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But every new position in which I see her gives me new l-eason to admire at the steadfastness of her character . She is truly the lady sovereign of us all , as though she were born to receive homage without being exalted by it , or moved out of her own dignity . Markham was here to receive us , and he went up to town to-day with Edwardes ; both to return again tonight till Monday . He came especially to see that we were all properly lodged , and , as he said , to surrender the keys of the castle to Margaret , which she received with her wonted grace . She seemed rather to approve than to thank , and yet Markham was more delighted , I suspect , than if she had poured out " gratitude" with all her eloquence .
What surprises me—though I ought to have outlived surprise—is to see how she can be the object of regard to so many , and yet of jealousy to none . Her presence seems to fetch out the noblest qualities of those around her ; as air , pure and genial in itself , tells the grass to show all its greenness , the flower all its lustre and all its perfume , the human face divine all its life and happiness . When she gave her hand to Markham , as a friend , it was done without reservation ; when she accepted our plan of making a party for her , she took the chief place ; when Markham surrenders to her his house and servants , she receives the charge as the shortest way to accomplish his wish . Markham addresses 7 ier alone with a sort
of timidity , which is no more than unconcealed anxiety that he may know how to anticipate obedience only by asking that which it will please her to grant : and yet Julie watches Margaret ' s unhurried reply with unconcealed hope that she will vouchsafe to accept of Markham ' s absolute allegiance . Edwardes renders the same species of devotion , adorned rather than covered by a style of bantering humility ; and Yseult looks only anxious that Margaret should understand how grave is Edwardes ' s solicitude . I avow to you , that if Margaret ' s deep voice is the one seldomest heard , not a word of it escapes me ; and that I watch my turn to obey her commands , only fearing lest I should be too forward in doing that duty which she intends for some one else ; and yet Stanhope often stands aside where he would
have the best right . I do not know why her command is so absolute , if it is not that she is so perfectly direct and simple , that her words are facts ; and her every feeling is to us a thing to reverence , as if we saw before us the type of woman , with all her dignity , all her loving-kindness , all her truth , undisguised and unadulterated . Her beauty m&y have much power in forming that influence ; her beauty not only of face and shape , but of voice . She does not say half so many " good things" as several amongst us : Yseult utters many remarks better worth writing ; Edwardes is often instructive , and as often amusing ; Julie herself has a far more brilliant wit . And yet the plainest word from Margaret is noted as it were of a sterling value , because it is hers . The truth , the force , the symmetry of her nature are felt , even when the subject is trivial . She is . You cannot
rehearse a grand scene , you cannot repeat a mountain , nor " say the utterance of a great river sounding along its vast quiet bed with its large diapason unexalted ; and yet in that everlasting note , in that moveless form , you , through your passive existence , are conscious of the divine influences which rule the world—the Ruler speaking to your heart through the great voice of the creature , who stands nearer to Him than smaller beings can .
Happy the man on whom Margaret shall lay the burden of her love—if he can sustain it . But should any ungenerous weakness seize such a man , he will fall ; and the car of Ceres would pass over him without a tremor . I can imagine , in such an event , that I see her onward countenance , moveless as Fate . Of all men I know , Stanhope alone could paint the picture . April 3 . I was interrupted by the somewhat unexpected return of Markham , who
had sent Edwardes on to town alone , with orders that should free himself till Monday . lie hud forgotten , he said , to complete all his duties , and especially in storing the larder . But he needed not to have returned , for the housekeeper had already obtained Margaret ' s sanction to a plan of purvey . I suspect , however , that the great grocer preferred his duties under Margaret to his duties over Johnson and his compeers . Edwurdcs comes this afternoon . Markham found us seated very quietly in the " garden-room " ' — -a pretty saloon , which opens on to the lawn , with three windows , so arranged that the whole side of the room looks to be open , with groat plate-glass panes , one to each window— " from Regent-street , " said Julie . She says these sarcasms of a seigneur ' s heiress to the great London tradesman , and makes me uneasy—not him . I suppose her lips are too pretty , or his heart too proud , and too much professionally engaged in his business . Julie and
I were looking over a great store of music that he hail sent downvery copious , and rather indiscriminate ; and we were picking out the plums . Yseult was lying on a sofa , silent , but not forgotten , as if asleep ; Margaret was reading , near her : and Stanhope was sketching the sleeper and reader . Markham woke us all up from our vocations , and we were soon out with him to show Margaret all the grounds . Yseult alone ; stopped behind—too tired , she said ; and Stanhope afterwards returned , I think in attendance upon her , if she should like to rejoin us .
