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the great yellow saloon and the morning…rooms。 I think
there are at least twenty bedrooms on the first floor； one
of them has the bed in which Queen Elizabeth slept；
and I have been taken by my new pupils through all
these fine apartments this morning。 They are not
rendered less gloomy； I promise you； by having the shutters
always shut； and there is scarce one of the apartments；
but when the light was let into it； I expected to
see a ghost in the room。 We have a schoolroom on the
second floor； with my bedroom leading into it on one
side； and that of the young ladies on the other。 Then
there are Mr。 Pitt's apartmentsMr。 Crawley； he is
calledthe eldest son； and Mr。 Rawdon Crawley's rooms
he is an officer like SOMEBODY； and away with his
regiment。 There is no want of room I assure you。 You
might lodge all the people in Russell Square in the
house； I think； and have space to spare。
Half an hour after our arrival； the great dinner…bell
was rung； and I came down with my two pupils （they
are very thin insignificant little chits of ten and eight
years old）。 I came down in your dear muslin gown
（about which that odious Mrs。 Pinner was so rude；
because you gave it me）； for I am to be treated as one of
the family； except on company days； when the young
ladies and I are to dine upstairs。
Well； the great dinner…bell rang； and we all assembled
in the little drawing…room where my Lady Crawley
sits。 She is the second Lady Crawley； and mother of the
young ladies。 She was an ironmonger's daughter； and
her marriage was thought a great match。 She looks as
if she had been handsome once； and her eyes are always
weeping for the loss of her beauty。 She is pale and
meagre and high…shouldered； and has not a word to say
for herself； evidently。 Her stepson Mr。 Crawley； was
likewise in the room。 He was in full dress； as pompous
as an undertaker。 He is pale； thin； ugly； silent； he has
thin legs； no chest； hay…coloured whiskers； and straw…
coloured hair。 He is the very picture of his sainted
mother over the mantelpieceGriselda of the noble
house of Binkie。
〃This is the new governess； Mr。 Crawley；〃 said Lady
Crawley； coming forward and taking my hand。 〃Miss
Sharp。〃
〃0！〃 said Mr。 Crawley； and pushed his head once
forward and began again to read a great pamphlet
with which he was busy。
〃I hope you will be kind to my girls；〃 said Lady
Crawley； with her pink eyes always full of tears。
〃Law； Ma； of course she will；〃 said the eldest： and I
saw at a glance that I need not be afraid of THAT woman。
〃My lady is served；〃 says the butler in black； in an
immense white shirt…frill； that looked as if it had been
one of the Queen Elizabeth's ruffs depicted in the hall；
and so； taking Mr。 Crawley's arm； she led the way to the
dining…room； whither I followed with my little pupils in
each hand。
Sir Pitt was already in the room with a silver jug。 He
had just been to the cellar； and was in full dress too；
that is； he had taken his gaiters off； and showed his little
dumpy legs in black worsted stockings。 The sideboard
was covered with glistening old plateold cups； both
gold and silver； old salvers and cruet…stands； like
Rundell and Bridge's shop。 Everything on the table was in
silver too； and two footmen； with red hair and canary…
coloured liveries； stood on either side of the sideboard。
Mr。 Crawley said a long grace； and Sir Pitt said amen；
and the great silver dish…covers were removed。
〃What have we for dinner； Betsy？' said the Baronet。
〃Mutton broth； I believe； Sir Pitt；〃 answered Lady
Crawley。
〃Mouton aux navets；〃 added the butler gravely
（pronounce； if you please； moutongonavvy）； 〃and the
soup is potage de mouton a l'Ecossaise。 The side…dishes
contain pommes de terre au naturel； and choufleur a l'eau。〃
〃Mutton's mutton；〃 said the Baronet； 〃and a devilish
good thing。 What SHIP was it； Horrocks； and when did
you kill？〃
〃One of the black…faced Scotch； Sir Pitt： we killed on Thursday。
〃Who took any？〃
〃Steel； of Mudbury； took the saddle and two legs； Sir
Pitt； but he says the last was too young and confounded
woolly； Sir Pitt。〃
〃Will you take some potage； Miss ahMiss Blunt？
said Mr。 Crawley。
〃Capital Scotch broth； my dear；〃 said Sir Pitt； 〃though
they call it by a French name。〃
〃I believe it is the custom； sir； in decent society；〃 said
Mr。 Crawley； haughtily； 〃to call the dish as I have called
it〃； and it was served to us on silver soup plates by the
footmen in the canary coats； with the mouton aux
navets。 Then 〃ale and water〃 were brought； and served
to us young ladies in wine…glasses。 I am not a judge of
ale； but I can say with a clear conscience I prefer water。
While we were enjoying our repast； Sir Pitt took
occasion to ask what had become of the shoulders of
the mutton。
〃I believe they were eaten in the servants' hall；〃 said
my lady； humbly。
〃They was； my lady；〃 said Horrocks； 〃and precious
little else we get there neither。〃
Sir Pitt burst into a horse…laugh； and continued his
conversation with Mr。 Horrocks。 〃That there little black
pig of the Kent sow's breed must be uncommon fat
now。〃
〃It's not quite busting； Sir Pitt；〃 said the butler with
the gravest air； at which Sir Pitt； and with him the young
ladies； this time； began to laugh violently。
〃Miss Crawley； Miss Rose Crawley；〃 said Mr。 Crawley；
〃your laughter strikes me as being exceedingly out
of place。〃
〃Never mind； my lord；〃 said the Baronet； 〃we'll try
the porker on Saturday。 Kill un on Saturday morning；
John Horrocks。 Miss Sharp adores pork； don't you； Miss
Sharp？〃
And I think this is all the conversation that I remember
at dinner。 When the repast was concluded a jug of
hot water was placed before Sir Pitt； with a case…bottle
containing； I believe； rum。 Mr。 Horrocks served myself
and my pupils with three little glasses of wine； and a
bumper was poured out for my lady。 When we retired；
she took from her work…drawer an enormous interminable
piece of knitting； the young ladies began to play at
cribbage with a dirty pack of cards。 We had but one
candle lighted； but it was in a magnificent old silver
candlestick； and after a very few questions from my lady；
I had my choice of amusement between a volume of
sermons； and a pamphlet on the corn…laws； which Mr。
Crawley had been reading before dinner。
So we sat for an hour until steps were heard。
〃Put away the cards； girls；〃 cried my lady； in a great
tremor； 〃put down Mr。 Crawley's books； Miss Sharp〃；
and these orders had been scarcely obeyed； when Mr。
Crawley entered the room。
〃We will resume yesterday's discourse； young ladies；〃
said he； 〃and you shall each read a page by turns； so
that Miss aMiss Short may have an opportunity of
hearing you〃； and the poor girls began to spell a long
dismal sermon delivered at Bethesda Chapel； Liverpool；
on behalf of the mission for the Chickasaw Indians。
Was it not a charming evening？
At ten the servants were told to call Sir Pitt and the
household to prayers。 Sir Pitt came in first； very much
flushed； and rather unsteady in his gait； and after him
the butler； the canaries； Mr。 Crawley's man； three other
men； smelling very much of the stable； and four women；
one of whom；