No More Learning

On arriving at the hotel, the rocks, the
woods, the river, in their boldest and most
striking point of view, burst upon their
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 181
astonished sight. Isabel surveyed all with
the eye, and the truest feelings of a pain-
ter, and thought with what pleasure she
should sketch its varied scenery. The
ash and oak, trees indigenous to the soil,
mingled their branches together; pro-
ducing, from the lightness of the one,
and the richness of the other, an effect
perfectly harmonious. Emily gazed with
surprise and delight, upon a scene at once
so grand, so new; while Rose thought with
extacy upon climbing the hills, running
among the woods, and gathering the fruits
and flowers which they spontaneously
produce.
The curiosity of the company was in-
stantly awakened by observing this party
Qf females, without one male attendant;
and various were the conjecture*formed,
as to who. they were, and whence they
came. Finding themselves the objects of
general. examination, and as it was near
the hour of dinner^ they retired to their
chambers to make some alterations in
their dress,
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? 182 ROSE AND EMILY J OR,
On entering the dining-room, they
found the principal table entirely filled,
and they were greatly relieved from the
embarrassment of mixing in such a mul-
titude, by being conducted to a side-table* .
where a small party were previously
seated. The noise and confusion of a
public dinner like this, so distracted their ?
attention, that, though Mrs. Sydney en-
deavoured to set them the example of.
eating, she almost entirely failed; and, . .
as soon as the cloth was removed, they ?
were glad to rise; and fled, like affrighted;
birds, from this scene of social disorder. .
"Now," said Rose, " we can hear our- .
selves speak, but in that Babel hum, I
could neither hear nor understand. "--
** Did you see any thing I" enquired:
Emily. "Yes, I saw many very odd looking
people, and some so funnily dressed! Did
you observe that young lady in a riding
habit who sat opposite me? What a flut-
ter of feathers she had in her beaver hat 1"
Mrs. Sydney smiled at this comment upon
dress, and glanced her eye on Rose, whose
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? SKETCHES OF TOUTH. ISS
cheek was immediately crimsoned with
the blush of conscience* "We will cross
the river," said Mrs. Sydney, " and go to
the opposite wood. "
On arriving there^ their first sensation
of pleasure was to find themselves sepa-
rated from society in which they had felt
neither interest nor amusement, and to
be once more all the world to each other-
They climbed to a seat, whence they
could observe the motley crowd at a dis-
tance, happy to reflect that they were
divided from it by the "amber wave of
the Derwent," which flowed beneath
them. After resting themselves for a
little time, they advanced further up the
hill; and, on its top, came to a little
gate, which . an old lame man, who said
he had lost his leg by a fall in one of the
{ mines, opened, and offered them, at the
same time* some pieces of ore. . They
understood it^ as it was, a kind of com-
mercial charity; and, taking some, paid
him his price. He conducted them to
another part of the hill, which opened on
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? 18* IIOSE AND EMILY; OB,
a more extensive view, but did not pos*
sess any peculiar degree of beauty or in-
terest. The man, who acted as a guide
to direct the company down an opposite
part of the hill to that by which they had
ascended, turned, and pointed out to Mrs.
Sydney before she quitted this spot,
"Phoebe's cottage. " "And who is
Phoebe? " enquired Mrs. Sydney. "A
lass of our place, madam; a sort of a lad
as one may say; for she rides horses to
water, and breaks them in jr and does
any kind of man's work. She is a good
lass after all, but rather queerish or so,
and yonds her cottage/' "A Joan of
Arc, mamma," whispered Rose; "I wish
we may see her. " Mrs. Sydney then re^
collected the woman whom they had seen
mending a stone walljust before they en-
tered Matlock, and from the situation of
the houses conjectured it was. the same.
