按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and sanguine expectations in jests and playful sallies； that always struck
me as being exceedingly witty and pleasant。 Our mother laughed with
delight to see him so hopeful and happy： but still she feared he was
setting his heart too much upon the matter； and once I heard her whisper
as she left the room； 'God grant he be not disappointed！ I know not how
he would bear it。'
Disappointed he was； and bitterly； too。 It came like a thunder… clap
on us all； that the vessel which contained our fortune had been wrecked；
and gone to the bottom with all its stores； together with several of the crew；
and the unfortunate merchant himself。 I was grieved for him； I was
grieved for the overthrow of all our air…built castles： but； with the
elasticity of youth； I soon recovered the shook。
Though riches had charms； poverty had no terrors for an inexperienced
girl like me。 Indeed； to say the truth； there was something exhilarating in
the idea of being driven to straits； and thrown upon our own resources。 I
only wished papa； mamma； and Mary were all of the same mind as myself；
and then； instead of lamenting past calamities we might all cheerfully set
to work to remedy them； and the greater the difficulties； the harder our
present privations； the greater should be our cheerfulness to endure the
latter； and our vigour to contend against the former。
Mary did not lament； but she brooded continually over the misfortune；
and sank into a state of dejection from which no effort of mine could rouse
her。 I could not possibly bring her to regard the matter on its bright side
as I did： and indeed I was so fearful of being charged with childish
frivolity； or stupid insensibility； that I carefully kept most of my bright
ideas and cheering notions to myself； well knowing they could not be
appreciated。
My mother thought only of consoling my father； and paying our debts
and retrenching our expenditure by every available means； but my father
was completely overwhelmed by the calamity： health； strength； and
spirits sank beneath the blow； and he never wholly recovered them。 In
5
… Page 6…
AGNES GREY
vain my mother strove to cheer him； by appealing to his piety； to his
courage； to his affection for herself and us。 That very affection was his
greatest torment： it was for our sakes he had so ardently longed to
increase his fortune … it was our interest that had lent such brightness to his
hopes； and that imparted such bitterness to his present distress。 He now
tormented himself with remorse at having neglected my mother's advice；
which would at least have saved him from the additional burden of debt …
he vainly reproached himself for having brought her from the dignity； the
ease； the luxury of her former station to toil with him through the cares
and toils of poverty。 It was gall and wormwood to his soul to see that
splendid； highly…accomplished woman； once so courted and admired；
transformed into an active managing housewife； with hands and head
continually occupied with household labours and household economy。
The very willingness with which she performed these duties； the
cheerfulness with which she bore her reverses； and the kindness which
withheld her from imputing the smallest blame to him； were all perverted
by this ingenious self…tormentor into further aggravations of his sufferings。
And thus the mind preyed upon the body； and disordered the system of the
nerves； and they in turn increased the troubles of the mind； till by action
and reaction his health was seriously impaired； and not one of us could
convince him that the aspect of our affairs was not half so gloomy； so
utterly hopeless； as his morbid imagination represented it to be。
The useful pony phaeton was sold； together with the stout； well…fed
pony … the old favourite that we had fully determined should end its days
in peace； and never pass from our hands； the little coach… house and stable
were let； the servant boy； and the more efficient （being the more expensive）
of the two maid…servants； were dismissed。 Our clothes were mended；
turned； and darned to the utmost verge of decency； our food； always plain；
was now simplified to an unprecedented degree … except my father's
favourite dishes； our coals and candles were painfully economized … the
pair of candles reduced to one； and that most sparingly used； the coals
carefully husbanded in the half…empty grate： especially when my father
was out on his parish duties； or confined to bed through illness … then we
sat with our feet on the fender； scraping the perishing embers together
6
… Page 7…
AGNES GREY
from time to time； and occasionally adding a slight scattering of the dust
and fragments of coal； just to keep them alive。 As for our carpets； they in
time were worn threadbare； and patched and darned even to a greater
extent than our garments。 To save the expense of a gardener； Mary and I
undertook to keep the garden in order； and all the cooking and household
work that could not easily be managed by one servant… girl； was done by
my mother and sister； with a little occasional help from me： only a little；
because； though a woman in my own estimation； I was still a child in
theirs； and my mother； like most active； managing women； was not gifted
with very active daughters： for this reason … that being so clever and
diligent herself； she was never tempted to trust her affairs to a deputy； but；
on the contrary； was willing to act and think for others as well as for
number one； and whatever was the business in hand； she was apt to think
that no one could do it so well as herself： so that whenever I offered to
assist her； I received such an answer as … 'No； love； you cannot indeed …
there's nothing here you can do。 Go and help your sister； or get her to
take a walk with you … tell her she must not sit so much； and stay so
constantly in the house as she does … she may well look thin and dejected。'
'Mary； mamma says I'm to help you； or get you to take a walk with me；
she says you may well look thin and dejected； if you sit so constantly in
the house。'
'Help me you cannot； Agnes； and I cannot go out with YOU … I have
far too much to do。'
'Then let me help you。'
'You cannot； indeed； dear child。 Go and practise your music； or play
with the kitten。'
There was always plenty of sewing on hand； but I had not been taught
to cut out a single garment； and except plain hemming and seaming； there
was little I could do； even in that line； for they both asserted that it was far
easier to do the work themselves than to prepare it for me： and besides；
they liked better to see me prosecuting my studies； or amusing myself … it
was time enough for me to sit bending over my work； like a grave matron；
when my favourite little pussy was become a steady old cat。 Under such
circumstances； although I was not many degrees more useful than the
7
… Page 8…
AGNES GREY
kitten； my idleness was not entirely without excuse。
Through all our troubles； I never but once heard my mother complain
of our want of money。 As summer was coming on she observed to Mary
and me； 'What a desirable thing it would be for your papa to spend a few
weeks at a watering…place。 I am convinced the sea…air and the change of
scene would be of incalculable service to him。 But then； you see； there's
no money；' she added； with a sigh。 We both wished exceedingly that the
thing might be done； and lamented greatly that it could not。 'Well； well！'
said she； 'it's