The Woman of Colour: A Tale

Olivia says that Augustus clearly enjoys life in the country much more than life in London and that it suits his quiet, studious disposition. She quotes a passage from a popular newspaper, the Tatler, in which the writer argues that melancholy is “the proper delight of men of knowledge and virtue” and that melancholy people are more likely to appreciate ordinary aspects of life (106). Olivia believes that Augustus embodies the personality this writer is describing. She describes the walks they take together through the countryside, emphasizing Augustus’s genuine interest in the simple lives of nearby villagers and his patience with Olivia’s more passionate, energetic personality. She adds, however, that certain brief flashes of excitement in Augustus’s face suggest that he was once happier with his life than he is now. While she wishes he were as enthusiastic to be with her as she is with him, she accepts that he is pleased enough with their lives together and hopes that she can eventually make him happier.

Olivia reflects on all the visitors she and Augustus have been receiving and admits that it is difficult to entertain strangers, especially when she knows they view her as an object of curiosity. However, Augustus is naturally gifted at conversing with different types of people and has made these social interactions easier for Olivia. She refers to their visitors as “the genteel vulgar,” or people who have only recently accumulated huge sums of money (107). Olivia does not like these types of people, as she encountered many in Jamaica who made their fortunes very quickly in the slave trade and who lacked all human empathy as a result. Olivia scolds herself for casting too wide a net over the people she has met recently and reminds herself to maintain her Christian compassion.

She describes the Pagoda, a massive new house recently built about two miles from New Park by a man named Sir Marmaduke Ingot who had recently acquired a massive fortune in India. The Pagoda is a strange blend of many architectural styles, particularly those inspired by Chinese, Indian, and Near Eastern architecture, and Olivia seems put off by its flashiness. She describes Lady Ingot, Sir Marmaduke’s wife, as “a masculine woman” who scares many of the other women in their social circle with her loud voice and forceful body language (108). Sir Marmaduke is a nondescript man who wears a lot of powder on his face in an attempt to hide his age. The Ingots’ son, Frederic, who is around 15, is small for his age and has a delicate constitution, although he enjoys dressing in fancy clothes. The family throws parties frequently and seems to like showing off their wealth.

Lady Ingot tells Olivia that she finds country life in England unsophisticated and uncultivated but that the fresh air might be good for Frederic, who is often sick. Meanwhile, Sir Marmaduke tells Augustus about his plans to change the nearby turnpike road so that when the mail coach passes, it will not be visible from the Pagoda’s windows. He claims he will get an act of Parliament to alter the road if he has to and implies that in India, he would have been able to do whatever he wanted with the road. When Augustus asks whether changing the road would inconvenience anyone, Sir Marmaduke says that the nearby postmaster would have to stay at his post for an additional half hour and burn an additional half-inch of his candle. When Augustus says that this does seem like an inconvenience to the public, Sir Marmaduke insists that because wealthy people are on his side, and wealthy people are members of the public, the public is technically on his side.

Lady Ingot tells Olivia that no other local women have ever left England and are thus less educated and more prejudiced than both she and Olivia. Olivia points out that travel does not always broaden the mind, argues that not all old-fashioned ideas are worth throwing out, and refers to a story from the Old Testament in which a woman praises the notion of living amongst her own people. Lady Ingot praises Olivia as an ideal English woman and expresses disgust with the body language of other English women, who sit too stiffly and never look at the environment around them. Olivia pushes back, saying that in her experience, English women are rather lazy, often preferring to lounge or recline rather than move with any purpose. Lady Ingot claims that these women are trying unsuccessfully to imitate body language common to places like India, but since they have never actually been to those places, they cannot imitate it properly.

Olivia ends the letter by saying she does not need to offer her thoughts about the Ingots as she has painted a perfect picture of them.

Olivia has just read in the newspaper that Mrs. Honeywood has died. She recalls sadly how kind Mrs. Honeywood was to her and knows that Charles is probably devastated. Augustus consoles her, saying that if he knew where Charles lived, he would invite him to New Park to be comforted by Olivia.

Olivia announces that she has met many more locals, this time at a grand dinner party thrown by the Ingots. While she dresses plainly, both the Pagoda and the rest of the guests are decked out in “Oriental magnificence” (112). She does not want to add any details and instead tells Mrs. Milbanke to recall popular stories about genii, fairies, and Eastern knights and that that will help her envision what the party looked like. Upon their arrival, a woman immediately approaches Augustus; Olivia is put off by her boldness, and Augustus pales, looking surprised and embarrassed.

Colonel Singleton whispers to Olivia that it would make sense for her to be upset about the woman’s pleasure at seeing Augustus. However, Augustus immediately introduces her to the woman, who turns out to be Miss Almenia Danby. Augustus is still flustered and confused, and Olivia wonders if he is ashamed to introduce her as his wife. He soon recovers, and he and Miss Danby laugh about having once been “famous flirts” (113). Colonel Singleton asks Olivia if she will retaliate, but Olivia says she does not know if that would be proper. An unnamed older man says that women do not give themselves time to reflect on things like the propriety of retaliation, to which Miss Singleton says she does not recall the last time she had a day to herself, as her brother’s large social circle is always expanding. She brags about the many events she and her brother are obligated to attend, and when someone asks whether Miss Singleton is not constantly tired of being at balls, concerts, and plays, Miss Danby interrupts to say that pleasure should never be tiring. Miss Danby asks Augustus about Letitia, who has always loved social pleasures, and after he replies vaguely, Miss Danby asks about someone named Miss Forrester.

