitting with Miss Loxley, +who had just come in; and taking a light with them, the two ladies ran +up to the front school-room. + +The scene which then presented itself transfixed them with astonishment. +The floor was strewed with the remains of the feast. The oil from the +shattered lamps was running among the cakes and pies, which were also +drenched with water from a broken pitcher; near which the bottle of +lemon-syrup was lying in fragments. The table was thrown down on its +side. Some of the young ladies were still prostrate on the floor, and +all were screaming. Rosalie (frightened at the uproar she had caused) +was on her hands and knees, looking out from the upper shelf of the +closet, and crying "O, take me down, take me down! somebody bring a +chair and take me down." + +Isabella Caldwell, hearing the noise, had thrown on her flannel gown, +and ran also to see what was the matter. As soon as the surprise of Mrs. +Middleton would allow her to speak, she inquired the cause of all this +disturbance; but she could get no other answer than that there was some +horrible thing in the closet. "There is indeed something in the closet," +said Mrs. Middleton, perceiving Rosalie. "Miss Sunbridge, how came you +up there, and in that dress? and what is the meaning of all this?" + +The young ladies, having recovered from their terror when they found it +to be groundless, and Miss Loxley having taken down Rosalie, Henrietta +made a candid confession of the whole business. Acknowledging herself to +be the proposer and leader of the plot, she expressed her readiness to +submit to any punishment Mrs. Middleton might think proper to inflict on +her, but hoped that her governess would have the goodness to pardon all +the other young ladies; none of whom would have thought of a secret +feast, if she had not suggested it to them. "Above all," continued +Henrietta, "I must exculpate Isabella Caldwell, who declined going to +table with us or partaking of any thing, but retired to her bed; as may +be known by her being now in her night-clothes." + +Mrs. Middleton was touched with the generosity of Henrietta Harwood, in +taking all the blame on herself to exonerate her companions; and as her +kind heart would not allow her to send any of her pupils to bed in the +anticipation of being punished the next day, she said, "Miss Harwood, I +will for this time permit your misdemeanour to go unpunished, but I +require a promise from you that it shall never be repeated. Make that +promise sincerely, and I feel assured that you will keep it." + +"O, yes, indeed, dear madam!" sobbed Henrietta, "you are too kind; and I +cannot forgive myself for having persuaded my companions to join in a +plot which I knew you would disapprove." + +"Go now to your beds," said Mrs. Middleton, "and I will send a servant +to clear away the disorder of this room. Rosalie, I see, has already +slipped off to hers." + +Next morning, before school commenced, Mrs. Middleton addressed the +young ladies mildly but impressively, on the proceedings of the day +before. She dwelt on the general impropriety of all secret contrivances; +on the injury done to the integrity of the ignorant servant-girl, by +bribing her to deceive her employer; on the danger of making themselves +sick by eating such a variety of sweet things; and on the folly of +expending in those dainties, money which might be much better employed. + +"That," said Henrietta, "was one of Isabella Caldwell's objections to +joining our feasting party. I am now convinced that she had in view some +more sensible manner of disposing of her money. I regret that she was +prevailed on to contribute her dollar, as she must have had an excellent +reason for her unwillingness; and she seemed really unhappy, and went to +bed without touching any of our good things." + +"I can guess how it was," said Miss Loxley. "One very cold morning last +week, I met Diana, Miss Caldwell's washerwoman, going up stairs with the +clean clothes, and having nothing on her shoulders but an old cotton +shawl. I asked her if she had no cloak, and she replied that she had +not; but added, that Miss Isabella had been so kind as to promise her +one, which was to be ready for her when she came again. I suspect that +Miss Caldwell has been saving her money for the laudable purpose of +furnishing this poor woman with a cloak." + +"Oh! no doubt she has," exclaimed Henrietta. "Why, dear Isabella, did +you not say so? and bad as I am, I would not have persisted in +persuading you out of your dollar." + +"The woman, however, did not get her cloak," resumed Miss Loxley, "for I +again saw her without one, yesterday, though the weather had increased +in severity." + +"It is true," said Isabella. "The cloak was to have cost four dollars, +and after subscribing one dollar to the feast, I could not buy it; as I +had not then sufficient money." + +_Mrs. Middleton._ Miss Harwood, had you often these feasts at Madame +Disette's. + +_Henrietta._ Oh! very often, and as the teacher, Miss Benson, was always +one of the party, we managed so well, that Madame Disette never +discovered us. Or if she had any suspicion, she said nothing about it; +for after all, she cared very little what we did out of school-hours +provided that our proceedings _cost her nothing_. + +_Mrs. Middleton._ You must not speak so disrespectfully of your former +governess. But I will explain to you that _I_ care very much what you +do, even in your hours of recreation. It is when the business of the +school is over, and they are no longer in the presence of their +instructors, that girls are in the greatest danger of forming bad +habits, and imitating bad examples. All deceit, all tricks, are highly +unjustifiable. A little feast may seem in itself of small moment; but if +you persist in plotting little feasts, you will eventually be led on to +plot things of more importance, and which may lead to the worst +consequences. Then, as I always allow you as large a portion of sweet +things as comports with your health, it is the more reprehensible in you +to seek to procure them for yourselves, without my knowledge. Tell me +now, do any of you feel the better for last night's frolic? + +_Miss Thomson._ O, no, no! Miss Watkins and Miss Roberts were sick all +night; and, indeed, none of us feel very well this morning. + +_Mrs. Middleton._ I observed that you all had very little appetite for +your breakfast. + +_Miss Brownlow._ And then _I_ had my new frock spoiled when I fell down +in the lamp-oil. + +_Miss Wilcox._ And I got some lamp-oil into my mouth. I tasted it all +night. Even my nose was rubbed in it, as I lay struggling on the floor. + +_Miss Snodgrass._ And _I_ fell with my knees on half a dozen pieces of +orange, and stained my black silk frock, so that it is no longer fit to +wear. + +_Miss Marley._ And _I_ was thrown down with the back of my head on a +bunch of grapes, mashing them to a jelly. + +_Miss Scott._ But _my_ hair was so very sticky, with falling into the +lemon syrup, that I was obliged, this morning, to wash it all over with +warm soap-suds. + +_Miss Roberts._ And _I_ put my foot into the bottom of the broken +pitcher, and cut my heel so that it bled through the stocking. + +_Miss Watkins._ Still, nothing of this would have happened if Rosalie +Sunbridge had stayed in her bed. It was her hiding in the closet and +frightening us, that caused all the mischief. + +_Rosalie._ I am sure I was punished enough for my curiosity; for when I +got on the closet-shelf I was obliged to lie so cramped that I was +almost stiff; and I was half dead with cold, notwithstanding I had put +on my merino coat. And then I was longing all the time for some of the +good things I saw you eating; so that when Miss Harwood came to hide the +mince-pie, I could not forbear taking it out of her hand. When I found +that you were all so terrified, I thought I would make a noise among the +loose papers to frighten you still more, supposing that you would all +quit the room; and that then I could come down from the shelf, and +regale myself awhile, before I stole back to-bed. I did not foresee that +you would overset the table in your flight, and make such a violent +noise. But I will never again attempt to pry into other people's +secrets. + +_Mrs Middleton._ I hope you never will. This feast, you see, has caused +nothing but discomfort, which is the case with all things that are in +themselves improper. Yet I think the greatest sufferer is Isabella +Caldwell's washerwoman, who has, in consequence, been disappointed of +her cloak. + +_Isabella._ Next week, madam, when I receive my allowance, I hope to be +able to buy it for her. + +_Mrs. Middleton._ You need not wait till next week. The poor woman shall +suffer no longer for a cloak. Here is a dollar in advance; and after +school, you can go out and purchase it, so that it may be ready for her +to-morrow when she brings home your clothes. + +_Isabella._ Dear Mrs. Middleton, how much I thank you. + + * * * * * + +The young ladies having promised that they would attempt no more private +feasts, Mrs. Middleton kissed, and forgave them. After school, Isabella, +accompanied by Miss Loxley, went out and bought the plaid cloak, which +was sent home directly. Next day, she longed for Diana to arrive with +the clothes, that she might enjoy her pleasure on receiving so useful a +gift, but, to her great disappointment they were brought home by another +mulatto woman, who informed Isabella that she was Diana's next door +neighbour, and that poor Diana having taken a violent cold from being +out in the snow-storm, was now confined to her bed with the rheumatism. +"Ah!" thought Isabella, "perhaps if she had had this good warm cloak to +go home in, the day before yesterday, she might have escaped the +rheumatism. I see now that whenever we allow ourselves to be persuaded +to do a thing which we know to be wrong, evil is sure to come from it." + +She desired the woman to wait a few minutes; and hastening to Mrs. +Middleton, begged that she would allow her to go and see poor Diana, +who, she feared was in great distress. Mrs. Middleton readily consented, +and had a basket filled with various things, which she gave to the woman +to carry with the plaid cloak to Diana. She sent by Isabella a bottle of +camphor, and some cotton wadding, for Diana's rheumatism, and a medicine +for her to take internally. Miss Loxley accompanied Isabella; and they +found Diana in bed and very ill, and every thing about her evincing +extreme poverty. Isabella engaged the woman to stay with Diana till she +got well, and to take care of her and her children, promising to pay her +for her trouble. When they returned and made their report to Mrs. +Middleton, she wrote a note to her physician, requesting him to visit +Diana and attend her as long as was necessary. + +Next week, Henrietta Harwood, and the other young ladies, subscribed all +their allowance of pocket-money for the relief of Diana; who very soon +was well enough to resume her work. It is unnecessary to add that their +contribution to the support of the poor woman and her family, gave them +far more pleasure than they had derived from the unfortunate feast. They +never, of course, attempted another. And Henrietta Harwood, at Mrs. +Middleton's school, lost all the faults she had acquired at Madame +Disette's. + + + + +THE WEEK OF IDLENESS. + + "Their only labour was to kill the time, + And labour dire it was, and weary wo." + _Thomson._ + + +Adelaide and Rosalind, the daughters of Mr. Edington, looked forward +with much pleasure to the arrival of their cousin, Josephine +Sherborough, from Maryland. She was to spend the summer with them, at +their father's country residence on the beautiful bay of New York, a few +miles below the city; and, though they had never seen her, they were +disposed to regard Josephine as a very agreeable addition to their +family society. Having had the misfortune to lose their mother, Adelaide +and Rosalind had been for several years under the entire care of their +governess, Mrs. Mortlake; a highly accomplished and most amiable woman, +whom they loved and respected as if she had been their parent, and by +whose instructions they had greatly profited. + +It was on a beautiful evening in June, that Josephine Sherborough was +_certainly_ expected, after several disappointments within the last two +or