the governess-第12部分

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y　dear　Caelia　say　that　she　forgave　me？　　Methinks　I　would　not　die；　till　I　had　obtained　her　pardon。　　She　is　too　good　to　refuse　her　friend　this　last　request。'　　Her　attendants　then　told　her；　that　seeing　her　faint　away；　they　had　forced　Caelia　out　of　the　room；　and　they　begged　her　to　try　to　compose　herself；　for　they　were　sure　that　seeing　her　friend　again；　at　this　time；　would　only　disturb　her　mind；　and　do　her　an　injury。

Chloe；　from　the　vent　she　had　given　her　grief　in　speaking　to　Caelia；　found　herself　something　more　easy　and　composed；　and　desiring　the　room　to　be　made　perfectly　quiet；　she　fell　into　a　gentle　sleep；　which　lasted　two　hours；　and　when　she　awaked　she　found　herself　so　much　better；　that　those　about　her　were　convinced；　from　her　composed　manner　of　speaking；　that　she　was　now　able　to　bear　another　interview。

They　again　called　for　Caelia；　and　told　her　of　her　cousin's　amendment。　　She　flew　with　all　speed　to　her　chamber；　and　the　moment　she　entered；　Chloe　cried　out；　'Can　you　forgive　me；　Caelia？'　　'Yes；　with　the　greatest　joy　and　sincerity　imaginable；　my　dearest　Chloe；'　answered　Caelia；　'and　never　let　it　be　again　mentioned　or　remembered。'

The　sudden　recovery　of　Chloe　was　almost　incredible；　for　in　less　than　a　week　she　was　able　to　quit　both　her　bed　and　room；　and　go　into　her　aunt's　chamber。　　The　good　old　lady　shed　tears　of　joy；　to　see　such　a　return　of　Chloe's　health；　and　of　cheerfulness　in　the　family；　and　was　perfectly　contented；　now　she　saw　their　melancholy　removed；　not　to　inquire　into　the　late　cause　of　it；　for　fear　of　renewing　their　trouble　even　one　moment　by　the　remembrance　of　it。

Sempronius；　in　the　meantime；　upon　some　affairs　of　his　duty　in　the　army；　had　been　called　away；　and　was　absent　the　whole　time　of　Chloe's　illness；　and　was　not　yet　returned。　　Caelia　spent　almost　her　whole　time　with　Chloe；　but　three　weeks　passed　on；　and　they　were　often　alone；　yet　they　had　never　once　mentioned　the　name　of　Sempronius；　which　laid　Caelia　still　under　the　greatest　difficulty　how　to　act；　so　as　to　avoid　giving　her　friend　any　uneasiness；　and　yet　not　disoblige　Sempronius；　for　she　had　promised　him　at　his　departure；　that　she　would　give　him　leave　to　ask　her　aunt's　consent　immediately　upon　his　return。　　But　the　very　day　he　was　expected；　she　was　made　quite　easy　by　what　passed　between　her　and　her　friend。

Chloe；　in　this　time；　by　proper　reflections；　and　a　due　sense　of　Caelia's　great　goodness　and　affection　to　her；　had　so　entirely　got　the　better　of　herself　in　this　affair；　that　she　found　she　could　now；　without　any　uneasiness；　see　them　married；　and　calling　Caelia　to　her；　she　said　with　a　smile；　'I　have；　my　dear　friend；　been　so　long　accustomed　to　read　in　that　intelligible　index；　your　countenance；　all　your　most　inmost　thoughts；　that　I　have　not　been　unobserving　of　those　kind　fears　you　have　had　on　my　account；　and　the　reason　I　have　so　long　delayed　speaking　was；　my　resolution；　if　possible；　never　again　to　deceive　you。　　I　can　with　pleasure　now　assure　you；　that　nothing　can　give　me　so　much　joy　as　to　see　your　wedding　with　Sempronius。　　I　make　no　doubt；　but　if　you　ask　it；　you　will　have　my　aunt's　consent；　and；　if　any　intercession　should　be　wanting　towards　obtaining　it；　I　will　（if　you　can　trust　me）　use　all　my　influence　in　your　behalf。　　Be　assured；　my　dear　Caelia；　I　have　now　no　farther　regard　left　for　Sempronius；　than　as　your　husband；　and　that　regard　will　increase　in　proportion　as　he　is　the　cause　of　your　happiness。'

