love and freindship-第17节

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ight　MY　poor　Girls　will　appear　quite　to　disadvantage　by　YOU　I　only　hope　your　Mother　may　not　have　distressed　herself　to　set　YOU　off。　　Have　you　got　a　new　Gown　on？〃

〃Yes　Ma'am。〃　replied　I　with　as　much　indifference　as　I　could　assume。

〃Aye；　and　a　fine　one　too　I　think（feeling　it；　as　by　her　permission　I　seated　myself　by　her）　I　dare　say　it　is　all　very　smartBut　I　must　own；　for　you　know　I　always　speak　my　mind；　that　I　think　it　was　quite　a　needless　piece　of　expenceWhy　could　not　you　have　worn　your　old　striped　one？　　It　is　not　my　way　to　find　fault　with　People　because　they　are　poor；　for　I　always　think　that　they　are　more　to　be　despised　and　pitied　than　blamed　for　it；　especially　if　they　cannot　help　it；　but　at　the　same　time　I　must　say　that　in　my　opinion　your　old　striped　Gown　would　have　been　quite　fine　enough　for　its　Wearerfor　to　tell　you　the　truth　（I　always　speak　my　mind）　I　am　very　much　afraid　that　one　half　of　the　people　in　the　room　will　not　know　whether　you　have　a　Gown　on　or　notBut　I　suppose　you　intend　to　make　your　fortune　to　night。　Well；　the　sooner　the　better；　and　I　wish　you　success。〃

〃Indeed　Ma'am　I　have　no　such　intention〃

〃Who　ever　heard　a　young　Lady　own　that　she　was　a　Fortune…hunter？〃　Miss　Greville　laughed　but　I　am　sure　Ellen　felt　for　me。

〃Was　your　Mother　gone　to　bed　before　you　left　her？〃　said　her　Ladyship。

〃Dear　Ma'am；　said　Ellen　it　is　but　nine　o'clock。〃

〃True　Ellen；　but　Candles　cost　money；　and　Mrs　Williams　is　too　wise　to　be　extravagant。〃

〃She　was　just　sitting　down　to　supper　Ma'am。〃

〃And　what　had　she　got　for　supper？〃　　　〃I　did　not　observe。〃　〃Bread　and　Cheese　I　suppose。〃　　〃I　should　never　wish　for　a　better　supper。〃　　said　Ellen。　　〃You　have　never　any　reason　replied　her　Mother；　as　a　better　is　always　provided　for　you。〃　Miss　Greville　laughed　excessively；　as　she　constantly　does　at　her　Mother's　wit。

Such　is　the　humiliating　Situation　in　which　I　am　forced　to　appear　while　riding　in　her　Ladyship's　CoachI　dare　not　be　impertinent；　as　my　Mother　is　always　admonishing　me　to　be　humble　and　patient　if　I　wish　to　make　my　way　in　the　world。　She　insists　on　my　accepting　every　invitation　of　Lady　Greville；　or　you　may　be　certain　that　I　would　never　enter　either　her　House；　or　her　Coach　with　the　disagreable　certainty　I　always　have　of　being　abused　for　my　Poverty　while　I　am　in　them。When　we　arrived　at　Ashburnham；　it　was　nearly　ten　o'clock；　which　was　an　hour　and　a　half　later　than　we　were　desired　to　be　there；　but　Lady　Greville　is　too　fashionable　（or　fancies　herself　to　be　so）　to　be　punctual。　　The　Dancing　however　was　not　begun　as　they　waited　for　Miss　Greville。　　I　had　not　been　long　in　the　room　before　I　was　engaged　to　dance　by　Mr　Bernard；　but　just　as　we　were　going　to　stand　up；　he　recollected　that　his　Servant　had　got　his　white　Gloves；　and　immediately　ran　out　to　fetch　them。　　In　the　mean　time　the　Dancing　began　and　Lady　Greville　in　passing　to　another　room　went　exactly　before　meShe　saw　me　and　instantly　stopping；　said　to　me　though　there　were　several　people　close　to　us；

