The two sisters no sooner discovered the escape of their prey, than,
screaming with violent laughter, they began a romping race in its
pursuit.
Near the entrance into the hall, Juliet was met by Selina, with commands
from Mrs Ireton, that she would either present herself, immediately, to
the company; or seek another abode.
In minds of strong sensibility, arrogance rouses resentment more quickly
even than injury: a message so gross, an affront so public, required,
therefore, no deliberation on the part of Juliet; and she was answering
that she would make her preparations to depart; when the Miss Crawleys,
rushing suddenly upon her, exclaimed, with clamourous joy, 'She's
caught! She's caught! The Ellis is caught!' and, each of them seizing a
hand, they dragged her, with merry violence, into the breakfast-room.
Her hoydening conductors failed not to excite the attention of the whole
assembly; though it fell not, after the first glance, upon themselves.
Juliet, to whom exercise and confusion gave added beauty; and whom no
disorder of attire could rob of an air of decency, which, inherent in
her nature, was always striking in her demeanor; was no sooner seen,
than, whether with censure or applause, she monopolized all remark.
Mrs Ireton haughtily bid her approach.
Averse, yet unwilling to risk the consequences of a public breach, she
slowly advanced.
'I am afraid, Ma'am,' said Mrs Ireton, with a smile of derision; 'I am
afraid, Ma'am, you have hurried yourself? It is not much above an hour,
I believe, since I did myself the honour of sending for you. I have no
conception how you have been able to arrive so soon! Pray how far do
you think it may be from hence to the Temple? ten or twelve yards, I
verily believe! You must really be ready to expire!'
Having constrained herself to hear thus much, Juliet conceived that the
duty even of her humble station could require no more; she made,
therefore, a slight reverence, with intention to withdraw. But Mrs
Ireton, offended, cried, 'Whither may you be going, Ma'am?--And pray,
Ma'am,--if I may take the liberty to ask such a question,--who told you
to go?--Was it I?--Did any body hear me?--Did you, Lady Arramede?--or
you, Miss Brinville?--or only Miss Ellis herself? For, to be sure I must
have done it: I take that for granted: she would not, certainly, think
of going without leave, after I have sent for her. So I make no doubt
but I did it. Though I can't think how it happened, I own. 'Twas
perfectly without knowing it, I confess. In some fit of absence--perhaps
in my sleep;--for I have slept, too, perhaps, without knowing it!'
Sarcasms so witty, uttered by a lady at an assembly in her own house,
could not fail of being received with applause; and Mrs Ireton, looking
around her triumphantly, regarded the disconcerted Juliet as a
completely vanquished vassal. In a tone, therefore, that marked the most
perfect self-satisfaction, 'Pray, Ma'am,' she continued, 'for what might
you suppose I did myself the favour to want you? was it only to take a
view of your new _costume_? 'Tis very careless and picturesque, to be
sure, to rove abroad in that agreeable dishabille, just like the "maiden
all forlorn;" or rather to speak with mere exactitude, like the "man all
tattered and torn," for 'tis more properly his _costume_ you adopt, than
the neat, tidy maiden's.'
The warm-hearted young Lady Barbara, all pity and feeling for Juliet,
here broke from her quiet and cautious aunt, and, with irrepressible
eagerness, exclaimed, 'Mrs Ireton, 'twas Mr Loddard, your own little
naughty nephew, who deranged in that manner the dress of that elegant
Miss Ellis.'
The Miss Crawleys, now, running to the little boy, called out, 'The
Loddard! the Loddard! 'tis the Loddard has set up the new _costume_!'
Mrs Ireton, though affecting to laugh, had now done with the subject;
and, while she was taking a pinch of snuff, to gain time to suggest some
other, Sir Jaspar Herrington, advancing to Juliet, said, 'Has this young
lady no place?' and, gallantly taking her hand, he led her to his own
chair, and walked to another part of the room.
A civility such as this from Sir Jaspar, made all the elders of the
company stare, and all the younger titter; but the person the most
surprized was Mrs Ireton, who hastily called out, 'Miss Ellis would not
do such a thing! Take Sir Jaspar's own seat! That has his own particular
cushions! She could not do such a thing! I should think not, at least! I
may judge ill, but I should think not. A seat prepared for Sir Jaspar by
my own order! Miss Ellis can dispense with having an easy chair, and
three cushions, I should presume! I may be wrong, to be sure, but I
should presume so!'
