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THE
MEMOIRS
FEMME DE CHAMBRE.
A NOVEL.
COUNTESS OF BLESSINGTON.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON :
RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
1846.
LONDON :
K. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.
MEMOIRS
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE.
CHAPTER I.
" YES," soliloquized Lord Almondbury, " she
is a very beautiful girl, and who knows whether
she be really as cold and reserved as she ap-
pears. Women, even the most youthful of the
sex, are such adepts in deception! It is, how-
ever, well worth while to ascertain this point ;
and as faint heart never won fair lady, I will
make the experiment. But how is it to be
made ? Ah ! there's the question. She is
never to be seen alone, Adelaide is with her all
day, and she spends her evenings with my wife.
She walks every day in Kensington Gardens,
VOL. II. B
2 MEMOIRS OF
I know, and is now there. Allans, I'll stroll
there as if by chance, enact le bon papa by
walking with my daughter, and judge by Miss
Stratford's manner how far I may venture.
She is so devilish pretty that it is worth while
trying to please her."
The result of these cogitations was, his lord-
ship putting his horse into a canter, and
directing his course towards another entrance
to Kensington Gardens than that at which his
carriage had a short time previously set down
his daughter and her governess ; for he did not
wish to furnish a topic for the gossiping of his
groom, coachman, and footman, who might
form suspicions of his motive for going there.
A man conscious of his own evil intentions is
ever prone to imagine that others will detect
them ; hence the wicked are much more on
their guard than the good, and by a cunning,
which is the fruit of their evil qualities, often
escape a censure to which the artless and un-
designing but too frequently lay themselves
open, by a want of attention to appearances.
Lord Almondbury had not long entered
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 3
Kensington Gardens when he saw Selina Strat-
ford and her pupil at a little distance, and as
they walked on before him, he had an opportu-
nity of observing the attention excited by
Selina; every man that encountered her,
pausing, when she passed, to look after her,
while she moved on wholly unconscious that
she was an object of general attraction.
Lord Almondbury's was a mind to be in-
fluenced by the opinions of other men in certain
points. Struck at the first view by the beauty
of Selina, he now became still more disposed to
yield to its attraction, as he beheld the admira-
tion it excited in others, and reflected that in
all probability, some one of those who now
paused to gaze on her, would discover her
abode, and address to her by letter the declara-
tion he was so anxious not to be forestalled in.
" Yes, there is no time to be lost," thought
he, as he quickened his pace to overtake her
he was so anxious to join. No symptoms of
pleasure at the unexpected meeting beamed in
the countenance of his only child, and the
usually reserved deportment of her governess
B 2
4 MEMOIRS OF
assumed even a more chilling aspect as he sig-
nified his intention of walking with them.
Somewhat awed by Selina's manner, he took the
hand of his daughter, instead of remaining by
her side as he had originally intended, and then
uttered something about his desire of becoming
better acquainted with Lady Adelaide.
" You speak Italian, I believe, Miss Strat-
ford ?" observed he.
Selina replied in the affirmative.
"Yes, I heard you conversing with Lady
Almondbury in that language the other day,
and your pronunciation struck me to be so
pure, that it occurred to me that it would be a
very good opportunity for me to brush up my
Italian a little, which I have greatly neglected
for some time, by chatting with you."
Selina made no reply; but Lady Adelaide
said, "O pray speak French, papa, for then
I can understand what is said, for I know
French very well, don't I, dear Miss Stratford?"
The father bit his nether lip, and looked
angry ; but after a moment's reflection, he re-
sumed, " Well, then, Adelaide, as you already
A FEMHE DE CHAMBRE. a
know French so well, the sooner you learn
Italian the better, and by hearing Miss Strat-
ford and me converse you will at least acquire
a familiarity with the accent, if not the sense
of what we utter."
He then turned to Selina, and in tolerably
good Italian observed, "that he was not sur-
prised to see the general admiration her beauty
excited, that all men paid homage to it as she
passed, but that none felt its power so pro-
foundly as he did."
Selina requested that he would select any
other subject for his conversation, as no one
could be so little acceptable to her as that;
and the grave and dignified manner in which
she made this reproof, evinced the truth of her
assertion.
"But how is it possible to forbear speaking
of that which fills the heart ? " said he. " Throw
off this coldness and reserve. I love you, am
rich, and disposed to be generous. I can
secure you independence, and will so conduct
myself that no suspicion shall light on you.
Or, if you prefer it, I will at once provide you
6 MEMOIRS OF
with a house and establishment suitable to your
merit, and "
" Hold, my lord, and no longer insult my
ears by such language," and the cheeks of
Selina were crimsoned with indignation and
wounded virtue.
"I am sure, papa, Miss Stratford does not
like speaking Italian with you," said little Lady
Adelaide, "for see how red her face has got;
and I never saw her look angry before."
"Don't be such a prude, lovely girl," re-
sumed Lord Almondbury. " I really would
not for worlds insult or pain you; but when
I see a beautiful creature like you, immured
three parts of the day in a dull school-room,
labouring to instruct a spoilt girl like mine,
and shut up all the evening in a boudoir
that no breath of air ever visits, trying to
amuse a poor hypochondriac that is no longer
amuseable, and all for a paltry salary, much
less than I give my valet, by w Jove I can't
stand it ; and I long to place you where every
luxury, every pleasure, will court your accept-
ance."
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 7
" I will no longer listen to such insults, my
,lord," said Selina, turning to leave the garden.
" My position in your lordship's family should
have saved me from them," and tears filled her
eyes and impeded her utterance.
" I knew you would make Miss Stratford
angry. See how you have made her weep,"
said Lady Adelaide. "Mamma never makes
her cry when she speaks Italian to her."
" That troublesome child will make mischief
by telling tales, unless you recover your calm-
ness. For your own sake, if not for mine, for
the sake of Lady Almondbury, whose delicate
health renders any shock dangerous, assume
your usual air and manner, and I promise that
I will say no more on this subject."
Selina was so fluttered and agitated that she
found great difficulty in subduing her feelings
sufficiently to assume a calm demeanour, al-
though she was fully aware of the necessity of
it, if only to avoid the inquisitive glances of
the passers by, who had noticed her heightened
colour and humid eyes. She trembled, too,
lest her pupil should reveal to Lady Almond-
MEMOIRS OF
bury her version of the scene that had just
occurred; for the simple statement that Lord
Almondbury had joined them in Kensington
Gardens, and spoken all the time in Italian to
her governess; had made her very angry, and
brought tears to her eyes, would be quite
enough to enlighten Lady Almondbury on the
whole fact, and to inflict a pain and chagrin
which, in her feeble state, it was of the greatest
importance she should be spared. Yet to con-
tinue in the house, after the undisguised avowal
of passion made by Lord Almondbury, she felt
would be wrong. Cruel man ! to compel her to
resign a situation in which she had been so
happy, and where she had been of use to the
interesting and amiable invalid, as well as to
her dear little pupil. Such were the thoughts
that filled her mind, as silently she retraced her
steps to the carriage.
Vexed and disappointed at his utter failure
in his base designs, Lord Almondbury walked
to the gate where he had left his horse, mutter-
ing " curses not loud but deep " on what he
called the folly of his intended victim. " I hope
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 9
she won't be such a confounded simpleton as
to tell Lady Almondbury," thought he. " That
'would be deucedly disagreeable. Not that
I have any scene to fear with her, for I must
do her the justice to say that she never tries
any. Whatever her suspicions may be that
I am a mauvais sujet, she never treated me to a
scene of jealousy yet, and so much the better
for her; for while she utters no reproaches
I feel myself compelled to observe some ap-
pearance, at least, of good terms with her.
Were she to act differently I could not
answer for myself. Women are great fools
when they betray their knowledge, or even
their suspicions, of their husbands' infidelity ;
for then they absolve them from the necessity
of keeping up appearance, and harden them
against the shame first experienced when a man
goes astray. My wife's pale cheek, melancholy
look, and patient endurance, often have more
effect on me, than all the reproaches that a
jealous wife could utter in a long life. Yes,
positively, I sometimes feel for the* poor thing,
especially when I remember how passionately
B3
10 -MEMOIRS OF-
she once loved, and how entirely she trusted
me. Heigh ho! Poor Frances! The first
few months of our marriage were indeed hal-
cyon days. She so trusting, I so fond. It
is a pity it could not last ! Then she became
f f-mceinte, got ill, lost her beauty. Women enceinte
always do : could go with me no where, and
^ although at first she looked surprised, nay, hurt
too, that I would not stay at home to nurse her,
she never uttered a request on the subject;
and I soon found myself back with my old
cronies, on the same terms as previously to my
marriage; and then, when my wife was con-
fined, and of a girl too, instead of a boy, on
/ /-which I had set my heart, she was so occupied
and delighted with her little pouparde, that
I saw no necessity to fall back into conjugal
thraldom. Then her health began to give way.
There must be consumption in her family, or
what else could make her always ill? The
doctors said it was something that preyed on
her mind. Cunning dogs! they had heard,
I suppose, * of some of my proceedings, and
intended that as a hint. I would not take it ;
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 11
besides, I am sure her malady was not of the
mind, but of the chest. But even were it
i
otherwise, what could I do ? Was I to turn
garde malade, or enact the role of a doting
husband when I no longer felt the inclination ?
Women are so foolish and unreasonable ; they
expect, when they marry, that husbands are to
continue lovers for ever, and picture to them-
selves, poor dupes, that their homes are to be the
abodes of never-ceasing bliss. When they find
themselves disappointed in these expectations,
instead of taking it philosophically, they either
abandon themselves to regret, or become
regular coquettes to revenge on all men the
wrongs they imagine they have received from
one. Now we men are wiser. We have had
experience in love affairs, and know that time,
sooner or later, will render us indifferent to the
charms we once adored, as well as efface from
our hearts any wounds they may have sustained.
We do not lament when we see indifference re-
place passion in the hearts of our wives; aa
contraire, it is an end much to be desired, for
it saves a poor devil from the jealous scenes
12 MEMOIRS OF-
he will inevitably be exposed to when his pas-
sion cools, which it is sure to do, and his wife's
continues. I verily believe that of my poor
Frances would have gone on to the end of the
chapter, if I had not taken such pains to destroy
all her bright illusions, and disenchant her with
her idol myself. But what the deuce could I
do ? I could not submit to the trammels imposed
by the exigeance of a love-sick spouse ; conse-
quently, to recover and secure my liberty, I was
compelled to let her see me in my natural
character, and the result has been, that the
discovery has injured her peace, and impaired a
health never strong enough to resist a disap-
pointment of the heart. Women of her pecu-
liar temperament and character should never
marry, for as no man can continue to enact the
enamoured lover after he has been a year a
husband, they are certain to be disappointed,
and to be unhappy for years, if not for ever,
under the sense of it."
So reasoned Lord Almondbury. It never
occurred to him that men of his peculiar tem-
perament and character should never marry,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. * 13
certain as he was, that such men could never
secure the happiness of a right-minded and
'amiable wife. No, he looked on women as born
to submit to men, their lords and masters, and
would have been ready to exclaim, with the
sultan in a French opera, when he quits one
favourite sultana, who weeps his infidelity, for
another and newer flame,
" Disaimulez votre peine, et respectez mes plaisirs."
Lady Almondbury had too much pride and
delicacy to reproach her husband, even had she
not been well-convinced of the utter uselessness
of such a measure. Aware that he no longer
loved her, her sole wish was to retain his respect,
and to see him entertain for their child some
portion of that affection, the absence of which
not only deeply pained her, but was calculated
to have an injurious effect on the little girl, who
had already evinced, on many occasions, her
consciousness of the indifference, if not dislike,
of her father towards her. The patience and
resignation with which Lady Almondbury sub-
mitted to the neglect and unkindness of her
14 MEMOIRS OF.
unfeeling and selfish husband, far from operating
favourably on his mind, or ensuring his grati-
tude, served only to encourage his wilfulness.
Her forbearance he looked on as a tacit tolera-
tion of his conduct; nay, when vexed or irri-
tated abroad, he returned to his own house to
vent on the nervous and sensitive invalid the
ebullition of a temper never good, but now
incurably spoilt by self-indulgence.
Selina experienced an insuperable disinclina-
tion to inform Lady Almondbury of the inter-
view with her lord in Kensington Gardens ; she
felt that she could not name it without betray-
ing, in her countenance at least, some symptoms
of the disgust and indignation it had excited in
her breast ; and yet not to state it, might, if the
child repeated it, and the chances were that she
would, expose her to suspicion. How painful
and humiliating was her position ! and how did
she despise him who had so rendered it I She
wished that she could refer to the interview
when her pupil was not present, for she feared
some naive remark of the clever child might
make the mother au fait of the truth ; and
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 15
gladly would she have saved the interesting and
amiable invalid the chagrin which she knew it
must inflict on her ; but, as she could have no
opportunity before night of a tete-a-tte with
Lady Almondbury, and must conduct her pupil
to the boudoir, as usual, before the child retired
to bed, no choice was left, but to name the fact
as concisely as possible.
" I hope you had a pleasant walk, Miss Strat-
ford," said Lady Almondbury.
" Yes ; that is to say, no," was the incohe-
rent reply, Selina blushing to her very temples,
from the consciousness of the surprise it must
occasion, but, taken unawares by the common-
place, but kindly-meant question. She felt that
Lady Almondbury "s eyes were fixed on her
face, and her blushes and confusion increased in
consequence. It was necessary to say some-
thing, and she struggled to appear calm while
stating the interview with Lord Almondbury ;
but her manner was so unlike its usual collected
and unembarrassed tone, that Lady Almondbury,
alarmed by her changeful cheek and visible
emotion, asked her if she were ill, and evinced
16 MEMOIRS OF.
such kindness and interest in putting the
question, as achieved a total triumph over
the self-control of Sclina, who burst into
tears.
" Dear, good Miss Stratford has been made
ill, I am sure, by papa," said Lady Adelaide ;
"he would stay and walk with us, though he
saw Miss Stratford disliked it ; and would talk
Italian to her all the time, though she wished
to speak French or English. He looked very
angry when Miss Stratford would not stay any
longer in the gardens, and then walked away to
another gate quite in a passion."
Lady Almondbury became as pale as marble ;
her lips quivered with emotion, and she glanced
with pitying kindness at Selina, now compre-
hending the cause of her agitation. Making an
effort to recover composure, she turned to her
daughter, and gravely rebuked her for comment-
ing on the actions of her papa.
" It is ungrateful, Adelaide," said she, " so
to receive what was meant kindly. It was
natural for your papa, seeing you walking, to
join you, and question Miss Stratford on your
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 17
progress ; and he preferred doing this in a lan-
guage you do not speak."
The little girl looked abashed, but not con-
vinced ; and, while blushes still mantled on her
cheek, she turned to her mother, and, with the
pertinacity peculiar to over- indulged children,
anxious to exculpate herself from the charge of
ingratitude, she demanded, "Why then, mamma,
was papa so very much displeased ? Good, kind
Miss Stratford tells me she is satisfied with me,
and would tell papa the same, so that he could
not be angry at that."
This logic was so conclusive, that Lady Al-
mondbury could not refute it; but her pale
cheek became tinged with red, and her ill-con-
cealed embarrassment pained Selina so much,
that she checked the further remarks of the
clever child by quickly changing the sub-
ject.
When, as usual, she was that evening sum-
moned to the boudoir of Lady Almondbury, she
felt conscious of a feeling of timidity and con-
straint never previously experienced since her
first entrance into the establishment, nor did the
18 MEMOIRS OF
increased paleness, or heavy eyes, betraying the
traces of recent tears, of the amiable invalid,
help to reassure her, although Lady Almond-
bury's manner, always kind and gentle, was
even more so than before.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 19
CHAPTER II.
WITH all the intuitive tact and quickness of
apprehension that peculiarly appertain to women
of delicacy and sentiment, Lady Almondbury
readily divined the whole affair of the rencontre
in Kensington Gardens, and it needed not the
naive disclosures of her daughter to make the mor-
tifying truth deeply, painfully, felt. She could
duly appreciate the motives that influenced the
conduct of Selina. She saw at a glance the
embarrassment and chagrin under which the
poor girl laboured, and anxious to relieve her,
yet unwilling to censure Lord Almondbury, she
hardly knew how to act, or what to say. She
could not, without great regret and reluctance,
contemplate a separation from one whose society
had soothed her solitude, and rendered many an
hour of pain and languor, more endurable. A
20 MEMOIRS OF
long illness is apt to engender selfishness even in
persons who, previously to its assaults, had been
strangers to this too common defect. The ennui
peculiar to days of physical suffering, and the las-
situde that never fails to accompany it, render-
ing all occupation, either mental or bodily, most
difficult and fatiguing, if not impracticable, had
been often and painfully experienced by the vale-
tudinarian. The relief consequently afforded by
the society of one who loved her, was too great
and welcome to be resigned without deep regret ;
and to save it, Lady Almondbury, yielding for
the first time in her life to the dictates of self-
ishness, deliberated whether or not she might
still retain the presence of her, who had been
such a comforter to her, and so excellent a
teacher to her child. Where could she hope to
find a governess with equal ability and zeal, to
replace Miss Stratford near Lady Adelaide ?
This last reflection was paramount to all others
in the mother's heart, and triumphed over the
scruples entertained since the discovery of the
meeting at Kensington Gardens, on the pro-
priety of retaining Selina under a roof where
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 21
she might be exposed to the insulting pursuit
of a lawless libertine, who respected neither the
home of his wife nor child, nor the purity of
her to whom the education of that only child
was confided. Of the virtue of Selina, Lady
Almondbury entertained not a single doubt, for
there was that native dignity and self-respect,
inseparable from conscious rectitude, about her,
that convinced Lady Almondbury that the arts
of even the most practised seducer would be
tried in vain on one so right-minded. But,
although the virtue of the orphan might escape
triumphant from all snares, would she, herself a
mother, be justified in retaining her where her
reputation might suffer, were the libertine
views of Lord Almondbury once made known to
others, as they had so lately been made evident
to herself? While these painful reflections
were passing in the mind of Lady Almondbury,
thoughts of a no less disagreeable nature occu-
pied Selina. How was she to break to her
kind patroness her desire to withdraw from her
house, without exciting mortifying suspicions of
the cause ? Yet she felt that this step must be
22 MEMOIRS OF
taken ; for to remain would be to grant a tacit
encouragement to the unprincipled Lord Al-
mondbury to renew his dishonourable and
insulting proposals ; the bare recollection of
which sent the blood to her cheeks, and made
her heart throb with indignation.
Never had a half hour passed so painfully and
slowly in that boudoir since Selina Stratford
had become an inmate in the mansion, as while
these thoughts were passing in the minds of
Lady Almondbury and herself. Each felt un-
willing to break silence, knowing that it must
be to enter on a subject most painful to both ;
and this consciousness increased their embar-
rassment. At length Lady Almondbury spoke,
although undecided what line of conduct to
adopt. She would be governed by what Selina
should determine on ; and tremulous from an-
ticipation that her fears would be realised, that
the companion whose society had so cheered the
long and weary hours of her sick chamber
would announce her intention of leaving her,
she observed, " I fear, my dear Miss Stratford,
that you are not quite well." Kindness is
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 23
never more deeply felt than when we are medi-
tating a separation from those who bestow it.
The sweet and affectionate tone in which her
patroness uttered these few words, brought
tears to the eyes of Selina, and her tongue
faltered as she replied " No, dear lady, I am
not ill, but" and here she paused, and for
a few minutes was speechless from emo-
tion.
"Do not distress yourself, my dear and amiable
young friend," said Lady Almondbury. "If
you have any thing painful to communicate,
and your agitation but too well prepares me for
it, delay pronouncing it until you are more
calm, until I too am better able to bear it than
at present;" and Lady Almondbury became
paler than before, and tears stood in her eyes.
She extended her white and attenuated hand
to Selina, who pressed it to her lips, and as she
felt it tremble in her own, a pang passed
through her heart at the notion that she must
leave one from whom she had experienced such
unvarying kindness and encouragement, and at
a period too, when custom had rendered her
24 MEMOIRS 'OF
efforts to please and be useful to the dear
invalid more necessary and acceptable.
" I fear I must leave you, dear lady," said
Selina, feeling the absolute necessity of not
postponing the announcement of her intention.
" I feared so," replied Lady Almondbury,
and she pressed the hand of Selina, in which
her own still rested.
" Circumstances," resumed Selina, " over
which I have no control, compel this, to me,
most painful step ; for your goodness to me,
dear lady, the gratitude it has created in my
heart, and the affection I feel for dear Lady
Adelaide, render my parting from you one of
the most painful trials of my life."
" You know not how dear, how necessary
you are become to me, dear Miss Stratford,"
said Lady Almondbury ; careful not to inquire
the cause for a step so pregnant with regret to
her. Too well did she divine the motive for
Selina's departure; but feelings of delicacy
towards her, as well as an unwillingness to
touch on a subject that must inculpate her
husband the once passionately loved partner
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 25
of her home and heart, the still dear father
of her child sealed her lips from betraying her
t
knowledge of it. She paused, while delibe-
rating with herself what step to take ; and then
again pressing Selina's hand, earnestly requested
her not to leave her for a few weeks more at
least ; adding, " I shall be so lonely, dear
Miss Stratford ; for Lord Almondbury is going
to France for a couple of months."
Selina well understood what this intelligence
meant. It was a delicate mode of satisfying
her mind, that, in yielding to the request of her
kind and amiable patroness of remaining a few
weeks longer, she need not fear being exposed
to any more insults from Lord Ahnondbury.
She felt pleasure in assenting to the proposal,
and Lady Almondbury, gratified at having
secured the society of a companion so conge-
nial to her taste, even for a few more weeks,
resumed her usual calm and sweet manner,
and evinced a more than ordinary interest in
her favourite.
As Selina looked on her beautiful face still
lovely in spite of the ravages of disease, and
VOL. ir. c
26 MEMOIRS OF
that fragile form so shadowy, yet graceful,
which conveyed the notion that it was already
fit for the skies she felt as if in the presence
of a being purified from all earth's passions and
stains, who was only for a brief period lent
to this world, and who might soon, too soon,
be called to that heaven, which seemed to be
her native sphere.
The poet who asserted that a brave man,
struggling with misfortune, was one of the
noblest sights, might have added, that a woman,
young, beautiful, and good, disappointed in her
tenderest affections, resigning herself to a pre-
mature grave, and sustaining the assaults of a
cureless and painful malady without murmuring,
was no less so Every sentence uttered by
Lady Almondbury was instinct with patient
sweetness ; it was as if disease, in destroying
the mortal part, had but more revealed the im-
mortal ; as if a veil had been removed from the
soul, and allowed its perfection to be all dis-
closed. A thousand sad reflections crowded into
her mind, as she listened to the low, clear, har-
monious accents, and gazed on the almost trans-
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 27
parent face, radiant with goodness, of the fair
Joeing before her. Could no art avail to save
her from the arms of death, already extended to
grasp her? Was that high and intellectual
brow, the throne of noble thoughts, soon to be
laid in the grave ; and those delicate cheeks and
eloquent lips, to become food for the worms ?
"Oh! why," thought Selina, "cannot the
chosen of earth, like the beautiful flowers we
cherish, droop and fall to the clay, whence they
sprang, without all the fearful ceremony of the
dark grave, the polluting worm, to consume the
mortal coil that for a few brief years serves as
an envelope to the spirit, doomed one day to
ascend to a purer sphere ? Ah ! was it to cor-
rect and humble us, poor creatures as we are,
that it was decreed that those dearest to us on
earth, who made the charm, the blessing, of our
lives, should no sooner resign their breath, than,
in a short time, we are forced to consign them
to the grave, to hide the ravages of decomposi-
tion, that proves (Oh how painfully to us !)
' what dust we dote on,' and yield the hungry
worm its prey ? "
c2
28 MEMOIRS OF
Such were the gloomy reflections that filled
the mind of Selina for a short time ; but, as she
listened to the aspirations of the fragile being
before her, who spoke of that better world, to
which she expected soon to be called, less gloomy
thoughts passed into her mind. She felt that
the decay of the body was but as the casting off
the perishable part, as the chrysalis soars from
the matter that had enveloped it and kept it
from its higher destiny.
It was late ere Lady Almondbury permitted
Selina to leave the boudoir. Indisposed to sleep,
she poured out to the attentive ears of her de-
lighted auditress the wisdom that is the fruit of
grave reflection, on the instability and nothing-
ness of life, forced on her by the sense of her
own frail tenure on existence, She felt that her
days were numbered ; that she must soon go
hence, to be no more seen on earth ; but her
thoughts reverted to that other, better life, to
which the grave is but the portal ; and so cheer-
ing were her words, and so bright her hopes,
that, in listening to them, Selina overcame that
internal shudder, that dread of death, with
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 29
which the young and healthy are prone to con-
template the awful change. They parted more
>
affectionately than ever. Lady Almondbury
saw that she had not over-rated the youthful
governess of her daughter, when she had given
her credit for as much virtue, and more pru-
dence, than often fall to the lot of persons- so
young and inexperienced. Her desire to with-
draw from a situation where she had, previously
to Lord Almondbury's unpardonable attempt
to ingratiate himself with her, been so happy,
and the tact and delicacy with which she had
avoided revealing his turpitude, had made a deep
impression on the mind of his wife. Such was
precisely the line of conduct she could approve,
testifying, as it did, how readily the poor and
dependent girl could sacrifice all the advantages
enjoyed in her present home, rather than expose
herself to the libertine designs of Lord Al-
mondbury, or give uneasiness to his amiable and
suffering wife.
When Selina entered her chamber, she found
on her table a letter addressed to her in an un-
known hand. The circumstance was so unusual
30 MEMOIRS OF
a one, that for a moment she hesitated to open
it : a presentiment that it contained nothing
agreeable passed through her mind, and she was
half disposed to commit it to the flames ; but,
after a little reflection, and chiding herself for
her weakness of nerves, she broke the seal, and,
reading a few lines, found that the letter was
from Lord Alinondbury, and contained a repe-
tition of the insulting proposals which he had
presumed to address to her on that day.
" I am on the point of leaving England for a
tour on the Continent," wrote the hardened
roue; " and if you, my lovely Miss Stratford,
will be the partner of my travels, you will ren-
der me at once the happiest and most grateful
fellow on earth. I will make a settlement, be-
fore we go, that will secure you an ample pro-
vision for life, as also for any family that may
come. At Paris you can engage a femme de
chambre, and there, as elsewhere, you shall have
an abode and equipage suitable to your beauty
and my station. Consider how humiliating and
precarious is the position of a governess. In
my family you may not have experienced the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 31
caprice and unkindness generally to be met
with, but in how few can you expect to
'find so indulgent a patroness as in my wife ?
whose delicate health and weakness of nerves
dispose her to seek companionship and show
friendship, instead of maintaining the reserve
and dignity peculiar to ladies in her position.
I cannot believe that the disdain and indigna-
tion you so unmercifully manifested this day,
when I avowed the passion you had excited in
my breast, was serious. I looked on it as a
clever piece of acting, which had two motives :
the first, to enhance your merit in my eyes ;
and the second, to deceive the espitylerie of my
daughter, who is, I must acknowledge, remark-
ably cunning for her age. Come, be honest,
and confess I have guessed rightly. You felt
certain that Lady Adelaide would tell her mo-
ther of our interview, and as certainly mention
the displeasure it appeared to afford you, which
would exonerate you from all blame, and leave
censure or suspicion to fall wholly on my shoul-
ders, which are sufficiently large to bear even a
greater burden. The manoeuvre was a clever
32 MEMOIRS OF
one, and I admire the skill with which you car-
ried it through ; but, having frankly confessed
this much, I must now tell you that there is no
good to be obtained by continuing it.
" I cannot admire you more than I do, and
am willing to prove it by the liberality of my
settlement. Throw off the mask, and make
me at once the happiest of men, by accepting
my offer. You can feign the illness of some
near relative, as an excuse for leaving. Go to
Folkstone, where I will join you, and, free as
air, and happy as love can make, us, we will
wing our way to France and Italy ; and when
we return, you shall find a house replete with
every elegance and comfort ready for your
reception. Two lines, to say what day you
will be ready to start, left on my library table,
will oblige your devoted, " A "
Selina threw the odious letter from her with
feelings of indignation, that brought the blood
to her very temples. Was it, indeed, possible
that her undisguised anger and disgust could
have been mistaken by Lord Almondbury for the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 33
ruse and calculation of an unprincipled and
shameless coquette ? Tears, bitter tears, of in-
sulted virtue chased each other down her
cheeks, and she felt as if degraded by remain-
ing a single night under the roof of a man capable
of such base conduct as Lord Almondbury had
evinced towards her. Might he not, if, after
this fresh insult, she continued in the house,
misconstrue it into a tacit toleration of his dis-
honourable views, and postpone his departure
for the Continent? Yet how was she, after
her promise to Lady Almondbury of remain-
ing with her for some weeks more, to announce
or explain the change in her plans to that most
amiable and suffering lady ? Many were the
tears shed that night before sleep deigned to visit
her pillow, and well might she have exclaimed
with the poet
" Tired Nature's sweet restorer, balmy Sleep ;
He, like the world, his ready visit pays
Where Fortune smiles : the wretehed he forsakes ;
Swift on his downy pinions flies from woe,
And lights on lids unsullied with a tear."
But poor Selina felt her painful position too
profoundly to be able to apostrophize, even had
c 3
34 MEMOIRS OF .
she remembered the lines of Young. Her
isolated and unprotected state, an orphan,
without a single relative in the world on whom
she had a claim, her only friends being the
worthy Mr. Vernon and his wife, how was
she to relate to them the gross insult offered
her by Lord Almondbury ; yet this must be
done, in order to account for her throwing up
a situation which she had so frequently, in her
letters to them, expressed her happiness and
gratitude at having obtained. Blushes of shame
dyed her cheeks at the very notion of this
painful, humiliating, but unavoidable disclosure.
To a pure-minded and virtuous woman there is
nothing so mortifying, save the insult itself, as
to have to communicate to others that she has
been approached with disrespect, that disho-
nourable proposals have been addressed to her.
Her very purity seems stained in her own eyes,
by having to make such an avowal, and she
trembles lest those to whom it must be made,
should, even for a moment, imagine that aught
approaching to levity on her part could have
encouraged the gross affront.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 35
But after having wept those bitter tears that
flow from outraged feelings, and the conscious-
'ness of utter helplessness to avert such insults,
back came the pleasing and re-assuring convic-
tion, that the only two friends to whom it would
be necessary to give an explanation for leaving
her present situation, were little likely to mis-
judge her, or form the slightest suspicion that
the heartless libertine, who had dared to shock
her ears by his odious offers, had ever seen
anything in her conduct to justify so base a
proceeding on his part. This reflection, and
the confidence it inspired, soothed her feelings,
and gratefully did she thank the Almighty for
having giving her friends, on the steadiness of
whose esteem she could count in such an emer-
gency, without a single doubt or fear of being
misunderstood.
36 MEMOIRS OP '
CHAPTER III.
AT an early hour next morning a loud
knocking at her door aroused Selina : from
slumber.
" For Heaven's sake, Miss Stratford, come
to my lady as soon as possible," said the maid
appointed to wait on Lady Adelaide and her
governess, " for her ladyship has burst a blood-
vessel, and, I fear, is dying !"
Selina lost not a moment in making her
hurried toilet, and ran to the chamber of Lady
Almondbury, whom she found pale as marble,
supported by pillows, and gasping for breath.
A faint smile marked her recognition of Selina,
to whom she extended her almost transparent
hand; she attempted to speak, but the san-
guine stream that rushed to her lips impeded
her utterance, and proved the danger of the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 37
effort. She shook her head mournfully, and
looked in Selina's face with an expression of
>
such sweetness and resignation, as brought the
tears to her eyes. The doctor, who had been
sent for before Selina was summoned, now
arrived. He felt the pulse of his patient,
looked grave, and exhorted her not to attempt
to speak. Lady Almondbury motioned to
Selina to take a seat by her bedside, and the
doctor having written a prescription, which
was forthwith despatched to the apothecary's,
he took his place at the opposite side of the
bed.
" Is Lord Almondbury in town ?" asked he,
addressing the femme-de-chambre.
" Yes, sir. His lordship is at home, but we
have not called him, as his lordship came home
very late."
A faint blush arose to the cheek of Lady
Almondbury, who had heard the question and
answer ; but it soon receded, and left her paler
than before. Again the doctor felt her pulse,
and while he held her hand a spasm passed
over her face.
38 MEMOIRS OF-
" My child," exclaimed Lady Almondbury,
turning her eyes with a look of the most earnest
appeal to Selina, and again the blood streamed
from her lips.
" My dear lady, you must not utter a word ;
indeed you must not," said the doctor, evidently
very much alarmed.
" May I not bring Lady Adelaide ?" de-
manded Selina, urged on by the appealing
glances of the anxious mother.
" Yes, yes, bring the child," was the answer.
" My husband," faltered Lady Almond-
bury.
" Send for his lordship directly," said the
doctor.
" Dear, dear, mamma !" exclaimed Lady Ade-
laide, breaking from her governess, and rushing
to her dying mother ; but the doctor held her
back, and restrained her from throwing herself
into the outstretched arms of Lady Almondbury.
"You must be gentle, young lady; your
mamma is too ill to bear the least exertion."
The child approached the bed with all possible
gentleness, and seizing the hand of her mother,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 6\)
pressed it fondly to her lips, while the tears
fell fast on it.
The doting mother gazed on her child with an
expression of unutterable fondness, and tried to
speak, but her lips were so tremulous from her
deep emotion, that utterance was denied her.
It was in truth a piteous sight, to behold that
still young and lovely woman, conscious that she
was gazing on her only child for the last time,
with all a mother's prescience and tenderness
throbbing in that heart that was soon to beat
no more, yet unable to articulate the blessing
she longed to bestow on her fair and youthful
head.
Selina was melted to tears, which she turned
away her head to conceal, and even the doctor,
though accustomed to such heart-rending scenes,
was moved.
Lord Almonbury now entered the room, at-
tired in a splendid brocaded silk robe de cham-
bre and trousers, and his feet encased in richly
embroidered slippers. It was evident that he
had arranged his hair, for it bore the marks of
having been carefully combed and brushed, and
40 MEMOIRS OF
his whole appearance testified the total absence
of that disorder peculiar to a sudden summons
from sleep. What a contrast did his gaudy un-
dress and healthful face and person offer to the
scene before him ! There lay the shadowy form
and emaciated though still beautiful face of
her who had "loved him not wisely, but too
well " of her who had, in the pride of youth
and beauty, when many noble suitors sought her
hand, preferred him to all others, and yielded
him her whole heart. There she lay, the victim
of his inconstancy, neglect, and unkindness,
hurried to a premature grave because her heart
was* not formed of firmer stuff to resist the
wounds he had inflicted on it. He had entered
the chamber with a step much less noiseless than
the occasion warranted, for, having on a former
night, some months before, been summoned to
his wife, who, by her attendants, was believed to
be dying, he concluded that the present was a
similar false alarm, and, consequently, was not
prepared for the truth. The dying woman re-
cognised his step, turned her eyes on him with
a mingled expression of pardon, pity, and love,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 41
such as angels might bestow on erring mortals,
^and, extending her hand, made a desperate effort
to speak.
