Vanity Fair | Page 8

her; but she lived among them two years,
and not one was sorry that she went away. The gentle tender-hearted
Amelia Sedley was the only person to whom she could attach herself in

the least; and who could help attaching herself to Amelia?
The happiness the superior advantages of the young women round
about her, gave Rebecca inexpressible pangs of envy. "What airs that
girl gives herself, because she is an Earl's grand-daughter," she said of
one. "How they cringe and bow to that Creole, because of her hundred
thousand pounds! I am a thousand times cleverer and more charming
than that creature, for all her wealth. I am as well bred as the Earl's
grand-daughter, for all her fine pedigree; and yet every one passes me
by here. And yet, when I was at my father's, did not the men give up
their gayest balls and parties in order to pass the evening with me?" She
determined at any rate to get free from the prison in which she found
herself, and now began to act for herself, and for the first time to make
connected plans for the future.
She took advantage, therefore, of the means of study the place offered
her; and as she was already a musician and a good linguist, she speedily
went through the little course of study which was considered necessary
for ladies in those days. Her music she practised incessantly, and one
day, when the girls were out, and she had remained at home, she was
overheard to play a piece so well that Minerva thought, wisely, she
could spare herself the expense of a master for the juniors, and
intimated to Miss Sharp that she was to instruct them in music for the
future.
The girl refused; and for the first time, and to the astonishment of the
majestic mistress of the school. "I am here to speak French with the
children," Rebecca said abruptly, "not to teach them music, and save
money for you. Give me money, and I will teach them."
Minerva was obliged to yield, and, of course, disliked her from that day.
"For five-and-thirty years," she said, and with great justice, "I never
have seen the individual who has dared in my own house to question
my authority. I have nourished a viper in my bosom."
"A viper--a fiddlestick," said Miss Sharp to the old lady, almost
fainting with astonishment. "You took me because I was useful. There
is no question of gratitude between us. I hate this place, and want to

leave it. I will do nothing here but what I am obliged to do."
It was in vain that the old lady asked her if she was aware she was
speaking to Miss Pinkerton? Rebecca laughed in her face, with a horrid
sarcastic demoniacal laughter, that almost sent the schoolmistress into
fits. "Give me a sum of money," said the girl, "and get rid of me--or, if
you like better, get me a good place as governess in a nobleman's
family--you can do so if you please." And in their further disputes she
always returned to this point, "Get me a situation--we hate each other,
and I am ready to go."
Worthy Miss Pinkerton, although she had a Roman nose and a turban,
and was as tall as a grenadier, and had been up to this time an
irresistible princess, had no will or strength like that of her little
apprentice, and in vain did battle against her, and tried to overawe her.
Attempting once to scold her in public, Rebecca hit upon the
before-mentioned plan of answering her in French, which quite routed
the old woman. In order to maintain authority in her school, it became
necessary to remove this rebel, this monster, this serpent, this firebrand;
and hearing about this time that Sir Pitt Crawley's family was in want
of a governess, she actually recommended Miss Sharp for the situation,
firebrand and serpent as she was. "I cannot, certainly," she said, "find
fault with Miss Sharp's conduct, except to myself; and must allow that
her talents and accomplishments are of a high order. As far as the head
goes, at least, she does credit to the educational system pursued at my
establishment."
And so the schoolmistress reconciled the recommendation to her
conscience, and the indentures were cancelled, and the apprentice was
free. The battle here described in a few lines, of course, lasted for some
months. And as Miss Sedley, being now in her seventeenth year, was
about to leave school, and had a friendship for Miss Sharp ("'tis the
only point in Amelia's behaviour," said Minerva, "which has not been
satisfactory to her mistress"), Miss Sharp was invited by her friend to
pass a week with her at home, before she entered upon her