Shesatecommonlywithherfather，whowasveryproudofherwit，andheardthetalkofmanyofhiswildcompanions——oftenbutill-suitedforagirltohear。Butsheneverhadbeenagirl，shesaid；shehadbeenawomansinceshewaseightyearsold。Oh，whydidMissPinkertonletsuchadangerousbirdintohercage？

Thefactis，theoldladybelievedRebeccatobethemeekestcreatureintheworld，soadmirably，ontheoccasionswhenherfatherbroughthertoChiswick，usedRebeccatoperformthepartoftheingenue；andonlyayearbeforethearrangementbywhichRebeccahadbeenadmittedintoherhouse，andwhenRebeccawassixteenyearsold，MissPinkertonmajestically，andwithalittlespeech，madeherapresentofadoll——whichwas，bytheway，theconfiscatedpropertyofMissSwindle，discoveredsurreptitiouslynursingitinschool-hours。Howthefatheranddaughterlaughedastheytrudgedhometogetheraftertheeveningparty(itwasontheoccasionofthespeeches，whenalltheprofessorswereinvited)andhowMissPinkertonwouldhaveragedhadsheseenthecaricatureofherselfwhichthelittlemimic，Rebecca，managedtomakeoutofherdoll。Beckyusedtogothroughdialogueswithit；itformedthedelightofNewmanStreet，GerrardStreet，andtheArtists’quarter：

andtheyoungpainters，whentheycametotaketheirgin-

and-waterwiththeirlazy，dissolute，clever，jovialsenior，usedregularlytoaskRebeccaifMissPinkertonwasathome：shewasaswellknowntothem，poorsoul！asMr。LawrenceorPresidentWest。OnceRebeccahadthehonourtopassafewdaysatChiswick；afterwhichshebroughtbackJemima，anderectedanotherdollasMissJemmy：forthoughthathonestcreaturehadmadeandgivenherjellyandcakeenoughforthreechildren，andaseven-shillingpieceatparting，thegirl’ssenseofridiculewasfarstrongerthanhergratitude，andshesacrificedMissJemmyquiteaspitilesslyashersister。

Thecatastrophecame，andshewasbroughttotheMallastoherhome。Therigidformalityoftheplacesuffocatedher：theprayersandthemeals，thelessonsandthewalks，whichwerearrangedwithaconventualregularity，oppressedheralmostbeyondendurance；andshelookedbacktothefreedomandthebeggaryoftheoldstudioinSohowithsomuchregret，thateverybody，herselfincluded，fanciedshewasconsumedwithgriefforherfather。Shehadalittleroominthegarret，wherethemaidsheardherwalkingandsobbingatnight；butitwaswithrage，andnotwithgrief。Shehadnotbeenmuchofadissembler，untilnowherlonelinesstaughthertofeign。Shehadnevermingledinthesocietyofwomen：

herfather，reprobateashewas，wasamanoftalent；hisconversationwasathousandtimesmoreagreeabletoherthanthetalkofsuchofherownsexasshenowencountered。

Thepompousvanityoftheoldschoolmistress，thefoolishgood-humourofhersister，thesillychatandscandaloftheeldergirls，andthefrigidcorrectnessofthegovernessesequallyannoyedher；andshehadnosoftmaternalheart，thisunluckygirl，otherwisetheprattleandtalkoftheyoungerchildren，withwhosecareshewaschieflyintrusted，mighthavesoothedandinterestedher；butshelivedamongthemtwoyears，andnotonewassorrythatshewentaway。Thegentletender-

heartedAmeliaSedleywastheonlypersontowhomshecouldattachherselfintheleast；andwhocouldhelpattachingherselftoAmelia？

Thehappinessthesuperioradvantagesoftheyoungwomenroundabouther，gaveRebeccainexpressiblepangsofenvy。”Whatairsthatgirlgivesherself，becausesheisanEarl’sgrand-daughter。”shesaidofone。”HowtheycringeandbowtothatCreole，becauseofherhundredthousandpounds！Iamathousandtimesclevererandmorecharmingthanthatcreature，forallherwealth。

