University of Virginia Library

17. CHAP. XVII.
GALLANTRY, JEALOUSY, AND INTEGRITY.

“I Do not think, my dear,” said Lord Ossiter, as he
was taking his chocolate in his lady's dressing-room,
one morning about a fortnight after Sir George's departure.
“I do not think it will be in my power to join the
intended party at Lady Rackett's to-night.”

“Some new engagement, my Lord,” said her Ladyship,
smiling affectedly.

“Not a very agreeable one,” he replied. “I am obliged
to go into the City, on some infernal business with my
banker: these monied men are the most tiresome animals in
the creation. He says I have overdrawn him, and desires I
will come and examine my accounts; it is a cursed stupid
affair, and I don't often concern myself about such things,
but the fellow is so pressing.”

“But perhaps you can get away in time to dress and
join us, my Lord, before supper.”

“I will, if possible, but I dare say the wretch will make
me as stupid as himself before I have done with his discounts
and interests, so I shall be horrid bad company; therefore
it is most likely I shall come home and go to bed.”

“To bed, my Lord,” cried her Ladyship, laughing;
“why, sure you are going to take pattern by the sober cit.”

Though Lady Ossiter pretended to desire her Lord's
company, it was, in fact, the farthest thing from her wishes.
She had for some time past been admired and followed
by the Duke of—; a conquest so brilliant and unexpected,
was the highest gratification to this vain woman,
and she had heard with pleasure her husband's intended appointment
in the city, as she was resolved to see his Grace
for half an hour at home, previous to their meeting at Lady
Rackett's ball, where she was engaged to dance with him.

But Lord Ossiter had frequently given her a few pretty
plain hints in regard to her conduct with her noble admirer,
and therefore, though she had resolved to see him,
she thought it would be best to do it privately, and Lappett
being unfortunately gone to visit a sick brother in the
country, she was obliged to make Rebecca her considante
on the occasion, and immediately, on retiring from breakfast,
she summoned her to her dressing-room.

“Rebecca, child,” said she, as she entered, “I think
I have not given you any thing since you have been with
me, and you have done more than half of Lappett's business
for her; there is that blue satin gown and coat, you may
take it, and as it is rather soiled, here is something to pay
for the dying and making up, presenting her with a couple
of guineas. Do you know, child, (continued she) I
have taken the strangest whim in my head, and you must
lend me your assistance. I think that trimming you made
me extremely pretty, I dare say it will be greatly admired.”

“I am happy it pleases you, Madam,” said Rebecca:
“but I thought you were saying you would have it altered.”

“Oh, no, I was not speaking of my dress then; I
think nothing can be more elegant or better fancied, but
you have a charming taste, that is certain. No, I was
going to tell you of a strange whim I had taken to play a
trick with the old Duke of—; for, do you know
Rebecca, the man makes downright love to me whenever
he meets me, and the other day, when he was here, he left

behind him these superb bracelets. Now, I have a mind
to mortify him, and as my Lord is going into the City, I
will send to the Duke to come here that I may have an
opportunity to return his present and laugh at him.”

“Would it not be better to send them to him,” said
Rebecca.

“Oh, no, that will not do half so well, for then, I
should not have the satisfaction of seeing his chagrin, so,
Rebecca, you shall take a note, which I will write, and
send it, unknown to any of the other servants, and when
his grace comes he shall come disguised, and pass for your
brother, and you can bring him to my dressing-room.”

“Your Ladyship will pardon me,” said Rebecca, laying
the two guineas on the table, “I am not fit to engage
in such a service; I would much rather decline it.”

“Decline it!” said her Ladyship, reddening; “pray
are you not my servant?”

“Undoubtedly Madam.”

“And is it not your duty to obey my orders?”

“When they are proper.”

“And pray are you to be the judge of what is proper or
improper in my actions?

“By no means; but your Ladyship will allow me to
judge of my own.”

“Oh, certainly Madam, if you are too squeamish to
enter into so innocent a scheme.”

