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（who； by the way； was rather shabby）。 〃Never mind the
postage； but write every day； you dear darling；〃 said the
impetuous and woolly…headed； but generous and
affectionate Miss Swartz； and the orphan little Laura Martin
（who was just in round…hand）； took her friend's hand
and said； looking up in her face wistfully； 〃Amelia； when
I write to you I shall call you Mamma。〃 All which details；
I have no doubt； JONES； who reads this book at his
Club； will pronounce to be excessively foolish； trivial；
twaddling； and ultra…sentimental。 Yes； I can see Jones
at this minute （rather flushed with his joint of mutton
and half pint of wine）； taking out his pencil and scoring
under the words 〃foolish； twaddling；〃 &c。； and adding to
them his own remark of 〃QUITE TRUE。〃 Well； he is a lofty
man of genius； and admires the great and heroic in life
and novels； and so had better take warning and go elsewhere。
Well； then。 The flowers； and the presents； and the
trunks； and bonnet…boxes of Miss Sedley having been
arranged by Mr。 Sambo in the carriage； together with a
very small and weather…beaten old cow's…skin trunk with
Miss Sharp's card neatly nailed upon it； which was
delivered by Sambo with a grin； and packed by the
coachman with a corresponding sneerthe hour for parting
came； and the grief of that moment was considerably
lessened by the admirable discourse which Miss Pinkerton
addressed to her pupil。 Not that the parting speech caused
Amelia to philosophise； or that it armed her in any
way with a calmness； the result of argument； but it was
intolerably dull； pompous； and tedious； and having the
fear of her schoolmistress greatly before her eyes； Miss
Sedley did not venture； in her presence； to give way to
any ebullitions of private grief。 A seed…cake and a bottle
of wine were produced in the drawing…room； as on the
solemn occasions of the visits of parents； and these
refreshments being partaken of； Miss Sedley was at
liberty to depart。
〃You'll go in and say good…by to Miss Pinkerton；
Becky！〃 said Miss Jemima to a young lady of whom
nobody took any notice； and who was coming downstairs
with her own bandbox。
〃I suppose I must；〃 said Miss Sharp calmly； and much
to the wonder of Miss Jemima； and the latter having
knocked at the door； and receiving permission to come
in； Miss Sharp advanced in a very unconcerned manner；
and said in French； and with a perfect accent； 〃Mademoiselle；
je viens vous faire mes adieux。〃
Miss Pinkerton did not understand French； she only
directed those who did： but biting her lips and throwing
up her venerable and Roman…nosed head （on the top of
which figured a large and solemn turban）； she said； 〃Miss
Sharp； I wish you a good morning。〃 As the Hammersmith
Semiramis spoke； she waved one hand； both by way of
adieu； and to give Miss Sharp an opportunity of shaking
one of the fingers of the hand which was left out for
that purpose。
Miss Sharp only folded her own hands with a very
frigid smile and bow； and quite declined to accept the
proffered honour； on which Semiramis tossed up her
turban more indignantly than ever。 In fact； it was a little
battle between the young lady and the old one； and the
latter was worsted。 〃Heaven bless you； my child；〃 said
she； embracing Amelia； and scowling the while over the
girl's shoulder at Miss Sharp。 〃Come away； Becky；〃 said
Miss Jemima； pulling the young woman away in great
alarm； and the drawing…room door closed upon them for
ever。
Then came the struggle and parting below。 Words
refuse to tell it。 All the servants were there in the hall
all the dear friendall the young ladiesthe dancing…
master who had just arrived； and there was such a
scuffling； and hugging； and kissing； and crying； with the
hysterical YOOPS of Miss Swartz； the parlour…boarder；
from her room； as no pen can depict； and as the tender
heart would fain pass over。 The embracing was over； they
partedthat is； Miss Sedley parted from her friends。 Miss
Sharp had demurely entered the carriage some minutes
before。 Nobody cried for leaving HER。
Sambo of the bandy legs slammed the carriage door
on his young weeping mistress。 He sprang up behind the
carriage。 〃Stop！〃 cried Miss Jemima； rushing to the gate
with a parcel。
〃It's some sandwiches； my dear；〃 said she to Amelia。
〃You may be hungry； you know； and Becky； Becky
Sharp； here's a book for you that my sisterthat is； I
Johnson's Dixonary； you know； you mustn't leave us
without that。 Good…by。 Drive on； coachman。 God bless
you！〃
And the kind creature retreated into the garden；
overcome with emotion。
But； lo！ and just as the coach drove off； Miss Sharp put
her pale face out of the window and actually flung the
book back into the garden。
This almost caused Jemima to faint with terror。 〃Well；
I never〃said she〃what an audacious〃Emotion
prevented her from completing either sentence。 The
carriage rolled away； the great gates were closed； the bell
rang for the dancing lesson。 The world is before the two
young ladies； and so； farewell to Chiswick Mall。
CHAPTER II
In Which Miss Sharp and Miss Sedley
Prepare to Open the Campaign
When Miss Sharp had performed the heroical act
mentioned in the last chapter； and had seen the Dixonary；
flying over the pavement of the little garden； fall at length
at the feet of the astonished Miss Jemima； the young
lady's countenance； which had before worn an almost
livid look of hatred； assumed a smile that perhaps was
scarcely more agreeable； and she sank back in the
carriage in an easy frame of mind； saying〃So much for
the Dixonary； and； thank God； I'm out of Chiswick。〃
Miss Sedley was almost as flurried at the act of defiance
as Miss Jemima had been； for； consider； it was but one
minute that she had left school； and the impressions of
six years are not got over in that space of time。 Nay；
with some persons those awes and terrors of youth last
for ever and ever。 I know； for instance； an old gentleman
of sixty…eight； who said to me one morning at breakfast；
with a very agitated countenance； 〃I dreamed last
night that I was flogged by Dr。 Raine。〃 Fancy had carried
him back five…and…fifty years in the course of that
evening。 Dr。 Raine and his rod were just as awful to him
in his heart； then； at sixty…eight； as they had been at
thirteen。 If the Doctor； with a large birch； had appeared
bodily to him； even at the age of threescore and eight；
and had said in awful voice； 〃Boy； take down your
pant〃？ Well； well； Miss Sedley was exceedingly
alarmed at this act of insubordination。
〃How could you do so； Rebecca？〃 at last she said；
after a pause。
〃Why； do you think Miss Pinkerton will come out and
order me back to the black…hole？〃 said Rebecca； laughing。
〃No： but〃
〃I hate the whole house；〃 continued Miss Sharp in a
fury。 〃I hope I may never set eyes on it again。 I wish it
were in the bottom of the Thames； I do； and if Miss
Pinkerton were there； I wouldn't pick her out； that I
wouldn't。 O how I should like to see her floating in the
water yonder； turban and all； with her train streaming
after her； and her nose like the beak of a wherry。〃
〃Hush！〃 cried Miss Sedley。
〃Why； will the black footman tell tales？〃 cried Miss
Re