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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories for Helen, by Eliza Leslie
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Stories for Helen
+
+Author: Eliza Leslie
+
+Release Date: August 23, 2010 [EBook #33510]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FOR HELEN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE TELL TALE.]
+
+
+
+
+    STORIES FOR HELEN
+
+    BY
+
+    MISS ELIZA LESLIE,
+
+    AUTHOR OF STORIES FOR EMMA, STORIES FOR ADELAIDE, ETC.
+
+    "Our most important are our earliest years."--_Cowper._
+
+
+    PHILADELPHIA:
+    HENRY F. ANNERS.
+    CHESNUT STREET.
+
+
+
+
+    Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845,
+
+    BY ELIZA LESLIE,
+
+    In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern
+    District of Pennsylvania.
+
+    Printed by King & Baird.
+
+
+
+
+ADVERTISEMENT.
+
+
+The following stories have been selected by the author, from a small
+volume originally published with the title of Atlantic Tales. They have
+been carefully revised; and she indulges the hope that her juvenile
+readers may derive from them a little instruction blended with a little
+amusement.
+
+PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER 1, 1845.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                   Page.
+
+    The Tell-Tale,                   5
+
+    The Boarding School Feast,      28
+
+    The Week of Idleness,           67
+
+    Madeline Malcolm,               98
+
+
+
+
+THE TELL-TALE.
+
+    "_How all occasions do inform against me!_"
+                                          _Shakspeare._
+
+
+Rosamond Evering was one of those indiscreet mischievous girls who are
+in the daily practice of repeating every thing they see and hear;
+particularly all the unpleasant remarks, and unfavourable opinions that
+happen to be unguardedly expressed in their presence. She did not
+content herself with relating only as much as she actually saw and
+heard; but (as is always the case with tell-tales) she dealt greatly in
+exaggeration, and her stories never failed to exceed the reality in all
+their worst points.
+
+This unamiable and dangerous propensity of their daughter, gave great
+pain to Mr. and Mrs. Evering, who tried in vain to correct it. They
+represented to her that as parents cannot be _constantly_ on their guard
+in presence of their own family, and that as grown persons do not
+_always_ remember or observe when children are in the room, many things
+are inadvertently said, which, though of little consequence as long as
+they remain unknown, may be of great and unfortunate importance if
+disclosed and exaggerated. And as children are incapable of forming an
+accurate judgment as to what may be told with safety, or what ought to
+be kept secret, their wisest and most proper course is to repeat no
+remarks and to relate no conversations whatever; but more particularly
+those which they may chance to hear from persons older than themselves.
+
+But neither reproof nor punishment seemed to make any lasting impression
+on Rosamond Evering; and scarce a day passed that she did not exhibit
+some vexatious specimen of her besetting sin. A few instances will
+suffice.
+
+Mrs. Evering had a very excellent cook, a black woman, that had lived
+with her more than six years, and whom she considered an invaluable
+servant. One morning, when Venus (for that was her name) had just left
+the parlour, after receiving her orders for dinner, Mr. Evering
+remarked, in a low voice, to his lady, "Certainly, the name of Venus
+was never so unsuitably bestowed as on this poor woman. I have rarely
+seen a negro whose face had a greater resemblance to that of a baboon."
+In this remark Mrs. Evering acquiesced.
+
+Rosamond was at this time sitting in a corner, looking over her lessons.
+Just before she went to school, her mother thought of a change in the
+preparations for dinner, and not wishing to give the old cook the
+trouble of coming up from the kitchen a second time, she desired
+Rosamond to go down and tell Venus she would have the turkey boiled
+rather than roasted. Rosamond went down and delivered the message; but
+fixing her eyes on the cook's face, she thought she had never seen Venus
+look so ugly, and she said to her, "Venus, my father thinks you are the
+ugliest negro he ever saw (_even for a negro_) and he says your face is
+just like a monkey's, only worse." Having made this agreeable
+communication, Rosamond went out of the kitchen and departed for school,
+leaving Venus speechless with anger and astonishment; for though in
+other respects a very good woman, she was extremely vain, and had always
+considered herself among the handsomest of her race.
