August 26, 2025 • 7 mins
16 - Chapter 16. Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë.
Agnes Grey is the daughter of a minister, whose family comes to financial ruin. Desperate to earn money to care for herself, she takes one of the few jobs allowed to respectable women in the early Victorian era, as a governess to the children of the wealthy. In working with two different families, the Bloomfields and the Murrays, she comes to learn about the troubles that face a young woman who must try to rein in unruly, spoiled children for a living, and about the ability of wealth and status to destroy social values. After her father's death, Agnes opens a small school with her mother and finds happiness with a man who loves her for herself.
Agnes Grey is the daughter of a minister, whose family comes to financial ruin. Desperate to earn money to care for herself, she takes one of the few jobs allowed to respectable women in the early Victorian era, as a governess to the children of the wealthy. In working with two different families, the Bloomfields and the Murrays, she comes to learn about the troubles that face a young woman who must try to rein in unruly, spoiled children for a living, and about the ability of wealth and status to destroy social values. After her father's death, Agnes opens a small school with her mother and finds happiness with a man who loves her for herself.
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Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter sixteen of Agnes Gray by Anne Bronte. This LibriVox
recording is in the public domain. Chapter sixteen the substitution.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Next Sunday was one of the gloomiest of April days,
a day of thick, dark clouds and heavy showers. None
of the Murrays were disposed to attend church in the afternoon,
excepting Rosalie. She was bent upon going as usual, so
she ordered the carriage, and I went with her. Nothing loth,
of course, for at church I might look, without fear
of scorn or censure, upon a form and face more
(00:36):
pleasing to me than the most beautiful of God's creations.
I might listen without disturbance to a voice more charming
than the sweetest music to my ears. I might seem
to hold communion with that soul in which I felt
so deeply interested, and imbibe its purest thoughts and holiest aspirations,
with no alloy to such felicity except the secret reproaches
(00:58):
of my conscience, which we too often whisper that I
was deceiving my own self and mocking God with the
service of a heart more bent upon the creature than
the Creator. Sometimes such thoughts would give me trouble enough,
but sometimes I could quiet them with thinking, it is
not the man, it is his goodness that I love.
Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things
(01:22):
are honest and of good report. Think on these things.
We do well to worship God in his works, and
I know none of them, in which so many of
his attributes, so much of his own spirit shines as
in this his faithful servant, whom to know and not
to appreciate, were obtuse in sensibility in me, who have
so little else to occupy my heart. Almost immediately after
(01:45):
the conclusion of the service, Miss Murray left the church.
We had to stand in the porch, for it was
raining and the carriage was not yet come. I wondered
at her coming forth so hastily, for neither young Meltholm
nor Squire Green was there. But I soon found it
was to secure an interview with mister Weston as he
came out, which he presently did, having saluted us both.
(02:06):
He would have passed on, but she detained him, first
with observations upon the disagreeable weather, and then with asking
if he would be so kind as to come some
time tomorrow to see the granddaughter of the old woman
who kept the porters lodge. For the girl was ill
of a fever and wished to see him. He promised
to do so.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
And at what time will you be most likely to come,
mister Weston. The old woman will like to know when
to expect you. You know, such people think more about
having their cottages in order when decent people come to
see them than we are apt to suppose.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Here was a wonderful instance of consideration from the thoughtless
Miss Murray. Mister Weston named an hour in the morning
at which he would endeavor to be there. By this time,
the carriage was ready and the footman was waiting with
an open umbrella to escort Miss Murray through the churchyard.
I was about to follow, but mister Weston had an
umbrella too, and offered me the benefit of its shelter,
(02:57):
for it was raining heavily. No, thank you, I don't
mind the rain, I said. I always lacked common sense
when taken by surprise. But you don't like it. I
suppose an umbrella will do you no harm at any rate,
he replied with a smile that showed he was not offended.
As a man of worse temper or less penetration would
have been at such a refusal of his aid. I
(03:20):
could not deny the truth of his assertion, and so
went with him to the carriage. He even offered me
his hand on getting in an unnecessary piece of civility,
but I accepted that too, for fear of giving offense.
One glance. He gave one little smile at parting. It
was but for a moment, but therein I read, or
thought I read a meaning that kindled in my heart
(03:42):
a brighter flame of hope than had ever yet arisen.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I would have sent the footman back for you, Miss Gray,
if you'd waited a moment you needn't have taken mister
Weston's umbrella.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Observed Rosalie, with a very unamiable cloud upon her pretty face.
