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sockets。
'But I INSIST upon their being got in！' cried he； approaching nearer；
and looking perfectly ferocious。
'Then； sir； you must call them yourself； if you please； for they won't
listen to me；' I replied； stepping back。
'Come in with you； you filthy brats； or I'll horsewhip you every one！'
roared he； and the children instantly obeyed。 'There； you see！ … they
come at the first word！'
'Yes； when YOU speak。'
'And it's very strange； that when you've the care of 'em you've no
better control over 'em than that！ … Now； there they are … gone up… stairs
with their nasty snowy feet！ Do go after 'em and see them made decent；
for heaven's sake！'
That gentleman's mother was then staying in the house； and； as I
ascended the stairs and passed the drawing…room door； I had the
satisfaction of hearing the old lady declaiming aloud to her daughter…in…
law to this effect （for I could only distinguish the most emphatic words） …
'Gracious heavens！ … never in all my life … ！ … get their death as sure as
… ！ Do you think； my dear； she's a PROPER PERSON？ Take my word
for it … '
I heard no more； but that sufficed。
The senior Mrs。 Bloomfield had been very attentive and civil to me；
and till now I had thought her a nice； kind…hearted； chatty old body。 She
would often come to me and talk in a confidential strain； nodding and
shaking her head； and gesticulating with hands and eyes； as a certain class
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of old ladies are won't to do； though I never knew one that carried the
peculiarity to so great an extent。 She would even sympathise with me for
the trouble I had with the children； and express at times； by half sentences；
interspersed with nods and knowing winks； her sense of the injudicious
conduct of their mamma in so restricting my power； and neglecting to
support me with her authority。 Such a mode of testifying disapprobation
was not much to my taste； and I generally refused to take it in； or
understand anything more than was openly spoken； at least； I never went
farther than an implied acknowledgment that； if matters were otherwise
ordered my task would be a less difficult one； and I should be better able
to guide and instruct my charge； but now I must be doubly cautious。
Hitherto； though I saw the old lady had her defects （of which one was a
proneness to proclaim her perfections）； I had always been wishful to
excuse them； and to give her credit for all the virtues she professed； and
even imagine others yet untold。 Kindness； which had been the food of
my life through so many years； had lately been so entirely denied me； that
I welcomed with grateful joy the slightest semblance of it。 No wonder；
then； that my heart warmed to the old lady； and always gladdened at her
approach and regretted her departure。
But now； the few words luckily or unluckily heard in passing had
wholly revolutionized my ideas respecting her： now I looked upon her as
hypocritical and insincere； a flatterer； and a spy upon my words and deeds。
Doubtless it would have been my interest still to meet her with the same
cheerful smile and tone of respectful cordiality as before； but I could not；
if I would： my manner altered with my feelings； and became so cold and
shy that she could not fail to notice it。 She soon did notice it； and HER
manner altered too： the familiar nod was changed to a stiff bow； the
gracious smile gave place to a glare of Gorgon ferocity； her vivacious
loquacity was entirely transferred from me to 'the darling boy and girls；'
whom she flattered and indulged more absurdly than ever their mother had
done。
I confess I was somewhat troubled at this change： I feared the
consequences of her displeasure； and even made some efforts to recover
the ground I had lost … and with better apparent success than I could have
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AGNES GREY
anticipated。 At one time； I； merely in common civility； asked after her
cough； immediately her long visage relaxed into a smile； and she favoured
me with a particular history of that and her other infirmities； followed by
an account of her pious resignation； delivered in the usual emphatic；
declamatory style； which no writing can portray。
'But there's one remedy for all； my dear； and that's resignation' （a toss
of the head）； 'resignation to the will of heaven！' （an uplifting of the hands
and eyes）。 'It has always supported me through all my trials； and always
will do' （a succession of nods）。 'But then； it isn't everybody that can say
that' （a shake of the head）； 'but I'm one of the pious ones； Miss Grey！' （a
very significant nod and toss）。 'And； thank heaven； I always was'
（another nod）； 'and I glory in it！' （an emphatic clasping of the hands and
shaking of the head）。 And with several texts of Scripture； misquoted or
misapplied； and religious exclamations so redolent of the ludicrous in the
style of delivery and manner of bringing in； if not in the expressions
themselves； that I decline repeating them； she withdrew； tossing her large
head in high good… humour … with herself at least … and left me hoping that；
after all； she was rather weak than wicked。
At her next visit to Wellwood House； I went so far as to say I was glad
to see her looking so well。 The effect of this was magical： the words；
intended as a mark of civility； were received as a flattering compliment；
her countenance brightened up； and from that moment she became as
gracious and benign as heart could wish … in outward semblance at least。
From what I now saw of her； and what I heard from the children； I know
that； in order to gain her cordial friendship； I had but to utter a word of
flattery at each convenient opportunity： but this was against my
principles； and for lack of this； the capricious old dame soon deprived me
of her favour again； and I believe did me much secret injury。
She could not greatly influence her daughter…in…law against me；
because； between that lady and herself there was a mutual disli