〃Hey　day；　Miss　Maria！　　　What　cannot　you　get　a　partner？　Poor　Young　Lady！　　I　am　afraid　your　new　Gown　was　put　on　for　nothing。　　But　do　not　despair；　perhaps　you　may　get　a　hop　before　the　Evening　is　over。〃　　So　saying；　she　passed　on　without　hearing　my　repeated　assurance　of　being　engaged；　and　leaving　me　very　much　provoked　at　being　so　exposed　before　every　oneMr　Bernard　however　soon　returned　and　by　coming　to　me　the　moment　he　entered　the　room；　and　leading　me　to　the　Dancers　my　Character　I　hope　was　cleared　from　the　imputation　Lady　Greville　had　thrown　on　it；　in　the　eyes　of　all　the　old　Ladies　who　had　heard　her　speech。　　I　soon　forgot　all　my　vexations　in　the　pleasure　of　dancing　and　of　having　the　most　agreable　partner　in　the　room。　　As　he　is　moreover　heir　to　a　very　large　Estate　I　could　see　that　Lady　Greville　did　not　look　very　well　pleased　when　she　found　who　had　been　his　ChoiceShe　was　determined　to　mortify　me；　and　accordingly　when　we　were　sitting　down　between　the　dances；　she　came　to　me　with　more　than　her　usual　insulting　importance　attended　by　Miss　Mason　and　said　loud　enough　to　be　heard　by　half　the　people　in　the　room；　　〃Pray　Miss　Maria　in　what　way　of　business　was　your　Grandfather？　　for　Miss　Mason　and　I　cannot　agree　whether　he　was　a　Grocer　or　a　Bookbinder。〃　I　saw　that　she　wanted　to　mortify　me；　and　was　resolved　if　I　possibly　could　to　Prevent　her　seeing　that　her　scheme　succeeded。　〃Neither　Madam；　he　was　a　Wine　Merchant。〃　　〃Aye；　I　knew　he　was　in　some　such　low　way　He　broke　did　not　he？〃　　〃I　beleive　not　Ma'am。〃　　　〃Did　not　he　abscond？〃　〃I　never　heard　that　he　did。〃　　〃At　least　he　died　insolvent？〃　〃I　was　never　told　so　before。〃　　〃Why；　was　not　your　FATHER　as　poor　as　a　Rat〃　　〃I　fancy　not。〃　　〃Was　not　he　in　the　Kings　Bench　once？〃　　〃I　never　saw　him　there。〃　　She　gave　me　SUCH　a　look；　and　turned　away　in　a　great　passion；　while　I　was　half　delighted　with　myself　for　my　impertinence；　and　half　afraid　of　being　thought　too　saucy。　　As　Lady　Greville　was　extremely　angry　with　me；　she　took　no　further　notice　of　me　all　the　Evening；　and　indeed　had　I　been　in　favour　I　should　have　been　equally　neglected；　as　she　was　got　into　a　Party　of　great　folks　and　she　never　speaks　to　me　when　she　can　to　anyone　else。　Miss　Greville　was　with　her　Mother's　party　at　supper；　but　Ellen　preferred　staying　with　the　Bernards　and　me。　　We　had　a　very　pleasant　Dance　and　as　Lady　G　slept　all　the　way　home；　I　had　a　very　comfortable　ride。

The　next　day　while　we　were　at　dinner　Lady　Greville's　Coach　stopped　at　the　door；　for　that　is　the　time　of　day　she　generally　contrives　it　should。　　She　sent　in　a　message　by　the　servant　to　say　that　〃she　should　not　get　out　but　that　Miss　Maria　must　come　to　the　Coach…door；　as　she　wanted　to　speak　to　her；　and　that　she　must　make　haste　and　come　immediately〃　　〃What　an　impertinent　Message　Mama！〃　said　I〃Go　Maria〃　replied　sheAccordingly　I　went　and　was　obliged　to　stand　there　at　her　Ladyships　pleasure　though　the　Wind　was　extremely　high　and　very　cold。

