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My dear； Miss Crawley has arrived with her fat horses；
fat servants； fat spanielthe great rich Miss Crawley；
with seventy thousand pounds in the five per cents。；
whom； or I had better say WHICH； her two brothers
adore。 She looks very apoplectic； the dear soul； no
wonder her brothers are anxious about her。 You should see
them struggling to settle her cushions； or to hand her
coffee！ 〃When I come into the country；〃 she says （for
she has a great deal of humour）； 〃I leave my toady；
Miss Briggs； at home。 My brothers are my toadies here；
my dear； and a pretty pair they are！〃
When she comes into the country our hall is thrown
open； and for a month； at least； you would fancy old
Sir Walpole was come to life again。 We have dinner…
parties； and drive out in the coach…and…four the
footmen put on their newest canary…coloured liveries； we
drink claret and champagne as if we were accustomed
to it every day。 We have wax candles in the schoolroom；
and fires to warm ourselves with。 Lady Crawley is made
to put on the brightest pea…green in her wardrobe； and
my pupils leave off their thick shoes and tight old
tartan pelisses； and wear silk stockings and muslin frocks；
as fashionable baronets' daughters should。 Rose came in
yesterday in a sad plightthe Wiltshire sow （an
enormous pet of hers） ran her down； and destroyed a most
lovely flowered lilac silk dress by dancing over ithad
this happened a week ago； Sir Pitt would have sworn
frightfully； have boxed the poor wretch's ears； and put
her upon bread and water for a month。 All he said was；
〃I'll serve you out； Miss； when your aunt's gone；〃 and
laughed off the accident as quite trivial。 Let us hope his
wrath will have passed away before Miss Crawley's
departure。 I hope so； for Miss Rose's sake； I am sure。
What a charming reconciler and peacemaker money is！
Another admirable effect of Miss Crawley and her
seventy thousand pounds is to be seen in the conduct
of the two brothers Crawley。 I mean the baronet and
the rector； not OUR brothersbut the former； who hate
each other all the year round； become quite loving at
Christmas。 I wrote to you last year how the abominable
horse…racing rector was in the habit of preaching clumsy
sermons at us at church； and how Sir Pitt snored in
answer。 When Miss Crawley arrives there is no such thing
as quarrelling heard ofthe Hall visits the Rectory； and
vice versathe parson and the Baronet talk about the
pigs and the poachers； and the county business； in the
most affable manner； and without quarrelling in their
cups； I believeindeed Miss Crawley won't hear of their
quarrelling； and vows that she will leave her money to
the Shropshire Crawleys if they offend her。 If they were
clever people； those Shropshire Crawleys； they might
have it all； I think； but the Shropshire Crawley is a
clergyman like his Hampshire cousin； and mortally offended
Miss Crawley （who had fled thither in a fit of rage
against her impracticable brethren） by some strait…laced
notions of morality。 He would have prayers in the house；
I believe。
Our sermon books are shut up when Miss Crawley
arrives； and Mr。 Pitt； whom she abominates； finds it
convenient to go to town。 On the other hand； the young
dandy〃blood；〃 I believe； is the termCaptain Crawley
makes his appearance； and I suppose you will like to
know what sort of a person he is。
Well； he is a very large young dandy。 He is six feet
high； and speaks with a great voice； and swears a great
deal； and orders about the servants； who all adore him
nevertheless； for he is very generous of his money； and
the domestics will do anything for him。 Last week the
keepers almost killed a bailiff and his man who came
down from London to arrest the Captain； and who were
found lurking about the Park wallthey beat them；
ducked them； and were going to shoot them for
poachers； but the baronet interfered。
The Captain has a hearty contempt for his father； I
can see； and calls him an old PUT； an old SNOB； an old
CHAW…BACON； and numberless other pretty names。 He has
a DREADFUL REPUTATION among the ladies。 He brings his
hunters home with him； lives with the Squires of the
county； asks whom he pleases to dinner； and Sir Pitt
dares not say no； for fear of offending Miss Crawley；
and missing his legacy when she dies of her apoplexy。
Shall I tell you a compliment the Captain paid me？ I
must； it is so pretty。 One evening we actually had a
dance； there was Sir Huddleston Fuddleston and his
family； Sir Giles Wapshot and his young ladies； and I
don't know how many more。 Well； I heard him say
〃By Jove； she's a neat little filly！〃 meaning your humble
servant； and he did me the honour to dance two country…
dances with me。 He gets on pretty gaily with the young
Squires； with whom he drinks； bets； rides； and talks
about hunting and shooting； but he says the country
girls are BORES； indeed； I don't think he is far wrong。
You should see the contempt with which they look down
on poor me！ When they dance I sit and play the piano
very demurely； but the other night； coming in rather
flushed from the dining…room； and seeing me employed
in this way； he swore out loud that I was the best dancer
in the room； and took a great oath that he would have
the fiddlers from Mudbury。
〃I'll go and play a country…dance；〃 said Mrs。 Bute
Crawley； very readily （she is a little； black…faced old
woman in a turban； rather crooked； and with very
twinkling eyes）； and after the Captain and your poor little
Rebecca had performed a dance together； do you know
she actually did me the honour to compliment me upon
my steps！ Such a thing was never heard of before； the
proud Mrs。 Bute Crawley； first cousin to the Earl of
Tiptoff； who won't condescend to visit Lady Crawley；
except when her sister is in the country。 Poor Lady
Crawley！ during most part of these gaieties； she is
upstairs taking pills。
Mrs。 Bute has all of a sudden taken a great fancy to
me。 〃My dear Miss Sharp；〃 she says； 〃why not bring
over your girls to the Rectory？their cousins will be so
happy to see them。〃 I know what she means。 Signor
Clementi did not teach us the piano for nothing； at
which price Mrs。 Bute hopes to get a professor for her
children。 I can see through her schemes； as though she
told them to me； but I shall go； as I am determined to
make myself agreeableis it not a poor governess's
duty； who has not a friend or protector in the world？
The Rector's wife paid me a score of compliments about
the progress my pupils made； and thought； no doubt； to
touch my heartpoor； simple； country soul！as if I
cared a fig about my pupils！
Your India muslin and your pink silk； dearest Amelia；
are said to become me very well。 They are a good deal
worn now； but； you know； we poor girls can't afford des
fraiches toilettes。 Happy； happy you！ who have but to
drive to St。 James's Street； and a dear mother who will
give you any thing you ask。 Farewell； dearest girl；
Your affectionate
Rebecca。
P。S。I wish you could have seen the faces of the
Miss Blackbrooks （Admiral Blackbrook's daughters； my
dear）； fine young ladies； with dresses from London；
when Captain Rawdon selected poor