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reason and reflection； are too easily corrupted by the carelessness and bad
example of those above them； and these； I think； were not of the best order
to begin with。
I sometimes felt myself degraded by the life I led； and ashamed of
submitting to so many indignities； and sometimes I thought myself a fool
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for caring so much about them； and feared I must be sadly wanting in
Christian humility； or that charity which 'suffereth long and is kind；
seeketh not her own； is not easily provoked； beareth all things； endureth all
things。'
But； with time and patience； matters began to be slightly ameliorated：
slowly； it is true； and almost imperceptibly； but I got rid of my male pupils
（that was no trifling advantage）； and the girls； as I intimated before
concerning one of them； became a little less insolent； and began to show
some symptoms of esteem。 'Miss Grey was a queer creature： she never
flattered； and did not praise them half enough； but whenever she did speak
favourably of them； or anything belonging to them； they could be quite
sure her approbation was sincere。 She was very obliging； quiet； and
peaceable in the main； but there were some things that put her out of
temper： they did not much care for that； to be sure； but still it was better
to keep her in tune； as when she was in a good humour she would talk to
them； and be very agreeable and amusing sometimes； in her way； which
was quite different to mamma's； but still very well for a change。 She had
her own opinions on every subject； and kept steadily to them … very
tiresome opinions they often were； as she was always thinking of what
was right and what was wrong； and had a strange reverence for matters
connected with religion； and an unaccountable liking to good people。'
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CHAPTER VIII … THE 'COMING
OUT'
AT eighteen； Miss Murray was to emerge from the quiet obscurity of
the schoolroom into the full blaze of the fashionable world … as much of it；
at least； as could be had out of London； for her papa could not be
persuaded to leave his rural pleasures and pursuits； even for a few weeks'
residence in town。 She was to make her debut on the third of January； at
a magnificent ball； which her mamma proposed to give to all the nobility
and choice gentry of O… and its neighbourhood for twenty miles round。
Of course； she looked forward to it with the wildest impatience； and the
most extravagant anticipations of delight。
'Miss Grey；' said she； one evening； a month before the all… important
day； as I was perusing a long and extremely interesting letter of my sister's
… which I had just glanced at in the morning to see that it contained no very
bad news； and kept till now； unable before to find a quiet moment for
reading it； … 'Miss Grey； do put away that dull； stupid letter； and listen to
me！ I'm sure my talk must be far more amusing than that。'
She seated herself on the low stool at my feet； and I； suppressing a
sigh of vexation； began to fold up the epistle。
'You should tell the good people at home not to bore you with such
long letters；' said she； 'and； above all； do bid them write on proper note…
paper； and not on those great vulgar sheets。 You should see the charming
little lady…like notes mamma writes to her friends。'
'The good people at home；' replied I； 'know very well that the longer
their letters are； the better I like them。 I should be very sorry to receive a
charming little lady…like note from any of them； and I thought you were
too much of a lady yourself； Miss Murray； to talk about the 〃vulgarity〃 of
writing on a large sheet of paper。'
'Well； I only said it to tease you。 But now I want to talk about the
ball； and to tell you that you positively must put off your holidays till it is
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over。'
'Why so？ … I shall not be present at the ball。'
'No； but you will see the rooms decked out before it begins； and hear
the music； and； above all； see me in my splendid new dress。 I shall be so
charming； you'll be ready to worship me … you really must stay。'
'I should like to see you very much； but I shall have many
opportunities of seeing you equally charming； on the occasion of some of
the numberless balls and parties that are to be； and I cannot disappoint my
friends by postponing my return so long。'
'Oh； never mind your friends！ Tell them we won't let you go。'
'But； to say the truth； it would be a disappointment to myself： I long
to see them as much as they to see me … perhaps more。'
'Well； but it is such a short time。'
'Nearly a fortnight by my computation； and； besides； I cannot bear the
thoughts of a Christmas spent from home： and； moreover； my sister is
going to be married。'
'Is she … when？'
'Not till next month； but I want to be there to assist her in making
preparations； and to make the best of her company while we have her。'
'Why didn't you tell me before？'
'I've only got the news in this letter； which you stigmatize as dull and
stupid； and won't let me read。'
'To whom is she to be married？'
'To Mr。 Richardson； the vicar of a neighbouring parish。'
'Is he rich？'
'No； only comfortable。'
'Is he handsome？'
'No； only decent。'
'Young？'
'No； only middling。'
'Oh； mercy！ what a wretch！ What sort of a house is it？'
'A quiet little vicarage； with an ivy…clad porch； an old…fashioned
garden； and … '
'Oh； stop！ … you'll make me sick。 How CAN she bear it？'
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'I expect she'll not only be able to bear it； but to be very happy。 You did
not ask me if Mr。 Richardson were a good； wise； or amiable man； I could
have answered Yes； to all these questions … at least so Mary thinks； and I
hope she will not find herself mistaken。'