"It is very kind," said the perplexed Lady Temple.
"I beg your pardon, I only thought, in case you were wishing for some
one, that Miss Williams will be at liberty shortly."
"I do not imagine Miss Williams is the person to deal with little boys,"
said Rachel. "In fact, I think that home teaching is always better than
hired."
"I am so much obliged," said Fanny, as Mr. Touchett, after this defeat,
rose up to take leave, and she held out her hand, smiled, thanked, and
sent him away so much sweetened and gratified, that Rachel would have
instantly begun dissecting him, but that a whole rush of boys broke in,
and again engrossed their mother, and in the next lull, the uppermost
necessity was of explaining about the servants who had been hired for
the time, one of whom was a young woman whose health had given way over
her lace pillow, and Rachel was eloquent over the crying evils of the
system (everything was a system with Rachel) that chained girls to an
unhealthy occupation in their early childhood, and made an overstocked
market and underpaid workers--holding Fanny fast to listen by a sort
of fascination in her overpowering earnestness, and great fixed eyes,
which, when once their grasp was taken, would not release the victim;
and this was a matter of daily occurrence on which Rachel felt keenly
and spoke strongly.
"It is very sad. If you want to help the poor things, I will give
anything I can."
"Oh, yes, thank you, but it is doleful merely to help them to linger out
the remnant of a life consumed upon these cobwebs of vanity. It is the
fountainhead that must be reached--the root of the system!"
Fanny saw, or rather felt, a boy making signs at the window, but durst
not withdraw her eyes from the fascination of those eager ones. "Lace
and lacemakers are facts," continued Rachel; "but if the middle men
were exploded, and the excess of workers drafted off by some wholesome
outlet, the price would rise, so that the remainder would be at leisure
to fulfil the domestic offices of womanhood."
There was a great uproar above.
"I beg your pardon, dear Rachel," and away went Fanny.
"I do declare," cried Rachel, when Grace, having despatched her
home-cares, entered the room a quarter of an hour after; "poor Fanny's a
perfect slave. One can't get in a word edgeways."
Fanny at last returned, but with her baby; and there was no chance for
even Rachel to assert herself while this small queen was in presence.
Grace was devoted to infants, and there was a whole court of brothers
vying with one another in picking up her constantly dropped toys, and in
performing antics for her amusement. Rachel, desirous to be gracious and
resigned, attempted conversation with one of the eldest pair, but the
baby had but to look towards him, and he was at her feet.