Next Part The Shoemaker's Daughters CHAPTER 4+1.
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Gertrude and Genevra, in the pride of conscious superiority, looked upon Anne as far beneath them. Though she was tall and beautifully formed, with a face expressive of great loveliness of character — they could see nothing in her which was not vulgar. She was not allowed to sit at the table with the family, but was assigned the charge of the table at which the hired boys ate. To this, she had no particular objection, as she soon perceived that her presence had a very great effect upon the apprentices, and that, after the first few days, their rudeness at the table gradually subsided. They soon showed a disposition to talk to her in a respectful manner, and, frequently referred to her, the decision of little matters upon which they had disputed. It was a glad day for little Jimmy, when he saw her take her place at the table.
Although she could not change the quality of their food, materially — yet she could, in a great measure, see that it came upon the table in proper order. She saw that the cook did not allow their coffee or tea to get cold; and, by rising very early in the morning, and seeing how things went on in the kitchen, and looking in there, too, at night, she managed to have a good many things, in the preparation of their food, attended to, that added to their comfort. Particularly in the prevention of large quantities of corn bread from being baked up by the lazy cook, which they would be forced to eat cold, day after day — she made their fare much pleasanter. The necessity of living upon the same coarse food that they did, was not one that rendered her at all unhappy, as she could, in submitting to this privation, make it more agreeable for them.
Among the many young men who visited, occasionally, at the house of Mr. Hardamer, was the only son of a rich farmer, who had recently come to the city and commenced business in Market Street. His name was Marshall. He had made but few acquaintances since coming to the city, and, among these, happened to be Genevra and Gertrude. Usually about once every week, he dropped in and spent an evening with them; but, as he was a young man of good education and superior principles, he did not become much interested in either of the young ladies. Still, as time frequently hung heavy on his hands, and he was fond of cultivating the social feelings, he continued to drop in pretty regularly.
It so happened that he called in one evening, when both of the girls were out. He was shown upstairs into the parlor by the black servant, who either did not know or care anything about the girls not being in, and who went back direct to the kitchen, without taking the trouble to make any inquiries. Anne, who of course never went into the parlor when there was company there, and rarely at other times — was, on this evening, sitting there alone, at the center-table, reading. She rose at the entrance of Marshall, who, surprised and delighted at seeing so sweet a face, though that of a stranger, begged her to be seated. With easy politeness she resumed her chair, remarking, at the same time, that she was sorry to tell him that the young ladies had gone out for the evening.
There was something in the face of Anne which charmed Marshall the moment he saw her, and her low voice, that trembled slightly, sounded to him more musical than any voice he had ever heard. For some time, he endeavored to draw her into conversation, but, although every reply she made charmed him more and more, he could not succeed in getting her to converse freely. Her reserve, he easily understood to be the naturally maiden reserve of a pure-minded woman towards a perfect stranger. Marshall was a man who readily understood character, and rarely came to false conclusions in reference to anyone. After sitting for nearly half an hour, much longer than his own sense of propriety told him he ought to have lingered in her company, under the circumstances — he rose to depart.
"You must pardon me," he said, "for having, so long, being altogether a stranger — intruded upon your company. My only excuse is, that I have been interested."
"It is no intrusion upon me, sir," replied Anne, "and if, in the absence of the young ladies, I have succeeded in making your call a pleasant one, I can only be gratified."
"You must pardon me another act of presumption," said Mr. Marshall, smiling; "I did not know that you resided, as you have intimated, in this family. May I beg to know your name?"
"My name is Anne Webster," she replied, modestly, while a slight blush deepened the color on her cheek.
"I must again beg pardon for this seeming rudeness," he said, and bowing low, he bade her a good evening, and withdrew.
Marshall could only allow a single evening to pass, before again calling. On entering the parlor, this time, his eye glanced rapidly around, but none were present, except Gertrude and Genevra, who received him with all the interesting airs and graces they could put on. But in vain did they talk, and sing, and thrum the piano for his especial edification. He could not feel the slightest interest in them.
"How sorry I was that we were not at home when you called last," said Genevra, during a flagging pause in the conversation. "We were so disappointed when we learned that you had been here."
