Fanny looked up prepared to admire.
"But he has two misfortunes. He was not born a gentleman, and his mind
does not measure an inch across."
"Rachel, my dear, it is not fair to prejudice Fanny; I am sure the poor
man is very well-behaved."
"Mother! would you be calling the ideal Anglican priest, poor man?"
"I thought he was quite gentlemanlike," added Fanny.
"Gentlemanlike! ay, that's it," said Rachel, "just so like as to delight
the born curatolatress, like Grace and Miss Williams."
"Would it hurt the children?" asked Fanny, hardly comprehending the
tremendous term.
"Yes, if it infected you," said Rachel, intending some playfullness. "A
mother of contracted mind forfeits the allegiance of her sons."
"Oh, Rachel, I know I am weak and silly," said the gentle young widow,
terrified, "but the Major said if I only tried to do my duty by them I
should be helped."
"And I will help you, Fanny," said Rachel. "All that is requisite is
good sense and firmness, and a thorough sense of responsibility."
"That is what is so dreadful. The responsibility of all those dear
fatherless boys, and if--if I should do wrong by them."
Poor Fanny fell into an uncontrollable fit of weeping at the sense of
her own desolation and helplessness, and Mrs. Curtis came to comfort
her, and tell her affectionately of having gone through the like
feelings, and of the repeated but most comfortable words of promise to
the fatherless and the widow--words that had constantly come before the
sufferer, but which had by no means lost their virtue by repetition, and
Fanny was soothed with hearing instances of the special Providence over
orphaned sons, and their love and deference for their mother. Rachel,
shocked and distressed at the effect of her sense, retired out of the
conversation, till at the announcement of the carriage for Lady Temple,
her gentle cousin cheered up, and feeling herself to blame for having
grieved one who only meant aid and kindness, came to her and fondly
kissed her forehead, saying, "I am not vexed, dear Rachel, I know you
are right. I am not clever enough to bring them up properly, but if I
try hard, and pray for them, it may be made up to them. And you will
help me, Rachel dear," she added, as her readiest woe-offering for her
tears, and it was the most effectual, for Rachel was perfectly contented
as long as Fanny was dependent on her, and allowed her to assume her
mission, provided only that the counter influence could be averted,
and this Major, this universal referee, be eradicated from her foolish
clinging habits of reliance before her spirits were enough recovered to
lay her heart open to danger.