Читать книгу The Old Chelsea Bun-House: A Tale of the Last Century - Anne Manning - Страница 7

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The Bed and Night-Clothes were soon prepared; and as I helped Mrs. Gatty to undress, I could not help noting, that though her Gown was of the plainest black Stuff, her under Garments were beautifully Fine, and fitted to a Nicety; which corroborated what she had said of her being a young Woman of good Condition. "You must not alarm yourself, Mrs. Gatty," said I; "you will very likely be quite well to-morrow."

"Don't call me Mrs. Gatty," says she. "Call me Gertrude, which is my proper Name, and it will put me in Mind of Home."

"Well, then, Mrs. Gertrude," said I.

"Not Mrs. at all, I entreat of you," said she, "plain, simple Gertrude."

"Simple Gertrude, you may be," said I, "but plain Gertrude, you certainly are not."

She smiled faintly, and said, "Ah, you are very Kind, and mean kindly; but the finest Compliment in the World is of little Value to me, compared with a Word of Kindness: and yours only pleases me so far as Kindness is expressed in it. And now, dear Mrs. Patty, let down the Curtain, and make the Chamber as dark as you can, and I will try to sleep; for my Head aches to Distraction, and there is Nothing you can do for me."

When I went down Stairs, I found my Mother mentioning Gatty's Case to Dr. Elwes, who frequently stepped in to smoak a quiet Pipe under our Elms. He immediately went up Stairs to see her; and was guarded in pronouncing whether she had a Fever, a Chill, a Surfeit, or what; but said Time would disclose, and he would see her again in the Morning. Meanwhile, she was to be kept Cool and Quiet; and he would write a Prescription for a Composing Draught; which accordingly he did.

"And now, with respect to Supper," said I, when he was gone. "Dear me! who has thought, all this Time, of Mr. Fenwick?"

No one had remembered him; so I immediately carried up his Whey and Buns, smote to the Heart at his having been so entirely overlooked. When I went in, he was still sitting at the Casement. He said, "Well, Leah!" with a gentle Smile, which assured me that he had heard and remembered what had passed at Lady Betty's Table.

"Dear Sir," said I, "I am quite sorry you should have been so long forgotten. We have had such a noisy Party this Afternoon."

"Rather tumultuous certainly," said he; "they helped to amuse me, and it was not my Fault that I heard every Word they said."

"How loudly High-Bred People laugh and talk, Sir!" said I.

"I doubt if it be High-Breeding to do so," said he; "Ill-Breeding it seems to me."

"What did you think, Sir, of Mr. Caryl? Mr. Paul, as they called him?"

"Well, I thought he tried to serve the Petersham Chicken with Walpole Sauce."

"He was very smart and ready, Sir, wasn't he?"

"Yes, Mrs. Patty, he had plenty of Repartee."

"What is a Repartee, Sir?"

"A smart Reply. When Mr. Pope, who was deformed, asked a young Officer if he knew what a Note of Interrogation was, the other replied, 'A little crooked Thing that asks Questions.' That was a Repartee."

"A very ill-natured One, though, Sir. When Sir Charles said of the unfortunate Emigrant Lady, 'That Woman deserves a Crown,' and Mr. Paul rejoined, that he had not a Crown to lay at her Feet, but he had Half-a-Crown very much at her Service: was that a Repartee?"

"Yes, it was suggested by the Remark of the First, and could not have been prepared. You have culled a Grain of Wheat, Mrs. Patty, from a Bushel of Chaff."

"You thought Lady Betty a great Beauty, I suppose, Mr. Fenwick?"

"Well, she is what is called a Fine-Woman, I believe. Fine Eyes, and Teeth; good Carriage of the Head."

"Oh Sir! had you seen her toss that Head at my poor Mother! 'Twas as much as I could stand!"

"I am glad, then, that I did not. She has Wit, however, but is too artificial, flighty, and exacting. There's a degree of Coarseness about her. 'Twas so humorous, to hear her trying to recover her Supremacy in that Dialogue among the Men, when she began once and again 'When I was at Peterwaradin,' and no one was listening to her!"

"Except you and me, Sir. Well, I must not keep you from Supper."

"Nor must I keep you standing. How are you going to manage about Mrs. Gatty?"

"She's going to sleep with me, Sir; if I sleep at all, that is."

