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to the acquirement of that dignified DEPORTMENT AND
CARRIAGE； so requisite for every young lady of fashion。
In the principles of religion and morality； Miss Sedley
will be found worthy of an establishment which has
been honoured by the presence of THE GREAT LEXICOGRAPHER；
and the patronage of the admirable Mrs。 Chapone。 In leaving
the Mall； Miss Amelia carries with her the hearts of her
companions； and the affectionate regards of her mistress；
who has the honour to subscribe herself；
Madam；
Your most obliged humble servant；
BARBARA PINKERTON
P。S。Miss Sharp accompanies Miss Sedley。 It is particularly
requested that Miss Sharp's stay in Russell Square may not
exceed ten days。 The family of distinction with whom she is
engaged； desire to avail themselves of her services as soon
as possible。
This letter completed； Miss Pinkerton proceeded to
write her own name； and Miss Sedley's； in the fly…leaf of
a Johnson's Dictionarythe interesting work which she
invariably presented to her scholars； on their departure
from the Mall。 On the cover was inserted a copy of 〃Lines
addressed to a young lady on quitting Miss Pinkerton's
school； at the Mall； by the late revered Doctor Samuel
Johnson。〃 In fact； the Lexicographer's name was always
on the lips of this majestic woman； and a visit he had
paid to her was the cause of her reputation and her fortune。
Being commanded by her elder sister to get 〃the Dictionary〃
from the cupboard； Miss Jemima had extracted two copies
of the book from the receptacle in question。 When Miss
Pinkerton had finished the inscription in the first； Jemima；
with rather a dubious and timid air； handed her the second。
〃For whom is this； Miss Jemima？〃 said Miss Pinkerton；
with awful coldness。
〃For Becky Sharp；〃 answered Jemima； trembling very
much； and blushing over her withered face and neck； as
she turned her back on her sister。 〃For Becky Sharp：
she's going too。〃
〃MISS JEMIMA！〃 exclaimed Miss Pinkerton； in the
largest capitals。 〃Are you in your senses？ Replace the
Dixonary in the closet； and never venture to take such
a liberty in future。〃
〃Well； sister； it's only two…and…ninepence； and poor
Becky will be miserable if she don't get one。〃
〃Send Miss Sedley instantly to me；〃 said Miss Pinkerton。
And so venturing not to say another word； poor
Jemima trotted off； exceedingly flurried and nervous。
Miss Sedley's papa was a merchant in London； and a
man of some wealth； whereas Miss Sharp was an articled
pupil； for whom Miss Pinkerton had done； as she thought；
quite enough； without conferring upon her at parting the
high honour of the Dixonary。
Although schoolmistresses' letters are to be trusted no
more nor less than churchyard epitaphs； yet； as it sometimes
happens that a person departs this life who is really
deserving of all the praises the stone cutter carves over
his bones； who IS a good Christian； a good parent； child；
wife； or husband； who actually DOES leave a disconsolate
family to mourn his loss； so in academies of the male
and female sex it occurs every now and then that the
pupil is fully worthy of the praises bestowed by the
disinterested instructor。 Now； Miss Amelia Sedley was a
young lady of this singular species； and deserved not only
all that Miss Pinkerton said in her praise； but had many
charming qualities which that pompous old Minerva of a
woman could not see； from the differences of rank and
age between her pupil and herself。
For she could not only sing like a lark； or a Mrs。
Billington； and dance like Hillisberg or Parisot； and
embroider beautifully； and spell as well as a Dixonary
itself； but she had such a kindly； smiling； tender； gentle；
generous heart of her own； as won the love of everybody
who came near her； from Minerva herself down to the poor
girl in the scullery； and the one…eyed tart…woman's
daughter； who was permitted to vend her wares once a
week to the young ladies in the Mall。 She had twelve intimate
and bosom friends out of the twenty…four young ladies。
Even envious Miss Briggs never spoke ill of her； high
and mighty Miss Saltire （Lord Dexter's granddaughter）
allowed that her figure was genteel； and as for Miss
Swartz； the rich woolly…haired mulatto from St。 Kitt's； on
the day Amelia went away； she was in such a passion of
tears that they were obliged to send for Dr。 Floss； and half
tipsify her with salvolatile。 Miss Pinkerton's attachment
was； as may be supposed from the high position and
eminent virtues of that lady； calm and dignified； but Miss
Jemima had already whimpered several times at the idea
of Amelia's departure； and； but for fear of her sister；
would have gone off in downright hysterics； like the
heiress （who paid double） of St。 Kitt's。 Such luxury of
grief； however； is only allowed to parlour…boarders。
Honest Jemima had all the bills； and the washing； and the
mending； and the puddings； and the plate and crockery；
and the servants to superintend。 But why speak about
her？ It is probable that we shall not hear of her again
from this moment to the end of time； and that when the
great filigree iron gates are once closed on her； she and
her awful sister will never issue therefrom into this little
world of history。
But as we are to see a great deal of Amelia； there is
no harm in saying； at the outset of our acquaintance； that
she was a dear little creature； and a great mercy it is；
both in life and in novels； which （and the latter especially）
abound in villains of the most sombre sort； that
we are to have for a constant companion so guileless
and good…natured a person。 As she is not a heroine； there
is no need to describe her person； indeed I am afraid
that her nose was rather short than otherwise； and her
cheeks a great deal too round and red for a heroine； but
her face blushed with rosy health； and her lips with the
freshest of smiles； and she had a pair of eyes which
sparkled with the brightest and honestest good…humour；
except indeed when they filled with tears； and that was
a great deal too often； for the silly thing would cry over
a dead canary…bird； or over a mouse； that the cat haply
had seized upon； or over the end of a novel； were it ever
so stupid； and as for saying an unkind word to her； were
any persons hard…hearted enough to do sowhy； so much
the worse for them。 Even Miss Pinkerton； that austere
and godlike woman； ceased scolding her after the first
time； and though she no more comprehended sensibility
than she did Algebra； gave all masters and teachers
particular orders to treat Miss Sedley with the utmost
gentleness； as harsh treatment was injurious to her。
So that when the day of departure came； between her
two customs of laughing and crying； Miss Sedley was
greatly puzzled how to act。 She was glad to go home；
and yet most woefully sad at leaving school。 For three
days before； little Laura Martin； the orphan； followed her
about like a little dog。 She had to make and receive at
least fourteen presentsto make fourteen solemn promises
of writing every week： 〃Send my letters under cover
to my grandpapa； the Earl of Dexter；〃 said Miss Saltire
（who； by the way； was rather shabby）。 〃Never mind the
postage； but write every