" Our child," faltered she, turning her glance
on the weeping little girl, " promise me
that you will love and cherish her for my sake
who have loved you so well. Promise me, dear
Henry, it is my last request."
Stubborn as was the heart of him to whom it
was addressed, this request, uttered by the fal-
tering lips of his dying wife, deeply affected
Lord Almondbury.
" You will still live, dearest," said he, and he
pressed her extended hand to his lips.
The dying woman faintly shook her head, and
again urged him to promise to love and cherish
their child.
" I promise, faithfully promise, dearest ! " r2-
plied he, and tears started to his eyes, the first
that had visited them since his childhood.
" I had forgotten ; there is another request I
would urge," said Lady Ahnondbury. " I wished
to secure a provision for Miss Stratford for her
life. You will settle one hundred a-year on
42 MEMOIRS OF
her, and present her with one of my watches as
a memorial of my affection and esteem."
The exertion of speaking was too much for
Lady Almondbury. Her head fell on her
bosom, blood streamed anew from her lips, a
slight convulsion passed over her face, and all
was over.
"Frances ! my own poor Frances !" exclaimed
Lord Almondbury wildly, " she is not she
cannot be dead she has only fainted ; oh !
doctor, give her quickly some restorative !" and
sobs almost choked him.
" Alas ! my lord, it is all over. Let me lead
you from this room. Your child requires all
our care, for see, she has fainted."
Lord Almondbury flung' himself on the bed
in an agony of grief, the truth and intensity of
which astonished all present, as much as it would
have soothed her who had so lately breathed her
last, could she have seen it; for with all a woman's
fondness, she would have clung to the thought
of being mourned by him, to whom she had
given her virgin heart.
Selina, while tears chased each other down
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 43
her pale face, assisted in removing Lady Ade-
laide to her own room, and the doctor having
administered sal volatile and water to Lord Al-
mondbury, led him to his. It was touching to
witness the grief of the poor child when she was
returned to consciousness. She could hardly be
brought to believe that she was indeed motherless
that the eyes that had so lately gazed on her
with such deep tenderness, were closed for ever
that the voice which had never addressed her
but with fondness, she should never more hear.
Poor girl ! If those numbering ten times her
years cannot, during the first hours of a bereave-
ment like hers, bring themselves to believe the
fearful truth, how little can it be wondered, that
stunned by the overwhelming blow, her senses
recoiled from it, and that refusing to credit the
appalling fact, she entreated again and again to be
permitted to return to the chamber of death,
saying, " Only let me see my mother, touch
her, speak to her, and convince myself that she
is, as they say, dead, for I cannot, indeed I can-
not, believe it ! "
Tenderly did Selina Stratford watch over the
44 MEMOIRS OF
impatient mourner, listen to her lamentations
broken by sobs, and endeavour to soothe her,
until, exhausted by the violence of her sorrow,
the poor child fell into a profound slumber, and
then she stole to the chamber of death, unwill-
ing that the last rites due to the departed should
be performed solely by menial hands. She found
Mrs. Morgan, the faithful waiting-woman of poor
Lady Almondbury, sitting in speechless grief
by the bedside of her mistress, and aroused her
from the stupor in which she seemed plunged
by offering her assistance for the sad duties
required. "Ah, Miss Stratford, I thank you!"
sobbed Mrs. Morgan. " You loved my dear
lady, and your hands are worthy of touching
her. I could not bear that those who never
approached her person in life should ;" but
here the tears of the poor woman impeded her
utterance.
With trembling hands Selina fulfilled the
melancholy task she had assigned herself. She
closed the eyes of the departed, arranged her
long and silken tresses, cutting off one for her
child ; and having gently placed the head on its
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 45
pillow, was gratified to see the face, still beau-
tiful in death, wear the calm and angelic ex-
4
pression that had characterized it when in life.
\
Her labours and they were labours of love
finished, she sank on her knees by the bed, and
prayed long and fervently. Never in the house
of God did she feel her soul lighted up to its
Creator with more exalted piety, than while
contemplating the tranquil loveliness of the face /
of the newly departed, which seemed already j * &
to bear the impress of that heaven to which,
she hoped and trusted, the spirit had taken its V
flight. She prayed that the child left on earth
might emulate the virtues of the mother, and
like her meet death, filled with hope and con-
fidence of mercy, through the Redeemer. Tears
rolled down her cheeks as she looked on that
calm, sweet face, that marble brow, which pain
or care could never more contract, those closed
lids, whence never more a tear could steal ; and
blamed her own selfishness, that could still
desire to retain on earth, where only trials and
sufferings awaited her, the pure spirit that had
fled to its God.
46 MEMOIRS OF
She had taken her place by the couch of
Lady Adelaide before she awoke, and watched
over her with pitying tenderness. Never had
she been so forcibly struck with the likeness
between the child and her mother, as now ; for
the juvenile character, which the face of poor
Lady Almondbury had assumed in death, ren-
dered the resemblance more visible. But oh,
how far less calm was the countenance of the
sleeping girl ! The brows were curved, traces
of recent tears marked the cheeks, the lips occa-
sionally trembled, and convulsive sobs heaved
the chest. The word "mamma" was often
murmured in that unquiet slumber, and in so
plaintive a tone as to increase the sadness of
her who watched so tenderly over the sleeper.
When Lady Adelaide awoke, and turned her
eyes on Selina, a dreamy unconsciousness marked
her countenance. She raised her hand to her
forehead, as if to recal her memory, and then
burst into a passionate fit of grief, saying,
" Mamma, mamma ! Oh take me to mamma !"
Many were the kind words and affectionate
embraces bestowed by Selina on her pupil,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 47
while the latter was being dressed by her maid;
but the promise of being taken to see her dead
mother had the greatest effect in soothing her.
A message from Lord Almondbury, to desire
the presence of his daughter, first recalled
Selina to a consciousness of the awkwardness of
her position in the house of a man who had
presumed to address his libertine views to her,
now that Lady Almondbury 's death deprived
her of the protection that lent a sanction to
her residence there. She instantly wrote a
letter to the excellent Mrs. Vernon, requesting
her presence, being determined to be guided by
her advice ; and, rather than leave Lady Ade-
laide until the poor child was more reconciled
to the bereavement so lately sustained, she
would request Mrs. Vernon to remain with her
until after the funeral.
When Lady Adelaide returned to her gover-
ness, Selina was pleased to find that she ap-
peared less wretched than before her interview
with her father. " Poor papa !" said the intel-
ligent little girl, " he is so unhappy and cried
so much, that I tried to comfort him. He took
48 MEMOIRS OF
me in his arms and kissed me very often, and
said I was like my dear blessed mother. I never
thought papa could weep, did you, dear Miss
Stratford?"
Glad was Selina to discover by the artless
words of her pupil, that the heart of Lord Al-
rnondbury was touched by the death of his
amiable and neglected wife, and sincerely did she
pray that his late remorse and regret would not
be of brief duration, being convinced that on the
purifying effect of both on his heart, would his
affection for his child find its surest basis ; but
her hopes of this desirable change in him were
not very sanguine, as she dreaded that selfishness
and habitual indulgence in libertine pursuits, had
hardened his nature too much to permit repen-
tance and grief to be more than temporary
guests in his breast.
" I think I shall now be able to love papa,"
resumed the child. " Dear mamma often told
me I must love him, but I never thought I could
till I saw him weeping for her. He showed me
her picture ; oh ! such a beautiful face, Miss
Stratford ! not pale and sad, as I always saw
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 49
her, but with afresh pink colour on her cheeks,
her eyes so bright that they looked as if they
nad never shed a tear, and such a sweet happy
smile. I said so to papa, and then he cried
afresh, and told me that when that picture was
painted, dear mamma was as happy as she
appeared; and he muttered something about
* wretch, and ungrateful;' I didn't quite hear
what it was, and he struck his hand against his
forehead, and looked so miserable, that I kissed
him, and said, * Poor, dear papa,' and then he
hugged me closely to his breast, and said it was
just like what my angel mother would have done.
Yes, dear Miss Stratford, he called my own
mamma angel, and blessed, every time he spoke
of her, and that made me love him very much.
I wanted to have some one to kiss and love, as
I used to kiss and love mamma. Not that 1
can ever love any one as I did her. O ! no,
Miss Stratford, that would be impossible. But
let us go to her room."
It was, indeed, a piteous sight to behold the
interesting child gazing on the dead, the tears
flowing down her face, and awe restraining her
VOL. II. D
50 MEMOIRS OF
from lavishing those caresses on the departed
which she had been wont to bestow when her,
mother was in life.
" May I kiss her ?" asked she in a whisper,
as if fearful of awaking her, whose marble slum-
ber the last trumpet could alone disturb. Selina
having assented, she bent down and pressed the
lips of her dead mother ; but, no sooner had she
become sensible of their rigidity and icy cold-
ness, than she withdrew her own in terror, and,
throwing herself into the arms of Selina, burst
into a paroxysm of grief that it was long ere the
soothing expressions of the latter could subdue.
Ah ! who is it that has not, under similar
circumstances, experienced the same shock ? A
shock against which reason would in vain essay
to guard us. We know that our bodies are but
the temporary abodes of the immortal soul,
which no sooner leaves them than these poor
tenements of clay betray their native frailty,
and retain only the faded likeness of the once-
breathing creature ; yet how difficult ! nay,
more, how impossible it is for us to divest
ourselves of the love for that poor faded image
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 51
that filled our hearts, when it was animated by
the vital spark ! A love that draws our lips to
4
those icy-cold ones, though their contact almost
freezes the blood in our veins, and prompts us
to address to those ears, sealed in death, the
words of affection that were wont to delight
them ! How heart-breaking it is to look on
that immoveable face, while our own is con-
vulsed by the agony of grief, its very calmness
seeming like a mockery of our woe ! If we,
arrived at maturity, experience these conflicting
emotions, can it be wondered at, that childhood
should almost sink beneath them ? Poor Lady
Adelaide remained for a long time, with her
face hidden on the bosom of her governess, listen-
ing with breathless interest, while the latter
explained to her, in terms suited to her tender
years, the mysterious change from life to death.
" Then that is not really my mamma," said
the child, pointing with her fingers to the dead,
an impression of deep awe on her countenance ;
" and yet, dear Miss Stratford, how like it is !
It looks like an image of her in marble, go
white, so cold ! Oh, I wish we could for ever
D 2
52 MEMOIRS OF
keep it here, just as it now is ! I would always
say my morning and night prayers kneeling by
it; and the sight of what was, yet is not, my
own blessed mother, would prevent my ever
again being obstinate or self-willed."
While the child was speaking, Lord Almond-
bury entered the chamber of death, but so
softly, that neither Selina nor her pupil were
sensible of his approach He had overheard
Lady Adelaide's wish, and, touched by it, had
determined it should be gratified. Selina arose
and withdrew, Lord Almondbury having only
noticed her presence by a bow; and his daughter
took his hand and kissed it. Her pale face and
tearful eyes increased her resemblance to her
mother, and her father, glancing from the dead
to the living, marked his recognition of the
striking resemblance, by pressing his daughter
to his breast, ere he told her to go to her
governess. Selina, who had remained in the
adjoining room to take charge of Lady Adelaide,
heard the door locked when her pupil had
passed it; and, ere she had reached the
study assigned to the use of the child, the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 53
sound of stifled sobs issuing from the chamber
of death struck her ear.
With what altered feelings do we contemplate Jr
our own conduct towards those once dear to us,
when they are no more, to the light in which
we were accustomed to regard it when they
lived ! How does every unkind look, word, or
action, we may ever have directed to them rise
up to reproach us, now that atonement is im-
possible ! We forget all provocation, if provo-
cation we ever had ; every error or blemish of
the departed is effaced from our memories ; and
in vain would we recal a single instance of their
ever having existed, in order to justify our own
sins of omission or commission towards the dead.
We can only remember their good qualities ;
their affection, numberless proofs of which now
occur, to fill our hearts with deep but too late
remorse ; and, as we bend in agony over their
pale remains, we feel that we would give worlds,
were they ours to bestow, to bring back to life
those whose deaths, in the blindness of our
hearts, we had dared to contemplate as events
that might occur without inflicting the thousandth
54 MEMOIRS OF
part of the anguish we now experience. The
lapse of years seems forgotten. Thenndifference,
or neglect, brought by time, or wrought by our
own inconstancy ; nay, even the faults that
might have contributed to work such change,
have all faded away. We remember only the
days of happiness and undiminished affection ;
the days when the bare thought of losing the
object would have been torture ; and that tor-
ture is now ours, aggravated ten-fold by the
reproaches of conscience, which tell us of our
own unworthiness to possess the treasures we
never before knew how to appreciate, and the
loss of which we now vainly deplore* Oh'
could we but value those dear ones, while yet
Heaven vouchsafes to spare them., but half
as dearly as we do when they are snatched
from us for ever, what agonies of remorse might
we not be saved ! Could we but recal the past,
and atone for any pain or wrong ever inflicted
on the departed, what sacrifice would we not
willingly, gladly offer up to accomplish it ?
Our own past blindness of heart, seems now,
when viewed through the tears of remorse, not
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 55
only a crime of deepest dye, but a folly, a mad-
ness, almost inconceivable ! If even the good
'those who have inflicted no injury, perpetrated
no wrong, been guilty of no intentional act of
unkindness feel a remorse mingle with their
regret for the loved dead, when they remember
trivial instances of temper, caprice, or neglect,
towards them, which, when they were in life,
appeared but as trifles, unworthy a grave
thought, what must be the pangs of those who
are conscious of having embittered the lives of
the departed by unkindness, ingratitude, and
wrongs ? Bitter, indeed, must their feelings be !
nor can tune heal the wound inflicted by re-
morse ; for the mournful dead will often appeal
to memory in the silence of night, chasing sleep
from the pillow, and peace from the heart ! >f^
Lord Almondbury for the first time of his
life experienced the pangs of remorse, as he
bent over the inanimate, but still lovely face of
his departed wife. He recalled the blissful days
that followed his marriage, when intoxicated by
her beauty, charmed by her sweetness of temper,
and vain of having secured a prize sought by so
56 MEMOIRS OF
many aspirants, he believed himself the hap-
piest of mankind, and felt grateful to her who
had preferred him. How fondly, how faith-
fully had she loved him ; how uncomplainingly
borne his neglect, his inconstancy, his harsh-
ness ! And there she lay, done to death by his
unkindness. Yes, the veil was torn from his eyes,
and he could no longer conceal from himself
that disappointment of the heart had led to the
destruction of her health, and finally to her
premature death. How calm, how beautiful
she looked, and how touching was the angelic
expression of her face ! He threw himself on
the bed by her side ; his tears fell in abundance
over the snowy drapery that covered her cold
remains, and he pressed his lips again and
again on that marble brow. He implored her
pardon, execrated himself for having sinned
against Heaven and her, and poured forth his
late remorse, his words broken by sobs and
groans that vouched for the depth and truth of
it. How many instances of her unchanging
love, patient sweetness, and constant for-
bearance, under wrongs and neglect that must
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 57
have aroused to anger and dislike any nature
less perfect than hers, now occurred to his
4
memory ; now, when it was too late to make
atonement for the wrongs she had endured.
Yes, she had died unknowing the pangs her
loss would inflict on him; her pure soul had
fled to heaven, leaving him to drag on a
miserable existence, poisoned by remorse and
regret.
For many hours Lord Almondbury left not
the chamber of death, and when at last he came
forth from it, the waiting-woman of his de-
ceased wife, who met him in the gallery,
declared she never could have recognized his
lordship, so great was the change wrought in
his appearance by grief.
" Ah ! " exclaimed she to Selina, " half the
tenderness shown after death might have
saved her from dying."
58 MEMOIRS OE
CHAPTER IV.
A CELEBRATED sculptor was that day sent
for by Lord Almondbury, to take a cast of the
face, hands, and feet of the departed lady, for
the purpose of having a recumbent statue of
her executed for him. He remained present
during the operation, had the form so en-
veloped in drapery that its proportions
could not be seen, and evinced as much care
and tenderness while the plaster was laid on
and taken off, as if the dead could feel; he
with his own hand removing the traces of it,
and smoothing the pencilled brows and pale
forehead, with all the watchful tenderness of
love. The jealous care with which he prevented
the drapery that covered the bust, arms, and
legs from being removed, made a deep im-
pression on the sculptor, who was often after-
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 59
wards heard to observe, that frequently as he
had been employed on similar occasions, he had
never seen such love and grief, as that wit-
nessed in the case of Lord Almondbury. With
his own hand he severed a long tress of
beautiful hair from her head, and when her
cold remains were to be placed in their last
receptacle, to no other hands than his own
would he confide the task. His agony, when
the lid of the coffin was to be closed for ever,
was not to be described. It was as though all
the passionate love of the first days of his
union with Lady Almondbury had revived in
his heart to make him feel the pangs of this
mortal separation more acutely. He accom-
panied the body to its last resting-place, over-
powered by grief; and when he heard the earth
fall on the coffin, he, the lately hardened
libertine, fainted.
Lord Almondbury returned to his widowed
home an altered man, and for some days was
unable to leave his chamber.
In the meanwhile Mrs. Vernon, who had been
summoned by Selina, had promptly repaired
60 MEMOIRS OF
to Almondbury House, and having attentively
listened to the statement of her young friend,
came to the conclusion that the conduct of
Lord Almondbury towards her previous to his
wife's death, rendered her residence in his
house ineligible.
" You must return to my humble abode, my
dear Miss Stratford," said the excellent woman,
" though I grieve you should be compelled to
leave the dear child, who now, more than ever,
will stand in need of a judicious and affec-
tionate monitress."
" I cannot bear to leave her to the care of
servants," said Selina, " and if possible I would
wish to stay with her until I can see her placed
in proper hands. But how is this to be
effected? I feel the impropriety of my re-
maining here, without the sanction of the
presence of some female friend ; yet it looks
so ungrateful to the dead, and so unkind to
dear Lady Adelaide, to leave the house
during the first shock of the sad event that has
just occurred, that I know not what to do."
" Make your mind easy on this point, my dear
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 61
Miss Stratford, / will remain here with you,
and will write a few lines to inform my
husband of my intention, and the cause that
has led to it."
"But good, kind Mr. Vernon, will be so
uncomfortable without you. It is not fair,
indeed I feel it is not, to keep you from your
home, when he will be so solitary and cheerless
in your absence."
" Our servant is a steady and faithful woman,
who knows his habits and tastes ; she will see to
his comforts, and with books, of which we have
a goodly store, he will get through his evenings
very well ; and he will be so glad to have you
back with us, though sorry for the cause, that
your presence will repay him for the tempo-
rary loss of mine."
Selina made known to the housekeeper that her
friend would sojourn a few days with her, and
requested that a bedroom which communicated
with her own, might be prepared for her. Mrs.
Middleton, a worthy and respectable woman,
perfectly comprehended and approved of the
prudence of the measure. She was, as indeed
62 MEMOIRS OP
were all the servants of the establishment, but too
well aware of the libertine habits of their lord
and master, not to be fully sensible of the dan-
ger to which a young and handsome Governess
would be exposed by being an inmate in his
house, now that their loved and honoured lady
was no more.
" Miss Stratford," said she, to their late lady's
maid, " is a prudent, virtuous young woman, and
her having that nice old gentlewoman to come
here to keep her company, is a sure proof of it."
The first step Lord Almondbury took when
able to attend to business, was to order a splen-
did monument to be erected to the memory of
his lamented wife, and the second was, to give
instructions to his Solicitor to draw up a deed
of annuity of a hundred guineas a-year for her
life, to Miss Stratford. He felt that while ful-
filling the requests of the departed, he was
making the only atonement in his power to the
dead, and he had a melancholy satisfaction in
executing them to the letter. He now believed
himself, what those around him gave him impli-
cit credit for being, an altered man. His grief had
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 63
been so strong, that it, for the time, banished
every sinful desire, every libertine thought from
his breast, and he imagined that, henceforth, he
should never more be the slave of his passions,
the sensualist he had been. Great then was his
regret, when he received a note from Selina,
announcing her intention of resigning her situ-
ation in his family, as soon as a successor could
be obtained to take charge of Lady Adelaide.
" This comes from my own folly and wicked-
ness," exclaimed he, as he let the note fall on
the table near which he was seated, and pressed
his hand to his forehead. " Madman, monster,
that I was, when not even the presence of the
angel I have lost, could prevent me from endea-
vouring to pollute her home, by attempting to
corrupt the Governess of my child. Well may
Miss Stratford dread remaining in my house
after such atrocious conduct on my part.
She knows not, she cannot know how I regret
it, and would, in all probability, refuse credence
to my assertions on the subject. That my
daughter should be deprived of a monitress in
whom her angelic mother placed such implicit
64 MEMOIRS OF
confidence, and all through my folly, my worse
than folly, my guilty views, is indeed a severe,
though well-merited punishment. I will write
to Miss Stratford, will acknowledge my sin,
avow my regret, and pledge myself in the most
solemn manner never again to incur her dis-
pleasure, if she will only remain with my
daughter."
The letter was written and despatched, and
the whole tenour of it gratified Selina, by giving
her the hope, that the writer was indeed an al-
tered man, and would henceforth respect who-
ever might fill her place in his family. One of
the points which most increased her sorrow in
parting from her pupil was, the dread that no
governess worthy of having the trust confided
her, would remain in the house of Lord Almond-
bury, unless she happened to be too old to excite
improper feelings in his breast, and to elderly
governesses, she had heard Lady Almond-
bury say, he had an unconquerable objection.
Her decision of withdrawing from his house,
was not, however, to be changed; but while
announcing this to his lordship in a cold
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 65
but polite note, she carefully avoided all recur-
rence to the past, and simply stated that she
*
could not hold a situation in a house where no
lady of the family presided.
"I thought it would be so," said Lord Almond-
bury, as he laid the letter down. " When will
the effects of my folly cease to pursue me ! My
poor Adelaide ! how will this separation afflict
her, so fondly attached too, as she is to Miss
Stratford, who would have constantly kept alive
in her breast the memory of her dear mother,
and taught her to emulate the virtues and gen-
tleness of that angelic being."
Lord Almondbury wrote to a maiden aunt of
his, requesting her to engage a governess for
his daughter, and the result was, a pressing in-
vitation, by return of post from her, for him and
Lady Adelaide to join her at her seat in York-
shire, where she would take charge of her
grand-niece, until a suitable governess was
provided.
The following day, Lord Almondbury in-
closed Selina the deed of annuity, granted at
the dying request of his wife, securing her one
hundred guineas per annum for her life, accom-
panied by a watch that had belonged to the
deceased lady, and a medallion in gold, contain-
ing a lock of her hair, and that of her child, with
a hundred pound note as a remuneration for her
services. A letter couched in the most respect-
ful terms, in which he dwelt on the high esteem
in which she had been held by his deceased wife,
and expressed his regret at her leaving his
family, was sent with the deed of annuity,
watch, and medallion.
Selina showed her friend, Mrs. Vernon, the
letter, deed, and gift.
" It strikes me that it would not be right for
me to accept the annuity," said she; "I have
not been sufficiently long in the house to have
merited such a reward, and coming from one
who insulted me, renders it much more repug-
nant to my feelings to accept it."
" I confess I do not see it in the same point
of view, my dear Miss Stratford. This annuity
was granted at the request of Lady Alrnond-
bury; and as such, is highly honourable to
you. Had her ladyship bequeathed it by will,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 67
you could have no scruple in receiving it;
why, therefore, not accept this gift, granted at
her dying request, as a testamentary bequest ?
Kemember, it did not originate with Lord
Almondbury; although I dare say he, in his
altered frame of mind, is glad of being furnished
with an opportunity of atoning for his former
improper conduct. I really think you would
not be justified in refusing a gift which is the
result of your own merit, and the high sense
entertained of it by the deceased lady."
"But coming from his hands, destroys its value
in my eyes. I may be proud, wilful, and un-
grateful, dear Mrs. Vernon, but I really cannot
bring myself to accept the annuity."
" Do not at least decide, until you have con-
sulted my husband. He will give you the best
advice."
" Were it simply a matter of prudence, I
would willingly defer to his judgment, and be
guided by it; but this is an affair of feeling,
and 1 must be guided by my own sense of right.
I have no sentiment of anger against Lord
Almondbury ; but to receive an annuity from
68 MEMOIRS OF
one who twice insulted me by proposals of the
basest nature, I cannot consent to do."
Mrs. Vernon forbore to interfere any
further; and though thinking that Selina
pushed her scrupulous delicacy further than
was necessary, she admired the disinterested-
ness and self-respect that influenced her
decision, and only regretted that it was not
in her or her husband's power to secure inde-
pendence to one so every way worthy of it.
The return of the deed of annuity to Lord
Almondbury gave him real pain. He felt that
it was .his former conduct that had led to
the rejection of the gift, and this proof of
the delicacy and self-respect of Selina, in-
creased hia regret that his daughter should
be deprived of one so every way capable of
instilling high principle and pure morals into
her mind.
In ten days after, Lord Almondbury con-
ducted Lady Adelaide to the country. The
parting between that sensitive and affectionate
child and her governess cost both many tears ;
and painful was it to Selina to listen to the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 69
reiterated pleadings of her pupil to her dear
Miss Stratford, not to leave her.
" I will be so obedient, so good, if you will
stay with me," sobbed the weeping girl. " It
is so hard to lose my dear blessed mamma, and
then for you, too, to leave me."
Lord Almondbury wrote a second letter to
Selina, intreating her by the affection she
had entertained for the departed, not to reject
the gift dictated by her dying breath, but
nothing could change her decision; and the
evening of the day that Lord Almondbury and
his daughter left London, Selina and her kind
friend Mrs. Vernon, returned to the home of
the latter, where a most cordial welcome
awaited them from Mr. Vernon.
" I cannot," said that worthy man, when his
wife told him of Selina's rejection of the
annuity, " blame Miss Stratford for her high-
minded and disinterested conduct; although I
could wish that the gift had been a bequest
formally made by will, by her late amiable
patroness, as in that form she could have
accepted it without any scruple ; but the con-
70 MEMOIRS OF
duct of Lord Almondbury, must have rendered
it humiliating and painful to receive a gift
coming through his hands, and, therefore, I can
well understand her feeling's in refusing it."
O O
The death of Lady Almondbury, and the
separation from her child, made so deep an im-
pression on Selina, that it required all the kind-
ness of her worthy host and hostess, to conquer
the melancholy produced on her mind by these
events. In a few days after her instalment in
her peaceful abode, she read in a newspaper
the departure of Lord Almondbury for the
continent, and she wrote a few lines to the
femme de chambre of his late wife, who now
was appointed confidential attendant to her
daughter, to enquire after the health of Lady
Adelaide. It gave her pleasure to hear, by
return of post, that her late pupil was in good
health, and gradually recovering her spirits,
under the care of her indulgent grand -aunt, with
whom she was to remain until Lord Almond-
bury "s return from the continent, which was
not expected to be for some months.
And now Selina again turned her thoughts
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 71
to seeking a situation in some other family;
she read over the advertisements for gover-
nesses, in which more accomplishments are
required than can fall to the lot of mortal, and
more virtues expected than poor human nature
is heir to, and all for salaries little exceeding
the wages bestowed on menials, without the
reversionary left-off clothes they inherit. One
advertisement, more reasonable in the requisites
insisted upon, attracted her attention, and she
answered it. In due time an appointment was
made, and, accompanied by her kind friend
Mrs. Yernon, she went to the place named.
No sooner had she entered the sitting-room of
a house in Brook-street, in which two laches
were seated, both having a certain asperity of
countenance, joined to a striking resemblance of
feature, that indicated a near relationship, than,
having glanced at her, one of them observed in
Italian, that her face was disagreeably asso-
ciated in her mind, although she could not, at
the moment, recollect where she had seen it.
The other lady examined the countenance of
Selina very much as a police magistrate may be
72 MEMOIRS OF
supposed to do that of a criminal brought before
him on some serious charge ; but neither of the
ladies motioned her to a seat, so she and Mrs.
Vemon stood in painful embarrassment, near
the door so lately entered.
"Where have you last lived?" demanded
one of the ladies in a stern tone of voice, that
did not tend to encourage the timid girl, to
whom the interrogation was addressed.
" With the late Lady Almondbury."
" Ah ! yes ; now I recollect," exclaimed the
lady who had spoken in Italian, still using that
language, "this is the very person we saw
walking with that odious roue, Lord Almond-
bury, one morning in Kensington Gardens."
The lady to whom this remark was ad-
dressed, glanced at Selina with increased [as-
perity, and asked why she had left Lord Al-
mondbury 's family.
" I left on the death of Lady Almondbury,"
was the reply ; " not wishing to continue."
" I should not have expected you to be so
very scrupulous," observed the other lady;
" for, if I mistake not, I saw you walking with
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 73
his lordship some time ago, in Kensington Gar-
dens."
This speech was uttered with so severe and
contemptuous an air, as to bring blushes to the
cheeks and brow of her to whom it was ad-
dressed, which being noticed, both ladies ex-
changed triumphant glances.
" Yes, madam, it is [true, Lord Almondbury
did one day join his daughter, Lady Adelaide,
when I was walking with her in Kensington
Gardens "
"I will not trouble you any further; you
would not at all suit me," rudely interrupted
the lady; "but I beg to offer you one piece of
advice, which is to avoid, in whatever place
you may enter, permitting gentlemen to walk
with you."
There was something so insulting in the tone
and manner in which this counsel was given,
that Selina could not cheat herself into the
belief that it was kindly meant, although con-
vinced of its prudence. She, however, checked
every symptom of the indignation she could
not wholly vanquish, and explained how en-
VOL. II. E
74 MEMOIRS OF '
tirely against her wish it had been that Lord
Almondbmy had joined her pupil and herself.
But she spoke to those determined on disbe-
lieving her assertions; for, giving her scarcely
time to conclude her attempt to exculpate her-
self, she was told that her past, present, or
future conduct was totally uninteresting to the
speaker, and that she might withdraw.
Mrs. Vernon, who saw the malignity of this
spiteful person, and felt anxious that Selina
should not depart without removing, if, pos-
sible, the evil impression evidently made on
her mind, ventured to address her.
"As the friend of Miss Stratford, I must
state that she told me of the annoyance Lord
Almondbury's presence, with her pupil and
herself, inflicted on her, on the sole occasion on
which he joined them. You will therefore, I
trust, madam, acquit her of any participation
in that occurrence. Her refusing the liberal
offer made to her to continue in the family after
the death of the late amiable and excellent
Lady Almondbury, is her best vindication."
" I am not conscious of professing any charge
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 75
against the young person," said the sternest
looking of the ladies ; " and being particularly-
occupied just now, I have really no time to
devote to the affairs of total strangers." And
she coldly nodded her head, and rang the bell,
leaving Selina, and her discomfited friend, no
choice but to retire, hurt and grieved by the
conviction that the two ladies, whom it had
pleased fortune to bring them in contact with,
entertained the most erroneous opinion of Se-
lina, and would, in all probability, not scruple
to express it to others when an occasion might
offer.
Tears rushed to the eyes of Selina the mo-
ment the door of the house in Brook -street
closed after her. Indignation and pride re-
strained them while in the presence of the two
stern and ill-natured women who caused them
to flow; but now they were no longer present
to witness the pain they had inflicted, she could
not repress her tears, although Mrs. Vernon
used all her endeavours to soothe her wounded
feelings. " To know that there are persons
who believe me guilty of encouraging the atten-
E2
70 MEMOIRS OF
tions of a married man, of being an unprincipled
hypocrite, and of dishonouring the roof beneath
which I was received as an instructress to the
child of my dear, honoured Lady Almondbury.
Oh ! it is too, too cruel !" and the tears and sobs
of Selina, as she lent her head on the shoulder
of her kind companion, in the carriage into
which they entered on leaving Brook-street,
would have melted a sterner heart than be-
longed to the excellent Mrs. Vernon,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 77
CHAPTER V.
WITH what intense dismay does a young and
sensitive woman find herself suspected of con-
duct, from the bare notion of which she would
shrink with horror and dread. Nor can the
consciousness of her own innocence and purity
console her under such a trial. She would fain
have all, with whom she may chance to come in
contact, believe in that virtue, on which even a
doubt inflicts a wound not easily to be healed ;
and to bear, however unmerited, the suspicion
of guilt, is torture.
" Good heavens!" thought Selina, "is there,
then, no safety for the youthful and unpro-
tected ? Can the wilful, bad conduct of a man,
over whom I could exercise no control, entail
on me such direful consequences? They (re-
ferring to the ladies in Brook-street) not only
scrupled not to insinuate a belief in my culpa-
bility, but refused to listen to aught in the
78 MEMOIRS OF
shape of my justification ; and yet what could I
have urged ? I could but have told the simple
truth : but how little would that have availed
with them. ^The bare acknowledgment that
Lord Almondbury had addressed his libertine
views to me, had presumed to insult my ears by
his base proposals, would have led them to think
that never would he have so dared, had not
some levity on my part given him encourage-
ment. How did I shrink from making the dis-
tressing avowal to my kind friend, Mrs. Yer-
non, though certain of her predisposition to
judge favourably of me."
Such were the reflections that occupied the
mind of Selina, as she was driven through the
streets, her waist encircled by the arm of her
kind friend, who truly sympathized in her sor-
row, and who uttered all that could alleviate
her distress. " Those who could judge so
harshly and unjustly, my dear Miss Stratford,
must be ungenerous, and predisposed to evil.
Do not allow their malice to make you
unhappy. You will never again, in all human
probability, encounter these persons ; and pray
A FEMME DE CHAMBBE. 79
think no more of them," said the worthy woman.
JBut the advice was more easily to be given
than followed. Selina for many days could
think of nothing else than that two women
existed, of whom, until the hour she entered
their house, she knew nothing, whom she never
could have offended, yet who entertained to-
wards her sentiments of a hostile nature, founded
on a belief in conduct, on her part, which she
would die rather than have merited.
How strange are the occurrences in life ! A
few hours before, had any one told her that,
ere night, she should shed bitter tears, caused
by persons she had never then seen, she would
have disbelieved the possibility ; yet here she
now was, bowed down by indignation and
wounded delicacy, at a charge rather hinted,
than openly made, by total strangers, to whom
she should never have an opportunity of vindi-
cating her innocence. Proud as Selina natu-
rally was, she would have submitted to almost
any humiliation to exonerate her character, so
highly did she estimate the blessing of an un-
spotted and unsuspected reputation.
80 MEMOIRS OF
"When Mr. Yernon returned home in the
evening, and noticed the traces of tears on the
fair young face he had seen so blooming in the
morning, his wife told him of the cause. " Poor
dear young creature !" said the worthy man.
" Were the ladies plain ?"
" Yes ; but what had that to do with their
harshness ?" replied his wife.