We surveyed not only the grounds , but the estate beyond the private part ; and accidentally dividing—if it wus j U * t > i < lont ?—Margaret and I found ourselves visiting certain labourers' cottages , of which a row stood near the boundary of the park . And strange places they were—hardly " picturesque" to look at , although comfortless enough , —and uncouth
the inhabitants—uncouth in look and in their ways , as I found , by inquiring closely . For suffering Margaret to join Julie , who reappeared , I penetrated into the very sleeping-rooms , followed by Markham , who had never been so far before . He has only had the estate two winters and a summer ; and last summer he was still absorbed in his great London campaign . Styes were those cottages , wherein the labourer and his wife and their children huddled together , little fed , sleeping all in one bed , or , at the best , in two . I had read of these things - , but to see them !—And yet they are part of the great system of England , which is so " successful , " and which faithful Englishmen are so anxious not to subvert . I looked a remonstrance at Markham . But he defended himself . " It must be so , " he said . " The estate , no doubt , wanted improving ; land had not been made a commodity of trade "" And God forbid that it should * be more so than it is , " I said . " You cannot kick against the laws o ' f society or of human nature , " he argued . " It is only by letting the law of supply and demand regulate industry "" It does not help these poor wretches , in whose labour you trade , " I answered . " With very little profit , " he rejoined ; " but hitherto they have only been managed by agriculturists j and we know what they arc . " At all events , he would not help it . He must employ his capital for its best return ; and if some few individuals were sacrificed , it was all the better in the long run . " For you—for profit-dealers , " I insisted . " But look , " I said , pointing to where Margaret stood awaiting us just within the park , on the rising ground , with the sun making prismatic jewels in her black dancing hair , " tell me if a creature like that is made by the law of ' supply and demand , ' or by the law which ever strives to create the greatest and most perfect life . " He said that both were the same . But I will not repeat all his argument : you will find it in the books , though not always so well pleaded . " Do unto others , " I said ; but he sneered . At last I challenged him to appeal to the arbitress who was awaiting us ; and we both told our case to her , standing on the rising ground before us . " It seems to me , " said Margaret , " that the sole question is this : — Can you choose , by the act of your own will , whether these people shall continue to live as they are , or shall they undergo a better existence ?" With an air of profound and instant deference , the great ceconomist kissed her hand . " Mr . Markham , " cried Julie , " I often say better things than tliat , but you never kiss my hand with that air of Grand Chamberlain !" " The things you say , ma ' m ' selle" — " Don ' t say ma ' m ' selle , like an Englishman as you arc ; say" — " The things you say , * respectable Juliette , ' are exquisite scourges , which make us feel your power and our own delicious pangs in every stroke ; and our rebellious consciences always rise to renew the provocation , kissing the hand which strikes , so as to make it strike again , thus "—• But Julie drew her hand away laughing— - " And the things which Margaret says ? " she asked . < e Are the truths lying- silent at the bottom of our own consciences . " " Oh , thou magnificent ! Queen Margaret shall name thee Grand Grocer of her court ; but from what wholesale dealer didst thou purchase those superior aphorisms which thou art retailing ; ?" Markham made a plunge at her , to chastise her , as was his right , vi et oseulis : but she ran to the other side of the Queen , and drawing Margaret ' s arm over her own stooping- shoulder , peered round ut us from underneath , like a bird taking- sanctuary ; and Miukliam slopped . "It does not matter , " he cried ; " the Grand Grocer will have his revenge . " " How ? " said the pretty bird , glancing its liciid and eyes uihLt tlic shadow of the august countenance that looked down upon her . " By the grocer ' s working out a truth as well as retailing-it . Margaret ' s , words shall be my penance , and : i better life to those forgotten clods . " Julie ' s bright eyes filled with tears , and her pretty hand was thrust , out for Markham ' s lips with a little grave , smile that nmde Margaret stoop down and kiss her ; for which gracious act Markham looked as grateful as if the g-ift . were bestowed upon himself . Perhaps the patient hypocrite thought in his heart , the kiss was lodged where he might , in some lucky hour , steal it . I have , dear friends , very ill reported either the flagrant evil which I saw , or the arguments which Markham used : ir . is dilluiult , without more space than a letter , or more mastery than the unstalde Vagabond , to describe to you how skilful these ; English are in their theory , and how stupid in thenacts orsuHranees . They succeed in trade ; they liiil in life . They uphold Christianity as an " established fact , " but it is only cstablislicil , like am ensign to war around ; not applied in working . I might have spent , months uiul not have . exhausted all the special pleadings which an Englishman must see refuted before he can officially recognise the Lazarus at his feet . Your English good Samaritan must have a eertifkate , copiously countersigned , before ho will even believe in suffering ; imd even then ho must buy his oil in the cheapest market , or dispense ; it " repulsively , " and take heed that the traveller grow not presuming on his alms . But the voice of nature ; goes straighter to the conscience ; and Murgaret is less of a " domesticated auinml" than I am getting to be .
Untitled Article
March 5 , 1853 . ] THE LEADEE , 237
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 5, 1853, page 237, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1976/page/21/
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