I would have come without an umbrella, but mister Weston
offered me the benefit of his, and I could not
have refused it more than I did without offending him,
replied I, smiling placidly, for my inward happiness made that amusing,
which would have wounded me at another time. The carriage
(04:12):
was now in motion. Miss Murray bent forwards and looked
out of the window as we were passing mister Weston.
He was pacing homewards along the causeway and did not
turn his head.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Stupid ass, cried.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
She, throwing herself back again in the seat.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
You don't know what you've lost by not looking this way.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
What has he lost?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
A bow from me that would have raised him to
the seventh Heaven.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I made no answer. I saw she was out of humor,
and I derived a secret gratification from the fact, not
that she was vexed, but that she thought she had
reason to be so. It made me think my hopes
were not entirely the offspring of my wishes and imagination.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I mean to take up mister Weston instead of mister Hatfield.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Said my companion, after a short pause, resuming something of
her usual cheerfulness.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
The bull at Ashby Park takes place on Tuesday, and
Mamma thinks it very likely that Sir Thomas will propose
to me. Then such things are often done in the
privacy of the ball room, when gentlemen are most easily
ensnared and ladies most enchanting. But if I am to
be married so soon, I must make the best of
the present time. I am determined Hatfield shall not be
(05:17):
the only man who shall lay his heart at my
feet and implore me to accept the worthless gift in vain.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
If you mean mister Weston to be one of your victims,
said I, with affected indifference, you will have to make
such overtures yourself that you will find it difficult to
draw back when he asks you to fulfill the expectations
you have raised.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I don't suppose he will ask me to marry him,
nor should I desire it. That would be rather too
much presumption. But I intend him to feel my power.
He has felt it already, indeed, but he shall acknowledge
it too. And what visionary hopes he may have, he
must keep to himself, and only amuse me with the
result of them for a time.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Oh that some kind spirit would whisper those words in
his ear, I inwardly exclaimed. I was far too indignant
to hazard a reply to her observation aloud. And nothing
more was said about mister Weston that day by me
or in my hearing. But next morning, soon after breakfast,
Miss Murray came into the school room where her sister
was employed at her studies, or rather her lessons for
(06:17):
studies they were not and said Matilda.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I want you to take a walk with me about
eleven o'clock.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Oh I can't, Rosalie.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
I have to give orders about my new bridle and
saddlecloth and speak to the ratcatcher about his dogs. Miss
Gray must go with you.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
No, I want you, said Rosalie, and calling her sister
to the window, she whispered an explanation in her ear,
upon which the latter consented to go. I remembered that
eleven was the hour at which mister Weston proposed to
come to the porter's lodge, and remembering that I beheld
the whole contrivance accordingly. At dinner I was entertained with
a long account of how mister Weston had overtaken them
(06:56):
as they were walking along the road, and how they
had had a long walk and talk with him, and
really found him quite an agreeable companion, and how he
must have been and evidently was delighted with them and
their amazing condescension, et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
End of Chapter sixteen.
Chapter sixteen of Agnes Gray by Anne Bronte. This LibriVox
recording is in the public domain. Chapter sixteen the substitution.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Next Sunday was one of the gloomiest of April days,
a day of thick, dark clouds and heavy showers. None
of the Murrays were disposed to attend church in the afternoon,
excepting Rosalie. She was bent upon going as usual, so
she ordered the carriage, and I went with her. Nothing loth,
of course, for at church I might look, without fear
of scorn or censure, upon a form and face more
(00:36):
pleasing to me than the most beautiful of God's creations.
I might listen without disturbance to a voice more charming
than the sweetest music to my ears. I might seem
to hold communion with that soul in which I felt
so deeply interested, and imbibe its purest thoughts and holiest aspirations,
with no alloy to such felicity except the secret reproaches
(00:58):
of my conscience, which we too often whisper that I
was deceiving my own self and mocking God with the
service of a heart more bent upon the creature than
the Creator. Sometimes such thoughts would give me trouble enough,
but sometimes I could quiet them with thinking, it is
not the man, it is his goodness that I love.
Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things
(01:22):
are honest and of good report. Think on these things.
We do well to worship God in his works, and
I know none of them, in which so many of
his attributes, so much of his own spirit shines as
in this his faithful servant, whom to know and not
to appreciate, were obtuse in sensibility in me, who have
so little else to occupy my heart. Almost immediately after
(01:45):
the conclusion of the service, Miss Murray left the church.
We had to stand in the porch, for it was
raining and the carriage was not yet come. I wondered
at her coming forth so hastily, for neither young Meltholm
nor Squire Green was there. But I soon found it
was to secure an interview with mister Weston as he
came out, which he presently did, having saluted us both.
