"But appearances, father!" "We should never be any thing that is wrong," replied he of the Black Swan and Bible, "and then we need not be ashamed to appear what we are." "But these ugly square toes! Why, Blythe Hartop, the old mercer of Cheapside, wears just such shoes." "Blythe Hartop is a worthy man, daughter; and neither of us would wear those shoes if-" "If what, dear father?" "If we could not afford to pay for them." "I know that," said Rachel, somewhat sulkily; "but methinks, as you are going with Mistress Sydney--" "That is altogether another argument, and alters the case," replied the old printer, gallantly; "I am going with a lady, and should therefore put on my best." While he retired, another subject of anxiety arose to his wife and daughter. "How were they to go?" Rachel assured Rosalind that some, "who, Joseph said," were not half as rich as her father, had been seen in vehicles of their own, not exactly in coaches, but in what looked almost as well; whereas, whenever they went to the king's play, they were obliged to go in a hackney, by which means they spoiled their flowered tabbies. But the grand point of anxiety was, how Rosalind was to get to the Lord Churchill's house; surely, she would not like to go in a hackney! She did not care! Mistress Brown laid by her knitting, and declared she thought she could borrow the lady-sheriff's carriage, which once had belonged to a court gentleman, Mr. Pepys— a wonderful pretty coach, which they had seen go, when the horses' manes and tails were tied with red ribands, the standards gilt and varnished, and the reins green. "Wouldn't Mistress Rosalind like to ride in a lady-sheriff's coach?" Luckily the honest printer came in before any arrangement was finally concluded, and settled the matter quickly and sensibly by declaring that it would be more prudent, more befitting their situation, and more suitable to the times, to go in a sober hackney, without any approximation to parade or display. All the people would know that the coach was not Mistress Rosalind's ; -" and what right have I to a coach," continued the sensible man, "when I could not afford to pay for it?" CHAPTER XIX. Do but in thy own shade, Thy head upon some flow'ry pillow laid The world to his great master, and you'll find And, juggler-like, works on the deluded sight. HABINGTON. THERE was something magnificently awful to poor Rosalind in the train of servants, the style of living, the bustle, the brilliancy, and yet the business-like aspect of all things in the establishment of my Lord Churchill. Time must pass before those who achieve sudden greatness can attain the quietness, either of aspect, demeanour, or arrangement, which is born only with the genuine aristocracy. The most difficult of all acquirements is-the art of repose; in truth, it can exist but in a well-regulated mind. Lady Churchill, vain, gaudy, and noise-loving, was little calculated to adorn the high station which her husband even then filled. Although she exercised unbounded authority over the minds of the princesses Mary and Anne, and had a positive taste for state intrigue, still her establishment (for the lady was more, by many degrees, master than was her liege lord) was deficient in the true style of nobility. The liveries were rich, gorgeous, and new, and the servants wore them with a jaunty and extravagant air, after a "see how fine we are" fashion ; the furniture was new; the tapestries and hangings, and gildings and cornices, new; yet there was more of pomp than of splendour in all the chambers through which Rosalind and Master Brown passed to arrive at a small closetlike room, where the gentleman usher desired them to wait. "My Lord Churchill," said Rosalind to the worthy printer, "is of course a true friend to his majesty." Had a bullet struck the good man, he could not have appeared more confounded, as, approaching Rosalind so closely as to make her start, he said, "Speak low, if speak you must, young lady; had you been but half as much among courtiers as I have been in my humble way, you would know and understand, that the great method of either obtaining your purpose or working your way is, to say nothing, and appear to know nothing.' "Sir," replied the young lady, reddening, "I never either say or do any thing to be afraid or ashamed of; therefore I need not keep silence." "Hot!" said the printer, smiling ;-" hot!