CHAPTER III

ed.MissBatesstoodintheveryworstpredicamentintheworldforhavingmuchofthepublicfavourandshehadnointellectualsuperioritytomakeatonementtoherself,orfrightenthosewhomighthateherintooutwardrespect.Shehadneverboastedeitherbeautyorcleverness.Heryouthhadpassedwithoutdistinction,andhermiddleoflifewasdevotedtothecareofafailingmother,andtheendeavourtomakeasmallincomegoasfaraspossible.Andyetshewasahappywoman,andawomanwhomnoonenamedwithoutgood-will.Itwasherownuniversalgood-willandcontentedtemperwhichworkedsuchwonders.Shelovedeverybody,wasinterestedineverybody’shappiness,quicksightedtoeverybody’smeritsthoughtherselfamostfortunatecreature,andsurroundedwithblessingsinsuchanexcellentmother,andsomanygoodneighboursandfriends,andahomethatwantedfornothing.Thesimplicityandcheerfulnessofhernature,hercontentedandgratefulspirit,werearecommendationtoeverybody,andamineoffelicitytoherself.Shewasagreattalkeruponlittlematters,whichexactlysuitedMr.Woodhouse,fulloftrivialcommunicationsandharmlessgossip. Mrs.GoddardwasthemistressofaSchool—notofaseminary,oranestablishment,oranythingwhichprofessed,inlongsentencesofrefinednonsense,tocombineliberalacquirementswithelegantmorality,uponnewprinciplesandnewsystems—andwhereyoungladiesforenormouspaymightbescrewedoutofhealthandintovanity—butareal,honest,old-fashionedBoarding-school,whereareasonablequantityofaccomplishmentsweresoldatareasonableprice,andwheregirlsmightbesenttobeoutoftheway,andscramblethemselvesintoalittleeducation,withoutanydangerofcomingbackprodigies.Mrs.Goddard’sschoolwasinhighrepute—andverydeservedlyforHighburywasreckonedaparticularlyhealthyspot:shehadanamplehouseandgarden,gavethechildrenplentyofwholesomefood,letthemrunaboutagreatdealinthesummer,andinwinterdressedtheirchilblainswithherownhands.Itwasnowonderthatat