CHAPTER XXIII
The hope of self-dependence, ever cheering to an upright mind, sweetenedthe rest of Ellis in her mean little apartment, though with no brighterprospect than that of procuring a laborious support, through the meansof Miss Matson, should she fail to obtain a recommendation for thesuperiour office of a governess.
The decision was yet pending, when a letter from Selina charged her, inthe name of Mrs Maple, to adopt, as yet, no positive measure, in orderto put an end to the further circulation of wonder, that a young ladyshould go from under Mrs Maple's protection, to a poor little lodging,without any attendant, and avowedly in search of a maintenance: and,further, Selina was bid to add, that, if she would be manageable, shemight still persist in passing for a young gentlewoman; and Mrs Maplewould say that she was reduced to such straights by a bankruptcy in herfamily; rather than shock all the ladies who had conversed with her asMrs Maple's guest, by telling the truth. Mrs Howel, too, with theapprobation of Lord Denmeath himself, to keep her out of the way of LordMelbury, would try to get her the place of an humble companion to somesick old lady who would take up with her reading and singing, and ask noquestions.
Ellis, with utter contempt, was still perusing this letter, when she wassurprised by a visit from Miss Arbe and Miss Bydel.
Miss Arbe had just been calling upon Mrs Maple, by whom she had beentold the plan of Mrs Howel, and the plausible tale of its suddennecessity. Finding Ellis still under a protection so respectable, thewish of a little musical intercourse revived in Miss Arbe; and sheremarked to Miss Bydel, that it would be a real charity, to see whatcould be done for an accomplished young woman of family, incircumstances so lamentable.
The reception they met with from Ellis was extremely cold. The carelessair with which Miss Arbe had heard, without entering into her distress;and the indifference with which she had suddenly dropt the invitationsthat, the minute before, had been urgent nearly to persecution, had leftan impression of the littleness of her character upon the mind of Ellis,that made her present civilities, though offered with a look thatimplied an expectation of gratitude, received with the most distantreserve. And still less was she disposed to welcome Miss Bydel, whosebehaviour, upon the same occasion, had been rude as well as unfeeling.
Neither of them, however, were rebuffed, though Miss Arbe wasdisappointed, and Miss Bydel was amazed: but Miss Arbe had a point tocarry, and would not be put from her purpose; and Miss Bydel, though shethought it but odd not to be made of more consequence, could not be hurtfrom a feeling which she neither possessed nor understood,--delicacy.
'So I hear, Miss Ellis, you have met with misfortunes?' Miss Bydelbegan: 'I am sorry for it, I assure you; though I am sure I don't knowwho escapes. But I want to know how it all first began. Pray, my dear,in what manner did you set out in life? A great deal of one's pitydepends upon what people are used to.'
'What most concerns me for poor Miss Ellis,' said Miss Arbe, 'is herhaving no instrument. I can't think how she can live without one. Whydon't you hire a harp, Miss Ellis?'
Ellis quietly answered, that she was not very musically inclined.
'But you must not think how you are inclined,' said Miss Bydel, 'if youare to go out for a companion, as Mrs Howel wants you to do; for I amsure I don't know who you will get to take you, if you do. I have knownpretty many young women in that capacity, and not one among them everhad such a thought. How should they? People do not pay them for that.'
'I only hope,' said Miss Arbe, 'that whoever has the good fortune toobtain the society of Miss Ellis, will have a taste for music. 'Twill bea thousand shames if her fine talents should be thrown away.'
Ellis, as she suspected not her design, was much surprised by thisreturn to fine speeches. Still, however, she sustained her own reserve,for the difficulty of devising to what the change might be owing, madeher cast it upon mere caprice. To the enquiries, also, of Miss Bydel,she was equally immoveable, as they evidently sprang from coarse andgeneral curiosity.
This distance, however, was not successful, either in stopping thequestions of Miss Bydel, or the compliments of Miss Arbe. Each followedthe bent of her humour, till Miss Arbe, at length, started an idea thatcaught the attention of Ellis: this was, that instead of becoming anhumble companion, she should bring her musical acquirements into use, bygiving lessons to young ladies.
Ellis readily owned that such a plan would be best adapted to herinclinations, if Mrs Howel and Mrs Maple could be prevailed upon toexert their influence in procuring her some scholars.
'But a good word or two from Miss Arbe,' said Miss Bydel, 'would do morefor you, in that tuning way, than all their's put together. I shouldlike to know how it was you got this musical turn, Miss Ellis? Were yourown friends rich enough, my dear, before their bankruptcy, to give yousuch an education themselves? or did it all come, as one may say, from asort of knack?'
Ellis earnestly asked whether she might hope for the powerful aid ofMiss Arbe to forward such a plan?
Miss Arbe, now, resumed all her dignity, as an acknowledged judge of thefine arts, and a solicited patroness of their votaries. With smiles,therefore, of ineffable affability, she promised Ellis her protection;and glibly ran over the names of twenty or thirty families ofdistinction, every one of which, she said, in the choice of instructorsto their children, was guided by her opinion.
