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A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY 47
of either ; and as the poor little thing was compelled not to notice
any of the sighs and glances which the painter bestowed upon her,
she also had schooled herself to maintain a quiet demeanour towards
Mr. Brandon, and not allow him to discover the secret which was
labouring in her little breast.
I think it may be laid down as a pretty general rule, that most
romantic little girls of Caroline's age have such a budding sentiment
as this young person entertained; quite innocent of course; nourished
and talked of in delicious secrecy to the confidante of the hour.
Or else what are novels made for ? Had Caroline read of Valancourt
and Emily for nothing, or gathered no good example from
those five tear-fraught volumes which describe the loves of Miss
Helen Mar and Sir William Wallace? Many a time had she
depicted Brandon in a fancy costume, such as the fascinating Valancourt
wore ; or painted herself as Helen, tying a sash round her
knight's cuirass, and watching him forth to battle. Silly fancies, no
doubt ; but consider, madam, the poor girl's age and education ; the
only instruction she had ever received was from these tender, kindhearted,
silly books : the only happiness which Fate had allowed
her was in this little silent world of fancy. It would be hard to
grudge the poor thing her dreams ; and many such did she have,
and impart blushingly to honest Becky, as they sate by the humble
kitchen-fire.
Although it cost her heart a great pang, she had once ventured
to implore her mother not to send her upstairs to the lodgers' rooms,
for she shrank at the notion of the occurrence that Brandon should
discover her regard for him ; but this point had never entered Mrs.
Gann's sagacious head. She thought her daughter wished to avoid
Fitch, and sternly bade her do her duty, and not give herself such
impertinent airs ; and, indeed, it can't be said that poor Caroline
was very sorry at being compelled to continue to see Brandon. To
do both gentlemen justice, neither ever said a word unfit for Caroline
to hear. Fitch would have been torn to pieces by a thousand wild
horses rather than have breathed a single syllable to hurt her feelings
; and Brandon, though by no means so squeamish on ordinary
occasions, was innately a gentleman, and from taste rather than
from virtue was carefully respectful in his behaviour to her.
As for the Misses Macarty themselves, it has been stated that
they had already given away their hearts several times; Miss
Isabella being at this moment attached to a certain young winemerchant,
and to Lieutenant or Colonel Swabber of the Spanish
service ; and Miss Rosalind having a decided fondness for a foreign
nobleman, with black mustachios, who had paid a visit to Margate.
Of Miss Bella's lovers, Swabber had disappeared ; but she still met