Nor are the women here less practised in the highest
feminine arts than their fair superiors in quality
and fortune. Here are prudes and coquettes.
Here are dressing and ogling, falsehood, envy, malice,
scandal; in short, everything which is common to the
most splendid assembly, or politest circle. Let
those of high life, therefore, no longer despise the
ignorance of their inferiors; nor the vulgar any longer
rail at the vices of their betters.
Molly had seated herself some time before she was
known by her neighbours. And then a whisper ran
through the whole congregation, “Who is she?”
but when she was discovered, such sneering, gigling,
tittering, and laughing ensued among the women, that
Mr Allworthy was obliged to exert his authority to
preserve any decency among them.
A battle sung by the muse in the Homerican style,
and which none but the classical reader can taste.
Mr Western had an estate in this parish; and as his
house stood at little greater distance from this church
than from his own, he very often came to Divine Service
here; and both he and the charming Sophia happened
to be present at this time.
Sophia was much pleased with the beauty of the girl,
whom she pitied for her simplicity in having dressed
herself in that manner, as she saw the envy which
it had occasioned among her equals. She no sooner
came home than she sent for the gamekeeper, and ordered
him to bring his daughter to her; saying she would
provide for her in the family, and might possibly
place the girl about her own person, when her own
maid, who was now going away, had left her.
Poor Seagrim was thunderstruck at this; for he was
no stranger to the fault in the shape of his daughter.
He answered, in a stammering voice, “That he
was afraid Molly would be too awkward to wait on her
ladyship, as she had never been at service.”
“No matter for that,” says Sophia; “she
will soon improve. I am pleased with the girl,
and am resolved to try her.”
Black George now repaired to his wife, on whose prudent
counsel he depended to extricate him out of this dilemma;
but when he came thither he found his house in some
confusion. So great envy had this sack occasioned,
that when Mr Allworthy and the other gentry were gone
from church, the rage, which had hitherto been confined,
burst into an uproar; and, having vented itself at
first in opprobrious words, laughs, hisses, and gestures,
betook itself at last to certain missile weapons;
which, though from their plastic nature they threatened
neither the loss of life or of limb, were however sufficiently
dreadful to a well-dressed lady. Molly had too
much spirit to bear this treatment tamely. Having
therefore—but hold, as we are diffident
of our own abilities, let us here invite a superior
power to our assistance.
Ye Muses, then, whoever ye are, who love to sing battles,
and principally thou who whilom didst recount the
slaughter in those fields where Hudibras and Trulla
fought, if thou wert not starved with thy friend Butler,
assist me on this great occasion. All things are
not in the power of all.
