The next week little Betsy was brought to Rosewood by Anna, with equal
delight on both sides.
"I am going to be Miss Meridith's little maid," said the delighted
child; "and I shall have all new clothes. But don't let the little ones"
(meaning her brothers and sisters still younger than herself) "cry after
me, dame: I _must_ go to wait on Miss Meridith you know, she has been so
good to all of us." This was said with such an air of importance that
the whole party laughed at her: while little Betty walked off, quite
satisfied, as they did not oppose her going.
"Now you must be very good," said Anna, "and mind what Bella says to
you."
"And what _you_ say to me, Miss," said the child, jumping along, "for I
am to be your servant, and I will wait upon you by night and by day."
"Oh, you must not promise too much at present," returned Anna, "you are
but a very little girl."
"But I shall _grow_," replied she, "and then I shall learn, and I shall
be able to work soon, and make all your clothes; see if I don't, now."
"All I expect of you at present," said Anna, smiling at her
childishness, "is that you will be a good girl, and mind what Bella
says, and be very quiet in the house."
"Yes, I was quiet when my poor mother was ill, and so I _be_ when father
is bad," returned the child, "and so I will when you are ill."
"And at all times," replied Anna, "or Mrs. Meridith won't like it, and
then perhaps she may tell me to turn you away, and I shall always do as
she desires me."
"O, I will be as still as a mouse," cried little Betsey, putting her
finger on her lips. "I would not be turned away for ever so much;"--and
then she began a long story how one of their neighbours' girls was
turned away from her place, because she was not a good servant, and
another girl turned out of the school, "so I know it is a very bad thing
to be turned away," said she, "and I will try to keep my place now I
have got one."
The simplicity of the child, and her rusticity of manners, amused Mrs.
Meridith and Anna for some weeks; but there was about her a conceit,
and high opinion of herself, which kept them from extolling her simple
attempts to please, too much; though they gave ample credit for "doing
the best," as she called it.
Bella was busy the first month in making her an entire new set of
clothes, which were plain and neat, and suited to the station Mrs.
Meridith intended her to fill.
When Bella went to visit her father's cottage it was some time before
Betty could be persuaded to accompany her, lest she should be left
behind, or the little ones should cry after her; but on being assured
that she should return again, she ventured to pay them a visit, and
found her brothers and sisters quite reconciled to her absence; and
though they expressed great pleasure at seeing her, they did not desire
her to remain with them. And Bella amused her young mistress, after her
_new servant_ was put to bed, with the account she had given to her
father and the old dame of her place, and the variety of things she had
to do in it.
From this time the little girl began to conform to their ways, which
were at first so strange to her, while her affection for Mrs. Meridith
and her young lady daily increased, and Bella took every opportunity of
reminding her how much they deserved it.
Sixteen years of Anna's life had now passed away, and her understanding
and manners improved every day. William Campbell still continued in the
farm, and often supplied the place of his father at the neighbouring
markets; but John, who was of Anna's age, had for some time expressed
a wish for another employment, and Mrs. Meridith proposed his being
articled as a clerk to a lawyer in the neighbouring town, and who
conducted her affairs in the neighbourhood.
"I look upon your children," said she to Mr. Campbell, "as my relations,
and mean to assist them as far as is in my power, if you approve of
my plan, Anna; and I will go over to L--, and speak to Mr. Mansell,
and, perhaps, for the sake of the young man, we may remain there a few
months, in which time he will be introduced to those few acquaintance I
have there, and I hope his behaviour will be such, that for his own sake
they will notice him after we come away."
Mr. Campbell expressed his thanks. "Would my son take my advice," said
he, "he would prefer the happy country life to the toils and puzzles
of the law; but he is now old enough to know his own mind, and if he
prefers it, I will wait on the gentleman you mention, and both John
and myself will thank you, madam, to speak in his favour." John was
delighted: it was what he always wished; and if Mrs. Meridith would be
so kind, he would endeavour not to disgrace her recommendation.
The nearness of L-- to Downash also made it desirable, as his father or
brother visited it every market-day, and he should not feel it as any
separation from them. But his three sisters were of a different opinion:
they said he would soon become a gentleman and forget them, and none of
the family liked to lose his society.
Anna was surprised to hear Mrs. Meridith talk of spending a winter at
L--, as she had often heard her rejoice that her residence was not
nearer to it.
"I do it," said her friend, "to shew _you_ something of society.
The world is much the same every where, only as the circle advances
in higher life, dissipation and dissoluteness of manners too often
increase; you have read a great deal of what this world is, but it is
necessary you should see something of it also, as your years increase,
and not gather _all_ your information from books. I know the society in
a country town is not considered either very agreeable or improving,
yet there may be some families at L-- with whom you may form a pleasant
acquaintance; and I wish also to show the neighbourhood that I do indeed
look upon you as my daughter."