+
+As soon as Venus found herself able to speak, she went into the parlour
+with her eyes flashing fire, and told Mrs. Evering that she must provide
+herself with another cook, as she was determined to leave her that very
+day. Mrs. Evering with much surprise inquired the reason, and Venus
+replied, that "she would not live in any house where she was called an
+ugly neger, the ugliest even of all negers, and likened to a brute
+beast."
+
+Mrs. Evering, who had forgotten her husband's remark, asked the cook
+what she meant; and Venus explained by repeating all that Rosamond had
+told her. Mrs. Evering endeavoured to pacify her, but in vain. Ignorant
+people when once offended are very difficult to appease, and Venus had
+been hurt on the tenderest point. She would listen to nothing that Mrs.
+Evering could urge to induce her to stay; but exclaimed in a high
+passion, "I never was called a neger before. I am not a neger but a
+coloured woman. I was born and raised on a great plantation in Virginny
+where there was hundreds of slaves, all among the Randolphs and sich
+like quality, and nobody never called me a neger. And now when I'm free,
+and come here to Philadelphy where nobody has no servants without they
+hires them, lo! and behold, I'm called a neger, and an ugly neger too,
+and a neger-monkey besides. No, no, I'll not stay; and Nancy the
+chambermaid may do the cooking till you get somebody else. And a pretty
+way she'll do it in. I'm glad I shan't be here to eat Nancy's cooking. I
+never know'd any _white trash_ that could cook; much less Irish."
+
+Finally, Mrs. Evering was obliged to give Venus her wages and let here
+go at once, as she protested "she would never eat another meal's
+victuals in the house."
+
+When Rosamond came from school, her mother reprimanded her severely; and
+when her father heard of the mischief she had caused, he would not
+permit her to accompany the family to a concert that evening, as she had
+been promised the day before.
+
+After the departure of Venus, it was a long time before Mrs. Evering
+could suit herself with a cook. Several were tried in succession but
+none were good; and to Rosamond's great regret, they were never able to
+get a woman whose skill in making pies, and puddings, and cakes, bore
+any comparison to that of Venus.
+
+Still this lesson did not cure her fault; she still told tales, and
+still suffered in consequence.
+
+One day, Mrs. Renwick, a lady who lived next door, sent a message to
+Mrs. Evering, requesting that she would lend her a pot of red currant
+jelly, as she was quite out of that article, of which she shortly
+intended making a supply; and as Mr. Renwick had invited some company to
+dinner, some jelly would be wanted to eat with the canvass-back ducks.
+
+Mrs. Evering lent her a pot, and as soon as currants were in the market,
+Mrs. Renwick sent her in return some jelly of her own making. It was not
+nice, and Mrs. Evering observed to her sister, Mrs. Norwood, who
+happened to be present: "I do not think Mrs. Renwick has been very
+successful with her jelly. It is so thin it is almost liquid, and so
+dark that it looks as if made of black currants. I suspect she has
+boiled it too long, and has not put in sugar enough."
+
+Next day as they were coming from school together, Mrs. Renwick's little
+daughter, Marianne, said to Rosamond, "My mother made some currant jelly
+on Tuesday, and yesterday when it was cold, she gave me a whole
+saucer-full to eat with my slice of bread, at twelve o'clock."
+
+"She might well give you a whole saucer-full," replied Rosamond, "for I
+do not think it was worth saving for any better purpose. She sent in a
+pot to my mother, in return for some she had borrowed of her. Now _my_
+mother's jelly is always so firm that you might cut it with a knife, and
+so bright and sparkling that it dazzles your eyes. I heard her tell my
+aunt Norwood, that Mrs. Renwick's jelly was the worst she had ever seen,
+that it was as thin and sour as plain currant juice, and dark and
+dirty-looking beside."
+
+Marianne Renwick was much displeased at the disrespectful manner in
+which her mother's jelly had been spoken of. She let go Rosamond's arm,
+and turning up another street, walked home by herself, swelling with
+resentment, and told her mother all that had passed.