“I make no doubt but your designs, Madam, are perfectly
innocent, but where there is myslery there is always
room for suspicion, and should my Lord discover it—”

“But how can he, child, if you are discreet.”

“I am determined to be so, Madam, and hope you will
pardon my temerity, if I humbly entreat you to drop this
design.”

“Prithee, good madam pert,” said her Ladyship,
scornfully, “do not pretend to more delicacy and virtue
than your betters. I have as high a regard for my honour
as any woman can have, but I may indulge myself, I hope,
in a little innocent gallantry for all that. Go; I shell not
want you till I dress.”

Rebecca retired, and for this once the pain her lady's
anger gave her was more than counterbalanced by the reflexion

that she had acted right in rejecting the infamous
service she would have employed her in.

Contrary to her Lady's expectation, Rebecca had scarcely
reached her own apartment when Lappett returned,
and entered the dressing-room, to receive Lady Ossiter's
command.

“Well, Lappett,” said she, “you are returned in very
good time, for I have been so grossly affronted by that little
prude, Rebecca, that I can hardly contain my anger;
do you know the impertinent creature had the audacity to
refuse getting me a note conveyed to the Duke of—;
though I had condescended to inform her that my intentions
were only to laugh at him. You know, Lappett, there
is not a woman breathing would be more cautious than
myself in doing any thing improper.”

“Dear, my Lady, I am sure of that; nor is your Ladyship,
by any means, obligated to enter into explanations
with your servants, to speak your command is always sufficient
cient to have them instantly obeyed.”

The obsequious abigail took the note, conveyed it herself,
and at eight o'clock in the evening his Grace was admitted
to her Lady's dressing-room.

Lady Ossiter meant nothing less than to over-step the
boundaries of discretion in this tete-a-tete. The Duke
was to her an object of disgust, but flattery was delightful
to her ears, and pearls and diamonds were pretty ornaments
in her opinion, easily purchased by a little condesension
and she flattered herself, that while she remained virtuous in
one great point, she might indulge herself in every other
imprudence, and desy the censures of the world.

But it was the opinion of Rebecca, that every truly virtuous
woman should carefully avoid even the appearance of
indiscretion, especially those whose elevated stations might
render their examples infinitely pernicious to their inferiors:
she therefore felt herself greatly hurt by Lady Ossiter's
want of prudence, and flattered herself the repulse she
had met from her would prevent her making her designs
known to any other servant, and she readily imagined
Mrs. Lappett would be as unwilling as herself to engage in
the busness; so when informed she was returned, Rebecca
found herself somewhat relieved, as she knew she should
avoid the painful task of dressing a woman whom she feared

The obsequious abigail took the note, conveyed it herself,
and at eight o'clock in the evening his Grace was admitted
to her Lady's dressing-room.

Lady Ossiter meant nothing less than to over-step the
boundaries of discretion in this tete-a-tete, the Duke
was to her an object of disgust, but flattery was delightful
to her ears, and pearls and diamonds were pretty ornaments
in her opinion, easily purchased by a little condeseention;
and she flettered herself, that while she remained virtuous in
one great point, she might indulge herself in every other
inprudence, and defy the censures of the world.

would be predetermined not to be pleased with her utmost
exertion.

While the Duke and her Ladyship were together, the
artful Lappett thought she would just step in and hear
what Rebecca had to say on the subject, for, by her specious
appearance of friendship, she had so won on the unsuspicious
heart of our heroine, that she never scrupled to
communicate to her every thought as it arose, except
those which concerned Sir George, (and those she endeavoured
to conceal, if possible, even from herself.)

“So,” cried Lappett, sitting down, “my Lady and
you had a tiff to day, I find.”

“We did not quite agree,” said Rebecca, slightly,
“but I dare say she has forgot it by this time; I am sure
I do not wish to remember it.”

“I suppose she wanted you to get a letter conveyed to
the Duke.”

“What then she has told you herself, has she?”

“Oh, Yes, the moment I came in. I declare it is a
pity my Lord is not acquainted with her conduct?”