〃Why　I　think　Miss　Maria　you　are　not　quite　so　smart　as　you　were　last　nightBut　I　did　not　come　to　examine　your　dress；　but　to　tell　you　that　you　may　dine　with　us　the　day　after　tomorrowNot　tomorrow；　remember；　do　not　come　tomorrow；　for　we　expect　Lord　and　Lady　Clermont　and　Sir　Thomas　Stanley's　familyThere　will　be　no　occasion　for　your　being　very　fine　for　I　shant　send　the　Carriage　If　it　rains　you　may　take　an　umbrella〃　I　could　hardly　help　laughing　at　hearing　her　give　me　leave　to　keep　myself　dry〃And　pray　remember　to　be　in　time；　for　I　shant　waitI　hate　my　Victuals　over…doneBut　you　need　not　come　before　the　timeHow　does　your　Mother　do？　　She　is　at　dinner　is　not　she？〃　　〃Yes　Ma'am　we　were　in　the　middle　of　dinner　when　your　Ladyship　came。〃　　〃I　am　afraid　you　find　it　very　cold　Maria。〃　　said　Ellen。　　〃Yes；　it　is　an　horrible　East　wind　said　her　MotherI　assure　you　I　can　hardly　bear　the　window　downBut　you　are　used　to　be　blown　about　by　the　wind　Miss　Maria　and　that　is　what　has　made　your　Complexion　so　rudely　and　coarse。　　You　young　Ladies　who　cannot　often　ride　in　a　Carriage　never　mind　what　weather　you　trudge　in；　or　how　the　wind　shews　your　legs。　　I　would　not　have　my　Girls　stand　out　of　doors　as　you　do　in　such　a　day　as　this。　　But　some　sort　of　people　have　no　feelings　either　of　cold　or　DelicacyWell；　remember　that　we　shall　expect　you　on　Thursday　at　5　o'clockYou　must　tell　your　Maid　to　come　for　you　at　nightThere　will　be　no　Moonand　you　will　have　an　horrid　walk　homeMy　compts　to　Your　MotherI　am　afraid　your　dinner　will　be　coldDrive　on〃　And　away　she　went；　leaving　me　in　a　great　passion　with　her　as　she　always　does。　Maria　Williams。



LETTER　the　FOURTH　From　a　YOUNG　LADY　rather　impertinent　to　her　freind

We　dined　yesterday　with　Mr　Evelyn　where　we　were　introduced　to　a　very　agreable　looking　Girl　his　Cousin。　　I　was　extremely　pleased　with　her　appearance；　for　added　to　the　charms　of　an　engaging　face；　her　manner　and　voice　had　something　peculiarly　interesting　in　them。　　So　much　so；　that　they　inspired　me　with　a　great　curiosity　to　know　the　history　of　her　Life；　who　were　her　Parents；　where　she　came　from；　and　what　had　befallen　her；　for　it　was　then　only　known　that　she　was　a　relation　of　Mr　Evelyn；　and　that　her　name　was　Grenville。　　In　the　evening　a　favourable　opportunity　offered　to　me　of　attempting　at　least　to　know　what　I　wished　to　know；　for　every　one　played　at　Cards　but　Mrs　Evelyn；　My　Mother；　Dr　Drayton；　Miss　Grenville　and　myself；　and　as　the　two　former　were　engaged　in　a　whispering　Conversation；　and　the　Doctor　fell　asleep；　we　were　of　necessity　obliged　to　entertain　each　other。　　This　was　what　I　wished　and　being　determined　not　to　remain　in　ignorance　for　want　of　asking；　I　began　the　Conversation　in　the　following　Manner。

〃Have　you　been　long　in　Essex　Ma'am？〃

〃I　arrived　on　Tuesday。〃

〃You　came　from　Derbyshire？〃

〃No；　Ma'am！　　appearing　surprised　at　my　question；　from　Suffolk。〃　You　will　think　this　a　good　dash　of　mine　my　dear　Mary；　but　you　know　that　I　am　not　wanting　for　Impudence　when　I　have　any　end　in　veiw。　　〃Are　you　pleased　with　the　Country　Miss　Grenville？　　Do　you　find　it　equal　to　the　one　you　have　left？〃

〃Much　superior　Ma'am　in　point　of　Beauty。〃　She　sighed。　I　longed　to　know　for　why。

〃But　the　face　of　any　Country　however　beautiful　said　I；　can　be　but　a　poor　consolation　for　the　loss　of　one's　dearest　Freinds。〃　　She　shook　her　head；　as　if　she　felt　the　truth　of　what　I　said。　　My　Curiosity　was