They　were　interrupted　in　their　discourse　by　news　being　brought　of　the　arrival　of　Sempronius；　and　Chloe　received　him　with　that　ease　and　cheerfulness　as　convinced　Caelia　her　professions　were　unfeigned。

Caelia　related　to　Sempronius　all　that　had　passed　between　her　and　Chloe；　and　by　her　continued　cheerfulness　of　behaviour；　the　peace　and　tranquillity　of　the　family　was　perfectly　restored；　and　their　joy　greatly　increased　by　Amanda's　ready　consent　to　the　marriage　of　Sempronius　and　Caelia；　having　first　settled　all　her　fortune　to　be　divided　at　her　death　equally　between　her　nieces；　and　in　her　lifetime　there　was　no　occasion　of　settlements；　or　deeds　of　gift；　for　they　lived　all　together；　and　separate　property　was　not　so　much　as　mentioned　or　thought　on　in　this　family　of　harmony　and　peace。

Here　Miss　Dolly　ceased　reading；　and　all　her　hearers　sat　some　little　time　silent；　and　then　expressed　their　great　joy　that　Caelia　and　Chloe　were　at　last　happy；　for　none　of　them　had　been　able　to　refrain　from　tears　whilst　they　were　otherwise。　　On　which　Miss　Jenny　Peace　begged　them　to　observe　from　this　story；　the　miserable　effects　that　attend　deceit　and　treachery：　　'For；'　continued　she；　'you　see　you　could　not　refrain　from　tears；　only　by　imagining　what　Chloe　must　feel　after　her　wickedness　（by　which　indeed　she　lost　the　very　happiness　she　intended　treacherously　to　gain）；　nor　could　she　enjoy　one　moment's　peace；　till　by　confessing　her　fault；　and　heartily　repenting　of　it；　her　mind　was　restored　to　its　former　calm　and　tranquility。'　　Miss　Dolly　thanked　Miss　Jenny　for　her　remarks；　but　Miss　Lucy　Sly　was　most　sensibly　touched　with　this　story；　as　cunning　had　formerly　entirely　possessed　HER　mind；　and　said；　that　if　her　companions　were　not　weary　at　present　of　their　arbour；　she　would　now　recount　to　them　the　history　of　her　life；　as　this　story　was　a　proper　introduction　to　it。



THE　DESCRIPTION　OF　MISS　LUCY　SLY。

Miss　Lucy　Sly　was　of　the　same　age　as　Miss　Dolly　Friendly；　but　shorter；　at　least；　by　half　the　head。　　She　was　generally　called　a　pretty　girl；　from　having　a　pair　of　exceeding　fine　black　eyes；　only　with　the　allay　of　something　cunning　in　their　look。　　She　had　a　high　forehead；　and　very　good　curling　black　hair。　　She　had　a　sharp　high　nose；　and　a　very　small　mouth。　　Her　complexion　was　but　indifferent；　and　the　lower　part　of　her　face　ill…turned；　for　her　chin　was　too　long　for　due　proportion。


THE　LIFE　OF　MISS　LUCY　SLY。

From　the　time　I　was　two　years　old；　（said　Miss　Lucy）　my　mamma　was　so　sickly；　that　she　was　unable　to　take　any　great　care　of　me　herself；　and　I　was　left　to　the　care　of　a　governess；　who　made　it　her　study　to　bring　me　to　do　what　she　had　a　mind　to　have　done；　without　troubling　her　head　what　induced　me　so　to　do。　　And　whenever　I　did　anything　wrong；　she　used　to　say　it　was　the　foot…boy；　and　not　miss；　that　was　naughty。　　Nay；　she　would　say；　it　was　the　dog；　or　the　cat；　or　anything　she　could　lay　the　blame　upon；　sooner　than　own　it　was　me。　　I　thought　this　pure；　that　I　was　never　in　fault；　and　soon　got　into　a　way　of　telling　any　lies；　and　of　laying　my　own　faults　on　others；　since　I　found　I　should　be　believed。　　I　remember　once；　when　I　had　broken　a　fine　china…cup；　that　I　artfully　got　out　of　the　scrape；　and　hid　the　broken　cup　in　the　foot…boy's　room。　　He　was　whipped　for　breaking　it；　and　the　next　day　whilst　I　was　at　play　about　the　room；　I　heard　my　governess　say　to　a　friend　who　was　with　her；　〃Yesterday　Miss　Lucy　broke　a　china…cup；　but　the　artful　little　hussy　went　and　hid　it　in　the　foot…boy's　room；　and　the　poor　boy　was　whipped　for　it。　　I　don't　believe　there　was　ever　a　girl　of　her　age　that　had　half　her　cunning　and　contrivance。〃　　I　knew　by　her　tone　of　voice；　and　her　manner　of　speaking；　that　she　did　not　blame　me　in　her　heart；　but　rather　commended　my　ingenuity。　　And　I　thought　myself　so　wise；　that　I　could　thus　get　off　the　blame　from　myself；　that　I　every　day　improved　in　new　inventions　to　save　myself；　and　have　others　punished　in　my　place。

