the governess-第28章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


for　she　was　very　good；　but　the　better　she　was；　I　thought　the　worse　I　appeared。　　I　could　not　bear　her　praises　without　teasing　and　vexing　myself。　　At　last；　little　Kitty　died　of　a　fever；　to　my　great　joy；　though；　as　everybody　cried　for　her；　I　cried　too　for　company；　and　because　I　would　not　be　thought　ill…natured。

'After　Kitty's　death；　I　lived　tolerably　easy；　till　I　came　to　school。　　Then　the　same　desire　of　beauty　returned；　and　I　hated　all　the　misses　who　were　handsomer　than　myself；　as　much　as　I　had　before　hated　my　sister；　and　always　took　every　opportunity　of　quarrelling　with　them；　till　I　found　my　own　peace　was　concerned；　in　getting　the　better　of　this　disposition；　and　that；　if　I　would　have　any　content；　I　must　not　repine　at　my　not　being　so　handsome　as　others。'



When　Miss　Betty　Ford　ceased；　Miss　Jenny　said；　'Indeed；　my　dear；　it　is　well　you　had　not　at　that　time　the　power　of　the　eagle　in　the　fable；　for　your　poor　sister　might　then；　like　the　peacock；　have　said　in　a　soft　voice；　〃You　are；　indeed；　a　great　beauty；　but　it　lies　in　your　beak　and　your　talons；　which　make　it　death　to　me　to　dispute　it。〃'

Miss　Betty　Ford　rejoiced；　that　her　power　did　not　extend　to　enable　her　to　do　mischief；　before　she　had　seen　her　folly。　　And　now　this　little　society；　in　good　humour　and　cheerfulness；　attended　their　kind　governess's　summons　to　supper；　and　then；　after　the　evening　prayers；　they　retired　to　their　peaceful　slumbers。



MONDAY。　THE　EIGHTH　DAY。

Early　in　the　morning；　after　the　public　prayers　which　Mrs。　Teachum　read　every　day；　our　little　company　took　a　walk　in　the　garden　whilst　the　breakfast　was　preparing。

The　fine　weather；　the　prospects　round　them；　all　conspired　to　increase　their　pleasure。　　They　looked　at　one　another　with　delight；　their　minds　were　innocent　and　satisfied；　and　therefore　every　outward　object　was　pleasing　in　their　sight。

Miss　Jenny　Peace　said；　she　was　sure　they　were　happier　than　any　other　society　of　children　whatever；　except　where　the　same　harmony　and　love　were　preserved；　as　were　kept　up　in　their　minds：　　'For　（continued　she）　I　think　now；　my　dear　companions；　I　can　answer　for　you　all；　that　no　mischievous；　no　malicious　plots　disturb　the　tranquility　of　your　thoughts；　plots；　which　in　the　end；　constantly　fall　on　the　head　of　those　who　invent　them；　after　all　the　pains　they　cost　in　forming；　and　endeavouring　to　execute。'

Whilst　Miss　Jenny　Peace　was　talking；　Miss　Dolly　Friendly　looked　at　her　very　earnestly。　　She　would　not　interrupt　her；　but　the　moment　she　was　silent；　Miss　Dolly　said；　'My　dear　Miss　Jenny；　what　is　the　matter　with　you？　your　eyes　are　swelled；　and　you　look　as　if　you　had　been　crying。　　If　you　have　any　grief　that　you　keep　to　yourself；　you　rob　us　of　the　share　we　have　a　right　to　demand　in　all　that　belongs　to　you。'

'No；　indeed　（answered　Miss　Jenny）；　I　have　nothing　that　grieves　me；　though；　if　I　had；　I　should　think　it　increased；　rather　than　lessened；　by　your　being　grieved　too；　but　last　night；　after　I　went　upstairs；　I　found　amongst　my　books　the　play　of　the　Funeral；　or；　Grief…a…la…mode；　where　the　faithful　and　tender　behaviour　of　a　good　old　servant；　who　had　long　lived　in　his　lord's　family；　with　many　other　passages　in　the　play　（which　I　cannot　explain；　unless　you　knew　the　whole　story）　made　me　cry；　so　that　I　could　hardly　stop　my　tears。'

'Pray；　Miss　Jenny；　let　us　hear　this　play；　that　had　such　an　effect　on　you；'　was　the　general　request；　and　Miss　Jenny　readily　promised；　when　they　met　in　their　arbour；　to　read　it　to　them。

They　eagerly　ran　to　their　arbour　as　soon　as　school　was　over；　and　Miss　Jenny　performed　her　promise；　and　was　greatly　pleased　to　find　such　a　sympathy　between　her　companions　and　herself；　for　they　were　most　of　them　affected　just　in　the　same　manner；　and　with　the　same　parts　of　the　play；　as　had　before　affected　her。

