Cousin Prudence Read Online Free Page B

relinquish for a sentimental pity of your mother being cut off from the family.  And if you play the fool like that, you will but give credence to his beliefs.  He is a kindly man who means well; and bear in mind h e would have taken you
    into his house if you were a barefoot miller’s child and shown you every kindness.  I pray you do not repay that good intent with unkind teasing!  Believe me, I and Emma
    and our siblings have a more realistic understanding of your circumstances and I ask in the manner of a Cousin that you not exercise your levity on poor Henry.  You will find worthier foils for your wit in London.”
    Prudence flushed.
    “I am sorry, Cousin George,” she said, relinquishing her pelisse and shako to him “I – I got angry, and I have a rather sharp temper.”
    “Ah, much like your cousin Emma then ,” said George.  “It is forgiven; do not be put off by your Uncle’s manner! For he is the most amiable of men, truly!”
    “If he would extend an olive branch and open his house to one of no education, barefoot and destitute then I see he is a very fine man ,” said Prudence “I will try not to be irritated by his pitying and patronising tone and I will indeed look forward to honing my wit in London instead.”
    She smiled brightly at George, who hid a groan.
    As if one of them was not bad enough!
    He was unaware that Prudence thought of honing her wit on one who was tall, broad of shoulder, and with piercing grey eyes set in a swarthy face.
     
     
    Miss Blenkinsop had changed for dinner into a round gown of fine embroidered white-on-white Indian muslin with, for the chill of the early spring evening, a spencer of apricot-coloured taffeta, braided and frogged and with braid decorating the half-sleeves.  She looked most statuesque and permitted her Uncle to take her in to dinner.
    She looked askance at the bowl of thin gruel that was brought for him.
    “My dear Prudence!  I beg that you will join me in a healthful bowl of gruel!” he declared “Poor dear Emma and poor George risk a heavier meal, but I cannot think it at all wise!”
    “You shall eat as you are accustomed, Miss Blenkinsop ,” said George, “a heavier evening meal as we your cousins eat, or fruit if you wish something lighter; I think you are not keen on gruel?”
    “I cannot consider it in any way a benefit to the digestion unless one is an invalid ,” said Prudence in relief that she was not to be made to eat the stuff.  “I shall fall in, Cousin George, with the habit you and Cousin Emma pursue.”
    This was a substantial meal of stuffed baked trout, removed with a ham, rabbit stew, a ragout of seasonal vegetables, brawn and concluded with baked apples, the apples being the last of those laid down over the winter and not good enough, as Emma said, to eat any other way.  The household did not eat such extensive meals as many, for the very sight of too much rich food could move Mr Woodhouse to feel upset by it; but there was plenty, and plenty of bread too.  Prudence was hungry and did justice to her meal.  She also defiantly used the correct cutlery.
    Mr Woodhouse was moved to hope that feasting too extensively would not prove ill for an empty stomach; and Prudence counted to ten in realising that he accounted her half starved, not merely several hours fasting since her last meal.  It was an insult to her father; but she swallowed her indignation.
    It had been apparent throughout the meal, when Mr Woodhouse was moved to join conversation on one thing or another that he was singularly ill informed in so many respects that it was most charitable to regard him as afflicted and to be tolerant accordingly.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    Mr Woodhouse was amazed how quickly poor Prudence learned to fit in with a respectable family.  He credited Emma with the ability to teach the poor girl to speak and behave.  After all did not poor Emma always seem to be helping others out?
    Prudence found  Mr