This interesting display of natural feelings was interrupted by the hasty
re-entrance of Mr. Harewood, followed by Betty, the housemaid, who, in
entering the door in a hurry, had fallen down a step, and hurt her
forehead, and was now brought forward by her good master, to claim the
assistance of her kind and skilful mistress.
The children were full of concern and condolence with Betty, and with great
tenderness shrunk when they saw their mamma bathe her forehead with
vinegar, as they knew it must smart exceedingly: and Ellen could not help
saying--"How good Betty is! she never says oh!"
"No, Miss," said Betty, "I know your mamma does it for my good; and though
she gives me some pain, yet she saves me from a great deal more."
In a few minutes, Betty declared the smarting was quite gone; and the
children were so glad, that Matilda began to think, though they were
foolish, yet they were certainly happy, and she wished she could feel
as happy as they did.
When Betty was gone, the tea came in, and Mrs. Harewood ordered a large
plate of toast, as she recollected Matilda's scanty dinner. Thomas once
handed it all round, and Mr. Harewood then said--"Set it down; when the
children want it, they will ask you for it."
All the children remembered poor Matilda's wants, and in order that she
might have plenty, without any more being ordered, or any thing in
reference to the past being mentioned, with true delicacy of feeling,
forbore to eat any more, so that Matilda could not repeat their words in
asking, which she now determined to do. She was very hungry, and the toast
looked very tempting, as it stood before the fire.
Matilda looked at the toast, and then at the footman; her cheek glowed, her
eye was subdued, but her tongue did not move. Thomas, however, handed her
the toast, and she then articulately said--"Thank you."
This was heard, but no notice was taken; they knew that much false shame
attends the first efforts to subdue pride and passion, and they feared lest
even approbation should be misconstrued.
In order to divert the general attention, Mrs. Harewood said--"I forgot to
ask Betty what made her run in such a hurry as to occasion her accident,
for I gave her leave to go out, and stay till nine o'clock, and it is only
seven now, I believe."
"I believe, madam," said Thomas, very respectfully, "she came home in
haste, because her sister has twins; and as you promised her some caudle,
she came to tell the cook to make it, and likewise to get some little
matter of clothing, from her own clothes, for the baby that is
unprovided."
"Poor woman!" said Mrs. Harewood; "we must all help; this little stranger
has a claim on us."
Ellen clapped her hands--"Oh, mamma, may I make it a nightcap?"
"Yes, my dear; I will get some old linen, and cut out a few things, after
tea."
"I will give you a crown, my dear," said Mr. Harewood; "as I cannot assist
in sewing, I must help to buy needles and thread."
"And I will give you a shilling, mamma," said Edmund, "if you please."
"Oh dear," said Charles, "I am very sorry, but I have only fourpence,
because I spent all my money on my new kite; but if that will do any good,
mamma----"
"It will do good, Charles, and I will not grieve you by refusing it,
because I see you are sorry that you have no more, which will teach you
another time to be provident, and then you will not be under the necessity
of giving your last farthing, or refusing to be charitable, when such a
case occurs again."
Ellen handed Charles's fourpence to her mamma; and as she did so, she put a
sixpence between the pence, so as not to be seen by Matilda, lest it should
seem like a reproach to her; and as she slipped the whole into her mother's
hand, she said--"I hope, mamma, you will be so good as to let Miss Hanson
make a little cap for the baby?"
"I don't like to sew," said Matilda, rising; "at least not such things as
these: I think a bit of calico to wrap the pickaninnies in is the best, and
I'll give that to buy some with."
As she spoke she threw half-a-guinea on the table, with the air of one
desirous of exhibiting both generosity and wealth, and looked round with an
eye that asked for admiration.
No notice was taken. Mrs. Harewood opening her own purse, took out
half-a-crown, and then counted all that she had got. In doing it, Ellen
perceived not her sixpence, and she then, with modesty, but without any
shame, said--"I believe my sixpence must have slipped down."
"I did not know you gave me one, child."
"Yes, but she did, for I saw her," said Mr. Harewood, "though she was not
aware that I did. She gave it in silence, not from affectation, but a kind
motive towards one who could not appreciate it; but we will say no more on
this point. Ellen, you have gratified your father: I see in your conduct
the germ of a gentlewoman, and, what is infinitely more precious, of a
Christian."
