The Christmas Hirelings (Children's Book). Mary Elizabeth Braddon
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weeks in the autumn, he was scarcely seen in the West during the seven years that followed his election as Member for the Western Division of North Cornwall. He was re-elected during those seven years without opposition, for it was now felt that the Western Division had become a pocket-borough of the Penlyons, just as Blackmount had been. There was no use in fighting Sir John Penlyon in his stronghold of the west.
Before settling himself in his comfortable bachelor quarters by St. James’s Park, Sir John invited his only sister, Mrs. Hawberk, to Penlyon Place, with a view to taking counsel with her as to the education of his daughters. The time had doubtless come when Lilian and Sibyl must cease to run wild. Mrs. Hawberk’s husband was the younger son of a peer, and she gave herself some airs on the strength of that connection. She was very fond of talking of Allerton, the family seat, where she usually spent a somewhat dismal six weeks in September and October while her husband was going about the country speaking at political meetings, and wearing himself out, as he declared, in support of the cause.
Mrs. Hawberk came. She had not seen her nieces since their mother’s death. She took them in hand at once in a masterful way; and after spending a single afternoon with them and their governess, she informed her brother that his children were monsters of ignorance.
“The sooner you get rid of that young woman the better,” she said of poor Miss Peterson, who had done all in her power to make herself agreeable to the great lady. “She has taught them nothing, and she has not the slightest authority over them.”
“She has looked after their health,” replied Sir John, apologizing for the governess’s shortcomings, “and they are very fond of her.”
“One wouldn’t wish them to be fond of her. It is a very bad sign when children are fond of their governess. It means that she spoils them and allows them to be idle.”
“They have been idle at my desire. I told Miss Peterson to cultivate their bodies and leave their minds alone.”
“And she has obeyed you to the letter. I never met with such ignorant children. They pretend to be fond of flowers, yet they know no more of botany than my maid Rogers. They have made no progress with the piano. They know no French. They are backward in everything.”
“They are splendid children,” said Sir John, doggedly. “No doubt; and if you allow them to grow up with Miss Peterson they will be splendid savages; and you will be put to shame by them when they go into society. It does not do for girls to be ignorant and unaccomplished nowadays. You will want them to marry well, I suppose, by-and-by?”
“I shan’t want them to marry badly.”
“Of course not; and to make good matches they will have to be accomplished as well as good-looking. They are very sweet girls,” added Mrs. Hawberk, not wishing to offend her only brother, and a wealthy brother; “ but they have been dreadfully indulged.”
“I wanted them to be happy.”
“No doubt they have had a fine time of it. You were not so weak about them in their poor mother’s time.”
“No; I wish I had been a little weaker.”
“How do you mean?”
“I think Mary would have liked me to take more notice of them.”
“Nonsense, John; you were perfect in your conduct to poor Mary. No young woman could have had a more chivalrous husband. I hope you don’t reproach yourself for having been wanting in any respect towards poor Mary?”
“Well, we needn’t talk about that, Nobody can mend the past, I want you to do what is best for the girls now I am to be so much in London. If Miss Peterson is not governess enough for them she must have a superior person to help her. She can stay to look after their health, and see that they change their shoes.”
“My dear John, a maid will do all that. If you want me to be of use to them you must let me have a free hand.”
“Certainly; you shall have a free hand for the next five years, till they have finished their education. Lilian is nearly thirteen. Five years hence she will be old enough to enter society.”
“And it shall be my care that she is fitted for her position as your eldest daughter,” said Mrs. Hawberk, decisively.
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