three weeks. The Miss Edingtons and their governess were seated on +one of the settees in the portico that extended along the front of Mr. +Edington's house. Mrs. Mortlake was sewing, Rosalind reading aloud, and +Adelaide, with her drawing materials before her, was earnestly engaged +in colouring a sketch of a fishing-boat at anchor, beautifully reflected +in the calm water, and tinted with the glowing rays of the declining +sun. As she put in the last touches, she hoped, before the summer was +over, that she should improve so much in her drawing as to be enabled to +attempt a view of the bay with its green shores; its island fortresses; +and its numerous ships, some going out on a voyage to distant regions, +others coming home with the merchandise and the news of Europe. + +"Now," exclaimed Adelaide, "I see the smoke of the steamboat, just +behind Castle Williams. My father and Josephine will soon be here. I am +glad my drawing is so nearly completed. In a few minutes it will be +finished." + +"And in a few minutes," said Rosalind, "I shall conclude the story that +I am reading." + +"Do you not now think," asked Mrs. Mortlake, "I was right in proposing +that we should protract our usual afternoon occupations an hour beyond +the usual time, as we are expecting the arrival of your father and your +cousin? This last hour would have seemed twice its real length, if we +had done nothing, all the while, but strain our eyes in gazing up the +bay for the steamboat, saying every few minutes, 'Oh, I wish they were +come!'" + +In a short time, Adelaide exclaimed, "Here is the steamboat. I see they +are depositing several trunks in the little boat at the side. And now it +is let down to the water. And now a gentleman and a young lady descend +the steps, and take their seats in it. How fast it cuts its way through +the foam that is raised by the tow-line. In a moment it will touch the +wharf. Here they come. There is my father; and it _must_ be Josephine +that is with him!" + +The sisters then ran down the steps of the portico, and in a moment were +at the landing-place, where Mr. Edington, as soon as he had assisted +her to step on shore, introduced them to Josephine Sherborough, a fat, +fair, pale young lady, about fourteen, with a remarkably placid +countenance which immediately won the regard of Rosalind: who determined +in her own mind that Josephine was a very sweet girl, and that they +should, ever hereafter, be intimate and most particular friends. +Adelaide, who was two years older than Rosalind, and who had more +penetration, was not so violently prepossessed in favour of her cousin, +whose face she thought deficient in animation, and whose movements were +more slow and heavy than those of any young girl she had ever seen. + +When tea was over, the sisters proposed to Josephine a walk round the +garden, which was large and very beautiful; but she complained of being +excessively tired, and said that she would much rather go to bed. This +somewhat surprised her cousins, as they knew that Josephine had been +three days in the city with the friends under whose care she had come +from Maryland; and they thought that she must have had ample time to +recover from the fatigue of her journey: to which her last little trip +in the steamboat could not have added much. Rosalind, who was a year +younger than Josephine, accompanied her to the chamber prepared for her +accommodation, where Josephine, looking round disconsolately, inquired +if there was no servant to undress her. Rosalind volunteered to perform +this office; and Josephine said she would ring the bell for one of the +maids, when she wished to get up in the morning. + +She kept the family waiting breakfast for her till nine o'clock, and +then came down in a white slip or loose gown; her hair still pinned up; +her eyes half shut; and her face evidently not washed. Mr. Edington, +whose business in the city made it necessary for him to be there at an +early hour, had long since breakfasted, and gone up to town in the boat; +and after a few days, the rest of the family ceased to wait for her; and +the housekeeper was directed to have a fresh breakfast prepared for Miss +Sherborough whenever she came down. + +The first days of Josephine's visit ought, in Rosalind's opinion, to +have been devoted entirely to the amusement of their guest, and she was +urgent with Mrs. Mortlake, to allow Adelaide and herself a week of +holiday. Their governess told them that she would have been willing to +grant this indulgence if Josephine was to remain with them a week only: +but as she was to stay all summer, it would, of course, be impossible +for them, every day, to give up their usual occupations; and therefore +it was better to begin as they were to go on. She reminded Rosalind that +if they were attentive and industrious, they would get through their +lessons the sooner, and have the more time for recreation with their +visitor. + +After Josephine had breakfasted, Mrs. Mortlake offered to show her the +children's library, that she might amuse herself with any of the books +she chose, while her cousins were engaged in their morning employments. +Josephine thanked her; but said she could entertain herself very well +without books, and that she believed she would take a walk in the +garden. She accordingly put on her bonnet, and strolled up and down the +walks, gazing listlessly at the flowers. She attempted to gather some +strawberries, but found it too fatiguing to stoop down to the beds; and +satisfied herself with plucking currants and gooseberries from the +bushes. She then sat in the arbour for awhile, and looked all the time +straight down the middle walk. When she was tired of the arbour, she +established herself on a circular bench which ran round a large walnut +tree; and then she counted all the windows at the back part of the +house. When this was accomplished, she counted them all over again. And +then, finding the sun had become very powerful, she went into the +front-parlour, the shutters of which were bowed to exclude the heat, and +throwing herself at full length on the sofa, she in a few minutes fell +into a profound sleep, from which she did not awaken till her cousins +entered the room in search of her, after their lessons were over. They +took her up stairs into the apartment they called their play-room, and +showed her a variety of things which would have been very amusing to a +girl that knew how to be amused. There was a lacquered Chinese cabinet, +containing a great number of curiosities brought by their uncle from +Canton: and a large box with shelves, on which were various specimens of +Indian ingenuity, presented to the children by a gentleman who had +travelled all over the country beyond the Mississippi. Their library +consisted of a beautiful and entertaining selection of juvenile books; +and they had a port-folio filled with fine prints of such subjects as +are particularly interesting to young people. They showed her a +representation of the grand procession at the coronation of the +sovereign of England, printed on a long narrow roll of paper pasted on +silk; which paper was unwound like a ribbon-yard from a Tunbridge-ware +box, and it could be screwed up again after being sufficiently seen. It +was many yards in length, and the figures (which were almost +innumerable) were elegantly designed, and beautifully coloured. They had +also a little theatre, with a great number of scenes; and a variety of +very small dolls, dressed in appropriate habits to personate the actors. +Beside all these things, they had a closet full of amusing toys; and in +short the play-room was amply stored with a profusion of whatever was +necessary to the enjoyment of their leisure hours. + +But all was lost on Josephine. While Adelaide and Rosalind were +assiduous in showing and explaining to her every thing, she heard them +with listlessness and apathy, and made not the slightest remark. At +last, she said "We will reserve some of these sights for to-morrow. I +must go and dress myself for dinner. Oh! how I hate to dress. It is an +odious task. I must have Mary to assist me again; for I never _can_ get +through the fatigue of dressing myself, and fixing my hair." + +In the afternoon, Adelaide and Rosalind took their sewing, and seated +themselves with Mrs. Mortlake in the porch. As Josephine appeared to +have no work, Mrs. Mortlake gave her a volume of Miss Edgeworth's Moral +Tales, and requested her to read one of them aloud. Josephine took the +book and began to read "The Prussian Vase," but with so monotonous and +inarticulate a tone, or rather drawl, that it was painful to hear her: +and her cousins were not sorry when, at the end of three or four pages, +she stopped, and complained that she was too much fatigued to read any +more. + +Mrs. Mortlake then desired Adelaide, who read extremely well, to take +the book and continue the story, but in a short time Josephine was +discovered to be asleep. When Adelaide ceased reading, Josephine awoke, +and saying that she could not live without her afternoon nap, went up +stairs to lie down on her bed. + +She slept till near tea-time, and when tea was over, her cousins and +Mrs. Mortlake prepared for a walk, and invited Josephine to join them. +This she did; but in less than ten minutes she complained so much of +fatigue, that Rosalind turned back and accompanied her home, and she +reclined on the settee in the porch till the lamps were lighted in the +front-parlour. The girls then showed Josephine a portable diorama, +containing twelve beautiful coloured views of castles, abbeys, temples, +and mountain scenery. Each of these exquisite little landscapes was +fixed, in turn, as the back scene of a sort of miniature stage. The +skies and lights of these views were all transparent, and there were +other skies which turned on rollers, and represented sunrise, moonlight, +sunshine, and thunder-clouds. These second skies being placed behind +those of the picture, were slowly unrolled by turning a small handle, +and produced the most varied and beautiful effects on the scenery, which +could thus at pleasure be illuminated gradually with sunshine or +moonbeams, or darkened with the clouds of a gathering storm. But +Josephine saw this charming exhibition without a single comment; being +evidently much inclined to yawn as she looked at it. And getting again +very sleepy, she soon retired to her bed. + +Next morning, Mrs. Mortlake invited her to bring her sewing into the +school-room, and sit there while her cousins were at their lessons. But +Josephine replied that she hated sewing, and never did any. However, she +took her seat in the school-room, and a kitten soon after came purring +round her; so she put it on her lap, and stroked and patted it till the +lessons were over, and the girls went up stairs to amuse themselves +till dinner-time. + +Adelaide tried to induce Josephine to look at some of the beautiful +prints in the port-folio; but she found it necessary to explain them +all, as if she was showing them to a child of three years old. + +Rosalind proposed that they should all go on the roof of the house (it +being flat on the top and guarded with a railing) to look at the beauty +and wide extent of the prospect; and taking their parasols to screen +their heads from the sun, they went up through a very convenient +trap-door at the head of an easy little staircase. The view from the +roof of Mr. Edington's house was certainly very fine, comprising the bay +with its islands and fortresses; its boats and vessels of every +description; the distant lighthouse at Sandy Hook, and the blue ocean +rolling beyond it: and at the other end of the scene, behind a forest of +masts, rose the city of New York with its numerous spires glittering in +the sunlight. + +Fine as the prospect was, Josephine showed no symptom of admiration; but +as they came down through the garret-passage, she spied an old +rocking-chair standing in a corner among some lumber. (Parlour +rocking-chairs were not yet in general use.) She turned her head, and +looked at it with longing eyes. "Ah!" said she, "that is the very thing +I have been suffering for ever since I left home. Do let me beg to have +it in my room." The chair, accordingly, was carried into the apartment +of Josephine, who immediately seated herself, and began to rock with +great satisfaction; at