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have answered Yes； to all these questions … at least so Mary thinks； and I
hope she will not find herself mistaken。'
'But … miserable creature！ how can she think of spending her life there；
cooped up with that nasty old man； and no hope of change？'
'He is not old： he's only six or seven and thirty； and she herself is
twenty…eight； and as sober as if she were fifty。'
'Oh！ that's better then … they're well matched； but do they call him the
〃worthy vicar〃？'
'I don't know； but if they do； I believe he merits the epithet。'
'Mercy； how shocking！ and will she wear a white apron and make pies
and puddings？'
'I don't know about the white apron； but I dare say she will make pies
and puddings now and then； but that will be no great hardship； as she has
done it before。'
'And will she go about in a plain shawl； and a large straw bonnet；
carrying tracts and bone soup to her husband's poor parishioners？'
'I'm not clear about that； but I dare say she will do her best to make
them comfortable in body and mind； in accordance with our mother's
example。'
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CHAPTER IX … THE BALL
'NOW； Miss Grey；' exclaimed Miss Murray； immediately I entered the
schoolroom； after having taken off my outdoor garments； upon returning
from my four weeks' recreation； 'Now … shut the door； and sit down； and
I'll tell you all about the ball。'
'No … damn it； no！' shouted Miss Matilda。 'Hold your tongue； can't ye？
and let me tell her about my new mare … SUCH a splendour； Miss Grey！ a
fine blood mare … '
'Do be quiet； Matilda； and let me tell my news first。'
'No； no； Rosalie； you'll be such a damned long time over it … she shall
hear me first … I'll be hanged if she doesn't！'
'I'm sorry to hear； Miss Matilda； that you've not got rid of that
shocking habit yet。'
'Well； I can't help it： but I'll never say a wicked word again； if you'll
only listen to me； and tell Rosalie to hold her confounded tongue。'
Rosalie remonstrated； and I thought I should have been torn in pieces
between them； but Miss Matilda having the loudest voice； her sister at
length gave in； and suffered her to tell her story first： so I was doomed to
hear a long account of her splendid mare； its breeding and pedigree； its
paces； its action； its spirit； &c。； and of her own amazing skill and courage
in riding it； concluding with an assertion that she could clear a five…barred
gate 'like winking；' that papa said she might hunt the next time the hounds
met； and mamma had ordered a bright scarlet hunting…habit for her。
'Oh； Matilda！ what stories you are telling！' exclaimed her sister。
'Well；' answered she； no whit abashed； 'I know I COULD clear a five…
barred gate； if I tried； and papa WILL say I may hunt； and mamma WILL
order the habit when I ask it。'
'Well； now get along；' replied Miss Murray； 'and do； dear Matilda； try
to be a little more lady…like。 Miss Grey； I wish you would tell her not to
use such shocking words； she will call her horse a mare： it is so
inconceivably shocking！ and then she uses such dreadful expressions in
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AGNES GREY
describing it： she must have learned it from the grooms。 It nearly puts
me into fits when she begins。'
'I learned it from papa； you ass！ and his jolly friends；' said the young
lady； vigorously cracking a hunting…whip； which she habitually carried in
her hand。 'I'm as good judge of horseflesh as the best of 'm。'
'Well； now get along； you shocking girl！ I really shall take a fit if you
go on in such a way。 And now； Miss Grey； attend to me； I'm going to tell
you about the ball。 You must be dying to hear about it； I know。 Oh；
SUCH a ball！ You never saw or heard； or read； or dreamt of anything
like it in all your life。 The decorations； the entertainment； the supper； the
music were indescribable！ and then the guests！ There were two
noblemen； three baronets； and five titled ladies； and other ladies and
gentlemen innumerable。 The ladies； of course； were of no consequence
to me； except to put me in a good humour with myself； by showing how
ugly and awkward most of them were； and the best； mamma told me； … the
most transcendent beauties among them； were nothing to me。 As for me；
Miss Grey … I'm so SORRY you didn't see me！ I was CHARMING …
wasn't I； Matilda？'
'Middling。'
'No； but I really was … at least so mamma said … and Brown and
Williamson。 Brown said she was sure no gentleman could set eyes on
me without falling in love that minute； and so I may be allowed to be a
little vain。 I know you think me a shocking； conceited； frivolous girl； but
then； you know； I don't attribute it ALL to my personal attractions： I give
some praise to the hairdresser； and some to my exquisitely lovely dress …
you must see it to…morrow … white gauze over pink satin … and so
SWEETLY made！ and a necklace and bracelet of beautiful； large pearls！'
'I have no doubt you looked very charming： but should that delight
you so very much？'
'Oh； no！ … not that alone： but； then； I was so much admired； and I
made so MANY conquests in that one night … you'd be astonished to hear …
'
'But what good will they do you？'
'What good！ Think of any woman asking that！'
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'Well； I should think one conquest would be enough； and too much；
unless the subjugation were mutual。'
'Oh； but you know I never agree with you on those points。 Now； wait
a bit； and I'll tell you my principal admirers … those who made themselves
very conspicuous that night and after： for I've been to two parties since。
Unfortunately the two noblemen； Lord G… and Lord F…； were married； or I
might have condescended to be particularly gracious to THEM； as it was； I
did not： though Lord F…； who hates his wife； was evidently much struck
with me。 He asked me to dance with him twice … he is a charming dancer；
by…the… by； and so am I： you can't think how well I did …