That vanity which presided over every thought and deed of Lady Clementina
was the protector of young Henry within her house. It represented to her
how amiable her conduct would appear in the eye of the world should she
condescend to treat this destitute nephew as her own son; what envy such
heroic virtue would excite in the hearts of her particular friends, and
what grief in the bosoms of all those who did not like her.
The dean was a man of no inconsiderable penetration. He understood the
thoughts which, upon this occasion, passed in the mind of his wife, and
in order to ensure her kind treatment of the boy, instead of reproaching
her for the cold manner in which she had at first received him, he
praised her tender and sympathetic heart for having shown him so much
kindness, and thus stimulated her vanity to be praised still more.
William, the mother's own son, far from apprehending a rival in this
savage boy, was convinced of his own pre-eminence, and felt an affection
for him--though rather as a foil than as a cousin. He sported with his
ignorance upon all occasions, and even lay in wait for circumstances that
might expose it; while young Henry, strongly impressed with everything
which appeared new to him, expressed, without reserve, the sensations
which those novelties excited, wholly careless of the construction put on
his observations.
He never appeared either offended or abashed when laughed at; but still
pursued his questions, and still discovered his wonder at many replies
made to him, though "simpleton," "poor silly boy," and "idiot," were
vociferated around him from his cousin, his aunt, and their constant
visitor the bishop.
His uncle would frequently undertake to instruct him; so indeed would the
bishop; but Lady Clementina, her son, and the greatest part of her
companions, found something so irresistibly ridiculous in his remarks,
that nothing but immoderate laughter followed; they thought such folly
had even merit in the way of entertainment, and they wished him no wiser.
Having been told that every morning, on first seeing his uncle, he was to
make a respectful bow; and coming into the dean's dressing-room just as
he was out of bed, his wig lying on the table, Henry appeared at a loss
which of the two he should bow to. At last he gave the preference to his
uncle, but afterwards bowed reverently to the wig. In this he did what
he conceived was proper, from the introduction which the dean, on his
first arrival, had given him to this venerable stranger; for, in reality,
Henry had a contempt for all finery, and had called even his aunt's
jewels, when they were first shown to him, "trumpery," asking "what they
were good for?" But being corrected in this disrespect, and informed of
their high value, he, like a good convert, gave up his reason to his
faith; and becoming, like all converts, over-zealous, he now believed
there was great worth in all gaudy appearances, and even respected the
earrings of Lady Clementina almost as much as he respected herself.