" More, much more, than you imagine, my
dear. Ugly women, unless blessed with a
greater portion of goodness than generally falls
to the share of most in that predicament, a.re
prone to judge severely of those who possess
youth and beauty, two advantages which are
always the objects of their envy. They wished to
think ill of Miss Stratford, merely because she is
young and handsome ; had she been ill-favoured
they would have judged her less uncharitably."
"And can such hardness of heart be?"
demanded Mrs. Vernon."
" Yes," replied Mr. Vernon, " for jealousy
and envy ever act on the heart as petrifying
waters do on other substances. They harden it
for ever."
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 81
Although rendered more timid than before,
and painfully nervous at the thought of again
presenting herself to strangers as a candidate
to fill the place of governess, Selina felt that
she must not eat the bread of idleness, or
remain a tax on the hospitality of her kind
friends. She carefully read over the long
columns of advertisements in the " Times," in
search of some one that might hold out a pros-
pect of suiting her; but for some days this
search was unsuccessful. There is something
O
in an advertisement, a physiognomy, if I may
be allowed so to express it, which, as the human
countenance unveils the character of its owner,
betrays that of the writer. From how many of
those columns, filled up by specifications re-
quired, and headed by the word " Wanted," in
large capitals, did Selina turn away disap-
pointed and dispirited. One of the writers
was, she felt certain, proud and austere ;
another, vulgar ; a third mean and sordid ; and
all, more or less, exacting. She neverthe-
less blamed her own over fastidiousness ; when
reflection taught her that it was not for her
E3
82 MEMOIRS OF'
to expect to meet again such a patroness
as the one of whom death had robbed her,
and that she must not give way to the ner-
vous dread she felt growing in her mind,
but without loss of time, seek a situation.
Once more she took up the newspaper, and
selecting one of the advertisements that struck
her as being the least objectionable, that is, in
which least accomplishments and perfections
were required, and salary not mentioned, ad-
dressed a letter to the initials and street
named. This step taken, her thoughts reverted
to the past, and thence came back to
present and future. What sort of family might
this be into which she had offered to enter?
How painful to seek a home with utter
strangers, whose manners and minds might
be so totally dissimilar to her own, that a daily
contact with them would be anything but
agreeable. Yet such must ever be the lot of a
governess, who is expected to bestow not only
her accomplishments, and the fruits of her
education on those she is paid for instructing,
but also to mould her manners, if not he
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. S3
sentiments, to suit those of the parents whose
hardly-earned bread she is to eat, and whose
sordid remuneration of her services she is
expected to be thankful for. The more she
reflected on this subject, the less courage did
she feel for a new trial, and yet it must be
made. She must meet cold looks, answer stern
questions, and submit to be treated rather
as a criminal before her judge, than a well-
educated and stainless woman, seeking a main-
tenance by the exercise of her abilities in an
honourable calling.
Again she went forth ; but this time she
directed her steps to no aristocratic street.
The answer to her note appointed her to
call at ten o'clock the following day at
No. , Allsop Terrace, New Road. A boy
about eleven or twelve years old, opened the
door, and having inquired whether she was the
person come after " the governess's place,"
gave her ingress. Clothed in a faded suit of
green cloth made in the form of a close vest and
trousers, the jacket ornamented with three rows
of brass sugar-loaf buttons, which had long lost
84 MEMOIRS OF
their lustre, this boy, designed by his employers
to represent that appendage of an expensive
establishment, denominated a page, was, in
reality, the only male domestic in the house.
His whole appearance bore evidence to this
fact; for his face looked as if water seldom
came in contact with it; his hair was in a
disorder more calculated for picturesque effect,
than tidiness or good order ; his black neck-
cloth had grown into a reddish brown, and his
boots were pierced in various places. An ex-
treme obliquity of vision increased the natural
ugliness of this youth, and a sharpness of man-
ner amounting to impertinence, testified that
good breeding was not much attended to in the
house in which he fulfilled the multifarious
duties of porter, butler, footman and errand-
boy.
" Missis is up stairs, and if you follow me. I'll
show you the way to her," said the youth of
all-work, rapidly mounting the stairs at the
other side of the hall. He ascended so nimbly,
that Selina found it impossible to keep pace
with him, though she toiled up the narrow
A FEMME DE CHAMBKE. 85
steep stairs as quickly as she could, as her
panting breath testified.
" Come along, miss, come along," said the
elfin page, "missis can't abide slow people;"
and before Selina had reached the landing-place,
he threw open the door of a room which opened
on it, and elevating his voice, exclaimed " If
you please, ma'am, here be the person as is
corned after the governess's place."
" Why does'nt she come in ?" said a gruff
and most disagreeable voice, in return.
" She ha'nt got up the stairs yet," was the
reply.
" Then why keep the door open, you fool ?
except to give me my death by cold."
The boy muttered an unintelligible reply,
and Selina entered the dining-room: seated by
a table covered with various pieces of linen,
divers pairs of stockings, some children's frocks,
and muslin habit-shirts, forming altogether a
heterogeneous and formidable heap of litter,
was a woman about forty years of age, whose
dress denoted that little care had been devoted
to it. This personage had once been a Uonde,
86 MEMOIRS OF
with pretensions to beauty, and the flaxen hair
which fell in long ringlets over the cheeks, even
down to her large bust, rendered the complexion
peculiar to very fair women, when arrived at a
certain age, still more remarkable. A red cir-
cle occupied the place of eyebrows, while the
scanty eye-lashes, " few and far between," were
nearly white, and lent a very disagreeable ex-
pression to the light grey eyes beneath them,
which peered with almost feline slyness on the
face of Selina. " You are Y. Z. I suppose ?"
said the mistress of the house, " and I am F. G.
Sit down, for I have many questions to ask, and
they will take some tune to be answered, for one
can't be too cautious now-a-days, when so many
impostors are going about, who one lets enter
one's house. Who is this person?" enquired the
speaker, rudely pointing to Mrs. Vernon.
" The friend with whom I reside, Madam."
" You had better sit down also," said F. G.,
for the real name of the lady had not yet been
revealed, and she nodded to a chair, placed with
a row of others formally against the wall of the
room.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 87
"You undertake to teach French, Italian,
German, and all other languages, I suppose?"
demanded F. G.
" Xo, madam, not German," was the reply.
"And why not pray? you might as well
have learnt that, when you were learning other
languages."
No reply being made to this observation, the
lady again resumed her category. "You can
draw, and paint, of course, and do every kind
of needle- work ?"
" I draw tolerably," was the modest answer.
" But can't you paint in oil ? that I consider
indispensable, for I want to have pictures for
my room. I like pictures, and those you will
paint while teaching my daughters, could be
hung up, for as I will have to pay for the
canvass, colours, and for your time, I will
naturally expect that the pictures are to be
mine."
" I am sorry that I do not paint in oil."
"Well, for a governess setting up to teach
every thing, I think it's very strange that you
shouldn't be able to paint in oil, or to teach
83 MEMOIRS OF
German. This must of course make a consider-
able difference in your salary. I hope you
perfectly understand plain work, and can do it
quickly, for I expect all the children's clothes to
be kept in repair, as well as made by their
governess, as also that she will lend a hand to
mending the house linen, and altering my
dresses."
Mrs. Vernon looked at Selina in a mode to
imply her desire, that her young friend should
at once decline the situation, where so much
was required, and so little comfort could be
expected ; but, prepared to find objections pre-
sent themselves in every family where she might
offer her services, and anxious not to continue
to be a burden on the kind friends she was stay-
ing with, Selina determined, if possible, to
close with the terms of F. G., and by patience
and zeal in fulfilling the duties of her office,
render it at least supportable.
"What salary do you expect?" enquired
F. G.
" Sixty guineas a-year, madam."
" Sixty guineas a-year !" reiterated the mis-
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 89
tress of the house, letting her work drop into
Jier lap, and raising her hands to mark her
astonishment at so enormous a sum being ex-
pected. " Well, I never heard of such a salary-
being asked, and that too, by a person who
acknowledges that she doesn't know German,
and can't paint in oils. Fifty pounds a-year
mind, pounds, no 4 , guineas is the utmost I intend
to give, even to a person who will undertake to
teach German and painting in oil, two indis-
pensable requisites in my opinion, in the edu-
cation of young ladies. If you are disposed to
accept forty pounds a-year, I deduct ten on
account of your not knowing German and oil-
painting, I have no objection to your entering
my family."
Again Mrs. Vernon looked at Selina, and ex-
pressed, as strongly as looks could do, her desire
that she should decline the situation ; but her
young friend, to her surprise and regret, ac-
cepted it, and it was agreed that she should
enter on her new duties the following week.
" And now," said the lady, who had announced
that her name was Mrs. Jefferson, " to whom
90
am I to refer for your abilities and charac-
ter?"
" I have a strong recommendation from the
only situation I ever held, and which I left in
consequence of the death of the lady."
"But her children, your pupils, didn't also
die, I suppose," observed Mrs. Jefferson sharply.
" Why didn't you continue with them?"
" I declined doing so, Madam, because I did
not wish to live in a house where no lady pre-
sided."
" You acted very properly. And so the
recommendation you have is from the gentle-
man, the widower ?"
"Yes, Madam."
" I would prefer a recommendation from alady ."
" I can answer for the morals, and conduct of
Miss Stratford, Madam," said Mrs. Vernon.
" What relation are you to her, pray ?"
"None whatever, Madam, but I know her
well, and can conscientiously recommend her."
" But as you are a perfect stranger to me,
you cannot be surprised if I ask you for a
reference."
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 91
"The clergyman of the parish in which I
Jiave resided thirty-five years, will, I am sure,
madam, satisfy you with regard to my respecta-
bility ; and if you permit me, I will write his
address on my card."
" Yes, that will do very well, you'll find pen
and ink on that table;" and Mrs. Jefferson
pointed to a table near the window, which Mrs.
Vernon approached, and wrote the address on.
"Be sure to be here early on Monday morn-
ing, Miss what did you say your name is ?"
" Stratford, Madam."
" Stratford ! any relation to the family of
that name in Norfolk ?"
IS T o, Madam."
" I thought not, and I'm glad of it ; for they
are a proud, haughty set. You may go now ;
but remember Monday morning. I like punc-
tuality, and expect to find it in every one in
my establishment ;" and, nodding her head, she
motioned to the door, as a signal for the depar-
ture of her visitors, who took their leave.
" How could you, my dear Miss Stratford,
engage with a woman whose appearance and
ys MEMOIRS OF
manners offer so little promise of comfort in
her house, and on terms, too, so very disadvan-
tageous ?" asked Mrs. Vernon, almost in a re-
proachful tone.
" I must confess that the abode does not
seem very tempting," replied Selina ; " but still
it is less disagreeable to me to close at once
even with this engagement, unpromising as it is,
than have to go to other houses, and be sub-
jected to the annoyances always attending such
occasions."
The inquiries of Mrs. Jefferson having been
satisfactorily answered by the clergyman, to
whom they were addressed, Selina, on the ap-
pointed day, much to the regret of her kind
host and hostess, bade farewell to them, and
proceeded to her new abode.
" Remember, my dear Miss Stratford," said
both husband and wife, " that should our fears,
as to the comfort of the situation you have
accepted, be realized, you have always a home
here to which you will ever be cordially wel-
comed, and where your presence will ever dif-
fuse joy."
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 93
These proofs of a friendship so valuable, were
most soothing to the feelings of her to whom
they were offered, and armed her with courage
to support whatever annoyances she might have
to encounter in the family she was about to
enter.
" You are later than I expected," were the
first words addressed to her by Mrs. Jefferson
on her arrival. " As you are so late, you have,
of course, had your luncheon ; so, while we are
eating ours, you can go and arrange your things
in your room. Thomas, Thomas, why don't
you answer when you are called?"
"Vy, Ma'am, I vas a getting the luncheon,
and I can't be in two places at vunce."
" Haven't I told you a dozen times that you
must not make answers ! Its very vulgar."
" Then, vat's I to do ven you axes me ques-
tions, ma'am ?"
" There, go along, you stupid lout ; and send
Kitty to show Miss Stratford her room, and
you must help her up with her luggage."
Thomas stopped at the top of the kitchen-
stairs, and screamed as loud as he could for
94 MEMOIRS OF
Kitty, who, after a few calls, was heard ascend-
ing from the lower regions, muttering her dis-
satisfaction soto wee.
" One never can have a moment's quiet, nor
a meal in peace," muttered Kitty. " I wish I
was back in my last place, I am sure. That
was something like a place, where there was a
reg'lar footman kept, as well as a teaboy."
" Missis says you are to show the new
governess to her room, and that I am to help
you to carry up her traps."
" How am I to help to carry up such a big
trunk as that there, I should like to know?
why it would strain my back. I think people
might have some conscience and pity for poor
servants, instead of having trunks that would
take a couple of porters to move about," ob-
served Kitty, glancing angrily at Selina, who,
slipping a shilling into her hand, and another
into that of the boy, soon vanquished the ob-
jections of both to perform the service she
required, and rendered them very civil.
" Sure, Thomas, it's nothing after all," said
Kitty, lifting the trunk with perfect ease.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 95
" Follow me, Miss, if you please ; take care of
the turn, for the stairs are mighty narrow at
the corner."
On the third floor, Kitty and the boy en-
tered a small room, so utterly destitute of all
comfort, that Selina, whose expectations were
very moderate, drew back involuntarily, as she
cast her eyes over the wretched room.
" You may well stare, Miss," said Kitty ;
" for this is no fit room for a genteel young
lady like you. It was very well for the last
governess, who was no more a lady than I am,
and who never showed us the colour of her
money while she was in the house; but for
you, Miss, who have behaved so genteel, I'm
quite ashamed to put you into such a hole."
" Von't you have a bit of summat to eat,
Miss?" asked Thomas.
"Do, Miss," added Kitty, "I advise you;
for if missis can cheat you out of your reg'lar
meals she will, I can assure you. I know she
half-starved the governess that was here last."
" Thomas, Thomas, Kitty, Kitty, what are
you about ?" screamed Mrs. Jefferson.
96 MEMOIRS OF'
" Coming, Ma'am, coming," answered both
servants, as they rapidly retreated from the
chamber of Selina, and descended the stairs.
Selina glanced around the miserable chamber
assigned to her, with a shudder of disgust she
could not conquer. So low, that she could
hardly stand upright in it, and only lighted
by one small window, nothing could be more
dreary and dingy than the aspect of this room.
The paper hung from the humid wall in several
places, and so defaced was the pattern and
colours by damp, that it would be difficult to
guess the original design or hue. The small
window had no curtain, and in that point per-
fectly corresponded with the bed, which, with
its soiled counterpane, scarcely covering the
still more soiled blankets and mattresses, offered
anything but a tempting place of repose. A
broken mirror, of small dimensions, stood on a
deal table, and a cracked jug and basin filled a
ricketty wash-hand stand. Such was the dor-
mitory assigned to the governess, a chamber
that would, in most respectable families, be
considered too bad for a servant holding one of
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 97
the lowest situations in the kitchen. It boded
^little of good to its new occupant, who, deter-
mined however to make the best of it, imme-
diately set about arranging her clothes and
books, no easy task, a very small wooden chest
of drawers on three legs being the only piece
of furniture in the room to receive them. In
about an hour she was summoned to the pre-
sence of Mrs. Jefferson, who, with two very
plain girls of nine and eight years old, she pre-
sented to Miss Stratford as her pupils. They
had very red hair, and one squinted exceed-
ingly ; a misfortune, as their mother stated, to
be attributed solely to Julia's imitating that in-
firmity in Thomas the page.
" Matilda you will find a very docile pupil,"
said Mrs. Jefferson. " Indeed she is, if any-
thing, too quiet, while Julia is extremely lively.
This is the school-room."
An apartment little larger than a closet, lighted
by a window in the roof, and heated by a small
stove, which the discoloured paper on the walls
proved to smoke, was the wretched den where
Selina and her pupils were to pass the days.
VOL. n. F
98 MEMOIRS OF'
"You will dine with me when I have no
company," said Mrs. Jefferson, assuming a dig-
nified air, " and when I have, you will be
expected to play and sing to amuse the party."
While the mother was speaking, both the
little girls were closely examining the coun-
tenance of their new governess ; the elder
one with a stupid stare of wonder, and the
younger with a cool effrontery, with which no
inconsiderable portion of slyness and cunning
were mingled.
" Look, mamma," exclaimed she, " what a
pretty gown Miss Stratford has, and what a
nice collar and cuffs ; why she is much smarter
than you are, mamma."
"Hold your tongue, child! Have I not
told you that you are not to make personal
remarks ? "
" But you said at lunch that she was much
too smartly dressed, and that her gown was
better than yours."
Mrs. Jefferson's face flushed with anger, and
she again told Miss Julia to be silent, adding a
denial of the child's assertion. This, however,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 99
was not the mode to silence the young lady,
who, anxious to establish her own veracity, per-
tinaciously adhered to her statement, adding,
" Yes, mamma, you did say Miss Stratford's
gown was better than yours, and also, that
governesses had no business to be better
dressed than ladies."
" You really are incorrigible, and merit a
good box on the ear, you little tiresome thing,"
said Mrs. Jefferson, now crimson with rage.
Miss Julia, nothing daunted, was on the point
of again vindicating her own veracity, when
Selina interposed, and told her to be silent.
"What, when mamma tells stories, and
denies what she said? Matilda heard her as
well as I did, didn't you, Matilda?"
Matilda looked more stupid than before, and
after a moment's pause, observed that she
never remembered any thing that was said.
" That's because you are a stupid fool, as
mamma often says," replied the spoilt Julia,
" Every one calls me stupid," said Matilda,
" but I can't help it," and here the poor girl
burst into tears.
F2
100 MEMOIRS OF
" See, you naughty girl, how you have
made your poor sister cry. You ought to be
ashamed of yourself," said Mrs. Jefferson.
" I only repeated what you continually say,"
replied Julia, addressing herself to her mother,
who, dreading a continuation of her imperti-
nence, left the room, recommending, before she
closed the door, that Miss Stratford should
severely correct her for insubordination.
To the grave lecture pronounced by Selina,
her hopeful pupil listened with little more
deference than she had evinced towards the
reproofs of her mother. She attempted
several times to interrupt the discourse of
her governess by rude observations, and by
her waywardness and obstinacy convinced her
teacher, that to subdue so wilful a temper,
and reduce her to obedience, would be indeed
no easy task. While the grave reproof was
being given, Miss Jefferson sat with a vacant
stare, that indicated how little she compre-
hended its import, and when at last appealed to
by Selina, whether she did not think her younger
sister's conduct very blameable? she replied,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 101
" I don't know, miss, I didn't know it
. was wrong of Julia to repeat what mamma
said. Our governess who went away said we
must never tell a lie, and yet mamma and
you are very angry that sister spoke the truth.
I'm sure I don't know who is right, nor who
is wrong, do I Julia? 1 '
" No, to be sure you don't, poor Matty.
How should you. You know every one says
you are a fool."
"Hi, hi, hi," sobbed Matilda, "Julia is
always calling me a fool, and I don't like being
called a fool, hi, hi, hi, and I wont be called
a fool, that I won't."
" Miss Julia, it is highly improper of you to
speak so rudely to your sister. I won't permit
it," observed Selina gravely.
" But she is a fool," retorted the incorrigible
Julia, " and as I only said the truth, I think
you are very cross and ill-natured to scold me."
"Where are your books, young ladies?"
inquired Selina.
" They are all torn to pieces," replied Ma-
tilda, " I saw Julia tear them up yesterday."
102 MEMOIRS OF
" You helped me, Matty, you know you did."
"Because you said I must tear them with
you, and then we should have no more lessons
to learn."
" Then I must inform your mother, young
ladies," and Selina left the room to acquaint
Mrs. Jefferson of the fact revealed by that
lady's eldest daughter. This new proof of the
bad conduct of her children produced great
anger on the part of the mother, who far from
attributing their errors to their true source,
namely, her own improper indulgence to the
younger, proclaimed herself to be the most
unfortunate parent in the world to have such
troublesome, ill-behaved girls. Having pro-
nounced strong censure on them, mingled with
many laudations on her own goodness, she
inquired if Miss Stratford had not any books
that might replace those destroyed the previous
day. Being told she had not, Mrs. Jefferson
said, "Well, then, put down on paper the
books you require, but let them be as few
as possible, and to-morrow I will go out to
a book stall, and see if I can't buy some cheap ;
A FEMME DE CI1AMBRE. 103
and in the mean time, that you should not be
idle, here's some linen to mend, and while you
are at work, you can scold the children, which
will do them good. Always utilise your time
as I do, for while I work, my eyes and fingers
only being employed, I can use my tongue,
and always take that opportunity to scold the
children and servants."
104 MEMOIRS OF
CHAPTER VI.
UNWILLING that her pupils should pass
the day in idleness, Selina proposed giving
them some needle-work, but found that great
an adept as was their mother in this homely
but useful art, they were wholly ignorant of
even the most simple part of it, and nay, more,
evinced a positive disinclination to learn it.
they commenced whispering and laughing to-
gether ; Miss Julia making it evident, by her
repeated glances at her governess, that she
furnished the subject of her mirth, and when
told to be silent, stoutly defended her right to
speak. Selina looked around for a book, in order
to employ her wayward pupil in reading aloud,
but none was to be found ; and when adopting
their mother's advice to correct them, she
firmly but calmly reproved them for their rude-
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 105
ness, Miss Julia commenced making the most
fearful grimaces at her, which set Miss
Jefferson into screams of laughter. Heavily
and gloomily passed that long day. It seemed
interminable to the poor governess; but at
length she was summoned to dinner, and the
maid-servant who gave her the intimation that
the repast was served in the dining-room, ac-
quainted her that she was expected to smoothe
the young ladies' hair, wash their faces and
hands, and see that they were tidy.
'' But mind Miss, if you please, you mustn't
keep missis waiting for a moment, for she's
mighty pertiklar about having people ready for
dinner, and makes sich an ado about it, that it's
quite vexing to hear how she'll go on some-
times."
Selina> greatly flurried by this intelligence,
endeavoured to make her pupils a little more
presentable for the dining-room, to which opera-
tion on her part they were strongly opposed,
and offered such resistance, that fifteen minutes
were occupied in what might have been accom-
plished in half that time>, and having merely
F3
106 MEMOIRS OF'
snatched a moment to wash her own hands, she
hurried to the dining-room.
" This will never do, I can assure you," said
Mrs. Jefferson, her mouth so filled with food
that her utterance was nearly impeded, and her
face extremely flushed. Mr. Jefferson, for so
Selina concluded the gentleman at the bottom
of the table to be, betrayed no symptom of
recognizing her presence, except by raising his
eyes from his plate, and staring rudely at her,
while he continued to eat his dinner with an
appetite that a gourmand might envy, however
he might despise the coarse fare that satisfied
it. A soiled table-cloth, bearing sundry proofs
of the partiality of its owners to mustard, and of
their carelessness in helping gravy, was covered
by delf plates and dishes of the commonest
kind. At the top of the table was a dish of
very greasy looking hash, in which onions
formed a component part, and at the bottom
was a boiled breast of mutton so covered with
fat as to vouch for the skill in feeding of the
seller. A dish of mashed turnips of so dark
a hue as to leave no doubt that the place of
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 107
milk had been supplied by water in their culi-
nary preparation, was flanked by a dish of
potatoes on which steam had done its worst,
leaving only certain crushed and clammy sub-
stances adhering to the dish, whence it was no
easy task to remove them.
" Cut some mutton for the children," said
Mrs. Jefferson to her caro sposo. "You need
not give them much, for they ate a good
luncheon."
" I had only some cold pork, and it was so
nasty I couldn't eat it," observed Miss Julia,
putting up her lip, and pouting.
" And I had only a potatoe," said Miss
Jefferson, with a very doleful expression of
countenance.
" No one wants to know what you have
had," replied the affectionate father, gruffly ;
" but I know by my butcher's bills that a little
does not satisfy you."
" I want some hash, I can't eat that nasty
fat mutton," whined Miss Julia.
" Then go without," was the rejoinder of her
papa.
108 MEMOIRS OF
"Give Miss Stratford some mutton," said
Mrs. Jefferson, helping herself at the same time
to a large supply of the hash, which, whether
by accident or design, she never offered Selina,
who, thoroughly disgusted with the appearance
of the whole dinner, was strongly tempted to
decline accepting the offered slice of fat mutton.
She feared, however, that if she did so, she
might give offence, and be accused of being
over dainty ; so she tried to find some portion
of lean amid the mass of fat, and not discovering
any, quietly abstained from eating, contenting
herself with a morsel of the very small piece of
coarse bread placed by her platei
" You should have said you were not hungry,
and not have allowed yourself to be helped
to a large slice of mutton," observed her un-
civilized hostess. " It is very extravagant and
wasteful, and those who Have to earn their
bread ought to know better."
" The mutton is rather too fat," said Mr.
Jefferson, casting an admiring glance on the
fair face of the governess, whose beauty began
to thaw the ice around his heart.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 109
The glance was not lost on his watchful
wife, although it had wholly escaped the notice
of her to whom it was directed, and growing
red with anger, she asserted " that the mutton
was not at all too fat, and she wondered
how some people could be so foolish as to
encourage the false delicacy of other people,"
looking, as she spoke, first at her husband, and
then at Selina.
" Give me some porter, and mind you froth
it well," said Mrs. Jefferson. The boy did as
he was told, and then, unbidden, was about to
pour some porter into the glass of Selina, when
his mistress exclaimed " Stop, stop, what are
you about ? Don't you know that the gover-
nesses never have porter or beer ?"
The boy's face revealed that even ke was
shocked at the sordidness of his mistress,
and Mr. Jefferson, little used as he was to inter-
fere in the domestic arrangements of his wife,
ventured to say, " that, as Miss Stratford had
so little dinner, perhaps she might like a little
porter."
Rage sparkled in the small eyes of the hostess,
110 MEMOIRS OF '
who, suspecting the cause of this extraordi-
nary liberality on the part of her spouse, ob-
served, that " if Miss Stratford chose to go with-
out her dinner, that was her affair ; and she
thought, for her part, that malt-liquor was very
improper for young women, and was only fit
for those who had the cares of a family on their
hands."
Selina assured her " that water was her usual
beverage, and that she preferred it to all
others ;" but the blush that rose to her cheek,
while uttering this truth, increased the attrac-
tion of her countenance so much, that Mrs. Jef-
ferson, again detecting the truant eyes of her
husband fixed on it, angrily declared " she cared
not whether water was, or was not, the preferred
beverage of her governess, but that, for her
part, no governess, however some people might
admire her, should have malt-liquor in her
house."
Mr. Jefferson seemed astonished at this open
display of the pervading weakness of his wife,
and Miss Julia, who saw that her mother was
angry, with greater naivete than tact, observed,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. Ill
" Lawk, how funny ! Mamma was very angry
with Thomas for offering to help the governess
to porter ; and now, she is more angry, because
Miss Stratford said she would not like to drink
any thing but water."
" Hold your tongue, you little stupid crea-
ture !" replied Mrs. Jefferson; "there really is
no bearing that chatter-box."
" Yes, I must say Julia is much too flippant,"
observed Mr. Jefferson ; " but now that she has
got a good governess," and he looked very gra-
ciously at Selina, " I doubt not she will soon
improve."
" And pray, Mr. Jefferson, how do you know
whether she has a good governess or not, I
should like to know ?" said his angry wife.
" You never saw Miss Stratford before half
an hour ago, yet you instantly take for grant-
ed that she must be a good governess forth-
with."
" I concluded, my dear," replied the hen-
pecked husband, " that, with your sagacity and
powers of discrimination, you would not engage
any one who was not fully capable of the task
undertaken."
112 MEMOIRS OF
" No, Mr. Jefferson ; it was no such thing ; I
know you better, and am not to be imposed on
by your hypocritical speeches. You judged
Miss Stratford so mighty favourably, merely
because she happens to have what you men call
a pretty face."
" Well, my dear ; don't you know that the
phrase goes, that ' a handsome face is the best
letter of recommendation ? ' '
" Handsome face, Mr. Jefferson ! You ought
to be ashamed of yourself that's what you
ought ! and before your children too ! Take the
children away, Miss Stratford ; I wonder you
waited to be told to do so !" and the speaker's
face became crimson with anger. "A little
sense or delicacy might have taught you the
impropriety of allowing your pupils to remain
present, while their father addressed such im-
proper language to you, and in presence of their
ill-used mother, too."
Selina was struck dumb by this unexpected
rebuke; she felt how insulting it was, and
wished to disclaim every part in the dispute ;
but, too much hurt to be able to speak with the
A FEMME DE CHAMBBE. 113
coolness and self-possession befitting such an
.occasion, she arose, and, making a sign to her
pupils to follow, left the room, the loud voice
of Mrs. Jefferson, in violent anger, reaching
her ears even in the school-room.
" I'm so glad," said Miss Julia, clapping her
hands; "papa will get a good trimming now,
I'm sure. What a rage mamma was in ! I
hope she'll give papa a good dressing that's
what I do ! for he took her part against me,
when she called me a chatter-box."
" Hold your tongue, Miss Julia," said her
governess.
" Is this the way ? " demanded the incorri-
gible girl, applying her finger and thumb to her
tongue, which vulgar pleasantry set her elder
sister into shouts of laughter.
" No, Miss ; it is not the way. Take your
hand from your mouth, and remain silent."
" There's no pleasing you, I see," replied the
spoilt child ; " you told me to hold my tongue,
and when I hold it you find fault with me.
How should I hold it, except with my hand, I
should like to know ?"
114 MEMOIRS OF
" If you speak again I will punish you."
When Selina was summoned to tea, she found
Mrs. Jefferson alone ; but the calm now ob-
servable in her countenance betrayed that it
was the lull that follows a storm ; and that the
storm had been a violent one she could not
doubt, from the traces it had left behind.
" I am to have company to-morrow evening,"
said she ; " and wish you to put some trimming
on my dress, and also to make me a turban out
of this scarf;" and the lady held up a very tar-
nished tinsel scarf, more fit to figure among the
finery of the sweeps on May-day, than on the
head of any one with pretensions to gentility.
" I do not at all understand millinery, Madam,
and never attempted to make a head-dress in
my life."
" Well, then, the sooner you begin the better.
You must do it as well as you can, that's all,
I'm not very particular."
" I am really afraid, Madam, that I cannot
execute the task to your satisfaction."
" Not if you make up your mind before hand
to do it carelessly, as I see you have."
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 115
Selina took the scarf, determined to fashion
it into a turban as well as she could, and then
Mrs. Jefferson intimated her desire, that she
should be prepared to exert her talents to
amuse the expected company.
"You must be in good voice," added Mrs.
Jefferson, " for there is nothing I detest so much,
as persons who, when they are asked to play
and sing, begin preluding over the keys of the
piano-forte, and clearing their throats."
" This last operation is, however, sometimes
unavoidable, Madam," replied Selina, " the
nerves often compel it."
" Why, what can the nerves have to do with
the throat, or voice, I should like to know?"
demanded Mrs. Jefferson.
" They exert considerable influence over both,
I believe," observed Selina.
" Stuff, nonsense. You may as well assert
that my nerves could prevent my speaking
if I have a mind to talk, as that your's could pre-
vent you singing if you were disposed to do so.
Let me hear no more about nerves, if you wish
to continue in my family, for I consider nerves
116 MEMOIRS OF
as another name for idleness and affectation, and
greatly dislike all persons who urge them as an
excuse for the nonperformance of the duties
they are expected to fulfil. Pour out the tea,"
said Mrs. Jefferson, " and cut me some thin
slices off the French roll, with butter from the
small pat. If you like to have anything to eat,
there is some excellent brown bread and salt
butter, which I recommend you. Brown bread
does not agree with me, otherwise I prefer it."
The stale loaf did not tempt the appetite of
Selina, and she thought that Mrs. Jefferson
appeared pleased with her abstemiousness."
" You are a little eater, I see," said that lady,
" and you are right ; nothing conduces to
health more than a spare diet. Half the
ailments to which people are subject, are
occasioned by repletion."
How strange, thought Selina, that her prac-
tice should so wholly differ from her theory; for
while speaking, Mrs. Jefferson was devouring
the bread and butter cut for her, as greedily as
if she had not eaten a very hearty dinner.
" I wonder you take sugar and milk in your
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 117
tea," observed Mrs. Jefferson ; " both are now
"proved to be unwholesome, and I know many
people who have left them off. Young women
ought to do so before habit has rendered either
necessary, and more especially those who have
to earn their bread. If, however, you can't
dispense with sugar, I will have some moist for
your use, for loaf sugar is now so dear that no
one in my house, except Mr. Jefferson and my-
self, indulge in it."
This hint effectually prevented Selina from
taking a second cup of tea, and her hostess
having observed that she was unemployed, re-
commended her to resume her needle.
" I can't bear seeing people sitting idle," said
she, "and never was there a truer line than
that which says
' Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.'
Suppose you begin to make the turban here
are some pins, with the aid of which you can
get it into shape, and I can try it on. If it be-
comes me, you can stitch it together afterwards."
" I shall require a form for it, Madam."
118 MEMOIRS OF
" Have you nothing among your own things
that would make a form ?"
" Nothing whatever, Madam."
" Ring the bell then, and I'll send out Thomas
to a shop round the corner."
Thomas made his appearance, and was told
by his mistress " that he must run to the afore-
said shop, and buy her half-a-yard of catgut, a
yard of ribbon wire, and," she added, " tell Mrs.
Dobson it is to make a turban, and be sure you
beat down the price."
" Vy, Ma'am, she as good as turned me out of
the shop the last tune I vent there, for offering
her as you told me to do half what she asked."
Thomas returned in due time, and laid his
purchases with the bill on the table.
" What an extravagant charge," said his mis-
tress, examining the items ; " Mrs. Dobson
does not really know what to demand. Here's
eightpence to pay ; but if you had not been
a stupid, as well as an extravagant fellow, you
might have got it for half the money."
es I said all I could to her, Ma'am. I told her
'twas to dish up a turbot for company to-morrow,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 119
and she laughed and said, as how she never
heard of catgut or ribbon wire being wanted
for a turbot before."
" Was there ever such a fool ? " exclaimed his
angry mistress.
" If I vosn't a 'prentice, I know vhat I'd do,"
muttered Thomas, "for it's no manner of use
trying to give satisfaction !"
" Leave the room instantly, you saucy fool.
How dare you be so impudent !"
The lad withdrew, slamming the door vio-
lently after him, which act of insubordination
led to Mrs. Jefferson's giving a long detail of
the unkindness, ingratitude, and baseness of
servants in general, but of Thomas in particular,
while Selina plied her fingers in the formation
of the turban.
The next day was a busy one in the house.
The noise of preparation commenced at an early
hour. The voice of Mrs. Jefferson might be
heard in angry debate with Kitty, Thomas, and
a charwoman, called in on company days ; and
Mr. Jefferson, so seldom seen, except at meals,
kept coming in and going out several times,
] 20 MEMOIRS OF
each of his visits occasioning an increased com-
motion in the lower regions. " There, just like
you, Mr. Jefferson," said his angry wife. " Who
but you would have bought such expensive
fish?"
" I assure you I got it very cheap, my dear."