'But then,' added she, with an air that now mingled authority withcondescension, 'you must have a better room than this, you know. Thehouse is well enough, and the milliner is fashionable: she is my own;but this little hole will never do: you must take the drawing room. Andthen you must buy immediately, or at least hire, a very fine instrument.There is a delightful one at Strode's now: one I long for myself, andthen--' patting her shoulder, 'you must dress, too, a little ... likeother people, you know.'
'But how is she to do it,' said Miss Bydel, 'if she has got no money?'
Ellis, however ashamed, felt rather assisted than displeased by thisplump truth; but it produced no effect upon Miss Arbe, who lightlyreplied, 'O, we must not be shabby. We must get things a little decentabout us. A few scholars of my recommending will soon set all that torights. Take my advice, Miss Ellis, and you won't find yourself vastlyto be pitied.'
'But what have you got to begin with?' said Miss Bydel. 'How much haveyou in hand?'
'Nothing!' answered Ellis, precipitately: 'I lost my purse at Dover, andI have been destitute ever since! Dependant wholly upon accidentalbenevolence.'
Miss Bydel, now, was extremely gratified: this was the first time thatshe had surprized from Ellis any account of herself, and she admittednot a doubt that it would be followed by her whole history. 'That wasunlucky enough,' she said; 'and pray what money might you have in it?'
Ellis, strongly affected herself, though she had not affected herauditors, by the retrospection of a misfortune which had been soeventful to her of distress, said no more; till she saw some alarm uponthe countenance of Miss Arbe, at the idea of a _protegee_ reallypennyless; and then, fearing to forfeit her patronage, she mentioned thetwenty pounds which she owed to the generous kindness of Lady AuroraGranville.
Miss Arbe now smiled more complacently than ever; and Miss Bydel,straining wide open her large dull eyes, repeated, 'Twenty pounds? Goodme! has Lady Aurora given you twenty pounds?'
'The money,' said Ellis, blushing, 'I hope I may one day return: thegoodness surpasses all requital.'
'Well, if that is the case, we must all try to do something for you, mydear. I did not know of any body's having begun. And I am never forbeing the first in those sort of subscriptions; for I think them littlebetter than picking people's pockets. Besides that I entirely disapprovebringing persons that are poor into habits of laziness. However, if LadyAurora has given so handsomely, one does not know how to refuse atrifle. So, I tell you what; I'll pay you a month's hire of a harp.'
Ellis, deeply colouring, begged to decline this offer; but Miss Arbe,with an air of self-approbation that said: I won't be excelled! cried,'And I, Miss Ell
is, will go to the music shop, and chuse your instrumentfor you myself.'
Both the ladies, now, equally elated by internal applause, resolved toset out instantly upon this errand; without regarding either refusal orobjection from Ellis. Yet Miss Bydel, upon finding that neither MrsHowel nor Mrs Maple had yet given any thing, would have retracted fromher intended benefaction, had not Miss Arbe dragged her away, positivelyrefusing to let her recant, from a conviction that no other method couldbe started, by which her own contribution could so cheaply bepresented.
A very fine harp soon arrived, with a message from Miss Arbe, desiringthat she might find Miss Ellis wholly disengaged the next morning, whenshe meant to come quite alone, and to settle every thing.
The total want of delicacy shewn in this transaction, made the wishes ofEllis send back the instrument to Miss Bydel, and refuse the purposedvisit of Miss Arbe: but a little reflection taught her, that, in asituation so defenceless, pride must give way to prudence; and nicerfeelings must submit to necessity. She sat down, therefore, to her harp,resolved diligently to practise it as a business, which might lead herto the self-dependence at which she so earnestly languished to arrive;and of which she had only learnt the just appreciation, by herhelplessness to resist any species of indignity, while accepting anunearned asylum.
Cheered, therefore, again, by this view of her new plan, she receivedMiss Arbe, the next morning, with a gratitude the most flattering tothat lady, who voluntarily renewed her assurances of protection. 'Veryluckily for you,' she added, 'I shall stay here very late; for Papa saysthat he can't afford to begin his winter this year before May or June.'
Then, sending for a large packet of music from her carriage, sheproposed trying the instrument; complacently saying, that she had chosenthe very best which could be procured, though Miss Bydel had vehementlystruggled to make her take a cheaper one. Miss Arbe, however, would notindulge her parsimony. 'I can't bear,' she cried, 'any thing that ismean.'
What Miss Arbe called trying the instrument, was selecting the mostdifficult passages, from the most difficult music which she attempted toplay, and making Ellis teach her the fingering, the time, and theexpression, in a lesson which lasted the whole morning.
Miss Arbe, who aspired at passing for an adept in every accomplishment,seized with great quickness whatever she began to learn; but herambition was so universal, and her pursuits were so numerous, that oneof them marred another; and while every thing was grasped at, nothingwas attained. Yet the general aim passed with herself for generalsuccess; and because she had taken lessons in almost all the arts, sheconcluded that of all the arts she was completely mistress.
