understand or relish poetical justice, or any kind of justice: besides, she
had heard that Lady de Brantefield was in want of a nursery-maid for the
little Lady Anne Mowbray, who was some years younger than Master
Harrington, and Fowler humbly represented to my mother that she thought
Master Harrington was really growing too stout and too much of a man; and
she confessed quite above and beyond her management and comprehension; for
she never pretended to any thing but the care of young children that had
not arrived at the years of discretion; this she understood to be the case
with the little Lady Anne Mowbray; therefore a recommendation to Lady de
Brantefield would be very desirable, and, she hoped, but justice to her.
The very desirable recommendation was given by my mother to Lady de
Brantefield, who was her particular friend; nor was my mother in the least
to blame on this occasion, for she truly thought she was doing nothing but
justice; had it been otherwise, those who know how these things are usually
managed, would, I trust, never think of blaming my mother for a _sort of
thing_ which they would do, and doubtless have done themselves without
scruple, for a favourite maid, who is always a _faithful creature_.

So Fowler departed, happy, but I remained unhappy--not with her, departed
my fears. After she was gone I made a sort of compromise with my
conscience, and without absolutely breaking my promise, I made a half
confession to my mother that I had somehow or other horrid notions about
Jews; and that it was the terror I had conceived of Simon the Jew which
prevented me from sleeping all night. My mother felt for me, and considered
my case as no laughing matter.

My mother was a woman of weak health, delicate nerves, and a kind of morbid
sensibility; which I often heard her deplore as a misfortune, but which I
observed every body about her admire as a grace. She lamented that her dear
Harrington, her only son, should so much resemble her in this exquisite