" What do you call cheap, I should like to
know ?"
" I only gave two shillings for the two pair
of soles."
" Ninepence a pair would have been plenty."
" Really, my dear, I can't lose half an hour
higgling about sixpence."
" Your time is so vastly precious, I suppose.
And what did you pay for the chickens ?"
" Three shillings a couple. You can't call
that dear, I'm sure?"
" You might have got them for half-a-crown,
for they're none of the freshest, I can tell
you."
" You expect things for nothing, my dear ;
ay, and good things too."
" No, Mr. Jefferson, I do no such thing, I
only expect the value of my money. Have
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 121
you put the bottle of gooseberry wine into cold
, water? You might have persuaded the fish-
monger to have thrown you in fourpence worth
of ice, which would have made the gooseberry
wine pass perfectly for Champagne; but you
have no thought or cleverness in those matters,
and everything falls on my shoulders. Mind
you put a little brandy, and a squeeze of a
lemon, into a couple of the bottles of Cape
Madeira, and have the Sherry label put on
them, and the Madeira label on the plain. Don't
keep pressing people to drink wine, Mr. Jeffer-
son ; it's a vulgar, as well as an extravagant
habit. The only one to be pressed is a certain
person;" and she looked mysteriously at her
husband, and then in the direction of the ser-
vants, to explain why she did not name the
individual to whom she did not grudge the
wine. "It's a different thing with regard to
her" resumed Mrs. Jefferson ; " for, if we play
our cards as we ought, she will leave us the
means to enjoy ourselves for the rest of our lives."
The dinner served to Selina and her pupils
on that day was so scanty in quantity, and so
VOL. II. G
122 MEMOIRS OF '
bad in quality, that Miss Julia protested loudly
against their being put off with such bad fare.
Mrs. Jefferson had arranged that Miss Strat-
ford and her pupils should be in the drawing-
room when the ladies retired there from the
dining-room, and that Selina was to preside at
the tea-table. " But, mind," added that pru-
dent woman, " you don't let Matilda or Julia
eat any of the cakes; I have bought only
enough for the company: and don't let the
candles be lighted until you hear us on the
stairs, for it's no use having them flaring in the
room for nothing."
The scanty dinner served to Selina and her
pupils had rendered these last so ravenous, that
great was the difficulty she experienced in pre-
venting them from seizing and devouring the
cakes laid on the tea-table. Miss Julia re-
peatedly attempted to snatch them, and endea-
voured to induce her sister to join in the attack,
declaring aloud, that " if Matty was not such a
fool, she might possess herself of the cakes
while Miss Stratford was occupied in keeping
her from them."
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 123
CHAPTER VII.
AT length the ladies entered the drawing-
room with flushed faces, and considerable ani-
mation of manner. " What an excellent dinner
we have had, my dear Mrs. Jefferson," said one
of them.
" Mrs. Jefferson's dinners are always good,"
observed another. " You must have a very
superior cook."
" I am glad you think so, Mrs. Willcocks ;
but I assure you that even the best cooks are
not to be trusted. I superintend all the made
dishes myself."
" And you are quite right ; there is nothing
like the eye of a mistress," observed a very fat
lady, dressed in a green gown and red turban.
" I thought your wine remarkably good,"
said another of the visitants, " particularly the
Sherry and Champagne ; and I am a very good
G 2
124 MEMOIRS OF
judge, I can tell you:" and a great consumer,
too, might, without much chance of any breach
of veracity, be added, if the conclusion might
be drawn from the flushed face, loud voice, and
unsteady gait of the speaker.
" I am so glad you liked the wine, my dear
friend," replied Mrs. Jefferson, with her most
insinuating smile. " I told Mr. Jefferson that
he must provide the very best, for that you
could not drink any other."
" So here are the young ladies," observed the
lady, to whom it was evident Mrs. Jefferson
attached the most importance.
" Matty, Julia, why do you not go up to
your dear, kind friend, and kiss her directly?"
said then* mother.
But while the girls approached to perform
their mamma's wishes, the person they were com-
manded, to embrace stood motionless, staring
rudely at Selina, who instantly recognised Mrs.
Forsythe.
" Why, Lord bless me ! how long have you
been here?" demanded she, with an authorita-
tive air.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 125
" Two days, madam," replied Selina.
" Well, I'm glad to find you earning your
bread honestly" laying a peculiar stress on the
word 'honestly,' " and not leading a life of idle-
ness."
Mrs. Jefferson approached, with a look of
alarm, and the other ladies appeared to antici-
pate an explosion of some kind, for they glanced
with undisguised curiosity from Mrs. Forsythe
to Selina, whose simple, but tasteful toilette,
and pretty face, had excited more envy than
good will in their breasts. " And so you know
Miss Stratford?" said Mrs. Jefferson.
" Yes, I do know her," was the answer,
accompanied by a shake of the head, full of
import, and by a gravity of countenance that
indicated the knowledge was not very favour-
able to the young lady.
" If I had the least notion that she had the
honour of knowing you, my dear friend, I
would instantly have applied to you for her
character," observed Mrs. Jefferson. " Pray,
why did you not tell me that you were known
to Mrs. Forsythe?" demanded she.
'
126 MEMOIRS OF
' ; I was not aware, madam, that Mrs. For-
sythe was an acquaintance of yours," replied
Selina, with a calmness and dignity that ought
to have vouched that she could have had no
motive for concealment ; " and I was not privi-
leged to refer to this lady for a recommenda-
tion.' 1
" No, she was not privileged, Mrs. Jefferson.
I permit no persons to use my name, unless I
can vouch for every action of their lives ; and
of how few can one speak with certainty !"" and
Mrs. Forsythe turned up her eyes to the ceiling,
with an appealing glance.
" How very odd!" whispered Mrs. Willcocks
to Mrs. Burford, who sat next her.
" Yes, very, indeed !"
" It's quite like a scene in a play, isn't it ?
when something is about to be discovered."
" I wonder if the governess will turn out to
be a thief?"
" I think it's more likely that she is some-
thing even worse, for she has a very sly coun-
tenance, and looks very impudent."
" Yes, so she does. I noticed how bold she
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 127
looked when she answered Mrs. Jefferson;
quite like a stage player : she drew herself up
with a grand air."
" You may go and pour out the coffee and
tea," said Mrs. Jefferson, with an angry air;
and then, turning to her friend with beseeching
countenance, she whispered, " I'm on thorns,
yes, positively on thorns, my dear Mrs. For-
sythe, to hear all you know of my governess.
I'm sure there must be something wrong, very
wrong. I read it in your countenance the
moment you spoke to her. You have such an
expressive countenance, my dear Mrs. Forsythe,
that I can read it like a book."
" Why, the truth is, I can't say much in her
favour ; that's the fact. No, she would be very
sorry to refer you to me for a character. But
I'd rather say no more. Indeed I would."
" But would it be kind towards me, or to-
wards dear Matty and Julia, Avho dote on you,
my dearest friend, to leave me in ignorance
on a point of such importance as the true cha-
racter of their governess ?"
" Use your eyes ; observe her well, and there
128 MEMOIRS OF
will be no need of my saying "anything about
her. I'm by no means ill-natured, and have a
dislike to mixing myself up with other people's
business; besides, I should not like having an
action brought against me for slander. Truth,
you know, is now considered a libel ; so people
must be very cautious what they say."
The gentlemen now joined the ladies, their
- PI''
spirits very much elevated by the fiery wines
they had been drinking, and their natural
reserve much lessened. They approached the
tea-table where Selina was presiding, and,
staring at her with undissembled looks of ad-
miration, formed a circle around it.
" Though I seldom drink tea," said Mr.
^VVilcocks, " I could not resist a cup if offered
by such fair hands as this young lady's ; " and
he simpered and tried to look insinuating.
" The young lady need put no sugar in,"
observed Mr. Burford, " for her smile is enough
to sweeten the tea ;'' and then he laughed loudly
at his own wit.
" Come, come, what business have you old
married men to be flocking around a young
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 129
lady? "asked a Mr. Blayton. "It's only ba-
chelors like me that are privileged."
"Can I be of any use to you, Miss Strat-
ford?" said Mr. Jefferson, forgetting, in the
effect produced on him by the unusual quantity
of wine he had drank, that his jealous wife's
eyes were upon him.
" I vote for our all turning footmen to this
beautiful young lady," said Mr. Wilcocks.
" Hi ! hi ! Oh, Matty, what fun," giggled Miss
Julia.
Selina preserved her usual calmness and de-
corum of demeanour, but the admiration of the
half-tipsy men grew so fervent as to render
them unconscious that they were offending her.
" Dip your finger in my cup, Miss," said Mr.
Burford, dropping on one knee, and holding up
his cup ; and his burlesque appearance in this
position set all the others laughing, and pro-
duced shrieks of mirth from the Misses Jef-
ferson.
" Good heavens ! what an indecent scene,"
exclaimed Mrs. Burford. "Well, did you
ever ?"
G3
130 MEMOIRS OF
" Xo, never !" replied Mrs. Wilcocks. "What
a barefaced flirt she must be. Oh, the men, the
men ! when they proceed to such extremities
in our presence, what would they not do if we
were absent ?"
" Ah ! what indeed ? It's quite dreadful."
" Really, I must put a stop to this shameful
conduct," said Mrs. Jefferson, who had been
for some time watching with eyes flashing with
jealousy, and cheeks crimson with rage, the
open look of admiration with which her hus-
band regarded Selina.
" Didn't I tell you to use your eyes, my dear
friend," observed Mrs. Forsythe. " Need I
enter into any particulars now ? you must have
seen enough to judge for yourself this evening.
Don't be agitated Mr. Jefferson is, I must own,
making a great fool of himself so all the men
are but forewarned is forearmed, you know."
Mr. Blayford, encouraged by the folly of his
companions, dropped on his knees on one side
of Selina, Mr. Burford still remaining in a
similar posture at the other, and, seizing her
hand, attempted to kiss it.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 131
Selina rose from her chair, her cheeks covered
with blushes, and, snatching her hand from his
grasp, retreated to the other end of the cham-
ber, where the ladies were seated, approached
Mrs. Jefferson, and, while attempting to re-
quest her interference to check the rudeness of
her male guests, burst into tears.
The suddenness with which she snatched her
hand from the grasp of Mr. Burford, caused
that gentleman to lose his equilibrium. He
fell prostrate on his face, and his wig rolled off;
an accident which greatly increased the hilarity
of his companions, whose vociferous shouts of
laughter rendered every attempt of the female
part of the company to speak, inaudible. But
no sooner had the men perceived that Selina
was in tears, than, shocked at having pained her,
they, one and all, followed her, entreating for
pardon. But even this amende honorable, though
really well-intentioned, partook, owing to their
inebriety, of the ludicrous character of their
exaggerated admiration.
" Pray forgive me, loveliest of your sex,"
stuttered Mr. Blayford ; " I would not offend
such beauty for worlds."
132 MEMOIRS OF '
" Nor I," " Nor I," exclaimed Messrs. Wil-
cocks and Burfbrd.
" No one could be such a brute as to inten-
tionally hurt the feelings of Miss Stratford,"
said Mr. Jefferson, looking all admiration and
regret.
" Hold your tongue, Mr. Jefferson ; hold
your tongue, I insist. You don't know what
you are saying ; but you will be sorry enough
for this folly to-morrow," said his wife, rage
sparkling in her small grey eyes, and glowing
in her cheeks.
" And you, Mr. Wilcocks, you may well be
ashamed of yourself," observed his better half,
looking at him most angrily.
" But what have I done ? " demanded the
accused. " The only crime I plead guilty to
is having, and I swear it was unintentional,
distressed this young lady, from whose beautiful
eyes I would not have drawn a tear for worlds."
" I shall go mad ! I shall go positively mad,"
exclaimed his enraged wife.
" And I," rejoined her husband, " am ready
to go down on my knees, and ask the young
lady's pardon ; though, hang me if I know for
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 133
what ; but what matters it ? beauty in tears,
no man with a heart can resist."
"You are right, Wilcocks! Yes, lay Jove,
you are right," said Mr. Burford. " We ought all
to go down on our knees to propitiate such a
lovely girl. Never have my eyes gazed on such
charms."
" Mr. Burford, Mr. Burford, hold your
tongue ; you are behaving most improperly,
and know not what you say;" and here Mrs. Bur-
ford became so agitated^that she burst into tears.
While this scene was occurring, Selina stood
near Mrs. Jefferson, as if to seek protection
from the intoxicated men, from whose approach
she shrank with undisguised disgust and alarm.
But she found not the protection she sought,
for Mrs. Jefferson's jealousy being excited by
the glances of admiration which her husband
continued to fix on Miss Stratford, became so
angry, that, unable any longer to subdue her
temper, she turned angrily to Selina, and or-
dered her to leave the room.
" Go quickly," said the infuriated woman ;
" you ought to be ashamed of yourself, to make
134 MEMOIRS OF
such an exhibition in the presence of respectable
married women, whose husbands you lay your
artful snares to entice. Leave the room."
" Come, come," said Mr. Blayford, somewhat
sobered by Mrs. Jefferson's anger and injustice,
" this young lady must not suffer for our folly.
She has been the innocent victim to our admi-
ration too freely manifested, I am willing to
admit, and for which we owe her our apolo-
gies ; but no blame can possibly be attributed
to her. Jefferson, set this matter right with
Mrs. Jefferson. You know the fault was all
on our side."
" I desire that Mr. Jefferson will not attempt
to utter a single word in justification of conduct
so shockingly improper," observed his wife, her
face scarlet with anger ; and, again pointing to
the door, she motioned to Selina to withdraw.
Indignation had dried the tears on the cheek
of the insulted girl, and, disdaining to attempt
an exculpation, which she knew would not be
received, she left the room with a calm dignity,
which prejudiced, still more strongly, the female
part of the company against her. The men, with
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 135
the exception of Mr. Blayford, looked stolid and
crest-fallen. With returning ebriety came the
terror of their wives, and the angry glances of
these last were little calculated to reassure
them. Mr. Blayford, happy in the indepen-
dence and impunity afforded him by his " state of
single blessedness," felt his courage increase in
proportion to the diminution of it in his com-
panions ; and with an assurance very unsuited to
conciliate the prejudices of the ladies, or to
ameliorate the position of their victim, he coolly
advanced towards them, and demanded why the
folly of the men, and folly he now was pre-
pared to admit they had been guilty of,
should be visited on her who had most reason
to complain of it ?
" The less said on the subject the better,"
replied Mrs. Jefferson. " You are not married,
Mr. Blayford, and therefore are not so much to
blame, although you must allow me to say, that
my presence, and that of these ladies, ought to
have induced a greater circumspection on your
part."
" Really, ma'am, the whole affair was, after
136 MEMOIRS OF
all, but a joke ; a bad one, it may be, but pro-
duced by the hilarity incident on a very agree-
able dinner ; and I should be very sorry, and so
I am sure would be my friends," (turning to the
crest-fallen husbands present,) " if the charming
young lady who has left the room was to suffer
for our sins."
" I must be the best judge of what is due to
myself and family, and beg that this painful
subject may not be renewed," said Mrs. Jeffer-
son, with an air of offended dignity.
" Yes, my dear Blayford, my wife is right,
indeed she is always so : let the disagreeable
subject end ;" and the cowardly Mr. Jefferson,
dreading a curtain lecture, cast a most humble
and deprecatory glance at his angry wife.
" I need not advise you to send your governess
away as soon as possible," said Mrs. Forsythe.
" After what you have seen you must be aware
what a dangerous person she is to have in a
house where there is a man who has such a taste
for beauty as your husband. The best of men
have their faults," and Mrs. Forsythe turned
up her eyes and sighed. " Ah ! my dear friend,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 137
you handsome women, when you are chosen
_by some enamoured man for your good looks,
seldom reflect that when youth has passed, and
diminished, if not destroyed, the charms that
won them," and here the speaker looked at
Mrs. Jefferson, " they will be apt to look else-
where for beauty, and be the more attracted
to it from the contrast afforded by the faded
comeliness of their wives."
Every word of this spiteful speech took the
effect intended on the jealous mind of Mrs. Jef-
ferson, and her friend marked with satisfac-
tion that it did so. Extremely plain in looks,
Mrs. Forsythe had, during her youth, felt the
disadvantage of ugliness, having never touched
the heart of mortal, notwithstanding every
effort, and the sacrifice of all maidenly reserve
and modesty, to accomplish so desired an object.
Hence her hatred to beauty became intense. To
those in actual possession of it, she felt a positive
enmity ; and even those who could no longer
boast of the attraction, she was disposed to punish
for their former claims to the dangerous, but
coveted gift. Mrs. Jefferson was one of the few
13S MEMOIRS OF '
persons who still retained a recollection of the
good looks she prided herself on some twenty
years ago. So little trace of them remained,
that, among recent acquaintances, her having
once possessed them would be deemed a very
debateable point ; and her hen-pecked spouse
had so completely forgotten the fact, as some-
times, and particularly when looking at youth
and beauty, to wonder why he had married the
plain, faded woman who ruled his house and
himself with so despotic a sway as to destroy
the comfort of both. This oblivion of all her
ft endearing young charms " he, like many other
prudent husbands, carefully confined to his own
breast, well aware that aught which could ever
be implied into a symptom of such ingratitude
and want of memory, would but render his lot
still more insupportable. Seldom did his wife's
dear friend, Mrs. Forsythe, visit them, without
her punishing Mrs. Jefferson for the recollec-
tion of her former personal attractions and pre-
sent groundless vanity ; and the graceless hus-
band would have had a spiteful pleasure in the
mortification of his better half, were it not that
A FEMME DE CHAMBKE. 139
the blows aimed at her rebounded to him. To
wound Mrs. Jefferson, it was necessary that
hints and inuendos should be given of the fickle-
ness and ingratitude of men in general, but of
husbands in particular hints which never failed
to awaken the jealousy of his wife, and to draw
down on his head a series of curtain-lectures,
enough to quell the courage of a stouter heart
than his, followed by days of sullen silence, or
outbursts of violent reproach, that rendered his
home insupportable. But Mrs. Forsythe was
rich had, as she herself frequently reminded
her friends, neither kith nor kin who could ad-
vance a claim to become her heir and as she saidj
despised men too much ever to marry again; she
should certainly bequeath her fortune to those
who studied her wishes and comfort. This speech,
often repeated, had secured the wily Mrs. For-
sythe an established footing in the houses of
four or five of her legacy-hunting acquaint-
ances, each of whom considered her to be one
of the most disagreeable women in the world,
and avenged themselves for their assiduous
court to her, by heaping all manner of abuse on
140 MEMOIRS Of
her when in the privacy of a conjugal tete-a-
tete. The Jeffersons were the most persevering
in their attentions. Many were the dinners
given to conciliate this vulgar and gross-minded
favourite of fortune, every dish, and every kind
of wine, being selected with a direct reference
to her peculiar taste, and a ready assent being
always accorded to every assertion she was
pleased to make. Nor did this woman "do her
spiriting gently ;" au contraire, she exercised an
unceasing tyranny over those who, from merce-
nary motives, submitted to her sway. They were
compelled to adopt her opinions, friendships, and
enmities ; to extend a constant hospitality,
(which she never returned,) and carefully to
repress every symptom of displeasure at the
rude speeches and insulting hints she was in the
constant habit of inflicting on them. Nor was she
imposed on by their subservience and duplicity.
Perfectly aware of their real sentiments, and
of the motive that actuated their hypocrisy, she
despised them while availing herself of their
hospitality, and often indulged a smile while
jneditating on the cruel disappointment she
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 141
meant to inflict on their selfish hopes and ex-
pectations.
" Leave my money to such folk," would she
say, " who hate, but fear me ! No ; not a
shilling. They think they deceive me into a
belief of their attachment : but it is / who
deceive them. I live on the enemy, enjoy
dainties at their expense, which I would grudge
to buy ; pass my time in amusements provided
by their purses ; keep up an emulation between
them, as to who shall most toady and feast
me ; and if they outlive me, they shall find
how well I understood, and duly appreciated,
their interested attentions."
Such was the woman on whom these para-
sites fawned and counted.
With a beating heart and blushing cheeks,
Selina ascended to her wretched bed-room.
That she should be insulted because the vulgar
o
and inebriated guests of Mr. Jefferson had
chosen to annoy her by their folly, struck her
as something so very unreasonable, that she
could in no Avay comprehend it, except by con-
cluding (and the conclusion was not far from
142 MEMOIRS OF
the truth) that the female part of the company
had also transgressed the bounds of temper-
ance. What had she done ? how drawn on
herself the annoyance to which she had been
subjected? were questions she in vain tried to
solve. The hostility of the ladies, so openly
revealed by their angry glances and avoidance
of her on an occasion when womanly feeling
ought to have moved them to sympathize with
her alarm and distress, and to show their dis-
pleasure alone to the authors of it, was incom-
prehensible to her. Had Mrs. Forsythe in-
stilled into their minds the prejudices which it
was but too apparent from her manner she
entertained towards the poor ward of her
brother ? was the next question that suggested
itself to her bewildered mind. Yes, it must be
so ; and yet what had she done to incur the
hatred of this person ?
"While indulging in these reflections, Kitty
made her appearance.
" I'm come, Miss, if you please," said the
girl, with a look of sympathy that did her
honour, "to spare you from being affronted.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 143
Missis has ordered that you should not be
allowed to see the young ladies, and that I'm
to undress and put them to bed. I didn't like
to tell you this before them, for Miss Julia is
so himperent, that she'd be sure to say some-
thing saucy to you, so I just ran up before
'em, having given them some bits of pastry and
pudding in the dining-room, to keep them
quiet while I ran up. Ah ! Miss, I thought
you'd not stay long here; you're too handsome
and genteel. Missis can't abide any one that's
pretty, that's the truth of it ; and only I mind
my P's and Q's so well," and here Kitty, the
plain and homely maid of all work, assumed
the air of a beauty, " I'd never be able to keep
my place ; not that it's much of a place, God
knows ! but still, missis is so spiteful, that if
I went away before I could have a year's
character, she might do me a mischief. She's
as jealous as she can be of master : yes, Miss,
indeed she is, for all you look so surprised;
and if he only looks at me a bit, and he has
a great trick of staring people out of counte-
nance, she, instead of blaming him, as she
144 MEMOIRS OP
ought, blames the person he looks at. Thomas
was quite vexed, Miss, when he seed them tipsy
gentlemen kneeling down and wanting to kiss
your hand, and falling about the floor. He
saw well enough it wasn't your fault, but he
knew missis would put it on your back. She's
such a rum un ! Why, would you believe it,
Miss, she was going to* turn me away without
a character, because master happened one day
to stare at me, though I never saw it, and she
called me all manner of names ; and the very
week after, she abused me like a pickpocket,
because I gave master a box in the ear for
attempting to kiss me on the stairs, which she
saw from over the banisters. But I told her,
and him too, that if ever he tried to kiss me
again, or so much as laid a finger on me, I'd
leave the marks of my hand on his face ; and
so, ever since, he lets me alone."
Here the loquacious Kitty was interrupted
by hearing the voices of the young ladies, who,
having finished devouring the fragments of
pastry she had given them, were ascending in
search of her.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 145
" Lock your door, Miss," said the well-
. meaning girl ; " and as Missis said before
Thomas, that you should be turned away to-
morrow morning, take my advice, and give
warning first. If you write her a note, I'll
come back for it."
VOL. n.
146 MEMOIRS OF
CHAPTER VIII.
THE proceeding counselled by Kitty offered
some temptation to Selina. The greatest of
all was, that it would save her from the rude-
ness and insult which she felt certain that Mrs.
Jefferson Avould assail her with ; and daunted
by the dread of this, she was more than half
disposed to write a note, stating her intention
of giving up her situation, and depart without
seeing that lady. But then came the thought,
whether her taking this step might not be con-
strued into a tacit, admission of guilt of some
kind, though what that guilt could be, she
could not form even the most remote notion.
No ; she would calmly and steadily wait Mrs.
Jefferson's pleasure, confront her with the
dignity of conscious virtue and propriety, and
if she could not convince that unreasonable
woman of her innocence, at least prove to her
that she did not shrink from an interview.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 147
Selina pressed a sleepless couch that night ;
many and painful were the reflections that
forced themselves on her mind. She was
angry with herself that such persons as those
who composed the circle in which she had met
with insult and injustice that evening could have
the power of wounding and humiliating her;
but so it was ; and she learned to know the
bitter lesson, that the unprotected and depend-
ant can be made to suffer by those whose ap-
proval could afford no satisfaction, because they
are known to be incompetent to discover merit,
or to appreciate it. At an early hour she was
summoned to the presence of Mrs. Jefferson.
" She's in a topping passion, Miss," said
Kitty, "and has scolded master all night. I
heard her waking him several times, that she
might have her scold out ; but it wasn't much
use, for he was snoring again as loud as ever ia
two minutes."
" I suppose I need not tell you why I have
sent for you thus early, Miss Stratford," said
Mrs. Jefferson, when Selina entered the room.
" You must have guessed that after the disgrace-
H 2
148 MEMOIRS OF
ful scene of last night, I could not permit you to
remain a single day longer in my family."
"The scene to which you refer, Madam,
though very painful, was not disgraceful to
me? replied Selina with dignity. "I cannot
be made answerable for the levity and folly
of persons, for whose unaccountable conduct,
the only excuse that can be urged, was their
inebriety. Your presence, Madam, ought to
have secured me from being made the sub-
ject of their coarse pleasantries ; but as it did
not, I must confess that I anticipated sympathy
and protection from you, instead of unmerited
reproof and insult. I have consequently come
to the determination of remaining no longer
under a roof where I cannot count on the pro-
tection so needful to a person in my situation,
and will, as you desire it, immediately leave
your house."
" 'Pon my word, you take the business very
coolly," replied Mrs. Jefferson, her face becoming
crimson with rage. " One would suppose you
were a princess in disguise, a persecuted
innocent, instead of a , but I will be cool
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 149
yes, I won't demean myself by applying to you
the terms you deserve."
" Madam, you must excuse my withdrawing,
I cannot subject myself to further insult," and
Selina walked towards the door.
"Yes, go, you shameful, forward, impu-
dent ' screamed rather than said, Mrs.
Jefferson ; but the terrified girl had retreated
before that vulgar woman had finished the
sentence, and breathless with agitation had
reached her miserable chamber, of which she
locked the door while she packed up her things,
and put on her cloak and bonnet; dreading
being pursued by the termagant Mrs. Jefferson.
In a few minutes, Kitty, with stealthy steps,
ascended the stairs, and whispering through the
key-hole " it's I, Miss," was let in.
" I guessed how it would be, " Thomas and I
have been listening at the door to all Missis
said ; she ought to be ashamed of herself, so she
ought, to call any one such names. Thomas has
run out to call a fly for you, Miss, and he and I
will take down your box, and put it into it,
though we should lose our places for it."
150 MEMOIRS OF'
"Thank you, my good Kitty/ 1 said Selina,
putting her hand in her purse, and offering
half-a-crown to the girl ; but the gift was re-
fused.
"No, Miss, not a penny will I take, nor
Thomas neither. You don't know how long
you may be out of place, I beg your pardon,
Miss, out of a situation I meant to say, and
you have already been very gen'rous to us. May
all good forten attend you, Miss," and Kitty
wiped with the back of her hand a tear that
was glistening in her eye.
This kindness from the simple, but good-
hearted girl, touched Selina, and the spirit that
resisted with dignity the insults of Mrs. Jeffer-
son, gave way before the sympathy of her
servant.
" I thank you, my good Kitty," said she, and
hurried from the room, eager to leave a house
where she had suffered such humiliation. But
her egress was not to be as silent, or as un-
noticed as she had hoped. In the lobby, the
two young ladies, her late pupils, were waiting
to vent their malice on her.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 151
" Ah ! who pulled off Mr. Burford's wig ?"
demanded Matilda, "and who knocked the
gentleman down ?" asked Miss Julia. " What
fun it was, wasn't it Matty ?"
" Yes, famous fun, only mamma says it was
so wrong, and that Miss Stratford is so naughty
that we must not speak to her."
" I'm glad you're going away, for you have
done nothing but scold us ever since you came,
you cross, ill-natured thing," cried Miss Jeffer-
son, as Selina hurried down stairs, where she
found Thomas, who announced that the fly was
at the door, and ran to assist Kitty in bringing
down the trunk. Selina was soon seated in the
carriage, and her traps, as Thomas called them,
being placed in it, she directed the driver to Mrs,
Vernon's ; but when the vehicle entered the next
street, a small parcel was thrown into it, which,
on examining, she found to be addressed to her.
She opened it, and discovered a month's salary,
remitted by Mr. Jefferson, with a few civil lines
of regret for the annoyance to which she had
been subjected the previous night ; and for the
result which would, he added, he felt sure, be
a great loss to his children. The tone of the
152 MEMOIRS OF-
note was so reserved and respectful, that even
the jealous wife of the writer might have pe-
rused it without finding aught to justify sus-
picion. The truth was, Mr. Jefferson was not
the gallant, gay Lothario his cara sposa chose
to imagine, and which her invidious friend Mrs.
Forsythe, for the sake of vexing her, loved to
encourage her to believe. Though he might, in
a moment of galte de coeur, go so far as to risk a
" chaste salute" to a maid servant, more in the
spirit of fun, than with any more culpable
intention, he had perception enough to discover,
even at the first vaterview, that the new gover-
ness was not a person to permit the slightest
approach to familiarity. Selina would have
infinitely preferred not receiving any remune-
ration from the Jefferson family, but she deter-
mined to show the note and its enclosure to
Mrs. Vernon, and to be guided by her counsel
in the affair.
Her reception was as kind as her warmest
anticipations could picture. " I am so rejoiced
to see you, dear Miss Stratford,"" said her excel-
lent friend. I guessed it would be impossible
for you to remain long in such a family as the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 153
one you entered, and the experience you have
now had, must prevent your again accepting any
situation which does not hold forth a prospect
of comfort. How r glad my husband will be to
find you here I He has blamed me, and himself
too, for not having prevented your going to
Mrs. Jefferson's. It was only yesterday that a
friend of his told him that he was commissioned
to look out for a governess for a very respectable
family, in which the teacher would be treated
with every kindness. We thought of you
directly, and regretted the more your having
engaged with that disagreeable person."
Greatly pleased was the worthy Mr. Vernon,
when he found Selina at his house. But when
the cause was revealed, and the insults she had
received were made known, his indignation was
so great, that he was more than half disposed to
have a lawyer's letter sent to Mrs. Forsythe,
threatening her with an action for defamation,
being, as he declared his belief to be, the only
means of putting a stop to her malice.
" Pray do not take any such step, I trust I
may never again come in contact with her,"
H3
154 MEMOIRS OF
replied Selina, "and I shrink from the publicity,
such a measure as the one you propose might
entail, with indescribable terror."
After a few days passed tranquilly with her
kind friends, Selina reminded them of the
inquiry for a governess made to Mr. Vernon,
and repeated to her by his excellent wife.
"I wish you had not named it, my dear,"
said the husband. " Miss Stratford has need of
quiet and the society of friends, after the
annoyance to which she has been exposed, and
gladly would I urge her to remain with us,
at least for some time."
Mrs. Vernon pressed the invitation given by
her husband to their guest, with all the
warmth and affection that prompted it; but
Selina persevered in her desire to seek a
situation, and they at length yielded to her
wishes. The following day Mr. Yernon wrote to
his friend, and in a week after, the arrangement
was finally made, and Selina went to the family.
Mr. and Mrs. Buxton were rich, but narrow-
minded persons. Having from comparative
poverty, unexpectedly inherited the fortune of
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 155
a relation who never gave any intimation of
recollecting their existence, until he was near
resigning his own, when he bequeathed them
his wealth, they found themselves suddenly
elevated to a position, to fill which with decent
dignity they were not quite prepared. There
was nothing they so ardently desired as to con-
duct themselves, and their newly formed esta-
blishment, with a propriety that might conceal
how totally unaccustomed they were to the
comforts and luxuries they now possessed.
The dread of exposing their ignorance to their
neighbours, and even to their servants, greatly
impaired the sense of enjoyment, which " the
goods the gods provided," conferred on them.
They were in a state of perpetual constraint
before the guests they invited to partake their
hospitality, and the domestics who waited at
the well covered board. The handsome and
well furnished mansion, so unexpectedly come
into their possession, they looked on as nothing-
short of a palace, and. so splendid did its
appointments appear in their eyes, that they
wondered that their visitors were not more
impressed by its grandeur, and that their
156 MEMOIRS OF
servants seemed in no way surprised by it.
Their predecessor, parvenu, although he was,
had mixed in good society, and had got accus-
tomed to all the external trappings that wealth
can furnish. He had kept a French cook, an
artiste of considerable merit, whose entrees
and entremets had found such favour in the
neighbourhood, as to win a popularity for
his master that might not otherwise have
been conceded him. A mattre cfhotel, groom
of the chambers, under butler, and two tall foot-
men, had formed the male portion of the estab-
lishment of the late owner of Heathfield Park ;
and when Mr. Buxton succeeded to its posses-
sion, he and his wife, after serious consideration
and mature deliberation, came to the con-
clusion, that as the servants they found in the
house must know the ways of it much better
than any new ones could be expected to do, or,
in truth, than they the owners did, it would be
well to engage their continuance in the estab-
lishment.
This note of preparation sounded well in the
neighbourhood. It was clear, so argued the
occupants of the castles, abbeys, and narks that
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 157
dotted the vicinity, that the parvenu come
.amongst them was determined to keep up the
style of living of his deceased relation, and as
hospitality, like charity, covers a multitude of
sins, it was agreed that the Buxtons should be
well received. The servants were the first to
discover the total ignorance of refined life and
its usages, in their new employers. The maitre
d'hotel perceived at a glance, that they were
awe-struck by the splendour of their new pos-
sessions, and his respect for them was by no
means increased by this discovery. The chef ' de
cuisine, when he presented his menu, saw that
they could not even read it, and was compelled
to explain; in very unintelligible broken English,
the signification of the vai'ious items entered on
it; the confusion and dismay pictured on their
countenances, as he endeavoured to describe the
component parts of the diiferent dishes, was
evident. The under butler and footman glanced
at each other in horror, when they found that
their master and mistress did not know how to
name any of the plats offered to them, and saw
them use a knife and fork to serve dishes
158 MEMOIRS OF
invariably dissected with a spoon. Conscious
that the inquisitorial eyes of their menials were
fixed on them, and fearful that their inexperi-
ence in French cookery, and the elegant " appli-
ances to boot" of a fashionably served table
would be exposed, they sat at the head and foot
of the well covered board in a state of dis-
comfort not to be described. The sounds of
their own voices, as they reverberated in the
marble-lined and lofty salle d manger, rendered
them nervous; and yet they felt that to dis-
guise their ignorance and constraint, they must
assume an appearance of courage and ease,
which they were far from possessing. The
repast was any thing but an agreeable one
to them. Unused to French plats, even this
novelty failed to gratify their unsophisticated
palates; and they would have infinitely pre-
ferred a slice of roast beef and vegetables, or
some such plain and simple fare, to the ela-
borate entrees set before them, the merits of
which they were not prepared to appreciate.
