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tentions of the other—Eliza did not mortify, nor Georgiana
ruffle me. The fact was, I had other things to think about;
within the last few months feelings had been stirred in me
so much more potent than any they could raise—pains and
pleasures so much more acute and exquisite had been excited
than any it was in their power to inflict or bestow—that
their airs gave me no concern either for good or bad.
‘How is Mrs. Reed?’ I asked soon, looking calmly at Georgiana,
who thought fit to bridle at the direct address, as if it
were an unexpected liberty.
‘Mrs. Reed? Ah! mama, you mean; she is extremely poorly:
I doubt if you can see her to-night.’
‘If,’ said I, ‘you would just step upstairs and tell her I am
come, I should be much obliged to you.’
Georgiana almost started, and she opened her blue eyes
wild and wide. ‘I know she had a particular wish to see me,’
I added, ‘and I would not defer attending to her desire longer
than is absolutely necessary.’
‘Mama dislikes being disturbed in an evening,’ remarked
Eliza. I soon rose, quietly took off my bonnet and gloves,
uninvited, and said I would just step out to Bessie—who
was, I dared say, in the kitchen—and ask her to ascertain
whether Mrs. Reed was disposed to receive me or not tonight.
I went, and having found Bessie and despatched her
on my errand, I proceeded to take further measures. It had
heretofore been my habit always to shrink from arrogance:
received as I had been to-day, I should, a year ago, have resolved
to quit Gateshead the very next morning; now, it was
disclosed to me all at once that that would be a foolish plan.
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