“It would be a cruel thing, Mrs. Lappett, to plant dissension
between man and wife: besides, I dare say, my
Lady, though imprudent, is not criminal.”

“To be sure my Lady has some excuse; my Lord is
always after other women: he is seldom at home, and
I am certain don't care a pin about his wife.”

“Perhaps if her Ladyship was more attentive to increase
his domestic comforts, he would necessarily grow more attached
to home, but while she is so extravagantly fond of
dissipation, and while the four honours have the power to
keep her from home, night after night, can we be surprised
if her husband seeks abroad for that felicity he is
sure of not meeting in his own house.”

“Why, to say truth, my Lady is a sad rake.”

“And her children, Mrs. Lappett, she pays but little
attention to them, nor will she suffer any other person to
do it. Can there be a more lovely or engaging child than
Miss Ossiter. I am sure the little time I have to instruct
her is amply repaid by her docility and attention; as to
Master Ossiter and his brother James, they are so humoured,
especially the former, that it requires greater powers than
I am possessed of to make them attend to any thing.”

“I suppose she wanted you to get a letter conveyed to
the Duke.”

“What then she has told you herself, has she?”

“Oh, Yes, the moment I came in. I declare it is a
pity my Lord is not acquainted with her conduct.”

“It would be a cruel thing, Mrs. Lappett, to plant difsension
between man and wife: besides, I dare say, my
Lady, though imprudent, is not criminal.”

“To be sure my Lady has some excuse; my Lord is
always after other women: he is seldom at home, and
I am certain don't care a pin about his wife.”

“Perhaps if her Ladyship was more attentive to increase
his domestic comforts, he would necessarily grow more attached
to home, but while she is so extravagantly fond of
dissipation, and while the four honours have the power to
keep her from home, night after night, can we be surprised
if her husband seeks abroad for that felicity he is
sure of not meeting in his own house.

“He is very passionate,” said Lappett.

“Extremely so,” replied the artless Rebecca; “besides
which, he is cruel, mischievous, and a great liar, and these
things should be corrected in time, or he will be as despicable
when a man, as he is now disagreeable as a child.”

“His temper is very like his mother's.”

“I think there is some similitude between them, for indeed,
Mrs. Lappett, I do not know how you acquire fortitude
to support it, but my Lady is sometimes so passionate
and capricious I am ready to die with vexation, and,
though my heart be ready to burst, in her presence I dare
not shed a tear, for if sometimes, when I can no longer
suppress them, they will burst forth, she reproaches me
with childishness, passion, and folly. Folly it is, I will
own, to let the behaviour of so unfeeling a woman wound
my sensibility; but yet when I know that I do my duty
to the utmost of my power, it is very hard to meet with
nothing in return but taunts and unkindness.”

“So it is indeed, my dear, but you must keep up your
spirits.”

“I do, Mrs. Lappett, as well as I can, but my Lady
sometimes asks me what I am fit for? and if she had not
taken me, who would? That my Lord often tells her, he
wonders she will keep so awkward a creature about her. I
am sensible I have many obligations to her Ladyship's family,
but can I help my inexperience, unacquainted as I
am with servitude?”

“No, to be sure, you cannot: but my Lady will want
me, and I shall come in for my share, for I do assure you
child, we get it all round in turn; but you will know how
to bear these things better in time.”

Lappett returned to her Lady and not only repeated but
exaggerated every thing which Rebecca, in the simplicity
of her heart, had uttered.

“Ungrateful creature,” said the Lady, “after what I
have done for her.”

“Ungrateful indeed, Madam. I wonder your Ladyship
will keep her.”

“I shall not keep her long, Lappett; I assure you, I
am quite sick of her airs and impertinence.”