which most interesting amusement she continued +till near dinner-time. The rocking-chair was next day taken into the +school-room, and with that and the kitten, Josephine appeared to get +through the morning rather contentedly. + +The afternoon was again devoted to a long nap: and in the evening +Josephine reclined on the front-parlour sofa, and entertained herself by +running her finger a hundred times over the brass nails. + +Several days passed on in a similar manner. One morning when they were +all in the play-room, Josephine said to her cousins, "What a very hard +life you are obliged to endure. Neither of you have a moment of rest, +from the time you leave your beds in the morning, till you return to +them at night. First, there is your rising with the sun, and going to +work in your little gardens. I am sure you might make your father's +gardener do all that business." + +_Adelaide_. But we take great pleasure in it; and when we see our +flowers growing and blooming, the interest they excite in us is much +increased by knowing that we have raised them from the seed, or planted +the roots ourselves; and that we have assisted their growth by watering, +weeding, tying them, and clearing them from insects. And is it not +pleasant to find that the fruit-stones, we planted a few years since in +our little orchard, have produced trees that are now loaded with fruit? +The red cherries, we had last evening after tea, were from one of my +trees; and the large black cherries were from Rosalind's. And in August, +we shall have our own plums and peaches. + +_Josephine_. I am sure it is much less trouble to buy these things, than +to cultivate them; and as to the amusement, I can see none. Then there +are those awful lessons that are always to come on after breakfast. The +writing, and cyphering, and grammar, and geography, and history, one +day: and the French, and music, and drawing, the next: and-the reading +and sewing every afternoon; and the walk every evening. Even your +play-time (as you call it) is a time of perpetual fatigue: your plays +all seem to require so much skill and ingenuity. And then on Saturday +morning, to think that you are obliged to go into the housekeeper's room +and learn to make cakes, and pastry, and sweetmeats, and all such +things. I am sure if I was never to eat cakes till I assisted in making +them, I should go without all my life. It seems to me that your whole +existence is a course of uninterrupted toil. + +_Rosalind_. There is much truth in what you say, my dear Josephine. But +I own it never struck me before. + +_Adelaide_. We have always been perfectly happy in our occupations and +amusements: and the longest day in summer seems too short for us. + +_Josephine_. Too short, perhaps, to get through such a quantity of work; +for I consider all this as _real hard work_. I am glad that I have not +been brought up in such a laborious manner. My parents love me too much +to make me uncomfortable, even for a moment; or to cause me in any way +the slightest fatigue. I have spent my whole life in ease and peace; +doing nothing but what I pleased, and never learning but when I chose. +I have not been troubled with either a school or a governess; my mother +(who was herself educated at a boarding-school) having determined, as I +was her only child, to instruct me at home. + +Adelaide saw that it was in vain to argue the point any farther. But the +foolish reasoning of Josephine made a great impression on Rosalind; so +true it is, that "evil communication corrupts good manners," and she was +seized with an earnest desire to participate in the happiness of doing +nothing. + +Next morning, Rosalind went to her lessons with great reluctance, and +consequently did not perform them well. On the following day she was +equally deficient; and in the afternoon when Josephine went up stairs to +take her nap, Rosalind, looking after her, exclaimed, "Happy girl! How I +envy her!" + +"Envy her!" said Adelaide, "of all the people I am acquainted with, I +think Josephine Sherborough is the least to be envied." + +_Rosalind._ She is not troubled with lessons, and sewing, as we are. She +can do whatever she pleases the whole day long. No wonder she is fat, +when she is so perfectly comfortable. For my part, I expect, in the +course of another year, to be worn to a skeleton with such incessant +application. + +_Adelaide._ But without application how is it possible to learn? + +_Rosalind._ I would rather put off my learning till I am older, and have +strength to bear such dreadful fatigue. + +_Adelaide._ I do not find it fatiguing. I am sure our lessons are not +very long, and Mrs. Mortlake is so kind and gentle, that it is a +pleasure to be instructed by her; and she explains every thing so +sensibly and intelligibly. + +_Rosalind._ But where is the use of learning every thing before we grow +up? + +_Adelaide._ Because, as Mrs. Mortlake says, children (if they are not +_too young_) learn faster than grown persons; their memories are better, +as they have not yet been overloaded, and they have nothing of +importance to divert their attention from their lessons. + +_Rosalind._ I would rather grow up as ignorant as our tenant's wife, +Dutch Katy, than be made such a slave as I am now. I am sure Katy's life +is an easy one compared to mine. + +_Adelaide, smiling._ Consider it not so deeply. + +_Rosalind._ Yes, I will, for I am out of patience. I wish it was the +fashion to be ignorant. + +_Adelaide._ Fortunately it is _not_. To say nothing of the disgrace of +being ignorant when it is known we have had opportunities of acquiring +knowledge, persons whose minds are vacant, have but few enjoyments. For +instance, as Josephine knows nothing of music, it gives her no pleasure +to hear the finest singing and playing, even such as Mrs. Mortlake's. As +she has no idea of drawing, she takes not the least delight in looking +at beautiful pictures. Having never been in the habit of reading, she +wonders how it is possible to be amused with a book; and as she has no +knowledge of history or geography, she often, when she _does_ read, is +puzzled with allusions to those subjects; and a French word is as +unintelligible to her, as if it were Greek. Plants and animals do not +interest her, because she has scarcely an idea of the properties or +attributes of any of the productions of Nature. And what is worse than +all, she takes no pleasure in listening to the conversation of sensible +people, because she is incapable of understanding it: her comprehension +being only equal to the most frivolous topics. + +_Rosalind._ Notwithstanding all this, her life passes calmly and +pleasantly; and I am sure she is much happier than we are. + +_Adelaide._ Speak for yourself, dear Rosalind. For my part, I do not +wish to be more happy than I am. + +_Rosalind._ Well, I thought so too, till I knew Josephine. And she is by +no means so dull as you suppose. + +_Adelaide._ Perhaps she is not naturally stupid; but indulgence and +indolence have so benumbed her understanding, that it seems now +incapable of the smallest effort. + +At this moment Mrs. Mortlake came down with a book in her hand, for the +afternoon reading. + +"Rosalind," said she, "as my room is over the porch, and the windows are +open, I could not avoid hearing all you have just been saying, +particularly as you spoke very loudly. As I do not wish to see either of +my pupils _unhappy_, I will gratify your desire, and both you and +Adelaide (if it is also her wish) may pass a week entirely without +occupation; in short, a week of idleness." + +_Adelaide._ O no, dear Mrs. Mortlake: I have no desire to avail myself +of your offer. I would much rather continue my usual employments. + +_Rosalind._ A week of entire leisure! O, how delightful! + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ But, during that time, neither you nor Josephine must +come into the school-room. + +_Rosalind._ O, indeed! we shall not desire it. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ Neither must you read. + +_Rosalind._ Well!--I am sure I have read enough to last my lifetime. +Where is the use of reading story-books that are all invention, +describing people that never lived; or of poring over voyages and +travels to countries I shall never visit; or of studying the histories +of dead kings. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not sew. + +_Rosalind._ I never _did_ find it very entertaining to stick a needle +and thread into a piece of muslin, and pull it through again. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not draw. + +_Rosalind._ I do not see the pleasure of rubbing red, and blue, and +green paint on little plates; and dabbling in tumblers of water with +camel's-hair pencils, and daubing colours on white paper. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not play on the piano, nor on the harp. + +_Rosalind._ Well! What sense is there in pressing down your fingers +first on bits of ivory, and then on bits of ebony; and staring at +crotchets and quavers all the time? or where is the use of twanging and +jerking the strings of a harp? + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not work in your garden. + +_Rosalind._ So much the better. Then I shall neither dirty my hands with +pulling up the weeds, nor splash my feet with the water-pot. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ You may sleep as much as you please; but you must not +rise before nine o'clock. + +_Rosalind._ O, how delightful, not to be obliged to jump out of bed at +daylight! Dearest Mrs. Mortlake, if I could have a _month_ of ease and +comfort, instead of only a week--- + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ Well,--if at the end of the week you still desire it, +perhaps I may protract the indulgence to a longer period. + +_Rosalind._ Dear Mrs. Mortlake, how kind you are. When shall my +happiness begin? As to-morrow is Saturday, when we _always_ have a half +holiday, and next day Sunday, when we go to the city to attend church, I +think, notwithstanding my impatience, I would rather commence my week of +felicity regularly on Monday morning. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ Very well, then. On Monday morning let it be. + +_Adelaide._ I am sorry to hear you call your anticipated week of +idleness a week of felicity. + +_Rosalind._ Oh! I am sure I shall find it so; and you will regret not +having also accepted Mrs. Mortlake's kind offer. + +_Adelaide._ I fear no regret on that subject. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ Say no more, Adelaide. Wait till we see the event of +Rosalind's experiment. + +_Rosalind._ I hope Josephine's afternoon nap will not be as long as +usual: I am so impatient to tell her. O, how we shall enjoy ourselves +together! + + * * * * * + +When Josephine awoke and heard of the new arrangement, she was as much +delighted as _she_ could be at any thing; and she begged that Rosalind +might be allowed to share her chamber during this happy week. + +Monday morning came; and Rosalind (such is the power of habit) awoke, as +usual, with the dawn; but soon recollected that she was not to get up +till nine o'clock. She saw the light gleaming through the Venetian +shutters, and she heard the morning song of the scarlet oriole, whose +nest was in a locust tree close to the window; and the twittering of the +martins as they flew about their box, which was affixed to the wall just +below the roof of the house. She heard Adelaide, who was in the next +room, get up to dress herself, and exclaim as she threw open the +shutters, "O, what a beautiful sunrise!" Rosalind felt some desire to +enjoy the loveliness of the early morning; but determined to remain in +bed, and indulge herself with another nap. She turned and shook her +pillow, and tumbled about for a long time before she could get to sleep; +and at last she awoke again just as the clock was striking seven. She +had still two hours to remain in bed, and she found the time extremely +tedious. "Are you asleep, Josephine?" said she. "No," replied Josephine, +"I am never asleep after this hour." + +_Rosalind._ Why, then, do you remain in bed? + +_Josephine._ O, because I hate to get up. + +_Rosalind._ Well then let us talk. + +_Josephine._ O, no! I never talk in bed. For, even when I do not sleep, +I am not quite awake. + +At length it was nine; and