Vanity Fair | Page 2

expense has been spared, and which Old Nick will fetch away
at the end of this singular performance.

And with this, and a profound bow to his patrons, the Manager retires,
and the curtain rises.
LONDON, June 28, 1848
CHAPTER I
Chiswick Mall
While the present century was in its teens, and on one sunshiny
morning in June, there drove up to the great iron gate of Miss
Pinkerton's academy for young ladies, on Chiswick Mall, a large family
coach, with two fat horses in blazing harness, driven by a fat coachman
in a three-cornered hat and wig, at the rate of four miles an hour. A
black servant, who reposed on the box beside the fat coachman,
uncurled his bandy legs as soon as the equipage drew up opposite Miss
Pinkerton's shining brass plate, and as he pulled the bell at least a score
of young heads were seen peering out of the narrow windows of the
stately old brick house. Nay, the acute observer might have recognized
the little red nose of good-natured Miss Jemima Pinkerton herself,
rising over some geranium pots in the window of that lady's own
drawing-room.
"It is Mrs. Sedley's coach, sister," said Miss Jemima. "Sambo, the black
servant, has just rung the bell; and the coachman has a new red
waistcoat."
"Have you completed all the necessary preparations incident to Miss
Sedley's departure, Miss Jemima?" asked Miss Pinkerton herself, that
majestic lady; the Semiramis of Hammersmith, the friend of Doctor
Johnson, the correspondent of Mrs. Chapone herself.
"The girls were up at four this morning, packing her trunks, sister,"
replied Miss Jemima; "we have made her a bow-pot."
"Say a bouquet, sister Jemima, 'tis more genteel."
"Well, a booky as big almost as a haystack; I have put up two bottles of

the gillyflower water for Mrs. Sedley, and the receipt for making it, in
Amelia's box."
"And I trust, Miss Jemima, you have made a copy of Miss Sedley's
account. This is it, is it? Very good--ninety-three pounds, four shillings.
Be kind enough to address it to John Sedley, Esquire, and to seal this
billet which I have written to his lady."
In Miss Jemima's eyes an autograph letter of her sister, Miss Pinkerton,
was an object of as deep veneration as would have been a letter from a
sovereign. Only when her pupils quitted the establishment, or when
they were about to be married, and once, when poor Miss Birch died of
the scarlet fever, was Miss Pinkerton known to write personally to the
parents of her pupils; and it was Jemima's opinion that if anything
could console Mrs. Birch for her daughter's loss, it would be that pious
and eloquent composition in which Miss Pinkerton announced the
event.
In the present instance Miss Pinkerton's "billet" was to the following
effect:--
The Mall, Chiswick, June 15, 18
MADAM,--After her six years' residence at the Mall, I have the honour
and happiness of presenting Miss Amelia Sedley to her parents, as a
young lady not unworthy to occupy a fitting position in their polished
and refined circle. Those virtues which characterize the young English
gentlewoman, those accomplishments which become her birth and
station, will not be found wanting in the amiable Miss Sedley, whose
INDUSTRY and OBEDIENCE have endeared her to her instructors,
and whose delightful sweetness of temper has charmed her AGED and
her YOUTHFUL companions.
In music, in dancing, in orthography, in every variety of embroidery
and needlework, she will be found to have realized her friends' fondest
wishes. In geography there is still much to be desired; and a careful and
undeviating use of the backboard, for four hours daily during the next
three years, is recommended as necessary to the acquirement of that

dignified DEPORTMENT AND CARRIAGE, so requisite for every
young lady of FASHION.
In the principles of religion and morality, Miss Sedley will be found
worthy of an establishment which has been honoured by the presence
of THE GREAT LEXICOGRAPHER, and the patronage of the
admirable Mrs. Chapone. In leaving the Mall, Miss Amelia carries with
her the hearts of her companions, and the affectionate regards of her
mistress, who has the honour to subscribe herself,
Madam, Your most obliged humble servant, BARBARA PINKERTON
P.S.--Miss Sharp accompanies Miss Sedley. It is particularly requested
that Miss Sharp's stay in Russell Square may not exceed ten days. The
family of distinction with whom she is engaged, desire to avail
themselves of her services as soon as possible.
This letter completed, Miss Pinkerton proceeded to write her own name,
and Miss Sedley's, in the fly-leaf of a Johnson's Dictionary-- the
interesting work which she invariably presented to her scholars, on
their departure from the Mall. On the cover was inserted a copy of
"Lines addressed to a young lady on quitting Miss