CHAPTER VI.

ife’s,andhispracticenotsobad.“Icouldmanagethemverywell,ifitwerenotforMary’sinterference,”waswhatAnneoftenheardhimsay,andhadagooddealoffaithinbutwhenlisteninginturntoMary’sreproachof“CharlesspoilsthechildrensothatIcannotgetthemintoanyorder,”sheneverhadthesmallesttemptationtosay,“Verytrue.” Oneoftheleastagreeablecircumstancesofherresidencetherewasherbeingtreatedwithtoomuchconfidencebyallparties,andbeingtoomuchinthesecretofthecomplaintsofeachhouse.Knowntohavesomeinfluencewithhersister,shewascontinuallyrequested,oratleastreceivinghintstoexertit,beyondwhatwaspracticable.“IwishyoucouldpersuadeMarynottobealwaysfancyingherselfill,”wasCharles’slanguageand,inanunhappymood,thusspokeMary:“IdobelieveifCharlesweretoseemedying,hewouldnotthinktherewasanythingthematterwithme.Iamsure,Anne,ifyouwould,youmightpersuadehimthatIreallyamveryill—agreatdealworsethanIeverown.” Mary’sdeclarationwas,“IhatesendingthechildrentotheGreatHouse,thoughtheirgrandmammaisalwayswantingtoseethem,forshehumoursandindulgesthemtosuchadegree,andgivesthemsomuchtrashandsweetthings,thattheyaresuretocomebacksickandcrossfortherestoftheday.”AndMrsMusgrovetookthefirstopportunityofbeingalonewithAnne,tosay,“Oh!MissAnne,IcannothelpwishingMrsCharleshadalittleofyourmethodwiththosechildren.Theyarequitedifferentcreatureswithyou!Buttobesure,ingeneraltheyaresospoilt!Itisapityyoucannotputyoursisterinthewayofmanagingthem.Theyareasfinehealthychildrenaseverwereseen,poorlittledears!withoutpartialitybutMrsCharlesknowsnomorehowtheyshouldbetreated—!Blessme!howtroublesometheyaresometimes.Iassureyou,MissAnne,itpreventsmywishingtoseethematourhousesooftenasIotherwiseshould.IbelieveMrsCharlesisnotquitepleasedwithmynotinvitingthemoftenerbutyouknowitisverybadtohavechildrenwithonethatoneisobligatedtobecheckingeverymoment“don’tdothis,”and“don’tdothat”orthatonecanonlykeepintolerableorderbymorecakethanisgoodforthem.” Shehadthiscommunication,moreover,fromMary.“MrsMusgrovethinksallherservantssosteady,thatitwouldbehightreasontocallitinquestionbutIamsure,withoutexaggeration,thatherupperhouse-maidandlaundry-maid,insteadofbeingintheirbusiness,aregaddingaboutthevillage,alldaylong.ImeetthemwhereverIgoandIdeclare,Inevergotwiceintomynurserywithoutseeingsomethingofthem.IfJemimawerenotthetrustiest,steadiestcreatureintheworld,itwouldbeenoughtospoilherforshetellsme,theyarealwaystemptinghertotakeawalkwiththem.”AndonMrsMusgrove’sside,itwas,“Imakearuleofneverinterferinginanyofmydaughter-in-law’sconcerns,forIknowitwouldnotdobutIshalltellyou,MissAnne,becauseyoumaybeabletosetthingstorights,thatIhavenoverygoodopinionofMrsCharles’snursery-maid:Ihearstrangestoriesofhersheisalwaysuponthegadandfrommyownknowledge,Icandeclare,sheissuchafine-dressinglady,thatsheisenoughtoruinanyservantsshecomesnear.MrsCharlesquiteswearsbyher,IknowbutIjustgiveyouthishint,thatyoumaybeuponthewatchbecause,ifyouseeanythingamiss,youneednotbeafraidofmentioningit.” Again,itwasMary’scomplaint,thatMrsMusgrovewasveryaptnottogivehertheprecedencethatwasherdue,whentheydinedattheGreatHousewithotherfamiliesandshedidnotseeanyreasonwhyshewastobeconsideredsomuchathomeastoloseherplace.AndonedaywhenAnnewaswalkingwithonlytheMusgroves,oneofthemaftertalkingofrank,peopleofrank,andjealousyofrank,said,“Ihavenoscrupleofobservingtoyou,hownonsensicalsomepersonsareabouttheirplace,becausealltheworldknowshoweasyandindifferentyouareaboutitbutIwishanybodycouldgiveMaryahintthatitwouldbeagreatdealbetterifshewerenotsoverytenacious,especiallyifshewould