'Madam,' answered Sir Jaspar, 'in days of old, I never could bear to
sit, when I saw a lady standing; and though those days are past, alas!
and gone,--still I cannot, even to escape a twitch of the gout, see a
fair female neglected, without feeling a twitch of another kind, that
gives me yet greater pain.'
'Your politeness, Sir Jaspar,' replied Mrs Ireton, 'we all know; and, if
it were for one of my guests,--but Miss Ellis can hardly desire, I
should suppose, to see you drop down with fatigue, while she is reposing
upon your arm-chair. Not that I pretend to know her way of thinking! I
don't mean that. I don't mean to have it imagined I have the honour of
her confidence; but I should rather suppose she could not insist upon
turning you out of your seat, only to give you a paroxysm of the gout.'
However internally moved, Juliet endured this harangue in total silence;
convinced that where all authority is on the side of the aggressor,
resistance only provokes added triumph. Her looks, therefore, though
they shewed her to be hurt and offended, evinced a dignified
forbearance, superiour to the useless reproach, and vain retaliation, of
unequal contention.
She rose, nevertheless, from the seat which she had only momentarily,
and from surprise occupied, and would have quitted the room, but that
she saw she should again be publicly called back; and hers was not a
situation for braving open enmity. She thankfully, however, accepted a
chair which was brought to her by Sir Marmaduke Crawley, and placed next
to that which had been vacated by the old Baronet; who then returned to
his own.
She now hoped to find some support from his countenance; as his powerful
situation in the house, joined to his age, would make his smallest
attention prove to her a kind of protection. Her expectation, however,
was disappointed: he did not address to her a word; or appear to have
ever beheld her before; and his late act of politeness seemed exerted
for a perfect stranger, from habitual good breeding.
And is it you, thought the pensive Juliet, who, but a few minutes
since, spoke to me with such flattery, such preference? with an even
impassioned regard? And shall this so little assembly guide and awe you?
There, where I wished upon me your compliments;--while here, where a
smile would be encouragement, where notice would be charity, you affect
to have forgotten, or appear never to have seen me! Ah! mentally
continued the silent moralist, if we reflected upon the difficulty of
gaining esteem; upon the chances against exciting affection; upon the
union of time and circumstance necessary for obtaining sincere regard;
we should require courage to withhold, not to follow, the movement of
kindness, that, where distress sighs for succour, where helplessness
solicits support, gives power to the smallest exertion, to a single
word, to a passing smile,--to bestow a favour, and to do a service, that
catch, in the brief space of a little moment, a gratitude that never
dies!
But, while thus to be situated, was pain and dejection to Juliet, to see
her seated, however unnoticed, in the midst of this society, was almost
equally irksome to Mrs Ireton; who, after some vain internal fretting,
ordered the butler to carry about refreshments; consoled with the
certainty, that he would as little dare present any to Juliet, as omit
to present them to every one else.
The smiles and best humour of Mrs Ireton now soon returned; for the
dependent state of Juliet became more than ever conspicuous, when thus
decidedly she was marked as the sole person, in a large assembly, that
the servants were permitted, if not instructed to neglect.
Juliet endeavoured to sit tranquil, and seem unconcerned; but her
fingers were in continual motion; her eyes, meaning to look no where,
looked every where; and Mrs Ireton had the gratification to perceive,
that, however she struggled for indifference, she was fully sensible of
the awkwardness of her situation.
But this was no sooner remarked by Lady Barbara Frankland, than,
starting with vivacity from her vainly watchful aunt, she flew to her
former instructress, crying, 'Have you taken nothing yet, Miss Ellis? O
pray, then, let me chuse your ice for you?'
She ran to a side-board, and selecting the colour most pleasing to her
eyes, hastened with it to the blushing, but relieved and grateful
Juliet; to whom this benevolent attention seemed instantly to restore
the self-command, that pointed indignities, and triumphant derision,
were sinking into abashed depression.
The sensation produced by this action in Mrs Ireton, was as ungenial as
that which it caused to Juliet was consolatory. She could not for a
moment endure to see the creature of her power, whom she looked upon as
destined for the indulgence of her will, and the play of her authority,
receive a mark of consideration which, if shewn even to herself, would
have been accepted as a condescension. Abruptly, therefore, while they
were standing together, and conversing, she called out, 'Is it possible,
Miss Ellis, that you can see the child in such imminent danger, and stay
there amusing yourself?'
Lady Kendover hastily called off her young niece; and Juliet, sighing
crossed over the room, to take charge of the little boy, who was sitting
astraddle out of one of the windows.