—a warm heart, and a blushing cheek. Lady, lady, a warm heart should be cased in parchment, so that its beatings be neither seen nor heard; and a red cheek be the adornment only of knaves and fools, because the one know how to conceal their feelings, and the others have no feelings to conceal." "I do not comprehend the doctrines of trade,” replied Mistress Rosalind, somewhat haughtily, and somewhat sharply. "I have said nothing touching trade," replied the printer, without heeding her altered tone: "nothing touching trade," he repeated, evidently warmed into energy by the observation of Rosalind; "for I spoke not of fair dealing or honesty. My meaning, young lady, is simply this— those who visit courtiers, with a view either to serve themselves or their friends, may, if they please, keep open ear and open eye-yet be as if they could neither hear nor see." 66 "And a right good maxim, I am sure it is," exclaimed the voice of a female, who withdrew a piece of tapestry from before a secret door, and held it back as she entered; a right good maxim, worthy Master Brown; methinks you have acquired other knowledge than that which appertaineth to great and small type, since you printed my tickets; --but who is this?" The lady, for so the richness of her dress bespoke her, walked up to Rosalind with a commanding air; the maiden, without returning the rude stare, bore, as became her, the scrutiny with which she was honoured by the after Duchess of Marlborough; while the poor printer, although neither knave nor fool, gave a practical contradiction to his own rule, by blushing to the temples as he replied, "Mistress Rosalind Sydney, niece to Sir Everard Sydney, of Sydney Pleasance, if it please you, madam. My Lord Churchill, in consideration, doubtless, of the high recommendation this lady hath brought him, intends to present her to his majesty at Whitehall, to-day." 66 Well, young lady," said the coarse woman, "weaker eyes than yours have led stronger monarchs astray. them well." Use "Madam," replied Rosalind, again angered, "my sight is given me for other purposes. I but seek audience to obtain the favour of tending my uncle in prison." Despite the peace-loving habits and desires of the printer, the eyes of Rosalind never seemed to him more beautiful than at that moment: in general the expression was too soft; but, good sooth! they flashed brightly at the observation of the dame, nor did their flashing pass unnoticed. 66 'Have you not learned a small degree of gentleness, as well as much skill in telling beads?" inquired the Lady Churchill, sneeringly: "methinks it would have been more becoming a modest maiden to claim the introduction of Lord Churchill's wife, than to brazen it out with the lord himself." "Madam!" retorted Rosalind, proudly, "although my Lady Sydney is a Catholic, I am none. I had not the power to choose the medium of introduction; and, if I had-" Master Brown prevented her finishing the sentence, by almost placing his hand upon her lips. "Now mercy be good to me, young lady, that ever I should undertake to pilot a free-spoken country maiden through the labyrinths of a court! Please you, my lady, it is her country breeding! She, poor thing, had no choice of introduction; and if your ladyship will grant me a moment's audience, I will tell you who gave the letter that brings her here. Heaven forbid that Daniel Brown should conduct any to his house who could give your ladyship a moment's uneasiness! It would doubtless be a great advantage to Mistress Rosalind if she had been presented to your ladyship, and she knows it." The worthy Daniel, however, was no prophet in the present instance; for though both Lady Churchill and him self looked to Rosalind to confirm his assertion, Rosalind made no reply, but stood-the very concentration of a proud spirit. The printer was in an agony, and Lady Churchill enjoyed it. "Sad want of policy, is it not, Master Brown?" she said, with an air half-mirthful, half-offended. "Why, young lady, you are not only angry, but you show it-sad manners, Master Brown! There-there-" she continued, patting her cheek, "I dare say you are a very nice good girl; and I will be, for once, candid: I heard you were here, and wished to see you, though I did not expect the wood-nymph would have had the claws of the wild-cat. Have you seen your handsome cousin Basil this morning? He has just left my dressing-room. Oh, oh! there's a blush! well, handsome cousins are sometimes dangerous. You need not speak, girl, for I know what you are going to say-you are going to say your handsome cousin is particularly disagreeable to you. "No, madam." "Well, that you hate him excessively." 66 No, madam; he is the son of my benefactor." "Are you going then to play the heroine as boldly as Nelly Gwynne, and avow your love, sans peur, if not sans reproche ?" 66 Madam, there is no love between us. Nay, madam, you may ask him if you please; for I cannot confess the same thing twice-it would imply that my first statement was doubted!" 66 Pray, young lady, were you born in England ?" "No, madam; I am not ashamed of my country-I was born in Ireland." "True to the letter," replied the Lady Churchill, laughing: "I never knew an Irish woman questioned as to her country, who did not reply by demanding, 'Do you think I'd deny my country? Well, my dear, I can only say that you possess an uncourtly degree of honesty, which you will soon lose; and then, ma mignonne, you will be well fitted to occupy a place among our ladies." A page in rich laced livery entered, and informed Rosalind that his lordship waited her in his carriage. The blood rose, and then faded from the maiden's cheek, as she |