From the heightened disgust which she now conceived against her new
patroness, Juliet severely repented the step that she had taken. And if
her entrance into the family contributed so little to her contentment,
her subsequent introduction into her office was still less calculated to
exhilarate her spirits. Her baggage was scarcely deposited in a handsome
chamber, of which the hangings, and decorations, as of every part of the
mansion, were sumptuous for the spectator; but in which there was a
dearth of almost every thing that constitutes comfort to the immediate
dweller; ere she was summoned back, by a hasty order to the
drawing-room.
Mrs Ireton, who was reading a news-paper, did not, for some time, raise
her head; though a glance of her eye procured her the satisfaction of
seeing that her call had been obeyed. Juliet, at first, stood modestly
waiting for commands; but, receiving none, sat down, though at an humble
distance; determined to abide by the consequences, be they what they
might, of considering herself as, at least, above a common domestic.
This action shortened the term of neglect; Mrs Ireton, letting the
news-paper fall, exclaimed, in a tone of affected alarm, 'Are you ill,
Ma'am? Are you disordered? I hope you are not subject to fits?'
Juliet coldly answered No.
'I am very glad to hear it, indeed! Very happy, upon my word! I was
afraid you were going to faint away! But I find that you are only
delicate; only fatigued by descending the stairs. I ought, indeed, to
have sent somebody to help you; somebody you could have leant upon as
you came along. I was very stupid not to think of that. I hope you'll
pardon me?'
Juliet looked down, but kept her place.
Mrs Ireton, a little nettled, was silent a few minutes, and then said,
'Pray,--if I may ask,--if it will not be too great a liberty to
ask,--what have been your pursuits since I had the honour of
accompanying you to London? How have you passed your time? I hope you
have found something to amuse you?'
Juliet sighed a negative.
'You have been studying the fine arts, I am told.
Painting?--Drawing?--Sculpture?--or what is it?--Something of that sort,
I am informed. Pray what is it, Mrs Thing-a-mi?--I am always forgetting
your name. Yet you have certainly a name; but I don't know how it is, I
can never remember it. I believe I must beg you to write it down.'
Juliet again only sighed.
'Perhaps I am making a mistake as to your occupations? Very likely I may
be quite in the wrong? Indeed I think I recollect, now, what it is you
have been doing. Acting?--That's it. Is it not? Pray what stage did you
come out upon first? Did you begin wearing your itinerant buskins in
England, or abroad?'
'Where I began, Madam, I have ended; at Mrs Maple's.'
'And pray, have you kept that same face ever since I saw you in
Grosvenor Square? or have you put it on again only now, to come back to
me? I rather suppose you have made it last the whole time. It would be
very expensive, I apprehend, to change it frequently: it can by no means
be so costly to keep it only in repair. How do you put on your colours?
I have heard of somebody who had learnt the art of enamelling their own
skin: is that your method?'
Waiting vainly for an answer, she went on.
'Pray, if I may presume so far, how old are you?--But I beg pardon for
so indiscreet a question. I did not reflect upon what I was saying. Very
possibly your age may be indefinable. You may be a person of another
century. A wandering Jewess. I never heard that the old Jew had a wife,
or a mother, who partook of his longevity; but very likely I may now
have the pleasure of seeing one of his family under my own roof? That
red and white, that you lay on so happily, may just as well hide the
wrinkles of two or three grand climacterics, as of only a poor single
sixty or seventy years of age. However, these are secrets that I don't
presume to enquire into. Every trade has its mystery.'
These splenetic witticisms producing no reply, Mrs Ireton, more
categorically, demanded, 'Pray, Ma'am, pray Mrs What's-your-name, will
you give me leave to ask what brings you to my house?'
'Miss Joddrel, Madam, informed me that you desired my attendance.'
'Yes; but with what view?'
Disconcerted by this interrogatory, Juliet stammered, but could devise
no answer.
'To what end, what purpose, what intent, I say, may I owe the honour of
your presence?'
The office pointed out by Elinor, of an humble companion, now died the
cheeks of Juliet with shame; but resentment of the palpable desire to
hear its mortifying acknowledgement, tied her tongue; and though each of
the following interrogatories was succeeded by a pause that demanded a
reply, she could not bring herself to utter a word.