'But I had flattered myself,' cried Sir Marmaduke Crawley, addressing
Mrs Ireton, 'that we should have a little music?'
Mrs Ireton, to whom the talents of Juliet gave pleasure in proportion
only to her own repugnance to bringing them into play, had relinquished
the projected performance, when she perceived the general interest which
was excited by the mere appearance of the intended performer. She
declared herself, therefore, so extremely fearful lest some mischief
should befall her little nephew, that she could not possibly trust him
from the care of Miss Ellis.
Half the company, now, urged by the thirst of fresh amusement, professed
the most passionate fondness for children, and offered their services to
watch the dear, sweet little boy, while Miss Ellis should play or sing;
but the averseness] of Ellis remained uncombated by Mrs Ireton, and,
therefore, unconquered.
The party was preparing to break up, when Mr Giles Arbe entered the
room, to apologize for the non-appearance of Miss Arbe, his cousin, who
had bid him bring words, he said, that she was taken ill.
Ireton, by a few crafty questions, soon drew from him, that Miss Arbe
was only gone to a little private music-meeting at Miss Sycamore's:
though, affrighted when he had made the confession, he entreated Mrs
Ireton not to take it amiss; protesting that it was not done in any
disrespect to her, but merely because his cousin was more amused at Miss
Sycamore's.
Mrs Ireton, extremely piqued, answered, that she should be very careful,
in future, not to presume to make an invitation to Miss Arbe, but in a
total dearth of other entertainment; in a famine; or public fast.
But, the moment he sauntered into another room, to partake of some
refreshments, 'That old savage,' she cried, 'is a perfect horrour! He
has not a single atom of common sense; and if he were not Miss Arbe's
cousin, one must tell one's butler to shew him the door. At least, such
is my poor opinion. I don't pretend to be a judge; but such is my
notion!'
'O! I adore him!' cried Miss Crawley. 'He makes me laugh till I am ready
to die! He has never a guess what he is about; and he never hears a word
one says. And he stares so when one laughs at him! O! he's the
delightfullest, stupidest, dear wretch that breathes!'
'O! I can't look at him without laughing!' exclaimed Miss Di. 'He's the
best thing in nature! He's delicious! enchanting! delightful! O! so dear
a fool!'
'He is quite unfit,' said Mrs Maple, 'for society; for he says every
thing that comes uppermost, and has not the least idea of what is due to
people.'
'O! he is the sweetest-tempered, kindest-hearted creature in the world!'
exclaimed Lady Barbara. 'My aunt's woman has heard, from Miss Arbe's
maid, all his history. He has quite ruined himself by serving poor
people in distress. He is so generous, he can never pronounce a
refusal.'
'But he dresses so meanly,' said Miss Brinville, 'that mamma and I have
begged Miss Arbe not to bring him any more to see us. Besides,--he tells
every thing in the world to every body.'
'Poor Miss Arbe a'n't to blame, I assure you, Miss Brinville,' said
Selina; 'for she dislikes him as much as you do; only when her papa
invited him to live with them, he was very rich; and it was thought he
would leave all his fortune to them. But, since then, Miss Arbe says, he
is grown quite poor; for he has dawdled away almost all his money, in
one way or another; letting folks out of prison, setting people up in
business, and all that.'
'O! he's the very king of quizzes!' cried Ireton. 'He drags me out of
the spleen, when I feel as if there were no possibility I could yawn on
another half hour.'
Sir Jaspar now, looking with an air of authority towards Ireton, said,
'It would have been your good star, not your evil genius, by which you
would have been guided, Mr Ireton, had you been attracted to this old
gentleman as to an example, rather than as a butt for your wit. He has
very good parts, if he knew how to make use of them; though he has a
simplicity of manners, that induces common observers to conclude him to
be nearly an ideot. And, indeed, an absent man seems always in a state
of childhood; for as he is never occupied with what is present, those
who think of nothing else, naturally take it for granted that what
passes is above his comprehension; when perhaps, it is only below his
attention. But with Mr Arbe, though his temper is incomparably good and
placid, absence is neither want of understanding, nor of powers of
observation; for, when once he is awakened to what is passing, by any
thing that touches his feelings of humanity, or his sense of justice,
his seeming stupor turns to energy; his silence is superseded by
eloquence; and his gentle diffidence is supplanted by a mental courage,
which electrifies with surprize, from its contrast with his general
docility; and which strikes, and even awes, from an apparent dignity of
defying consequence;--though, in fact, it is but the effect of never
weighing them. Such, however, as he is, Mr Ireton, with the
singularities of his courage, or the oddities of his passiveness, he is
a man who is useful to the world, from his love of doing good; and happy
in himself, from the serenity of a temper unruffled by any species of
malignity.'