It is a fact known to many, that savages when
they first hear fine music experience no pleasure
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 159
from the dulcet sounds, preferring their own
-discordant ones, to which long habit has inured
them. So it is with homely palates ; that food
to which they have been accustomed, they find
preferable to the most exquisite viands previ-
ously untasted. Glad were this pair, when the
dessert placed on the table, and the servants
withdrawn, they found themselves released
from the intolerable constraint under which
they had been suffering.
Mrs. Buxton drew a deep inspiration, and
looking up at the richly decorated ceiling,
exclaimed " Well, my dear Mr. B., how glad
I am it is over. I wonder shall I ever get used
to it. But is it not a miserable thing to be in
one's own house, and not to be able to feel that
all the fine things about one, really do belong
to us ?"
" Never mind, my dear. It does seem strange
just at first ; but I dare say we shall get per-
fectly used to it in time. One does to every-
thing, I have remarked ; and a day will come
when we shall think no more of this grand
house, than if we had been living in it all our
160 MEMOIRS OF
lives. You see the servants don't seem to
think anything of it."
" Yes, my dear Mr. B., I noticed that, and,
only I was shy, I would have told some of
them to be more careful of this beautiful Turkey
carpet, which I saw them let drops of water
fall on, from that huge silver thing, that looks
like a fountain, near the sideboard."
" I feel quite uncomfortable at having eaten
so many different kickshaws. "Well, they may
say what they will, but give me a joint of well
boiled, or roasted meat, in preference to all the
French stews and ragouts in the world, which
clog, without satisfying the stomach."
" Just what I think, too, my dear Mr B.
I couldn't help remarking all the time these
powdered fellows were staring us in the face,
watching every morsel we put into our mouths,
and, as I really fancied two or three times*
laughing at us, how much more comfortable we
used to be at dinner at Dairy Cottage, in our
snug little parlour, \vith tidy little Nancy to
wait on us, and our one good dish of meat
with vegetables, and our glass of mild ale, than
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 161
in this vast room, with its cold shining walls,
its painted ceiling, and gilt cornices, the blaze
of light over the table, and the load of plate
on it."
"I confess, my dear Sarah, that the same
thought occurred to me. It's a pity the old
gentleman never thought of telling us that we
were to be his heirs, never asked us to come
here and see him for a bit, so that we could
have been prepared for all this grandeur, and
need not be shy before these powdered jacka-
napes. But it's no use thinking of that now ;
we ought to be thankful that, if he forgot
us for so many years, he remembered us at
last, and try to enjoy the good things he has
left us."
" Very true, my dear Mr. B., very true.
You always say the right thing, and in the
right place.' IVe been thinking that if we got
a governess, we could learn many things from
her, which would be much less disagreeable
than learning from servants, or having them
staring at our ignorance of many things, which
it's no fault of ours that we don't know, seeing
that we never saw them before."
162 MEMOIRS OF
" But our children are so young, Sarah.
They won't be fit for a governess for two or
three years to come."
" Granted; but if we now engage one, we
may profit by it, and, by an intimate associa-
tion with a well- educated lady-like woman,
become more fit for the station we are now to
fill. We can always say we wished to have a
first-rate governess for our daughters, even to
begin with, instead of the nursery ones, half
nurse-maid and half teacher, which some per-
sons employ."
" It's a very good notion, Sarah ; and I will
ask two or three of my friends to look out for
such a person."
Such was the family into which Selina was
about to enter, and the engagement being con-
cluded, a request was made that she should lose
as little time as possible in proceeding to Heath-
field Park.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 163
CHAPTER IX.
THE kindness of Miss Stratford's reception
at Heathfield Park, made her feel at home
there before she had been an hour beneath its
roof. Mrs. Buxton, a good-looking, over-dressed,
kind-mannered little woman, was seated in a
library of large dimensions, and classical deco-
ration, when Miss Stratford was announced.
She stood up, advanced to meet her with ex-
tended hands, which cordially clasped those of
Selina, welcomed her with unaffected pleasure,
and, before the servant could place a chair for
her, drew one herself close to that to which she
had risen from, and even pushed a tabouret in
front of it, for her feet. The servant stared at
his mistress's unceremonious proceedings ; and
Selina, though grateful, experienced some sur-
prise at such unprecedented condescension.
164 MEMOIRS OF'
" You must have some luncheon, indeed you
must," said the mistress of the mansion, on hos-
pitable thoughts intent.
This proposition being declined,
" O ! I see you are afraid of giving trouble,"
resumed Mrs. Buxton; "but pray don't, for we
have so many servants indeed, so many more
than we can find work for that you need not
mind employing them. We dine late, too ; and,
to tell you the truth, our dinners are so French-
ified, that I am afraid you won't like 'em. "Well,
then, a sandwich ; or at least, a bit of cake and
a glass of wine ?"
ISTo excuse would be taken, and a bit of cake
and a little wine and water were at length ac-
cepted.
" I am so glad you are come, and so pleased
that you are not old or plain," continued Mrs.
Buxton, looking with undissembled complacency
at Selina. " I do so like handsome people."
Selina blushed at the implied compliment.
"My children are very young, Miss Strat-
ford : too young to be yet able to derive all the
benefit I trust they may hereafter receive from
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 165
your instructions ; but, in the mean while, you
will begin with them, for I'm sure," and the
speaker sighed deeply, " it is never too soon to
commence giving them good manners and
habits."
Mr. Buxton soon after entered, and gave a
kind reception to the governess ; and there was
something so peculiarly good-natured in the
unceremonious cordiality of this unsophisticated
couple, that, although conscious of their want
of refinement and high breeding, Selina thought
that the absence of both was fully compensated
for by it. The children, too, were pretty, rosy-
cheeked, sweet-tempered little girls, who ran
with outstretched arms to embrace their mamma,
the moment she entered the nursery to present
them to Selina. A tall, fat, stern-looking
woman, who enacted the role of upper nurse,
arose with an ill grace to receive Mrs. Buxton,
and called out "Miss Buxton, Miss Mary,
you must not run wild in that manner. It's
very rude. Walk up slowly to your mamma,
drop her a nice curtsey, and behave like young
ladies."
166 MEMOIRS OF
But little was the caution or reproof heeded.
The little girls rushed to their doting mother's
embrace, clung to her, and almost smothered
her with kisses.
" Miss Buxton, Miss Mary ! you must not
behave so vulgarly," said the stern woman, ad-
vancing to remove them from Mrs. Buxton.
"No, Mrs. Price, pray let them kiss me as
much as they like," said the kind mother, her
eyes beaming with tenderness, as they glanced
from her first-born to little dimpled Mary.
" Well, Ma'am, I must not be blamed if they
are as wild as colts," observed Mrs. Price, her
colour, always a high one, becoming nearly
crimson. " I assure you, Ma'am, at her grace's
the Duchess of Sheerness's, I was never inter-
fered with in the nursery ; and her grace would
no more have permitted the ladies Adelaide,
Victoria, or Albertine to rush up and embrace
her, as Miss Buxton and Miss Mary have just
done you, than she would have allowed the
Duke's great dog Hector to jump en her, and
lick her grace's face."
Poor Mrs. Buxton looked so guilty and em-
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 167
barrassed, that Selina no longer wondered that
the termagant Mrs. Price had taken advantage
of her gentleness and good nature, to dictate
to her mistress instead of receiving her in-
structions.
" Perhaps," said the fond mother, with a be-
seeching look, " the Duchess of Sheerness was
not so partial to children as I am ?"
" Oh ! her grace had just the proper affection
for them, Ma'am. Her grace used to say to me
' Now mind, my good Price,' (her grace loved
to call me her f good Price,') ' don't let them be
boisterous or rude. Never let them run, I can't
bear to see young ladies run. Make them
always hold up their heads, walk slowly, and
turn out their toes ; and whenever I stoop to kiss
their foreheads, don't let them attempt to put
their arms around my neck, to derange my
cotter ette and hair.' And, indeed, before I was
with them three months, they'd have no more
dreamt of rushing up to their mamma, and
deranging 'her dress, than of pulling me about;
but, I must say, her grace, who was a great
lady in every respect the daughter of a duke,
1GS MEMOIRS OF
the sister of a duke, and the wife of a duke
knew perfectly how young ladies should be
brought up."
Selina wondered at the forbearance of Mrs.
Buxton, and took a strong dislike to the woman
who could thus abuse it. The children evinced
a similar feeling towards Mrs. Price, added to
a dread, which, when not in the presence of
their mother, kept them in a state of con-
straint, little calculated to add to their health
or comfort.
" This young lady," said Mrs. Buxton to her
little girls, "is so good as to promise me to
teach you many things, if you will be good and
obedient."
Mrs. Price looked daggers at Selina, and was
still more incensed, when the docile little girls,
Avon by her mild countenance, (an attraction of
Avhich children are peculiarly sensitive,) walked
over to her, held up their rosy mouths to be
kissed, the elder promising to be very good, and
the younger lisping " very dood," after her.
"Look, Ma'am, how your beautiful lace
coUerette is torn," said Mrs. Price ; " what a pity.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 169
But, I really believe, you never come into the
nursery without having your dresses injured."
" Oh, the collerette can be very easily repaired,"
observed Mrs. Buxton.
"I 'in very sorry to have torn your pretty
collar," said the elder of the children, " but I
was so glad to see you, dear, darling mamma,
that I forgot all about the lace."
" And me too, mamma," lisped little Mary.
"I wish you would come into the nursery
without any fine lace or thin dresses, dear
mamma," said the elder girl; "so that we
might kiss and hug you as much as we like,
without being in fear of spoiling your pretty
thinsrs."
o
" If you would learn to behave like young
ladies, there need be no occasion for your
mamma to leave off her fine lace or nice
dresses," observed Mrs. Price, spitefully.
" You must not expect too much of them,
Mrs. Price. I like my darlings to be fond of
me, and to show it too ; and I would prefer
having all the lace I possess torn, than miss
their kisses."
VOL. II. I
170 MEMOIRS OF'
" Her Grace the Duchess of Sheerness was of
a very different way of thinking. ' My good
Price,' would her Grace say to me, 'do pre-
vent the children from being troublesome; I
can't bear being pulled about ;' and I am sure
if the ladies Adelaide, Victoria, or Alber-
tine, had torn one of her Grace's collerettes, they
would not have been admitted to her Grace's
presence for weeks; ay, or for even months
after."
" Come, Miss Stratford," said Mrs. Buxton,
(i let me show you your room. We shan't have
much time to spare for dressing for dinner, and
we are to have some company to-day."
Again the children were fondly folded to the
breast of their mother; not, however, without
many cautions from Mrs. Price to take care
and not injure the lace collerettes ; and as the
mistress of the mansion and Selina walked
along the corridor, they could hear the harsh
voice of Mrs. Price repeating her accustomed
praises of her Grace the Duchess of Sheerness,
who she invariably held up as the model for
mothers, but of whom she impressed the minds
A FEiMME DE CHAMBRE. 171
of her hearers with so very unfavourable an
opinion, that they concluded that great lady to
be destitute of all maternal tenderness. Mrs.
Buxton and Selina did not, however, hear the
concluding part of Mrs. Price's harangue, nor
did she mean them so to do. It was directed
to Betsey, the nurserymaid, and stated that,
after all, comparisons are odious, for some
people never could be like other people, and
it was useless to expect it. Indeed, how could
they, seeing that some folk were the daughters,
sisters, and wives of dukes, and such like, and
had queens, yes, real queens, to be godmothers,
and a prince to be godfather to their children,
while other folk had not even so much as a
baronet (pronounced barrowJcnight) for a father,
brother, or husband, and not even a lady of
.title, or a lord, to be godmothers or godfathers.
Mrs. Price, like the other pampered servants
in Mr. Buxton's establishment, had quickly dis-
covered that their master and mistress were not
what they called "real quality." Hence they
entertained for them a sentiment of contempt,
which the good treatment and liberal wages
i 2
17:2 MEMOIRS OF
they received could not vanquish. The high-
sounding titles of some of the aristocracy
whom they had formerly served, gave them,
as they fancied, a superiority over the servants
of private individuals, however affluent these
last might be; and the good nature of their
present employers won no forbearance, for their
ignorance of the uses of the luxuries that sur-
rounded them, from these vulgar mercenaries.
When they had entered the establishment
of the predecessor of Mr. Buxton, custom had
rendered that gentleman used to the elegancies
and luxuries which his wealth commanded,
and his ostentation, no less than his epicurean
taste, desired. Hence, although his servants
had heard that he had not sprung from an
ancient line, and that his demeanour, counte-
nance, and manners, might have vouched the
fact, the self-confidence, and assumed impor-
tance of the purse-proud parvenu, imposed a
restraint, if not an awe, on his household, which
those who composed it were far from feeling
towards his successors.
Gratified as Selina was by the kindness of
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 173
Mrs. Buxton, and captivated by a simplicity and
gentleness of manner, which, if always pleasing
even in the poor, becomes doubly attractive in
the rich ; and above all, in those with whom one
is placed in a subordinate relation; she could,
nevertheless, have desired, for her good sense
suggested its propriety, that that lady would
assume a more dignified position towards her-
self, as well as towards her domestics. The
chamber into which her kind hostess led
her, possessed not only every comfort, but
was redolent of every elegance, of life. It
communicated with a saloon well stored with
books, which Mrs. Buxton informed her were
appropriated solely to her use; and a "neat-
handed-Phyllis," who stood blushing and curt-
seying in the bed-room, was presented as the
hand-maiden who was henceforth to receive
orders solely from Miss Stratford. " And now,
my dear young lady, I must leave you to dress
for dinner. We are to have all the grandees in
our neighbourhood, many of whom I have seen
only once, and others whom I have never seen.
It quite flutters me having to do the honours
174 MEMOIRS OF
to strangers ; and I am as yet so little at home
in my own house, that many, if not all, my
guests, know it and its ways better than I do.
It's a great comfort, however, having you to
keep me in countenance, for you are so kind
and gentle, that I feel as if I knew you many
years."
Selina, pitying her evident inexperience, was
strongly tempted to propose remaining in her
own room, in preference to joining the grandees,
as Mrs. Buxton styled the expected visitants.
Might they not deem her presence amongst them
an intrusion, and resent it on their hostess?
Were Mrs. Buxton a lady of high rank or
established position in society, the case would
be different. Such a personage might be privi-
leged to introduce a governess into society, how-
ever elevated, beneath her own roof; but being
only tolerated herself for her fortune, and with
comparative strangers, Selina felt a strong re-
luctance that her kind hostess should, through
inexperience and ignorance of the world, commit
a solecism on its usages that might entail dis-
agreeable consequences on her. Urged by this
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 175
feeling, yet unwilling to express her sentiments
before the servant, she followed Mrs. Buxton
into the corridor, and ventured to suggest that,
in families in general, governesses did not dine
at table when company were present.
" And why not ?" asked Mrs. Buxton, with
a look of utter surprise. " Surely," continued
she, " the education which a young lady must
have received to fit her for being governess
ought to entitle her to a place in any society.
I have always had faith in the old saying, ' man-
ners makes the man;' it also makes the
lady ; and I only wish," and here the speaker
sighed, " that all those whose fortunes place
them in grand company were as well educated
and well mannered as you are, my dear Miss
Stratford. So let me hear no more objections
to your taking your place at our table ;" and off
tripped the good-natured little woman, with a
fine glow on her pretty face, which added greatly
to its beauty, well satisfied with herself for
having so far conquered her natural timidity
and awe of the grandees, as to have carried
her point of Selina's dining with them, what-
176 MEMOIRS OF
ever they might choose to think of the mea-
sure.
When, in an hour after, Selina entered the
library, attired in a style of simple elegance
that might have defied the criticism of the most
fastidious, her appearance was so satisfactory,
and her manner so easy and unembarrassed, yet
so correct, that Mrs. Buxton felt proud of such
an inmate, and experienced new confidence for
the ordeal of her first company dinner, hitherto
so dreaded.
" Yes," thought that kind-hearted but rustic
woman, " I am now sure of one pleasant coun-
tenance at my own table; she will give me
courage to meet the cold looks, or scrutinizing
glances, of the fine ladies and gentlemen, who,
knowing that I am not used to fine things or
fine folks, will be on the alert to observe proofs,
and I dare say I shall be sure to furnish but too
many, of my ignorance."
Mr. Buxton was no less pleased than his
wife at the air and manner of Miss Stratford ;
he again welcomed her to Heathfield Park with
a friendship and cordiality, the demonstrations
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 177
of which might have shocked the refined guests,
whose arrival he Avas every moment expecting,
had they been present; but luckily they had
not yet made their appearance. Mrs. Buxton
every two or three minutes cast an anxious look
at the splendid Parisian pendule on the mantel-
shelf.
" It's just half-past seven o'clock," said she ;
" and that was the time mentioned on the cards
of invitation."
" Lords and ladies are not so punctual as
other people, my dear," observed her husband ;
" and the more's the pity ; for what's the use
of keeping a fine French cook, if all his pains
are to be lost by the dinner being kept waiting
until it is completely spoilt."
" Very true, my dear, very true ; but look,
see, it is now ten minutes after the appointed
time, and no one come. How can you account
for it, my dear?"
" As I account for most things with which
grandees have anything to do. They were pro-
bably careless about going to dress in time
forgot to order thejr carriages at the proper
i 3
178 MEMOIRS OF
hour in short, my dear, thought us of so little
importance, that, whether they kept us waiting
a half-hour or more, was not of the least import-
ance, as the great honour they confer on us, by
coming, would atone for all delay."
" Then perhaps they mayn't come at all,"
said Mrs. Buxton, looking agitated.
" No, you needn't be afraid of that, Mrs. B. ;
they'll come, sure enough, though probably not
until the dinner is totally spoilt; and then
they'll go away, declaring that we have the
worst cook, and give the worst dinners, of any-
one in the county."
" Hush ! was not that the sound of carriage-
wheels ?" exclaimed Mrs. Buxton.
" No ; it is only the wind, which is getting
up," replied her husband.
Another anxious glance at the pendule showed
Mrs. Buxton that a quarter of an hour had
now elapsed since the half-hour after seven had
struck.
" I declare I feel quite nervous, my dear," ob-
served Mrs. Buxton. " Should they not come,
what will the whole county say ? nay, what will
the servants say ?"
A PEMME DE CHAMBRE. 179
" Don't trouble yourself about any such
nonsense, my dear Sarah; they'll come, be
assured ; and pray follow my advice, and never
mind what the servants say."
But, though the host offered this advice with
an assumed sang-froid, it was clear, from his
flurried countenance, that he was by no means
satisfied at the non-arrival of his expected
guests.
" Hark ! surely I hear the sound of carriage-
wheels ! Yes, this time my ears have not de-
ceived me ;" and, as the sounds approached
nearer, Mrs. Buxton arose from her chair,
looked in the mirror over the chimney-piece,
arranged the flowers of her cap and her splendid
pearl necklace, and made a movement towards
the bell, with the evident intention of ringing it.
" Stop, my dear Mrs. B. ; what are you going
to do ?"
" To ring the bell, to desire the footman who
answers it, to tell the porter to be ready with
the hall door open."
" No, my dear, it must not be done ; the por-
ter knows his duty, and would very ill receive
180 MEMOIRS OF '
any instructions on the subject ; besides, to open
the door a second before the carriage stops at
it, would be to prove to these fine grandees that
they were anxiously expected. So mind, my
dear, that you do not betray any thing like
this."
Before the first carriage had been emptied of
its occupants, a second, and a third rolled up,
the sounds of each, as it followed rapidly upon
the other, producing a visible perturbation in
Mrs. Buxton, evinced by flushing of the face,
and a nervous inquietude that denoted her con-
sciousness of having a painful ordeal to pass,
and her fear of not getting through it with
credit. Again she arose from her seat, and
advanced a few paces towards the door.
" Pray sit down, my dear Sarah,- and do not
rise from your chair until your lady guests draw
near you."
The obedient wife did as she was told, and
the groom of the chambers having thrown open
the door of the library, announced, " Lord and
Lady Forestville.'" Mr. and Mrs. Buxton ad-
vanced to meet them, the latter's curtsey being
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 181
a little too low, as she welcomed the lady,
while her husband's bow lacked the ease, mingled
with a certain air of homage, with which a well-
bred man of the world receives persons of dis-
tinction who enter his house for the first time.
"Won't your ladyship be pleased to be
seated," said Mrs. Buxton. "Pray take this
chair, for it is aired, 1 ' offering the one she had
just risen from.
A slight movement of the muscles around
the very thin lips of Lady Forestville, might
have indicated, to a quick observer, that this
solecism in high breeding, on the part of our
hostess, had not passed unnoticed, and declining
the one offered to her, she seated herself in
another chair. Ere this was well accomplished,
the door was again thrown open, and Lord and
Lady Renfrewshire, and the Ladies Rosina and
Alicia Murray were announced. Mrs. Buxton,
her face now the colour of a damask rose, left
her chair, and again the too respectful lowness
of her curtsey struck the new comers. When
Lady Renfrewshire introduced her two tall and
stately daughters, remarkable for a profusion of
red hair, which fell in long ringlets over their
182 MEMOIRS OF '
shoulders and busts, their slight curtseys, and
careless salutes, formed a striking contrast to
the profound respect which marked the manner
of their timid hostess.
" Sir Frederick and Lady Emily March-
mount," said the groom of the chambers, and
again the ceremonial of reception was gone
through.
" General, Mrs. and Miss Grimthorpe " were
next announced, followed by Mr. Morton
Cavendish, and then the usual signal was given
by the master of the house to have dinner
served.
" I was very sorry that you were not able to
come to us," said Lady Renfrewshire, " when
Mr. .Buxton did us the honour of dining at
Murray Castle."
"Your ladyship is very kind, but since my
arrival here I have not been quite well," replied
Mrs. Buxton, the truth of which assertion her
varying colour, agitated manner, and tremulous
voice bore evidence to.
" I too was much disappointed at not seeing
you at Forestville Abbey," observed the noble
mistress of that ancient seat.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 183
" Indeed, my lady, I was truly sorry not to
be able to go to your ladyship ; but my health
did not permit it.""
" I must also express my regret at being as
unfortunate as the rest of my fair neighbours,
in not seeing you," said Lady Emily March-
mount."
" And I, too, must add my regret," observed
Mrs. Grimthorpe.
Again the nervous hostess repeated her sense
of the kindness of each of her guests, and nearly
in the same words to all, with so frequent a
repetition of the phrase ladyships, as to draw a
smile from the party. And now the guests,
who were all -well acquainted, too well, indeed,
to be agreeable company to each other, began
to chat together, the weather, as is usual in
English society, forming the first topic, and that
was followed by local news. The gentlemen,
with grave looks, and sundry shakings of the
Lead, reverting to the destruction of game by
the poachers, against whom active and severe
measures must be put into effect for denouncing
the evil spirit abroad among the lower classes,
184 MEMOIRS OF '
against which some means must be devised, to
check the growing tendency to insubordination,
against their lords and masters. The ladies
lamented the dulness of the country ; the ennui
of being compelled to attend a county ball, to
take place the ensuing week; canvassed the
health, doings, and whereabouts of their absent
acquaintance ; never taking into consideration
that their hostess was a stranger to, and knew
nothing of the persons, or the subjects, of which
they spoke. Mrs. Buxton sat as formally, up-
right in her chair, as a boarding school Miss in
the olden time, when iron collars and monitors
kept the head up and the shoulders down, malgre
their owners. She tried to look interested in the
topics canvassed by those around her, but had
not courage to lift her voice to join in the con-
versation. Nor was it expected that she should.
Her presence in her own house was as totally
overlooked, as if there were no such person ; the
fine ladies, her visitors, seeming to forget that
they were not the guests of the rich old parvenu,
her predecessor in that mansion, where, there
being no lady to $ener them by doing the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 185
honours, they used to enjoy themselves more
than in any other house in their neighbourhood.
Not even the semblance of an apology, for the
lateness of their arrival, was made by any of
the company, except General and Mrs. Grim-
thorpe, who explained the cause of their delay,
by stating the fact, that when half way, one of
the carriage horses had lost a shoe.
" An old soldier, Mr. Buxton knows that he
must give an example of punctuality," said the
General, while Mrs. Grimthorpe repeated for the
third time, her regret at being so late. Many
were the glances cast at Selina by the strangers
around her. The women eyeing her with a
cold stare of impertinence, and the men with
a curiosity scarcely less disagreeable to her
feelings.
" Devilish pretty girl that," whispered Lord
Forestville to Mr. Morton Cavendish, directing
his attention to her.
" Do you think so ? " drawled out that per-
son in reply, after having examined Selina
through his glass for a few minutes.
" By Jove, you must indeed be fastidious if
186 MEMOIRS OF
you don't agree with me in opinion," observed
the peer, " for I know not when I have seen
so pretty a creature."
" I am fastidious, I admit; and to confess the
truth, can seldom discover beauty in parvenves"
" Well, I rejoice that I can see it wherever
it exists ; and that even, in a pretty milk maid
as well as a duchess, I have a pleasure in
beholding it."
" Chacun a son gout" replied Mr. Mor-
ton Cavendish, elevating his eyebrows, and
glancing superciliously around the room.
A FEMME DE CUAMBRE. 187
CHAPTER X.
" Le diner est serci" said the maitre d'hote!,
opening the folding doors. It had been the
habit of this important personage, important
at least in his own eyes, to make this daily
announcement in his own language. Indeed,
he spoke English so ill, that he would have
considered his dignity compromised had he
littered it in what he, in the steward's room,
called " cette langue barbare" A certain savoury
odour, the sounds of moving feet at seven
o'clock, and perhaps, also, certain feelings
in the stomach peculiar to that region at
the ordinary dinner hour, had taught Mr.
and Mrs. Buxton to comprehend the pom-
183 MEMOIRS OF
pous Frenchman's sonorous phrase, without
knowing a word of French. The host looking
a little embarrassed, walked up and offered his
arm to Lady Forestville.
"Pardon me," said that Lady, sotto voce,
" but the Scotch blood of Lady Renfrewshire
would never forgive me if I presumed to take
precedence of her. You must, therefore, lead
her out to dinner, for she is the oldest
countess."
" That's just the reason I didn't want to
have her next me," whispered Mr. Buxton,
smiling as he made the confession, " for I don't
admire old ladies, even though they may be
countesses," and he continued to grasp the fair
little hand he had seized, impelling, with a
gentle violence, its owner to accompany him.
Lord Forestville approached to give his arm to
Lady Renfrewshire, whose heightened colour
announced that she was not disposed to over-
look the slight offered to her by her host, and
Lord Renfrewshire, with a ponderous gravity,
offered his to Mrs. Buxton.
"0, my Lord, pray excuse me," said the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 189
timid woman, " I can't think of accepting your
arm, until the other ladies have got gentlemen
to hand them out." His stolid Lordship stared
at her in utter astonishment, and then inquired
whether she preferred being escorted by some
more fortunate man. Sir Frederick March-
mount, something loath, offered to lead out the
Lady Rosina Murray, and General Grimthorpe
gave his arm to her sister, the Lady Alicia,
while Mr. Morton Cavendish gave his arm to
Lady Emily Marchmount.
"Well, I declare," said Mrs. Grimthorpe,
" as there is no gentleman to hand me out, I'll
take the arm of my daughter."
" Pray, my Lord, don't mind me," be so
kind as to take care of Mrs. Grimthorpe,"
exclaimed the nervous and flurried hostess.
"Not for the world, Ma'am, not on any
account could I suffer such a thing," replied
Mrs. Grimthorpe, walking on with her
daughter.
" Dear me, there is no one to take out Miss
Stratford," said the agitated Mrs. Buxton,
" what is to be done ?"
190 MEMOIRS OF
"If the young lady will accept my other
arm, Madam, it is very much at her service,"
replied his stately lordship, which Selina having
done, they proceeded to the salle a manger,
around the table of which they found all the
guests who had preceded them, standing, wait-
ing for the presence of the hostess before they
could take their seats, and evidently not a little
surprised and disconcerted at the unusual
length of time she had taken to come. Mrs.
Buxton was led to her chair at the top
of the table, by Lord Renfrewshire, and
Lord Forestville took his place at her other
side.
"What am I to do with this young lady?"
demanded Lord Renfrewshire, a question that
drew on the abashed Selina the eyes of all
present.
" Let the young lady come down near me,"
said Mrs. Grimthorpe, " and I will take care
of her," on which the solemn earl walked with
Selina to the place designed, and having seen
her seated, returned to his chair, next the
hostess.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 191
" Sovpe a la Reine, Madam, or Printaniere"
said a servant, offering a plate to Mrs. Buxton.
" Offer it to his lordship first," replied she.
The servant looked surprised, but did as he
was told.
" Xot on any account before you, Madam,"
said the peer.
" I must entreat your lordship to take it,
but perhaps your lordship does not like rain
soup?"
Lord Renfrewshire stared at the speaker
with undissembled astonishment, while the
guests who were near enough to hear her voice,
found it difficult to control their risibility.
The pertinacity with which Mrs. Buxton
insisted on Lord Renfrewshire being helped to
soup before herself, had occasioned a delay of
a couple of minutes, during which the service
of the table, in general so well conducted in
that house, was interrupted. His lordship
waved back the offered plate with his right
hand, and Mrs. Buxton performed the same
ceremony with her left, during which time,
one of the servants passing behind their chairs
192 MEMOIRS OF
unfortunately touched the elbow of him who
was offering the plate of soup from the lady to
the lord, and vice versa, as he was ordered, and
sent its contents over the person of the proud
earl, whose countenance became most ludicrous
under the infliction. His eyebrows were ele-
vated an inch at least beyond their usual
position, his face was crimson, and the few
white hairs which graced his head, seemed to
stand erect.
" Oh, my lord, I am so shocked that your
lordship should suffer so much from your
politeness!" exclaimed Mrs. Buxton, in a
contrite tone.
" Or from your ignorance," the angry peer
was longing to say. He stood up, bowed stiffly
to his hostess, and said he must withdraw to
take off his coat.
"My ribbon too, is desecrated," added he, with
an air of solemnity. " How dreadful ! " and he
looked at the badge of his order, over which the
white soup was streaming, with perfect horror
depicted in his countenance.
" Oh, my lord, if its only the ribbon that is
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 193
injured," cried the good-natured but obtuse
hostess, "I can supply its place, for I have
several pieces of broad ribbon of various colours
by me, for sashes for my little girls."
" Good heavens, Madam ! " replied the peer,
" talk of substituting the sash of a child for the
ribbon of the order of the Bath, bestowed on
me by the sacred hand of Majesty itself!" and
the offended peer stalked with a lofty air out
of the room, followed by Mr. Buxton, who
insisted on his donning for the nonce, one of
his coats, forgetful in his desire to be polite to
the earl, that he was guilty of impolitesse to the
noble ladies occupying the chairs next to him,
in quitting them so unceremoniously.
" Excuse me, Sir," replied Lord Renfrewshire,
"I would not on any account wear any coat
but my own," and he looked as important as if
he had uttered a sentence worthy of being
handed down to posterity.
"Then let me have your coat wiped and
dried, my lord. One of the footmen will
place it before the fire, and it will be dried in a
jiffey."
VOL. ir. K
194 MEMOIRS OF '
" Pardon me, Sir," said the peer, no one but
my valet de chambre ever presumes to touch my
coat."
" But as he is not here," observed the host,
"what is to be done?"
" I will wipe my coat myself; an operation,
Mr. Buxton, which I suppose I need not in-
form you, I shall be the first Earl of Renfrew-
shire, out of a long line of ancestors bearing
that title, who ever condescended to perform
before."
Napkins in abundance were now brought,
and the earl, with a pompous gravity, took off
his coat, divested himself of his ribbon, which
he never omitted an occasion of wearing, so
fond was he of exhibiting it, and with a rueful
face and many a sigh, commenced wiping it.
" Here are the ribbons for your lordship to
take your choice,' 7 said a footman presenting a
silver waiter, on which were spread out divers
sashes of every hue, appertaining to the Misses
Buxton. The man had heard the offer made
by his mistress to the peer, and in his officious-
ness to obey her wishes, had not waited to hear
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 195
the stern and somewhat contemptuous refusal
made to it.
" Take them away, take them away," said
the earl, growing even more red in the face
than before, and waving his hand with an air
of offended dignity.
" If your lordship's linen is at all wet, I will
instantly get you a shirt of mine," said the
obtuse Mr. Buxton, forgetting, or unconscious
of, the offended dignity with which the offer of
a coat had been declined.
"A chemise of your's, Sir!" repeated Lord
Renfrewshire, "good God !" and he absolutely
shuddered at the bare notion.
Carefully did he wipe off the soup from his
ribbon ; but alas ! the stain left behind was
indelible, and with a pious care did he pass his
perfumed handkerchief over the star of his
order, almost groaning while he did so. Having
removed the soup from his coat with his own
hand, touching the napkins employed for the
purpose as if his contact with them were dis-
gusting and degrading to him, he held his coat
before the fire, maintaining as erect a posture,
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196 MEMOIRS OF
and as stern a silence as he could during the
operation, broken only by half suppressed
groans of horror.
"Now, Sir," said he, " I believe I may put on my
coat, and accompany you to the salle a manger"
Mr. Buxton attempted to assist him to re-
sume it, but he was waved off, with nearly as
much dignity, as the offered services of the ser-
vant were declined, and having with some diffi-
culty succeeded in donning it himself, the peer
motioned to his host to follow, and walked back
to the dining-room. The frequency of the dis-
play of his order, had often drawn on Lord
Renfrewshire the ridicule of his acquaintances,
and more especially of those amongst them who
possessed not this distinction. His neighbours
asserted that he could not partake a family din-
ner with them, or at his own house, without
sporting this badge of the favour of his Sovereign,
or of the complaisance of the Prime Minister.
Nay, there were some of them who declared, his
lordship wore it when he slept ; but this was
rather to be doubted, for Lady Renfrewshire
possessed too much "decent dignity" to reveal the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 197
secrets of the conjugal chamber, and his lordship
would have deemed it an outrage to have suffered
any one else to even guess them.
" Now that we are all right again," said the
host, taking his seat without ever thinking of
apologizing to the ^noble ladies at each side of
him, for his absence, " I must say that when I
saw his lordship's red ribbon nearly covered
with the white soup, I was directly reminded
of a lobster with a * ma yor-nays sauce (Mr.
Buxton's mode of pronouncing mayonnaise), as
my French cook often serves it."
A suppressed laugh broke from several of the
guests at this extraordinary liberty, taken with
one of the proudest men in England, and on so
short an acquaintance, while all looked to see
how the pompous peer w r ould take it. The
earl drew himself up with a haughty air, and
darting a glance of contempt at his host, replied,
" I know not which to admire most, Sir, your
happiness in finding resemblances, or your tact
and good taste in revealing them."
Lady Renfrewshire looked daggers at Mr.
Buxton, while expressing her hope that Lord
198 MEMOIRS OF
Renfrewshire's health would not suffer from the
accident."
