Part 1 (1/2)

Ten Girls from d.i.c.kens.

by Kate d.i.c.kinson Sweetser.

PREFACE

As a companion volume to Ten Boys from d.i.c.kens, this book of girl-life, portrayed by the great author, is offered.

The sketches have the same underlying motive as those of boy-life, and have been compiled in the same manner, with the same purpose in view.

Among them will be found several of the most popular of the creations of d.i.c.kens, notably, The Marchioness, Little Nell, Jenny Wren, and Florence Dombey, and it is hoped that in this presentation as simple stories of girlhood, their cla.s.sic form and beauty may arouse in the young people of our day a new interest in the novels from which they are taken.

This volume and its companion will have accomplished their purpose when they have won fresh laurels and a wider audience for the famous writer to whom they are indebted for their existence.

K.D.S. _April, 1902_.

THE MARCHIONESS

The Marchioness was a small servant employed by Sampson Bra.s.s and his sister Sally, as general house-worker and drudge, in which capacity she was discovered by Mr. Richard Swiveller, upon the very first day of his entering the Bra.s.s establishment as clerk.

The Bra.s.ses' house was a small one in Bevis Marks, London, having upon its door a plate, ”Bra.s.s, Solicitor,” and a bill tied to the knocker, ”First floor to let to a single gentleman,” and served not only as habitation, but likewise as office for Sampson Bra.s.s,--of none too good legal repute,--and his sister; a gaunt, bony copy of her red-haired brother, who was his housekeeper, as well as his business partner.

When the Bra.s.ses decided to keep a clerk, Richard Swiveller was chosen to fill the place; and be it known to whom it may concern, that the said Richard was the merriest, laziest, weakest, most kind-hearted fellow who ever sowed a large crop of wild oats, and by a sudden stroke of good-luck found himself raised to a salaried position.

Clad in a blue jacket with a double row of gilt b.u.t.tons, bought for acquatic expeditions, but now dedicated to office purposes, Richard entered upon his new duties, and during that first afternoon, while Mr.

Bra.s.s and his sister were temporarily absent from the office, he began a minute examination of its contents.

Then, after a.s.suaging his thirst with a pint of mild porter, and receiving and dismissing three or four small boys who dropped in on legal errands from other attorneys, with about as correct an understanding of their business as would have been shown by a clown in a pantomime under similar circ.u.mstances, he tried his hand at a pen-and-ink caricature of Miss Bra.s.s, in which work he was busily engaged, when there came a rapping at the office-door.

”Come in!” said d.i.c.k. ”Don't stand on ceremony. The business will get rather complicated if I have many more customers. Come in!”

”Oh, please,” said a little voice very low down in the doorway, ”will you come and show the lodgings?”

d.i.c.k leaned over the table, and descried a small slipshod girl in a dirty coa.r.s.e ap.r.o.n and bib, which left nothing of her visible but her face and feet. She might as well have been dressed in a violin case.

”Why, who are you?” said d.i.c.k.

To which the only reply was, ”Oh, please, will you come and show the lodgings?”

There never was such an old-fas.h.i.+oned child in her looks and manner. She must have been at work from her cradle. She seemed as much afraid of d.i.c.k, as d.i.c.k was amazed at her.

”I haven't got anything to do with the lodgings,” said d.i.c.k. ”Tell 'em to call again.”

”Oh, but please will you come and show the lodgings?” returned the girl; ”it's eighteen s.h.i.+llings a week, and us finding plate and linen. Boots and clothes is extra, and fires in winter-time is eightpence a day.”

”Why don't you show 'em yourself? You seem to know all about 'em,” said d.i.c.k.

”Miss Sally said I wasn't to, because people wouldn't believe the attendance was good if they saw how small I was, first.”