'You are hardly come, I should imagine, without some motive: I may be
mistaken, to be sure; but I should hardly imagine you would take the
trouble to present yourself merely to afford me the pleasure of seeing
you?--Not but that I ought to be extremely flattered by such a
compliment. 'Twould be vastly amiable, certainly. A lady of your
indescribable consequence! 'Twould be difficult to me to shew an
adequate sense of so high an honour. I am distressed at the very thought
of it.--But perhaps you may have some other design?--You may have the
generosity to intend me some improvement?--You may come to favour me
with some lessons of declamation?--Who knows but you may propose to make
an actress of me?--Or perhaps to instruct me how to become an adept in
your own favourite art of face-daubing?'
At least, thought Juliet, I need not give you any lessons in the _art of
ingeniously tormenting_! There you are perfect!
'What! no answer yet?--Am I always so unfortunate as to hit upon
improper subjects?--To ask questions that merit no reply?--I am quite
confounded at my want of judgment! Excuse it, I entreat, and aid me out
of this unprofitable labyrinth of conjecture, by telling me, at once, to
what happy inspiration I am indebted for the pleasure of receiving you
in my house?'
Juliet pleaded again the directions of Miss Joddrel.
'Miss Joddrel told you to come, then, only to come?--Only to shew
yourself?--Well, you are worth looking at, I acknowledge, to those who
have seen you formerly. The transformation must always be curious: I
only hope you intend to renew it, from time to time, to keep admiration
alive? That pretty face you exhibit at present, may lose its charms, if
it should become familiar. When shall you put on the other again, that I
had the pleasure to see you in first?'
Fatigued and spiritless, Juliet would have retired; but Mrs Ireton
called after her, 'O! you are going, are you? Pray may I take the
liberty to ask whither?'
Again Juliet was silent.
'You mean perhaps to repose yourself?--or, may be, to pursue your
studies?--or, perhaps, you may have some visits upon your hands?--And
you may only have done me the favour to enter my house to find time to
follow your humour?--You may think it sufficient honour for me, that I
may be at the expence of your board, and find you in lodging, and
furniture, and fire, and candles, and servants?--you may hold this ample
recompense for such an insignificant person as I am? I ought to be much
obliged to Miss Joddrel, upon my word, for bringing me into such
distinction! I had understood her, indeed, that you would come to me as
my humble companion.'
Juliet, cruelly shocked, turned away her head.
'And I was stupid enough to suppose, that that meant a person who could
be of some use, and some agreeability; a person who could read to me
when I was tired, and who, when I had nobody else, could talk to me; and
find out a thousand little things for me all day long; coming and going;
prating, or holding her tongue; doing every thing she was bid; and
keeping always at hand.'
Juliet, colouring at this true, however insulting description of what
she had undertaken, secretly revolved in her mind, how to renounce, at
once, an office which seemed to invite mortification, and license
sarcasm.
'But I perceive I was mistaken! I perceive I knew nothing of the matter!
It only means a fine lady! a lady that's so delicate it fatigues her to
walk down stairs; a lady who is so independent, that she retires to her
room at pleasure; a lady who disdains to speak but when she is disposed,
for her own satisfaction, to talk; a lady--'
'A lady who, indeed, Madam,' said the tired Juliet, 'weighed too little
what she attempted, when she hoped to find means of obtaining your
favour; but who now sees her errour, and entreats at once your pardon
and dismission.'
She then courtsied respectfully, but, though called back even with
vehemence, steadily left the room.
Not, however, with triumph did she return to her own. The justice of the
sensibility which urged her retreat, could not obviate its imprudence,
or avert its consequences. She was wholly without friends, without
money, without protection, without succour; and the horrour of a
licentious pursuit, and the mischiefs menaced by calumniating ill
wishers, still made a lonely residence as unsafe as when her first
terrour drove her to acquiesce in the proposition of Elinor. Yet, though
she could not exult, she could not repent: how desire, how even support
a situation so sordid? a situation not only distressing, but oppressive;
not merely cruel, but degrading.
She was preparing, therefore, for immediate departure, when she was
stopt by a footman, who informed her that Mrs Ireton demanded to see her
without delay.
The expectation of reproach made her hesitate whether to obey this
order; but a desire not to have the air of meriting it, by the defiance
of a refusal, led her again to the dressing-room.
Here, however, to her great surprise, instead of the haughty or taunting
upbraidings for which she was prepared, she was received with a gracious
inclination of the head; while the footman was told to give her a chair.