'This　life　of　endeavouring　to　deceive　I　led　till　I　came　to　school。　　But　here　I　found　that　I　could　not　so　well　carry　on　my　little　schemes；　for　I　was　found　out　and　punished　for　my　own　faults；　and　this　created　in　me　a　hatred　to　my　companions。　　For　whatever　Miss　I　had　a　mind　to　serve　as　I　used　to　serve　our　foot…boy；　in　laying　the　blame　falsely　upon　her；　if　she　could　justify　herself；　and　prove　me　in　the　wrong；　I　was　very　angry　with　her；　for　daring　to　contradict　me；　and　not　submitting　as　quietly　to　be　punished　wrongfully；　as　the　foot…boy　was　forced　to　do。

'This　is　all　I　know　of　my　life　hitherto。'



Thus　ended　Miss　Lucy　Sly：　　and　Miss　Jenny　Peace　commended　Miss　Lucy　for　her　free　confession　of　her　faults；　and　said；　'She　doubted　not　but　she　would　find　the　advantage　of　amending；　and　endeavouring　to　change　a　disposition　so　very　pernicious　to　her　own　peace　and　quiet；　as　well　as　to　that　of　all　her　friends；'　but　they　now　obeyed　the　summons　of　the　supper…bell；　and　soon　after　retired　to　rest。



THURSDAY。　THE　FOURTH　DAY。

Our　little　company；　as　soon　as　the　morning　school…hours　were　over；　hastened　to　their　arbour；　and　were　attentive　to　what　Miss　Jenny　Peace　should　propose　to　them　for　their　amusement　till　dinner…time；　when　Miss　Jenny；　looking　round　upon　them；　said；　'that　she　had　not　at　present　any　story　to　read；　but　that　she　hoped；　from　Miss　Dolly　Friendly's　example　yesterday；　some　of　the　rest　might　endeavour　sometimes　to　furnish　out　the　entertainment　of　the　day。'　　Upon　which　Miss　Sukey　Jennett　said；　'that　though　she　could　not　promise　them　such　an　agreeable　story　as　Miss　Dolly's；　yet　she　would　read　them　a　letter　she　had　received　the　evening　before　from　her　Cousin　Peggy　Smith；　who　lived　at　York；　in　which　there　was　a　story　that　she　thought　very　strange　and　remarkable。　　They　were　all　very　desirous　of　it；　when　Miss　Sukey　read　as　follows：


'Dear　cousin；I　promised；　you　know；　to　write　to　you　when　I　had　anything　to　tell　you；　　and　as　I　think　the　following　story　very　extraordinary；　I　was　willing　to　keep　my　word。

'Some　time　ago　there　came　to　settle　in　this　city；　a　lady；　whose　name　was　Dison。　　We　all　visited　her：　　but　she　had　so　deep　a　melancholy；　arising；　as　it　appeared；　from　a　settled　state　of　ill　health；　that　nothing　we　could　do　could　afford　her　the　least　relief；　or　make　her　cheerful。　　In　this　condition　she　languished　amongst　us　five　years；　still　continuing　to　grow　worse　and　worse。

'We　all　grieved　at　her　fate。　　Her　flesh　was　withered　away；　her　appetite　decayed　by　degrees；　till　all　food　became　nauseous　to　her　sight；　her　strength　failed　her；　her　feet　could　not　support　her　tottering　body；　lean　and　worn　away　as　it　was；　and　we　hourly　expected　her　death。　　When；　at　last；　she　one　day　called　her　most　intimate　friends　to　her　bedside；　and；　as　well　as　she　could；　spoke　to　the　following　purpose：　　'I　know　you　all　pity　me；　but；　alas！　I　am　not　so　much　the　object　of　your　pity；　as　your　contempt；　for　all　my　misery　is　of　my　o