CHAPTER XXI. THE SCHOOL

any.Andyoushallhavearoomtoyourself,wheneveryouliketoretiretoit,andplentyofbookstoreadwhenmycompanyisnotsufficientlyamusing.Iforgetwhetheryoulikebabiesifyoudo,youmayhavethepleasureofseeingmine—themostcharmingchildintheworld,nodoubtandallthemoreso,thatIamnottroubledwithnursingit—IwasdeterminedIwouldn’tbebotheredwiththat.Unfortunately,itisagirl,andSirThomashasneverforgivenme:but,however,ifyouwillonlycome,Ipromiseyoushallbeitsgovernessassoonasitcanspeakandyoushallbringitupinthewayitshouldgo,andmakeabetterwomanofitthanitsmamma.Andyoushallseemypoodle,too:asplendidlittlecharmerimportedfromParis:andtwofineItalianpaintingsofgreatvalue—Iforgettheartist.Doubtlessyouwillbeabletodiscoverprodigiousbeautiesinthem,whichyoumustpointouttome,asIonlyadmirebyhearsayandmanyelegantcuriositiesbesides,whichIpurchasedatRomeandelsewhereand,finally,youshallseemynewhome—thesplendidhouseandgroundsIusedtocovetsogreatly.Alas!howfarthepromiseofanticipationexceedsthepleasureofpossession!There’safinesentiment!IassureyouIambecomequiteagraveoldmatron:praycome,ifitbeonlytowitnessthewonderfulchange.Writebyreturnofpost,andtellmewhenyourvacationcommences,andsaythatyouwillcomethedayafter,andstaytillthedaybeforeitcloses—inmercyto “Yoursaffectionately, “ROSALIEASHBY.” Ishowedthisstrangeepistletomymother,andconsultedheronwhatIoughttodo.SheadvisedmetogoandIwent—willingenoughtoseeLadyAshby,andherbaby,too,andtodoanythingIcouldtobenefither,byconsolationoradviceforIimaginedshemustbeunhappy,orshewouldnothaveappliedtomethus—butfeeling,asmayreadilybeconceived,that,inacceptingtheinvitation,Imadeagreatsacrificeforher,anddidviolencetomyfeelingsinmanyways,insteadofbeingdelightedwiththehonourabledistinctionofbeingentreatedbythebaronet’sladytovisitherasafriend.However,IdeterminedmyvisitshouldbeonlyforafewdaysatmostandIwillnotdenythatIderivedsomeconsolationfromtheideathat,asAshbyParkwasnotveryfarfromHorton,ImightpossiblyseeMr.Weston,or,atleast,hearsomethingabouthim.