This persuasion made her come forward, in the circles to which shebelonged, with a courage that she deemed to be the just attribute ofsuperiour merit; and her family and friends, not less complaisant, andrarely less superficial, in their judgments than herself, sanctionedher claims by their applause; and spread their opinions around, till,hearing them reverberated, they believed them to be fame.
The present scheme for Ellis had another forcible consideration in itsfavour with Miss Arbe; a consideration not often accustomed to betreated with utter contempt, even by higher and wiser characters; theconvenience of her purse. Her various accomplishments had alreadyexhausted the scanty powers for extra-expences of her father; and it waslong since she had received any instructions through the ordinary meansof remuneration. But, ingenious in whatever could turn to her advantage,she contrived to learn more when she ceased to recompense her masters,than while the obligation between them and their pupil was reciprocated;for she sought no acquaintance but amongst the scholars of the mosteminent professors, whether of music or painting: her visits were alwaysmade at the moment which she knew to be dedicated to practising, ordrawing; and she regularly managed, by adroit questions, seasoned withcompliments, to attract the attention of the master to herself, for anexplanation of the difficulties which distressed her in her privatepractice.
Compliments, however, were by no means the only payment that shereturned for such assistance: if a benefit were in question, she had notan acquaintance upon whom she did not force tickets; if a compositionwere to be published, she claimed subscriptions for it from all herfriends; if scholars were desired, not a parent had a child, not aguardian had a ward, whom she did not endeavour to convince, that toplace his charge under such or such a professor, was the only method todraw forth his talents. She scarcely entered a house in which she hadnot some little scheme to effect; and seldom left it with her purposeunfulfilled.
The artists, also, were universally her humble servants; for though theycould not, like the world at large, be the dupes of her unfoundedpretensions to skill, they were sure, upon all occasions, to find her soactive to serve and oblige them, so much more civil than those who hadmoney, and so much more social than those who had power, that, frommingling gratitude with their personal interest, they suffered herclaims to superiour knowledge to pass uncanvassed; and while theyremarked that her influence supplied the place of wealth, they soughther favour, they solicited her recommendation, they dedicated to hertheir works. She charmed them by personal civilities; she won them byattentions to their wives, sisters, or daughters; and her zeal inreturn for their gratuitous services had no limit--except what might beattached to her purse.
To pay for the instructions of Ellis by patronage, was no sooner decidedthan effected. A young lady who had been educated abroad, who wasbrought forth into the world by Mrs Maple, and protected by Mrs Howel,and Lady Aurora Granville, was already an engaging object; but when shewas reduced to support herself by her own talents, through thebankruptcy of her friends, she became equally interesting andrespectable; and, as such, touched for her misfortunes, yet charmed toprofit from her accomplishments, Lady Kendover, a leading _Diletante_ inthe highest circles, was the first to beg that Miss Arbe would arrangethe terms, and fix a day and hour, for Miss Ellis to attend Lady BarbaraFrankland, her ladyship's niece.
One pupil of this rank, thus readily offered, procured another beforethe day was over; and, before the evening was finished, a third.
Miss Arbe, enchanted with her success, hastened to have the pleasure ofcommunicating it to Ellis, and of celebrating her own influence. Thegratitude of Ellis was, however, by no means unruffled, when Miss Arbeinsisted upon regulating the whole of her proceedings; and that with anexpence which, however moderate for any other situation, was for hersalarming, if not ruinous. But Miss Arbe declared that she would not haveher recommendation disgraced by any meanness: she engaged, therefore, ata high price, the best apartment in the house; she chose variousarticles of attire, lest Ellis should choose them, she said, tooparsimoniously; and employed, in fitting her up, some trades-people whowere honoured, occasionally, by working for herself. In vain Ellisrepresented the insufficiency of her little store for such expences.Miss Arbe impatiently begged that they might not waste their time uponsuch narrow considerations; and, seizing the harp, devoted the rest ofthe visit to a long, though unacknowledged lesson; after which, inhastily nodding an adieu, she repeated her high disdain of whatever waswanting in spirit and generosity.
Mrs Maple, with mingled choler and amazement, soon learnt the wonderfultidings, that the discarded Wanderer had hired the best drawing-room atthe famous milliner's, Miss Matson, and was elegantly, though simplyarrayed, and prepared and appointed to be received, in various houses offashion, as a favoured and distinguished professor.
The fear of some ultimate responsibility, for having introduced such animposter into high life, now urged Mrs Maple to work upon the curiosityof Mrs Ireton, to offer the unknown traveller the post of her humblecompanion: but Ellis retained a horrour of the disposition and mannersof Mrs Ireton, that made her decidedly refuse the proposition; and theincenced Mrs Maple, and the imperious Mrs Howel, alike ashamed toproclaim what they considered as their own dupery, were alike,ultimately, reduced to leave the matter to take its course: Mrs Howelfinally comforting herself, that, in case of detection, she could castthe who
le disgrace upon Mrs Maple; who equally consoled herself bydeciding, in that case, to throw the whole blame upon Mr Harleigh.