"You expect a restless Night."

"I doubt if I shall lie down if she continue as she is."

"If you are going to sit up, you will require Something to keep you awake. Shall I find you a Book to read?"

"Do, if you please, Sir; I shall gratefully thank you!"

"Well then, what will you have? You know I have no Novels. Here is a charming Paper of Mr. Addison's, in one of the old Spectators, which I was reading when you came in. 'Cheerfulness preferable to Mirth.' How well it opens! 'I have always preferred Cheerfulness to Mirth. The latter I consider as an Act, the former as a Habit of the Mind.'"

"That will not take long in reading, Sir. Might I have one of Shakspeare's Plays? I liked the Merchant of Venice so much!"

"Certainly you may. Did you like Romeo and Juliet?"

"Not at all, Sir."

"Come, then, here is the Winter's Tale for you. Or stay, here is Cymbeline. You will like much of it, though not all; for you have as nice a Taste in Books, Mrs. Patty, as your Father has in old China. Imogen is one of the purest, loveliest Creations of the Poet. When you get tired of her Companions, turn the Leaf till you come to her, and you won't fall asleep. Her two Brothers, too, in the Cave, are charming. What a fine Lesson is given here, in a mere passing Word of the Physician to the Queen, against Cruelty to dumb Animals! She tells him she experimentalizes with Poisons on Creatures not worth the hanging; and he tells her she hardens her Heart, and proceeding from low degrees to higher, will become careless of inflicting pain and death on superior Natures. Here it is, Mrs. Patty."

I took the Book, curtseyed, and withdrew; thinking that this little Dialogue with the good young Curate after the Noise and Babble of Lady Betty's Party, was like gazing on cool Green, after one's Eyes had been dazzled by garish Sunshine. Since he had lodged with us, to drink fresh Whey and recover his Health, I, being the elder and plainer Sister of the two, had principally waited upon him; though I seldom encroached so much on his Leisure as on this Evening, which I partly ventured on, because I felt I had neglected him during the Afternoon.

Mrs. Gatty passed a restless Night, and rambled a good deal, fancying herself at Home, or what I concluded such; and talking of, and to her Kinsfolk and Intimates by name. What with attending to her and reading my Play-Book, I got not much Rest; but towards Day-Break, she became Quiet; so then I had a good Nap, with my Cloathes loosened, but not off, and awoke refreshed, just in time to go and see the Milk and Bread sent out, which was my daily Duty.

Our's had become a large Concern. At first, we only sold Bread and Buns to those who came to the Shop; then we got on to having two Carts, that went into Town twice a Week; then Whey was wanted, and we had a Cow; but the Cow was not in Milk all the Year round, so then we had two; and then we kept their Calves, Prue and I undertaking to bring them up by Hand; and the pretty Creatures grew so fond of us, that they would run round the Meadow after us if we but held out our Finger to them. In short, our Milk and Whey became in such repute, that we got on from two Cows to six, and at length to Twelve, and had the largest Milk-walk in the neighbourhood. Our man Andrew, who was from Devonshire, looked after the Dairy; and Saunders, who was a Scot, was our Baker; but a Mistress's Eye is worth two Pair of Hands; and one Reason of our Success was undoubtedly that we looked closely after our Business ourselves, no matter how much Money was coming into the Till.

Dr. Elwes used to say, that he never knew better Samples of a genteel Industry than in our Establishment; but doubtless, the good Doctor's Judgment was somewhat biassed by his Partiality for my dear Mother; whom, I am bold to think, if he had known her before she was married, and before he himself had risen from the Ranks, (if one may say so of a Civilian,) he would have gladly made his Wife. What a different Lot for my poor Mother! But then, the whole Story of our Lives would have been altered, and the Divine Purposes quite otherwise manifested; and my poor Father would have gone down the Stream, with ne'er a Hand held out to draw him towards Shore.

Just as I was booking the Loaves put into the Carts, up rides Mr. Arbuthnot on a mighty fine Horse. He was, as good Mr. Matthew Henry says of Prince Adonijah, a pretty, comely young Gentleman; and he lighted down, and gave his Bridle to Peter, and stept up to me, to inquire how fared Mrs. Gatty, saying that he hoped to make himself welcome to Lady Betty by carrying good news, therefore had ridden to Chelsea before Breakfast. I replied she had had a disturbed Night, but was then sleeping; on which, having not much more to say, and seeing me busied, he went his ways.

