sighed. She could see that these lessons were going to be boring and tiresome. I would much rather spend my time out of doors, she thought. I would rather be horseback riding, or playing, or digging in my garden. But Felicity knew she could not argue, or pout, or say she would not go to Miss Manderly’s. That would not be respectful. Besides, Felicity was sure it would do no good at all.
“The lessons begin in three days’ time,” said Mrs. Merriman. “So we must set to work tomorrow to make ready your best cap and stockings and clothes.”
“Aye!” agreed Mr. Merriman. He smiled at Felicity fondly. “Our pretty Lissie must look her very best. She will begin her lessons looking like the finest young lady in Virginia, and all of England, too. She will make us proud, to be sure.”
Felicity smiled back weakly. She was not at all sure. She pushed against her loose tooth with her tongue until it hurt.
Loose Tooth Tea
“Mother,” said Felicity impatiently. “How will Miss Manderly know if my hem is even or not? Why does it matter?”
Mrs. Merriman sat back on her heels and looked Felicity in the eye. “Everything has to be perfect. I won’t have the two young ladies from England thinking we don’t know how to dress ourselves here in the colonies,” she said. “I want them to see that though we may live on the edge of the wilderness, we are just as civilized as they are.” She sounded very determined.
Felicity sighed. For the past three days she had been scrubbed and scoured. Her face had been washed with buttermilk to make the skin soft. Her nose had been rubbed with lemon juice to bleach out the freckles. Her hair had been twisted up on clay rollers and combed through with a pomade of hog’s fat and cinnamon. Her clothes had been let out and taken in, taken up and let down, washed, mended, starched, and ironed till they were stiff with perfection. It was all very tiresome. Felicity wiggled her tooth. Now she could push it into her lip. It was going to fall out soon. Not much longer, she thought.
“Not much longer, my dear,” said her mother as she fastened Felicity’s coral necklace around her neck. “I’m almost through with you.”
“Oh, Lissie,” said Nan. “You look pretty. You really do.”
Mrs. Merriman stepped back and studied Felicity from head to toe. Then she said, “Nan is right. Felicity Merriman, you look as pretty as can be.” She looked pleased.
Felicity smiled. One of her garters was tied too tight. The laces on her bodice were tight, too. She felt nervous and uncomfortable and too clean, but it was almost worth it to see her mother so pleased.
“Off you go,” said Mrs. Merriman. “It won’t do to be late to Miss Manderly’s. And I won’t have you galloping there to arrive flushed and mussy.” She gave Felicity’s hat one last touch. “Now remember to stop by the store so Ben can escort you. And remember to sit up straight.”
“Remember your handkerchief!” added Nan.
“Go along, now,” said Mrs. Merriman, shooing Felicity toward the door. “Don’t forget to speak softly. Remember your gloves. And remember…” She stopped.
Felicity looked back, waiting for her to finish.
“Remember that you are my dear daughter and I am very proud of you,” said Mrs. Merriman. “Now off you go!”
Her mother’s praise cheered Felicity as she hurried along the busy street. Williamsburg was crowded now, because it was Public Times. People from all over the colony came to Williamsburg for business and pleasure at Public Times. They came to hear the trials in the law courts and to catch up on all the news. There were balls and parties and markets and plays. The shops were busy. The taverns were full of visitors from out of town. The streets were noisy with carts and carriages.
Felicity was glad to see that her father’s store was bustling. She stood aside as two ladies stepped out the store’s door.
“Terrible!” one lady said to the other. “Tea taxed at three pence a pound! Why, that raises the price high as a cat’s back!”
“Indeed!” said the other lady. “The king’s tax is unfair!”
Ben was the next person to come out of the store’s door. He grinned at Felicity. “You look uncomfortable. Let’s be on our way, so you can get your lessons over with,” he said.
Felicity sighed. “I’d much rather stay at the store.”
Ben stopped grinning. “The store is not so cheerful these days,” he said.
“I just heard some ladies grumbling about the tax on tea,” said Felicity.
“Aye,” said Ben. “More and more people are complaining about the tax. They think the king is wrong to tax us colonists without our agreement.”
“What do you think?” asked Felicity.
“I think the king’s tax should be stopped,” said Ben. “You’d better stop, too, or you’ll get mud all over your petticoat.” Ben pointed to a puddle in front of Felicity.
“Oh!” exclaimed Felicity impatiently, forgetting all about tea and taxes. She stepped around the puddle awkwardly. “I’m so dressed up I can hardly move. I wish being proper were not so uncomfortable! I wish I could have a lesson in whistling right now instead of a lesson in behaving like a lady.”
“You’ll whistle fine when that loose tooth falls out,” said Ben. “How’s it coming along? Shall I pull it for you?”
“No, thank you,” said Felicity. “I’ll wait for it to come out by itself.”
“Just as well,” said Ben. “Because here we are at Miss Manderly’s door.”
“Good-bye,” said Felicity nervously. She touched her coral necklace for good luck, then knocked.
A smiling lady wearing a lacy white cap opened the door and greeted Felicity. “Miss Merriman?” she said. “How lovely to meet you. I am Miss Manderly.”
There was something about Miss Manderly’s eyes and the kindly way she tilted her head that made Felicity feel a little less nervous. “Good day, madam,” she said. “Thank you very much indeed for having me.” There, she thought with relief, I’ve done that much properly.
“You are most welcome,” said Miss Manderly. “Do come in and meet the other young ladies.” She led Felicity into a sunny little parlor. Two girls rose from their chairs to greet her. One was very tall and dark-haired. The other was very small and fair-haired. Miss Manderly nodded to the tall girl. “Miss Felicity Merriman,
