The Barbadoes Girl | Page 6

she even
longed to confess her folly, and gain her share of Mrs. Harewood's
caresses; but pride still struggled in her heart; and though her reason
was convinced of the truth, that children are indeed dependent on their
friends for all that renders life valuable, yet her temper still got the
better, and she resolutely held her tongue, though she ceased to look
haughty and ill-humoured.
CHAPTER III.
This interesting display of natural feelings was interrupted by the hasty
re-entrance of Mr. Harewood, followed by Betty, the housemaid, who,
in entering the door in a hurry, had fallen down a step, and hurt her
forehead, and was now brought forward by her good master, to claim
the assistance of her kind and skilful mistress.
The children were full of concern and condolence with Betty, and with
great tenderness shrunk when they saw their mamma bathe her
forehead with vinegar, as they knew it must smart exceedingly: and
Ellen could not help saying--"How good Betty is! she never says oh!"
"No, Miss," said Betty, "I know your mamma does it for my good; and
though she gives me some pain, yet she saves me from a great deal
more."
In a few minutes, Betty declared the smarting was quite gone; and the
children were so glad, that Matilda began to think, though they were
foolish, yet they were certainly happy, and she wished she could feel as
happy as they did.

When Betty was gone, the tea came in, and Mrs. Harewood ordered a
large plate of toast, as she recollected Matilda's scanty dinner. Thomas
once handed it all round, and Mr. Harewood then said--"Set it down;
when the children want it, they will ask you for it."
All the children remembered poor Matilda's wants, and in order that she
might have plenty, without any more being ordered, or any thing in
reference to the past being mentioned, with true delicacy of feeling,
forbore to eat any more, so that Matilda could not repeat their words in
asking, which she now determined to do. She was very hungry, and the
toast looked very tempting, as it stood before the fire.
Matilda looked at the toast, and then at the footman; her cheek glowed,
her eye was subdued, but her tongue did not move. Thomas, however,
handed her the toast, and she then articulately said--"Thank you."
This was heard, but no notice was taken; they knew that much false
shame attends the first efforts to subdue pride and passion, and they
feared lest even approbation should be misconstrued.
In order to divert the general attention, Mrs. Harewood said--"I forgot
to ask Betty what made her run in such a hurry as to occasion her
accident, for I gave her leave to go out, and stay till nine o'clock, and it
is only seven now, I believe."
"I believe, madam," said Thomas, very respectfully, "she came home in
haste, because her sister has twins; and as you promised her some
caudle, she came to tell the cook to make it, and likewise to get some
little matter of clothing, from her own clothes, for the baby that is
unprovided."
"Poor woman!" said Mrs. Harewood; "we must all help; this little
stranger has a claim on us."
Ellen clapped her hands--"Oh, mamma, may I make it a nightcap?"
"Yes, my dear; I will get some old linen, and cut out a few things, after
tea."

"I will give you a crown, my dear," said Mr. Harewood; "as I cannot
assist in sewing, I must help to buy needles and thread."
"And I will give you a shilling, mamma," said Edmund, "if you please."
"Oh dear," said Charles, "I am very sorry, but I have only fourpence,
because I spent all my money on my new kite; but if that will do any
good, mamma----"
"It will do good, Charles, and I will not grieve you by refusing it,
because I see you are sorry that you have no more, which will teach
you another time to be provident, and then you will not be under the
necessity of giving your last farthing, or refusing to be charitable, when
such a case occurs again."
Ellen handed Charles's fourpence to her mamma; and as she did so, she
put a sixpence between the pence, so as not to be seen by Matilda, lest
it should seem like a reproach to her; and as she slipped the whole into
her mother's hand, she said--"I hope, mamma, you will be so good as to
let Miss Hanson make a little cap for the baby?"
"I don't like to sew," said Matilda, rising; "at least not such things as
these: I think a bit of calico to wrap the pickaninnies in is the best, and
I'll give that to buy some