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parents had taken care to show me； by carefully designating them
MASTER and MISS Bloomfield； &c。； in speaking to me。 I had been
very slow to take the hint； because the whole affair struck me as so very
absurd； but now I determined to be wiser； and begin at once with as much
form and ceremony as any member of the family would be likely to
require： and； indeed； the children being so much older； there would be
less difficulty； though the little words Miss and Master seemed to have a
surprising effect in repressing all familiar； open…hearted kindness； and
extinguishing every gleam of cordiality that might arise between us。
As I cannot； like Dogberry； find it in my heart to bestow all my
tediousness upon the reader； I will not go on to bore him with a minute
detail of all the discoveries and proceedings of this and the following day。
No doubt he will be amply satisfied with a slight sketch of the different
members of the family； and a general view of the first year or two of my
sojourn among them。
To begin with the head： Mr。 Murray was； by all accounts； a
blustering； roystering； country squire： a devoted fox…hunter； a skilful
horse…jockey and farrier； an active； practical farmer； and a hearty BON
VIVANT。 By all accounts； I say； for； except on Sundays； when he went
to church； I never saw him from month to month： unless； in crossing the
hall or walking in the grounds； the figure of a tall； stout gentleman； with
scarlet cheeks and crimson nose； happened to come across me； on which
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occasions； if he passed near enough to speak； an unceremonious nod；
accompanied by a 'Morning； Miss Grey；' or some such brief salutation；
was usually vouchsafed。 Frequently； indeed； his loud laugh reached me
from afar； and oftener still I heard him swearing and blaspheming against
the footmen； groom； coachman； or some other hapless dependant。
Mrs。 Murray was a handsome； dashing lady of forty； who certainly
required neither rouge nor padding to add to her charms； and whose chief
enjoyments were； or seemed to be； in giving or frequenting parties； and in
dressing at the very top of the fashion。 I did not see her till eleven
o'clock on the morning after my arrival； when she honoured me with a
visit； just as my mother might step into the kitchen to see a new servant…
girl： yet not so； either； for my mother would have seen her immediately
after her arrival； and not waited till the next day； and； moreover； she would
have addressed her in a more kind and friendly manner； and given her
some words of comfort as well as a plain exposition of her duties； but Mrs。
Murray did neither the one nor the other。 She just stepped into the
schoolroom on her return from ordering dinner in the housekeeper's room；
bade me good…morning； stood for two minutes by the fire； said a few
words about the weather and the 'rather rough' journey I must have had
yesterday； petted her youngest child … a boy of ten … who had just been
wiping his mouth and hands on her gown； after indulging in some savoury
morsel from the house… keeper's store； told me what a sweet； good boy he
was； and then sailed out； with a self…complacent smile upon her face：
thinking； no doubt； that she had done quite enough for the present； and had
been delightfully condescending into the bargain。 Her children evidently
held the same opinion； and I alone thought otherwise。
After this she looked in upon me once or twice； during the absence of
my pupils； to enlighten me concerning my duties towards them。 For the
girls she seemed anxious only to render them as superficially attractive
and showily accomplished as they could possibly be made； without
present trouble or discomfort to themselves； and I was to act accordingly …
to study and strive to amuse and oblige； instruct； refine； and polish； with
the least possible exertion on their part； and no exercise of authority on
mine。 With regard to the two boys； it was much the same； only instead of
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accomplishments； I was to get the greatest possible quantity of Latin
grammar and Valpy's Delectus into their heads； in order to fit them for
school … the greatest possible quantity at least WITHOUT trouble to
themselves。 John might be a 'little high… spirited；' and Charles might be a
little 'nervous and tedious … '
'But at all events； Miss Grey；' said she； 'I hope YOU will keep your
temper； and be mild and patient throughout； especially with the dear little
Charles； he is so extremely nervous and susceptible； and so utterly
unaccustomed to anything but the tenderest treatment。 You will excuse
my naming these things to you； for the fact is； I have hitherto found all the
governesses； even the very best of them； faulty in this particular。 They
wanted that meek and quiet spirit； which St。 Matthew； or some of them；
says is better than the putting on of apparel … you will know the passage to
which I allude； for you are a clergyman's daughter。 But I have no doubt
you will give satisfaction in this respect as well as the rest。 And
remember； on all occasions； when any of the young people do anything
improper； if persuasion and gentle remonstrance will not do； let one of the
others come and tell me； for I can speak to them more plainly than it
would be proper for you to do。 And make them as happy as you can； Miss
Grey； and I dare say you will do very well。'
I observed that while Mrs。 Murray was so extremely solicitous for the
comfort and happiness of her children； and continually talking about it；
she never once mentioned mine； though they were at home； surrounded by
friends； and I an alien among strangers； and I did not yet know enough of
the world； not to be considerably surprised at this anomaly。
Miss Murray； otherwise Rosalie； was about sixteen when I came； and
decidedly a very pretty girl； and in