at the first stroke of the clock, Rosalind +started from her bed, and began to wash and dress herself. When the +girls went down stairs, they found the family breakfast had long been +over, and they had theirs on a little table in a corner of the room. +Rosalind thought her breakfast did not taste very well; probably, +because remaining so long in bed, had taken away her appetite. + +After breakfast, they went out and walked a little while in the most +shady part of the garden. Then they sat down; first in the arbour of +honeysuckles, then on the green bank behind the ice-house; then on a +garden chair; and then on the bench at the foot of the great walnut +tree. They picked a few currants and ate them; and they gathered some +roses and smelled them. For some time they held their parasols over +their heads; and then they shut them, and made marks on the gravel with +the ends of the ivory sticks. They looked awhile at a nursery of young +peach-trees at one side of the garden; and then they turned and looked +towards a clover-field on the other side. Josephine pulled the strings +of her reticule backwards and forwards; and Rosalind counted the +palisades in the fence of the kitchen-garden. At last a bright idea +struck her; and she gathered some dandelions that were going to seed, +and blew off the down; recommending the same amusement to Josephine, +who, after two or three trials, gave it up. + +"Suppose we go to the play-room," said Rosalind. Josephine assented, and +they slowly walked back to the house, and ascended the stairs. "Now," +said Rosalind, "we can play domino _in the morning_. Generally, we never +amuse ourselves with any of those little games in the day-time; though +we have domino, draughts, and loto, sometimes in the evening." They +played domino awhile in a very spiritless manner, and then they tried +draughts and loto, which they also soon gave up; Josephine saying that +all these games required too much attention. She then had recourse to +the rocking-chair, and Rosalind took some white paper and cut fly-traps; +in which amusements they tried to get rid of the time till near the +dinner-hour, when they combed their hair, and changed their dresses. +Adelaide did not join them in the play-room, being much engaged with a +very amusing book. + +After dinner, Rosalind, accompanied Josephine to her room to take a nap +likewise. But she found it so warm, and turned and tossed about so much, +and had such difficulty in fixing herself in a comfortable position, +that she thought, if it was not for the name of taking a nap, she had +better have stayed up as usual. Josephine had less difficulty, being +accustomed to afternoon-sleeping; and at length Rosalind shut her eyes, +and fell into a sort of uneasy doze. + +When they awoke, Rosalind proposed that they should put on their frocks, +and go down into the porch, where Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide were +reading and sewing. But Josephine thought it would be much less trouble +to sit in their loose gowns until near tea-time. To this Rosalind +agreed, and they sat and gazed at the river. But it happened _this_ +afternoon that no ships came in, and only one went out; and all the +steamboats kept far over towards the opposite shore. They were glad when +the bell rung for tea; for when people do nothing, their meals are a +sort of amusement, and are therefore expected with anxious interest. In +the evening, they declined joining Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide in their +usual long walk, and took a short stroll under the willows on the bank +of the river; after which they returned to the parlour, where Mr. +Edington sat reading the newspaper, and Josephine threw herself on the +sofa; while Rosalind sat beside her on a chair, and played with the +kitten. + +Next morning, their amusements in the garden were a little diversified +by playing jack-stones and platting ribbon-grass; and when they went up +to the play-room, Rosalind, looking among her old toys, found a doll +long since laid aside, and a basket with its clothes. She offered the +doll to Josephine proposing that she should dress it: but Josephine said +"I would rather look at you, while _you_ do it." Rosalind accordingly +dressed the doll in two different suits, one after another; but soon +grew tired, and had recourse to an ivory cup and ball, which she failed +to catch with as much dexterity as usual. She gave Josephine a wooden +lemon, which on being opened in the middle, contained a number of other +lemons one within another, and diminishing in size till the last and +smallest was no bigger than a pea. When Josephine had got through the +lemon, Rosalind took it, and resigned the cup and ball to her cousin, +who soon gave it up, as she could never make the cup catch the ball; and +she again finished the morning with her never-failing resource the +rocking-chair. + +Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday having been passed in this manner, on +Thursday Rosalind began to acknowledge to herself, what she had indeed +suspected on the first day, that a life of entire idleness was not quite +so agreeable as she had supposed. Having no useful or interesting +occupation to diversify her time, she found that play had lost its +relish; and now that she could play all day, she found all plays +tiresome. These three days had appeared to her of never-ending length; +and she began to think that when her week of idleness had expired she +would not solicit Mrs. Mortlake to prolong the term. + +On Thursday afternoon Rosalind gave up her nap, and went and seated +herself at the open window, that she might hear Mrs. Mortlake and +Adelaide read aloud in the porch. And next morning, she actually stopped +and listened at the school-room door while Adelaide was repeating her +French lesson; and she returned again, and stood behind the door, to +hear Mrs. Mortlake instructing her sister in a new song accompanied on +the harp. All that day and the next, she felt as if she was actually +sick of doing nothing; and she absolutely languished to be allowed once +more to take a book and read, or to draw, or play on the piano. Even +sewing, she thought, would now seem delightful to her. + +On Saturday morning Rosalind met Adelaide in her brown linen apron with +long sleeves, going into the housekeeper's room to assist in making +cakes and pastry. She longed to go in with her, and to do her part as +formerly; and her longing increased when she heard the sound of beating +eggs, and grinding spice. She had hitherto looked forward with great +pleasure to her holiday on Saturday afternoon. Now, after doing nothing +all the week, Saturday afternoon had no charms for her; and she was glad +to find it was to be devoted to a ride in the carriage, through a +pleasant part of the adjacent country. + +"Well, Rosalind," said Josephine, as they were taking off their bonnets, +after their return from the ride, "you have now spent a week in _my_ +way. Do you not wish you could pass your whole life in the same manner?" + +_Rosalind._ No, indeed--nor even another week. This week of idleness has +seemed to me like a month; and I have no desire to renew the +experiment. I have never in my life gone to bed so tired as after those +days of doing nothing. I find that want of occupation is to me absolute +misery; though it may be very delightful to _you_, as you have been +brought up in a different manner, and have never been accustomed to any +sort of employment. Yet, still I think you would be much happier, if you +had something to do. + +In the evening Mr. Edington said to his youngest daughter, "Well, +Rosalind, how do you like your week of idleness? Are you going to +request Mrs. Mortlake to lengthen the term of your enjoyment?" + +_Rosalind._ O no, dear father; it has been no enjoyment to _me_. On the +contrary, I am glad to think that it is now over. I have found it +absolutely a punishment. + +_Mr. Edington._ So I suspected. + +_Rosalind._ And I deserved it, for allowing myself to become +dissatisfied with the manner in which Mrs. Mortlake chose that I should +occupy myself. I am tired of lying in bed, tired of idleness, and tired +of play. So, dear Mrs. Mortlake, be so kind as to let me rise at +daylight on Monday morning, to work in my garden, and resume my lessons +as usual. You may depend on it I shall never again wish for a single +day of idleness. + +_Mrs. Mortlake._ I am very glad to hear you say so, my dear Rosalind. +And I do not despair of at length convincing Josephine that she would be +more happy if she had some regular employment. + +That night Rosalind returned to her own chamber, and next morning she +was up at daylight. It being Sunday, they went as usual to church in the +city, and Rosalind was now delighted to pass the remainder of the day in +reading a volume of Mrs. Sherwood's excellent work, the Lady of the +Manor. A book now seemed like a novelty to her. + +Next day Rosalind went through her lessons with a pleasure she had never +felt before; and when they were over, she highly enjoyed her two hours' +recreation after dinner. She took no more afternoon naps; and after a +short time even Josephine was persuaded to give them up, and found it +possible, with some practice, to keep awake while her cousins or Mrs. +Mortlake were reading aloud in the porch. + +Finally, Josephine became ashamed of being the only idle person in Mr. +Edington's house, and was prevailed on by her uncle and Mrs. Mortlake to +join her cousins in their lessons. By degrees, and by giving her only a +very little to learn at a time, and by having constantly before her such +good examples as Adelaide and Rosalind, she entirely conquered her love +of idleness. She was really not deficient in natural capacity, and she +soon began to take pleasure in trying to improve herself; so that when +she returned to Maryland, she carried with her a newly acquired taste +for rational pursuits, which she never afterwards lost. + + + + +MADELINE MALCOLM. + + Now here--now there--in noise and mischief ever. + _Rogers._ + + +"Well, Juliet, how is your friend, Cecilia Selden?" said Edward +Lansdowne to his sister, as they were sitting by the parlour fire, in +the interval between daylight and darkness. It was the evening after his +arrival from Princeton college to spend a fortnight at Christmas with +his family in Philadelphia. + +_Juliet._ I believe Cecilia is very well. At least she was so when last +I saw her, about five weeks since. + +_Edward._ Is it five weeks since you have seen Cecilia Selden? You were +formerly almost inseparable. I hope there has been no quarrel between +you. + +_Juliet._ None at all. But--somehow--I am tired of Cecilia Selden. She +is certainly a very dull companion. + +_Edward._ Dull! You once thought her very amusing. For my part, _I_ +always found her so. She has read a great deal, is highly accomplished, +and as she travels every summer with her parents, she has had +opportunities of seeing a variety of interesting places and people. And +above all, she has an excellent natural understanding. + +_Juliet._ But she is always so sensible and so correct, and every thing +that she says and does is so very proper. + +_Edward._ So much the better. You will improve by being intimate with +her. + +_Juliet._ I never shall be intimate again with Cecilia Selden. She is +too particular, too fastidious. She does not like Madeline Malcolm. + +_Edward._ And who is Madeline Malcolm? I never heard of her before. + +_Juliet._ Her father is our next door neighbour. You know we did not +live in this house when you were last in Philadelphia. The very day we +moved, Madeline Malcolm came in to see us, in the midst of all our +bustle and confusion, and stayed the whole afternoon. She said she had +long been desirous of becoming acquainted with me, was delighted that +we were now near neighbours, and therefore could not forbear running in +to commence the intimacy immediately. + +_Edward._ But "in the midst of all your bustle and confusion," it must +have been very in convenient to receive a visitor, and to entertain her +the whole afternoon. + +_Juliet._ Why,--we were a little disconcerted at first, but she begged +of us not to consider her a stranger. She was just as sociable as if she +had known us for seven years; and she was so queer, and there was so +much fun in every thing she said