CHAPTER X.
The next week little Betsy was brought to Rosewood by Anna, with equaldelight on both sides.
"I am going to be Miss Meridith's little maid," said the delightedchild; "and I shall have all new clothes. But don't let the little ones"(meaning her brothers and sisters still younger than herself) "cry afterme, dame: I _must_ go to wait on Miss Meridith you know, she has been sogood to all of us." This was said with such an air of importance thatthe whole party laughed at her: while little Betty walked off, quitesatisfied, as they did not oppose her going.
"Now you must be very good," said Anna, "and mind what Bella says toyou."
"And what _you_ say to me, Miss," said the child, jumping along, "for Iam to be your servant, and I will wait upon you by night and by day."
"Oh, you must not promise too much at present," returned Anna, "you arebut a very little girl."
"But I shall _grow_," replied she, "and then I shall learn, and I shallbe able to work soon, and make all your clothes; see if I don't, now."
"All I expect of you at present," said Anna, smiling at herchildishness, "is that you will be a good girl, and mind what Bellasays, and be very quiet in the house."
"Yes, I was quiet when my poor mother was ill, and so I _be_ when fatheris bad," returned the child, "and so I will when you are ill."
"And at all times," replied Anna, "or Mrs. Meridith won't like it, andthen perhaps she may tell me to turn you away, and I shall always do asshe desires me."
"O, I will be as still as a mouse," cried little Betsey, putting herfinger on her lips. "I would not be turned away for ever so much;"--andthen she began a long story how one of their neighbours' girls wasturned away from her place, because she was not a good servant, andanother girl turned out of the school, "so I know it is a very bad thingto be turned away," said she, "and I will try to keep my place now Ihave got one."
The simplicity of the child, and her rusticity of manners, amused Mrs.Meridith and Anna for some weeks; but there was about her a conceit,and high opinion of herself, which kept them from extolling her simpleattempts to please, too much; though they gave ample credit for "doingthe best," as she called it.
Bella was busy the first month in making her an entire new set ofclothes, which were plain and neat, and suited to the station Mrs.Meridith intended her to fill.
When Bella went to visit her father's cottage it was some time beforeBetty could be persuaded to accompany her, lest she should be leftbehind, or the little ones should cry after her; but on being assuredthat she should return again, she ventured to pay them a visit, andfound her brothers and sisters quite reconciled to her absence; andthough they expressed great pleasure at seeing her, they did not desireher to remain with them. And Bella amused her young mistress, after her_new servant_ was put to bed, with the account she had given to herfather and the old dame of her place, and the variety of things she hadto do in it.
From this time the little girl began to conform to their ways, whichwere at first so strange to her, while her affection for Mrs. Meridithand her young lady daily increased, and Bella took every opportunity ofreminding her how much they deserved it.
Sixteen years of Anna's life had now passed away, and her understandingand manners improved every day. William Campbell still continued in thefarm, and often supplied the place of his father at the neighbouringmarkets; but John, who was of Anna's age, had for some time expresseda wish for another employment, and Mrs. Meridith proposed his beingarticled as a clerk to a lawyer in the neighbouring town, and whoconducted her affairs in the neighbourhood.
"I look upon your children," said she to Mr. Campbell, "as my relations,and mean to assist them as far as is in my power, if you approve ofmy plan, Anna; and I will go over to L--, and speak to Mr. Mansell,and, perhaps, for the sake of the young man, we may remain there a fewmonths, in which time he will be introduced to those few acquaintance Ihave there, and I hope his behaviour will be such, that for his own sakethey will notice him after we come away."
Mr. Campbell expressed his thanks. "Would my son take my advice," saidhe, "he would prefer the happy country life to the toils and puzzlesof the law; but he is now old enough to know his own mind, and if heprefers it, I will wait on the gentleman you mention, and both Johnand myself will thank you, madam, to speak in his favour." John wasdelighted: it was what he always wished; and if Mrs. Meridith would beso kind, he would endeavour not to disgrace her recommendation.
The nearness of L-- to Downash also made it desirable, as his father orbrother visited it every market-day, and he should not feel it as anyseparation from them. But his three sisters were of a different opinion:they said he would soon become a gentleman and forget them, and none ofthe family liked to lose his society.
Anna was surprised to hear Mrs. Meridith talk of spending a winter atL--, as she had often heard her rejoice that her residence was notnearer to it.
"I do it," said her friend, "to shew _you_ something of society.The world is much the same every where, only as the circle advancesin higher life, dissipation and dissoluteness of manners too oftenincrease; you have read a great deal of what this world is, but it isnecessary you should see something of it also, as your years increase,and not gather _all_ your information from books. I know the society ina country town is not considered either very agreeable or improving,yet there may be some families at L-- with whom you may form a pleasantacquaintance; and I wish also to show the neighbourhood that I do indeedlook upon you as my daughter."