"It is for _my_ sake then, mamma, you are going to L--," returned Anna;
"I can hardly bear you should leave Rosewood on my account."
"I do not expect to meet with any thing which will compensate for the
change," said Mrs. Meridith; "but a little variety is necessary for
_you_, and after the seclusion I have lately lived in, I could not bring
myself to venture farther from home at present; neither would it be
prudent for you, who must be gradually initiated, if ever you join the
giddy round of gay life, or it might be too much for you."
Anna replied that her whole desire was to live as she hitherto had done,
and to follow the example of her kind friend in every thing. "If indeed,
my dear mamma, you intend me the privilege of standing in your place
hereafter," said she, "what ought I to be! and how far short shall I
fall of _your_ goodness! It was that alone which first made you think of
_me_; and whatever I am, all I have and know I owe to your kindness.
Oh! continue to me your instruction and advice, that I may become more
and more like you."
The winter was now fast advancing, but Mrs. Meridith would not leave
Rosewood before Christmas, that she might enjoy the festivity of the
season with her poor neighbours, who were fed and clothed as usual. On
Christmas and New Year's day, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, and _all_ their
children dined at Rosewood; and on the evening of twelfth-day, the
three elder girls with William and John, and a younger brother about
nine years of age, were again invited to partake of a cake. It was
Anna's treat to them, and they amused themselves by singing, dancing, or
whatever she thought most agreeable to her younger cousins, who never
visited her except at these times, and on her's and Mrs. Meridith's
birth-day, which both happened in the summer months, lest, as their
father said, "it should make them dissatisfied with their situation
at home," where they were constantly engaged in domestic affairs. The
eldest managed the dairy, under the direction of her mother; and the
youngest the poultry; and the care of the needle-work for her brothers,
and the younger children, chiefly devolved upon the second girl, who
used regularly to bring what wanted mending to her mother, and after
receiving her directions, supply her sisters and the female servants
with work. Mrs. Campbell had two other boys, who supplied the place of
William and John, at school, and there was a little boy and girl still
younger at home.
After Christmas, John, having been introduced to Mr. Mansell, and all
preliminaries settled, removed to his house, and it was agreed on that
he should board with that gentleman; and in a few days after, Mrs.
Meridith and Anna, with Syphax and Bella, and little Betty, with the
other servants, went into a ready-furnished house for the winter,
determined to be sociable with the inhabitants, and to be pleased with
all that was intended to please them. The estate which Mrs. Meridith
possessed in the neighbourhood made her of consequence in L--, and
the most respectable families made a point of calling on her after
her arrival; and when they had been only one week in the town, Anna
was surprised to find they were engaged every evening. Mrs. Meridith
attended the balls with her, which were once a fortnight; and several
private dances were given at different houses, where Anna was never in
want of a partner. Mrs. Meridith's patronage was enough to bring her
into notice; and had she not a mind well stored with antidotes against
it, and the repeated cautions of her kind uncle, not to be imposed on by
their adulation, poor Anna would have been in danger of losing all her
steadiness of mind, and the humble opinion of herself which was founded
on propriety.
"Consider, my dear child, it is owing to Mrs. Meridith's favour you
receive this notice," said Mr. Campbell; "_her_ consequence is such that
whom she favours, every one who wishes to please her thinks it necessary
to favour also; but let _her_ withdraw her protection, and where would
your noticers be then?"
"Oh! you and my aunt and cousins would notice me," replied she, with an
air of gaiety; "even if Mrs. Meridith gave me up; unless I should do any
thing very disgraceful indeed; and even then you would care for me, I
know."
"And so would I," said John, who was present at this conversation; "my
cousin Anna would be always the same to me, let her name be Meridith, or
Eastwood, or what it may."
Anna returned him thanks with earnestness. "It is only at Rosewood,
and the farm," said she, "that I expect to meet with real friends;
and my intercourse with the world has not alienated my affections from
them. But, my dear uncle, you would not have me quarrel with these
people, because they do not notice me for my own sake? Be assured I
properly estimate their attentions, and often smile at them all; but
Mrs. Meridith has so often cautioned me against giving any one reason
to think I treat them with contempt, that I am careful to return their
civility: and if we understand each other right, it passes, like current
coin, for no more than it is worth."
"Well, my dear," replied the farmer, smiling, "don't let it increase in
value, and I am satisfied. Remember many people have been fined lately
for valuing guineas at _more_ than they are worth."