and did, that she kept me laughing all +the time. + +_Edward._ I should like to see this prodigy of fun. + +_Juliet._ No doubt you will soon have that pleasure; for she runs in and +out, the back way, ten times a-day. + +Juliet had scarcely spoken when they heard a voice in the entry, singing +"I'd be a butterfly," and Madeline Malcolm, a tall, black-eyed, +red-cheeked girl, with long ringlets of dark hair, came flying into the +parlour, exclaiming, "What, still by fire-light--I shall have to pull +your Peter's ears myself, if he does not mind his business and light the +astral lamp sooner. O! here he comes. Now, Peter, proceed; and take +yourself off as soon as you have accomplished the feat. Well,--now that +there is no longer any danger of falling over this young gentleman, I +must beg leave to be introduced to him in form. I surmise that he is the +most learned Mr. Edward Lansdowne of Nassau-Hall, Princeton. Ah! I have +torn my frock on the fender. Just like me, you know." Juliet immediately +introduced her brother. "Well, Ned," exclaimed Miss Malcolm, "you have +come to make us happy at last. Your sister has talked so much about you +that I have actually been longing for your arrival. Come, tell us the +best news at college. I have a cousin there, but he has not been in town +since the rebellion before the last. I suppose he goes to New York to +take his frolics. Come, tell us all the particulars of your last +'Barring out;' I suppose it was conducted according to the newest +fashion. Juliet, did you ever see any thing like Ned's face? A sort of +mixed expression; trying to smile and be agreeable, but looking all the +time as if he could bar _me_ out himself." + +In this manner she ran on for near half an hour, Juliet laughing +heartily, and Edward not at all. At last she rose to go away, and when +Juliet invited her to stay all the evening, she said she _must_ go +home, for they were to have waffles at tea, and she would not miss them +on any consideration. However, the tea-table in Mrs. Lansdowne's parlour +being now set, she took a spoonful of honey which she dripped all over +the cloth, and then giving Juliet a hearty kiss, she seized Edward's arm +saying, "Come, Ned, escort me home. I am going in at the front-door this +time, and there is always ice on our steps, so be sure to take care that +I do not fall." + +When Edward took his leave at Madeline's door, she shook hands with him, +saying, "Am I not a wild creature? You see how my spirits run away with +me." + +Edward came back with a countenance of almost disgust. "If this is your +new friend," said he to his sister, "I must say that I consider her +scarcely endurable. Why, she never saw me before this evening, and yet +she is as familiar as if she had known me all her life. To think of her +calling me Ned." + +"Ah!" said Juliet with a smile, "I suspect _that_ to be the grand +offence, after all. But depend upon it, you will like her better when +you know her better." + +"I very much doubt my ever liking her at all," replied Edward. + + * * * * * + +Nothing could exceed the sociability of Madeline Malcolm. She +breakfasted, dined, and drank tea at Mrs. Lansdowne's table nearly as +often as at her father's; and she frequently ran in early in the +morning, and scampered into Juliet's chamber before she had risen. Mr. +and Mrs. Lansdowne (both whose dispositions were remarkably amiable and +indulgent) did not approve of their daughter's intimacy with Madeline. +They had spoken to her on the subject; but Madeline's frank and +caressing manner, and her perpetual good-humour, had so won the heart of +Juliet, that it was painful to her to hear a word against her friend, as +she called her. So her parents concluded to let it pass for the present; +trusting to Juliet's becoming eventually disgusted by some outrageous +folly of Madeline's, who seemed to think her professed volatility an +excuse for every thing; and that the appellation of _a wild creature_, +which she took pride in giving herself, would screen her from any +resentment her unwarrantable conduct might provoke. + +Still, as Edward observed, she had a great deal of selfishness and +cunning; as is generally the case with wild creatures; for when females +have so little of the delicacy of their sex as to throw aside the +restraints of propriety, the same want of delicacy makes them totally +regardless of the feelings or convenience of others, and renders them +callous to every thing like real sympathy or kindness of heart. + +At home, Madeline was allowed to do exactly as she pleased; her father's +thoughts were perpetually in his counting-house, and her step-mother, +who spent all her time in the nursery, was incessantly occupied with the +care of a large family of young children, of whom Madeline never took +the least account. And she was so much at Mr. Lansdowne's that Juliet +had few opportunities of returning her visits. + +She borrowed all Juliet's best books, and did not scruple to lend them +again to any person that she knew. Some of the books were never +returned; and others were brought back soiled, torn, and in a most +deplorable condition. One of her jokes was to take up Juliet's +muslin-work, and disfigure it with what she called gobble-stitch. She +came in one day and found the parlour unoccupied, and Juliet's +drawing-box on the table, with a beautiful landscape nearly finished. +Madeline sat down and daubed at it till it was quite spoiled, and when +Juliet discovered her at this employment, she turned it off with a +laugh, insisting that she had greatly improved the picture. She found +Juliet one evening engaged in copying a very scarce and beautiful song, +which she had borrowed from her music-master, and which had never been +published in America. On Juliet's being called up stairs for a few +moments to her mother, Madeline took the pen, and scribbled on the +margin of the borrowed music, some nonsensical verses of her own +composition, in ridicule of the music-master. + +Edward presented his sister at Christmas with a set of a new English +magazine, which contained biographical sketches and finely engraved +portraits of some of the most celebrated female authors. Madeline came +in soon after the arrival of the books; and having looked them over, she +insisted on carrying one of the volumes home with her. Next day she +brought it back, with a pair of spectacles drawn with a pen and ink +round the eyes of each of the portraits that, as she said, "The learned +ladies might look still wiser." Upon this Edward immediately left the +room, lest his indignation should induce him to say too much, and +Juliet could not help warmly expressing her dissatisfaction. But +Madeline pacified her by hanging round her neck and pleading that her +love of fun was constantly leading her to do mischievous things; and +that she was sure her darling Juliet loved her too well not to forgive +her. + +Cecilia Selden, a sensible and amiable girl, and formerly Juliet's most +intimate friend, was an object of Madeline's particular dislike and +ridicule; of which Cecilia perceived so many palpable symptoms, that she +left off visiting at Mrs. Lansdowne's house; to the great regret of +Edward. + +Mrs. Templeton, a lady that lived at the distance of a few squares, gave +a juvenile ball, to which Juliet and Edward were invited, and also +Madeline with several of her little brothers and sisters. Soon after +Juliet had gone up to her room to commence dressing, Madeline came in +followed by a servant with two bandboxes, and exclaiming, "Well, Juliet, +I have brought all my trappings, and have come here to dress with _you_, +that I may escape being put in requisition at home to assist in +decorating the brats, who will entirely fill up _our_ carriage, so I am +going to the ball in _yours_. There now, get away from the glass and +let me begin." + +Juliet removed from the glass, and throwing a shawl over her shoulders, +sat down by the fire, determined to wait patiently till Madeline had +finished her toilet. But this was no expeditious matter. Madeline always +professed to be too giddy to have her clothes in order, or to think of +any thing before the last moment. Every article that she was to wear +this evening required some alteration, which Juliet was called upon to +make, till Lucy, a mulatto seamstress that lived in the family, came up +to assist the young ladies in dressing. Madeline's white satin +under-frock was longer than the tulle dress that she wore over it: and +after it was put on, it was necessary to make it shorter by turning the +hem up all round and running it along with a needle and thread. Her +satin belt would not meet, and after a great deal of pulling and +squeezing in vain, the only remedy was to take off the hooks and eyes +and set them nearer to the ends. She desired Lucy to arrange her hair +for her, which was a difficult task, as Madeline would not hold still a +moment; and after it was at last accomplished, she declared that Lucy +had made a fright of her, and demolished the whole structure with her +own hands, strewing the floor with hair-pins and flowers. She then +called Juliet to her assistance; and, in the course of time, her hair +was finished to her satisfaction. + +When Madeline was dressed, she took a lamp from the mantlepiece and +setting it on the floor, that she might see her feet to advantage with +her embroidered silk stockings and white satin shoes, she began to caper +and dance; and in performing one of her best steps she kicked down the +lamp, which splashed all over her right foot, and over the lower part of +her dress, beside deluging the carpet with oil. She screamed violently, +and her volatility seemed to forsake her when she held up her beautiful +tulle dress bespattered with lamp-oil. Juliet endeavoured to console +her, and lent her another pair of silk stockings, and Lucy was sent to +the nearest shoemaker's to bring several pair of white satin shoes that +Madeline might choose from among them. But what was to be done with the +disfigured frock? Madeline declared she had no other dress that was +handsome enough to wear that evening, and said she would rather stay +away from the ball than not look as she wished. Juliet, who was about +the same size, offered to lend her a frock, even the clear muslin she +was to wear that night herself; but Madeline said that Juliet's dresses +were all too plain for her, and that she had set her mind upon the white +silk-sprigged tulle, and nothing else. + +She continued to lament her misfortune, when a thought struck her that +it was possible to conceal the spots of oil by arranging artificial +flowers round the lower part of the dress. But Juliet had no such +flowers, not having yet begun to wear them, and her mother had long +since left them off. Madeline's whole stock of flowers, was already +disposed of on her head, and she protested against taking out a single +one; saying, that it required a multitude to cover all the oil-stains. + +At last she exclaimed, "I have just thought of it, Juliet,--There +are plenty of flowers in the French vases on your front-parlour +mantle-piece.[A] I will have _them_. They will do exactly."--"But," +said Juliet, "I know not that my mother will approve of the flowers +being taken out of the vases."--"Nonsense," replied Madeline. "What +a vastly proper person you are. Tell her that your volatile friend +Madeline took them; and she will expect nothing better of such a +wild creature." + + [A] It was formerly the fashion to decorate the mantle-piece + with artificial flowers placed in china vases under glass + shades. + +So saying, she ran down stairs, and found Edward dressed for the ball, +and waiting for them in the parlour. "Here, Ned, my boy," said she, "off +with those glass shades, and hand me out the flowers from the vases. I +have kicked over a lamp and splashed my frock with oil, and I must have +all the flowers I can get, to hide the stains. Why do you look so +dubious? I will send them safely back again to-morrow morning. What, +won't you give them to me? Oh! then I shall make bold to help myself to +them."