Ireton ventured not to manifest any resentment at this conclusion; but
when, by his embarrassed air, Sir Jaspar saw that it was understood, he
smiled, and more gaily added, 'If the fates, the sisters three, and such
little branches of learning, had had the benevolence to have fixed my
own birth under the influence of the same planet with that of Mr Giles
Arbe, how many twitches, goadings, and worries should I have been
spared, from impatience, ambition, envy, discontent, and ill will!'
The subject was here dropt, by the re-entrance of Mr Arbe; who,
observing Selina, said that he wanted prodigiously to enquire about her
poor aunt, whom, lately, he had met with no where; though she used to be
every where.
'My aunt, Sir?--She's there!' said Selina, pointing to Mrs Maple.
'No, no, I don't mean that aunt; I mean your young aunt, that used to be
so all alive and clever. What's become of her?'
'O, I dare say it's my sister you are thinking of?'
'Ay, it's like enough; for she's young enough, to be sure; only you look
such a mere child. Pray how is she now? I was very sorry to hear of her
cutting her throat.'
A titter, which was immediately exalted into a hearty laugh by the Miss
Crawleys, was all the answer.
'It was not right to do such a thing,' he continued; 'very wrong indeed.
There's no need to be afraid of not dying soon enough, for we only come
to be gone! I pitied her, however, with all my heart, for love is but a
dangerous thing; it makes older persons than she is go astray, one way
or other. And it was but unkind of Mr Harleigh not to marry her, whether
he liked or not, to save her from such a naughty action. And pray what
is become of that pretty creature that used to teach you all music? I
have enquired for her at Miss Matson's, often; but I always forgot where
they said she was gone. Indeed they made me a little angry about her,
which, probably, was the reason that I could never recollect what they
told me of her direction.'
'Angry, Mr Giles?' repeated Mrs Ireton, with an air of restored
complacency; 'What was it, then, they said of her? Not that I am very
curious to hear it, as I presume you will believe! You won't imagine it,
I presume, a matter of the first interest to me!'
'O, what they said of her was very bad! very bad, indeed; and that's the
reason I give no credit to it.'
'Well, well, but what was it?' cried Ireton.
'Why they told me that she was turned toad-eater.'
Universal and irresistible smiles throughout the whole company, to the
exception of Lady Barbara and Sir Jaspar, now heightened the
embarrassment of Juliet into pain and distress: but the young Loddard
every moment struggled to escape into the garden, through the window;
and she did not dare quit her post.
'So I asked them what they meant,' Mr Giles continued; 'for I never
heard of any body's eating toads; though I am assured our neighbours, on
t'other bank, are so fond of frogs. But they made it out, that it only
meant a person who would swallow any thing, bad or good; and do whatever
he was bid, right or wrong; for the sake of a little pay.'
This definition by no means brought the assembly back to its gravity;
but while Juliet, ashamed and indignant, kept her face turned constantly
towards the garden, Ireton called out, 'Why you don't speak to your
little friend, Loddard, Mr Giles. There he is, at the window.'
Mr Giles now, notwithstanding her utmost efforts to avoid his eyes,
perceived the blushing Juliet; though, doubting his sight, he stared and
exclaimed, 'Good la! that lady's very like Miss Ellis! And, I protest,
'tis she herself! And just as pretty as ever! And with the same innocent
face that not a soul can either buy or make, but God Almighty himself!'
He then enquired after her health and welfare, with a cordiality that
somewhat lessened the pain caused by the general remark that was
produced by his address: but the relief was at an end upon his adding,
'I wanted to see you prodigiously, for I have never forgotten your
paying your debts so prettily, against your will, that morning. It fixed
you in my good opinion. I hope, however, it is a mistake, what they tell
me, that you are turned what they call toad-eater? and have let yourself
out, at so much a year, to say nothing that you think; and to do nothing
that you like; and to beg pardon when you are not in fault; and to eat
all the offals; and to be beat by the little gentleman; and worried by
the little dog? I hope all that's mere misapprehension, my dear; for it
would be but a very mean way of getting money.'
The calmness of conscious superiority, with which Juliet heard the
beginning of these interrogatories, was converted into extreme
confusion, by their termination, from the appearance of justice which
the incidents of the morning had given to the attack.