Their guide led them to ,. a seat, which
commanded an unobstructed view of the
hotel, and. the company disposed in diffe-
rent parties; some walking 01 riding,
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. " 135
and others crossing, or sa:&:. ? " down the
river beneath them. The. old man en-
quired if they would like a song; and
Mrs. Sydney, unwilling to refuse what
might give him pleasure, rather than.
from the hope of deriving any herself
consented to have a specimen of his vocal
talents. After asking whether she would
like him to sing loud, low, or moderate,
and choice being made of the latter, he
began the fall of fair Rosamond in a voice
to which that of a stentor would have
been a whisper, and the sound of thun-
der a gentle lullaby. After listening for
half an hour to this " songof other times/'
and finding much remained to make the
narrative complete, Mrs. Sydney declared
herself satisfied, and declined troubling
him for any more, concluding with some
remark upon the strength of his voice.
"J31ess your heart," he answered, " this
is nothing to? what I could do, if you had
not asked for it soft; why I can make
them hear from this spot all over Mat-
lock; and gentlemen and ladies often
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? 186 HOSE AND EMILT; OR,
go to that hotel yonder, and bid me stand
kere and sing to them. " ** No wonder,"
said Rose, " I hope the next time you
sing, we shall be there too. " Mrs. Syd-
ney smiled, and the party began to de-
scend the hill, whose circuitous windings
sometimes made them doubtful whether
they were in the right path, as the old
man did not attend them any further.
They had staid beyond the hour of tea;
and, not being inclined to return into the
house, again crossed the water, and walk-
ed over the village, examining the diffe-
rent articles of spar and petrifactionss
which were displayed in every window
to attract the eye and the purse. Our
little party joined the supper table, and
heard there were preparations making
that evening for a ball; but fatigued with
novelty, and seeing no one whom they
knew, they retired to rest at a very early
hour.
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? 8KETCHKS OF YOUTH.
CHAP. XIIL
The next morning they were in the break-
fast room before many of the company
'were assembled,and thus hoped to escape
observation and scrutiny. A clergyman,
? whose appearance denoted the gentle-
man, and whose spectacles, in the
opinion of Rose, proclaimed him the
scholar, addressed them with the compli-
ments of the morning. Mrs. Sydney re.
plied with that unaffected geod-breeding
which always characterised her manners^
and the stranger, whose breakfast tray
was next to her's, seemed desirous of con-
tinuing the conversation. He observed
that their cream jug was soon exhausted,
and he presented them with his own ; his
slice of butter was also transported to
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? 188 ROSE AND EMILT J OR,
their plate; and by these polite, easy,
and kind attentions soon dissipated the
reserve that hung upon the younger ones.
He told them he had been several weeks
at Matlock, and was sorry that the cus-
toms of the table, which placed the long-
est residents of the house at the upper
part, and those who had latest arrived at
the lower, prevented his shewing them
those attentions at dinner which he was
desirous of doing; but added, " My
sister, whom I expect to-day with her
niece, will be near you, and I shall ap-
point her to be my deputy: she is so fre-
quently here, that the servants are all at-
tentive to her; and she is so accustomed
to the manners of the place, that she finds
herself quite at home, and often renders
those who are strangers more comfortable
than they otherwise would be in such a
mixed society; where each person re-
gards the other with a kind of cautious
scrutiny, that embarrasses the timid, and
repels even the social. " .
A proposal so polite and considerate*
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 1 89
which at once promised countenance and
protection, was gladly acceded to, and
they parted each to pursue the amuse-
ments of the morning.
Previous to dinner, Mr. Falkland
(which was the gentleman's name) intro-
duced his sister to Mrs. Sydney and her
party, and politely consigning them to
her care, took himself the seat of presi-
dent (as it is . termed) at the top of the
table. Mrs. Falkland (for though still
unmarried she had relinquished Miss,
that epithet of " single blessedness,")
possessed an easy cheerfulness of manner,
which soon removed all embarrassment,
from our little party, and the meal passed,
even to theira, pleasantly. Isabel's modest
eye ventured to glance round the table,
though fearful ofparticularlyresting upon
any object, lest she herself should be no-
ticed. Emily remarked a few, whom pecu-
liarity of countenance or manner distin-
guished from the multitude; while Rose,
ever quick to observe as to feel, saw and
commented upon all. Mrs. Falkland was
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? 190 ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
accompanied by her niece, Fanny Bel.
mont, a girl of about sixteen; who, having
frequently been at Matlock with her
aunt, was, to our young friends, a plea-
sant and communicative companion. Af-
ter dinner Mrs. Falkland proposed join-
ing them for an early evening walk, and,
till then, they separated.
