Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 245: what you’re looking at

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A NOVEL WITHOUT A HERO. get me a good place as governess in a noble- man’s family—you can do so if you please.” And in their further disputes she always re- turned to this point, ‘‘ Get me a situation— we hate each other, and I am ready to go.” Worthy Miss Pinkerton, although she had a Roman nose and a turban, and was as tall as a grenadier, and had been up to this time an irresistible princess, had no will or strength like that of her little apprentice, and in vain did battle against her, and tried to overawe her. Attempting once to scold her in public, Rebecca hit upon the be- fore-mentioned plan of answering her in French, which quite routed the old woman. In order to maintain authority in her school, it became necessary to remove this rebel, this monster, this serpent, this firebrand ; and hearing about this time that Sir Pitt Crawley’s family was in want of a governess, she actually recommended Miss Sharp for the situation, firebrand and serpent that she was. ‘I can not, certainly,” she said, ‘find fault with Miss Sharp’s conduct except to myself; and must allow that her talents and accomplishments are of a high order. As far as the head goes, at least, she does credit to the educational system pursued at my es- tablishment.” And so the schoolmistress reconciled the recommendation to her conscience, and the indentures were canceled, and the appren- tice was free. ‘The battle here described in a few lines. of course, lasted for some months. And as Miss Sedley, being now seventeen years of age, was about to leave school, and had a friendship for Miss Sharp (‘’tis the only point in Amelia’s behavior,” said Miner- va, ‘‘ which has not been satisfactory to her mistress”), Miss Sharp was invited by her friend to pass a week with her at home, be- fore she entered upon her duties as govern- ess in a private family. Thus the world began for these two young ladies. For Amelia it was quite a new, fresh, brilliant world, with all the bloom upon it. It was not quite a new one for Re- becca—(indeed, if the truth must be told with respect to the Crisp affair, the tart- woman hinted to somebody who took an af- fidavit of the faet to somebody else, that there was a great deal more than was made public regarding Mr. Crisp and Miss Sharp, and that his letter was in answer to another letter). But who can tell you the real truth of the matter? At all events, if Rebecca was not beginning the world, she was begin- ning it over again. By the time the young ladies reached Kensington turnpike, Amelia had not forgot- ten her companions, but had dried her tears, and had blushed very much and been de-| lighted at a young officer of the Horse Guards, who spied her as he was riding by, | child,” she added; ‘I was but five years. 15 a great deal of conversation had taken place about the drawing-room, and whether or not young ladies wore powder as well as hoops when presented, and whether she was to have that honor; to the lord mayor’s ball she knew she was to go. And when at length home was reached, Miss Amelia Sed- ley skipped out cn Sambo’s arm, as happy and as handsome a girl as any in the whole big city of London. Both he and coachman agreed on this point, and so did her father and mother, and so did every one of the servants in the house, as they stood bobbing, and courtesying, and smiling, in the hall, to welcome their young mistress. You may be sure that she showed Re- becca over every room of the house, and every thing in every one of her drawers, and her books, and her piano, and her dresses, and all her necklaces, brooches, laces, and gimcracks. She insisted upon Rebecca accepting the white cornejian and the turquoise rings, and a sweet sprigged muslin, which was too small for her now, though it would fit her friend to a nicety ; and she determined in her heart to ask her mother’s permission to present her white Cashmere shawl to her friend. Could she not spare it? and had not her brother Joseph just brought her two from India? When Rebecca saw the two magnificent Cashmere shawls which Joseph Sedley had brought home to his sister, she said, with perfect truth, ‘‘ that it must be delightful te have a brother,” and easily got the pity of the tender-hearted Amelia, for being alone in the world, an orphan without friends or kindred. ‘‘ Not alone,’”’ said Amelia, “you know, Rebecca, I shall always be your friend, and love you as a sister—indeed I will.” ‘Ah, but to have parents, as you have— kind, rich, affectionate parents, who give you every thing you ask for; and their love, which is more precious than all! My poor papa could give me nothing, and I had but two frocks in all the world! And then, to have a brother, a dear brother! Oh, how you must love him!” Amelia laughed. ‘What! don’t you love him? you, who say you love every body 2” «Yes, of course, | do—only—” ‘¢ Only what?” “Only Joseph doesn’t seem to care much whether I love him or not. He gave me two fingers to shake when he arrived after ten years’ absence! He is very kind and good, but he scarcely ever speaks to me; I think he loves his pipe a great deal better than his herself, for why should she speak ill of her brother? ‘He was very kind to me asa and said, “* A dem fine gal, egad!’? and be- old when he went away.”’ fore the carriage arrived in Russell-square, | ‘‘Isn’t he very rich?” said Rebecca. Pt eee ” but here Amelia checked * Cconniclaooe S (CO)