--She jumped on a chair, and was going to lift one of the glass +shades, when Edward, fearful of the consequences, stepped up and took +out the flowers for her; and when she had obtained them all, she ran off +with them in her lap, dropping them along the stairs as she went. + +When she entered the chamber, she called out to Juliet, "Come now, dear +creature, down on your knees with a pin-cushion in your hand, and pin +these flowers all nicely round my frock, so as to cover every one of the +vile oil-spots." "Shall _I_ do it, miss?" said the maid, who had just +finished wiping up the oil that had fallen on the carpet, and which, +however, left a large splash of grease. "Miss Juliet will rumple her +dress if she stoops down to put on the flowers."--"So much the better," +said Madeline, "it will be an advantage to that new muslin to have a +little of the stiffness taken out. Come, Lucy, you may hold the candle." +Juliet then stooped down, and in a most painful posture proceeded to pin +the flowers round Madeline's frock, which she did so adroitly as to +conceal all the spots of oil. + +Just as this business was completed a servant brought into the room a +small red morocco case, inclosing a beautiful pearl necklace, and +accompanied by a note from her grandfather, in which he requested her +acceptance of it as a new-year's gift, and desired that she would wear +it on that evening at Mrs. Templeton's ball. + +While Juliet was admiring the necklace, Madeline took it out of her +hand, saying, "Let me see how this looks on _my_ neck. Beautiful--really +beautiful. Ah, Juliet, it is so pretty I cannot bear to take it off +again. Come _I_ shall wear it this evening."--"But indeed," said Juliet, +"I should like very much to wear it myself; particularly as it is my +grandfather's request."--"Nonsense," answered Madeline; "grandpa is not +going to the ball himself, and how will he know whether you wear it or +not? And your father and mother are both at the theatre, and are +ignorant even of its arrival. I forgot to bring a necklace with me: so +this comes quite _apropos_. Come, I am not going to give it up this +evening. Possession, you know, is nine points of the law: and your white +neck requires no pearls to set it off." + +"You know very well that my neck is _not_ white," said Juliet. + +"Well then," replied Madeline, "if it is brown, the pearls will make it +look browner still. Positively you shall not have it to-night, if I run +for it." Upon which she ran down stairs into the front-parlour, and +pretended to hide behind the window-curtain, to save herself, as she +told Edward, from the vengeance of Juliet, whose new necklace she had +seized and carried off. Edward did not think this a very good joke; +however, he made no comment, and his sister coming down immediately +after, he handed her and Madeline into the carriage, and accompanied +them to Mrs. Templeton's. + +At the ball the volatility of Madeline reached its climax. She talked, +laughed, flirted, jumped, and occasionally appealed to those in the same +cotillon to know if they had ever seen such a wild creature. Edward, +however, could not help observing her unkindness and rudeness to the +little children, whom she pushed about and scolded, whenever they came +in her way. Two of her younger sisters were preparing to dance together, +when Madeline and Edward, who were looking for a place, came up. "This +cotillon is completed," said Edward, "and so, I believe, are all the +others. Let us stand by, and look on. I always enjoy seeing the children +dance." "No indeed," said Madeline, "I had rather dance myself. Here, +Ellen and Clara, go and sit down, and give us your places." The children +began to object; but she pushed them away and commenced the cotillon, +saying she was determined to dance every set. + +The next set, however, no one asked Madeline to dance. She looked very +much displeased at being obliged to sit still, and was yet more so, when +Charles Templeton brought up a very handsome little midshipman, in his +uniform, who, on being introduced to both the young ladies, immediately +requested the pleasure of Miss Lansdowne's hand for the next set. + +Juliet stood up with the midshipman; but there was some delay in forming +the cotillons, and her partner perceived that one of his shoe-strings +was broken. He asked Charles Templeton, who was in the next cotillon, if +he would put him in a way of repairing the accident; and Charles desired +the midshipman to accompany him to his room for the purpose. Madeline, +who had heard all that passed, stepped up to Juliet and said to +her--"Juliet, as you are one of the modest people, I suppose it will +embarrass you to stand here till your partner comes back again; so do +you sit down, and I will stand and keep your place for you. You know I +have brass enough for any thing." + +Juliet, grateful for Madeline's unexpected kindness, and feeling really +some embarrassment at standing up in the cotillon without her partner, +consented willingly, and took Madeline's seat. In a few minutes the +midshipman returned, and looked much surprised when he saw another young +lady in the place of his partner; but before he had time to consider why +it was so, the music commenced, and Madeline began to right and left, +and led off the cotillon; disappointing Juliet of her dance. + +The midshipman, however, did not speak to Madeline during the whole set; +and when he had led her to a seat, he left her, and went up to Edward, +and expressed his surprise that Miss Lansdowne, after being engaged to +dance with him, had substituted another young lady in her place. Edward, +to whom his sister had explained how it happened, repeated her account +to the midshipman, who was much vexed, and went immediately to apologize +to Juliet, and to ask her hand for the next set, which she was obliged +to refuse, as she was pre-engaged both for that set and the following. + +"So," said Madeline, as she passed Juliet on her way to the cotillon +with a new partner, "you see I tricked you out of the smart young +midshipman, who is the prettiest fellow in the room, and I was +determined not to sit still a single set." + +Madeline's volatility attracted the attention of the whole company, and +the delight of finding herself an object of general notice gave her +fresh spirits as she ran to the very top of the country-dance, +oversetting a little boy on her way, afterwards romping down the middle, +and throwing herself into a seat the moment she had got to the bottom. + +Soon after, while refreshments were handed round, she took an +opportunity of purposely spilling a glass of lemonade on Cecilia +Selden's pink crape frock, and she threw a piece of orange-peel in +Edward's way that he might slip on it, which he did, and very nearly +fell down. + +Juliet, who had recently recovered from a severe cold, brought with her +into the ball-room a very handsome blue silk scarf, which her mother had +lent her, enjoining her to put it on whenever she was not dancing, as a +guard against being suddenly chilled when in a perspiration. Madeline, +happening to look at Juliet, observed the scarf and thought it very +becoming. She suddenly twitched it off Juliet's shoulders and threw it +over her own, saying, "Now, Juliet, you have been beautified with this +scarf long enough. It is my turn to wear it awhile." Poor Juliet knew +not how to object, though her seat (the only one she had been able to +obtain) was directly against a window, from which there was a draught of +air on the back of her neck. The consequence was a renewal of her cold, +and a sore throat which confined her for several days to the house. + +The above may serve as a specimen of Madeline's various exploits at the +ball. After Juliet and her brother had got home, Edward stood for half +an hour in the middle of the parlour-floor with his bed-candle in his +hand, while he expostulated with his sister on her strange infatuation +for her new friend; declaring that, with all her volatility and apparent +frankness and good-humour, he had never known a girl more artful, +selfish, and heartless than Madeline Malcolm. + +Instead of returning the flowers and the necklace on the following +morning, as she ought to have done, Madeline wore them in the evening to +another ball; and finally when Mrs. Lansdowne sent for the flowers, they +came home in a most deplorable state, soiled, crushed, and broken; so +that they were no longer fit to ornament the vases, and some of them +were entirely lost. + +Madeline did not come in to see Juliet till she knew that she had quite +recovered from her sore-throat; having, as she afterward told her, a +perfect antipathy to a sick-room, and a mortal dislike to the dismals. +She forgot to return the necklace till Juliet, with many blushes, and +much confusion, at last reminded her of it. "Why," said she, "you seem +very uneasy about that necklace. Between friends like us, every thing +ought to be common." Madeline, however, had never offered to lend Juliet +the smallest article belonging to herself. + +The next time Madeline came, she brought the necklace in her hand. +"Here," said she "is this most important affair; I took a fancy to wear +it round my _head_ at Mrs. Linton's, and I can assure you I had a great +deal of pulling and stretching to get it to clasp. Why did grandpapa +give you such a short necklace? However, soon after I began to dance, +snap went the thread, and down came all the pearls showering about the +floor. How I laughed; but I set all the beaux in the cotillon to picking +them up, and I suppose they found the most of them. You see I have +brought you a handful. And now you can amuse yourself with stringing +them again. Come now, don't look so like Ned.--How can you expect a wild +creature as I am, to be careful of flowers, and beads, and all such +trumpery? I dare say, you are now thinking that your sober Cecilia +Selden would have returned the pearls 'in good order and well +conditioned.' But I never allow any one to get angry with me: you know I +am a privileged person. So now look agreeable, and smile immediately. +Smile, smile, I tell you." Juliet _did_ smile, and Madeline throwing her +arms round her neck, kissed her, exclaiming, as she patted her cheek, +"There's my own good baby. She always, at last, does as I bid her." + +The next day Juliet heard that the windows of Mr. Malcolm's house were +all shut up; but she was not long in suspense as to the cause, for +shortly after, Madeline came running in the back way, and said with a +most afflicted countenance, "O, Juliet, you may pity me now if you never +did before. We have just heard from New Orleans of the death of aunt +Medford, my father's only sister." + +_Juliet._ I am very sorry you have received such bad news. + +_Madeline._ Oh! but the worst of it is, that it will prevent our going +to the play to-night. We had engaged seats with the Rosemores, in a +delightful box. We were going to see the Belle's Stratagem, with the +masquerade, and the song, and the minuet, and the new French dancers. I +would not have missed such an entertainment for a hundred dollars. How +very provoking that the bad news did not arrive one day later. If it had +not come till to-morrow I should not have cared, for then our charming +evening at the theatre would have been over. And now, to think that +instead of going to the play, I must stay at home and look at my father +grieving for old aunt Medford. There now, Juliet, your face is again in +the style of Ned's. Positively, if you are so particular, I shall cut +your acquaintance. Those that I consider my friends must enter into all +my "whims and oddities," and not expect me to act according to rule. I +hate hypocrisy. Why should I pretend to grieve for aunt Medford when I +have never seen her since I was six years old? + +_Juliet._ But sympathy for your father-- + +_Madeline._ Why, where is the use of sympathy? When people are in grief, +sympathy only makes them worse. + +_Juliet._ If you yourself were in affliction, Madeline, you would find +the sympathy of your family and friends very gratifying. + +_Madeline._ Wait till _I am_ in affliction and then I will tell you. +"_Toujours gai_," is my motto, and "_vive la bagatelle_" for ever. + +So saying, she danced out of the room, and went home; but in a short +time she returned, looking very mysterious, and peeping in at the door +to ascertain if Juliet was alone. "Juliet, love," said Madeline in a low +voice, "come with me into the back parlour, lest we should be +interrupted. I have something of great consequence to tell you." + +As Madeline often dealt in mysteries, Juliet thought this