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'No harm still；' replied I。
'No harm！' repeated she in amazement。 'What do you mean？'
'I mean； I think no worse of him than I did before。'
'No worse！ I should think not indeed … quite the contrary！ Is he not
greatly improved？'
'Oh； yes； very much indeed；' replied I； for I had now discovered that it
was Harry Meltham she meant； not Mr。 Weston。 That gentleman had
eagerly come forward to speak to the young ladies： a thing he would
hardly have ventured to do had their mother been present； he had likewise
politely handed them into the carriage。 He had not attempted to shut me
out； like Mr。 Hatfield； neither； of course； had he offered me his assistance
（I should not have accepted it； if he had）； but as long as the door remained
open he had stood smirking and chatting with them； and then lifted his hat
and departed to his own abode： but I had scarcely noticed him all the
time。 My companions； however； had been more observant； and； as we
rolled along； they discussed between them not only his looks； words； and
actions； but every feature of his face； and every article of his apparel。
'You shan't have him all to yourself； Rosalie；' said Miss Matilda at the
close of this discussion； 'I like him： I know he'd make a nice； jolly
companion for me。'
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'Well； you're quite welcome to him； Matilda；' replied her sister； in a
tone of affected indifference。
'And I'm sure；' continued the other； 'he admires me quite as much as he
does you； doesn't he； Miss Grey？'
'I don't know； I'm not acquainted with his sentiments。'
'Well； but he DOES though。'
'My DEAR Matilda！ nobody will ever admire you till you get rid of
your rough； awkward manners。'
'Oh； stuff！ Harry Meltham likes such manners； and so do papa's
friends。'
'Well； you MAY captivate old men； and younger sons； but nobody else；
I am sure； will ever take a fancy to you。'
'I don't care： I'm not always grabbing after money； like you and
mamma。 If my husband is able to keep a few good horses and dogs； I
shall be quite satisfied； and all the rest may go to the devil！'
'Well； if you use such shocking expressions； I'm sure no real gentleman
will ever venture to come near you。 Really； Miss Grey； you should not
let her do so。'
'I can't possibly prevent it； Miss Murray。'
'And you're quite mistaken； Matilda； in supposing that Harry Meltham
admires you： I assure you he does nothing of the kind。'
Matilda was beginning an angry reply； but； happily； our journey was
now at an end； and the contention was cut short by the footman opening
the carriage…door； and letting down the steps for our descent。
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CHAPTER XI … THE
COTTAGERS
AS I had now only one regular pupil … though she contrived to give me
as much trouble as three or four ordinary ones； and though her sister still
took lessons in German and drawing … I had considerably more time at my
own disposal than I had ever been blessed with before； since I had taken
upon me the governess's yoke； which time I devoted partly to
correspondence with my friends； partly to reading； study； and the practice
of music； singing； &c。； partly to wandering in the grounds or adjacent
fields； with my pupils if they wanted me； alone if they did not。
Often； when they had no more agreeable occupation at hand； the
Misses Murray would amuse themselves with visiting the poor cottagers
on their father's estate； to receive their flattering homage； or to hear the old
stories or gossiping news of the garrulous old women； or； perhaps； to
enjoy the purer pleasure of making the poor people happy with their
cheering presence and their occasional gifts； so easily bestowed； so
thankfully received。 Sometimes； I was called upon to accompany one or
both of the sisters in these visits； and sometimes I was desired to go alone；
to fulfil some promise which they had been more ready to make than to
perform； to carry some small donation； or read to one who was sick or
seriously disposed： and thus I made a few acquaintances among the
cottagers； and； occasionally； I went to see them on my own account。
I generally had more satisfaction in going alone than with either of the
young ladies； for they； chiefly owing to their defective education；
comported themselves towards their inferiors in a manner that was highly
disagreeable for me to witness。 They never； in thought； exchanged places
with them； and； consequently； had no consideration for their feelings；
regarding them as an order of beings entirely different from themselves。
They would watch the poor creatures at their meals； making uncivil
remarks about their food； and their manner of eating； they would laugh at
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their simple notions and provincial expressions； till some of them scarcely
durst venture to speak； they would call the grave elderly men and women
old fools and silly old blockheads to their faces： and all this without
meaning to offend。 I could see that the people were often hurt and
annoyed by such conduct； though their fear of the 'grand ladies' prevented
them from testifying any resentment； but THEY never perceived it。 They
thought that； as these cottagers were poor and untaught； they must be
stupid and brutish； and as long as they； their superiors； condescended to
talk to them； and to give them shillings and half…crowns； or articles of
clothing； they had a right to amuse themselves； even at their expense； and
the people must adore them as angels of light； condescending to minister
to their necessities； and enlighten their humble dwellings。
I made many and various attempts to deliver my pupils from these
delusive notions without alarming their pride … which was easily offended；
and not soon appeased … but with little apparent result； and I know not
which was the more reprehensible of the t