'For now,' continued he, 'that you have paid all your debts, you ought
to hold up your head; for, where nothing is owing, we are all of us
equal, rich and poor; another man's riches no more making him my
superiour, or benefactor, if I do not partake of them, than my poverty
makes me his servant, or dependent, if I neither work for, nor am
benefited by him. And I am your witness that you gave every one his due.
So don't let any body put you out of your proper place.'
The mortification of Juliet, at this public exhortation, upon a point so
delicate, was not all that she had to endure: the little dog, who,
though incessantly tormented by the little boy, always followed him;
kept scratching her gown; to be helped up to the window, that he might
play with, or snarl at him, more at his ease; and the boy, making a whip
of his pocket-handkerchief, continually attracted, though merely to
repulse him; while Juliet, seeking alternately to quiet both, had not a
moment's rest.
'Why now, what's all this my pretty lady?' cried Mr Giles, perceiving
her situation. 'Why do you let those two plagueful things torment you
so? Why don't you teach them to be better behaved.'
'Miss Ellis would be vastly obliging, certainly,' with a supercilious
brow, said Mrs Ireton, 'to correct my nephew! I don't in the least mean
to contest her abilities for superintending his chastisement; not in the
least, I assure you! But only, as I never heard of my brother's giving
her such a _carte blanche_; and as I don't recollect having given it
myself,--although I may have done it, again, perhaps, in my sleep!--I
should be happy to learn by what authority she would be invested with
such powers of discipline?'
'By what authority? That of humanity, Ma'am! Not to spoil a poor
ignorant little fellow-creature; nor a poor innocent little beast.'
'It would be immensely amiable of her, Sir, no doubt,' said Mrs Ireton,
reddening, 'to take charge of the morals of my household; immensely! I
only hope you will be kind enough to instruct the young person, at the
same time, how she may hold her situation? That's all! I only hope
that!'
'How? Why by doing her duty! If she can't hold it by that, 'tis her duty
to quit it. Nobody is born to be trampled upon.'
'I hope, too, soon,' said Mrs Ireton, scoffingly, 'nobody will be born
to be poor!'
'Good! true!' returned he, nodding his head. 'Nobody should be poor!
That is very well said. However, if you think her so poor, I can give
you the satisfaction to shew you your mistake. She mayn't, indeed, be
very rich, poor lady, at bottom; but still--'
'No, indeed, am I not!' hastily cried Juliet, frightened at the
communication which she saw impending.
'But still,' continued he, 'if she is poor, it is not for want of money;
nor for want of credit, neither; for she has bank-notes in abundance in
one of her work-bags; and not a penny of them is her own! which shews
her to be a person of great honour.'
Every one now looked awakened to a new curiosity; and Selina exclaimed,
'O la! have you got a fortune, then, my dear Ellis? O! I dare say, then,
my guess will prove true at last! for I dare say you are a princess in
disguise?'
'As far as disguise goes, Selina,' answered Mrs Maple, 'we have never, I
think, disputed! but as to a princess!...'
'A princess?' repeated Mrs Ireton. 'Upon my word, this is an honour I
had not imagined! I own my stupidity! I can't but own my stupidity; but
I really had never imagined myself so much honoured, as to suspect that
I had a princess under my roof, who was so complaisant as to sing, and
play, and read to me, at my pleasure; and to study how to amuse and
divert me! I confess, I had never suspected it! I am quite ashamed of my
total want of sagacity; but it had never occurred to me!'
'And why not, Ma'am?' cried Mr Giles. 'Why may not a princess be pretty,
and complaisant, and know how to sing and play, and read, as well as
another lady? She is just as able to learn as you, or any common person.
I never heard that a princess took her rank in the place of her
faculties. I know no difference; except that, if she does the things
with good nature, you ought to love and honour her the double, in
consideration of the great temptation she has to be proud and idle, and
to do nothing. We all envy the great, when we ought only to revere them
if they are good, and to pity them if they are bad; for they have the
same infirmities that we have; and nobody that dares put them in mind of
them: so that they often go to the grave, before they find out that they
are nothing but poor little men and women, like the rest of us. For my
part, when I see them worthy, and amiable, I look up to them as
prodigies! Whereas, a common person, such as you, or I, Ma'am,--'
Mrs Ireton, unable to bear this phrase, endeavoured to turn the
attention of the company into another channel, by abruptly calling upon
Juliet to go to the piano-forte.
