CHAPTER IV. THE GRANDMAMMA

nesstoproclaimherperfections),Ihadalwaysbeenwishfultoexcusethem,andtogivehercreditforallthevirtuessheprofessed,andevenimagineothersyetuntold.Kindness,whichhadbeenthefoodofmylifethroughsomanyyears,hadlatelybeensoentirelydeniedme,thatIwelcomedwithgratefuljoytheslightestsemblanceofit.Nowonder,then,thatmyheartwarmedtotheoldlady,andalwaysgladdenedatherapproachandregrettedherdeparture. Butnow,thefewwordsluckilyorunluckilyheardinpassinghadwhollyrevolutionizedmyideasrespectingher:nowIlookeduponherashypocriticalandinsincere,aflatterer,andaspyuponmywordsanddeeds.DoubtlessitwouldhavebeenmyintereststilltomeetherwiththesamecheerfulsmileandtoneofrespectfulcordialityasbeforebutIcouldnot,ifIwould:mymanneralteredwithmyfeelings,andbecamesocoldandshythatshecouldnotfailtonoticeit.Shesoondidnoticeit,andhermanneralteredtoo:thefamiliarnodwaschangedtoastiffbow,thegracioussmilegaveplacetoaglareofGorgonferocityhervivaciousloquacitywasentirelytransferredfrommeto“thedarlingboyandgirls,”whomsheflatteredandindulgedmoreabsurdlythanevertheirmotherhaddone. IconfessIwassomewhattroubledatthischange:Ifearedtheconsequencesofherdispleasure,andevenmadesomeeffortstorecoverthegroundIhadlost—andwithbetterapparentsuccessthanIcouldhaveanticipated.Atonetime,I,merelyincommoncivility,askedafterhercoughimmediatelyherlongvisagerelaxedintoasmile,andshefavouredmewithaparticularhistoryofthatandherotherinfirmities,followedbyanaccountofherpiousresignation,deliveredintheusualemphatic,declamatorystyle,whichnowritingcanportray. “Butthere’soneremedyforall,mydear,andthat’sresignation”(atossofthehead),“resignationtothewillofheaven!”(anupliftingofthehandsandeyes).“Ithasalwayssupportedmethroughallmytrials,andalwayswilldo”(asuccessionofnods).“Butthen,itisn’teverybodythatcansaythat”(ashakeofthehead)“butI’moneofthepiousones,MissGrey!”(averysignificantnodandtoss).“And,thankheaven,Ialwayswas”(anothernod),“andIgloryinit!”(anemphaticclaspingofthehandsandshakingofthehead).AndwithseveraltextsofScripture,misquotedormisapplied,andreligiousexclamationssoredolentoftheludicrousinthestyleofdeliveryandmannerofbringingin,ifnotintheexpressionsthemselves,thatIdeclinerepeatingthem,shewithdrewtossingherlargeheadinhighgood-humour—withherselfatleast—andleftmehopingthat,afterall,shewasratherweakthanwicked. AthernextvisittoWellwoodHouse,IwentsofarastosayIwasgladtoseeherlookingsowell.Theeffectofthiswasmagical:thewords,intendedasamarkofcivility,werereceivedasaflatteringcomplimenthercountenancebrightenedup,andfromthatmomentshebecameasgraciousandbenignasheartcouldwish—inoutwardsemblanceatleast.FromwhatInowsawofher,andwhatIheardfromthechildren,Iknowthat,inordertogainhercordialfriendship,Ihadbuttoutterawordofflatteryateachconvenientopportunity:butthiswasagainstmyprinciplesandforlackofthis,thecapriciousolddamesoondeprivedmeofherfavouragain,andIbelievedidmemuchsecretinjury. Shecouldnotgreatlyinfluenceherdaughter-in-lawagainstme,because,betweenthatladyand