The Gold that Glitters: The Mistakes of Jenny Lavender — John Shaqi
The Gold that Glitters: The Mistakes of Jenny LavenderHolt, Emily Sarah
General
The Gold that Glitters: The Mistakes of Jenny Lavender
Holt, Emily Sarah
Historical fiction
"Very good. Here, pick up these pins, and put them into that box. You
must learn to dress me, and dress my hair. Dear me, you have all to
learn! Well, never mind; the best woman living had to begin once."
"Yes, madam," said smiling Jenny.
Mrs Jane sat down before the toilet-table, and with more rapidity than
Jenny could well follow, showed her the articles upon it, and the uses
for which they were designed.
"Here is pearl powder; that is for my forehead. This is rouge, for my
cheeks and lips. Now, mind what you do with them! Don't go and put the
white powder on my cheeks, and the red upon my nose! This is pomatum
for my hair; and this empty box holds my love-locks (you'll have to
learn how to put those in, Jenny); in this bottle is a wash for my face.
I don't dye my hair, nor use oils for my hands--one must draw the line
somewhere. But the other matters you must learn to apply."
Jenny listened in silent amazement. She had never realised till that
moment what an artificial flower her young mistress was.
Her own cosmetics were soap and water; and she was divided between
disgust and admiration at the number of Mrs Jane's beautifiers. Poor
Jenny had no idea that Mrs Jane used a very moderate amount of them, as
contrasted with most fashionable ladies of her day.
"I must have a word with you, Jenny, as to your manners," said Mrs
Jane, more gravely. "I can't do to have you falling in love with
anybody. It would be very inconvenient, and, in fact, there's nobody
here for you. Remember _now_, you are above Featherstone and all the
men-servants; and you must not set your cap at the chaplain, because
he's Mrs Millicent's property."
Above that elegant gentleman, Mr Featherstone! Jenny felt as if she
trod on perfumed air. She was not in the least surprised to be told
that she was not to marry the chaplain; the family chaplain, of whom
there was one in every family of any pretension, was considered a poor
mean creature, whose natural wife was the lady's maid; and Jenny quite
understood that Mrs Millicent took precedence of her.
"You take your seat at table, Jenny, next below Mrs Millicent. Of
course you know you are not to speak there? If any one should have such
ill-manners as to address you, you must answer quite respectfully, but
as short as possible. Well, now to tell you your duties. You rise
every morning at five of the clock; dress quietly, and when you are
ready, wake me, if I have not woke sooner. Then you dress me, go with
me to prayers in the chapel, then to breakfast in the hall; in the
morning (when I am at home) you follow me about in my duties in the
kitchen, stillroom, and dairy; you help me to see to the poultry, get up
my muslins and laces, and mend my clothes. In the afternoon you go out
visiting with me, work tapestry, embroider, or spin. In the evening, if
there be music or dancing, you can join; if not, you keep to your
needle."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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