" I would not allow any thing to be removed,
my lord/ 1 said Mrs. Buxton meekly, perceiving
that the earl was offended, although she did not
guess precisely at what, and anxious to atone
for his annoyance.
" You are too good, Madam,"" observed he,
bowing stiffly.
" Won't your lordship have some soup ?"
" I could not, Madam, on any account allow
the ladies present to be put to the inconvenience
of waiting for the next course, while I had
( soup ;" and he glanced at his host, who was swal-
lowing his with all the gusto of a gourmand.
" You will at least take some fish, my lord ?
The turbot is good, and the other fish, I forget
the name of it, is excellent."
" Excuse me, Madam, I have a great dislike
to cold fish, except en mayonnaise?
" I'm really quite distressed that your lord-
ship has had neither soup nor fish."
" I beg, Madam, that you will not give it a
.moment's thought."
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 199
Lord Forestville, noticing the haughty air and
manner with which his brother peer received
the well-meant, though not well-bred, atten-
tions of Mrs. Buxton, attempted to lessen her
visible embarrassment by entering into conver-
sation with her. He talked of the fine scenery
in the neighbourhood, enumerated the pictu-
resque drives, spoke of gardening and flowers,
praised her fine conservatory, and admirable
hot-houses, but could get nothing more than a
monosyllabic assent to his remarks. Her eyes
wandered around the table "on hospitable
thoughts intent," and with a zeal that did credit
to her anxiety that her guests should fare well ;
although it exposed her to their animadversions
on her ignorance of les usages du monde, she raised
her naturally low voice to its loudest pitch to
offer them the dainties spread before them.
" Do, my Lady, just taste the lamb cutlets
with green peas, or perhaps your ladyship
would prefer free candour (fricandeau) with
sorrel. Lady Forestville, won't you have some
vole nond (vol-au-vent). Lady Marchmount,"
(leaving out the Emily, a vulgarism that greatly
200 MEMOIRS OF'
disgusted that fine lady, who never wished
those she associated with to forget she was an
earl's daughter, although, in consideration of
his twenty thousand a-year, she had conde-
scended to marry a baronet). " Lady Rosina,
I beg you will eat some venison; and you,
Lady Alicia, won't you try it? Mrs. Grim-
thorpe, let me send you some pully a la rain,
poulet a la Heine}. Do, pray, ask Miss Grim-
thorpe and Miss Stratford if they would like
some ?"
The generally pale face of the kind-hearted
Mrs. Buxton became flushed almost to crimson,
from the arduous duties in which she was en-
gaged, and her elaborate discharge of them, so
unlike the quiet nonchalance of ladies of fashion,
when presiding at their tables, only served to
draw on her the ridicule of her guests, and the
contempt of her servants, whose savoir faire
would have enabled them to fulfil their service .
so much better, had they been left to follow
their usual routine, instead of being ordered
about by one so inexperienced as their mistress.
" Good heavens ! see how the poor hostess
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 201
flushes and pants," said the supercilious Mr.
Morton Cavendish to his next neighbour. " The
hostess of a country inn, presiding at a wedding
or christening fete, never displayed more inde-
fatigable zeal."
" Que voulez-tous ? " was the reply ; " what
can be expected from parvenues, and above all,
from such vulgar ones as the Buxtons?"
" Did you hear her offer Renfrewshire the
rain soup ? Was not that capital ? But I for-
give her all her sins against les bienseances, in con-
sideration of her having caused the destruction,
or desecration, as he termed it, of his ribbon of
the Bath. I trust we shall be spared seeing its
remplacement) for at least some time."
" You really are somewhat ill-natured," ob-
served Lady Emily Marchmount.
" You can have no reason to dread ill-nature ;
for in you all is irreproachable, save and except a
certain induration of the heart, which all, who
can appreciate beauty and talent, must deplore."
" You are becoming quite sentimental, I de-
clare, but have ill-chosen your time; for the
long delay occasioned by Lord Renfrew-
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202 MEMOIRS OF '
shire's mischance, has greatly increased my
appetite ; and the entrees of Monsieur Mitonne,
though grown rather tepid, are not to be de-
spised in administering to its cravings. Philo-
sophers assert that only one of our senses can
be gratified at the same moment ; so that while
Mitonne, and he really is an excellent artiste,
satisfies my hunger, even the delicate flattery
of so able a professor of that art as you, affords
not its usual delight to my ear."
" I wish women would eat more at luncheon,"
observed Mr. Morton Cavendish, " provided
always that I am not present at the operation ;
for I have as great a horror of seeing them feed
as Byron had. But a copious luncheon would
leave them at liberty to converse during dinner;
and conversation is a great assistant to diges-
tion."
" Then you were looking at conversation
more from the physical advantage, than the
moral agrement to be derived from it," remarked
Lady Emily Marchmount, sarcastically.
" Accurate observer, acute reasoner, profound
philosopher!" said the gentleman, with an in-
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. SOS
sidious smile. "One half forgets the rare beauty
of the shining casket, when the bright treasures
of mind it holds are suffered to flash on us."
" You grow quite poetical, Mr. Morton Ca-
vendish; but I think you have partly stolen
your graceful simile of 'shining casket,' from
Moore."
" Don't imagine anything so dreadful, dear
Lady Emily. In pity don't. Why, if I don't
mistake, that poet flourished, as they call it,
some forty years ago ; and I never read any-
thing obsolete. How you, so young" and he
laid a peculiar emphasis on the two monosylla-
bles, "could ever have heard of him, I can't
guess, for he must have been long out of fashion
before your noble parents had left their respec-
tive nurseries."
The cheeks of Lady Emily grew of a brighter
red than the slight soup$on of rouge, so artisti-
cally laid on, could account for. She felt the
malice of the speech ; for, conscious that she
wished to pass for being at least ten years
younger than she really was, a deception sup-
ported by sending a false statement to every
204 MEMOIRS OF '
new edition of a certain perfidious book, en-
titled, " The Peerage," she had some doubts
that the real state of the case was more than
surmised, and eschewed, as much as possible,
every reference to the subject.
While this conversation was passing between
Lady Emily and Mr. Morton Cavendish, the
ladies Rosina and Alicia Murray, extremely
displeased at having no beaux invited to meet
them, vented their anger by sundry contemp-
tuous glances at Selina, who sate at the opposite
side of the table. " I should like to know who
that person, sitting next Mrs. Grimthorpe, is?"
said Lady Rosina, addressing herself to the
General.
"I don't wonder at your curiosity; for the
young lady is extremely handsome," was the
reply.
" I don't agree with you, for I think her a
very common-place sort of girl ; and I dare say
she is some damsel from one of the manufac-
turing towns, the daughter, probably, of a
cotton-printer or cutler, and most likely a rela-
tion of our distinguee hostess. 1 '
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 205
" Well, although Mrs. Buxton may be, and
is, I dare say, a very worthy woman, I should
never dream of calling her distinguee" replied
the good old General, who, with many excellent
and estimable qualities, possessed little powers
of discrimination, and was so matter-of-fact,
that he took au pied de la lettre all that was said
to him.
" How very odd," said Lady Rosina. " But
then you are so very fastidious, General, and
no wonder, accustomed as you are to perfection
in your own family:" and, unseen by the
General, she smiled maliciously..
" You are very good to think so," Lady
Rosina, I am sure," observed the pleased old
man. " It is true, Mrs. Grimthorpe and my
daughter are all that I could desire ; still I am
not so foolish as to suppose that they are, as
you assert, perfection."
" Don't you think it was very original of our
host and hostess to invite so many more women
than men to dinner? never calculating how
O
those ladies, who had no gentlemen to hand them
out to dinner, were to get to the satte a manger"
206 MEMOIRS OF
"It was an oversight, I must admit; But
my good wife remedied it famously. There is
no one like her for getting out of a difficulty."
" I suppose our host and hostess calculated
on this peculiar characteristic of Mrs. Grim-
thorpe," said Lady Rosina, sneeringly, " when
they invited six gentlemen and nine ladies, and
out of the six only one unmarried man, Mr.
Morton Cavendish, who is so insupportable,
that he is likely to be a bachelor all his life."
" Do let me recommend you a little frican-
deau" said Mrs. Grimthorpe to Miss Stratford.
<s You really eat nothing ; and as I have taken
charge of you I must not let you starve."
During the whole dinner the good-natured
woman attended most kindly to the young per-
son she had taken under her charge, whose mild
countenance and gentleness had interested her.
" How long have you been in this part of the
world?" inquired Mrs. Grimthorpe, whose be-
setting sin was curiosity.
" I arrived only to-day, madam."
" Indeed ! You are come, I hope, to make
some stay ? "
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 207
"I trust so!"
" You are a near relation of Mr. or Mrs.
Buxton, I suppose ? "
" No, Madam, I have not that honour."
" The daughter of an old friend, I conclude."
" Xo, Madam ; my parents were not known
to Mr. or Mrs. Buxton."
" How very odd, that being neither related,
nor your family known to the Buxtons, that
you should find yourself domiciled with them.
How is this ?"
" I am come as governess."
"As governess !" reiterated Mrs. Grimthorpe;
not sotto voce, but in a tone so loud as to be
heard by many of the persons around her,
including the Ladies Rosina and Alicia Mur-
ray.
" Well, I hope you will be comfortable,"
resumed Mrs. Grimthorpe good naturedly ; and
to her credit be it said, that her attentions to
Selina rather increased than relaxed from the
discovery of her position in Mrs. Buxton's
family.
"Only fancy these vulgar persons having
208 MEMOIRS OF
their governess at table with us" said Lady
Rosina. "It is quite enough that we should
tolerate them, without associating with their
dependents."
" The young lady appears to be a very nice
lady-like person, and very pretty into the bar-
gain," replied General Grimthorpe. " I have
seen persons with less beauty, and distinction
of manner and air, make great marriages ; and
I shouldn't wonder if in this case a similar
good fortune might occur. We old soldiers,
though often accused of being martinets, are
never surprised at promotion from the ranks
when merit justifies it, and promotion to a
higher station, won by beauty and goodness,
we view in the same light."
<: You are very indulgent, General ; neverthe-
less I am of opinion that the person opposite
I forget her name has very little chance of the
good fortune you half prophesy for her. Men,
that is to say young men, are not such fools
now-a-days; and pretty governesses, like pretty
ladies' maids, are seldom, if ever, raised from
the ranks, as you call it,"
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 209
A general move, indicating that the ladies
were leaving the room, prevented further com-
ments from the spiteful Lady Rosina ; but no
sooner had she entered the drawing room than
she retired to an ottoman with her sister the
Lady Alicia, where their congenial minds gave
free vent to their indignation at Mrs. Buxtoii's
having intruded into their society a person
whose subordinate position rendered her so
unfit for such an honour. Miss Grimthorpe
took a seat by Selina, and soon engrossed her
in a lively and agreeable conversation, in which,
if much of the old soldier frankness of the
father, with the good-natured curiosity of the
mother, peeped forth, the amalgamation con-
tained so much good sense and unaffected kind-
ness, as to interest Selina greatly in favour of
her new acquaintance.
210 MEMOIRS OF
CHAPTER XL
POOR Mrs. Buxton was as little at her ease,
in her splendid drawing-room, as at the head of
her dinner-table. Her anxiety to discharge the
duties of an attentive hostess, combined with
her ignorance of, in what these duties consisted,
rendered her fidgetty and fussy, and prevented
her lady guests from enjoying that laisser oiler
and freedom from ceremonious constraint, which
formed the peculiar attraction of that house in
the bachelor days of the former owner. .
" "What fine Sevres china you possess," said
Lady Forestville, glancing at some vases of
that celebrated manufactory, of great value.
" Are they very good ?" inquired Mrs. Bux-
ton. "I am no judge of china, except Staf-
fordale, which I think very beautiful."
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 211
The ladies looked at each other in astonish-
ment at this naive confession ; and Lady Ren-
frewshire, provoked into malice by the affront
she conceived herself to have received, from
Mr. Buxton's leading out Lady Forestville to
dinner, determined to avenge on the wife the
offence given by the husband, thus addressed
her, "Of course you admire buhl?"
" Bulls," repeated Mrs. Buxton. " No, I
can't say I do. I am rather afraid of them,
since one of the poor women in the neighbour-
hood was tossed by one a short time ago ; but I
like cows."
This blunder produced a laugh from all,
except Mrs. Grimthorpe, her daughter, and
Selina, who, displeased at the ridicule heaped on
their hostess, marked their disapproval by their
gravity. " Ah ! I see, ladies, you are amused
by my cowardice," said Mrs. Buxton, wholly
unconscious of the real cause of the risibility in
which her guests indulged ; " but you must
remember I never lived in the country until I
came here."
" Perhaps you prefer marqueterie," resumed
212 MEMOIRS OF
Lady Renfrewshire, desirous to expose still
further the ignorance of her hostess.
" Marketting, did your ladyship say ? " in-
quired Mrs. Buxton. " I used to like mar-
ketting very much. I think it is very pleasant
to choose butter, eggs, poultry, fish, and meat,
oneself, instead of being imposed on, as one
always is, by servants."
A stifled laugh followed this mistake.
"I see you have some fine specimens of Pietra
Duro" observed Lady Renfrewshire.
" Peter Douro, I never heard of him before,"
replied Mrs. Buxton, "who is he ?"
This innocent question set the ladies into a
general titter, in which they were freely indulg-
ing when the gentlemen entered the drawing-
room, and checked their hilarity. "Did you
ever meet such ignorance?" whispered Lady
Forestville. " Never except in the husband," re-
plied Lady Renfrewshire, " he really is too bad. "
" I was quite horrified at his persistence in
taking me out to dinner instead of you," ob-
served Lady Forestville, "and did all I could
to set him right, but he is impracticable."
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 213
"What dreadful people to have for neigh-
bours ! \ve must manage to see as little of them
as possible."
" Yes, but not offend them, for his interest in
the county will be useful."
Never passed evening more heavily, and
difficult would it be to decide whether the
givers or receivers of the party suffered the
most ennui. Glad were both, when the car-
riages were announced, to be released from the
infliction they had been mutually enduring, and
they separated, both parties longing to express
without restraint the distaste they had imbibed
towards each other.
The unaffected kindness and simplicity of Mrs.
Buxton soon completely won the good will of
Selina. She saw that a desire of rendering herself
more aufait of the usages of society, and of ac-
quiring a little more ease of manner, had induced
this good-natured but ignorant woman to seek
a governess for herself rather than for her chil-
dren, who were yet too young to profit by the
instructions of one ; and she only regretted that
her own inexperience rendered her less capable
214 MEMOIRS OF
of being serviceable to her. Nevertheless, little
as Selina had seen of society, her education,
reading, and above all, the time passed with the
elegant and highly polished Lady Almondbury,
had taught her to maintain a lady-like demean-
our and manner, of which Mrs. Buxton stood
greatly in need, and which she in return for
kindness would gladly if possible teach her to
acquire. The task she felt would not be an
easy one, for to an unconquerable dislike to
reading, were added other impediments, Mrs.
Buxton being wholly deficient in talent,
narrow-minded, prone to court the great, and to
defer to their opinion on every subject, while
professing to be careless of it. She loved her
husband and her children fondly, because, as
she with great naivete was wont to acknowledge,
they were hers ; but here closed the circle of her
affections, there was no room for any new one.
But though Selina soon perceived that she could
not hope to render Mrs. Buxton other than a
very common-place person, she took such pains
to convey instruction to her, and to simplify it as
much as possible, that gradually, though by slow
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 215
degrees, the deportment and manners of that
lady became less objectionable. When confi-
dence had replaced the constraint of the first
few weeks, Mrs. Buxton referred to the scene
of the dinner on the first day's arrival of Selina.
" Now do tell me, my dear Miss Stratford, whe-
ther I was not right in thinking that Lady Ren-
frewshire, her daughters, and indeed all the other
great ladies, with the exception of Mrs. and
Miss Grimthorpe, were turning me into ridicule
that day ? I felt they were, yet I did not know
what blunders I was committing, though some
I guessed I must have been guilty of, from the
manner in which they laughed whenever I
spoke. You may remember how they screamed
with laughter when I spoke of bulls, and mar-
ketting, and Peter Douro ! which I only did
because they introduced the subjects."
Selina walked with her through the richly
decorated rooms, pointed out the buhl cabinets,
and explained to her that the name was given
owing to the first manufacturer being named
Buhl. " Oh ! my dear Miss Stratford, how
stupid and ignorant I must have appeared in
216 MEMOIRS OF
their eyes," and Mrs. Buxton's cheeks grew
red as she made the reflection ; " and yet,"
resumed she, " how much kinder it would have
been of them to have told me what you have
now explained. And about the marketting,
what made them laugh so much ?" When told
that marqueterie was furniture composed of in-
laid woods of various colours, specimens of
which were pointed out to her, she blushed at
her former mistake; "But tell me, who was
Peter Douro ?" inquired she, " for when I
named him you must have remarked how they
laughed. I do assure you, my dear Miss Strat-
ford, that I felt so much ashamed and embarrassed
that I knew not which way to look. Oh ! the
pain of seeing that in one's own house one is
made a laughing stock of, without being able to
guess why, is dreadful, and makes one wish that
one was back again in one's humble home,
among kind friends who would neither mock
nor laugh at one."
When a fine table, inlaid with Pietra Duro
was pointed out to its simple owner, and that
she understood what the two words signified
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE, 217
she remarked on the unkindness of blaming her ig-
norance of a language she had never been taught,
and of articles of furniture, never seen by her,
until her entrance in the mansion now her own.
" Oh ! do pray, dear Miss Stratford, teach me
the names of all these things. You will find me
a docile, if not a quick scholar," said the simple
hearted and unpretending Mrs. Buxton, " for
though I am not a vain or proud woman, God
forbid I should be, I have some feeling, and dread
becoming an object of ridicule to those with whom
I am to associate. What a different notion I had
of grandees ; I thought they were condescending,
and indulgent, more especially to those who
were unpretending and simple like myself.
But I suppose all are not like those in this
neighbourhood. Did you notice how cross and
offended Lord Renfrewshire looked when 1
offered him one of my little girls' sashes to
replace his red ribband? I meant the offer
kindly, and if he has such a foolish fancy as to
wear a ribband over his waistcoat, which
I never saw any one do before, surely one
ribband would be as good as another."
VOL. n. L
218 MEMOIRS OF
Glad was Selina to be enabled, through her
residence with her kind departed patroness,
Lady Almondbury, to give Mrs. Buxton much
information acquired beneath the roof of that
admirable woman. In her princely mansion,
filled with objects of vertu of the most costly
description ; its walls covered with family por-
traits bearing the orders of the Garter, the
Bath, and the Golden Fleece, she had heard
Lady Almondbury explain to her daughter the
names of each specimen of art, and the diffe-
rent badges of distinction, displayed on the
costumes of her ancestors ; and Selina had
eagerly profited by the instruction designed
for her pupil.
"You know every thing, dear Miss Strat-
ford," observed Mrs. Buxton, "and how for-
tunate may I consider myself in having found
so kind a monitress. One who will instruct
without laughing at my ignorance."
The information derived from Selina was
in secret conveyed by Mrs. Buxton to her
husband, and often was the governess amused
by hearing him say, " "What was the name you
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 219
told me, my dear, of this?" laying his hand on
a splendid cabinet of pietra dura.
" Tell him, dear Miss Stratford," would Mrs.
Buxton say ; " for you pronounce the words so
nicely."
" I can remember the names of the other
things by thinking of a bull, or of marketing,"
observed Mr. Buxton, laughing ; " but the
different kinds of fine cheny puzzles me."
" Sevres, my dear, old Sevres, that is the
finest of all China ; is not it, Miss Stratford ?
Then comes old Dresden."
" But why must it be old to be fine ?"
" Yes, dear Miss Stratford, I forgot to in-
quire, as my husband has done, why must it be
old?"
" Because the modern is far inferior in
quality to the old, which, being generally
sought after, has become much more rare, and
expensive."
" Well, as long as I'm not called on to admire
old women, I don't care about admitting the
superiority of old china ; though I must say,
that as, in modern times, we have improved in
L2
220 MEMOIRS OF
the manufacture of other articles, I don't see
why we should not have progressed in that of
china."
" Perhaps that's the same as in pictures, my
dear," observed Mrs. Buxton. " You heard
Lady Forestville say that her gallery was con-
sidered to contain the finest collection of pic-
tures in the county, and all by the ancient
masters."
" And more shame for her, too," replied Mr.
Buxton. " How are the artists of our own time
to live, if people will only buy the works of old
masters, I should like to know? Pretty en-
couragement for rising talent ! It's my opinion,
that, if all the old pictures in this county were
burnt, it would be the happiest thing for paint-
ing, as well as for painters, that could happen.
You would see what our own artists would
then do, not that I think they do amiss now.
Let me see any picture of the ancients that can
show such birds, or animals, as Landseer's, ay,
or such honest country faces. He puts such a
life and a meaning into them, that even I who,
God knows, am no judge, can't help seeing
A FEHME DE CHAMBRE. 221
that, on his canvass, there's truth and nature
caught in the fact, as I may say. Then look at
Frank Grant's portraits ! Why, hang me if he
does not give the very men and women just as
God made them. Look at Maclise's pictures,
what richness of fancy, what excellence in
drawing ; and there's many other great painters
of our own time that I could mention. And then
tell me that people, with plenty of money, will
only have old pictures in their galleries. Why,
when I see these old brown shining things, that
cover the walls of all the rooms in this house,
and which I am told cost my predecessor such
mints of money, I heartily wish they were
away, and that in their places I had the pro-
ductions of the best of our own artists. And
so I soon would have ; but that my cousin has
made the pictures here heir-looms. I declare
it's quite a trouble, instead of a pleasure, to
gaze on them. Look at one side, and they
remind you of one of those hideous Daguero-
types, which you must twist and turn, in heaven
only knows how many lights, before you can
seize the likeness. You see a mass of brown
222 MEMOIRS OF
and dark yellow on the canvass, without being
able to distinguish objects. You move away to
another point, still you don't get to the right
view ; and, after having shifted your position
from one spot to another, at last you see the
picture, just as you do an old woman, all the
worse for wear."
There was a raciness and originality in the
mind and manners of Mr. Buxton, that often
amused Selina, although they rendered him
unsuited to the habits and notions of his aristo-
cratic neighbours. He was not like his more
docile wife, disposed to adopt their refined ideas,
or cold and reserved behaviour. He laughed
in derision at their fastidiousness; and, as he
became more accustomed to their society, felt
less respect for their opinions. With Mrs.
Buxton it was otherwise. When she accepted
invitations to their feudal mansions, she was
deeply . impressed with the air of massive
grandeur that reigned around. The hangings,
the pictures, the statues, the plate, the fur-
niture, all seemed nearly coeval with the houses ;
yet in such a state of perfect preservation, that
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 223
time had only served to give a finer tone to
the whole, without at all impairing the beauty.
These splendid possessions, which had for cen-
turies passed from father to son, vouching for a
long line of noble ancestry, had a very imposing
effect on Mrs. Buxton, and prevented her from
feeling that ease in the society of " those gran-
dees," as her husband denominated them, without
which social intercourse must always be irk-
some. She marked with surprise the perfect savoir
faire with which the ladies of these stately
mansions presided at their tables, leaving the
offering of the various plats to the well-drilled
servants, who glided around the table as noise-
less as ghosts ; the hostesses not to be distin-
*
guished from their female guests, by any fussy
attentions to the wants or wishes of these last.
She now discovered that giving great dinners
might impose much less trouble on a mistress of a
house, with a large establishment, than she had
previously been wont to imagine, and reflected
with mauvaise honte, how strange these titled
dames must have thought her unceasing atten-
tion to them when they had dined with her.
224 MEMOIRS OF'
Something of this she confided to the ear of the
husband.
" Stuff! nonsense, my dear/ 1 said he. " They
may be as fine as they like, and think it all
right not to take any more notice of their
guests than if the whole party were dining at
an ordinary, where every one is for himself,
and takes no heed of his neighbour. But I
prefer the warm cordiality of those we used to
live with, before we came to our present for-
tune, and I should be sorry to see you lose it."
Mrs. Buxton was surprised that Selina's
name was never included in any of the invita-
tions sent to her, and at first felt more than
half-disposed to resent what she deemed an in-
civility, and to decline accepting them. Selina
overruled this intention, and explained the gene-
ral position of a governess in a family.
" What a shame," observed Mrs. Buxton,
"to exclude a young lady from society, because
she is performing duties, to be enabled to dis-
charge which, she must have received an
education that would fit her for the very best."
Mrs. Grimthorpe, alone, included Selina in
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 225
the card of invitation to Mr. and Mrs. Buxton ;
but Selina, dreading to be exposed to the super-
cilious treatment, experienced from the Ladies
Rosina and Alicia Murray, declined the invita-
tion, although warmly pressed to accept it by
Mrs. Buxton. How tranquilly and happily
passed those evenings, when Mr. and Mrs.
Buxton, absent from home, left the governess
at liberty to pass the too fleeting hours, em-
ployed in reading in the well-stored library.
Solitude, instead of being irksome, possessed an
irresistible charm for her, and glad and thankful
would she have been to enjoy it more frequently.
With every creature comfort, nay, surrounded
by luxuries which she was cordially welcomed
to partake, the total dearth of all intellectual
intercourse, and the engrossment of her whole
time by Mrs. Buxton, to the utter impossibility
of devoting even a few hours to the perusal of
the choice books now within her reach, were
heavily felt by Selina. In vain she sought by
early rising to snatch an hour for her studies ;
Mrs. Buxton was as matinale as herself, and was
no sooner dressed, than she summoned Selina
L3
226 MEMOIRS OF
to her presence. Miss Stratford must walk with
her, to visit the conservatory, the pet-dairy, the
poultry -yard, and the flower-garden. She must
preside at the breakfast-table, read, and explain
the menu, and interpret bet ween the French mattre
d'kdtel and his employers. She must then accom-
pany Mrs. Buxton to the nursery, to pay her diur-
nal visit to the children ; after which must sit and
chat with that lady while she worked (Mrs. Bux-
ton was a great worker), for she liked to talk, and
be talked to, while her fingers pursued their
rotatory routine ; but she graciously permitted
Selina to draw, or embroider, if she wished it,
only making a condition that the flow (not of
soul, but) of words should not be interrupted.
" I can't bear to work without chatting,"
would she say; " it is so very dull ;" and so an
inane and desultory conversation was carried
on, the topics being for the most part furnished
by reflections on the clever sayings and in-
teresting doings of the children, the domineer-
ing manner of their upper nurse, and the luxuries
enjoyed by the supine housekeeper, and fine-
ladyish femme de chambre. " I assure you, dear
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 227
Miss Stratford, that they are much better off than
I was before we came to our fortune, and give
themselves much more airs than ladies do," would
the unsophisticated mistress of the mansion re-
peat, day after day, until the facts, strengthened
by personal experience, became so impressed on
the mind of Selina, that the reiteration of them
almost induced a state of drowsiness. The
luncheon-bell alone interrupted this daily tete-
a-tSte, and an hour was devoted to discussing
the culinary dainties served up by Monsieur le
Chef de Cuisine, an. hour that seemed inter-
minably tardy in its flight to Selina, whose
appetite rejected this extra repast, but which
Mrs. Buxton approved, the hour for partaking
it being, as she seldom omitted to state, sotto
Toce, to Selina, that at which she was accus-
tomed to dine in her former home.
After luncheon the carriage was announced,
and Selina must accompany Mrs. Buxton in
her daily drive ; listen to the same monotonous
monologue, interrupted only by her own mono-
syllabic assents ; and return home as jaded as if
the long promenade had been a pedestrian one.
228 MEMOIRS OF
Then a second visit to the nursery, where she
was expected to remain until it was time to
dress for dinner, at which recherche repast,
where digestion was not assisted by cheerful
converse or lively sallies (as recommended by
the wise epicureans 'of old), two of the longest
and most wearisome hours in the twenty-four
were passed. Mr. Buxton related his exploits
by flood and field, being greatly addicted to
fishing and shooting; told how fishes were
snared, and birds, or rabbits, shot, with great
satisfaction to himself at least, if not to his
auditors, the novelty of such sports to him
giving them a peculiar zest. "I must, how-
ever," would he say, with a solemn shake of
the head, and a portentous brow, " see that my
game be more strictly preserved in future. I
must make a few examples of these abominable
poachers, and prevent my farmers from sport-
ing, or all my shooting will be spoilt."
" You surely can't mean, my dear, to do that
which I have so frequently heard you censure
others for doing," said his wife, with a face full of
astonishment. " Don't you remember when you
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE.
went on a visit to your cousin, Mr. Everfield,
how angry you were when his landlord, the
Marquis of Hungerford, refused to allow you
to shoot on your cousin's farm ? and how hard
you thought it that he should prosecute poachers
with such severity. 1 '
" That may be all very well, when a man
has no preserves, or large manors of his own ;
but you know the old proverb, ' a fellow feeling
makes one wondrous kind!' and hang me if I
would not feel well disposed to punish, with the
utmost severity the law will admit, any of those
rascals that poach on my property !"
" Well, you surprise me, my dear, after all I
have heard you say, when you used to call the
Marquis of Hungerford a proud, overbearing
aristocrat, who seemed to think that pheasants
and partridges were only to be shot by him and
his peers."
" I dare say I uttered many foolish things in
the days to which you refer, Sarah, for I was
then a poor devil that envied the rich their
possessions; but wealth, when it conies to us,
makes us see most things in a different point
of view."
230 MEMOIRS OF
CHAPTER XII.
SUCH were the conversations that generally
passed after dinner, when the servants had
withdrawn. During their presence Mrs. Bux-
ton was too timid to be communicative, and her
caro sposo too much occupied in rendering jus-
tice to the excellent cookery set before him, to
talk much. But oh, the long, long evenings
that followed ! When Selina entered the library,
a torpor seemed to oppress her spirits, in antici-
pation of the dull and tedious hours that must
intervene before she was released for the night.
Mr. Buxton took up a newspaper, with the
avowed intention of perusing its contents ; but
scarcely had he glanced over half a dozen lines
ere his eyelids gently closed, and, in a few
minutes, certain loud nasal sounds announced
that he had yielded to the influence of the God
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 231
of sleep. Mrs. Buxton would, on such occa-
sions, steal on tip-toe to the side of the easy
chair or sofa, where he had ensconsed his per-
son, and carefully cover his head with her scarf,
contemplating him, while doing so, with the
same complacent smile with which the fond
mother of an only child gazes on her slum-
bering treasure. " I am so afraid he may catch
cold ; or, that he is not well," would she whisper
to Selina. He never was accustomed to sleep
after dinner in our old home, but used to be as
brisk and lively as a cricket, and chat with me."
" He had not then an excellent cook to tempt
his appetite, nor rare wines and liqueurs to wash
down his too copious repasts," thought Selina,
a reflection so natural and obvious, that she was
surprised it had not occurred to the anxious
wife. Mrs. Buxton was nothowever given to trace
effect to cause, and loved her husband too fondly
to reason on aught that indicated a change in
his health or habits.
There sat the kind-hearted woman, casting
from time to time anxious glances at the sleeper,
and by no means shocked nor incommoded by
232 MEMOIRS OF
his loud snoring, while Selina, engaged with
tapestry work, undertaken by the desire of Mrs.
Buxton, plied her task, contrasting the present
dull and gloomy evenings, unbroken by reading
or conversation, with the happy ones passed in
the refined society of the elegant and cultivated
Lady Almondbury, or in the cheerful ones
spent beneath the humble roof of her worthy
friends, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon. Often would
she sigh when casting her eyes around on the
well-filled book shelves. She thought of the
treasures they contained treasures she longed
to possess, if but for a few brief hours but
which were wholly disregarded by their
owners.
" I shall have my fourth flower done
before he awakes," would Mrs. Buxton say;
" I wish, however, we could talk while we work,
that would make the evenings seem shorter;
but I am so afraid of awaking him."
Glad was Selina when released for the
night ; and truly did she comprehend that the
luxuries of life must be valueless where all
intellectual pleasures are wanting. Often did
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE.
she accuse herself of ingratitude to Providence
for feeling so acutely the want of leisure for
reading, and the dearth of all rational inter-
course in her present abode. Thankful for the
invariable good nature of Mr. Buxton towards
her, and for the extreme kindness of his wife,
she was vexed with herself for not being able
to submit with more cheerfulness to the irk-
someness of their society.
" Could I have but a few hours to myself in
the day," would she often exclaim, " I might
better bear the long and weary hours I must
spend with my employer ; but to be all day
pinned to her side, every evening working,
uncheered by a sound save the drowsy whispers
of Mrs. Buxton, and the snoring of her husband,
is an infliction that makes me forget the solid
comforts of my situation, and how' much I
have to be thankful for in their kindness."
Two days after Selina had made the fore-
going reflections, a letter apprised her of the
death of her worthy friend Mrs. Vernon, who
had expired after an illness of only a few days,
leaving the faithful partner of her life a solitary
234 MEMOIRS OF
sojourner on earth, bowed down by affliction.
Deeply did this new stroke of adversity fall on
her ; and in her sorrow every selfish feeling of
her own loss in this sad event was lost sight of
in her pity and sympathy for the bereaved
husband. Who now was to cheer his solitary
hearth, for so many years the scene of rational
enjoyment and comfort ? Who was to partake
his daily meals ? to care for their being always
prepared exactly according to his taste, and to
enliven them by cheerful converse, and af-
fectionate smiles, not less the result of one of
the sweetest tempers, and finest natures that
ever mortal was blessed with, than of a love
that had from youth to age formed the basis of
their mutual happiness? Who now was to
talk to him of his youthful days ? of those trials
that had only served to endear them still more
to each other ? of those friends who had long
departed from earth, yet who were remembered
with the fondness with which friends of youth
are ever recalled ? His long fled youth, ay, and
even its pleasant reminiscences, now were gone
with her who had constituted the happiness
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 235
of both ; and a solitary, cheerless existence must
henceforth be his, until summoned to join her he
had lost. Gladly would Selina have gone to that
now desolate house, which had hitherto been
her refuge and home when needed ; but with a
timidity' peculiar to persons in dependent
positions, she knew not whether such a step
might not involve results to be avoided. Mr.
Vernon might think himself now bound to
retain her, should she, as was probable, lose
her situation by going to him. She had no claim
of relationship to warrant such a proceeding ;
and she shrank from the thought of becoming a
tax on his bounty. Many were the tears that
fell on the letter she addressed to him on this
occasion, every syllable it contained emanating
from a heart filled with regret and sympathy
for his affliction.
" "Was Mrs. Vernon a near relation ? " asked
Mrs. Buxton when she marked the traces of
grief on the face of Selina.
" No, Madam, none whatever."
" How very odd; I thought one only
mourned a near cousin, so deeply as you do.
236 MEMOIRS OF
I have such a number of relations, that I never
formed any intimate friendships with other per-
sons. It's a great comfort to have a number of
relations, for out of a large lot, one can choose
one's friends."