Ellen sprung to her father's arms, and in his affectionate kiss found a
rich reward.
For a moment, Matilda thought to herself, what a piece of work is here
about sixpence, while they take no notice at all of a bright golden
half-guinea! but still her understanding combated this thought, for she
knew that all the present company saw beyond the surface, and estimated
the gift according to the spirit of the donor.
Betty now came in, and Mrs. Harewood gave her the money, telling her to buy
some frocks with it. Observing the servant eye the half-guinea, she
said--"_That_ was the gift of Miss Hanson; she is very rich, it seems, and
gives out of her abundance. I am sure you will be grateful to _her_; but if
your fellow-servants, Betty, should spare, out of the little time they
have, enough to assist you in the making of these things, they will be the
best friends you meet with; for labour is much greater charity than money."
Betty replied, that she was much obliged to all her friends, both above and
below, and especially to poor Zebby, who had offered, with her lady's
leave, to sit up all night with her sister.
"She has not only my leave, but my approbation, especially as your accident
has rendered you unable. Tell Zebby I will spare her for a week, on this
truly charitable occasion."
With many thanks, Betty withdrew, and Ellen was soon, like her mamma, busy
with her needle. Mr. Harewood, drawing a celestial globe towards him, began
to give his sons some instruction, which interested them exceedingly; all
were employed, all happy, but Matilda, whose uneasiness was in fact
considerably augmented by the idea of Zebby leaving the house; for though
she used her ill, she had a regard for her, the extent of which she was not
aware of till now that her heart was a little softened, and her judgment
enlightened, by the transactions of the day.
After fidgeting about for some time, she at length took up a needle and
threaded it, and then drawing more timidly towards Mrs. Harewood, she
said--"I don't mind if I do sew a little bit."
Eager to seize upon any good symptom, Mrs. Harewood gave her a little cap,
carefully doubled down, saying--"You see this is double; in these
countries, the babies, or pickaninnies, as you call them, must be kept
warm."
"I called that woman's twins pickaninnies, because I thought she was
poor--a kind of servant; we do not call white children so--only little
negroes."
"They are all the same with us, and will be so with you, I hope, by and by;
indeed they always were with sensible good people. But, Matilda, what long
stitches you are taking! I shall have all your work to pick out again."
"I believe I cannot sew, indeed."
"So it appears; nor can you play a tune, nor read a French lesson, nor
write, nor draw: poor little girl! you have a great deal to learn: but,
however, keep up your spirits; if you are diligent and tractable, you will
conquer all your difficulties; humility and industry will enable you to
learn every thing."
"How very strange it is," said Matilda to herself, "that these people
appear to pity me, instead of envying me, as they used to do in Barbadoes,
and as I thought they would do here! besides, they are not angry with me,
even when they find fault with me, and they seem to wish me to be good for
the sake of being happy."
These thoughts somewhat soothed the perturbed bosom of the poor child until
the hour of rest, when the remembrance of the good-tempered negro's
destination rose to her mind, and she lamented her absence, and blamed her
exceedingly for leaving _her_ to go after a woman she had never seen in her
life: but the next day, it was apparent that the lesson she had received
was not lost upon her; she appeared ashamed of her ignorance, and willing
to learn; and as all her young friends were very willing to instruct her,
in whatever they had the power, she soon began to make some progress in her
education; she was a child of good capacity, and, when roused to exertion,
unusually quick; and being at an age when the mind expands quickly, it was
no wonder that she soon gave evident marks of improvement. It was observed,
that as her mind became enlightened, her manners were softened, and her
petulance less obtrusive, though she was seen to suffer daily from the
habitual violence of her temper, and the disposition to insolence, which
unchecked power is so apt to foster in young minds.
Mrs. Harewood found the care of Matilda greatly increase her task of
managing her family, as one naughty child frequently makes another, by
raising up a spirit of contention and ill-humour; and Charles was so
frequently led into sallies of passion, or tempted to ridicule the fault in
his new companion, that his parents often lamented that they had accepted
such a burdensome charge: but when they saw any symptoms of improvement in
her, they were ever happy to foster the good seed; and in the consciousness
that they were not only raising up a human mind to virtue and happiness,
but preparing an immortal soul for heaven, they thought little of their own
trouble, and were even truly thankful that she had been intrusted to their
careful examination and affectionate discipline.