+
+Mrs. Renwick was a lady very easily offended; and she always signified
+her anger as soon as she felt it. She immediately sent to a
+confectioner's for a pot of the very best red currant jelly, and had it
+carried into Mrs. Evering; accompanied by a note implying "that she
+regretted to hear that her jelly had not been so fortunate as to meet
+the approbation of so competent a judge of sweetmeats; but that, as she
+would be sorry if Mrs. Evering should lose any thing by it, she had sent
+her a pot made by one of the very first confectioners in the city; and
+she hoped it would be found an ample equivalent for that she had most
+unhappily borrowed."
+
+Rosamond was in the parlour when the note and the pot of jelly arrived,
+and she coloured and looked so confused, that her mother immediately
+guessed she had been the cause of Mrs. Renwick's having taken offence.
+Reproof had no effect on Rosamond except for a moment; but that she
+might frequently be reminded of her fault, she was not allowed to taste
+currant jelly till the next summer. Mrs. Renwick, however, remained
+implacable; and could never be prevailed on to visit Mrs. Evering again.
+
+Mr. Evering had an aunt, the widow of a western merchant who had made a
+large fortune in business. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Marbury
+had removed to Philadelphia, which was her native place; and, being very
+plain in her habits and ideas, she had bought a small neat house in a
+retired street, where she kept but two servants, and expended more money
+in presents to her relations, than in any superfluities for herself. She
+generally went to a place of worship in her own neighbourhood; but
+hearing that a very celebrated minister from Boston was to preach one
+Sunday in the church to which her nephew's family belonged, she sent a
+message to Mr. Evering requesting that he would call for her with his
+carriage and give her a seat in his pew, that she might have an
+opportunity of hearing this distinguished stranger. Mr. and Mrs. Evering
+were both out when the message arrived, so that no answer could be sent
+till their return; which was not till evening.
+
+It was dusk, and the lamps not being yet lighted, they did not perceive
+that Rosamond was lying on an ottoman in one of the recesses, or they
+would not have spoken as they did while she was present.
+
+"I am very sorry," said Mrs. Evering, "that Mrs. Marbury has fixed on
+to-morrow for going to church with us, for I intended asking Miss
+Leeson, who will be delighted to have an opportunity of hearing this
+celebrated preacher; and his discourse, however excellent, will be lost
+on aunt Marbury, who always falls asleep soon after she has heard the
+text, that being all she ever remembers of a sermon. So that in reality,
+one preacher is the same to her as another; though she goes regularly to
+church twice a-day, and never could be convinced that she sleeps half
+the time. And then she is unfortunately so fat, and takes up so much
+room in the pew."
+
+"My dear," said Mr. Evering, "we must show Mrs. Marbury as much kindness
+and civility as we possibly can, for she is a most excellent woman, is
+very liberal to us now, and at her death will undoubtedly leave us the
+greatest part of her large property. Even if we had no personal regard
+for the good old lady, it would be very impolitic in us to offend her."
+
+When the room was lighted, Mr. and Mrs. Evering saw Rosamond on the
+ottoman, and felt so much uneasiness at her having heard their
+conversation, that they thought it best to caution her against repeating
+it. "Oh!" exclaimed Rosamond, "do you think I would be so wicked as to
+tell aunt Marbury what you have just been saying about her?"
+
+"You have often," said Mrs. Evering, "told things almost as improper to
+be repeated."
+
+"But never with any bad intention," replied Rosamond, "I am sure my
+feelings are always good."
+
+"I know not," said her father, "how it is possible that people with good
+feelings and good intentions can take pleasure in repeating whatever
+they hear to a person's disadvantage, and above all to the very object
+of the unfavourable remarks. Beside the cruelty of causing them poignant
+and unnecessary pain, and wounding their self-love, there is the
+wickedness of embroiling them with their friends; or at least destroying
+their confidence, and imbittering their hearts. And all these
+consequences have frequently ensued from the tattling of a tell-tale
+child."