Mrs Ireton, then, fixing her eyes upon a pamphlet which she held in her
hand; that she might avoid taking any notice of the stiff and decided
air with which Juliet stood still, though amazed, said, 'My bookseller
has just sent me something to look at, which may serve for a beginning
of our readings.'
Juliet now saw, that, however imperiously she had been treated, Mrs
Ireton had no intention to part with her. She saw, too, that that lady
was amongst the many, though terrible characters, who think superior
rank or fortune authorises perverseness, and legitimates arrogance; who
hold the display of ill humour to be the display and mark of power; and
who set no other boundary to their pleasure in the art of tormenting,
than that which, if passed, might endanger their losing its object. She
wished, more than ever, to avoid all connexion with a nature so wilfully
tyrannic; but Mrs Ireton, who read in her dignified demeanour, that a
spirit was awakened which threatened the escape of her prey, determined
to shun any discussion. Suddenly, therefore, rising, and violently
ringing the bell, she exclaimed, 'I dare say those fools have not placed
half the things you want in your chamber; but I shall make Whitly see
immediately that all is arranged as it ought to be.'
She then gave some parading directions, that Miss Ellis should want for
nothing; and, affecting not to perceive the palpable design of Juliet
to decline these tardy attentions, graciously nodded her head, and
passed into another room.
Juliet, not absolutely softened, yet somewhat appeased, again hesitated.
A road seemed open, by some exertion of spirit, for obtaining better
treatment; and however ungenial to her feelings was a character whose
humours submitted to no restraint, save to ensure their own lengthened
indulgence, still, in appearing more contemptible, it became less
tremendous.
She began, also, to see her office as less debasing. Why, she cried,
should I exaggerate my torments, by blindly giving into received
opinions, without examining whether here, as in all things else, there
may not be exceptions to general rules? A sycophant must always be
despicable; a parasite must eternally deserve scorn; but may there not
be a possibility of uniting the affluent with the necessitous upon more
equitable terms? May not some medium be hit upon, between oppression on
one side, and servility on the other? If we are not worthless because
indigent, why conclude ourselves abject because dependent? Happiness,
indeed, dwells not with undue subordination; but the exertion of talents
in our own service can never in itself be vile. It can only become so
where it is mingled and contaminated with flattery, with unfitting
obsequiousness, and unworthy submissions. They who simply repay being
sustained and protected, by a desire to please, a readiness to serve, a
wish to instruct; without falsehood in their counsels, without adulation
in their civilities, without meanness in their manners and conduct; have
at least as just a claim to respect and consideration, for their
services and their labours, as those who, merely through pecuniary
retribution, reap their fruits.
This idea better reconciled her with her condition; and she blessed her
happy acquaintance with Mr Giles Arbe, which had strengthened her
naturally philosophical turn of mind, by leading her to this simple, yet
useful style of reasoning.
The rest of the day was propitious to her new views. The storms with
which it had begun subsided, and a calm ensued, in which Mrs Ireton set
apart her querulous irascibility, and forbore her contemptuous
interrogatories.
The servants were ordered not to neglect Miss Ellis; and Miss Ellis
received permission to carry to her own apartment, any books from off
the piano forte or tables, that might contribute to her amusement.
Juliet was not of a character to take advantage of a moment of
concession, even in an enemy. The high and grave deportment, therefore,
which had thus happily raised alarm, had no sooner answered its purpose,
than she suffered it to give place to an air of gentleness, more
congenial to her native feelings: and, the next morning, subduing her
resentment, and submitting, with the best grace in her power, to the
business of her office, she cheerfully proposed reading; complied with
the first request that was made her to play upon the piano-forte and the
harp; and even, to sing; though, not so promptly; for her voice and
sensibility were less ductile than her manners. But she determined to
leave nothing untried, that could prove, that it was not more easy to
stimulate her pride by indignity, than to animate her desire to oblige
by mild usage.
This resolution on her part, which the fear of losing her, on that of
Mrs Ireton, gave time to operate, brought into play so many brilliant
accomplishments, and opened to her patroness such sources of amusement,
that, while Juliet began to hope she had found a situation which she
might sustain till her suspences should be over, Mrs Ireton conceived
that she had met with a treasure, which might rescue her unoccupied
hours from weariness and spleen.