Juliet entreated to be excused.
'Excused? And why, Ma'am? What else have you got to do? What are your
avocations? I shall really take it as a favour to be informed.'
'Don't teize her, pretty lady; don't teize her,' cried Mr Giles. 'If she
likes to sing, it's very agreeable; but if not, don't make a point of
it, for it's not a thing at all essential.'
'Likes it?' repeated Mrs Ireton, superciliously; 'We must do nothing,
then, but what we like? Even when we are in other people's houses? Even
when we exist only through the goodness of some of our superiours? Still
we are to do only what we like? I am quite happy in the information!
Extremely obliged for it, indeed! It will enable me, I hope, to rectify
the gross errour of which I have been guilty; for I really did not know
I had a young lady in my house, who was to make her will and taste the
rule for mine! and, as I suppose, to have the goodness to direct my
servants; as well as to take the trouble to manage me. I knew nothing of
all this, I protest. I thought, on the contrary, I had engaged a young
person, who would never think of taking such a liberty as to give her
opinion; but who would do, as she ought, with respect and submission,
whatever I should indicate.'--
'Good la, Ma'am,' interrupted Mr Giles: 'Why that would be leading the
life of a slave! And that, I suppose, is what they meant, all this time,
by a toad-eater. However, don't look so ashamed, my pretty dear, for a
toad-eater-maker is still worse! Fie, fie! What can rich people be
thinking of, to lay out their money in buying their fellow-creatures'
liberty of speech and thought! and then paying them for a bargain which
they ought to despise them for selling?'
This unexpected retort turning the smiles of the assembly irresistibly
against the lady of the mansion, she hastily renewed her desire that
Juliet would sing.
'Sing, Ma'am?' cried Mr Giles. 'Why a merry-andrew could not do it,
after being so affronted! Bless my heart! Tell a human being that she
must only move to and fro, like a machine? Only say what she is bid,
like a parrot? Employ her time, call forth her talents, exact her
services, yet not let her make any use of her understanding? Neither say
what she approves, nor object to what she dislikes? Poor, pretty young
thing! You were never so much to be pitied, in the midst of your worst
distresses, as when you were relived upon such terms! Fie upon it,
fie!--How can great people be so little?'
The mingled shame and resentment of Mrs Ireton, at a remonstrance so
extraordinary and so unqualified, were with difficulty kept within the
bounds of decorum; for though she laughed, and affected to be extremely
diverted, her laugh was so sharp, and forced, that it wounded every ear;
and, through the amusement that she pretended to receive, it was obvious
that she suffered torture, in restraining herself from ordering her
servants to turn the orator out of the room.
With looks much softened, though in a manner scarcely less fervent, Mr
Giles then, approaching Juliet, repeated, 'Don't be cast down I say, my
pretty lady! You are none the worse for all this. The thing is but
equal, at last; so we must not always look at the bad side of our fate.
State every thing fairly; you have got your talents, your prettiness,
and your winning ways,--but you want these ladies' wealth: they, have
got their wealth, their grandeur, and their luxuries; but they want your
powers of amusing. You can't well do without one another. So it's best
be friends on both sides.'
Mrs Ireton, now, dying to give some vent to her spleen, darted the full
venom of her angry eyes upon Juliet, and called out, 'You don't see, I
presume, Miss Ellis, what a condition Bijou has put that chair in? 'T
would be too great a condescension for you, I suppose, just to give it a
little pat of the hand, to shake off the crumbs? Though it is not your
business, I confess! I confess that it is not your business! Perhaps,
therefore, I am guilty of an indiscretion in giving you such a hint.
Perhaps I had better let Lady Kendover, or Lady Arramede, or Mrs
Brinville, or any other of the ladies, sit upon the dirt, and soil their
clothes? You may think, perhaps, that it will be for the advantage of
the mercer, or the linen-draper? You may be considering the good of
trade? or perhaps you may think I may do such sort of menial offices for
myself?'
However generally power may cause timidity, arrogance, in every generous
mind, awakens spirit; Juliet, therefore, raising her head, and,
clearing her countenance, with a modest, but firm step, moved silently
towards the door.
Astonished and offended, 'Permit me, Madam,' cried Mrs Ireton; 'permit
me, Miss Ellis,--if it is not taking too great a liberty with a person
of your vast consequence,--permit me to enquire who told you to go?'
Juliet turned back her head, and quietly answered, 'A person, Madam, who
has not the honour to be known to you,--myself!' And then steadily left
the room.