Mrs. Buxton knew not how this thoughtless
and common-place reflection of hers made Se-
lina more alive to her own isolated position in
life. She had no relations nor connexions from
whom to select friends, or from whom to claim
countenance or protection. She stood alone in
the world, with no friend to count on, save
Mr. Vernon, an aged man ; and when he should
be removed from earth, she should indeed be
left friendless. As these sad thoughts passed
through her mind, a ray of comfort was ad-
mitted into it, by the belief that, with those
with whom she was at present dwelling, she
might count on a quiet and assured, though
not a happy home; and, after a conscientious
discharge of her duties for some years, merit
and win their esteem and friendship. They
seemed good and kind-hearted ; and why might
she not hope to attach them to her by ties of
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 237
regard, and habits of long and daily inter-
course, warmed, at last, into friendship. Yes !
she would no more, with a repining spirit, sink
into gloom at the monotony and want of all
intellectual enjoyment of her existence. She
would be thankful for the good nature shown
to her, and be patient, if not satisfied, with
her lot.
How blind are mortals to the future, and
how little can they count even on the present!
While Selina was calculating on a diligent exer-
cise of her abilities in her present abode, and on
the good results likely to emanate from such con-
duct, Fate, through the medium of one of the
ignoble tools often empowered to work its decrees,
was busy at work to defeat the hopes of the poor
orphan. Mrs. Price, the head nurse of Mrs.
Buxton, had usurped an influence over that
lady from the moment she entered her service,
until the arrival of Selina. The reign was one
of terror, and though felt to be such, was en-
dured by the timid and ignorant Mrs. Buxton,
from the awe inspired in her mind by the stern,
and often insolent, airs of the termagant.
238 MEMOIRS OF
Taking advantage of her inexperience, nurse
dictated the laws and regulations of the nursery,
according to the mode, as she asserted, adopted by
the duchess of this, and marchioness of that,
her suggestions scarcely allowing the frightened
Mrs. Buxton to have a voice in the manage-
ment of her own children, or an entrance into
the nursery, except at stated hours, named by
Mrs. Price. The airs of importance assumed
by this vulgar woman towards her employer,
often amounting to positive insolence, had been '
checked by the presence of Selina, and without
her Mrs. Buxton now never entered the nursery.
The nurse saw at a glance that Miss Stratford
was not a person to submit to the impertinence
offered with impunity to Mrs. Buxton, or to let
that lady remain long in error with regard to
the necessity of putting a stop to the insolence
of the head nurse, as she loved to style herself.
Her place was too lucrative a one to be lost :
she had higher wages, and many more perqui-
sites, acquired owing to the ignorance of her
present mistress of the customs and usages of
the rich and great, than she had ever enjoyed
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 239
in the noble families whose high-sounding titles
she was wont to quote to the parvenue, as prece-
dents on every occasion. To lose her place was
therefore not to be thought of, and yet to be
compelled to treat a nobody, an ignorant up-
start, as she termed her mistress, with the
respect paid to duchesses, marchionesses, and
countesses, was an alternative almost equally
repugnant to her feelings. If Miss Stratford
could only be got rid of, all might go on as
before. She might retain her place and her
empire, and, with the other upper servants of
the establishment, continue to take advantage
of, and profit by, the ignorance of their em-
ployers. It did not enter into her head that
another governess would inevitably take the
place of Miss Stratford, if that young lady could
be got rid of, or if so, she trusted to the chance,
that the new comer might be less likely to
interfere with her views than the present. The
truth was, Selina's reserve had increased her
dread and hatred. But how was Miss Stratford
to be got rid of? Ay, there was the difficulty ;
for, from the great liking it was quite evident
240 MEMOIRS OF
Mrs. Buxton had taken to her, and the great
* O
use she was of in teaching that lady, Mrs.
Nurse felt it would be no easy task to dislodge
her. If she knew anything of the former life
of Miss Stratford in what families she had
lived, how long or short a time she had re-
mained in each it would be easy to invent
some tale (Mrs. Price had a wonderful fertility
of imagination) which might get her sent away.
Mrs. Nurse pondered long and deeply on this
subject.
How provoking that Miss Stratford had no
maid ! and for the first time Mrs. Price regret-
ted that governesses were not permitted such
luxuries, for had a maid been in the case, how
easily could she have learned every particular,
of not only what the servant knew, but also
what she imagined ; and how soon a structure
of falsehood could be erected on a small base
of truth, none knew better. Mrs. Nurse kept
up a frequent correspondence with a nephew
of hers, a young man named Stubbings, a
clerk in a solicitor's office. This nephew greatly
resembled his aunt in more than one of his
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 241
propensities he liked gossip, and particularly
scandal; had a lively imagination forgiving a high
colour to the tales he repeated, and sometimes won
golden opinions in the shape of half-sovereigns,
sent up under the seal from his aunt, in return
for the gossip he sent her down in his letters.
She was proud to show the good writing, the
decent letter-paper, the seal with a crest of a
lion rampant, her own gift, impressed on the
letters from this nephew, and proud also to
show the address of her's to him in return,
with the "Esq." never forgotten. "Who
knows," thought Mrs. Price, " but Jim may
be able to find out something about this girl.
She has sufficient good looks to have excited
attention, and her name is not so common a
one as to be mistaken or forgotten. Jim
Stubbings knows something of every one ; he
is such a sharp clever lad that no one can find
out things like him. What a fool I was not
to think of it before. Yes, I'll write to him
at once, and tell him to make enquiries." The
letter was despatched, and in due course of
time an answer received.
VOL. n. M
242 MEMOIRS OF
"You say that I know everything, dear
aunt," wrote the hopeful nephew, "and I
really begin to think I do : but that's all owing
to having my wits kept continually rubbed up
in the office, where we have more sharp practice
than in most other solicitors' offices in London.
Tell me Miss Stratford's Christian name, for
without that, I cannot be certain in my informa-
tion. The search, too, will cost me something
in hack cabs and in treats, for no one will tell
anything without being treated, and I am
very low in cash just now ; indeed, I generally
am, and there is no clerk in the office, (and we
have no less than ten,) who is so ill off as I
am. You don't know how hard I find it to
keep up the appearance of a gentleman, with-
out doing which, I should be looked down on
directly by my fellow-clerks. Your affec-
tionate nephew,
JAMES STUBBINGS."
"He's a deep dog," exclaimed his aunt,
when she had perused the letter, '* he knows
how to touch me on the tender point, for it's
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 243
the great wish of my heart to make him a
gentleman, and to be able to say I have a
nephew a solicitor. And a pretty sum it has
cost me too, to make him what he is. Well,
well, it can't be helped, it costs almost as much
to make a gentleman as to maintain one : but
he'll soon be able to set up for himself, and
when I can see a brass plate on his door with
Mr. Stubbings, solicitor, engraved on it, I'll
be happy. I'll send him up a couple of sove-
reigns. But how am I to find out Miss
Stratford's Christian name ? She's always
spoken to and of, as Miss Stratford. I'll go
to the laundry and see the name on her
linen. But that'll be only an initial, and
that's no great use. I'll get Miss Buxton to
ask her name; yes, that's a good thought.
" My dear, my dear," and the wily nurse ad-
dressed the eldest of the children under her
care, " mind when Miss Stratford comes here
to-day, you ask her what's her name."
" Her name is Miss Stratford," replied the
child.
" Yes, but she has another name too. Your
M2
244 MEMOIRS OF
name is Miss Buxton, but you have also
another name, you are called Sarah."
" But I don't want to know Miss Stratford's
other name ; and mamma said, little girls must
not ask questions."
" Stupid little brute !" murmured Mrs. Price,
sotto foce. " How she takes after her mother.
But if I give you a nice new doll for asking
Miss Stratford's name ?"
" Oh ! if you give me a pretty doll, I'll ask
Miss Stratford's name."
" Now, mind you don't forget."
" No, I'll not forget the doll."
No sooner had Selina entered the nursery
that day, than the little girl ran up to her, and
pulling her robe, exclaimed, " Tell me your
name, tell me your name ?"
" Selina, my dear," was the reply.
" Give me the pretty doll, Mrs. Price," said the
child, running back to the nurse, whose face grew
crimson at this expose of her having prompted
the question. But she need not have been
alarmed. Neither Mrs Buxton, nor Selina, had
the least suspicion that the question originated
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 245
in aught save the curiosity natural to children,
and there the matter rested ; the little girl that
evening receiving the price of her docility, out
of the hoard of dolls and toys taken from the
children, to be doled out to them again as
bribes, to effect the purposes of their artful and
unprincipled nurse.
The next post conveyed to Mr. James Stub-
bings the name of Selina, with two sovereigns,
and an entreaty for a speedy answer.
"The old lady is about some mischief, I'll
warrant me," observed Mr. James Stubbings,
when he saw the gold. " She'd never give me
money, if she hadn't some particular object in
view. Never did the most loyal subjects love
their sovereigns as I do mine," continued he,
repeating for the twentieth time an attempt at
wit, perpetrated whenever his aunt sent him a
coin with the impress of Majesty on it. " Well,
but it's odd enough, here is the very name that
was in the settlement, drawn up in the office, of
an annuity of one hundred a-year, from Lord
Almondbury to Selina Stratford, spinster. I
know his lordship well enough by character,
246 MEMOIRS OF
and a great libertine he is too, by all accounts.
He wouldn't give Selina Stratford, spinster,
one hundred a-year for her life, for nothing, I
know. No, no ! he's no such fool ! But what
can my precious old aunt have to do with this
lady? Probably, the said Selina Stratford,
spinster, is hard up for cash, and wants to sell
or pawn the aforesaid annuity; and the old
lady, who I have always suspected to be much
better off in money matters than she lets out, is
disposed to buy it. Well, no matter what the
motive for her inquiries may be, I must answer
them, and I am thankful to have made two
sovereigns by the job."
" Oh, ho ! my fine lady !" exclaimed Mrs.
Nurse, as she laid down a letter from her hope-
ful nephew. "Much better than I expected.
There's no occasion to invent any story here ;
it's all ready, cut and dried to the hand, as one
may say. Yet who'd have thought it ? and so
young, too. Yes, yes, Jim is right ; she wouldn't
have got a lord making a settlement on her for
nothing, I'd be bound. And I know something
of this lord, too. I knew a pretty nurse-maid,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 247
who lost her character in his house; and he
gave her fifty pounds. I have heard what a
sad rake and libertine he was. But this lady, so
stuck up and reserved ; giving herself airs to
me, too, and pretending to be astonished and
shocked, when I let out a little of nay mind
before her to Mrs. Buxton ! Wont I get her
out of the place before long, that's all ? She'll
find that I'm more than a match for her, or my
name is not Sarah Price. Let me see how I
had best set about it? If I tell it to Mrs.
Buxton, she is so taken with her, that she
won't believe a word of it; besides, she'd suspect
me of jealousy, or some other such motive."
Mrs. Price paused for some minutes, and then
exclaimed, " Yes, now I have it. I'll write
an anonymous letter to Mr. Buxton, and another
to his wife, telling them that the whole neigh-
bourhood is surprised that they keep in their
family a young person of such bad character,
and who was known to be the mistress of Lord
Almondbury, who settled a hundred a-year on
her to get rid of her. I'll add, that, if they
doubt the intelligence, they have only to apply
248 MEMOIRS OF
to Messrs. Culpepper and Scrutor, in Lincoln's
Inn Fields, the solicitors, who drew up the
settlement. Ill send the two letters in a dis-
guised hand to my nephew, who will drop them
in the post in London, and so all suspicion will
be turned from me. Mrs. Buxton was expressing
her surprise and regret, the other day to her
maid, that no persons, except Mrs. Grimthorpe,
had invited Miss Stratford to their houses.
Just as if nobility ever invited governesses, and
especially the governesses of such upstarts as
these Buxtons. But that's all her ignorance,
expecting such things. Now she'll be sure to
think that the reason Miss Stratford has not
been asked, is that the neighbours know all
about her, and this will settle the matter ; for,
though she is a good-natured fool, she has not
courage to keep any one in her house a single
day, after hearing that the lords and ladies
around here would not associate with her. She
wants to pass for a lady ; I can plainly see she
does ; and she knows that to appear to be one,
she must not set herself up against her betters."
The two letters were written and despatched.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 249
Mr. James Stubbings put them into the post,
and in due time they reached their destination,
where they produced an effect on the minds of
their recipients, that might have satisfied to the
utmost the malice of Mrs. Price.
M
250 MEMOIRS OF
CHAPTER XIII.
FOR some time Mrs. Buxton was disposed to
conceal from her husband the painful communi-
cation she had received. She had felt a grow-
ing attachment to Selina, whose gentleness and
amiable manner had won her regard. Her
society and conversation, at once instructive
and amusing, had been a relief to the vapid
mind of that lady, who now, by the alteration
in her position, found herself obliged to confide
to others those household occupations, and that
nursery superintendence, which had formerly
filled up her days and abridged their length.
She, was conscious that she had derived great
advantages from her contact with Miss Stratford.
She could now preside at her own table with-
out committing any remarkable solecism in les
usages et bienseances of civilized life, and be an
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 251
inoffensive, though not an amusing hostess in
her drawing-room. She felt that she owed all
this, and more, to Selina's unassuming and judi-
cious instructions and advice, and not prone to be
ungrateful, she would willingly have evinced her
sense of the debt, by continued kindness to her.
But, when the thought of what might be said
among <e the grandees" in her neighbourhood;, if
she continued to retain a person of suspected
character, presented itself, her natural kindness
of heart was vanquished. How often does the
qiien dira-t-on, that dread of common minds,
take the place of judgment in influencing their
decisions, and urge them to adopt a conduct
very different to that which their own better
feelings would dictate ! " And yet," said Mrs.
Buxton, as she again and again perused the
anonymous letter, " it is difficult to believe
that a fallen woman could be so modest inner
demeanour, so perfectly correct in her manner !/
Never would a doubt of her propriety have
entered my thoughts. After this, who can I
ever trust? so good, so irreproachable as she
seemed."
252 MEMOIRS OF
Mrs. Buxton made a very common mistake
in this reasoning. Many suppose that every
good quality departs, when chastity, that most
essential of feminine virtues, no longer sancti-
fies the temple that should enshrine it. But
the examples are not few of modesty surviving
to mourn the death of her sister, virtue, and of
a consciousness of having sinned, rendering
those who feel it, more anxious to cultivate
every other womanly virtue, in order to atone,
if possible, for the loss of that which is the
greatest of them all. Hence the erroneous
opinions entertained of those who have sinned;
and who, therefore, are believed to be as im-
modest as they are sinful.
"Yes, I must show this letter to my hus-
band," said Mrs. Buxton, after long debating
the point with herself ; " it would not be right
to keep it from him: men know the world
better than women, and what to do in such
emergencies."
She had hardly uttered this soliloquy, when
her caro sposo entered, holding an open letter
in his hand, and his countenance unusually
grave.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 253
" Look here, Sarah," said he, handing her
the epistle, "this is a very disagreeable busi-
ness. Who'd have thought of her turning out
to be such a person ? "
Mrs. Buxton only read a line, when she per-
ceived that the letter addressed to her husband
was a fac-simile of the one she had received by
the same post.
" See, my dear," observed she, much agita-
ted, " here is a similar one written to me. I'm
so shocked. If the statement should prove
true, what a hypocrite ! what a dreadful per-
son she must be !"
" I can hardly believe it," replied Mr. Bux-
ton, "for if she was the sort of person here
represented," and he pointed to the letter, " I,
who know the world, and who certainly under-
stand your sex," and he drew himself up self-
complacently, " would have detected something
in her manner that would have opened my eyes
at once. I have been civil to her too, yes,
devilish civil," and he cast a glance at the large
mirror near to which he was standing;, and drew
O*
up his shirt collars "and w.hen a fellow is
254 MEMOIRS OF
no worse-looking, if not better-looking, than
his neighbours, and is as civil to a pretty
girl as I have been to this person, I am con-
vinced, that were she not strictly virtuous, she
would have let him see that his civilities were
not thrown away."
Mr. Buxton assumed, while speaking, such a
libertine air, that, shocked and surprised, his wife
burst into a fit of tears, and sunk into a chair.
"What's the matter, Sarah, what do you
cry for?"
" Oh ! Mr. Bux-ton,"" sobbed his better half],
"I never ex-pected tha-t you would h-ave
such wick-ed thoug-hts in your head. Oh!
dear, oh ! dear," and she sobbed still more,
" how little I knew your heart ! So you ha-ve
been so very ci-vil as you c-all it, to Miss
Stratford, and I ne-ver sus-pec-ted what bad
thoughts were passing in your mind. And
you look so diff-e-rent too quite hardened
like. Oh ! I can't bear to see you so changed,"
and the poor woman's tears fell faster.
" Stuff, nonsense, my dear Sarah, you mustn't
make a fool of yourself; I assure you I never
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 255
gave a thought to Miss Stratford," and the
speaker assumed the same air of libertinism
that had previously produced so painful an
effect on his wife. It was an air that said as
plain as an air could speak, " If I did happen
to wish to win a pretty woman's favour, I
should only have to make the attempt in order
to succeed."
" And so long as we have been married too,"
said Mrs. Buxton, still shedding tears, " and I
your first and only love, as I have so often
heard you say, and now to hear you speak of
knowing woman so well, just as if you had
been one of those horrid rakes who think of
nothing in the world but running afterJJiem. / u t
Oh ! I never expected, Mr. Buxton, that you
would make me feel as I now do."
"Why, to hear you talk, Sarah, one would
really imagine that I had been playing the
deuce. Come, dry up your tears, my dear,
you have no manner of cause for them. Ton
my soul you hav'n't. There, let me kiss you,
and no more crying; and let us at once decide
what is to be done in this vexatious business."
256 MEMOIRS OF
" I'm cbtermined Miss Stratford shall go,"
said Mrs. Buxton, "and what's more, I'll never
again have a handsome governess."
" But would it not be cruel, as well as unjust,
to send the poor girl away without sifting this
tale?"
" Poor girl, indeed ! I have no patience with
you, Mr. Buxton. I see you want to have her
kept here ; but it shan't be. Nothing will
induce me to suffer her to remain."
Mrs. Buxton, the quiet, well-tempered Mrs.
Buxton, hitherto so passive and gentle, had
now become an angry and unreasonable woman,
excited by the pangs of jealousy for the first
time awakened in her heart.
" I assure you, my dear, I by no means wish
to have Miss Stratford retained ; but as the
charge against her is brought only by an
anonymous letter, we owe it to her, and to
ourselves too, not to act in it, until, by a
reference to Messrs. Culpepper and Scrutor,
the persons named in the letter, we have as-
certained the truth. I know something of
these solicitors, and will at once write to inquire
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 257
whether they drew a deed of settlement from
Lord Almondbury to Miss Selina Stratford.
If they reply in the affirmative, there can no
longer be a doubt, and their answer I shall
have the day after to-morrow."
" To please you, Mr. Buxton, I will say or
do nothing in this painful business, until the
answer comes; but I warn you, that even
should it disprove the statement in the letter,
I could not bear to have her continue in this
house. It may be wrong, it may be foolish,
but I can't help it. Suspicions have come into
my head, all through your rakish looks and
manner when you spoke of her; and I feel I
never again shall be the same happy woman
I was, when I thought you knew nothing, nor
cared about any woman but your own wife."
Mr. Buxton thought it rather a good joke to
pass in the mind of his wife as a man who might
please others of her sex, and at first enjoyed
her jealousy, which was gratifying to his
vanity ; but he now began to think he had gone
too far with his pleasantry, and, as he marked
the flushed cheeks and flashing eyes of his
258 MEMOIRS OF
wife, it occurred to t him that his comfort might
be very much impeded, if not destroyed, by the
demon he had evoked in her previously tran-
quil breast.
" I can't bear to see her after all this," said
Mrs. Buxton. " I know I shall be sure to let
her perceive by my manner that all is not right,
whatever pains I may take to conceal my feel-
ings. I'll not go down stairs to-day, or to-
morrow, and that will save me the annoyance
of meeting her."
" Do as you please, my dear, about that."
"Oh! then, you wish me to remain in my
room, Mr. Buxton, I suppose, that you may
have a tete-a-tete with Miss Stratford! But
I'll disappoint you, that I will. I won't stay in
my room; not if I were dying would I give
you such an opportunity of being alone with
that girl."
" Ton my soul, Sarah, you are making a
great fool of yourself. I merely assented to
your own proposal of remaining in your room,
thinking, as you said, that it would be painful
to you to meet that poor girl."
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 259
" Mr. Buxton, Mr. Buxton, you will drive
me mad, that's what you will do, with your
poor girl, indeed ; as if I am not the real person
to be pitied. Oh ! did I ever think you would
give me such 'pain?" And here Mrs. Buxton's
tears streamed afresh.
" You will make me lose all patience, indeed
you will, Sarah, by persevering in such folly.
There's the clock striking two. The luncheon
bell will ring in a moment ; wipe you r eyes,
and go down as usual, and I will write to
Messrs. Culpepper and Scrutor."
Mrs. Buxton did as she was told, and descended
to the dining room, when the calm aspect of
Selina almost made her disbelieve the state-
ment contained in the anonymous letter, and
even chased every jealous feeling that had,
for the last two hours, been torturing her
breast.
There is an indescribable something in the
countenance and manner of a virtuous woman,
which, although often imperceptible to men,
who are ever prone to view objects through the
distorted medium of their own corrupt notions,
260 MEMOIRS OF
appeals with irresistible force to the breasts
of women. Mrs. Buxton felt this influence
when she looked at the open brow, and the
steady, clear eye of Selina, which met her
glance with an expression of frankness and
truthfulness that re-established her former con-
fidence.
" How could I have doubted her?" said she
to herself; and a blush of shame mounted to
her cheeks. And yet, though now convinced
of Selina's innocence, Mrs. Buxton was ill at
ease in the presence of her governess. She
was dissatisfied with herself for having put
faith in an anonymous letter ; she was ashamed
of the jealousy she had displayed to her
husband ; and yet she knew her own weakness
to be such, that she had not moral courage
enough, though firmly believing Selina's purity,
to retain her beneath her roof in defiance of the
opinion which the anonymous letter stated was
entertained against her by the grandees of the
neighbourhood. How well did the wily nurse
prove her knowledge of the character of her
mistress in the letter, when she inserted the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 261
paragraph relative to the neighbourhood being
cognizant of the alleged frailty of Miss Stratford !
Such was the weakness of Mrs. Buxton, and
so great was her respect for nobility, that could
she have had the most undeniable proofs of
the innocence of Selina, joined to the innate
conviction which she entertained herself on that
point, she would not dare to retain her whom
her aristocratic neighbours condemned. How
strange are the workings of the human heart !
Mrs. Buxton, though really liking Miss Strat-
ford, wished, yes, in her secret thoughts desired,
that the statement in the anonymous letter
should be confirmed by the answer of Messrs.
Culpepper and Scrutor, in order that she might
be justified for sending Miss Stratford away.
Such are the lengths to which weak minds can
be carried, when the fear of not the world's
dread laugh but of the comments of a few
country neighbours, for whom no sentiment of
esteem or friendship is entertained, can urge a
woman, not naturally hard hearted or ill dis-
posed, to such injustice and cruelty.
The answer from Messrs. Culpepper and
262 MEMOIRS OF
Scrutor arrived, and the writer, after denying
the right of any gentleman to inquire into the
transactions between their house and any of their
clients, stated, that respect for the high charac-
ter of Mr. Buxton, of whom they knew nothing
but that he had lately inherited a great fortune,
and had once called at their office, about pur-
chasing the right of a small manor adjoining
his own large one, induced the writer to swerve
for once from the usual system of secrecy of the
house of Culpepper and Scrutor, and to admit
that a deed of settlement had been drawn up
in their office, by the instructions of the Right
Honorable Lord Almondbury, granting, for her
natural life, an annuity of one hundred guineas a
year to Miss Selina Stratford. It was added
that, in making this unusual disclosure, reliance
was placed in the honour and discretion of
Mr. Buxton, not to reveal what had been con-
fided to him.
" Yes, she must go," said Mrs. Buxton, as
soon as she had perused the letter handed to
her by her husband.
" But what if this annuity were granted to
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 263
her for no lapse of virtue, but as an honour-
able reward for good conduct?" observed Mr.
Buxton.
" If she were an elderly woman, who had
brought up his children from infancy, and so was
pensioned off, there might be a chance of the
matter being as you say, my dear ; but think of
her youth, and his lordship's character as a
libertine, as the letter stated, and you must
admit that Miss Stratford could not have got
an annuity for having brought up a family,
she being herself but a very young woman."
" Still I cannot believe her guilty ; I cannot,
indeed, my dear Sarah."
" But, innocent or guilty, she must go. We
could not think of keeping her with us, in
defiance of the opinion of all the nobility in
the neighbourhood. Already have they marked
their sense of her conduct by never including
her in any of their invitations to us. If this
does not show their opinion, I know not what
could."
" But, if it so happened that these great
lords and ladies don't invite governesses in
264 MEMOIRS OF
general, and therefore meant no slight to Miss
Stratford in particular ? and this may, after all,
be the case ; and you and I, my dear Sarah, not
being acquainted with the etiquette in such
matters, may have taken as an affront to her,
that which is but a general custom."
" Why, you, Mr. Buxton, saw the statement
in the letters as well as I did ; and as the part
about the annuity has been proved true, depend
upon it all the rest is."
" I wish I knew any one that I could inquire
of, as to whether it's the custom to invite
governesses when their employers are asked
out?"
" Pray, my dear, make no such inquiry. It
would only get us laughed at among the whole
of this proud set in our neighbourhood, for
showing our ignorance."
" All I can say, Sarah, is, that if you felt as
I do, convinced of this poor girl's innocence, in
spite of the malicious anonymous letter, and
the admission on the part of the solicitors, hang
me if I would not let her remain here, without
caring a fig for what all the grandees in the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 265
neighbourhood might think, or say, about the
matter."
" I am surprised, Mr. Buxton, to see you get
so very warm on this subject; and more than that,
Mr. Buxton, I see plainly you have set your
heart on keeping this girl here, and I will not
consent to have any one under the same roof
with me whose character is the topic of all the
noble families around us."
" Well, let her go. Anything for a quiet
life ; 'but I really thought you had more heart
in you, Sarah, ay, and more moral courage too,
than to throw over a poor girl, whose innocence
you say you believe, out of dread of what lords
and ladies may say."
" And I thought, Mr. Buxton, that you had
less heart to spare, than to be ready to turn a
Don Quixote for a person who you now know,
beyond a doubt, has received an annuity from
one of the greatest libertines in England ! " and
Mrs. Buxton's cheeks grew red, and tears of
anger started to her eyes, as she finished the
sentence.
" Send her away, send her away, in God's
VOL. II. N
266 MEMOIES OF
name, Sarah! and let me never hear the poor
girl's name again."
" Ay, there you go again. Poor girl, in-
deed ! I know not why you should call her
poor girl ! But how had I best tell her that I
have no longer occasion for her services ? "
" Ah! I see you are ashamed of yourself!
But but spare me the angry remonstrance
I see hovering on your lips. If you feel reluc-
tant to communicate personally with her, write
a note, and say that we shall be compelled to
leave home for an indefinite time, therefore
must part from her, and that she is at liberty
to go as soon as she pleases. You ought, in
common decency, to make her a handsome pre-
sent, for you must allow, Sarah, that she has
been of the greatest possible service to us here."
" So she has, my dear, and I will gladly
make her whatever present you think I ought ;
but I really can't write a falsehood. If I say
we are going from home, we must positively
go somewhere for a little while; for I could
not reconcile it to my conscience to write a
story. 1 '
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 267
" Well, I've no objection to go any where
you like. And I'll give you fifty pounds, over
and above her salary, to make a present to
Miss Stratford."
The note was written and despatched to
Selina, whose astonishment at its contents may
easily be imagined. The style of the note, too,
though meant to be civil, if not kind, was so
constrained, so formal, that, as she perused the
letter, she felt that there was more than met
the eye in it ; that the sentiments in her favour,
so often avowed by Mrs. Buxton, must have
undergone a total revolution, before it could
have been written. In what could this change
have originated? was the next thought that
presented itself to her mind. But vain was the
search to discover a cause for a conduct so un-
expected, so at variance with all the previous
kind treatment experienced at the hands of
Mrs. Buxton. She was more than half tempted
to request an interview with that lady, and to
intreat an explanation ; but her pride and con-
scious innocence revolted at taking a step that
might lead Mrs. Buxton to imagine that she
N2
:26S MEMOIRS OF
wished to change the resolution taken to give
her her conge. She therefore contented herself
by writing a letter, stating that she would be
ready to depart the next morning ; and adding,
that she must request a few lines from Mrs.
Buxton, to certify that since her entrance into
the family she had given no cause for dissatis-
faction. The abruptness of the notice to give
up her situation must, she further added, plead
her excuse for this request, as she wished her
friends to be satisfied that no fault on her part
had occasioned her sudden dismissal. Poor
Selina sighed as she Avrote the s to friend ;
for she remembered that she had only one
on earth, on the continuance of whose regard
she could count. A few hours before, she be-
lieved that she might reckon on the lasting
friendship of Mrs. Buxton, and on finding a
peaceful, if not a happy, home beneath her roof,
for many years to come. But how short a time
had it taken to destroy these illusions, and to
teach her that, henceforth, she must put less
faith in professions of friendship. To accept
the liberal gift offered by her employer, unac-
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 269
companied by any of the kindness or cordial
assurances of undiminished regard and esteem
that would have given value to it, she felt
would be impossible, so she enclosed the cheque
in her letter to Mrs. Buxton, politely but firmly
declining it.
" See," said that lady to her husband, after
reading the letter, " here are two corroborative
proofs that the charge against Miss Stratford is
true. In the first place, she asks no explana-
tion, which she decidedly would, if she felt
conscious that she could justify herself from
every accusation ; and, in the second, if she did
not possess an independence through the an-
nuity, she would not have resigned so liberal a gift
as fifty pounds, which, to a person relying solely
on her salary for maintenance, is a little fortune."
Such were the charitable conclusions of Mrs.
Buxton, to which her husband, whether con-
vinced of their justice, or fearful of making any
defence in favour of the accused, which mio-ht
7 C
again awaken the jealousy of his wife, made no
reply, except to express his regret that the prof-
fered gift had not been accepted.
270 MEMOIRS OF
" The fault is not ours, Mr. Buxton ; had it
been wanted it would have been kept," observed
his wife. " I think," resumed she, after a
little reflection, "that I may, without wound-
ing my conscience, comply with her request,
for certainly, since she has been here, I have
seen nothing to find fault with. As far as my
own personal experience goes, I might speak
highly of her, and, unless required to explain
why I parted with her, I don't think myself
compelled to denounce her/'
A letter, consistent with this mental reserva-
tion, was written, and given to Selina, when,
after much consultation, and considerable reluc-
tance, Mrs. Buxton was prevailed on by her
husband to meet her at dinner. Again the
appearance and manner of Miss Stratford pro-
duced their former influence in her favour, on
the weak-minded Mrs. Buxton, who felt an
embarrassment in the presence of the poor
and unfriended girl she was expelling from
her house without affording her a chance of
justifying herself. But Mrs. Buxton, conscious
of her own weakness, felt aware that, even
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 271
could the most convincing proofs of Selina's
innocence be given her, she had not moral
courage sufficient to uphold her against the
opinions of her noble neighbours. The evening
passed slowly and painfully to all three. At
parting, Mrs. Buxton tried again to press on
Selina the gift proffered in the morning, but it
was steadily rejected; and when Selina wished
them farewell, both husband and wife felt a
sense of shame and embarrassment from which
a consciousness of her own freedom, from a
single act or thought that could have merited
the change in their conduct towards her, kept
the poor and dependant girl exempt. She had
written to her friend, Mr. Vernon, to say that
she would become his guest the next evening,
reserving, until their meeting, the fact that she
was leaving for ever the home she had so lately
thought would be her permanent one for years
to come. The whole conduct of Mr. and Mrs.
Buxton was so inexplicable to her, that she
could not attempt to explain it ; but she well
knew that the confidence in her, entertained by
her excellent and tried friend, could not be
272 MEMOIRS OF
shaken by the caprice and injustice of others,
so no doubt of a warm and affectionate welcome
occurred to add to her chagrin at her abrupt
dismissal.
A 1'EMME DE OHAMBRE. 273
CHAPTER XIV.
THE meeting between Selina and her old
and kind friend, was very trying to the feel-
ings of both; and yet the conviction of the
perfect sympathy in their grief, was sooth-
ing and consolatory to each. The worthy man
found relief in dwelling on the many excellent
qualities of his departed wife, to one whom he
knew had always duly appreciated them; and
Selina was gratified by hearing that, to the
last, Airs. Vernon had retained an almost ma-
ternal affection for her. How did the vacant
chair, the little work-table and footstool, so
many years used by her whom they should
never more see on earth, affect Selina! She
found the bereaved husband terribly shaken by
the blow that had destroyed his domestic happi-
ness. His health, previously so good, was now
N 3
274 MEMOIRS OF
much impaired, and his spirits had received a
shock not to be overcome at his advanced age.
People are apt to imagine, that such afflic-
tions as that under which Mr. Vernon was now
suffering, are most heavily felt ere age has
blunted the feelings, and when the vigour of
youth adds poignancy to them. Perhaps grief
may then be most vehement, just as fevers are
more active with the youthful than with the
aged; but if sorrow be less violent with the
old than with the young, is its duration not
much longer, and its influence more baneful?
Habit, which forges the strongest chains, has
rivetted those that bind an affectionate old
couple together during a union of many years,
so closely, that when the link is broken by
death, life becomes insupportable to the sur-
vivor. With the lost partner of his joys and
sorrows, his good and evil fortune, departs all
the pleasant memories of his youth and man-
hood, and he enters the dark evening of life,
uncheered by the companion who had shared
its sunshine. The position of his young friend
was the sole thought, on this side of the grave,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 275
that drew Mr. Vernon from the grief that was
undermining his health, and rapidly conducting
him to the tomb that had so lately closed over
the mortal remains of his departed wife. When
told of the unexpected and abrupt manner in
which Selina had been dismissed, and informed
of the extreme kindness she had experienced,
up to the last three days of her abode with
Mr. and Mrs. Buxton, he felt convinced that
there must exist some unexplained cause to
account for such conduct. The testimonial in
Selina's favour, written by Mrs. Buxton, did
not satisfy him. There lurked, he was per-
suaded, some mystery, which, in justice to
Selina, ought to be laid bare, and he deter-
mined that, as far as it lay in his power, it
should be solved. He wrote to the friend who
had applied to him when Selina was engaged,
and demanded, as an act of justice, that Mr.
Buxton should explain to this their mutual
acquaintance, the cause of Miss Stratford's sud-
den dismissal. The tone in which this request
was made, drew from Mr. Buxton a statement
of the whole affair. One of the anonymous
276 MEMOIRS OF
letters written to him was forwarded for
inspection ; and great was the shock and dis-
gust Selina's friend experienced when he pe-
rused it. He instantly appealed to Lord
Ahnondbury, whose return from the continent
he had noticed announced in a newspaper a few
days before, related the whole affair to him,
and entreated his lordship to justify Miss Strat-
ford.