new secret +nothing more than usual, and accompanied her into the back parlour, +where Madeline cautiously bolted the folding-doors and locked the side +door. "Now, Juliet," said she in an under voice, "I know I may depend on +your secrecy." "Certainly you may," replied Juliet. + +_Madeline._ Well then, I must confide to you a plan that has just struck +me. I cannot bear the idea of giving up the play to-night, and you know +it is out of the question for any of the family to be _seen_ there. + +_Juliet._ Of course none of you can go to the theatre when your house is +shut up for the death of a near relation, and when Mr. Malcolm is in +such deep affliction. + +_Madeline._ It is certainly a great pity that aunt Medford died; +particularly just at the time she did, as it will spoil all our gayety +for the winter. No more plays, and balls, and parties this season. +People ought always to die in the summer. But you know, dear Juliet, I +have not seen my aunt Medford for ten years, and I really have forgotten +all about her. So, how can you expect me to be inconsolable? And I +cannot endure the thought of being disappointed in going to the theatre. +I might as well go, as stay at home and think about it all the evening. + +_Juliet._ O no, indeed! Even if you have no personal regard for your +aunt, respect for your father's feelings and a proper regard for +decorum, ought to subdue your desire of going at this time to a place of +public amusement. + +_Madeline._ That is exactly such a speech as Cecilia Selden would make +on a similar occasion. It is a pity "the truly wise man" is not here. +How Neddy would applaud. + +_Juliet._ But where is the use of talking in this manner. You know you +_cannot_ go to the theatre. + +_Madeline._ I know I _can_. + +_Juliet._ How? In what way? I do not understand you. + +_Madeline._ My going to the theatre to-night depends principally on +_you_. + +_Juliet._ On me! + +_Madeline._ Yes, for I will not venture alone, and you must go with me. + +_Juliet._ Go with you--_I_ go with you! + +_Madeline._ Yes. + +_Juliet._ And who else? + +_Madeline._ Nobody else. Now don't look as if you were ready to run +through the wall to get away from me; but listen and understand. Our +nursery-maid, Kitty, has permission to go this evening and stay all +night with a sick sister. So when she is off, I can easily slip into +her room and select a suit of her clothes, (which I believe will nearly +fit me,) and she has a tolerably large wardrobe for a servant. Then I +will steal in the back way, bringing a suit for you. Don't look shocked. +I shall tell my father and mother that being very low-spirited, I am +coming in here to spend a quiet evening with you. I heard Mrs. +Lansdowne, when I was here yesterday, propose to your father to leave +her at her sister, Mrs. Wilmar's, on his way to the Wistar party +to-night, and call for her as he comes back; which of course will not be +before ten o'clock at the very earliest. Therefore the coast will be +clear, as I suppose Ned will go to his beloved Athenaeum. So you see +every thing seems to conspire fortunately to forward our plot. + +_Juliet._ _Our_ plot. O! do not call it _ours_. I never will have any +thing to do with a plot. + +_Madeline._ Yes, but you _must_ though. Why this is nothing. I have +plotted a hundred things in the course of my life, and so I shall again. +Well, now hear the whole. I will slip in the back-way, and you must be +alone in your room ready to receive me. After we have put on our +disguises, we will go down stairs very softly and steal out at the alley +gate. Then we will make the best of our way to the theatre, and go in +at the gallery-door, passing, of course as two servant-girls. When we +have reached the gallery we will mix with the crowd, and sit at our ease +and enjoy the play; at least the masquerade-scene, which I would not +miss for the world. I am absolutely dying to see the French dancers. +Nobody can possibly discover us under our disguises. We will not go till +the first act is over, and the audience settled; and we will come away +before the last scene of the comedy. Then after we get home we will +resume our proper dresses, and present ourselves to our parents, looking +as demure as if we had been sitting by the fire, and talking sensibly, +all the evening. No one will ever know what we have really been doing. +It will be a most charming frolic, and something for you and I to laugh +about, ten years hence. I always enjoy these queer exploits that no one +else has courage to undertake. + +_Juliet_ (_firmly._) Madeline, I will _not_ disguise myself like a +servant-girl; and I will _never_ accompany you secretly to the theatre, +nor to any other place. + +Juliet spoke in so firm a tone, that Madeline was at first abashed, and +remained for a few moments silent. But, not easily repelled, she soon +recovered from her confusion, and exerted all her eloquence to prevail +on her dear friend, as she called her, to join in the scheme. By turns +she flattered, caressed, and ridiculed her, and then tried to win her +consent by representing the delights of the masquerade-scene, as she had +heard it described by a lady who had recently seen the comedy of the +Belle's Stratagem. Juliet held out steadily for a long time. But at +length her firmness gave way, and she finally yielded; as Madeline had +foreseen. Her reluctance was so great, that her consent was, after all, +rather extorted than given, and Madeline, having kissed her rather +oftener than usual, ran gayly to her own home, singing "I won't be a +nun." + +After Madeline had gone, Juliet felt so uneasy at having suffered +herself to be persuaded against her conscience, that she was on the +point of calling her back and retracting her promise. When she went to +dinner, the consciousness of her intended deceit destroyed her appetite, +and made her feel as if she could not raise her eyes towards her +parents, or answer them when they spoke to her. + +Edward bent on her a scrutinizing glance, and saw that all was not +right; but supposing that she had committed some fault in the course of +the morning for which her mother had seriously reprimanded her, he was +unwilling to notice her apparent mortification, and tried to divert the +attention of his parents by talking to them of Cooper's last novel, +which had been published that morning, and of which he had already gone +through the first volume. + +Mrs. Lansdowne, however, remarking that her daughter did not eat, +inquired if she felt unwell, and Juliet replied that she had a violent +headache: which was literally true. After dinner, her mother recommended +that she should retire to her room and lie down, which she gladly did: +her mind being too much agitated to take interest in any occupation. +Once in the afternoon, she heard Edward come up stairs and tap at her +door; but fearing that he had observed her confusion at dinner, and that +he might ask her some question concerning it, she lay still, and did not +answer to his knock, so that, supposing her to be asleep, he softly +withdrew. + +Towards evening, her mother came to inquire after her: and Juliet, +unwilling to meet the family at table in her present state of +discomposure, requested to have her tea sent up. "My dear," said Mrs. +Lansdowne, "as you are not well, I will not go to my sister Wilmar's +this evening, but I will stay at home and sit with you." + +"O, no, dear mother!" replied Juliet, "I know you wish to see aunt +Wilmar: I am sure my tea will relieve my headache, and I have no doubt, +when I have drunk it, I shall feel well enough to rise, and sit up all +the evening." Accordingly, after Juliet had taken her tea, she rose and +adjusted her dress, and when Mrs. Lansdowne came up again, she found her +daughter sitting by the fire with a book, and apparently so much +recovered, that she felt no scruples about leaving her, as she was +really desirous of passing the evening with Mrs. Wilmar, who was +confined to the house with the influenza. + +At last Juliet heard her father and mother depart, and Edward went out +soon after. In a few minutes, Madeline came cautiously up stairs, and +glided into the chamber, carrying a large bundle. "All's safe," said +she, "the coast is _quite_ clear, and we have not a moment to lose. It +is a fine moonlight night." + +Juliet's courage now failed entirely; and she vehemently besought +Madeline to give up a scheme fraught with so much risk and impropriety. +But Madeline was immovable, declaring that she had set her heart on it, +and that she enjoyed nothing so much as what she called an +out-of-the-way frolic. "Since you are so cowardly, Juliet," said she, "I +wish I could venture to go alone; but wild as I am, I confess I am not +quite equal to that--Come, now, off with your frock, and get yourself +dressed in these delectable habiliments." + +She then began to unfasten Juliet's dress, who pale, trembling, and with +tears in her eyes, arrayed herself in the clothes that Madeline had +brought for her. The gown was a very dirty one of dark blue domestic +gingham, and she put on with it a yellowish chequered handkerchief, and +a check apron. Over this she pinned an old red woollen shawl, and she +covered her head with a coarse and broken black Leghorn bonnet. The +clothes that Madeline had allotted to herself were a little better, +consisting of a dark calico frock, a coarse tamboured muslin collar, an +old straw bonnet very yellow and faded, and a plaid cloak which belonged +to the cook, and which she had taken out of a closet in the garret. + +The two young ladies did not know, or did not recollect, that when +_real_ servant-girls go to the theatre, they generally dress as well as +they can, and take pains to appear to the best advantage. The clothes +that Madeline had selected were quite too dirty and shabby for the +occasion. To complete their costume, she gave Juliet a pair of coarse +calf-skin shoes, which were so large that as she walked her feet seemed +to rise up out of them. Madeline, for her part, put on a pair of +carpet-moccasins over her slippers. + +After they were dressed and ready to depart for the theatre, Juliet's +tremor increased, and she was again on the point of relinquishing her +share in the business; but she again yielded to the solicitations of +Madeline, who led her softly down stairs by the light of the moon that +shone in at the staircase windows. They stole, undiscovered, across the +yard and out at the alley-gate; and finding themselves in the street, +began to walk very fast, as people generally do when they are going to +the play. + +When they came in view of the theatre, they saw no persons there, except +two or three gentlemen who went in at the pit-door. Juliet's heart +failed entirely; and she shrank back as Madeline, taking her hand, +attempted to pull her towards the door that admitted the gallery-people. +"We have now gone too far to recede," whispered Madeline,--"You must +stand by me now. I _will not_ go back, and _you must_ come forward. +Here, take my money and put it down with yours--I forgot my gloves, and +my hands will betray me, so I must keep them wrapped up in my cloak." + +Juliet laid the money on the ledge before the doorkeeper, who looked at +them with some surprise. They pulled their bonnets more closely over +their faces, and passed up the stairs; Madeline running as fast as +possible, and Juliet entreating her in a low voice to stop a little, as +she could not keep pace with her. They soon found themselves in the +gallery, and being assisted over the benches by a very polite black man, +they took their seats among some coloured people about the centre of the +middle row. + +The crowd and heat were intolerable. Juliet kept her eyes cast down; +afraid to look round the house, or even to steal a glance towards the +stage. Madeline, however, looked round boldly, and in a few minutes, to +her great consternation, she perceived Edward Lansdowne standing up in +the back part of one of the stage-boxes. Having finished his novel, and +feeling no inclination to read any more that night, he had concluded to +go to the theatre, reminded of it by seeing the bill in the evening +paper. "Juliet," whispered Madeline, "there is my evil genius." "Where, +where?" exclaimed Juliet, thrown almost off her guard. "If we can +distinguish _him_ at so great a distance, he can also discover +_us_."