(02:06):
He would have passed on, but she detained him, first
with observations upon the disagreeable weather, and then with asking
if he would be so kind as to come some
time tomorrow to see the granddaughter of the old woman
who kept the porters lodge. For the girl was ill
of a fever and wished to see him. He promised
to do so.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
And at what time will you be most likely to come,
mister Weston. The old woman will like to know when
to expect you. You know, such people think more about
having their cottages in order when decent people come to
see them than we are apt to suppose.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Here was a wonderful instance of consideration from the thoughtless
Miss Murray. Mister Weston named an hour in the morning
at which he would endeavor to be there. By this time,
the carriage was ready and the footman was waiting with
an open umbrella to escort Miss Murray through the churchyard.
I was about to follow, but mister Weston had an
umbrella too, and offered me the benefit of its shelter,
(02:57):
for it was raining heavily. No, thank you, I don't
mind the rain, I said. I always lacked common sense
when taken by surprise. But you don't like it. I
suppose an umbrella will do you no harm at any rate,
he replied with a smile that showed he was not offended.
As a man of worse temper or less penetration would
have been at such a refusal of his aid. I
(03:20):
could not deny the truth of his assertion, and so
went with him to the carriage. He even offered me
his hand on getting in an unnecessary piece of civility,
but I accepted that too, for fear of giving offense.
One glance. He gave one little smile at parting. It
was but for a moment, but therein I read, or
thought I read a meaning that kindled in my heart
(03:42):
a brighter flame of hope than had ever yet arisen.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I would have sent the footman back for you, Miss Gray,
if you'd waited a moment you needn't have taken mister
Weston's umbrella.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Observed Rosalie, with a very unamiable cloud upon her pretty face.
I would have come without an umbrella, but mister Weston
offered me the benefit of his, and I could not
have refused it more than I did without offending him,
replied I, smiling placidly, for my inward happiness made that amusing,
which would have wounded me at another time. The carriage
(04:12):
was now in motion. Miss Murray bent forwards and looked
out of the window as we were passing mister Weston.
He was pacing homewards along the causeway and did not
turn his head.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Stupid ass, cried.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
She, throwing herself back again in the seat.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
You don't know what you've lost by not looking this way.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
What has he lost?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
A bow from me that would have raised him to
the seventh Heaven.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I made no answer. I saw she was out of humor,
and I derived a secret gratification from the fact, not
that she was vexed, but that she thought she had
reason to be so. It made me think my hopes
were not entirely the offspring of my wishes and imagination.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I mean to take up mister Weston instead of mister Hatfield.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Said my companion, after a short pause, resuming something of
her usual cheerfulness.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
The bull at Ashby Park takes place on Tuesday, and
Mamma thinks it very likely that Sir Thomas will propose
to me. Then such things are often done in the
privacy of the ball room, when gentlemen are most easily
ensnared and ladies most enchanting. But if I am to
be married so soon, I must make the best of
the present time. I am determined Hatfield shall not be
(05:17):
the only man who shall lay his heart at my
feet and implore me to accept the worthless gift in vain.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
If you mean mister Weston to be one of your victims,
said I, with affected indifference, you will have to make
such overtures yourself that you will find it difficult to
draw back when he asks you to fulfill the expectations
you have raised.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I don't suppose he will ask me to marry him,
nor should I desire it. That would be rather too
much presumption. But I intend him to feel my power.
He has felt it already, indeed, but he shall acknowledge
it too. And what visionary hopes he may have, he
must keep to himself, and only amuse me with the
result of them for a time.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Oh that some kind spirit would whisper those words in
his ear, I inwardly exclaimed. I was far too indignant
to hazard a reply to her observation aloud. And nothing
more was said about mister Weston that day by me
or in my hearing. But next morning, soon after breakfast,
Miss Murray came into the school room where her sister
was employed at her studies, or rather her lessons for
(06:17):
studies they were not and said Matilda.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I want you to take a walk with me about
eleven o'clock.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Oh I can't, Rosalie.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
I have to give orders about my new bridle and
saddlecloth and speak to the ratcatcher about his dogs. Miss
Gray must go with you.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
No, I want you, said Rosalie, and calling her sister
to the window, she whispered an explanation in her ear,
upon which the latter consented to go. I remembered that
eleven was the hour at which mister Weston proposed to
come to the porter's lodge, and remembering that I beheld
the whole contrivance accordingly. At dinner I was entertained with
a long account of how mister Weston had overtaken them
(06:56):
as they were walking along the road, and how they
had had a long walk and talk with him, and
really found him quite an agreeable companion, and how he
must have been and evidently was delighted with them and
their amazing condescension, et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
End of Chapter sixteen.
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