the governess-第22部分

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Indeed；　Miss；　you　are　very　pretty；'　in　order　to　put　them　in　mind　of　her　own　beauty。

Our　little　society；　as　soon　as　they　were　released；　retired　to　their　arbour；　where；　for　some　time；　they　could　talk　of　nothing　but　this　visit。　　Miss　Jenny　Peace　remarked　how　many　shapes　vanity　would　turn　itself　into；　and　desired　them　to　observe；　how　ridiculously　Lady　Caroline　Delun　turned　her　whole　thoughts　on　her　dress；　and　condition　of　life；　and　how　absurd　it　was　in　Lady　Fanny；　who　was　a　very　plain　girl；　to　set　up　for　a　beauty；　and　to　behave　in　a　manner　which　would　render　her　contemptible；　even　if　she　had　that　beauty　her　own　vanity　made　her　imagine　herself　possessed　of。

Miss　Nanny　Spruce　said；　'She　was　greatly　rejoiced　that　she　had　seen　her　folly；　for　she　could　very　well　remember　when　she　had　the　same　vanity　of　dress　and　superiority　of　station　with　Lady　Caroline；　though　she　had　not；　indeed；　a　title　to　support　it；　and　in　what　manner；　she　said；　she　would　tell　them　in　the　story　of　her　life。


THE　DESCRIPTION　OF　MISS　NANNY　SPRUCE。

Miss　Nanny　Spruce　was　just　nine　years　old；　and　was　the　very　reverse　of　Patty　Lockit；　in　all　things；　for　she　had　little　limbs；　little　features；　and　such　a　compactness　in　her　form；　that　she　was　often　called　the　little　fairy。　　She　had　the　misfortune　to　be　lame　in　one　of　her　hips；　but　by　good　management；　and　a　briskness　and　alacrity　in　carrying　herself；　it　was　a　very　small　blemish　to　her；　and　looked　more　like　an　idle　childish　gait；　than　any　real　defect。


THE　LIFE　OF　MISS　NANNY　SPRUCE。

'My　delight；'　said　Miss　Nanny　Spruce；　'ever　since　I　can　remember；　has　been　in　dress　and　finery；　for　whenever　I　did　as　I　was　bid；　I　was　promised　fine　coats；　ribbons；　and　laced　caps；　and　when　I　was　stubborn　and　naughty；　then　my　fine　things　were　all　to　be　locked　up；　and　I　was　to　wear　only　an　old　stuff　coat；　so　that　I　thought　the　only　reward　I　could　have　was　to　be　dressed　fine　　and　the　only　punishment　was　to　be　plainly　dressed。　　By　this　means　I　delighted　so　much　in　fine　clothes；　that　I　never　thought　of　anything　but　when　I　should　have　something　new　to　adorn　myself　in；　and　I　have　sat　whole　days　considering　what　should　be　my　next　new　coat；　for　I　had　always　my　choice　given　me　of　the　colour。

'We　lived　in　a　country　parish；　my　papa　being　the　only　gentleman；　so　that　all　the　little　girls　in　the　parish　used　to　take　it　as　a　great　honour　to　play　with　me。　　And　I　used　to　delight　to　show　them　my　fine　things；　and　to　see　that　they　could　not　come　at　any　but　very　plain　coats。　　However；　as　they　did　not　pretend　to　have　anything　equal　with　me；　I　was　kind　enough　to　them。　　As　to　those　girls　whose　parents　were　so　very　poor　that　they　went　in　rags；　I　did　not　suffer　them　to　come　near　me。