Just then, my Mother called over the Stair-Head, in rather an agitated Voice, to inquire whether my Father had yet got his Dish of strong green Tea; and knowing that he had come Home somewhat convivial in the Middle of the Night, and was likely to be troubled with Head-Ache, low Spirits, and Ill-Humours this Morning, I hastily went into the back Parlour. But there was dear Prudence already at her Post, fresh as a Primrose, with the Tea brewed, and the Table spread with a tempting variety of Meats, fresh Eggs, and hot Rolls, not one of which had my poor Father the Appetite to taste, but sat with trembling Hands, endeavouring to pour the Cream into his Tea without spilling it. On my coming in, he looks up and says:—

"Have those Rascals brought the Hamper yet?"

"What Hamper, Father?"

"Why, a Hamper and Packing-Case of Chelsea China I bought at the Auction-Rooms yesterday."

"Alas, Father, have you been buying more China?"

"Yes, I have, Miss Patty, more by Token, I bought it as a Compliment to your Mother, and outbade my Lord Fribble; so what have you to say to that now?"

"Dear Father, my Mother will feel the compliment; but, had you let it alone, 'twould have been the greater Kindness."

"That's a Solecism, Patty; but here comes Peter with the Case; and here comes your Mother to see it unpacked."

As 'twas no use to cross him about a Thing that was done, I ran to be my dear Mother's "live Walking-Stick;" and when I had settled her in her Easy-Chair, with all her little Comforts about her, she takes Breath, and says to my Father, "Good Morning, my Dear."

"Good Morning, my Dear," replies he; "this is our Wedding-Day;" and got up, and kissed her.

This was so unlike his usual Mood, that Prudence and I were surprised and touched.

"I dare say now," pursues he, "that you had forgot it?"

"Oh no, Mr. Honeywood,—my Dear, I mean," says my Mother, wiping her eyes, "I remembered it before I got out of Bed—and the last thing overnight, too. I'd no Notion your Memory would be so good, my dear."

"Well," says he, "it seems we each did the other Injustice, this Time—a good Thing if we never do so any more. But I remembered it yesterday, and bought you a little Trifle, in Token of it."

"I am sure I am much obliged to you, my Dear," says my Mother. "Pray what is it?"

"You shall see what you shall see—you shall see what you shall see," repeats he very deliberately, proceeding to take the Silver Paper off sundry little Figures, as Peter disengaged them from the Straw—"The five Senses, my Dear—the greatest Bargain I ever knew."

My poor Mother lifted up her Hands and Eyes. "At your old Tricks again, Mr. Honeywood," said she softly.

"Old Tricks!" repeated he, with the Air of an injured Man; "why, these are the most exquisite little Gems you ever saw! A Nobleman could not make a more delicate Present to his Mistress.—Look at this charming little Creature stroking her Lapdog ... and this high-bred Toast taking a Pinch of Snuff, this Lady of Quality sipping Tokay, and this Opera-belle ready to swoon with Extasy at Bononcini—where are your Eyes, my Dear?"

"Ah, Mr. Honeywood, you know the old Saying, 'Please the Eye and plague the Heart.'"

"Plague my Heart, then!" cries he in rising Dudgeon, "if you are not the most hard to please of any Woman alive. Why, a Peer bade against me!"

"My Dear, I wish the Lot had been knocked down to him. These are suitable Toys for a Personage of that Condition, but not for us. Why, now, I venture to say this Set cost you five and twenty Pounds, at the lowest Figure."

"Five and twenty? You may add Something to that. Why, Mrs. Honeywood, you must be a Dolt, to know their Value no better than that, or else you are saying so to incense me!"

"Indeed, my Dear, I have learnt the World's Value for such Things but too well, by having to pay for them so often. Are these paid for?"

"Confusion, Madam! Do you mean to doubt my Honour?"

"Why really, Mr. Honeywood, you have so little ready Money except what is earned by these poor Girls, that I might be excused for asking. And in Truth I do not feel it so much of a Compliment as I could wish, to have Presents bought to gratify your own Taste, which you know do not suit mine, and after all, be obliged to pay the Bill."