IamaswellbredastheEarl’sgrand-daughter，forallherfinepedigree；andyeteveryonepassesmebyhere。Andyet，whenIwasatmyfather’s，didnotthemengiveuptheirgayestballsandpartiesinordertopasstheeveningwithme？”Shedeterminedatanyratetogetfreefromtheprisoninwhichshefoundherself，andnowbegantoactforherself，andforthefirsttimetomakeconnectedplansforthefuture。

Shetookadvantage，therefore，ofthemeansofstudytheplaceofferedher；andasshewasalreadyamusicianandagoodlinguist，shespeedilywentthroughthelittlecourseofstudywhichwasconsiderednecessaryforladiesinthosedays。Hermusicshepractisedincessantly，andoneday，whenthegirlswereout，andshehadremainedathome，shewasoverheardtoplayapiecesowellthatMinervathought，wisely，shecouldspareherselftheexpenseofamasterforthejuniors，andintimatedtoMissSharpthatshewastoinstructtheminmusicforthefuture。

Thegirlrefused；andforthefirsttime，andtotheastonishmentofthemajesticmistressoftheschool。”I

amheretospeakFrenchwiththechildren。”Rebeccasaidabruptly，“nottoteachthemmusic，andsavemoneyforyou。Givememoney，andIwillteachthem。”

Minervawasobligedtoyield，and，ofcourse，dislikedherfromthatday。”Forfive-and-thirtyyears。”shesaid，andwithgreatjustice，“Ineverhaveseentheindividualwhohasdaredinmyownhousetoquestionmyauthority。Ihavenourishedaviperinmybosom。”

“Aviper——afiddlestick。”saidMissSharptotheoldlady，almostfaintingwithastonishment。”YoutookmebecauseIwasuseful。Thereisnoquestionofgratitudebetweenus。Ihatethisplace，andwanttoleaveit。I

willdonothingherebutwhatIamobligedtodo。”

ItwasinvainthattheoldladyaskedherifshewasawareshewasspeakingtoMissPinkerton？Rebeccalaughedinherface，withahorridsarcasticdemoniacallaughter，thatalmostsenttheschoolmistressintofits。

“Givemeasumofmoney。”saidthegirl，“andgetridofme——or，ifyoulikebetter，getmeagoodplaceasgovernessinanobleman’sfamily——youcandosoifyouplease。”Andintheirfurtherdisputesshealwaysreturnedtothispoint，“Getmeasituation——wehateeachother，andIamreadytogo。”

WorthyMissPinkerton，althoughshehadaRomannoseandaturban，andwasastallasagrenadier，andhadbeenuptothistimeanirresistibleprincess，hadnowillorstrengthlikethatofherlittleapprentice，andinvaindidbattleagainsther，andtriedtooveraweher。

Attemptingoncetoscoldherinpublic，Rebeccahituponthebefore-mentionedplanofansweringherinFrench，whichquiteroutedtheoldwoman。Inordertomaintainauthorityinherschool，itbecamenecessarytoremovethisrebel，thismonster，thisserpent，thisfirebrand；andhearingaboutthistimethatSirPittCrawley’sfamilywasinwantofagoverness，sheactuallyrecommendedMissSharpforthesituation，firebrandandserpentasshewas。”Icannot，certainly。”shesaid，“findfaultwithMissSharp’sconduct，excepttomyself；andmustallowthathertalentsandaccomplishmentsareofahighorder。

Asfarastheheadgoes，atleast，shedoescredittotheeducationalsystempursuedatmyestablishment。’’

Andsotheschoolmistressreconciledtherecommendationtoherconscience，andtheindentureswerecancelled，andtheapprenticewasfree。Thebattleheredescribedinafewlines，ofcourse，lastedforsomemonths。AndasMissSedley，beingnowinherseventeenthyear，wasabouttoleaveschool，andhadafriendshipforMissSharp(“’tistheonlypointinAmelia’sbehaviour。”saidMinerva，“whichhasnotbeensatisfactorytohermistress“)，MissSharpwasinvitedbyherfriendtopassaweekwithherathome，beforesheentereduponherdutiesasgovernessinaprivatefamily。