'Whilst　I　was　at　home；　I　spent　my　time　very　pleasantly；　as　no　one　pretended　to　be　my　equal；　but　as　soon　as　I　came　to　school；　where　other　misses　were　as　fine　as　myself；　and　some　finer；　I　grew　very　miserable。　　Every　new　coat；　every　silver　ribbon；　that　any　of　my　schoolfellows　wore；　made　me　unhappy。　　Your　scarlet　damask；　Miss　Betty　Ford；　cost　me　a　week's　pain；　and　I　lay　awake；　and　sighed　and　wept　all　night；　because　I　did　not　dare　to　spoil　it。　　I　had　several　plots　in　my　head；　to　have　dirtied　it；　or　cut　it；　so　as　to　have　made　it　unfit　to　wear；　by　some　accident　my　plots　were　prevented；　and　then　I　was　so　uneasy；　I　could　not　tell　what　to　do　with　myself；　and　so　afraid；　lest　any　body　should　suspect　me　of　such　a　thing；　that　I　could　not　sleep　in　peace；　for　fear　I　should　dream　of　it；　and　in　my　sleep　discover　it　to　my　bedfellow。　　I　would　not　go　through　the　same　dreads　and　terrors　again　for　the　world。　　But　I　am　very　happy　now；　in　having　no　thoughts　but　what　my　companions　may　know；　for　since　that　quarrel；　and　Miss　Jenny　Peace　was　so　good　as　to　show　me　what　I'm　sure　I　never　thought　of　before；　that　is；　that　the　road　to　happiness　is　by　conquering　such　foolish　vanities；　and　the　only　way　to　be　pleased　is　to　endeavour　to　please　others；　I　have　never　known　what　it　was　to　be　uneasy。'



As　soon　as　Miss　Nanny　had　finished　speaking；　Miss　Betty　Ford　said；　that　she　heartily　forgave　her　all　her　former　designs　upon　her　scarlet　coat；　but；　added　she；　Lady　Fanny　Delun　put　me　no　less　in　mind　of　my　former　life；　than　Lady　Caroline　did　you　of　yours；　and　if　Miss　Jenny　pleases；　I　will　now　relate　it。


THE　DESCRIPTION　OF　MISS　BETTY　FORD。

Miss　Betty　Ford　was　of　the　same　age　with　Miss　Nanny　Spruce；　and　much　of　the　same　height；　and　might　be　called　the　plainest　girl　in　the　school；　for　she　had　nothing　pleasing　either　in　her　person　or　face；　except　an　exceeding　fair　skin；　and　tolerable　good　black　eyes；　but　her　face　was　ill…shaped　and　broad；　her　hair　very　red；　and　all　the　summer　she　was　generally　very　full　of　freckles；　and　she　had　also　a　small　hesitation　in　her　speech。　　But　without　preamble；　she　began　her　life　as　follows。


THE　LIFE　OF　MISS　BETTY　FORD。

'My　life；'　said　Miss　Betty　Ford；　'has　hitherto　passed　very　like　that　of　Miss　Nanny　Spruce；　only　with　this　difference；　that　as　all　her　thoughts　were　fixed　on　finery；　my　head　ran　on　nothing　but　beauty。　　I　had　an　elder　sister；　who　was；　I　must　own；　a　great　deal　handsomer　than　me；　and　yet；　in　my　own　mind；　at　that　time；　I　did　not　think　so；　though　I　was　always　told　it　was　not　for　me　to　pretend　to　the　same　things　with　pretty　Miss　Kitty　（which　was　the　name　of　my　sister）；　and　in　all　respects　she　was　taken　so　much　more　notice　of　than　I　was；　that　I　perfectly　hated　her；　and　could　not　help　wishing　that；　by　some　accident；　her　beauty　might　be　spoiled：　　whenever　any　visitors　came　to　the　house；　their　praises　of　her　gave　me　the　greatest　vexation；　and　as　I　had　made　myself　believe　I　was　a　very　great　beauty；　I　thought　that　it　was　prejudice　and　ill…nature　in　all　around　me；　not　to　view　me　in　that　light。　　My　sister　Kitty　was　very　good　natured；　and　though　she　was　thus　cried　up　for　her　beauty；　and　indulged　most　on　that　account；　yet　she　never　insulted　me；　but　did　all　in　her　power　to　oblige　me。　　But　I　could　not　love　her；　and　sometimes　would　raise　lies　against　her；　which　did　not　signify；　for　she　could　always　justify　herself。　　I　could　not　give　any　reason　for　hating　her；　but　her　beauty；　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