FullReads

“A sweet little creature, indeed, ma’am, and I was wondering, before you spoke, not to see her in your room, as usual, to-night,” replied Mrs. Rebecca.

“Dear Mrs. Rebecca, you need not wonder at that, or any thing else that’s wonderful, in our present government above stairs, I’ll assure you; for we have a new French governess, and new measures. Do you know, ma’am, the coach is ordered to go about at all hours, whenever she pleases for to take the young ladies out, and she is quite like my mistress. But no one can bear two mistresses, you know, Mrs. Rebecca; wherefore, I’m come to a resolution, in short, that either she or I shall quit the house, and we shall presently see which of us it must be. Mrs. Harcourt, at the upshot of all things, must be conscious, at the bottom of her heart, that, if she is the elegantest dresser about town, it’s not all her own merit.”

“Very true indeed, Mrs. Grace,” replied her complaisant friend; “and what sums of money her millinery might cost her, if she had no one clever at making up things at home! You are blamed by many, let me tell you, for doing so much as you do. Mrs. Private, the milliner, I know from the best authority, is not your friend: now, for my part, I think it is no bad thing to have friends abroad, if one comes to any difficulties at home. Indeed, my dear, your attachment to Mrs. Harcourt quite blinds you–but, to be sure, you know your own affairs best.”

“Why, I am not for changing when I am well,” replied Grace: “Mrs. Harcourt is abroad a great deal, and hers is, all things considered, a very eligible house. Now, what I build my hopes upon, my dear Mrs. Rebecca, is this–that ladies, like some people who have been beauties, and come to make themselves up, and wear pearl powder, and false auburn hair, and twenty things that are not to be advertised, you know, don’t like quarrelling with those that are in the secret–and ladies who have never made a rout about governesses and edication, till lately, and now, perhaps, only for fashion’s sake, would upon a pinch–don’t you think–rather part with a French governess, when there are so many, than with a favourite maid who knows her ways, and has a good taste in dress, which so few can boast?”

“Oh, surely! surely!” said Mrs. Rebecca; and having tasted Mrs. Grace’s creme-de-noyau, it was decided that war should be declared against the governess.

Mad. de Rosier, happily unconscious of the machinations of her enemies, and even unsuspicious of having any, was, during this important conference, employed in reading Marmontel’s Silvain, with Isabella and Matilda. They were extremely interested in this little play; and Mrs. Harcourt, who came into the room whilst they were reading, actually sat down on the sofa beside Isabella, and, putting her arm round her daughter’s waist, said–“Go on, love; let me have a share in some of your pleasures–lately, whenever I see you, you all look the picture of happiness–Go on, pray, Mad. de Rosier.”

“It was I who was reading, mamma,” said Isabella, pointing to the place over Mad. de Rosier’s shoulder–

Une femme douce et sage
A toujours tant d’avantage!
Elle a pour elle en partage
L’agrement, et la raison.'”

“Isabella,” said Mrs. Harcourt, from whom a scarcely audible sigh had escaped–“Isabella really reads French almost as well as she does English.”

“I am improved very much since I have heard Mad. de Rosier read,” said Isabella.

“I don’t doubt that, in the least; you are, all of you, much improved, I think, in every thing;–I am sure I feel very much obliged to Mad. de Rosier.”