+
+The next morning was Saturday; and the servants being all very busy,
+Mrs. Evering desired Rosamond to stop, as she returned from taking her
+music-lesson, and inform her aunt Marbury that they would be happy to
+accommodate her with a seat in their pew on Sunday morning; and that
+they would call for her in the carriage, as she had requested.
+
+"Now, Rosamond," said Mrs. Evering, "can I trust you? Will you, for
+once, be discreet, and refrain from repeating to your aunt Marbury, what
+you unluckily overheard last evening?"
+
+"O! indeed, dear mother," replied Rosamond, "bad as you think me, I am
+not quite wicked enough for that."
+
+"But I fear the force of habit," said Mrs. Evering. "I believe I had
+better send Peter with the message."
+
+"No," answered Rosamond, "I am anxious to retrieve my character. Rely on
+me this once; and you will see how prudent and honourable I can be."
+
+On her way home from her music-lesson, Rosamond stopped at her aunt's,
+and delivered the message, exactly as it had been given to her.
+
+While Rosamond was eating a piece of the nice plum-cake that her aunt
+always kept in the house for the gratification of her young visitors,
+Mrs. Marbury said to her, "This weather is quite too warm for the
+season; should it continue, it will be very oppressive in church
+to-morrow."
+
+"No doubt," answered Rosamond, "and most probably _our_ church will be
+crowded in every part. I wonder, aunt, that you are anxious to go, as
+you certainly _must_ be, when you sent so long beforehand to engage a
+seat in our pew."
+
+"In truth," returned Mrs. Marbury, "I am willing to suffer some
+inconvenience from the heat, for the sake of hearing this great
+preacher."
+
+"But, aunt," said Rosamond, "if you get sleepy, you will not hear him
+after all."
+
+"O!" replied Mrs. Marbury, "I am never sleepy in church. I am always so
+attentive that I never feel in the least drowsy."
+
+"O! indeed, aunt, I have often seen you asleep in church," exclaimed
+Rosamond.
+
+"Impossible, Rosamond, impossible," cried Mrs. Marbury. "You are
+entirely mistaken. It must have been merely your own imagination."
+
+"Why, dear aunt," said Rosamond, "my father and mother, as well as
+myself, have all seen you asleep in church. If it was not true, the
+whole family could not imagine it. It was but last evening, I heard my
+mother say, that she wished you had not taken a notion to go to church
+with us on Sunday, as it would prevent her from inviting Miss Leeson,
+whom she likes far better than you. She said, beside, that fat people
+take up so much room, that they are always encumbrances every where; and
+that there was no use at all in your going to church, as you slept
+soundly all the time you were there, and even breathed so hard as to
+disturb the congregation."
+
+"And what did your father say to all this?" asked Mrs. Marbury, turning
+very pale, and looking much shocked and mortified.
+
+"My father," answered Rosamond, "said that, on account of your money, we
+must endure you, and all the inconveniences belonging to you; for if you
+were kept in good humour, he had no doubt of your leaving him all your
+property when you die."
+
+Mrs. Marbury looked aghast. She burst into tears, and Rosamond, finding
+that she had gone quite too far, vainly attempted to pacify her.
+
+"You may go home, child," exclaimed Mrs. Marbury, sobbing with anger,
+"you may go home, and tell your father and mother that I shall not
+trouble them with my company at church or any where else; and when I
+die, I shall leave my money to the hospital or to some other
+institution. How have I been deceived! But I shall take care in future
+not to bestow my affection on those that have any expectations from me."
+
+Rosamond, now very much frightened, declared that she could not take
+such a message to her parents; and begged her aunt to screen her from
+their displeasure, by not informing them of the communication she had so
+indiscreetly made.
+
+Her alarm and agitation were so great, that Mrs. Marbury consented, out
+of pity, not to betray her to her father and mother; and to excuse
+herself from going to church with them (which she declared she could
+never do again) by alleging the heat of the weather, and the probable
+crowd.
