9. Two Ladies of Great Distinction Introduced-Superior Finery
Ever Seems to Confer Superior Breeding.
MR. BURCHELL had scarcely taken leave, and Sophia consented
to dance with the chaplain, when my little ones came running out to tell
us that the 'Squire was come with a crowd of company. Upon our
return, we found our landlord, with a couple of under-gentlemen and two
young ladies richly dressed, whom he introduced as women of very
great distinction and fashion from town. We happened not to have
chairs enough for the whole company; but Mr. Thornhill immediately
proposed that every gentleman should sit in a lady's lap. This I
positively objected to, notwithstanding a look of disapprobation from my
wife. Moses was therefore sent to borrow a couple of chairs; and as we
were in want of ladies to make up a set at countrydances, the two
gentlemen went with him in quest of a couple of partners. Chairs and
partners were soon provided. The gentlemen returned with my neighbor
Flamborough's rosy daughters, flaunting with red topknots, But an
unlucky circumstance was not
adverted to; though the Miss Flamboroughs were reck
oned the very best dancers in the parish, and understood the jig and the
round-about to perfection, yet they were totally unacquainted with
country-dances. This at first discomposed us; however, after a little
shoving and dragging, they at last went merrily on. Our music consisted
of two fiddles, with a pipe and tabor. The moon shone bright. Mr.
Thornhill and my eldest daughter led up the ball, to the great delight of
the spectators; for the neighbors hearing what was going forward, came
flocking about us. My girl moved with so much grace and vivacity, that
my wife could not avoid discovering the pride of her heart, by assuring
me that though the little chit did it so cleverly, all the steps were stolen
from herself. The ladies of the town strove hard to be equally easy, but
without success. They swam, sprawled, languished, and frisked; but
all would not do; the gazers indeed owned that it was fine; but neighbor
Flamborough observed that Miss Livy's feet seemed as pat to the music
as its echo. After the dance had continued about an hour, the two ladies,
who were apprehensive of catching cold, moved to break up the ball.
One of them, I thought, expressed her sentiments upon this occasion in a
very coarse manner, when she observed that by the "living jingo, she
was all of a muck of sweat." Upon our return to the house, we found a
very elegant cold supper, which Mr. Thornhill had ordered to be brought
with
him. The conversation at this time was more reserved
than before. The two ladies threw my girls quite into the shade; for they
would talk of nothing but high life, and high-lived company; with other
fashionable topics, such as pictures, taste, Shakespeare, and the musical
glasses. 'Tis true, they once or twice mortified us sensibly by slipping
out an oath; but that appeared to me as the surest symptom of their
distinction (though I am since informed that swearing is perfectly
unfashionable). Their finery, however, threw a veil over any grossness
in their conversation. My daughters seemed to regard their superior
accomplishments with envy; and what appeared amiss was ascribed to
tip-top quality breeding. But the condescension of the ladies was still
superior to their other accomplishments. One of them observed that
were Miss Olivia to see a little more of the world, it would greatly
improve her: to which the other added that a single winter in town would
make little Sophia quite another thing. My wife warmly assented to
both; adding that there was nothing she more ardently wished than to
give her girls a single winter's polishing. To this I could not help
replying that their breeding was already superior to their fortune; and
that greater refinement would only serve to make their poverty ridic
ulous, and give them a taste for pleasures they had no right to possess.
"And what pleasures," cried Mr. Thornhill, "do they not deserve to
possess, who have
so much in their power to bestow? As for my part,"
continued he, "my fortune is pretty large; love, liberty, and pleasure, are
my maxims; but curse me, if a settlement of half my estate could give
my charming Olivia pleasure, it should be hers; and the only favor I
would ask in return would be to add myself to the benefit." I was not
such a stranger to the world as to be ignorant that this was the
fashionable cant to disguise the insolence of the basest proposal; but I
made an effort to suppress my resentment. "Sir," cried I, "the family
which you now condescend to favor with your company has been bred
with as nice a sense of honor as you. Any attempts to injure that may be
attended with very dangerous consequences. Honor, sir, is our only
possession at present, and of that last treasure we must be particularly
careful." I was soon sorry for the warmth in which I had spoken this,
when the young gentleman, grasping my hand, swore he commended my
spirit, though he disapproved my suspicions. "As to your present
hint," continued he, "I protest nothing was farther from my heart than
such a thought. No, by all that's tempting, the virtue that will stand a
regular siege was never to my taste; for all my amours are carried by a
coup de main,"
The two ladies, who affected to be ignorant of the rest, seemed
highly displeased with this last stroke of freedom, and began a very
discreet and serious dialogue upon virtue: in this my wife, the chaplain,
and
I soon joined; and the 'Squire himself was at last brought
to confess a sense of sorrow for his former excesses. We talked of the
pleasures of temperance, and of the sunshine in the mind unpolluted with
guilt. I was so well pleased, that my little ones were kept up beyond the
usual time to be edified by so much good conversation. Mr. Thornhill
even went beyond me, and demanded if I had any objection to giving
prayers. I joyfully embraced the proposal, and in this manner the night
was passed in a most comfortable way, till at last the company began to
think of returning. The ladies seemed very unwilling to part with my
daughters, for whom they had conceived a particular affection, and
joined in a request to have the pleasure of their company home. The
'Squire seconded the proposal, and my wife added her entreaties; the
girls, too, looked upon me as if they wished to go. In this perplexity I
made two or three excuses which my daughters as readily removed, so
that at last I was obliged to give a peremptory refusal, for which we had
nothing but sullen looks and short answers the whole day ensuing.
