the governess-第17章
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ntlewoman； so far from laying them under a restraint by her presence； encouraged them to run in the fields； and to gather flowers； which they did； each miss trying to get the best to present to her governess。 In this agreeable manner； with laughing； talking； and singing； they arrived at the dairy…house； before they imagined they had walked a mile。
There lived at this dairy…house an old woman； near seventy years of age。 She had a fresh colour in her face； but was troubled with the palsy； that made her head shake a little。 She was bent forward with age； and her hair was quite grey： but she retained much good…humour； and received this little party with hearty welcome。
Our little gentry flocked about this good woman； asking her a thousand questions。 Miss Polly Suckling asked her； 'Why she shook her head so？' and Miss Patty Lockit said； 'She hoped her hair would never be of such a colour。'
Miss Jenny Peace was afraid they would say something that would offend the old woman； and advised them to turn their discourse。 'Oh！ let the dear rogues alone；' says the old woman； 'I like their prattle；' and； taking Miss Polly by the hand； said； 'Come； my dear； we will go into the dairy； and skim the milk pans。' At which words they all run into the dairy； and some of them dipped their fingers in the cream； which when Mrs。 Nelly perceived （who was the eldest daughter of the old woman； and who managed all the affairs） she desired they would walk out of the dairy； and she would bring them what was fit for them： upon which Miss Dolly Friendly said； 'she had rather be as old and good…natured as the mother； than as young and ill…natured as the daughter。'
The old woman desired her company to sit down at a long table； which she soon supplied with plenty of cream； strawberries； brown bread； and sugar。 Mrs。 Teachum took her place at the upper end； and the rest sat down in their usual order； and eat plentifully of these good things。 After which； Mrs。 Teachum told them they might walk out and see the garden and orchard； and by that time it would be proper to return home。
The good old woman showed them the way into the garden； and gathered the finest roses and pinks she could pick； and gave them to Miss Polly； to whom she had taken a great Fancy。
At their taking leave； Mrs。 Teachum rewarded the good old woman for her trouble； who； on her part； expressed much pleasure in feeing so many well…behaved young ladies； and said； she hoped they would come often。
These little friends had not walked far in their way home； before they met a miserable ragged fellow； who begged their charity。 Our young folks immediately gathered together about this poor creature； and were hearkening very earnestly to his story； which he set forth in a terrible manner； of having been burnt out of his house； and； from one distress to another； reduced to that miserable state they saw him in； when Mrs。 Teachum came up to them。 She was not a little pleased to see all the misses' hands in their pockets； pulling out half…pence； and some sixpences。 She told them； she approved of their readiness to assist the poor fellow； as he appeared to them； but oftentimes those fellows made up dismal stories without much foundation； and because they were lazy； and would not work。 Miss Dolly said； indeed she believed the poor man spoke truth； for he looked honest； and； besides； he seemed almost starved。
Mrs。 Teachum told them it would be late before they could get home； so； after each of them had given what they thought proper； they pursued their walk； prattling all the way。
They got home about nine o'clock； and； as they did not choose any supper； the bell rang for prayers； after which our young travellers retired to their rest； where we doubt not but they had a good repose。
FRIDAY THE FIFTH DAY。
Mrs。 Teachum； in the morning； inquired how her scholars did after their walk； and was pleased to hear they were all very well。 They then performed their several tasks with much cheerfulness； and； after the school…hours； they were hastening； as usual； to their arbour； when Miss Jenny desired them all to go thither without her； and she would soon follow them； which they readily consented to； but begged her not to deprive them long of the pleasure of her sweet company。
Miss Jenny then went directly into her governess's parlour； and told her that she had some thoughts of reading to her companions a fairy tale； which was also given her by her mamma； and though it was not in such a pompous style； nor so full of wonderful images； as the giant…story； yet she would not venture to read anything of that kind without her permission； but； as she had not absolutely condemned all that sort of writing； she hoped she was not guilty of a fault in asking that permission。 Mrs。 Teachum； with a gracious smile； told her； that she seemed so thoroughly well to understand the whole force of her Monday night's discourse to her； that she might be trusted almost in anything； and desired her to go and follow her own judgment and inclinations in the amusement of her happy friends。 Miss Jenny； overjoyed with this kind condescension in her governess； thanked her； with； a low courtesy； and said； she hoped she should never do anything unworthy of the confidence reposed on her； and； hastening to the arbour； she there found all her little companions quite impatient of this short absence。
Miss Jenny told them； that she had by her a fairy…tale； which； if they liked it； she would read； and； as it had pleased her； she did not doubt but it would give them equal pleasure。
It was the custom now so much amongst them to assent to any proposal that came from Miss Jenny； that they all with one voice desired her to read it； till Miss Polly Suckling said； 'that although she was very unwilling to contradict anything Miss Jenny liked； yet she could not help saying； she thought it would be better if they were to read some true history； from which they might learn something； for she thought fairy…tales were fit only for little children。
Miss Jenny could not help smiling at such an objection's coming from the little dumpling； who was not much above seven years of age； and then said； 'I will tell you a story； my little Polly； of what happened to me whilst I was at home。
'There came into our village； when I was six years old； a man who carried about a raree…show； which all the children of the parish were fond of seeing； but I had taken it into my head； that it was beneath my wisdom to see raree…shows； and therefore would not be persuaded to join my companions to see this sight； and although I had as great an inclination as any of them to see it； yet I avoided it； in order to boast of my own great sense； in that I was above such trifles。
'When my mamma asked me； 〃Why I would not see the show； when she had given me leave？ I drew up my head； and said； 〃Indeed I did not like raree…shows。 That I had been reading； and I thought that much more worth my while； than to lose my time at such foolish entertainments。〃 My mamma； who saw the cause of my refusing this amusement was only a pretence of being wise； laughed； and said； 〃She herself had seen it； and it was really very comical and diverting。〃 On hearing this； I was heartily vexed to think I had denied myself a pleasure； which I fancied was beneath me； when I found even my mamma was not above seeing it。 This in a great measure cured me of the folly of thinking myself above any innocent amusement。 And when I grew older； and more capable of hearing reason； my mamma told me； 〃She had taken this method of laughing at me； as laughing is the proper manner of treating affectation； which of all things； she said； she would have me carefully avoid； otherwise； whenever I was found out； I should become contemptible。〃'
Here Miss Jenny ceased speaking； and Miss Polly Suckling； blushing that she had made any objection to what Miss Jenny had proposed； begged her to begin the fairy tale； when just at that instant； Mrs。 Teachum； who had been taking a walk in the garden； turned into the arbour to delight herself with a view of her little school united in harmony and love； and Miss Jenny； with great good humour； told her mistress the small contest she had just had with Miss Poll