Olivia watches Augustus become as anxious and embarrassed as she has ever seen him, clearly upset by the question. Miss Danby also seems aware of his distress, but continues, saying she would love to know what happened to “poor Angelina” (115). Augustus finally says the woman in question is in heaven. Lady Ingot whispers to Olivia she it is rude to ask about absent friends, as they are often married or dead, and says that people in India have better manners than that. Olivia realizes that Augustus had been in love with Angelina and that her death has ultimately been responsible for his melancholy demeanor.

The party moves to the drawing room, where Augustus is affecting a cheerful attitude. Miss Danby continues talking about Letitia, simultaneously claiming to be her friend and implying that she does not like her. She asks Augustus why he has fought with and hidden from the world, and Augustus tells her that he simply lives according to his own ideas of happiness. Miss Danby says that Olivia’s skin is not as dark as she expected and that Olivia is surprisingly attractive. Augustus replies that Olivia’s personality is revealed in her face and that she is an extremely virtuous woman.

Olivia notices that the unnamed older man who had interjected in the group’s earlier conversation has been largely overlooked by the rest of the partygoers, and Frederic Ingot is even mocking the man behind his back. She also notices that a young clergyman tries to stop Frederic, but gives up when his efforts do not work. Olivia learns from Lady Ingot that the old man is a relative of Sir Marmaduke’s who is staying at the Pagoda. Lady Ingot also reveals that the young clergyman’s name is Waller and that he is an Oxford scholar currently serving as Frederic’s tutor. She does not know what Mr. Waller is teaching Frederic, but claims that her son’s manners are entirely her responsibility and that she does not want Frederic to have the same stiffness as other men in the Ingot family. She thus encourages him to lounge and loll in “a careless attitude” (118).

At that moment, Frederic tries to trip the old man, but Olivia catches him. Mr. Waller thanks Olivia and scolds Frederic, referring to the old man as Frederic’s uncle. Frederic becomes upset and tells him not to use that word before walking away to tell his mother what happened. The old man, who Olivia learns is named Mr. Bellfield, expresses pity for the Ingot family because Frederic is his parents’ only heir. Olivia enjoys Mr. Bellfield’s company, finding him sensible and entertaining, although slightly eccentric and somewhat cynical in his views.

Augustus returns from his conversation with Miss Danby, complaining of a headache. Olivia pretends to be tired so the two can leave the party. She spends much of the night crying silently, wishing Augustus would tell her the truth and trust her with his heart.

Olivia and Augustus return from church to find Lady Ingot, Frederic, Miss Danby, and Letitia lounging around New Park. The visitors express shock that no one was at home to greet them, and Augustus tells them that Olivia sends their servants to church as well. Frederic suggests that Miss Danby is attracted to Mr. Waller, which she denies. Olivia reports having seen Mr. Waller and Mr. Bellfield at church and praises their affection and care for each other. Lady Ingot says she would never attend the local church unless the Ingots could arrange to have their own private section, decorated comfortably and lavishly. She adds that her own religion is “the religion of nature” and that she can find spiritual satisfaction anywhere (122). Miss Danby says she does not like attending the local church because it requires her to be close to poor farmers, and Augustus rebukes her by pointing out that she has always been fond of crowds.

Olivia admits that she has spent so much time describing the Ingots because she sees them as strange objects of curiosity. She then describes a very different family: the Lumleys. Mr. Lumley is the local clergyman who lives at the rectory with his wife and children. His living is provided by a wealthy local patron who liked the way Mr. Lumley’s predecessor cared for the parish, and upon his predecessor’s death, the living passed to Mr. Lumley, who had been the curate. Olivia likes the entire family, whom she describes as sensible, cheerful, and unaffected. She becomes particularly close to 17-year-old Caroline Lumley, who is going to help her start a school of industry in the local village. She has also noticed that Caroline and Mr. Waller are romantically interested in one another.

Olivia describes an incident that happened when the Lumleys moved to the village: Mrs. Lumley attempted to call on Lady Ingot, but Sir Marmaduke refused the invitation on his wife’s behalf and instead invited Mr. Lumley to the Pagoda. He insisted that his wife was simply too busy to entertain Mrs. Lumley and that if she did, everyone in the village would expect such an invitation. Mrs. Lumley herself found this amusing, and Mr. Lumley refused Sir Marmaduke’s invitation, claiming that his everyday life would be too boring a topic of conversation at the Pagoda. However, the two families remain on good terms.

Olivia points out the stark contrast between the unaffected nature of the Lumleys and the pride of the Ingots, wishing that the Ingots could see themselves from a different perspective. But she knows that so many people flatter them that they will never see themselves for the way they truly are and thus never change their ways. She admits that she and Augustus do not speak up either as they are trying to avoid conflict with any of their neighbors. She remembers that they left London to avoid people like the Ingots and had been hoping to return to a pastoral golden age of simplicity and compassion. She adds that she has not heard from Charles Honeywood and hopes he has not forgotten her.

Olivia receives a letter informing her that Letitia will be visiting. When she shows the letter to Augustus, he tells her to do what she likes, adding that while Olivia is the person to whom Letitia is most cruel and insulting, he knows Olivia will handle her with patience and kindness. Olivia, feeling supported by her husband, says that they will welcome Letitia. However, she still feels unhappy and apprehensive about the visit, knowing she will have to perform “the rites of hospitality” (127). Dido is also unhappy about Letitia’s visit, but is committed to receiving the guests in style.