CHAPTER XVII 223
consequent neglect of duty on the part of the attached-- mutual alliance and reliance; confidence thence resulting-- insolence accompanying-- mutiny and general blow-up. Am I right, Baroness Ingram, of Ingram Park?"
" My lily-flower, you are right now, as always." " Then no more need be said: change the subject."
Amy Eshton, not hearing or not heeding this dictum, joined in with her soft, infantine tone: " Louisa and I used to quiz our governess too; but she was such a good creature, she would bear anything: nothing put her out. She was never cross with us; was she, Louisa?"
" No, never: we might do what we pleased; ransack her desk and her workbox, and turn her drawers inside out; and she was so good- natured, she would give us anything we asked for."
" I suppose, now," said Miss Ingram, curling her lip sarcastically, " we shall have an abstract of the memoirs of all the governesses extant: in order to avert such a visitation, I again move the introduction of a new topic. Mr. Rochester, do you second my motion?"
" Madam, I support you on this point, as on every other."
" Then on me be the onus of bringing it forward. Signior Eduardo, are you in voice to-night?"
" Donna Bianca, if you command it, I will be."
" Then, signior, I lay on you my sovereign behest to furbish up your lungs and other vocal organs, as they will be wanted on my royal service."
" Who would not be the Rizzio of so divine a Mary?"
" A fig for Rizzio!" cried she, tossing her head with all its curls, as she moved to the piano. " It is my opinion the fiddler David must have been an