"This is Language I will stand from no Woman."

"Nay, Mr. Honeywood, just look at those Shepherdesses on the Mantel-Shelf, and say if it were not so with them...." ... (Smash went the Shepherdesses.)

"The Senses shall go next," cried he, "if you say another Word! Don't cling to me, Patty! They shall."

"Dear Father, my Mother is not going to say another Word. Pray be calm."

"I protest..." begins my Mother.

"Dear Mother, pray don't—Father! Father! Pray withdraw—as a Favour!"

"What! be turned out of the Room like a chidden Child? Your Father, Mrs. Patty? I'll sit here till Dinner, I vow. Prue, fetch me the Daily Courant, and a clean Pipe."

"It has not come in yet, Father."

"Hang it! everything is out of joint! I shall go to the Trumpet, in Sheer Lane, and you won't hear of me again, any of you, for a good While."

Prue and I tried to stay him, but in vain. My Mother was shedding silent Tears.

"Heaven forgive me," said she, "if I spoke too warmly, or crossly. After his Kiss, and all! it seemed so ungracious to take it amiss. But I know too well, he only used our Wedding-day as a Blind, and if he gets into these old Ways again, he will not merely end his own Days in Jail, but send you there too. So that protest I must, if I hadn't another Breath to draw!"

About Noon, Mr. James, one of Lady Betty's laced Footmen, came to inquire after a Diamond Ring her Ladyship said Gatty must have dropped on the Grass. We looked for it carefully, but could not find it.

"I dare say we shall find that my Lady has it at Home all the While," says Mr. James (which, indeed, proved afterwards to be the Case). "However, if it should not turn up, Woe to poor Mrs. Gatty! She will lie under awful Blame for Heedlessness, if not be counted a Thief. And pray how is Mrs. Gatty this Morning? we Servants are all concerned for her, she is so gentle and pretty-behaved, though she does keep us at a Distance! I wish to know on my own Account, I assure you, as well as to take back the News to my Lady, though she does not care much about her, except as far as her own Convenience goes."

"Mrs. Gatty continues very ill," said I, "and has twice been seen by a Physician, who thinks she will take some Time to recover. You may as well report this to Lady Betty, for the Doctor had not paid his second Visit when Mr. Arbuthnot called."

"Mr. Arbuthnot! Why should he call?" says Mr. James. "Lady Betty would be mad enough to think he took the Trouble of knowing whether Mrs. Gatty were alive or dead."

"He called in order to report her Condition to Lady Betty" said I. "Rely on it," said Mr. James, "he called on his own Account, for Humanity sake, if nothing more. He hasn't been near my Lady to-day, and I had it from his Man that he has gone down to dine in the Country with the old Earl; that's Lady Grace's Father. Sure, he must have named Lady Grace, not Lady Betty."

There was no more to be said, and I never encourage mere Tattle; but I thought that good and pretty as Gertrude was, it could be no Advantage to have a Gentleman like Mr. Arbuthnot concerning himself about her.

We are all mighty fond of high Matches; not considering that what is a high Match on one Side must be a low one on the other; and that there is little real Happiness to be looked for where Estates are widely unequal.

I asked Mr. James whether my Lady were not much put out by the Loss of her Woman's Services.

He replied, "Oh no, she keeps one for Shew and one for Use. Mrs. Gatty, for as hard a Life as she leads, does Nothing in Comparison of Madam Pompon, who is the real Waiting-Maid of the two. But my Lady requires a second, who shall have white Hands, and do Quantities of fine Work, and be at her Beck and bear with her Humours. Why should she not require two Women to sew in her Ante-Chamber, as well as two Men to hang behind her Chariot?"

Two Women and two Men to wait upon one! Well! there must needs be different Levels; and maybe the Time will come when Habits of Living shall be simpler. I have read, in one of Mr. Fenwick's Books, of an English King in old Times, that had his Barge rowed by eight other Kings. And of another, that had a Menial whose sole Office was to lie under the Table, and chafe and cherish his Majesty's Feet in cold Weather. King Adoni-bezek had threescore and ten Kings, having their Thumbs and great Toes cut off, that gathered their Meat under his Table. The making one's own Glory lie in the abject or lowly State to which we reduce others, always seems to me to relish of Barbarism, however high Degree may carry it off.