第41章
The anxiety about sister Priscilla, which had grown rather active by the time the coral necklace was clasped, was happily ended by the entrance of that cheerful-looking lady herself, with a face made blowsy by cold and damp.After the first questions and greetings, she turned to Nancy, and surveyed her from head to foot--then wheeled her round, to ascertain that the back view was equally faultless.
"What do you think o' _these_ gowns, aunt Osgood?" said Priscilla, while Nancy helped her to unrobe.
"Very handsome indeed, niece," said Mrs.Osgood, with a slight increase of formality.She always thought niece Priscilla too rough.
"I'm obliged to have the same as Nancy, you know, for all I'm five years older, and it makes me look yallow; for she never _will_ have anything without I have mine just like it, because she wants us to look like sisters.And I tell her, folks 'ull think it's my weakness makes me fancy as I shall look pretty in what she looks pretty in.For I _am_ ugly--there's no denying that: I feature my father's family.But, law! I don't mind, do you?" Priscilla here turned to the Miss Gunns, rattling on in too much preoccupation with the delight of talking, to notice that her candour was not appreciated."The pretty uns do for fly-catchers--they keep the men off us.I've no opinion o' the men, Miss Gunn--I don't know what _you_ have.And as for fretting and stewing about what _they_'ll think of you from morning till night, and making your life uneasy about what they're doing when they're out o' your sight--as I tell Nancy, it's a folly no woman need be guilty of, if she's got a good father and a good home: let her leave it to them as have got no fortin, and can't help themselves.As I say, Mr.Have-your-own-way is the best husband, and the only one I'd ever promise to obey.I know it isn't pleasant, when you've been used to living in a big way, and managing hogsheads and all that, to go and put your nose in by somebody else's fireside, or to sit down by yourself to a scrag or a knuckle; but, thank God! my father's a sober man and likely to live; and if you've got a man by the chimney-corner, it doesn't matter if he's childish--the business needn't be broke up."The delicate process of getting her narrow gown over her head without injury to her smooth curls, obliged Miss Priscilla to pause in this rapid survey of life, and Mrs.Osgood seized the opportunity of rising and saying--"Well, niece, you'll follow us.The Miss Gunns will like to go down.""Sister," said Nancy, when they were alone, "you've offended the Miss Gunns, I'm sure.""What have I done, child?" said Priscilla, in some alarm.
"Why, you asked them if they minded about being ugly--you're so very blunt.""Law, did I? Well, it popped out: it's a mercy I said no more, for I'm a bad un to live with folks when they don't like the truth.But as for being ugly, look at me, child, in this silver-coloured silk--I told you how it 'ud be--I look as yallow as a daffadil.
Anybody 'ud say you wanted to make a mawkin of me.""No, Priscy, don't say so.I begged and prayed of you not to let us have this silk if you'd like another better.I was willing to have _your_ choice, you know I was," said Nancy, in anxious self-vindication.
"Nonsense, child! you know you'd set your heart on this; and reason good, for you're the colour o' cream.It 'ud be fine doings for you to dress yourself to suit _my_ skin.What I find fault with, is that notion o' yours as I must dress myself just like you.
But you do as you like with me--you always did, from when first you begun to walk.If you wanted to go the field's length, the field's length you'd go; and there was no whipping you, for you looked as prim and innicent as a daisy all the while.""Priscy," said Nancy, gently, as she fastened a coral necklace, exactly like her own, round Priscilla's neck, which was very far from being like her own, "I'm sure I'm willing to give way as far as is right, but who shouldn't dress alike if it isn't sisters?
Would you have us go about looking as if we were no kin to one another--us that have got no mother and not another sister in the world? I'd do what was right, if I dressed in a gown dyed with cheese-colouring; and I'd rather you'd choose, and let me wear what pleases you.""There you go again! You'd come round to the same thing if one talked to you from Saturday night till Saturday morning.It'll be fine fun to see how you'll master your husband and never raise your voice above the singing o' the kettle all the while.I like to see the men mastered!""Don't talk _so_, Priscy," said Nancy, blushing."You know Idon't mean ever to be married."
"Oh, you never mean a fiddlestick's end!" said Priscilla, as she arranged her discarded dress, and closed her bandbox."Who shall _I_ have to work for when father's gone, if you are to go and take notions in your head and be an old maid, because some folks are no better than they should be? I haven't a bit o' patience with you--sitting on an addled egg for ever, as if there was never a fresh un in the world.One old maid's enough out o' two sisters; and I shall do credit to a single life, for God A'mighty meant me for it.Come, we can go down now.I'm as ready as a mawkin _can_ be--there's nothing awanting to frighten the crows, now I've got my ear-droppers in."As the two Miss Lammeters walked into the large parlour together, any one who did not know the character of both might certainly have supposed that the reason why the square-shouldered, clumsy, high-featured Priscilla wore a dress the facsimile of her pretty sister's, was either the mistaken vanity of the one, or the malicious contrivance of the other in order to set off her own rare beauty.But the good-natured self-forgetful cheeriness and common-sense of Priscilla would soon have dissipated the one suspicion; and the modest calm of Nancy's speech and manners told clearly of a mind free from all disavowed devices.