By　the　time　they　had　wiped　their　eyes；　and　were　rejoicing　at　the　turn　at　the　end　of　the　play；　in　favour　of　the　characters　with　which　they　were　most　pleased；　Mrs。　Teachum　entered　the　arbour；　and　inquired　what　they　had　been　reading。　　Miss　Jenny　immediately　told　her；　adding；　'I　hope；　Madam；　you　will　not　think　reading　a　play　an　improper　amusement　for　us；　for　I　should　be　very　sorry　to　be　guilty　myself；　or　cause　my　companions　to　be　guilty；　of　any　thing　that　would　meet　with　your　disapprobation。'　　Mrs。　Teachum　answered；　that　she　was　not　at　all　displeased　with　her　having　read　a　play；　as　she　saw　by　her　fear　of　offending；　that　her　discretion　was　to　be　trusted　to。　　'Nay　（continued　this　good　woman）；　I　like　that　you　should　know　something　of　all　kinds　of　writings；　where　neither　morals　nor　manners　are　offended；　for　if　you　read　plays；　and　consider　them　as　you　ought；　you　will　neglect　and　despise　what　is　light　and　useless；　whilst　you　will　imprint　on　your　mind's　every　useful　lesson　that　is　to　be　drawn　from　them。　　I　am　very　well　acquainted　with　the　play　you　have　been　reading；　but　that　I　may　see　whether　you　give　the　proper　attention　to　what　you　have　heard；　I　desire；　my　little　girls；　that　one　of　you　will　give　me　an　account　of　the　chief　incidents　in　the　play；　and　tell　me　the　story；　just　as　you　would　do　to　one　of　your　companions　that　had　happened　to　have　been　absent。'

Here　they　all　looked　upon　Miss　Jenny　Peace；　as　thinking　her　the　most　capable　of　doing　what　their　governess　required。　　But　Mrs。　Teachum；　reading　their　thoughts　in　their　looks；　said；　'I　exclude　Miss　Jenny　in　this　case；　for　as　the　play　was　of　her　choosing　to　read　to　you；　I　doubt　not　but　she　is　thoroughly　enough　acquainted　with　every　part　of　it；　and　my　design　was　to　try　the　memory　and　attention　of　some　of　the　others。'

They　all　remained　silent；　and　seemed　to　wait　for　a　more　particular　command；　before　any　one　would　offer　at　the　undertaking；　not　through　any　backwardness　to　comply　with　Mrs。　Teachum's　request；　but　each　from　a　diffidence　of　herself　to　perform　it。

Miss　Jenny　Peace　then　said；　that　she　had　observed　a　great　attention　in　them　all；　and　she　did　not　doubt　but　every　one　was　able　to　give　a　very　good　account　of　what　they　had　heard。　　'But；　as　Miss　Sukey　Jennet　is　the　eldest；　I　believe；　madam；　（continued　she）；　if　you　approve　it；　they　will　all　be　very　ready　to　depute　her　as　their　speaker。'

Each　smiled　at　being　so　relieved　by　Miss　Jenny；　and　Mrs。　Teachum；　taking　Miss　Sukey　Jennet　by　the　hand；　said；　'Come；　my　dear；　throw　off　all　fear　and　reserve；　imagine　me　one　of　your　companions；　and　tell　me　the　story　of　the　play　you　have　been　reading。'

Miss　Sukey；　thus　encouraged　by　her　kind　governess；　without　any　hesitation；　spoke　in　the　following　manner：

'If　I　understand　your　commands；　madam；　by　telling　the　story　of　the　play；　you　would　not　have　me　tell　you　the　acts　and　scenes　as　they　followed　one　another　for　that　I　am　afraid　I　can　hardly　remember；　as　I　have　heard　it　only　once　　but　I　must　describe　the　chief　people　in　the　play；　and　the　plots　and　contrivances　that　are　carried　on　amongst　them。'

Mrs。　Teachum　nodded　her　head；　and　Miss　Sukey　thus　proceeded：



'There　is　an　old　Lord　Brumpton；　who　had　married　a　young　wife；　that　had　lived　with　him　some　years；　and　by　her　deceitful　and　cunning　ways　had　prevailed　with　him　to　disinherit　his　only　son　Lord　Hardy　（who　was　a　very　sensible　good　young　man）　and　to　leave　him　but　a　shilling。　　And　this　Lord　Brumpton　was　taken　in　a　fit；　so　that　all　the　house　thought　he　was　dead；　and　his　lady　sent　for　an　undertaker；　one　Mr。　Sable；　to　bury　him。　　But　coming　out　of　his　fit；　when　nobody　but　this　Mr。　Sable；　and　an　old　servant；　called　Trusty；　were　by；　he　was　prevailed　upon　by　the　good　old　Trusty　to　feign　himself　still　dead　（and　the　undertaker　promises　secrecy）　in　order　to　detect　the　wickedness　of　his　wife；　which　old　Trusty　assures　him　is　very　great；　and　then　he　carries　his　lord　where　he　overhears　a　discourse　between　the　widow　（as　she　thinks　herself）　and　her　maid　Tattleaid；　and　he　bears　his　once　beloved　wife　rejoicing　in　his　supposed　death；　and　in　the　success　of　her　own　arts　to　deceive　him。　　Then　there　are　two　young　ladies；　Lady　Charlotte　and　Lady　Harriet　Lovely；　to　whom　this　Lord　Brumpton　was　guardian；　and　he　had　also　left　them　in　the　care　of　this　wicked　woman。　　And　this　young　Lord　Hardy　was　in　love　with　Lady　Charlotte；　and　Mr。　Camply；　a　very　lively　young　gentleman；　his　friend；　was　in　love　with　Lady　Harriet　and　Lady　Brumpton　locked　the　two　young　ladies　up