"There would be no real disgrace in it, my darling. No work in itself brings disgrace; be it carrying out parcels or sweeping8 out a shop. So long as we retain our refinement9 of tone, of manner, our courteous10 conduct one to the other, we shall still be gentlepeople, let us work at what we may. William, I think it is your duty to help in our need."
"Yes, I see, mamma," he answered. "I will try and do it; anything that may turn up."
Jane had not much faith in things "turning up." She believed that they must be sought for. That same evening she went into Mr. Lynn's, with the view to asking his counsel. There she found Anna in trouble. The cause was as follows.
Patience, leaving Anna alone at her lessons, had gone into the kitchen to give some directions to Grace. Anna seized the opportunity to take a little recreation: not that it was greatly needed, for—spoilt child that she was!—she had merely looked at her books with vacant eyes, not having in reality learned a single word. First of all, off went her cap. Next, she drew from her pocket a small mirror, about the size of a five-shilling piece. Propping11 this against her books on the table before her, so that the rays of the lamp might fall upon it, she proceeded to admire herself, and twist her flowing hair round her pretty fingers to make a shower of ringlets. Sad vanity for a little born Quakeress! But it must be owned that never did mirror, small or large, give back a more lovely image than that child's. She had just arranged her curls, and was contemplating12 their effect to her entire satisfaction, when back came Patience sooner than she was expected, and caught the young lady at her impromptu13 toilette. What with the curls and what with the mirror, Anna did not know which to hurry away first.
"Thee naughty child! Thee naughty, naughty child! What is to become of thee? Where did thee get this?"
Anna burst into tears. In her perplexity she said she had "found" the mirror.
"That thee did not," said Patience calmly. "I ask thee where thee got it from?"
Of a remarkably14 pliant15 nature, wavering and timid, Anna never withstood long the persistent16 questioning of Patience. Amid many tears the truth came out. Lucy Dixon had brought it to school in her workbox. It was a doll's mirror, and she, Anna, had given her sixpence for it.
"The sixpence that thy father bestowed17 upon thee yesterday for being a good girl," retorted Patience. "I told him thee would likely not make a profitable use of it. Come up to bed with thee! I will talk to thee after thee are in it."
Of all things, Anna disliked to be sent to bed before her time. She sobbed18, expostulated, and promised all sorts of amendment19 for the future. Patience, firm and quiet, would have carried her point, but for the entrance of Samuel Lynn. The fault was related to him by Patience, and the mirror exhibited. Anna clung around him in a storm of sobs20.
"Dear father! Dear, dear father, don't thee let me go to bed! Let me sit by thee while thee hast thy supper. Patience may keep the glass, but don't thee let me go."
It was quite a picture—the child clinging there with her crimsoned21 cheeks, her wet eyelashes, and her soft flowing hair. Samuel Lynn, albeit22 a man not given to demonstration23, strained her to him with a loving movement. Perhaps the crime of looking into a doll's glass and toying with her hair appeared to him more venial24 than it did to Patience; but then, she was his beloved child.
"Will thee transgress25 again, Anna?"
"No, I never will," sobbed Anna.
"Then Patience will suffer thee to sit up this once. But thee must be careful."
He placed her in a chair close to him. Patience, disapproving26 very much but saying nothing, left the room. Grace appeared with the supper-tray, and a message that Patience would take her supper in the kitchen. It was at this juncture27 that Mrs. Halliburton came in. She told the Quaker that she had come to consult him about William; and mentioned her intentions.
"To tell thee the truth, friend, I have marvelled28 much that thee did not, under thy circumstances, seek to place out thy eldest29 son," was the answer. "He might be helping30 thee."
"He is young to earn anything, Mr. Lynn. Do you see a chance of my getting him a place?"
"That depends, friend, upon the sort of place he may wish for. I could help him to a place to-morrow. But it is one that may not accord with thy notions."
"What is it?" eagerly asked Jane.
"It is in Thomas Ashley's manufactory. We are in want of another boy, and the master told me to-day I had better inquire for one."
"What would he have to do?" asked Jane. "And what would he earn?"
"He would have to do anything he may be directed to do. Thy son is older than are our boys who come to us ordinarily, and he has been differently brought up; therefore I might put him to somewhat better employment. He might also be paid a trifle more. They sweep and dust, go on outdoor errands, carry messages indoors, black the gloves, get in coal; and they earn, if they are sharp, half-a-crown a week."
Jane's heart sank within her.
"But thy son, I say, might be treated somewhat differently. Not that he must be above doing any of these duties, should he be put to them. I can assure thee, friend, that some of the first manufacturers of this town have thus begun their career. A thoroughly31 practical knowledge of the business is only to be acquired by beginning at the first step of the ladder, and working upwards32."
"Did Mr. Ashley so begin?" She could scarcely tell why she asked the question. Unless it was that a feeling came over her that if Mr. Ashley had done these things, she would not mind William's doing them.
"No, friend. Thomas Ashley's father was a man of means, and Thomas was bred up a classical scholar and a gentleman. He has never taken a practical part in the working of the business: I do that for him. His labours are chiefly confined to the correspondence and the keeping of the books. His father wished him to embrace a profession rather than be a glove manufacturer: but Thomas preferred to succeed his father. If thee would like thy son to enter our manufactory, I will try him."
