Aunt Toogood, XII

The following day, about th’ eleventh hour, Jane heard a “tap-tap” at the parlour door; So, suddenly uprising on her feet, Prepared herself the visitor to meet,— “The Reverend Alexander Gordon Jay,” (Most popular grammar-master of the day,— Within a circle of near thirty miles,— A man belov’d by most fair juveniles; Of stature small, but of capacious tact; And of his person wondrously exact.)— Who with obeisance and with dexter hand Proffer’d his friendship to Jane Hollybrand: Jane fain reciprocated his intent And lent herself to the first rudiment; Her quick conception of the rule consign’d Dispell’d the doubts revolving in his mind So much that he, amaz’d, could not refrain Adventuring plaudits in becoming strain; Thus so far pleased with all that he desired The doctor bowed and gracefully retired. Thrice weekly, now, Jane’s music-master came,— A Briton, but with an Italian name,— Who ceremoniously improved the time With some cadenzas—aiming the sublime— On one of Broadwood’s fine old instruments; Then gently introduced his rudiments (Or some-one-else’s) in the key of “C,” The scale of which Jane master’d dexterously; Then, in due time, proceeded on to “G,” And conquer’d the sharp seventh most famously; Engaging now in “sharps” and then in “flats,”— And all the incidental little thats,— In eighteen months she could with moderate ease Encounter creditably the “Surprise.” And now, in turn, the dancing-master ’d come, Release his gloves and make himself “at home;” Unsheath his violin, then draw its bow,— With “this” and “that” and “simply so-and-so,”— So that he manag’d (medium-way) to please; And deem’d, no doubt, he justly earn’d his fees. At the appointed season of the week, Her drawing-master, tall and rather sleek, Veer’d round the back and palm’d the stable-boy; Who, quite as willing—for his master’s hay To him cost nothing—fed the craving beast, Which soon showed symptoms of the welcome feast: Now Jane (’tis fair to say) did not progress In this particular art, but nevertheless She could depict a landscape with such taste As plainly proved her lessons were not waste. Thus then, with time and men of such repute As those engaged for Jane, one could compute With some degree of certainty and pride The joys in store for the intended bride.