"It is for _my_ sake then, mamma, you are going to L--," returned Anna;"I can hardly bear you should leave Rosewood on my account."
"I do not expect to meet with any thing which will compensate for thechange," said Mrs. Meridith; "but a little variety is necessary for_you_, and after the seclusion I have lately lived in, I could not bringmyself to venture farther from home at present; neither would it beprudent for you, who must be gradually initiated, if ever you join thegiddy round of gay life, or it might be too much for you."
Anna replied that her whole desire was to live as she hitherto had done,and to follow the example of her kind friend in every thing. "If indeed,my dear mamma, you intend me the privilege of standing in your placehereafter," said she, "what ought I to be! and how far short shall Ifall of _your_ goodness! It was that alone which first made you think of_me_; and whatever I am, all I have and know I owe to your kindness.Oh! continue to me your instruction and advice, that I may become moreand more like you."
The winter was now fast advancing, but Mrs. Meridith would not leaveRosewood before Christmas, that she might enjoy the festivity of theseason with her poor neighbours, who were fed and clothed as usual. OnChristmas and New Year's day, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, and _all_ theirchildren dined at Rosewood; and on the evening of twelfth-day, thethree elder girls with William and John, and a younger brother aboutnine years of age, were again invited to partake of a cake. It wasAnna's treat to them, and they amused themselves by singing, dancing, orwhatever she thought most agreeable to her younger cousins, who nevervisited her except at these times, and on her's and Mrs. Meridith'sbirth-day, which both happened in the summer months, lest, as theirfather said, "it should make them dissatisfied with their situationat home," where they were constantly engaged in domestic affairs. Theeldest managed the dairy, under the direction of her mother; and theyoungest the poultry; and the care of the needle-work for her brothers,and the younger children, chiefly devolved upon the second girl, whoused regularly to bring what wanted mending to her mother, and afterreceiving her directions, supply her sisters and the female servantswith work. Mrs. Campbell had two other boys, who supplied the place ofWilliam and John, at school, and there was a little boy and girl stillyounger at home.
After Christmas, John, having been introduced to Mr. Mansell, and allpreliminaries settled, removed to his house, and it was agreed on thathe should board with that gentleman; and in a few days after, Mrs.Meridith and Anna, with Syphax and Bella, and little Betty, with theother servants, went into a ready-fu
rnished house for the winter,determined to be sociable with the inhabitants, and to be pleased withall that was intended to please them. The estate which Mrs. Meridithpossessed in the neighbourhood made her of consequence in L--, andthe most respectable families made a point of calling on her afterher arrival; and when they had been only one week in the town, Annawas surprised to find they were engaged every evening. Mrs. Meridithattended the balls with her, which were once a fortnight; and severalprivate dances were given at different houses, where Anna was never inwant of a partner. Mrs. Meridith's patronage was enough to bring herinto notice; and had she not a mind well stored with antidotes againstit, and the repeated cautions of her kind uncle, not to be imposed on bytheir adulation, poor Anna would have been in danger of losing all hersteadiness of mind, and the humble opinion of herself which was foundedon propriety.
"Consider, my dear child, it is owing to Mrs. Meridith's favour youreceive this notice," said Mr. Campbell; "_her_ consequence is such thatwhom she favours, every one who wishes to please her thinks it necessaryto favour also; but let _her_ withdraw her protection, and where wouldyour noticers be then?"
"Oh! you and my aunt and cousins would notice me," replied she, with anair of gaiety; "even if Mrs. Meridith gave me up; unless I should do anything very disgraceful indeed; and even then you would care for me, Iknow."
"And so would I," said John, who was present at this conversation; "mycousin Anna would be always the same to me, let her name be Meridith, orEastwood, or what it may."
Anna returned him thanks with earnestness. "It is only at Rosewood,and the farm," said she, "that I expect to meet with real friends;and my intercourse with the world has not alienated my affections fromthem. But, my dear uncle, you would not have me quarrel with thesepeople, because they do not notice me for my own sake? Be assured Iproperly estimate their attentions, and often smile at them all; butMrs. Meridith has so often cautioned me against giving any one reasonto think I treat them with contempt, that I am careful to return theircivility: and if we understand each other right, it passes, like currentcoin, for no more than it is worth."
"Well, my dear," replied the farmer, smiling, "don't let it increase invalue, and I am satisfied. Remember many people have been fined latelyfor valuing guineas at _more_ than they are worth."