the governess-第26章
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was possible for the Princess Hebe to withstand it； especially when she cried for fear of parting with her。
Miss Sukey Jennett said； that Rozella's laughing at her； and using her with contempt； she thought was insupportable； for who could bear the contempt of a friend？
Many and various were the remarks made by Miss Jenny's hearers on the story she had read to them。 But now they were so confirmed in goodness； and every one was so settled in her affection for her companions； that； instead of being angry at any opposition that was made to their judgments； every one spoke her opinion with the utmost mildness。
Miss Jenny sat some time silent to hear their conversation on her fairy tale。 But her seeing them so much altered in their manner of talking to each other； since the time they made their little remarks on her story of the giants； filled her whole mind with the most sincere pleasure； and with a smile peculiar to herself； and which diffused a cheerfulness to all around her； she told her companions the joy their present behaviour had inspired her with； but saying that it was as late as their governess chose they should stay out； she rose； and walked towards the house； whither she was cheerfully followed by the whole company。
Mrs。 Teachum after supper； again； in a familiar manner； talked to them on the subject of the fairy tale； and encouraged them； as much as possible； to answer her freely in whatever she asked them； and at last said； 'My good children； I am very much pleased when you are innocently amused； and yet I would have you consider seriously enough of what you read； to draw such morals from your books； as may influence your future practice； and as to fairy tales in general； remember； that the fairies； as I told Miss Jenny before of giants and magic； are only introduced by the writers of those tales； by way of amusement to the reader。 For if the story is well written； the common course of things would produce the same incidents； without the help of fairies。
'As for example； in this of the Princess Hebe； you see the queen her mother was not admitted to know the fairy's history； till she could calm her mind enough to hearken to reason； which only means； that whilst we give way to the raging of our passions； nothing useful can ever sink into our minds。 For by the fairy Sybella's story you find； that by our own faults we may turn the greatest advantages into our own misery； as Sybella's mother did her beauty； by making use of the influence it gave her over her husband； to tease him into the ruin of his child； and as also Brunetta did； by depending on her father's gift； to enable her to complete her desires； and therefore never endeavouring to conquer them。
'You may observe also on the other side； that no accident had any power to hurt Sybella； because she followed the paths of virtue； and kept her mind free from restless passions。
'You see happiness in the good Sybella's peaceful grove； and misery in the wicked Brunetta's gaudy castle。 The queen desiring the fairy to endow her child with true wisdom； was the cause that the Princess Hebe had it in her power to be happy。 But take notice； that when she swerved from her duty； all her knowledge was of no use； but only rendered her more miserable； by letting her see her own folly in the stronger light。 Rozella first tempted the princess to disobedience； by moving her tenderness； and alarming her friendship； in fearing to part with her； and then by persuading her to set up her own wisdom； in opposition to her mother's commands； rather than be laughed at； and despised by her friends。 You are therefore to observe； that if you would steadily persevere in virtue； you must have resolution enough to stand the sneers of those who would allure you to vice； for it is the constant practice of the vicious； to endeavour to allure others to follow their example； by an affected contempt and ridicule of virtue。
'By the Princess Hebe's being drawn at last beyond the prescribed bounds； by the cries and entreaties of that insidious girl； you are to learn； that whatever appearance of virtue any action may be attended with； yet if it makes you go contrary to the commands of those who know better what is for your good； than you do your selves； and who can see farther into the consequences of actions than can your tender years； it will certainly lead you into error and misfortune； and you find； as soon as the princess had once overleaped the bounds； another plausible excuse arose to carry her on； and by a false fear of incurring her mother's displeasure； she really deserved that displeasure； and was soon reduced into the power of her enemy。
'The princess； you see； could have no happiness till she returned again to her obedience； and had confessed her fault。 And though in this story all this is brought about by fairies； yet the moral of it is； that whenever we give way to our passions； and act contrary to our duty； we must be miserable。
'But let me once more observe to you； that these fairies are only intended to amuse you； for remember that the misery which attended the Princess Hebe； on her disobedience； was the natural consequence of that disobedience； as well as the natural consequence of her amendment and return to her duty； was content and happiness for the rest of her life。'
Here good Mrs。 Teachum ceased； and Miss Jenny； in the name of the company； thanked her for her kind instructions； and promised that they would endeavour； to the utmost of their power； to imprint them on their memory for the rest of their lives。
SUNDAY。 THE SEVENTH DAY。
This morning our little society rose very early； and were all dressed with neatness and elegance； in order to go to church。 Mrs。 Teachum put Miss Polly Suckling before her； and the rest followed； two and two； with perfect regularity。
Mrs。 Teachum expressed great approbation； that her scholars； at this solemn place； showed no sort of childishness； notwithstanding their tender age； but behaved with decency and devotion suitable to the occasion。
They went again in the same order； and behaved again in the same manner； in the afternoon； and when they returned from church； two young ladies； Lady Caroline and Lady Fanny Delun； who had formerly known Miss Jenny Peace； and who were at present in that neighbourhood with their uncle； came to make her a visit。
Lady Caroline was fourteen years of age； tall and genteel in her person； of a fair complexion； and a regular set of features so that； upon the whole； she was generally complimented with being very handsome。
Lady Fanny； who was one year younger than her sister； was rather little of her age； of a brown complexion； her features irregular； and； in short； she had not the least real pretensions to beauty。
It was but lately that their father was； by the death of his eldest brother； become Earl of Delun； so that their titles were new； and they had not been long used to your ladyship。
Miss Jenny Peace received them as her old acquaintance： however； she paid them the deference due to their quality； and； at the same time； took care not to behave as if she imagined they thought of anything else。
As it was her chief delight to communicate her pleasures to others； she introduced her new…made friends to her old acquaintance； and expected to have spent a very agreeable afternoon。 But to describe the behaviour of these two young ladies is very difficult。 Lady Caroline； who was dressed in a pink robe； embroidered thick with gold； and adorned with very fine jewels； and the finest Mechlin lace； addressed most of her discourse to her sister； that she might have the pleasure every minute of uttering 'Your ladyship；' in order to show what she herself expected。 And as she spoke； her fingers were in perpetual motion； either adjusting her tucker； placing her plaits of her robe； or fiddling with a diamond cross； that hung down on her bosom； her eyes accompanying her fingers as they moved； and then suddenly being snatched off； that she might not be observed to think of her own dress； yet was it plain； that her thoughts were employed on only that and her titles。 Miss Jenny Peace； although she would have made it her choice always to have been in company who did not deserve rid
