Wingless Bird
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Chapter 6
– Miss Vivian! – broke the silence of the bedroom with someone's whisper.
Silence.
– Miss Vivian! – The whisper became a little louder and more insistent.
Silence again.
– Miss Vivian! Good morning! Time to get up! – Jane shook the sleeping girl lightly by the shoulder.
Vivian grumbled unhappily, frowned and hid her face in the pillow.
Jane waited patiently for a few minutes and then began to wake her mistress again.
– Miss Vivian! It's morning! It's time for you to get up! – She said insistently, and went to the dark curtains, which were closed tightly, and opened them sharply, and the room was immediately filled with the pale but cheerful light of a June morning in London.
– No, no, I'm not ready yet! – Vivian said in a low protesting tone, her voice sounding muffled, for her face was still hidden in the pillow.
– But Lady Cranford has commanded it! She expects you in half an hour for breakfast in the Little Dining-room! – Jane went to the bed and resolutely took the blanket from Vivian, causing her to wrap her arms round her shoulders and tuck her legs under her, but continue to lie there.
– God, her again! She ordered it! – Miss Cowell grumbled: What time is it?
– Half-past seven, Miss Vivian.
– Is my aunt awake, or has she nothing else to do but eat breakfast so terribly early? – Vivian wrinkled her nose, but slowly got out of bed: alas, she realised that she had no way of not turning up for an early breakfast-she was at the mercy of her aunt's strange routine. The thought of pretending to be ill flashed through her mind, but thinking that then she would have to stay in her room all day, she dismissed it: for today she had shops and ateliers waiting for her, where she would buy and order beautiful hats, dresses, shoes, gloves, and parasols! No, this pleasure Viviane could not sacrifice even for a few more hours of sleep!
– You must get up so early every day, Miss Vivian," smiled Jane warmly. – Our ma'am gets up at five in the morning, and at seven sharp, she, her son and the guests sit down to breakfast. And another thing: every Sunday the Cranfords attend mass.
– Oh, no, not that! – She rarely went to church, and on Sundays she preferred to sleep before noon. – Does everyone in this house like to get up so early and is so terribly religious?
– Everyone goes to church. The servants get up at five in the morning, Miss Vivian. I get up at five, too. But poor Emily has to get up at four o'clock to prepare warm water for Ma'am's washing, dress Ma'am and bring her freshly brewed tea by five.
– Poor Emily! She must be off her feet by noon," said Miss Cowell, sympathising with the poor maid. – But I must hurry… How am I to remember all the rules of this house? Will you help me, Jane?
– Of course, Miss Vivian: that's what I'm here for! Wash your face, and then I'll find you a suitable dress for breakfast.
– I was going to wear that yellow one over there. – Vivian nodded carelessly at a chair on the back of which hung neatly a modestly cut but rather brightly coloured cotton dress.
– Lady Cranford doesn't like bright colours at breakfast," Jane said firmly. She went to the open suitcase lying by the table, and took out a pale green dress. – 'That's just right!
In response to her assistant, Vivian only shook her fiery mane and thought that there was no way she would be able to tidy up in just half an hour. But thanks to Jane, to whom Vivian was most grateful, the morning was saved, and at seven o'clock precisely Miss Cowell entered the small but beautiful and expensively furnished dining-room. Jane had even taken time to arrange her mistress's hair in a simple but elegant style.
– What a marvellous morning!" said Vivian, appearing in the Small Dining Room, accompanied by Jane, with feigned cheerfulness.
Lady Cranford was already seated at the large oval table, dressed in a modest black muslin gown. She gave her niece an appraising glance, and, satisfied that she had observed the etiquette of the house, smiled and replied:
– 'You are right, Vivian, it is a wonderful morning. What a lovely dress. And the colour is just right for a quiet breakfast. I hope you slept well last night?
Vivian walked gracefully to the table, and the footman at the window immediately rushed to pull out a chair for her.
– Thank you," she smiled at the servant, and then turned to her aunt: "I slept like a baby! I'm glad you like my outfit, dear aunt. It was Jane who helped me to choose it.
– How kind of her. – Lady Cranford cast an indifferent glance at Jane, who remained standing in the doorway, awaiting her mistress's new orders. – 'Jane, you will be at Miss Cowell's complete disposal tonight. Take my carriage and go shopping.
– Oh, Auntie, you are so kind. I was about to ask you to let Jane come with me; she knows London fashions better than I do, and would be a valuable counsellor," said Vivian, a little surprised that her aunt had offered her the carriage.
'But should I be surprised? – I'm her niece, after all, and I bet she doesn't want to spoil her reputation. – I'm her niece, after all, and I'll bet she doesn't want to spoil her reputation, for it won't be long before everyone knows I'm in her care."
Vivian was not mistaken: Lady Cranford could not allow her niece to be seen walking about London. What would her friends and other members of the city's upper classes think? Reputation was the mistress of Greenhall's concern, not her niece's comfort. Besides, Lady Cranford had sworn to herself to do everything she could to find Vivian a spouse as soon as possible, and for this purpose it was necessary to surround the girl with care and gently but firmly push her to the path desired by her "dear aunt". However, the rich aunt was not willing to spend a cent on her late sister's poor daughter.