Jane was dubious33. She felt quite sure that William would not like it. "He has been thinking of a counting-house, or a lawyer's or conveyancer's office," she said aloud. "He would like to employ his time in writing. Would there be difficulty in getting him into one?"
"I do not opine a lawyer would take a boy of his size. They require their writing to be well and correctly done. About that, I cannot tell thee much, for I have nothing to do with lawyers. He can inquire."
Jane rose. She stood by the table, unconsciously stroking Anna's flowing curls—for the cap had never been replaced, and Samuel Lynn found no fault with the omission34. "I will speak candidly," said Jane. "I fear that the place you have kindly35 offered me would not be liked by William. Other employments, writing for example, would be more palatable36. Nevertheless, were he unable to obtain anything else I should be glad to accept this. Will you give me three or four days for consideration?"
"To oblige thee, I will, friend. When Thomas Ashley gives orders, he is prompt in having them attended to; and he spoke37, as I have informed thee, about a fresh boy to-day. Would it not be a help to thee, friend, if thee got thy other two boys into the school attached to the cathedral?"
"But I have no interest," said Jane. "I hear that education there is free; but I do not possess the slightest chance."
"Thee may get a chance, friend. There's nothing like trying. I must tell thee that the school is not thought highly of, in consequence of the instruction being confined exclusively to Latin and Greek. In the old days this was thought enough; but people are now getting more enlightened. Thomas Ashley was educated there; but he had a private tutor at home for the branches not taught at the college; he had also masters for what are called accomplishments39. He is one of the most accomplished40 men of the day. Few are so thoroughly and comprehensively educated as Thomas Ashley. I have heard say thy sons have begun Latin. It might be a help to them if they could get in."
"I should desire nothing better," Jane breathlessly rejoined, a new hope penetrating41 her heart. "I have heard of the collegiate school here; but, until very recently I supposed it to be an expensive institution."
"No, friend; it is free. The best way to get a boy in is by making interest with the head-master of the school, or with some of the cathedral clergy42."
A recollection of Mr. Peach flashed into Jane's mind as a ray of light. She bade good-night to Samuel Lynn and Anna, and to Patience as she passed the kitchen. Patience had been crying.
"I am grieved about Anna," she explained. "I love the child dearly, but Samuel Lynn is blind to her faults; and it argues badly for the future. Thee cannot imagine half her vanity; I fear me, too, she is deceitful. I wish her father could see it! I wish he would indulge her less and correct her more! Good night to thee."
Before concluding the chapter, it may as well be mentioned that a piece of good fortune about this time befell Janey. She found favour with Dobbs! How it came about perhaps Dobbs could not herself have told. Certainly no one else could.
Mrs. Reece had got into the habit of asking Jane into her parlour to tea. She was a kind-hearted old lady and liked the child. Dobbs would afterwards be at work, generally some patching and mending to her own clothes; and Dobbs, though she would not acknowledge it to herself or to any one else, could not see to thread her needle. Needle in one hand and thread in the other, she would poke38 the two together for five minutes, no result supervening. Janey hit upon the plan of threading her a needle in silence, whilst Dobbs used the one; and from that time Jane kept her in threaded needles. Whether this conciliated Dobbs must remain a mystery, but she took a liking43 for Jane; and the liking grew into love. Henceforth Janey wanted for nothing. While the others starved, she lived on the fat of the land. Meat and pudding, fowls44 and pastry45, whatever dinner in the parlour might consist of, Janey had her share of it, and a full share too. At first Mrs. Halliburton, from motives46 of delicacy47, would not allow Jane to go in; upon which Dobbs would enter, boiling over with indignation, red with the exertion48 of cooking, and triumphantly49 bear her off. Jane spoke seriously to Mrs. Reece about it, but the old lady declared she was as glad to have the child as Dobbs was.
Once, Janey came to a standstill over some apple pudding, which had followed upon veal50 cutlets and bacon. "I am quite full," said she, more plainly than politely: "I can't eat a bit more. May I give this piece upon my plate to Gar?"
"No, you may not," snapped Dobbs, drowning Mrs. Reece's words, that she might give it and welcome. "How dare you, Janey? You know that boys is the loadstones of my life."
Dobbs probably used the word loadstones to indicate a heavy weight. She seized the plate of pudding and finished it herself, lest it should find its way to the suggested quarter—a self-sacrifice which served to show her earnestness in the cause. Nothing gave Dobbs indigestion like apple pudding, and she knew she should be a martyr51 for four-and-twenty hours afterwards.
Thus Jane, at least, suffered from henceforth no privations, and for this Mrs. Halliburton was very thankful. The time was to come, however, when she would have reason to be more so.
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1
dwindles
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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deducted
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| v.扣除，减去( deduct的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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7
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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propping
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| 支撑 | |
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contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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impromptu
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| adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地) | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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pliant
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| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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amendment
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| n.改正，修正，改善，修正案 | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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crimsoned
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| 变为深红色（crimson的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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venial
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| adj.可宽恕的；轻微的 | |
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transgress
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| vt.违反，逾越 | |
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disapproving
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| adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 ) | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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palatable
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| adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的 | |
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37
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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38
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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39
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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41
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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42
clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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43
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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44
fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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45
pastry
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| n.油酥面团，酥皮糕点 | |
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46
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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47
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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48
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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49
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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50
veal
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| n.小牛肉 | |
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51
martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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