"But you left me an agreeable companion to compensate for your absence," he replied in a livelier tone. "Why, you never told me that a Miss Webster was staying with you. Where does she keep herself? I would really like to see her, and apologize for my rudeness in spending half an hour with her, although a perfect stranger."
"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed out Genevra — "that's a good one! Why she's only a servant that Ma hires to sew. How could you have been so deceived? I shall have to tell Ma to keep her out of the parlor, the forward flirt! I am mortified, though, indeed, Mr. Marshall, that one of our servants should have pushed herself into your company. But it shall neverhappen again!"
To this speech, Marshall was at a perfect loss for a reply. He had often heard of accomplished virtue in obscurity. Here was an instance, he could not doubt, for he could not believe himself mistaken in his impressions. Every movement, every word, every varying expression of Anne's countenance, he remembered, as distinctly as if she were still sitting before him; and the remembrance only added to his admiration. He felt indignant at hearing her designated, sneeringly, as the servant of girls who were her inferiors in everything. But he did not, of course, give form to his thoughts; he merely said —
"Don't check her or speak unkindly to her on my account, for, I assure you, she acted with modesty and propriety. She was reading in the parlor when I entered, and rose, to go out, I suppose, when I insisted upon her being seated. It was my fault, not hers."
"But, it's annoying to have sewing girls pushing themselves in the way of gentlemen who visit here. We must hereafter, insist upon her keeping in her own room!" said Gertrude, rather irritated.
Marshall was constrained to oppose this unfeeling resolution, but he forced himself to be silent, and, soon after, took his leave.
"Did you ever hear of such a thing!" exclaimed Genevra, as the front door closed after him.
"I'm mortified to death!" responded Gertrude.
"The pert, forward hussey!" ejaculated Genevra.
"If ever she tries such a trick as that again, she walks out of this house in a jiffy!" added Gertrude.
"What a preposterous idea! An agreeable half hour, spent with our hired girl!" broke in Genevra.
"I expect he's mortified to death, and I'm afraid he'll not come any more. How could you laugh right out so, when he mentioned Anne?" said Gertrude.
"Because I couldn't help it; it was such a strange joke."
"Well, I can tell you, it was very rude," replied Gertrude, warmly, whose fears were a good deal excited at the bare idea of losing Marshall, as a beau, through the indiscretion of her sister in laughing at him.
"Fiddlestick! Your ideas of propriety have grown very strict, all at once!" responded Genevra.
"I wish yours were a little nicer, that's all I've got to say," rejoined Gertrude.
"Well, I can tell you, Miss Propriety, that I know what is right and proper as well as you do," replied Genevra, tartly, "and have no notion of being called to account by you. So you may just shut up!"
"I'll call you to an account whenever I please, Miss Touchy!" said Gertrude, growing more excited. "You are a rude forward girl, let me tell you! — and have driven more company from the house, than your neck's worth, so you have! I'll complain to Ma, so I will!" she continued, more passionately.
"Will you, indeed? ah — that will be interesting," said Genevra, with a sneering laugh.
"Come! come! What's the matter here, now?" broke in Mrs. Hardamer, who had been attracted from the next room, by the loud voices of her daughters.
"Why, you see," began Gertrude; but she was interrupted by Genevra, before she could utter another syllable, with —
"It's no such thing, Ma; it was — "
"It was — !"broke in Gertrude.
"It wasn't no such thing, now," said Genevra.
"Both of you hush up at once!" said the mother.
"But, Ma — "
"Listen to me, Ma!"
"I tell you both to hush!"
"It was all Anne's fault, Ma," said Genevra, not at all inclined to obey the maternal injunction of silence.
"What about Anne?" asked Mrs. Hardamer.
"Why, you wouldn't have ever thought it, Ma," continued Genevra, "but it's as true as death! Night before last, when Mr. Marshall called here, Anne was stuck up in the parlor, and the forward pert thing, had the boldness to keep him there for half an hour or so, talking to her, just as if she was somebody. And here, this evening, he must ask for Miss Webster! I was so much amused that I laughed right out, and told him that she was only our hired sewing girl. And Gertrude is mad because I laughed."