The clock had struck ten, the children were in bed, and
Lady Ossiter just stepped into her chair and gone towards

Cavendish-Square, the servants retired to the lower apartments,
and silence seemed to reign throughout the house.
Rebecca, wearied with the fatigue and vexation of the day,
thought she might this evening safely indulge, in a relaxation,
which she had not enjoyed since her residence in
Lady Ossiter's family, which was to practice a few hours
on the harpsicord. She took her music books and a candle,
and went to a small parlour, in a retired part of the
house, where stood a sine toned instrument, and where she
sat down and amused herself, unthinking how time past,
and entirely inattentive to the footsteps that passed and repassed
the door of the apartment. The music soothed and
composed the perturbation of her spirits. She played several
little plaintive airs, and accompanied them with her
voice; and among the rest, the song she was signing when
Sir George first saw her. When she had got nearly through
it, the remembrance of that scene—the striking contrast
of her situation then and now, struck so forcibly on her
imagination that she was unable to proceed. She paused,
and tears involuntarily stole down her cheeks; her amusement
was ended; she rose from her seat, and was shutting
the book, when somebody laid hold of her, and repeating,
clasped her rudely in his arms and snatched a kiss.

Rebecca, too much terrified to scream, could only endeavour
to disengage herself, and turning round, beheld
Lord Ossiter.

“If I have alarmed you, my dear creature,” said his
Lordship, “I humbly entreat your pardon. But do not
let me interrupt your amusement; come, sit down again,
and let me hear that charming song you were singing
when I entered the room.”

“Your Lordship will pardon me, I had no intention of
being heard by any one;—I have some orders to execute
for my Lady.”

“Nay, nay, you do not get off so easily. Do you
know, my lovely girl, I have been absolutely expiring
from the first moment I beheld you, for an opportunity
to tell you how much I admire and adore you.”

“Surely your Lordship cannot seriously mean to insult
me.”

“Insult you, my angel, no, by heavens I would sacrifice
the wretch who should dare to offend you:—No, my
dear girl, I mean to offer you love and affluence in the
room of dependence and poverty. I will place you in your
proper sphere: such beauty and elegance were not formed
for servitude. Come, listen to me, I will furnish you a
house, keep you a chariot, and settle five hundred a year.”

“Gracious heaven,” cried Rebecca, bursting into tears,
“to what am I exposed.”

“Pshaw, pshaw, this is all prudery and nonsense; come,
dry your tears and let us go to my jeweller's, and you
shall take your choice of whatever trinkets his shop affords,
I will not limit you as to the sum.”

Lord Ossiter had but an indifferent opinion of female
delicacy; he thought the word virtue very pretty in the
mouth of a pretty woman, but as to the reality existing
in the heart, he thought no woman possessed so large a
share but money, jewels, and flattery could lull it to sleep;
how astonished was he then to find, upon taking a few liberties
with Rebecca, she shrunk instinctively from him,
shrieked faintly, and, staggering a few paces toward the
door, fell lifeless to the floor.

Terrified, he caught her from the ground, and ringing
the bell with violence, began to tear open her gown and
handkerchief, in order to give her air. “My dear, my
lovely girl,” said he, “for heaven's sake revive.” Then
placing her on a sofa, he seated himself beside her, and
rested her head on his shoulder.

At that moment who should appear at the door but
Mrs. Lappett, all the fury of a jealous enraged woman
flashing from her eyes.

“My dear Lappett,” said his Lordship, “I happened
to come unexpectedly into the room where this poor girl
was amusing herself, and see how it has frightened her;
do get a little water.”

But Lappett was not to be deceived: she had heard him
utter words of tenderness, and was sufficiently convinced
Rebecca was her rival.

“The creature is so affected,” said she, “I declare there

is no bearing her, but I assure your Lordship I have something
else to do than to wait on the dear lovely girl.”

Rebecca was now recovering, and, raising her head, she
caught hold of Lappett's gown, as she turned to leave the
room, and exclaimed, “Do not leave me, stay, save me,
take me from this place.”

“Indeed, Madam, I am in a hurry,” cried Lappett,
twitching her gown from the feeble grasp of Rebecca, and
flung out of the room, audibly saying, “Her Lady should
be informed what sort of a person she had in her family.”

Rebecca arose, disengaged herself from his Lordship's
arms, who no longer attempted to detain her, and with
trembling steps returned to her apartment.