THE GOVERNESS.
Looxtrea back through the vista of the past, we have an impres- sion that a certain degree of celebrity was obtained among the novel-readers of a bygone (lay by" The Balance of' Comfort," or (ran it not so?)" Maid, Wife, and Widow." But here our memory fails us: of the merits of the fiction, or of the condition towards which it was decided the greatest balance of comfort inclined, we have no distinct idea. We have not a doubt, however, that the daughter of that writer inherits the talents of her mother, and These are the leading characters—the heads, as it were, of a deserves to attain her celebrity ; unless, as MILTON fancied, she threefold series of events, although finally terminating in one point : has fallen on too late an age. The Governess. dr Politics in Private there are many subordinate ones, conceived with sotne degree of Life, possesses the merits and the faults of the bettermost didactic judgment, but failing, as it appears to us, partly front ignorance of novels of the elder time. It exhibits the results of pains and oh- the manners of the time, partly from the want of a practical know- servation of society ; it fails in a knou ledge of life. The characters ledge of mankind. Amongst all the various persons from Sinner- are seized with tact and touched with truth:. a brief conversation set to serving-men who figure in the volume, the only one that on every-day subjects is naturally conducted : but in action the
bility ; and we are sometimes too much impressed with the notion
As Mrs. Clifford ceased speaking, she took a pen in her hand, and had A- of a dramatized homily, where we only looked for a picture of life. ready begun to sign the magical word which Arundel fondly anticipated was at In fictions of this class, the execution is generally more laboured once to release him from infamy and danger, when a door fl inn the toner apart- ment, immediately opposite the spot where they stood, was flung open, and a than happy, more equable than striking ; and the authors display tall, mem looking man walked, without announcement or ceremony, into the ability and shrewdness, but never approach genius. As wholes, room. He had a dark jesuitical cast of countenance, with high cheek-bones, a such works are mostly defective, but the parts are frequently ex- long aquiline nose, and a nmuth whose thin, parched, and sallow lips had a aellent. Their people rarely exhibit representatives of a class, most unpleasing expression. But his forehead, though partly concealed by a yet we often acknowledge the truth of their likenesses. To sum round velvet cap placed carelessly on his head, was high and ample ; and lis projecting eyebrows and dark, deep-seated eyes, were those of a profound and up pithily, they contain the quintessence of commonplace, in crafty thinker. He was simply though richly habited ; and his cold and manners, morals, and mind. haughty carriage betokened him a man of the highest rank. Scarcely had The object of the novel which has led us to this retrospect, is to Arundel time to take a hurried survey of this reinarkable personage, as he raise the character and show the utility of governesses, aseivell as stood for a moment regarding the secretary and his companion with astonish- to inculcate the importance of treating them, as the advertise- ment, ere Mrs. Clifford flung away her moistened pen, rushed past the secre- ments promise, "like one of the family," especially among the tary, and flinging herself wildly at the feet of her visiter, implored his protec- tion and assistance. higher circles, where the pupils are in bed " before the company " My protection I" said the astonished nobleman, as lie raised her hastily assembles in the drawing-room. ° Of course, with this purpose in from the ground ; " against whom and what, madam ? Wherefore these tears, view, a governess is the heroine of the tale; the characters am Jet me ask ? did you not receive notice of my intended visit, that I find you mainly governesses, and people who employ them, or who are or thus engaged?" have been subject to their rule; and although the incidents rarely, " I know not, my lord ; I can answer you nothing," replied the distracted Clifford ; " we are betrayed, lost, and undone." have any thing to do with the school-room, yet they may be said " Perhaps, sir," said the nobleman, turning towards Arundel, " you can to have bad their remote origin in that sanctum sarictorum. For afford me a clearer explauation of this extraordinary scene than the lady ap- instance, the lady of the family in whom Gertrude, the heroine, I do not imagine I am to attribute the elegance of my accommodations to any effort on the part of Mrs. Elphinstone, but simply to the fact, that at El- phinstone every thing is elegant and commodious. It is true I dine at two o'clock ; but my table is well served, my wants attended to by well behaved ser• vents, and my little companions, though ignorant of their letters even, are so perfectly well-bred, so scrupulously brought up, as never to sin against the forms of propriety in eating and drinking ; from their cradles they have been desired to do every thing " like ladies," and they certainly have been obedient to this command. They are very lovely and interesting children ; and are, I think, beginning to reconcile themselves a little to the necessary discipline. Mrs. Elphinstone I have only seen three times in as many weeks ; but I should like to see more of her, for I cannot help fancying she is not really the heartless fine lady she is represented. I can scarcely do justice to her beauty OF her perfect elegance of person and manner. Mr. Elphinstone I have seen only once, and that at church. Religion appears to be practised here, because it is right and proper, as a duty, not as a pleasure; in short, every titans it Elphinstone is pu*ctly correct.
OBSTINACY.
There certainly is paradoxical as it may appear, in some of the finest cha- racters of both sexes, a considerable degree of obstinacy. My readers will, I dare say, be inclined to dispute this assertion; but they have only to take review of their acquaintance, and they will find it invariably the case, that the most admired amongst it are those in whom there is a great share of this failing. It is miscalled firmness, because the other parts of the character are just what they should be ; as we call the hair of those we love auburn, although in an- other it would be decidedly red. Obstinacy was certainly the besetting sin of heroiee.
WIVES AND HUSBANDS.
tad)? Lorimer was a bad, tiresome wife, on the plea of being a most devoted One ; tut in fact because she had a mind miserably ill-regulated. She pro- notmced her plan of "managing a husband " the best plan in the world ; not having either candour enough or sense enough to see that she succeeded in carrying her point, or, as she termed it, " managing her husband," not because the poor man liked the rod he kissed, but simply because he did like peace and quiet. But beware, ye Lady Loritners! these lovers of peace and quiet, these managed husbands, are the very men to abuse their liberty, if once they get it. I would rather trust the man who roves where he will, and when he will, fear- less alike of his wife and her frowns, than one of those cooped-up men, who, like the canary, if once his cage-door be opened, flies off in the full enjoyment and in the full abuse of the liberty of which he has been so long deprived. A man is a tyrant from his very birth : he tyrannizes over his nurse, his sisters, his younger playmates, his mistress, and eventually over his wife; and wise is that woman who submits with a good grace to *hat in almost every instance is inevitable. There are, I believe, very few men, who may not, by a good wife, be made a comparatively good husband.
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