Thustheworldbeganforthesetwoyoungladies。ForAmeliaitwasquiteanew，fresh，brilliantworld，withallthebloomuponit。ItwasnotquiteanewoneforRebecca——(indeed，ifthetruthmustbetoldwithrespecttotheCrispaffair，thetart-womanhintedtosomebody，whotookanaffidavitofthefacttosomebodyelse，thattherewasagreatdealmorethanwasmadepublicregardingMr。CrispandMissSharp，andthathisletterwasinanswertoanotherletter)。Butwhocantellyoutherealtruthofthematter？Atallevents，ifRebeccawasnotbeginningtheworld，shewasbeginningitoveragain。

BythetimetheyoungladiesreachedKensingtonturnpike，Ameliahadnotforgottenhercompanions，buthaddriedhertears，andhadblushedverymuchandbeendelightedatayoungofficeroftheLifeGuards，whospiedherashewasridingby，andsaid，“Ademfinegal，egad！”andbeforethecarriagearrivedinRussellSquare，agreatdealofconversationhadtakenplaceabouttheDrawing-room，andwhetherornotyoungladiesworepowderaswellashoopswhenpresented，andwhethershewastohavethathonour：totheLordMayor’sballsheknewshewastogo。Andwhenatlengthhomewasreached，MissAmeliaSedleyskippedoutonSambo’sarm，ashappyandashandsomeagirlasanyinthewholebigcityofLondon。Bothheandcoachmanagreedonthispoint，andsodidherfatherandmother，andsodideveryoneoftheservantsinthehouse，astheystoodbobbing，andcurtseying，andsmiling，inthehalltowelcometheiryoungmistress。

YoumaybesurethatsheshowedRebeccaovereveryroomofthehouse，andeverythingineveryoneofherdrawers；andherbooks，andherpiano，andherdresses，andallhernecklaces，brooches，laces，andgimcracks。

SheinsisteduponRebeccaacceptingthewhitecornelianandtheturquoiserings，andasweetspriggedmuslin，whichwastoosmallforhernow，thoughitwouldfitherfriendtoanicety；andshedeterminedinherhearttoaskhermother’spermissiontopresentherwhiteCashmereshawltoherfriend。Couldshenotspareit？andhadnotherbrotherJosephjustbroughthertwofromIndia？

WhenRebeccasawthetwomagnificentCashmereshawlswhichJosephSedleyhadbroughthometohissister，shesaid，withperfecttruth，“thatitmustbedelightfultohaveabrother。”andeasilygotthepityofthetender-heartedAmeliaforbeingaloneintheworld，anorphanwithoutfriendsorkindred。

“Notalone。”saidAmelia；“youknow，Rebecca，Ishallalwaysbeyourfriend，andloveyouasasister——indeedIwill。”

“Ah，buttohaveparents，asyouhave——kind，rich，affectionateparents，whogiveyoueverythingyou-askfor；andtheirlove，whichismorepreciousthanall！

Mypoorpapacouldgivemenothing，andIhadbuttwofrocksinalltheworld！Andthen，tohaveabrother，adearbrother！Oh，howyoumustlovehim！”

Amelialaughed。

“What！don’tyoulovehim？you，whosayyouloveeverybody？”~；

“Yes，ofcourse，Ido——only——“

“Onlywhat？”

“OnlyJosephdoesn’tseemtocaremuchwhetherI

lovehimornot。Hegavemetwofingerstoshakewhenhearrivedaftertenyears’absence！Heisverykindandgood，buthescarcelyeverspeakstome；Ithinkheloveshispipeagreatdealbetterthanhis“——buthereAmeliacheckedherself，forwhyshouldshespeakillofherbrother？“Hewasverykindtomeasachild。”sheadded；“Iwasbutfiveyearsoldwhenhewentaway。”