"Is it possible that Anne was guilty of such unpardonable presumption?"
"Yes, it is so! Because Genevieve chooses to make a companion of her, she thinks she is as good as we are. But I can tell her, that she's mightily mistaken!"
"The pert, forward hussy!" ejaculated Mrs. Hardamer, with a strong expression of disgust at the idea of one of her servants sitting up to entertain her daughter's company.
"Ring the bell for Millie!" she added, and Genevra rang the parlor bell.
"Tell Anne to come here," she said, on the appearance of the black girl.
In a few minutes, Anne attended the summons.
"You are a pert young lady, now, aren't you?" said Mrs. Hardamer, as she entered, the face of the latter red with anger.
Anne looked at her with an expression of surprise, and Mrs. Hardamer continued:
"A pert young lady, truly!"
"I do not understand you, madam," said Anne, in painful surprise. "Be kind enough to say what I have offended you in."
"Pretty bold, too! — upon my word! Do you know who you are talking to, Miss?"
"I am not conscious of having done anything wrong, Mrs. Hardamer, and only asked you to tell me in what I had offended you," said Anne in a respectful voice, though her lips quivered, and her face had grown exceedingly pale.
"Did anyone ever see such pertness?" exclaimed Genevra.
"What can this mean?" said Anne, the tears starting to her eyes.
"Mighty ignorant," said Gertrude.
"I must insist on an explanation," said Anne, more firmly, brushing away two drops that had stolen over their boundaries, and were gently gliding down her pale cheeks.
"Insist on an explanation!" exclaimed Mrs. Hardamer, in supreme astonishment at Anne's insolence. "Insist on an explanation from me! Do you know who you are talking to, Miss?"
"I'd turn her out of the house, bag and baggage, so I would," said Gertrude.
"Indeed, madam, I cannot allow myself to be talked to in this way," said Anne, calmly, "at the same time that I am innocent of having done anything wrong," and she turned to leave the room.
"How dare you!" exclaimed Mrs. Hardamer, in a loud voice, stamping on the floor with her foot. "Come back here this minute!"
Anne paused, and half turned herself towards her censors, when Gertrude said, in a sneering tone —
"She's got quite above herself, since Mr. Marshall spoke to her."
Anne turned, and advanced a few steps towards them, her face suffused with a deep crimson.
"You understand now, I suppose, Miss Impertinence!" said Mrs. Hardamer. "How dare you stick yourself up in the parlor to talk to young men that come here? What good do you suppose they want with you?"
"Is that all I have done to offend you, Mrs. Hardamer?" said Anne, breathing more freely.
"And I would think that was quite enough!"
"But, Mrs. Hardamer, I didn't throw myself into his company. He came into the parlor where I was reading, and I at once told him the young ladies were out. If he would sit down and talk to me, how could I help it? I could not have acted so rudely, as to have left him alone."
"Now, that is too much," broke in Gertrude. "And so you equaled yourself with us, and set yourself up to entertain our company! Give me patience! I wouldn't allow her to stay in the house another day, if I was you, Ma! Who is ever going to come here, if our hired girls stick themselves up to keep them company. Mr. Marshall was mortified to deathwhen he discovered his mistake, and I wouldn't blame him if he never came to this house again."
"If ever you dare to play off such another trick, my young lady, it will be your last day here, remember that now!" said Mrs. Hardamer.
Anne made no answer, but turned and left the room.
"What fireworks!" ejaculated Millie to herself, as she retreated, silently, from the outside of the door in the passage, where she had stood, listening to the whole conversation.
"Things have come to an ugly scene, truly!" said Genevra, when Anne had left the room, "that every hired girl must set herself up for somebody. There will be no living here after a while. I wish we were in England, where servants know their places."
"The fact is, Ma," said Gertrude, who felt strongly incensed at Anne, for having passed an evening with Marshall, on whom she had designs best known to herself, "if I were you, I wouldn't keep her in the house. She'll bring discredit upon us. I believe that her conduct in this thing is abhorrent. I'd pack her off tomorrow, so I would!"
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