Rose, who frequently attached too
much value to personal beauty, com-
menced her comments upon Fanny Bel-
mont; wished her nose did not turn up,
and that her mouth was smaller. "Your
observations upon person, my dear Rose/*
said her mother, "often vex and displease
me. There may be a very intelligent
countenance, one expressive of high in-
tellect, and sweetness of temper, without
a feature, when considered 'separately,
which we can admire. Miss Belmont's
nose, "un petit nez retrousse" " would be
denominated by the French a beauty,
as giving a peculiar archness and pi-
quancy to the expression of the counte-
nance; for my own part I cannot fancy
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 191
any other nose adapted to her face; if
her mouth be wide, as you, my dear
Rose, so very pathetically lament, have
you ever seen finer teeth? a sweeter
dimple when she smiles, or eyes more ex-
pressive? Is not her complexion clear
and animated? And does not the whole
character of her countenance imply good
sense and good nature? Such a girl,
though she may not strike us with admi-
ration, will sooner win our affections than
one whose charms consist merely in pretty
features, without any gr^ce of mind} for
we turn from the insipidity of mere per-
sonal beauty, to refresh ourselves, as it
were, at the fountain of intellect; and
Fanny Belmont will delight us when our
prettier companions will be forgotten. "
Rose felt her mother's reproof, and was
grateful for her admonition; and when
Mr. Falkland, his sister, and niece, join-
ed them for the evening walk, she was
particularly attentive to the latter; her
heart making ample atonement for the
error of her tongue. Mr. Falkland spoke
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? 192 ROSE AND EMILY; OK,
of the road they had travelled the pre-
ceding day, and particularized some of
its fine and characteristic features. Rose,
to whom he had addressed an occasional
remark, was encouraged to add her own.
"I thought," she said, "as we crossed.
the wide moor, that it must resemble the
scene of some of Fingal's battles; that
such was 'the dark brown heath. where
the chiefs of Ossian met; where Fingal
and Swaran fought,' the heroes of other
times. " Observing Mr. Falkland's good
humoured smile^. and his eyes sparkling
through his spectacles, as he fixed them
attentively upon her, she continued-->** I
almost expected to see their spirits flit
before me, and some fair Agandecca,
fall beneath the steel of Starna, * like a
wreath of snow that slides from the rocks
of Ronan. ' The grey stones also seemed
to mark the graves of the heroes, and. I
thought whose fame is in that dark
green tomb ? Four stones with their heads
of moss. stand there, and mark the nar-
row house of death. '" "Delightfully
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTfli 193
imagined! " exclaimed Mr. Falkland;
"come my little enthusiast," added he,
drawing her hand through his arm5 and
giving the other to his niece, " I must
hear more of your fancies, for they are in
unison with my own. " Ablush of plea-
sure, not unmixed with vanity, mantled
upon her cheek, at receiving the praises
and attentions of one whom she already
considered as a very superior being, and
she listened to every word he uttered as
to that of an oracle. ,
Mrs. Sydney mentioned Phoebe Bowne,
and enquired if she were as eccentric as
had been represented to her? " She is an
extraordinary creature)'" replied Mr. Falk-
land, " and is another proof of the many
we have now in existence* that the strong-
er faculties of the mind wait not for the
cultivating hand of education, but spring
up in any soil, and under any circum-
stances: education might have trained
them so as to be more useful and more
ornamental; but the peculiar direction
they have taken, render her more an ob.
