FullReads

MRS. PRIOR.–Ah, dear madam! how kind your ladyship’s message was to the poor lonely widow woman! Oh, how thoughtful it was of your ladyship to ask me to stay to tea!

LADY K.–With your daughter and the children? Indeed, my good Mrs. Prior, you are very welcome!

MRS. PRIOR.–Ah! but isn’t it a cause of thankfulness to be MADE welcome? Oughtn’t I to be grateful for these blessings?–yes, I say BLESSINGS. And I am–I am, Lady Kicklebury–to the mother–of–that angel who is gone [points to the picture]. It was your sainted daughter left us–left my child to the care of Mr. Milliken, and–and you, who are now his guardian angel I may say. You ARE, Lady Kicklebury–you are. I say to my girl, Julia, Lady Kicklebury is Mr. Milliken’s guardian angel, is YOUR guardian angel–for without you could she keep her place as governess to these darling children? It would tear her heart in two to leave them, and yet she would be forced to do so. You know that some one–shall I hesitate to say whom I MEAN–that Mr. Milliken’s mother, excellent lady though she is, does not love my child because YOU love her. You DO love her, Lady Kicklebury, and oh! a mother’s fond heart pays you back! But for you, my poor Julia must go–go, and leave the children whom a dying angel confided to her!

LADY K.–Go! no, never! not whilst I am in this house, Mrs. Prior. Your daughter is a well-behaved young woman: you have confided to me her long engagement to Lieutenant–Lieutenant What-d’you-call’im, in the Indian service. She has been very, very good to my grandchildren–she brought them over from Naples when my–my angel of an Arabella died there, and I will protect Miss Prior.

MRS. PRIOR.–Bless you, bless you, noble, admirable woman! Don’t take it away! I must, I WILL kiss your dear, generous hand! Take a mother’s, a widow’s blessings, Lady Kicklebury–the blessings of one who has known misfortune and seen better days, and thanks heaven–yes, heaven!–for the protectors she has found!

LADY K.–You said–you had–several children, I think, my good Mrs. Prior?

MRS. PRIOR.–Three boys–one, my eldest blessing, is in a wine-merchant’s office–ah, if Mr. Milliken WOULD but give him an order! an order from THIS house! an order from Lady Kicklebury’s son-in-law!–

LADY K.–It shall be done, my good Prior–we will see.

MRS. PRIOR.–Another, Adolphus, dear fellow! is in Christ’s Hospital. It was dear, good Mr. Milliken’s nomination. Frederick is at Merchant Taylor’s: my darling Julia pays his schooling. Besides, I have two girls–Amelia, quite a little toddles, just the size, though not so beautiful–but in a mother’s eyes all children are lovely, dear Lady Kicklebury–just the size of your dear granddaughter, whose clothes would fit her, I am sure. And my second, Charlotte, a girl as tall as your ladyship, though not with so fine a figure. “Ah, no, Shatty!” I say to her, “you are as tall as our dear patroness, Lady Kicklebury, whom you long so to see; but you have not got her ladyship’s carriage and figure, child.” Five children have I, left fatherless and penniless by my poor dear husband–but heaven takes care of the widow and orphan, madam–and heaven’s BEST CREATURES feed them!–YOU know whom I mean.

LADY K.–Should you not like, would you object to take–a frock or two of little Arabella’s to your child? and if Pinhorn, my maid, will let me, Mrs. Prior, I will see if I cannot find something against winter for your second daughter, as you say we are of a size.

MRS. PRIOR.–The widow’s and orphans’ blessings upon you! I said my Charlotte was as tall, but I never said she had such a figure as yours–who has?

CHARLES announces–

CHARLES.–Mrs. Bonnington! [Enter MRS. BONNINGTON.]

MRS. B.–How do you do, Lady Kicklebury?

LADY K.–My dear Mrs. Bonnington! and you come to dinner of course?

MRS. B.–To dine with my own son, I may take the liberty. How are my grandchildren? my darling little Emily, is she well, Mrs. Prior?