--"You forget," replied Madeline, "that we are in disguise." These +words, though uttered in a whisper, were evidently heard by the people +round, who all turned to look at them; and some tried to peep under +their bonnets, which made Juliet draw hers down over her face till her +sight was entirely obscured by it. + +The play went on; but Madeline and Juliet could not enjoy it, all their +attention being engaged by the continual fear of discovery. Juliet, +however heard enough to convince her that her parents would never have +taken her to see the Belle's Stratagem; as when they did indulge her +with a visit to the theatre, they always selected a night when the play +was unexceptionable, and the whole entertainment such as a young lady +could witness with propriety. + +At length came the masquerade-scene, and in a short time the French +dancers appeared. Just then, a short, fat, red-faced and very vulgar +Englishwoman who sat behind Madeline and Juliet, gave each of them a +twitch on the shoulder, saying, in a broad Yorkshire dialect, "I'll +thank you gals or ladies or whatsomdever you be, to take off your +bunnets and let a body have some chance of seeing the show; for I've +been popping my ead back and furrads atween you ever sence you comed +hin, and thof I've as good a right to see as any body else, I've ardly +got a squint at the hactors yet." + +The girls were now in a most critical dilemma. To take off their bonnets +seemed out of the question, as the exposure of their heads would no +doubt betray them, and their fear and perplexity were so great that they +had not presence of mind either to speak or move. + +"Don't pertend that you don't ear me," said the Englishwoman, giving +them both a hard push forward with her huge hands. "I bees a true King +Georgeswoman, and won't be put upon by none of the Yankees, not I, thof +I _am_ come to their country. I pays my money as well as you, and I've +jist as good a right to see the show; and if you won't take off them big +bunnets, I'll be bound I'll make you, if there's even a row about it. +I've raised a row afore this time when I've been put upon." + +"Oh! let us go, let us go," said Juliet, gasping with terror, and +seizing Madeline's arm. + +"Honly wait," continued the Englishwoman, "till I tells my usband, who +sets ahind here, to call 'turn 'em out.' You _may_ be ladies. But I bees +an onest oman, and if I've come to a land of liberty, the more reason +that I should make free to speak my mind; and if we're all hequal, why +then nobody han't no right to put upon me." + +By this time the two girls, in an agony of trepidation, had scrambled +over the benches and got to the door, expecting every instant to hear +the dreaded words, "turn them out," and to see Edward's eyes directed +towards them, with those of the whole audience. Scarcely conscious of +what they were doing, they ran down the gallery-stairs, and flew out of +the door into the street. As is usual toward the latter part of the +play, a number of boys had collected about the fruit-stalls waiting for +checks, that they might gain admittance to see the farce; and as +Madeline ran past them, her cloak flew open, and the moonbeams shone +brightly on a brilliant ring which she always wore on her fore-finger. +This with something in their appearance that would cause even +unpractised eyes to suspect that they were young ladies, attracted the +attention of the boys, who stared at them with surprise and curiosity. + +Madeline and Juliet ran down the street in breathless terror. They had +gone about a square from the theatre before they recollected that their +way home lay in a contrary direction, and that they ought to go _up_ the +street instead of _down_. "Oh! we are going _from_ home instead of +_towards_ it," exclaimed Juliet; and they immediately turned about and +ran up Chestnut street. They again passed the theatre, terrified, +bewildered, their bonnets falling back and discovering their frightened +faces in full view; Madeline's cloak half untied and flying out behind +her, and Juliet still grasping one corner of her shawl (which had fallen +entirely off her shoulders) and dragging it after her along the +pavement. On seeing them running back in this forlorn condition, the +boys set up a loud shout, and calling out "Hurrah for the ladies," +pursued them up Chestnut street. + +A young gentleman who had left the theatre a few minutes before, and was +walking leisurely up the street, turned round to discover the meaning of +all the noise that was coming after him, and caught Juliet, breathless +and almost dead, by her two hands. "Juliet," he exclaimed, "my sister +Juliet!" "Oh, Edward!" she shrieked, and fell into his arms drowned in +tears. + +"Save me, save me," cried Madeline, catching him by the coat. "Madeline +too!" said Edward. "What does all this mean?" + +Another gentleman now came up, and ordered off the boys, reprimanding +them severely for chasing two unprotected females; and Edward taking one +of the girls under each arm, walked on in silence, much affected by the +sobbing of Juliet. + +Madeline soon recovered herself, and attempted an explanation of the +strange predicament in which he had found them; passing it off as a very +good joke, and a further proof of her ungovernable volatility. + +Edward remained silent. He would not reproach her, but he determined in +his mind what course to pursue. He took leave of Madeline at her own +door, and on entering his father's house, he told Juliet that she had +better, as soon as possible, divest herself of her disguise. Juliet +could not speak, but she wept on her brother's shoulder; and Edward +kissed her cheek, and bade her good night. + +She retired to bed, but she could not sleep; and in the morning she rose +earlier than usual, and went into the parlour, where she knew she would +find Edward. She looked very pale, and her eyes were swimming in tears. +"Oh! Edward," said she, "what did my father and mother say, when they +came home last night, and you told them all that happened?" + +"I told them nothing," replied Edward, "I love you too well to betray +you. I have kept your secret, and I shall never disclose it. But I must +have a recompense." + +_Juliet._ Any, any recompense, dearest Edward. What can you ask that I +could possibly refuse. + +_Edward._ I require you, from this day, to give up all acquaintance with +Madeline Malcolm. Your infatuation for a girl who, under the name of +wildness and volatility, sets all propriety at defiance, is to me +astonishing. Henceforward let there be no more intimacy between you. It +must be checked before it leads to consequences still worse than the +adventures of last night. + +_Juliet._ I acknowledge that Madeline is too regardless of decorum, and +that she says and does many strange and improper things: but then she +has so good a heart. + +_Edward._ Tell me one proof of it. You have fallen into the common +error of supposing that all persons who profess to be giddy, wild, and +reckless, have kind feelings and good hearts. On the contrary, they may +too often be classed with the most selfish, cold, and heartless people +in the world; for they have seldom either sense or sensibility, and +while resolutely bent on the gratification of their own whims, are +generally regardless of the peace and convenience of those about them. +When I first went to college I thought as you do. I supposed that the +most careless, noisy, and desperate boys must necessarily have kind and +generous feelings. But I found the contrary to my cost; and I am now +convinced, that, with some few exceptions, the best hearts are generally +united with the best heads and the best manners. + +_Juliet._ But even if I never visit Madeline myself, how shall I prevent +her running in to me as she does, two or three times a day? + +_Edward._ Very easily. Write her a concise note, intimating that you do +not consider it proper to continue your acquaintance with her. + +_Juliet._ Oh! Edward, I never can do that. + +_Edward._ Is not this the recompense I am entitled to, for keeping your +secret? + +_Juliet._ Indeed, Edward, you are too cruel. + +_Edward._ Severe, perhaps, but not cruel. The exigency of the case +requires decisive measures. "I am cruel only to be kind," and you will +thank me for it hereafter. + +_Juliet._ Well then, I _will_ write the note. And if it _must be done_ I +will do it immediately; for if I allow myself to think about it long, it +will grieve me so much that I shall never have resolution to go through +with it. (_She goes to the desk and writes._) There now, Edward, read +this note. + +_Edward_, (_reading_.) "Though convinced that it is better our intimacy +should cease, it is not without regret that I decline all further +intercourse with Madeline Malcolm. For her health and happiness I offer +my best wishes; but in future we can only meet as strangers. + + "JULIET LANSDOWNE." + +Now seal and send it. + +_Juliet._ Oh, Edward! it is hard to give up Madeline. But I believe you +are right, and I ought not to regret it. + +_Edward._ I _know_ I am right. + +Juliet then rang the bell for a servant, to whom with a quivering lip +and hesitating hand she gave the note, desiring him to leave it next +door for Miss Malcolm. + +After breakfast, when Juliet was again alone with her brother, she said +to him, "Edward, I have never yet concealed any thing from my parents. I +think if I were to disclose to them the whole truth, I should feel less +miserable." + +Edward approved of this determination, and they went together to their +mother, to whom Juliet candidly related the whole history of their going +to the theatre in disguise. She kindly endeavoured to throw as little +blame on Madeline as possible; and Edward tried to apologize for +Juliet's partiality for this dangerous girl, and for the yielding +gentleness of disposition with which his sister had allowed herself to +be influenced by her; and for her want of judgment in not perceiving the +faults of Madeline in as strong a light as they appeared to every one +else. + +Mrs. Lansdowne's pleasure, on finding that her daughter had consented to +give up this very improper intimacy, counterbalanced her regret at +Juliet's having been persuaded by Madeline to join in the folly and +indecorum of the preceding evening. For this, however, she thought the +girls had been sufficiently punished by all they had suffered at the +theatre, and during their ignominious flight from it. + +Madeline's parents had no suspicion of her having been at the play in +disguise, and the idea of confessing it to them never for a moment +entered her head. She was highly indignant at Juliet's note; and +fortunately her resentment was too great to allow her to make any +attempt at renewing their intimacy. She took care, however, to let no +one suppose that the acquaintance had ceased by Juliet's desire; telling +every body that Juliet Lansdowne was a little fool, and that she had +grown quite tired of her. + +In the spring, Mr. Malcolm removed with his family to New York, and +their house next door to Mr. Lansdowne's was immediately taken by the +father of Cecilia Selden who had again become the intimate friend of +Juliet. + + +THE END. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +Punctuation has been standardised. Hyphenation and spelling have been +retained as appear in the original publication except as follows: + + Page 6 + Mrs. Evering had a very excellant cook, a _changed to_ + Mrs. Evering had a very excellent cook, a + + Page 35 + vous remercie_,--_Il fait beau-tems_ _changed to_ + vous remercie_,--_Il fait beau-temps_ + + Page 72 + and then she counted all the window sat _changed to_ + and then she counted all the windows at + + Page 109 + I will have _them_. They will de _changed to_ + I will have _them_. They will do + + Page 114 + kindness, and feeling really some embarrasment _changed to_ + kindness, and feeling really some embarrassment + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories for Helen, by Eliza Leslie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FOR HELEN *** + +***** This file should be named 33510.txt or 33510.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/5/1/33510/ + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +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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