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? 194 HOSE AND EMILY; OR,
ject of curiosity. " He then informed
them that Phcebe Bowne resided with
her mother, who was a widow* in a cot-
tage by the road side; that the singula-
rity and variety of her pursuits as a fe-
male, attracted many to her house, and
sometimes occasioned her invitations to
the hotel. She was esteemed one of the
best judges of a horse in the country;
and her opinion on the merits of one had
lately decided a wager of some impor-
tance ; she acted either as hostler, farrier,
groom, or horse-breaker; worked in the
fields, either as a mower or reaper; was
a mason or carpenter; played on the
flute and violoncello, and performed on
these instruments sufficiently well to take
a part with others, who better understood
the theory of music. Those who expect-
ed excellence in her performance would
be disappointed, but the wonder was that
she could play as she did; and in the
extraordinary combination of her habits,
she was as singular in her dress as in her
manners and occupations; was not with-
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? SKETCHES QtF IfOAJTHt. '. J95
out vanity, and liked attention; and
though proud of her peculiarities, and
tenacious of feer independence, never
scrupled to receive . a few shillings. as a
tribute to her talents. The bluntness of
her manner to those she disliked was very
offensive; and her . attentions to those
who pleased her were sometimes 'as ob-
trusive. Mrs. Sydney, as well as her
? daughters and Emily, expressed a wish
to see this original character, and the fol-
lowing morning Was fixed upon for Mr.
Falkland and his sister to accompany
them to hoc cottage.
When they entered the breakfast room,
Mr. Falkland met Rose with the cor-
diality of an old friend; her vivacity had
particularly attracted bin*, and in the
images of her fancy, the rapidity of her
remarks, and the illumination of her
countenance, he imagined he traced the
early dawnings, and genuine character-
istics of genius > whilst the enthusiasm of
her expressions, and the playfulness of
her manner, indicated a heart alive to
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? 196 ROSE AND EMILY J OK,
every generous and affectionate impulse;
to this little girl, therefore, his attentions
were, involuntarily, the most directed,
with the truest, kindest feelings of a friend
and brother. He also was a poet; and
v her idea of the moors suggested the fol-
lowing lines, which he presented to her
as they seated themselves at the break-
fast table.
Seek ye who lies buried here?
One who scorn'd the name of slave;
One to Fame and Glory dear,
And these grey stones mark his grave.
i
Seek ye how and where he fell?
Sleep in honour's bed the brave;
Let his fellow soldier's tell,
How these grey stones mark his grave.
Eve shall give her pearly tear,
Fresh and cool the turf to save;
Heath flowers shed their fragrance here,
Where these grey stones mark his grave.
Howling winds at night shall rise,
O'er the rude moors wildly rave;
Spare the sod near which he lies,
While these grey stones mark his grave!
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 197
Honour'd thus is valour's dust,
Thus remember'd are the brave;
Faithful to their holy trust,
These pale grey stones mark his grave.
To have given an idea to Mr. Falkland,
upon which he had condescended to write;
and to see it so poetically exemplified, de-
lighted her beyond the power of words to
express. It was the most flattering com-
pliment she had ever received, and she
gave the lines to her mother with a blush
of mingled pride, pleasure, and confu-
sion. Mrs. Sydney read them with the
admiration they merited; and smiling,
said to Mr. Falkland, "You must not
spoil my little girl by indulging her fan-
cies, or adding to her vanity. " At the
word '? '? vanity" the tears started to poor
Rose's eyes. "Oh mamma! do you
think me vain? " "Your Ossianic quo-
tations, my love, partook, I thought, of
as much vanity as fancy; but since they
were so good-humouredly listened to by
Mr. Falkland, and have produced this
specimen of his imagination, I will say
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? 198 BOSE AND EMILY; OR,
nothing more upon the subject. " Rose's
rapture, (which her mother had perceived
was . likely to exceed the bounds of reason*
and had therefore adopted this method of
suppressing it) was instantly checked;
and the fear of betraying vanity put? a.
guard upon her tongue, and gave a little
. reserve,to her manner, which Mrs. Syd-
ney wished; Mr. Falkland, who had de-
licately withdrawn the moment he saw
tears in the eyes, of Rose, and who had
been conversing with a gentleman at
another part of the room, now returned
to therri,. and enquired at what hour he
and his sister should have the pleasure of
accompanying them on their visit to
Phcehe. . This. being arranged, they sepa-
rated till. the time arrived. for their setting
QUt- 1}. ? ? ? .
