[CHAPTER XI.]
John Campbell continued much pleased with his situation, and all his leisure hours were spent with Mrs. Meridith and Anna, if they were at home; and when they were not, Syphax and Bella were his companions. As he was known to be countenanced by Mrs. Meridith, he would have been invited wherever she was, had not his father positively forbade it; and as Mr. Mansell's was a very domestic family, he was not without agreeable society in their house. Whenever they dined at Mrs. Meridith's he was of the party, and joined what little company they had at home; and this was all the introduction to the world John met with; nor did he wish for more, as the habits of industry in which he was brought up, made him attentive to business; and he was very desirous of shewing his father that the money advanced for him would not be thrown away.
Anna became acquainted with several young people in the town, some of whom she found could be pleasing companions, when the conversation took a different turn than the amusements of the preceding evening; while others could talk of nothing else.
There was only one family who were of equal consequence in the neighbourhood with Mrs. Meridith, but of very different sentiments; and with these Anna could not converse as freely as with the rest of her acquaintance. The story of her birth Mrs. Meridith had not endeavoured to conceal; but it did not appear to affect the behaviour of any one, except the Miss Hunts, who, being distantly allied to nobility, could not bear the idea of a plebeian's daughter being on a footing with themselves.
"Her father was nobody," said they to those within their circle, "and I have heard that he is even now a common beggar; and Mrs. Meridith's choosing to adopt her for a daughter, is no reason she should force her upon all her acquaintance."
"She certainly is a very romantic woman; but my mamma says, and I think so too," said the eldest Miss Hunt, "that as she was so fond of the farmers, and country people, she had better have continued among them; and not, after confining herself to their society for ten or twelve years, have come forth again, with an attempt to introduce one of their family into the world, whom they say she has educated with all the fine sentiments and benevolent ideas which she herself possesses."
Some of Anna's friends now endeavoured to take her part, by saying she was very well-bred, and had a good understanding; and that she was not at all vain of Mrs. Meridith's favours.
"I wonder at that," said the young lady, "for mamma says when she called at Mrs. Meridith's, after she had taken her, there was nothing talked of but the little Anna. Mrs. Meridith did not return mamma's call for nearly a twelvemonth afterwards; and refused every invitation which mamma sent her; so much taken up with the education of her darling, I suppose, and she has now brought her forth to astonish society."
Those of Miss Hunt's party who wished to please her, laughed at this sally of wit, and those of Anna's friends left them, to join her and Mrs. Meridith, who were at another part of the room.
It was not long before Anna perceived some of her acquaintance change their behaviour towards her, for Miss Hunt was of too much consequence not to have her opinion regarded, by those who expected more entertainments at the house of her parents, than at Mrs. Meridith's; whom they doubted not would soon return to Rosewood, and there continue the same secluded life she had lately lived: so that Miss Hunt's party enlarged, while Anna's lessened; nor did she continue ignorant of the cause. One of her young friends, who still regarded her as worthy notice, took an opportunity to hint at what Miss Hunt had said; nor did Anna affect to misunderstand her.