“Isn’theveryrich？”saidRebecca。”TheysayallIndiannabobsareenormouslyrich。”

“Ibelievehehasaverylargeincome。”

“Andisyoursister-in-lawaniceprettywoman？”

“La！Josephisnotmarried。”saidAmelia，laughingagain。

PerhapsshehadmentionedthefactalreadytoRebecca，butthatyoungladydidnotappeartohaverememberedit；indeed，vowedandprotestedthatsheexpectedtoseeanumberofAmelia’snephewsandnieces。ShewasquitedisappointedthatMr。Sedleywasnotmarried；shewassureAmeliahadsaidhewas，andshedotedsoonlittlechildren。

“IthinkyoumusthavehadenoughofthematChiswick。”saidAmelia，ratherwonderingatthesuddentendernessonherfriend’spart；andindeedinlaterdaysMissSharpwouldneverhavecommittedherselfsofarastoadvanceopinions，theuntruthofwhichwouldhavebeensoeasilydetected。Butwemustrememberthatsheisbutnineteenasyet，unusedtotheartofdeceiving，poorinnocentcreature！andmakingherownexperienceinherownperson。Themeaningoftheaboveseriesofqueries，astranslatedintheheartofthisingeniousyoungwoman，wassimplythis：“IfMr。JosephSedleyisrichandunmarried，whyshouldInotmarryhim？Ihaveonlyafortnight，tobesure，butthereisnoharmintrying。”Andshedeterminedwithinherselftomakethislaudableattempt。SheredoubledhercaressestoAmelia；

shekissedthewhitecorneliannecklaceassheputiton；andvowedshewouldnever，neverpartwithit。Whenthedinner-bellrangshewentdownstairswithherarmroundherfriend’swaist，asisthehabitofyoungladies。

Shewassoagitatedatthedrawing-roomdoor，thatshecouldhardlyfindcouragetoenter。”Feelmyheart，howitbeats，dear！”saidshetoherfriend。

“No，itdoesn’t。”saidAmelia。”Comein，don’tbefrightened。Papawon’tdoyouanyharm。”

CHAPTERIII

RebeccaIsinPresenceoftheEnemyAVERYstout，puffyman，inbuckskinsandHessianboots，withseveralimmenseneckclothsthatrosealmosttohisnose，witharedstripedwaistcoatandanapplegreencoatwithsteelbuttonsalmostaslargeascrownpieces(itwasthemorningcostumeofadandyorbloodofthosedays)wasreadingthepaperbythefirewhenthetwogirlsentered，andbouncedoffhisarm-chair，andblushedexcessively，andhidhisentirefacealmostinhisneckclothsatthisapparition。

“It’sonlyyoursister，Joseph。”saidAmelia，laughingandshakingthetwofingerswhichheheldout。”I’vecomehomeFORGOOD，youknow；andthisismyfriend，MissSharp，whomyouhaveheardmemention。”

“No，never，uponmyword。”saidtheheadundertheneckcloth，shakingverymuch——“thatis，yes——whatabominablycoldweather，Miss“——andherewithhefelltopokingthefirewithallhismight，althoughitwasinthemiddleofJune。

“He’sveryhandsome。”whisperedRebeccatoAmelia，ratherloud。

“Doyouthinkso？”saidthelatter。”I’lltellhim。”

“Darling！notforworlds。”saidMissSharp，startingbackastimidasafawn。Shehadpreviouslymadearespectfulvirgin-likecurtseytothegentleman，andhermodesteyesgazedsoperseveringlyonthecarpetthatitwasawonderhowsheshouldhavefoundanopportunitytoseehim。

“Thankyouforthebeautifulshawls，brother。”saidAmeliatothefirepoker。”Aretheynotbeautiful，Rebecca？”

“Oheavenly！”saidMissSharp，andhereyeswentfromthecarpetstraighttothechandelier。

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