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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 511
Mrs. Mugford would express her admiration and astonishment
during the early time, and when Charlotte still retained the good
lady's favour. That a state of things far less agreeable ensued, I
must own. But though there is ever so small a cloud in the sky
even now, let us not heed it for a while, and bask and be content
and happy in the sunshine. " Oh, Laura, I tremble when I think
how happy I am !" was our little bird's perpetual warble. " How
did I live when I was at home with mamma ?" she would say.
" Do you know that Philip never even scolds me ? If he were to
say a rough word I think I should die ; whereas mamma was barking
barking from morning till night, and I didn't care a pin." This
is what comes of injudicious scolding, as of any other drug. The
wholesome medicine loses its effect. The inured patient calmly
takes a dose that would frighten or kill a stranger. Poor Mrs.
Baynes's crossed letters came still, and I am not prepared to pledge
my word that Charlotte read them all. Mrs. B. offered to come
and superintend and take care of dear Philip when an interesting
event should take place. But Mrs. Brandon was already engaged
for this important occasion, and Charlotte became so alarmed lest
her mother should invade her, that Philip wrote curtly, and positively
forbade Mrs. Baynes. You remember the picture "A
Cradle," by J. J. ? the two little rosy feet brought I don't know
how many hundred guineas apiece to Mr. Ridley. The mother herself
did not study babydom more fondly and devotedly than Ridley
did in the ways, looks, features, anatomies, attitudes, baby-clothes,
&c, of this first-born infant of Charlotte and Philip Firmin. My
wife is very angry because I have forgotten whether the first of the
young Firmin brood was a boy or a girl, and says I shall forget the
names of my own children next. Well ? "At this distance of
time, I think it was a boy,—for their boy is very tall, you know—
a great deal taller ________ Not a boy ? Then, between ourselves, I
have no doubt it was a _________ " " A goose," says the lady, which is
not even reasonable.
This is certain : we all thought the young mother looked very
pretty, with her pink cheeks and beaming eyes, as she bent over
the little infant. J. J. says he thinks there is something heavenly
in the looks of young mothers at that time. Nay, he goes so far as
to declare that a tigress at the Zoological Gardens looks beautiful
and gentle as she bends her black nozzle over her cubs. And if a
tigress, why not Mrs. Philip ? 0 ye powers of sentiment, in what
a state J. J. was about this young woman ! There is a brightness
in a young mother's eye : there are pearl and rose tints on her
cheek, which are sure to fascinate a painter. This artist used to
hang about Mrs. Brandon's rooms, till it was droll to see him. I