Lord Almondbury, indignant at the calumny,
immediately wrote to Mr. Buxton, stating that,
at the dying request of his departed wife, he
had instructed his lawyers to draw up a deed of
settlement, of one hundred pounds per annum,
to Miss Stratford, for her life, as a testimonial
of the high opinion, and warm esteem, enter-
tained for that young lady by the deceased
countess, who had also marked her regard by
other gifts. That, to his sincere regret, the set-
tlement had been rejected, as had also been the
repeated offer made to Miss Stratford to con-
tinue the governess of his daughter; and his
lordship added, that so great was the respect
he "felt for the principles and conduct of the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 277
young lady, that he knew no one under whose
care and tuition he would so readily place his
child. But Lord Almondbury was deter-
mined the affair should not rest there ; for he
went to Messrs. Culpepper and Scrutor, severely
reprehended them for their indiscretion, dis-
missed them from the management of his affairs,
and proved, by destroying the deed of settle-
ment in their presence, that it had never been
accepted, though he took especial care to ex-
plain that it was by the desire of his departed
countess it had been drawn up.
Great was the surprise and confusion of
Mr. and Mrs. Buxton when Lord Almond-
bury's letter reached them. " Well, my dear,
you will remember that I never believed Miss
Stratford guilty," observed Mrs. Buxton. .
(e And I am quite sure / did not," replied
her husband. " If my advice had been fol-
lowed," added he, " the poor girl never should
have left the house."
" But with our noble neighbours," said Mrs.
Buxton, " what could we have done ? "
" Not cared a fig about them. They'll go
278 MEMOIRS OF
anywhere where they get good dinners and
wine, like mine."
" Nevertheless, my dear, it would have been
very disagreeable to have exposed ourselves to
observations, perhaps to slights, on account of a
person who was no relation."
" I'll tell you, Sarah, for the twentieth time
though it may be, that we are too rich to meet
with slights from our neighbours, and as for
their observation, who will have the impudence
to repeat them to us ; so what shall we be the
worse for their spite ? "
" Ah ! so you always say ; but I have not
your nerves, my dear."
The anxiety to vindicate Miss Stratford, had,
for a brief period, withdrawn her kind friend,
Mr. Vernon, from the all-engrossing grief that
was evidently hurrying him to the grave. But
when he saw her fair fame re-established, his
thoughts relapsed into their previous sadness,
and not even the presence of Selina, much and
affectionately as he regarded her, could cheer
his drooping spirits. When, however, she pro-
posed again to seek a situation, he so strongly
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 279
objected to the measure, and declared that her
society being now his only consolation, it would
be unkind, nay more, cruel of her to leave him
to die alone, as he said, that Selina consented to
prolong her stay, using every effort in her power
to render her sojourn beneath his roof a source
of comfort to her benefactor. She read aloud to
him, consulted his feeble appetite in the choice
of his food, wrote his letters, and was ever near
to induce him to enter into conversation, in-
stead of indulging the mournful reminiscences,
or moody reveries, into which he was prone to
drop. Warmly and deeply did he feel this
unceasing care and attention ; and often did he
regret that fortune had denied him the power
to reward it.
With great difficulty Selina got him to con-
sent to see a physician; but the one called in
took an opportunity of informing her that his
aid was useless, as nothing could retard the
progress of the disease, a total breaking up of
the constitution, that must soon consign her
only friend to the grave. The friends and
neighbours of Mr. Vernon were constant in
280 MEMOIRS OF
their visits to him. To the most valued of
them he recommended his adopted daughter, as
he loved to call her, entreating them to assist
her in finding a situation, he, alas ! not having
the means to enable her to subsist without one.
And now every day marked how rapidly the
sick man was sinking; and as the conviction
was forced on her who watched over him with
filial tenderness, she felt her gratitude and
affection increase, and add poignancy to her
regret. It was a touching sight to see that
young creature bending over the couch of the
dying man, watching, with tearful eyes, his
already death-like face, and trying to catch his
weak and trembling accents. Every hour seemed
to threaten to be the last of his mortal career.
He no longer recognized those around him, or
was conscious when spoken to. Such was the
state of affairs when a woman, of most unpre-
possessing appearance, and vulgar manners,
arrived at his house. She was about sixty
years of age, corpulent, and unwieldy in per-
son, yet with an activity of mind, and energy
of purpose, not often met with. " I am just
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 281
arrived to see my poor deal* cousin/' said this
person, forcing her way to the bed of the dying
man, and applying a handkerchief to her eyes.
" Ah ! " resumed she, " I see it will all soon be
over with him in this world. I must have
Mr. Praywell to come to him, and see if he
cannot save his poor sinful soul."
Selina looked at this strange intruder with
mingled surprise and alarm, and her expressive
countenance probably revealed her feelings ; for
the stranger, throwing herself into the easy
chair by the bedside, provided for the accommo-
dation of Selina, stared steadily at her, and,
with the air of being perfectly at home, coolly
said, " Pray, who are you ? I know my
cousin, poor man, never had a child. His wife,
who was no better than she should be, and
turned him against his relations, had none of
her own that ever I could hear of; indeed, she
was a woman of no family, and he greatly
demeaned himself by marrying. I am there-
fore at a loss to know what claims you, not
being a relative, have to be established here
as mistress of the house, and head nurse, as
282 MEMOIRS OF
one may say? You'll excuse my freedom;
but it has a mighty strange appearance to see a
young, yes, and a pretty looking girl too, living
with a man in this sort of way. I, being the
next relation to the poor old man lying there,
his first cousin, and heir-at-law to whatever he
leaves behind him, have a right to know why
you, who are nothing to him, are here, as if
you were mistress of the house?"
" I am here by Mr. Vernon's own desire,
Madam. His late wife, as well as himself,
extended their protection and kindness to me,
and for many years have treated me as their
adopted child I" and the recollection of the
affection of the excellent couple brought tears
into the eyes of Selina.
"Adopted child, indeed!" reiterated the
rude stranger. " It's a nice thing for people to
be taking to other men's children, when they
have kindred of their own. What would Mr.
Praywell say to such doings, I should like to
know ? So here you have been living in clover,
on the fat of the land, as one may say," and
the speaker glanced around inquiringly at the *
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 283
comfortable chamber ; " and all at the expense
of a man who is nothing on earth to you, while
I, who am his first cousin, have been in want
of many, if not all, the comforts I was accus-
tomed to. I declare it's a burning shame, so
it is ; and the state he is in," and she pointed
to the poor speechless, sightless man, "seems
quite a judgment on him ! "
" Madam, I must request you not to men-
tion his name with disrespect. He was the
best, the kindest of men ! " and here Selina's
words were broken by sobs.
" And I'll take leave, Miss, to tell you, that
as I am his relation, and you are nothing to
him, I am not be dictated to. I dare say he
might be the kindest of men to you ; old fools
in their dotage generally are, when they fall
into the hands of artful and designing young
women. But he never showed any kindness to
me, except two or three times sending me a
trifle of money when I wrote to him I was in
distress, so I need not be expected to act the
hypocrite, and cry my eyes out, like some folk.
Now, it's my opinion, Miss, that if you have
284 MEMOIRS OF
any decency left, the best thing you can do is
to take yourself off, and leave the dying man to
be looked after by his own relation, who is the
natural person to close his eyes."
" You must permit me, Madam, to be the
best judge of my own conduct," said Selina,
with grave dignity; and, while Mr. Vernon
lives, I will not leave him."
" We'll soon see that when Mr. Praywell
comes. Yes, you'll find out who has a real
right to be mistress here."
The female servant, who had entered a few
minutes before, having heard the threats of the
audacious intruder, whispered Miss Stratford
not to mind her, and that she would step off to
Mr. Steadfast, and bring him to protect her.
" I'll have no whisperings or underhand
doings here," said the stranger. " My cousin,
it is quite clear, has only a few hours to live,
and I am the proper and natural person to take
charge of him and his property. I'll have Mr.
Praywell to come and attend to his spiritual
wants. He will arouse the sleeping conscience
of the dying sinner, and make him repent his
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 285
unnatural conduct to his relations, of whom I
am the last."
The dying man moaned, and Selina flew to
his pillow. The stranger followed her example,
as fast as her obesity would permit ; and, while
Selina bent down to catch his accents, in case
he should speak, she, with the voice of a
stentor, shouted in his ear, " Cousin, you are
dying. Think of your sinful soul, and repent
your guilt ere it be too late. It is /, Sarah
Muckridge, your own first cousin, the only
relation you have in the world, who is now
speaking to you."
"In pity/' said Selina, her voice tremulous
from emotion, " do not disturb his last hours."
" What, would you have him die without
repentance? rush into the presence of his
Maker without having asked His pardon ? aye,
and my pardon too, for his manifold sins ; not
the least of which was, his neglect of me, and
his keeping you here, setting an example of
sinfulness, disgraceful to a man of his age."
Again the dying man uttered a faint moan.
" He hears me, he hears me," exclaimed Mrs.
2S6 MEMOIRS OF
Muckridge, " You repent your shameful doings,
don't you, cousin, and renounce Satan and this
young woman, the sharer of your sin?"
Selina shuddered, and became pale as marble;
for now for the first time did she comprehend
the gross meaning of the speeches of the dread-
ful woman before her.
" Cousin, I say," resumed Mrs. Muckridge,
"your last hour is come. Implore the for-
giveness of your offended God, and of man,
for the evil example you have given,"
These words were spoken in so loud a tone
of voice, as to be heard by Mr. Steadfast, who
had just entered the hall beneath, and who
hastily ascended to the chamber of his friend
to interpose between him and the harsh terma-
gant who was disturbing his last moments. As
he entered, Mr. Vernon opened his eyes, fixed
them with an expression of unutterable fond-
ness on Selina, who was kneeling by his bed-
side, then glanced with evident dislike at Mrs.
Muckridge, and cast a look of earnest appeal
to Mr. Steadfast.
"Sinful man, sinful man!" exclaimed the
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 287
hardened woman. " See how even at his last
hour he looked at the partner of his guilt, with
a fondness which proves that his stubborn heart
is a stranger to repentance."
The dying man's eye rebuked this speech,
and for a moment it was lighted up with intelli-
gence. He endeavoured to speak, but the effort
was unavailing, and in a few minutes a loud
sigh proclaimed that all was over.
" Go to the Golden Lion round the corner of
the street," said Mrs. Muckridge to the female
servant, who stood weeping by the bed, "and tell
Mr. Pray well to come here immediately."
The servant took no notice of the order,
though uttered in a most authoritative tone.
" Go, I say," repeated Mrs. Muckridge."
" Pray, Madam, by what right have you
intruded here, and disturbed the dying moments
of one of the most excellent, the most respected
of men?" inquired Mr. Steadfast.
"Before I answer your impertinent question,
I must ascertain by what authority you pre-
sume to ask it?" replied Mrs. Muckridge, her
face red with anger.
288 MEMOIRS OP
" As the executor of my departed friend, and
for the present his representative here."
" Oh ! if you are his executor that alters the
case, and I shall not object to inform you who
I am. My name is Muckridge; I am first
cousin and sole relative to the deceased, and
as such came here to take care of him, and
endeavour in his last hours to make him sen-
sible of his wickedness."
" You must, whatever your degree of rela-
tionship to my departed friend may be, know
little of his life and character, when you
presume to accuse him of wickedness."
<e What do you call his having this young
woman here?" and she pointed with a con-
temptuous gesture to Selina : " what right had
she to live with him, I should like to know,
unless the right of sin?"
" Hold your impious tongue, woman, and
shame not the virtuous young creature, who
was to him as a daughter, by such foul, such
calumnious insinuations."
" I scorn to use insinuations, and assert at
once, that as no tie of relationship existed
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 289
between him and that weeping Magdalen there,"
pointing at Selina, "she had no right to be here,
and would not have taken such an outrageous step,
if she had the slightest regard for her character."
" And I assert, that you are a shameless slan-
derer of the dead and of the living," said Mr.
Steadfast ; "and I command you at once to leave
this house, and not compel me to have the police
to expel you."
" Ho ! ho ! I see how it is. You are the
worthy friend and companion of the sinful old
fool, who is gone to answer for his wicked
doings, and you, I suppose, intend to share the
plunder with that virtuous young creature
there," and the speaker laid a strong emphasis'
on the word " virtuous."
Mr. Steadfast left the room, hurried down
stairs, and the hall-door was heard to open and
close.
"Here, young woman, here's half-a-crown
for you, if you will run to the Golden Lion,
and tell Mr. Praywell to come here directly."
" I'll do no such thing," replied the servant,
indignantly.
VOL. n. o
290 MEMOIRS OF
Mrs. Muckridge walked to the table, on
which was the gold watch of the deceased,
with a silver goblet, and turning her back to
the bed, close to which knelt the weeping
Selina, and stood the servant, she seized the
watch and the goblet, concealed both be-
neath her cloak, and attempted to leave the
room, but the servant had watched her pro-
ceedings ; and, placing herself before the door,
declared that Mrs. Muckridge should not
depart until she had replaced the watch and
goblet again on the table. At this moment,
a knock at the hall-door announced the return
of Mr. Steadfast. Sally, the faithful servant,
hurried down to open it, admitted Mr. Stead-
fast and two of the police who accompanied
him, and informed them of the attempt to steal
the watch and goblet. They, however, found
both those articles on the table, where dread
of the police had induced Mrs. Muckridge
to replace them; and the police informed her
that unless she at once consented to leave the
house quietly, they would not only expulse
her by force, but arrest her on a charge of
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 291
robbery. She endeavoured to make them
believe that she was falsely accused, and in-
vented an artful tale, which might, perhaps, have
imposed on the police, had they not been so
well acquainted with the excellent character,
not only of the deceased, but of Mr. Steadfast.
" If no will is found, and I am convinced no
true one will be forthcoming," said Mrs. Muck-
ridge, " I shall be the rightful heir to all my
cousin left behind him."
" You shall be informed when the will is to
be opened," replied Mr. Steadfast; " until then,
you shall not again enter this house."
Mrs. Steadfast no sooner heard of the death
of her worthy neighbour, than she hastened to
his house to invite Miss Stratford to her own.
All that kindness and sympathy could offer
was showered on Selina by the excellent couple,
who knew how strong was the attachment
entertained for her by the departed and his
wife ; and how well it was merited. Both now
remembered having many years before heard
Mr. Vernon mention his having but one rela-
tion alive, and that being a very ill-conducted
o2
.292 MEMOIRS OF
woman, whose frequent demands for money,
-and violent abuse when it was withheld, had
given him great annoyance. This person had
not been heard of for some time, and was
supposed to have gone to America with an
itinerant preacher, whose morals wholly unfitted
him for any clerical calling.
Selina refused to leave the house, while it
contained the remains of her kind friend, and in
order to afford her protection, Mrs. Steadfast
came to sleep there. Selina felt as if again left
an orphan in a world where she had no friend ;
and as she looked on the face of the dead, and
recalled to memory the kind smile with which it
had been wont to welcome her, tears of regret for
his loss, mingled with gratitude for his goodness
to her, chased each other down her cheeks.
The will, which had been placed by the de-
ceased in the hands of his lawyer, was now to be
opened for instructions for his interment. Mrs.
Muckridge was apprised of this, and invited to
be present at the reading. The whole of the
furniture and plate, and a couple of hundred
pounds, the fruits of his and his worthy wife's
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 293
economy, were bequeathed to Selina, and a
bequest of twenty pounds to the faithful ser-
vant. Mr. Steadfast undertook to dispose of
the furniture, which brought a couple of hun-
dred pounds more, so that, when all the funeral
expenses were paid, Selina found herself in
possession of three hundred and fifty pounds,
with some plain and simple articles of plate,
endeared to her by association with the departed
friends who bequeathed them, and which she
determined nothing short of actual want should
ever induce her to part from.
294 MEMOIRS OF
CHAPTER XV.
THE last sad duties to the dead now over,
Selina accepted the invitation of Mr. and Mrs.
Steadfast to pass some time with them. It cost
her many a pang to leave the house where she
had received such constant kindness and affec-
tion, and as she gave a last look on the little
parlour, where some of the most cheerful hours
of her life had been passed, she invoked a bless-
ing on the memory of her departed friends.
When a few days were gone by, and that
her nerves had recovered from the shock
occasioned by the late event, she named to
Mrs. Steadfast her desire to find occupation.
" I fear that I can be of little use in procur-
ing you a situation as governess," said that
worthy woman; "I have no acquaintances
among the class in which a well-educated per-
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 295
son like you ought to enter. No one thinks
of referring to the wife of a simple tradesman
like myself, for a governess, though I am often
asked to recommend a lady's maid or house-
keeper. Indeed, no later than yesterday I was
applied to for an attendant, to serve a very
rich lady."
The thought struck Selina to offer herself
for this place. The trials and the discomforts
that await governesses, and which she had expe-
rienced, had so firmly convinced her that no
situation could offer less chance of peace, that
she was willing to try whether as femme de
chambre she might not avoid many of the an-
noyances that had assailed her in her former
position. She expressed her sentiments on
this point to Mrs. Steadfast, who rather en-
couraged than checked the notion, having had
occasion to know more than one instance
where ladies' maids enjoyed many advantages
and comforts seldom extended to governesses.
" If permitted to take my repasts in my own
room, or only with a housekeeper," observed Se-
lina, " I should have no other objection to enter
296 MEMOIRS OF
service. To fit myself for it I must take lessons
in dress-making, hair-dressing, and getting up
laces. I shall soon acquire these essentials to
my new calling, for I am quick in learning."
" But with your various accomplishments,
my dear Miss Stratford, and your appearance,
your manner too, it really grieves me that you
should descend in life."
" It depends on oneself, dear Mrs. Steadfast,
by the faithful fulfilment of one's duties, to
render every situation respectable."
"You are right, I believe. You are wiser
than most of your age, and I hope and trust,
whatever step you decide on taking, will bring
you happiness."
" You will oblige me by writing to the friend
who inquired if you knew a lady's maid you
could recommend, and in a fortnight, by dili-
gent application, I trust I may be prepared
for my new duties."
Mrs. Steadfast did as she was requested,
and the next day brought the housekeeper in
person to answer the letter. She saw Selina,
professed herself charmed with her appearance
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 297
and manner, declared sotfo roce to Mrs. Stead-
fast that Miss Stratford was much more fit tQ
fill the place of a lady than a lady's maid, and
said she was sure that Mrs. Fraser, the lady
with whom she was to live, would be greatly
pleased with her. Mrs. Goodson, (so was the
portly housekeeper named,) never accorded the
title of mistress to any of the ladies she served,
and to the one in whose establishment she
now was, she would least of all think of doing
so ; but, with this pretension and weakness of
not recognizing as masters and mistresses
those whose wages she received, and whose
bread she ate, she was in the main an honest
and respectable woman.
"Mrs. Eraser," observed she, "is quite a
young and inexperienced per-" son, she would
have said, but she corrected the lapsus lingua,
before more than half the word was uttered,
and substituted " lady," in its place. " She is
extremely well- tempered, and gentle, and her
attendant will have little trouble, and may be
very happy with her. With Mr. Fraser it is
somewhat different he is old, does not enjoy
o3
298 MEMOIRS OF
good health, is rather of a morose disposition,
and it is clear has not been used to young
people. He has made an immense fortune in
India, where he filled some very high legal
post, returned home with ruined health, and
committed the folly, for a folly it must surely
be considered, to marry a young creature of
whom he might be the grandfather. But this
is not the worst part of it. Poor Mrs. Fraser,
for poor she is, notwithstanding all the gold
he lavishes on her, has a mother and sisters
in very bad circumstances. She believed, when
she married a gentleman of such a dispropor-
tionate age, that she might offer a home to
her mother and two sisters, on whom she dotes,
or, at all events, that he would enable her to
provide comfortably for them, and allow her
to see them constantly. I believe he led her
to think all this, poor young creature, and it
was a great shame for him so to impose on
her ; but when they returned after the honey-
moon, he soon let her see the cloven foot. He
has given no provision, so I hear from the
valet, to the mother and her two daughters,
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 299
who have not enough to enable them, even
by pinching themselves of all solid comforts,
to keep up an appearance of decency. They
are very good persons, and have seen better days,
for the father of Mrs. Fraser was a colonel
in the army, and a gentleman of good family,
and the mother was the daughter of a Dean
Everfield, who would have been a bishop if he
had lived. So, you see, they are every way
respectable."
Such was the extent of the housekeeper's
information, who, being of a very communica-
tive disposition, seldom neglected any oppor-
tunity of acquiring a knowledge of the affairs
of her employers, and still more seldom missed
any occasion of making them known to others.
We must now make our readers acquainted
with the remainder of the history of Mrs.
Fraser. Her father's regiment had been sent
to India, but he, dreading the effect of the
climate for his wife and young children, or,
probably, not having the means to defray the
heavy expense consequent on such a voyage,
left them in England. In India he formed the
300 MEMOIRS OF
acquaintance of Mr. Eraser, to whom he often
spoke of his wife and children at home. After
some years, and just as the poor colonel's regi-
ment was to return to England, and he all joy
at the prospect of being restored to his wife
and children, he died suddenly, leaving little
beside the small pension to which an officer's
widow is entitled. When, some three or four
years after, Mr. Eraser came home from India,
he sought out the widow of his friend. He
found that all his own relations had died, except
uome remote ones in Scotland, who were poor,
and could do him no credit. Friends and ac-
quaintances he had none, save those he had
made in India, and who, like himself, had re-
turned to enjoy in England the wealth accu-
mulated there. He became attracted by the
beauty of Mrs. Herbert's eldest daughter, and
held out hopes that if this poor young creature
would bestow her hand on him, he would not
only place her in affluence, but provide hand-
somely for her mother and sisters. This last
hope was the inducement that conquered the
natural dislike of the poor girl to wed a man
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 301
old enough to be her grandfather, and of plain
appearance and disagreeable manners. Fondly
attached to her mother and sisters, and well
aware, for she had shared them, of the priva-
tions they had to undergo, she determined to
secure their comfort by the sacrifice of her own
happiness, and wedded Mr. Fraser. Mrs. Her-
bert's poverty, and consequent seclusion, had
broken off nearly all intercourse with former
friends and acquaintances, so she had no one to
consult on the marriage of her daughter, or to
see that a proper settlement was made on her.
To stipulate on any allowance to herself, though
she was led to believe that she was to receive
one, would, in her mind, be like bartering her
child for gold; so she never hinted at it, al-
though the prospect of seeing her two younger
daughters placed in comfort was a great in-
ducement to her to consent to her beautiful
Amy's wedding a disagreeable old man. The
nuptials were celebrated ; the blooming bride,
and yellow, withered bridegroom set off on a
tour, without his making even the customary
gifts to the two youthful bridesmaids, the
302 MEMOIRS OF
Misses Herbert, or offering any assistance to
their poor mother. The bride thought that, at
the parting moment, a bank note of a large
amount would be slipped into the hand of her
weeping mother, and this conviction cheered
her when depressed by contemplating the yellow,
wrinkled face reflected in the front glass of
the chariot, every glance at which made her
shudder.
The temper of Mr. Fraser, never good, was
considerably ruffled on this occasion by having
heard an Irish apple- worn an, whose stall was
near Mrs. Herbert's humble abode at Brompton,
exclaim, as he handed his bride into the car-
riage, " Ah ! there goes a beautiful rosebud
tied to a faded old orange-lily, and more's the
pity."
Mrs. Herbert grew pale when she remem-
bered how large a portion of the sum meant
to support her and her two daughters for the
next half year, had been spent in providing a
few indispensable articles of clothing for the
bride. Mr. Fraser had sent no trousseau, no
corbeille, well as he knew the inability of Mrs.
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 303
Herbert to provide either, and she was too
delicate to hint a word on the subject. She
had, therefore, bought some linen, and a few
dresses, more suitable to the position her daugh-
ter was henceforth to fill than in accordance
with her own very limited means ; and now she
found herself much worse off than ever, and
trembled as she looked on her weeping girls,
who could not, for some hours, be consoled
when they saw the vacant place of that dear
and gentle sister, who had never before quitted
them. The alarmed mother recalled to mind
how, when she had ventured to recommend a
maid for her daughter, Mr. Fraser desired her
not to trouble herself, for he had provided one,
who would meet his wife at the place they were
to stop at for the night the day they should
leave Town. She thought, at the moment, that
the arrangement was a strange and ungracious
one ; but it had occurred to her that, probably,
Mr. Fraser might not wish the servant of his
wife to see the humble abode whence he took
her, and that, until she and her daughters were
placed by him in one more consonant to the
304 MEMOIRS OF
position her married daughter was to hold, he
wished to avoid any persons of his establish-
ment coming to the little cottage at Brompton.
But when day after day passed without bring-
ing her a line from her child, that child of
whose attachment she could not, for a moment,
entertain a doubt, and of whose whereabouts
she would have remained in total ignorance,
had not the "Morning Post" announced the
fact that the millionaire Mr. Fraser and his lovely
bride were arrived at Cheltenham that con-
servatory for returned Indians with diseased
livers. She instantly wrote a letter to Mrs.
Fraser, and waited, in an agony of suspense,
for an answer. But she waited in vain; and
then she bethought herself of writing to Mr.
Fraser. But even the pain of suspense was
less bitter to be borne than the fearful truth
that broke on her mind when his answer ar-
rived. The following lines were the whole con-
tents of the letter:
" Madam, Mrs. Fraser did not receive your
favour, for at her age I think it incumbent on
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 305
me to open and read all letters addressed to
her, consequently yours came to my hands ; and
I will be plain with you, I have deemed it
expedient that she should not see it. When I
married your daughter, and relieved you from
the expense of her board, lodging, and clothing,
which, in your confined circumstances, must be
a great saving, I never contemplated encumber-
ing myself with you, or your two daughters.
The position which my wife will fill is so widely
different to yours, that an intercourse between
you could only bring painful comparisons to
the minds of both parties. This is to be avoided,
more especially as Mrs. Fraser's undue sensi-
bility, foolishly, I must say, allowed by you to
become morbid, would, if encouraged, either by
personal intercourse or correspondence, be likely
t6 impair her health, or, at all events, interfere
with my comfort.
" I remain, Madam, your obedient Servant,
" JAMES FRASER."
The grief of the mother and sisters at finding
themselves denied the happiness of seeing her
306 MEMOIRS OP
so dear to them, may easily be imagined. The
separation tortured them, and well did they
know the effect it would produce on the unfor-
tunate young creature, who had, they felt
convinced, formed this ill-assorted union, more
with a view to the advantages they might
derive from it, than from any ambitious wishes
of her own. They could talk of the dear
absent one, could dwell on her perfections, and
they were manifold, and there was some faint
consolation even in this. But she she had no
one to whom she could speak of that loved,
though humble, home ; of that dear and affec-
tionate mother, and those beloved sisters, whom
it was agony to leave, even when cheered by
the delusive hope of beholding them again in a
few weeks. What a solitude of the heart must
her's be, with a harsh and stern old man, as
they now, too late, discovered Mr. Fraser to
be ; and their own grief was absorbed in pity
and sympathy for her's.
Such was the state of affairs in the mansion
in which Selina Stratford was to make her
debut in the humble position of Femme de
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 307
Chambre. To serve so gentle and unfortunate
a being as Mrs. Eraser was represented to be,
was more consonant with her wishes than an
entrance into the family of a lady of fashion ;
and when, the following day, she presented
herself in Grosvenor-square, and was admitted
to the presence of the youthful wife, her touch-
ing beauty, the pensive expression of her coun-
tenance, and the low, sweet sound of her voice,
excited the liveliest interest in the breast of
Selina. Mr. Fraser was present at the inter-
view, and his appearance fully justified the pre-
judice Selina had imbibed against him. He
examined her attentively, demanded her age,
family, and where she had previously served.
When told she had never been a femme de
chambre before, he expressed his satisfaction,
saying that he peculiarly wished to have a per-
son who had not held the situation in any
other family, although he expected her to be
able to fulfil the functions. " Mrs. Fraser is so
very young and inexperienced," added the stern
old man, " that you will refer to me before you
obey any of her orders that are at all out of
308 MEMOIRS OF
the ordinary routine, by which I mean, you are
never to deliver or receive letters or notes, to
or from her. You are never to admit visitors
to her dressing-room, however nearly related to
her they may be, or to convey messages."
Selina stole a glance at the fair young crea-
ture before her, whose face, one moment covered
with blushes, was the next as pale as marble.
Tears trembled in her downcast eyes, and the
movement of the white drapery that covered
her delicate bust revealed the agitation of the
heart that throbbed beneath it.
Mr. Fraser was a singularly plain man. Age
had left its searing marks on a low and retreating
forehead, crossed by deep lines, eyes dim, and
bordered by lids of a crimson hue, which ren-
dered the dingy yellow tint of the whole face
still more striking by the contrast, reminding
one of a yellow tulip, with a few streaks of red
on it. A black wig, of so juvenile a fashion as
to represent the hair of a dandy of twenty,
increased the disagreeable effect produced by
the whole countenance; and the extreme fop-
pishness of his dress attracted more attention to
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 309
the gaunt and ill-formed figure, whose defects
it by no means concealed. False whiskers,
attached to the wig, and adhering to the yellow
cheeks through the medium of gum, and teeth,
" few and far between," revealed whenever their
owner spoke, completed as revolting a face as
ever Selina looked upon. To glance from this
disagreeable object to the fair creature who
bore his name, ay, and had to bear with it the
frequent ebullitions of a temper never good, but
now soured by age, ill health, and evil pas-
sions, was quite sufficient to make her feel
disgust for one, and deep pity for the other.
Mrs. Fraser was remarkably beautiful. Fault-
less in features, and with a fairness of com-
plexion seldom seen, hair dark as the raven's
wing, and eyes of a deep blue, with a charming
mouth and teeth, it was impossible to see a
more lovely creature. Her figure was tall and
slender, yet not deficient in that roundness of
contour which gives feminine beauty its finish-
ing touch, and her feet and hands were of
extreme delicacy.
({ And what situation have you hitherto
310 MEMOIRS OF
held ? " demanded Mr. Fraser, with the air of
an inquisitor.
" That of a nursery governess," replied
Selina, wishing to conceal that she was capable
of being a governess to young people more
advanced in years, lest the discovery might
militate against her being engaged in so sub-
ordinate a one as that for which she now offered
herself.
" A nursery governess," repeated he, " so
much the better, for you can serve as a sort of
companion to Mrs. Fraser, as well as lady's
maid, and this will be agreeable to me when
I am forced to absent myself from home,
as I have a peculiar objection to her being left
alone."
Again Mrs. Fraser's cheeks became suffused
with blushes, and tears filled her eyes ; but if
either of these emotions were noticed by her
unfeeling husband, he said or did nothing to
denote the slightest contrition for having occa-
sioned these symptoms of discomposure.
Selina prepared to depart, and her move-
ment recalled Mr. Fraser from the moody
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 311
state of abstraction into which he seemed to
have fallen for the last few minutes. "We
have not as yet spoken of wages," said he,
and the word grated harshly on the ear of
Selina, "what do you demand?"
" Forty pounds a year."
" Forty pounds ! that is a very large sum.
I should have thought twenty-five pounds a
year quite sufficient. The present maid of
Mrs. Fraser has only that sum."
" For a person who is to act as companion
as well as lady's maid, a less sum than the one
I have named, Sir, would not enable me to
make a suitable appearance. I must also pre-
mise that I cannot consent to take my meals
with the servants; with the housekeeper I
have no objection, but it would not suit me to
dine in the servants' hall."
"Humph," said Mr. Fraser; "well, well,
this won't make any great difference you may
have your meals served in your own room. Of
course your tea, sugar, and washing are in-
cluded in the 40/., and your beer money too."
"Yes, Sir," replied Selina, anxious to get
312 MEMOIRS OF
over this part of the affair, and heartily dis-
gusted with the sordidness of the millionnaire.
The situation was so very untempting, that
she was much disposed at once to decline it ;
but the pensive countenance of the fair young
wife appealed so strongly to her sympathy,
that her desire to soothe, if not to ameliorate
her position, triumphed over the distaste she
had conceived against becoming a dependent
on the gloomy and irascible Mr. Fraser. The
countenance of his poor wife, too, had no in-
considerable influence on the decision of Selina.
Her mild expression, and lady-like demeanour,
so different from the pert self-sufficiency, or
servile submission appertaining to the gene-
ral class of suitantes, had greatly impressed
Mrs. Fraser in her favour ; the purity of
her diction, the agreeable tone of her voice,
and her personal attractions also, had their
due weight in winning the good will of the
youthful and unhappy wife. There is, what-
ever some persons may assert to the contrary,
a sympathy, a sort of freemasonry in beauty,
and particularly in that species of it which
A FEMME DE CHAMBRE. 313
consists in an expression of goodness, that
draws those who possess it towards each other.
Both women, in the present instance, were
conscious of this magnetic effect, and felt pre-
disposed to become friends; and when Selina
closed her agreement with Mr. Fraser, his
wife longed to tell her how much gratified she
felt by the arrangement. Mrs. Buxton was
to be written to, and Mrs. Steadfast was to be
seen, relative to the character of Miss Stratford,
and if the result proved satisfactory, Selina
was to enter her new position.
She withdrew, and left Mrs. Fraser most
desirous that she should soon return.
" She is too pretty, but that can't be helped,"
soliloquized Mr. Fraser, "and may after all
prove advantageous. Handsome women are
always jealous of each other, and envy in this
case will be added to that passion; for how
can this very good-looking girl see the riches
and splendour that surround my wife without
being envious ? This will render her a willing
spy over Amy, and make her carefully obey
my instructions."
VOL. n. p
314 MEMOIRS OF
So reasoned the obtuse nabob, and so rea-
son many men, who believe they comprehend
women, because they judge by a few of the
unworthy specimens of the sex that may have
fallen in their way, and who, thinking that
the beauty of other women detracts from their
own, are disposed to dislike and malign them.
In due time the answer arrived from Mrs.
Buxton, who, haunted by remorse at having
believed aught to the prejudice of Selina, had,
ever since the proofs of her innocence had been
furnished, longed for an opportunity to make
atonement to her, and gladly seized this one.
Every eulogium that good feeling could convey,
was lavished on Miss Stratford by the good-
natured but weak-minded woman, who missed
her society every day, yet had not moral
courage sufficient to entreat her return, lest
such a measure might be oifensive to her noble
neighbours. Mrs. Steadfast gave an equally
high character of Miss Stratford, and Mr.
Fraser, being now fully satisfied of her merits,
wrote to request she would enter his establish-
ment as soon as possible. The arrangements
A 1'EMME DE CHAMBRE. 31 5
for her reception far surpassed her expectations.
They were not only comfortable, but even
elegant ; for Mr. Fraser, reasoning like a selfish
and cunning man, determined, by making Selina's
position as comfortable as possible, to attach
her to it, and render her willing to do all his
behests rather than risk losing it.
END OF VOL. II.
LONDON :
B. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.
University of California
SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY
405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388
Return this material to the library
from which it was borrowed.
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