"Mrs Saunders,--
"I have received a letter from your daughter, which, I presume, was
forwarded as a specimen of her penmanship; otherwise it was your duty
to have addressed me yourself. I said to you, when I met you at
Greenwich, that you were educating your daughter above her condition
in life, and I now repeat it. My patronage is extended only to those
who are not above their situations, which, I am sorry to observe, most
people are now. Nevertheless, as I did say that I would exert my
influence in your daughter's behalf; in consequence of your having
been a decent well-behaved menial to me, I have made inquiry among my
aquaintances, and find that I may be, _possibly_, able to place her
with my friend, Lady Towser, as a `boudoir assistant.' I have said
_possibly_, as I am by no means sure that she will be equal to the
situation, and the number of applicants are very numerous. The
enclosed paper from Lady Towser will give you an idea of what will be
requisite:--
"Morning, up at 6, and nicely dressed; come in in list shoes, and wait
at bedside, in case Lady Towser should be troubled with her morning
cough, to hand the emulsion, etcetera. At 9, to call and assist to
dress Lady Towser's head tirewoman; follow her to Lady T's chamber,
and obey orders. Breakfast in housekeeper's room. After breakfast
assist housemaid to dust ornaments, and on Saturdays and Wednesdays
_wash_, comb, and examine dogs; other days comb and examine them only;
clean and feed macaw, cockatoo, and parrot, also canary and other
birds; bring up dogs' dinners, and prevent them fighting at meals.
After dogs' dinners read to Lady T if required; if not, get up collars
and flounces, laces, etcetera, for Lady T and Lady T's tirewoman.
After your own dinner assist housekeeper as required in the
still-room; fine needlework; repair clothes before they go to wash;
dress and brush Lady T's perukes; walk out with dogs if weather is
fine, and be careful to prevent their making any acquaintances
whatever.
"Evening.--Read to Lady T, write notes, look over bills, and keep
general accounts; if not wanted, to make herself useful in
housekeeper's room, and obey all orders received from her or head
tirewoman. At night see that the hot water is ready for Lady T's
feet, and wait for her retiring to bed; wash Lady T's feet, and cut
corns, as required; read Lady T to sleep, or, if not required to read,
wait till she is certain that Lady T is so.
"Now the only points in which I think your daughter may fail is in
properly washing, combing, and examining the dogs, and cutting her
ladyship's corns; but surely she can practise a little of both, as she
will not be wanted for a month. There can be no difficulty about the
first; and as for the latter, as all people in your rank of life have
corns, she may practise upon yours or her father's. At all events,
there can be no want of corns in Greenwich Hospital among the
pensioners. I am desired to say that Lady T gives no wages the first
year; and you will be expected to send your daughter neatly fitted
out, that she may be able to remain in the room when there is company.
If this offer will not suit, I can do nothing more; the difficulty of
patronage increases every day. You will send an answer.
"VIRGINIA HAWKINGTREFYLYAN.
"I was just closing my letter when Lady Scrimmage came in; she tells me
that Lady Towser is suited, and that you have no hopes of this
situation. I have done my best. Lady Scrimmage has, however, informed
me that she thinks she can, upon my recommendation, do something for you
in Greenwich, as she deals largely with a highly-respectable and
fashionable milliner of the same name as your own, and with whom it
would be of the greatest advantage to your daughter to be placed as an
apprentice, or something of that sort. This is an opportunity not to be
lost, and I therefore have requested Lady S to write immediately, and I
trust, by _my patronage_, she will gain a _most enviable situation_."
"That postscript is admirable," observed I, "and ought to have put my
mother in a good humour. Is she not called by Lady Hercules `highly
respectable and fashionable'?"
"Very true," replied Virginia; "but my mother cannot get over the first
part of the letter, in which she is mentioned as `a decent and
well-behaved menial.' She has since received a note from Lady
Scrimmage, requesting her to take me in some capacity or another,
adding, by way of postscript, `You know you need not keep her if you do
not like--it is very easy to send her away for idleness or impertinence;
but I wish to oblige Lady Hercules, and so, pray, at all events, write
and say that you will try her.'"
