Abbeychurch by Charlotte Mary Yonge - A complete eBook in pages (41 / 228)

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Abbeychurch by Charlotte Mary Yonge
Book, page 41 / 228

with me, and I feeling motherless and wretched, used to sit on her
lap and cry. Dear old Margery, it is a shame to abuse her in spite
of the mischief her over-kindness did us all. Well, when our new
maid came, on the supposition that Miss Woodbourne took care of her
own clothes, she never touched them; and as Margaret's work was not
endowed with the fairy power of lasting for ever, I soon grew as
ragged as any ragged-robin in the hedge. Mamma used to complain of
my slovenliness, but I am afraid I was naughty enough to take
advantage of her gentleness, and out-argue her; so things grew worse
and worse, till at last, one fatal day, Papa was aware of a great
hole in my stockings. Then forth it all came; he asked question
after question; and dear kind Mamma, even more unwilling to expose me
than I was myself, was forced to answer, and you may suppose how
angry he was. Oh! Anne, I can hardly bear to think of the stern
kindness of his voice when he saw I was really quite wretched. And
only think how kind it was in him, he spoke seriously to me, he
shewed me that building the church, helping our poor people, even
Mamma's comforts, and the boys' education, depend upon home economy;
and how even I could make a difference by not wasting my clothes, and
making another servant necessary.'

'Then could you really gain neat habits immediately?' asked Anne;
'there could be no doubt of your resolving to do so, but few people
could or would persevere.'

'Oh! I am not properly tidy now,' said Elizabeth, opening a most
chaotic table-drawer, 'see, there is a proof of it. However, I do
not think I have been shamefully slovenly in my own person since that
explosion, and I have scarcely been spoken to about it. Who could
disregard such an appeal? But, Anne, are you not enchanted with
sweet Mrs. Hazleby?'

'I wish you would not ask me, Lizzie,' said Anne, feeling very
prudent, 'you know that I know nothing of her.'

'No, and you never will know enough of her to say such savage things
as I do,' said Elizabeth, 'but at any rate you saw her when she came
in.'

'Certainly.'

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