The True Life of Betty Ireland | Page 2

her Sister's Tenants, and not stand in need of any more Supplies from them; and if the good Woman, her guardian, had lived to bring Matters to any Kind of Establishment, Things had been better. But she unfortunately died, more, however, to her Sister's Disadvantage than hers; for the Guardian had chalked out a Track of Proceeding for Betty, which she could hardly miss to follow. The Elder, however, was inconsolable for the Loss of her Guardian, and resolved, for the future, to manage her Concerns by the Assistance of a Steward, a Sort of a Cousin to her Guardian deceased, but no way allied to her, in Worth or Understanding. He minded nothing but Hunting and Puppet-shews, Feasts and Revels; and though the uncomeliest of an ill-favoured Race, spent his Lady's Money in adorning his own Person, instead of fencing her Grounds. He was laughed at by one half of the Neighbours, and despised and gulled by the other. In a Word, he was every Way unfit for the Charge.
His Son succeeded to the Place; he was a grave-looking, orderly young Man, main religious, and skilled in the Customs of the Manor. Both the Sisters had great Hopes their Affairs would thrive under his Management. Betty's, indeed, went on well for a while; but, in the End, both of them had Cause to complain, and curse the Day they had bethought them of employing a Steward in their Concerns. He was not so great a Fool as his Father; yet nothing he put his Hand to succeeded. He was bubbled by every Neighbour he dealt with, and choused by every Tenant he trusted. His Word could never be relied on, as he had always some quibble to evade it. His Wife made him hated by the Tenants; and for a finishing Stroke to his undoing, and compleat the Ruin of his Wards, he pretended the Steward had a Right to hold Courts without Juries, and by his own Authority levy Money for Repairs. The Tenants would not endure this Invasion on their Rights, but stoutly opposed it; and, after a hard Struggle, got the better, turned him out of the Stewardship, and some of them finding him one Day at a why-not, tied him to a Rope, and hanged him in a Frolick.
The Office of a Steward was now abolished for a Time, and the elder Sister resolved to take her Affairs entirely into her own Hands, and have neither Steward or Guardian for the future. The Condition, indeed, of both was deplorable. There had been nothing during the late Quarrel, but Riot and Plunder, Rents unpaid, and Soldiers quartered at Discretion; so that, in order to retrieve their Affairs, it seemed necessary to put things on a new Footing, and trust none but themselves to manage them. But whatever they intended mattered but little.
Among the Soldiers quartered on them was a bustling Knave, who from a Corporal had come to be a Captain. He was bold as a Lion, and crafty as a Fox. He had cajoled his Soldiers to stand by him; and pretending Compassion for the Sisters, offered, or rather forced himself, to be their Guardian. They only complied because they could not help it; and he took more rule over them, than ever Steward or Guardian had done before him.
He seemed, indeed, to mend Matters in the Beginning, but, in reality, did unrepairable Damage to Blanch, though considerable Services to Betty. The Neighbours all around thought they were thriving apace, and began to envy their Greatness. The Reason of which was, that he always took care to have the Girls well dressed, especially when they went a visiting, and sent Word before-hand (for he was d----d proud) that all the World should Cap to them as they passed along. He stinted them in every thing else, but spent all he could rap and run to make them fine. Betty was bashful, and kept pretty much at home; but when Blanch went abroad, she made a flaming Appearance, held up her Head among the Highest, and insulted the Proudest with her Braveries.
But all the while Things were but uncomfortable at home, though she made such a tearing Figure when abroad. Nothing to be had for Farms, by reason the Soldiers put in and out as they pleased. No Leets or Manor Courts were minded. No taxing for Repairs and Bounds, but the Soldiers taxed for Contingencies as much Money as they could hear any one had. So that the Tenants found themselves in a worse Pickle than ever they had been under the Management of a Steward. They longed for Courts and Inquests, and to have every thing set on the old Bottom again.
They heard of a poor Boy, a Son of the late Steward's, who