per annum, he of course had no
occasion for a profession. My second brother, Charles, being of an
adventurous turn, had gone out to the East Indies in a high position, as
servant to the Company. I was still at home, as well as Philip, who is
four years my junior, and my sisters were of course at home. I pass
over my regrets at my mother's death, and will now speak more of my
father. He was a good-tempered, weak man, easily led, and although,
during my mother's lifetime, he was so well led that it was of little
consequence, the case proved very different at her death. For a year my
father remained quiet in the house, content with superintending his
improvements on his property, and he had lately become infirm, and had
given up the hounds and rural sports in general. The dairy was one of
his principal hobbies; and it so happened that a young girl, the
daughter of a labourer, was one of the females employed in that part of
the establishment. She was certainly remarkably good-looking; her
features were very small, and she did not show that robust frame which
people in her class of life generally do. She was about seventeen years
old, slight in figure, and certainly a person that you would not pass
without making some commendatory remark upon her good looks and modest
appearance. She was not, however, what she appeared; she was beyond
measure cunning and astute, and, as it proved, inordinately ambitious.
My father, who was naturally of an amorous disposition, was attracted by
her, and very soon was constantly in the dairy, and his attentions were
so marked, that the other servants used to call her `my lady.' A few
months after my father had shown a preference for this girl, he was
seized with his first attack of gout. It did not last him long, and in
six weeks he was about again, and resumed his attentions to her. Philip
and I, who were at our tutor's, when we came home, heard from others
what was going on, and very foolishly played the girl many tricks, and
annoyed her as much as we could. After we returned, my father had
another fit of gout, and when he was confined to his room, he desired
this girl to be sent for to attend upon him. I cannot say what took
place, but this is certain, that my father's unfortunate passion became
so great, and I presume the girl's ambition rose in proportion, that
about six months afterwards this daughter of a menial was raised to the
dignity of Lady Musgrave--she being at that t