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 19&
CHAP. XIV.
The cottage was situated opposite to one
of the most beautiful windings of the
Derwent, and divided from the road by
a narrow slip of garden, bounded by the
stonewall which Phcebe had been repairing
on the day of Mrs. Sydney's arrival. On
entering the house, they beheld the object
of their curiosity lying at length upon a
settle, or wooden . bench, placed on one
side of the room; a table was near her,
on which stood a small wooden bowl, with
the remains of the porridge which had
been her dinner. She did not rise from
her position. ; but, just lifting up her
head, nodded familiarly to Mr. and Mrs.
Falkland, whom she had frequently seefr
before; and made a motion to them with
her hand to be seated.
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? 200 $OSE AND EMILY; OR,
Her mother, whose silver locks gave
tokens of many winters' snow, but whose
form was still unbent, was sitting spinning
flax; she was dressed in the manner of
the country, in a man's woollen coat and
petticoat, several handkerchiefs tied roun d
her head and under her chin, and a large
man's hat over these. The most perfect
neatness prevailed in the house, as well
as in the persons of both the mother and
daughter,and both were equally unmoved
and unembarrassed by the entrance of the
party. On Phoebe's motioning with her
hand that they should sit, a deficiency of
chairs was observed ; and the old woman
left her seat to bring two Yrom another
apartment. The eye of Phoebe was di-
rected towards her new visitors, with a
side-long glance of the keenest scrutiny,
and she seemed reluctant to speak till
she had formed some opinion of them.
Mrs- Sydney was as minutely examining
her; and soon discovered that Phcebe,
though. in a cottage, was not a person to
fee treated with too mucji familiarity;
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 201
and readily gave her that sort of attention
which- she appeared to expect. Phoebe's
skill in physiognomy, or rather her intui-
tive penetration into character, soon led
her to decide favourably upon her guests;
and raising . . herself from her wooden seat,
began to account, n<<t . to apologize, for
lying . there so long: ? " She had but just
returned from the labours of the hay field;
had taken her dinner, and was resting after
it. " Then particularly addressing herself
to Mrs. Sydney, she? enquired how long
she had been atMatlock; and entered into
those light and general. topics which are
started i to avoid the awkwardness of
silence; but even on these she expressed
herself in a . manner. which denoted obser-
vation: and reflection* and m language
original and easy. She; asked them if they
meant to attend the balls, and bade them,
if they did, remark. the. conduct of some
of the. company, whom she accused of
pride and selfishness,in disdaining to give
their hands to those; who' were partaking
of the same. amusement, and contributing
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? 202' ROSE AND EMILY; Olty
to, theirs; she inveighed, with. a great.
deal of spleen and bitterness, against
some of the neighbouring gentry, (as she
sarcastically called*; them$) persons who
had, by one happy turn of fortune, at*
tained rank and wealth. . "Their gardens.
may be fine, and their houses grand,"*
continued Phoebe,," but look at their be-
haviour, and in that you may trace their
origin; haughty to their inferiors, and
servile to those above them, they prove.
that a little. wmdtiaincapable of elevation. .
Locke compares the human understand-
ing to a sheet of blank paper, which' wilt
receive any character you like to imprint;
upon it ;. but this theory was proved to be .
wrong by Lord Chesterfield, who endea-,
voured, both by precept and example, to. *
make his booby son a polite man 5. but it
was all in vain. White-wash a.