"And what has my mother said in reply?"
"She did not show me the answer; but, from what I have collected from
her conversation, she has written a most haughty, and, I presume it will
be said, a most impertinent letter to both the ladies; the one to Lady
Scrimmage accompanied with her bill, which has not been paid these three
years. I am sorry that my mother has been annoyed. My father, to whom
I related what had taken place, told me that my mother was very ill
treated by Lady Hercules, and that she had smothered her resentment with
the hopes of benefiting her children by her patronage; but that was at a
time when she little expected to be so prosperous as she is now."
"It is all true, my dear girl; I recollect my father telling me the
whole story. However, I presume my mother, now that she can venture
upon defiance, has not failed to resort to it."
"That I am convinced of. I only hope that she will carry her
indignation against great people so far as not to court them as she has
done, and abandon all her ridiculous ideas of making a match for me.
After all, she has my welfare sincerely at heart, and, although mistaken
in the means of securing it, I cannot but feel that she is actuated
solely by her love for me."
We then changed the conversation to Janet, about whom I could now speak
calmly; after which I narrated to her what had occurred during the
night, and my intention to consult with my father and Anderson upon the
subject.
Virginia then left me that she might assist her mother, and I hastened
to my father's ward, where I found him, and, after our first greeting,
requested that he would accompany me to Anderson's office, as I had
something to communicate to them both. As I walked along with my father
I perceived Spicer at a corner with his foot on a stone step and his
hand to his knee, as if in pain. At last he turned round and saw us. I
walked up to him, and he appeared a little confused as he said, "Ah!
Tom, is that you? I did not know you were at Greenwich."
"I came here last night," replied I; "and I must be off again soon. Are
you lame?"
"Lame! No; what should make me lame?" replied he, walking by the side
of us as if he were not so.
I looked at his coat, and perceived that the third button on the right
side was missing.
"You've lost a button, Spicer," observed I.
"So I have," replied he; and, as we had now arrived at Anderson's door,
my father and I turned from him to walk in and wished him good bye.
Anderson was in his office, and as soon as the door was closed I
communicated to them what had occurred during the night, expressing my
conviction that Spicer was the party who had attempted the murder. In
corroboration I reminded my father of the loss of the button from
Spicer's coat, and produced the one which Nanny had torn off.
"This is something more than suspicion," observed Anderson; "but if; as
you say, old Nanny will not give evidence against him, I know not what
can be done. Did you say that the old woman wanted to speak with me?"
"Yes, and I really wish that you would call there oftener."
"Well," replied Anderson, "I'll go, Tom; but, to be plain with you, I do
not think that I can be of much use there. I have been several times:
she will gossip as long as you please; but if you would talk seriously,
she turns a deaf ear. You see, Tom, there's little to be gained when
you have to contend with such a besetting sin as avarice. It is so
powerful, especially in old age, that it absorbs all other feelings.
Still it is my duty, and it is also my sincere wish, to call her to a
proper sense of her condition. The poor old creature is, like myself;
not very far from the grave; and, when once in it, it will be too late.
I will go, Tom, and most thankful shall I be if; with God's help, I may
prove of service to her."
We then left old Anderson to his duties, and my father went home with
me. We had a long conversation relative to my sister, as well as about
my own affairs. I had intended to have remained some days at Greenwich,
but this was the first time that I had been there since Janet's
desertion, and the sight of everything so reminded me of her, and made
everything so hateful to me, that I became very melancholy. My mother
was, moreover, very cross, and my sister anything but comfortable; and,
on the third day, having received a letter from Bramble, stating that he
had arrived at Deal, and that the easterly winds having again set in,
they talked of setting out again in the galley, I made this an excuse
for leaving; and for the first time did I quit Greenwich without regret.