"Who to?" says she, opening her Eyes wide.
"Nay, I can't tell that," said I, "but you are not the Sort of Girl to be overlooked."
She smiled sadly and said, "You are only speaking at Random, nor have I any Wish to be married, any further than I should like almost any Condition better than my own. But now, tell me, Patty, is it not a bad State of Things when young Women are so placed as that they are tempted to look to Marriage as an Escape?"
"Certainly it is," said I; "but yet, Gatty, let me tell you, your Condition might be many Degrees worse than it now is. Nay, if you had been born and bred to Servitude, you might even consider you had a tolerable Place; 'tis your gentler Birth and Bringing-up that makes the Collar so hard to wear. Suppose, for Instance, Lady Betty, in addition to her Caprice and Frivolity, had the Sufferings, Infirmities, and confirmed Ill-Humours of old Age? Or suppose she were married to a troublesome Husband? Or, even as she is, that she were a Martyr to some irritating Complaint?"
"Then I would nurse her with Pity and Patience," says Gatty. "However, 'tis no use supposing this and the other—I must take my Lot and make the best of it; only I sometimes envy the Shop-Girls behind the poorest Counter, for methinks they have more Exercise and Variety, and have at least their Sundays to themselves; whereas, 'e'en Sunday shines no Sabbath-Day to me.'"
I had a Word on my Lips as to what the Shop-Women might have to say on the other Side of the Question; but Time pressed, and I was obliged to run down Stairs to see the Milk sent out.
After Breakfast, Mr. James the Footman made his Appearance in Undress Livery, carrying a small Trunk, and requested to see Mrs. Gatty. When she appeared, "Mrs. Gatty," says he—"dear me, how you've fallen away! you must have been ill indeed!... I was about to say, your Billet to my Lady threw us into sad Confusion Yesterday. I carried it to her on a Salver, and she, not knowing who sent it, opened it carelessly, when, seeing your Name, she dropped it like a red-hot Coal, and fell back on her Settee, crying to me to throw the Billet in the Fire. But then called me back to bid me look in it first, and see what you said, she smelling to her Scent-Bottle all the While. When I told her Ladyship the Contents, she said she would by no Means have you back yet, it would be highly dangerous, and perhaps cost many precious Lives; that you had better go down somewhere into the Country, to your Home, in short, till you got thoroughly disinfected; and after that she would let you know her Mind about you. So I have brought your Trunk, and your Half-Year's Wages; and here are five Pounds to clear off your Expenses here and pay for your Journey into the Country."
I never saw a Face light up with Joy as Gatty's did, that Moment! "Oh, this is delightful!" said she, "Thank you kindly, James, for being the Bearer of such good Tidings! I have little Doubt that I shall be quite strong and well after spending a Month at Home, and then I will do as my Lady pleases."
When the Man was gone, she pressed the five Pounds on my Mother, with the humblest Expressions of Gratitude; but my Mother would by no Means take it. At length it was decided to inclose three Pounds in a Packet to Dr. Elwes, not to be sent to him till Gatty was gone; and the other two would pay her Journey, outside the Coach, to her native Place, so that my Lady Betty's Bounty but just cleared Expenses.
Gatty was now in the gayest Spirits, and whereas she had hitherto seemed rather a quiet Girl, she was now talking incessantly. There was Something moving in witnessing the Joy she experienced in looking forward to seeing her Mother, and the Glee with which she spoke of her little Brothers and Sisters, the Dog, the Cat, the most trivial Thing connected with Home. For Instance, "Pussy," she would say, "you are handsomer than our old Tortoiseshell; and yet I would not exchange old Tibby for you." "How glad Towler will be to see me! I fancy him at the Gate, wagging his Tail. He is deaf, and has lost most of his Teeth, but I hope he is not so blind but what he will know me again."