Vanity Fair - Page 12/573

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

duties as governess in a private family.