LETTER XXVII.EmiliatoWilliam.

My brother reproved me in his last, for not having answered your letter. I will now write a long one to make amends; and, following your example, tell you minutely what I have been doing since my brother left me. My mother has allowed me a new amusement, which I hope you and Charles will have a share in when you return. It is a weekly concert, which our music master directs at the different houses of a select number of his scholars. He thinks, and my mother agrees with him, that it will very much improve us all.

The daughter of the Earl of B—, who is one of the party, has rendered herself very contemptible by her prideon this occasion. But first I must tell you, that the music master had introduced, as one of his best scholars, the daughter of an apothecary. Haughty Lady Jane shewed great displeasure when she saw her enter. The beauty and pleasing manners of that young lady was nothing in her eyes; she was neither rich, nor of a good family; that was sufficient to excite her contempt. Miss G. the young lady in question, is really a very fine girl; educated by her mother, she has received the most useful instruction; there was a modest dignity in her manners, the very contrast of Lady Jane’s haughty affected air. There was the same contrast in their clothes, the latter had on a profusion of costly finery, huddled together according to the fashion; but the former was dressed in the simplest style; it did not make you suppose she was rich, but it was so well calculated to make her personappear to advantage, that you quickly perceived her sense and taste. Lady Jane snuffed up her nose as we sometimes see people do when they are afraid of smelling something disagreeable. Heaven! said she to me, what does that creature do here; I think I smell drugs. Having said so, she took out her lavender water bottle: I pretended not to hear, and turned to Miss B. with whom I chatted a little. This, perhaps, was not very polite, but I could not help it, for I despise such foolish pride. Lady Jane afterwards played an air on the harpsichord, and accompanied it with her voice in a very imperfect manner. Soon after it was Miss G——’s turn, and she sung, with great expression, a favourite song: her voice is really a very fine one, and every one seemed delighted with her performance. Envy at first was painted on Lady Jane’s countenance: but it did not stop here, for shemade an excuse to withdraw with me. And we had the following conversation.

LADY JANE.

I do not doubt, Miss Grandison, but you are of my opinion, that this girl is not fit company for us.

EMILIA.

You have, perhaps, some reason for saying so; for my part, I do not know why she may not be one of the party.

LADY JANE.

We are all persons of rank, and the daughter of a peer of the realm cannot be on an equality with a poor apothecary’s daughter.

EMILIA.

I am not the daughter of a peer, of course have not been taught to make this difference.

LADY JANE.

You are the daughter of a baronet, and a man of consequence.

EMILIA.

My father has taught me that virtue is the best nobility. The young lady of whom you are speaking, is allowed to be a very amiable good girl.

LADY JANE.

That may be, I have nothing to say against her character; but I repeat it, her father is an apothecary—her grandfather was an apothecary, and her—

EMILIA.

If you run on thus, Lady Jane, to the first of all our fathers, you will find that she is nearly related to you and me.

LADY JANE.

To you and me!

EMILIA.

Yes, certainly, you must allow that we are all sprung from the same father.

LADY JANE.

That is true, but let us talk seriously.

EMILIA.

I speak as seriously as I can.

LADY JANE.

It is not proper that a girl who has no fortune should force herself into the company of people of rank.

EMILIA.

Our company is not expensive, and she did not force herself; on the contrary her musical talents make her an acquisition to the concert.

LADY JANE.

But look at her dress.

EMILIA.

Her dress is certainly not rich, but neat and elegant. You may yourself perceive that she has good sense and taste, by the choice of her clothes; withoutservilely following the fashion, she avoids singularity. She is besides a very fine girl. Thus God, who gives riches to some, gives to others natural endowments, which many would purchase at a high price; all come from the same benevolent Being, in whose sight virtue only exalts a weak mortal.

LADY JANE.

Miss Grandison appears to be preaching a sermon.

EMILIA.

Forgive me if I do not coincide in opinion with you; my heart is too sincere to dissemble.

LADY JANE.

I shall not dispute about her natural gifts, but I say once more, that a girl who has no fortune ought not to be put on a par with people of rank and fashion.

EMILIA.

It would be very unfortunate that a girl, who had received a good education, should be deprived of every innocent pleasure because she has no fortune. I for my part would rather endeavour to contribute something to afford her the means to——

LADY JANE,hastily.

Indeed you make me laugh. This is something rare, but that would not preserve her from the contempt which poverty brings with it.

EMILIA.

The contempt which poverty brings with it, say you! you astonish me. They must certainly be very unfeeling who can shew any contempt for a well educated person in low circumstances. Such a one I think deserves to be despised.

LADY JANE.

The world thinks otherwise, and I cannot mend the world.

EMILIA.

The world then is very mean and selfish. I hope I never shall despise any one who is not vicious, and even those I have been taught to pity rather than blame.

LADY JANE.

You areverygood; but since we must submit to the general opinion, shall I desire the music master to inform the girl, whom we are speaking of, not to let us see her again in our company—or I shall decline coming.

EMILIA.

You may do as you please; but you must allow me to tell him that I do not concur with you.—I then made her a cool curtsy and withdrew.

She wrote to the music master; but all the rest of the company insisted that he should not comply with such an unreasonable request, and deprive us of our best performer, who was in every respect a desirable companion. My mother took particular notice of the young lady in order to give her consequence, and told me, after she was gone, that she had not for a long time seen so modest and well educated a girl.

So ended this foolish affair. My mother and I had a long conversation on the subject; I have not now time to repeat it, but she animadverted very severely on that foolish pride that makes people neglect to attain the real personal consequence which can only arise from virtue, and value themselves on the accidental advantages of birth, riches and external ornaments, which do not constitute the pre-eminence of a rational being. These cannot follow them tothe grave. Farewell. Remember me in the kindest manner to your mother and little Annette.

EMILIA.

P. S. I opened this letter again to enclose a few lines to my brother. Emilia is a good girl, perhaps, he will say; I am sure I wish to appear so in his eyes.

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