+
+"And now, Rosamond," said her aunt Marbury, "do not think that I feel at
+all obliged to you for having opened my eyes as to the manner in which
+your parents really regard me. Their behaviour to me, as far as I could
+judge for myself, has always been exactly what I wished it; and if
+their kindness was not sincere, I still thought it so, and was happy in
+being deceived. And now, after what you have told me, how can I again
+think of them as I have hitherto done? You have acted basely towards
+them in repeating their private conversation, and cruelly to your kind
+aunt, in giving her unnecessary pain and mortification. You have caused
+much mischief; and who has been the gainer? Not yourself certainly. You
+have lost my good opinion, for I can never like a tell-tale. I had heard
+something of your being addicted to this vice; but till now I could not
+believe it. I shall not betray you to your parents, though you have so
+shamefully betrayed _them_ to _me_. But you may rely on it, that sooner
+or later the discovery will be made, to your utter shame and confusion.
+Now you may go home, with the assurance that you can no longer be a
+welcome visitor at my house."
+
+Rosamond departed, overwhelmed with compunction; and in the resolution
+(which she had so often made and so often broken) never again to be
+guilty of a similar fault. She gave her aunt's message to her parents,
+and Miss Leeson was invited to accompany them next day to church.
+
+Two days after, Mrs. Evering went to visit Mrs. Marbury, and to her
+great surprise heard from the servants that she had left town with some
+western friends who were returning home; and that she purposed being
+absent from Philadelphia five or six months; dividing her time among
+various places on the other side of the Alleghanies, and probably
+extending her tour to Louisiana, where she owned some land.
+
+Her going away so suddenly without apprising them of her intention, was
+totally inexplicable to Mr. and Mrs. Evering; and they justly concluded
+that she must have taken some offence. Rosamond well knew the cause, and
+rightly supposed that her aunt finding herself unable to meet the family
+with her former feelings towards them, had thought it best to avoid
+seeing them for a very long time.
+
+The confusion visible in Rosamond's face and manner when Mrs. Marbury
+was spoken of, aroused the suspicions of her father and mother: and on
+their questioning her closely, she confessed, with many tears, that she
+had really informed her aunt of what had passed on the subject of her
+accompanying them to church. But as tell-tales have very little candour
+where themselves are concerned, and as tale-telling always leads to
+lying, she steadily denied that she had been guilty of the slightest
+exaggeration in her report to Mrs. Marbury; protesting that she had told
+her nothing but the simple truth.
+
+From that time, Rosamond was not allowed to visit or call at any house
+unaccompanied by her mother, who was almost afraid to trust her out of
+her sight. Her parents avoided discussing any thing of the least
+consequence in _her_ presence; always remembering to send her out of the
+room. This mode of treatment very much mortified her; but she could not
+help acknowledging that she deserved it.
+
+Her father received no intelligence from Mrs. Marbury. He and Mrs.
+Evering both wrote to her at different times, endeavouring to mollify
+her displeasure; but not knowing exactly where she was, the letters were
+not directed to the right places, and did not reach her.
+
+For a long time Rosamond was so unusually discreet, that her parents
+began to hope that her odious fault was entirely cured.
+
+One day, her chamber having been washed in the afternoon, it was found
+too damp for her to sleep in with safety to her health; and her mother
+told her that she must, that night, occupy the room adjoining hers. This
+room, which was but seldom used, was separated from Mrs. Evering's
+apartment by a very thin partition; and communicated with it by a door
+which was almost always kept closed; the bed in each of these chambers
+being placed against it.
+
+Rosamond, having been awakened in the night by the fighting of some cats
+in the yard, heard her father and mother in earnest conversation. They
+had totally forgotten her vicinity to them; and as tell-tales are never
+wanting in curiosity, she sat up in her bed and applying her ear to the
+key-hole of the door, she distinctly heard every word they said, though
+they were speaking in a low voice.
+
+She was soon able to comprehend the subject of their conversation. Mr.
+Evering was lamenting that the failure of a friend for whom he had
+endorsed to a large amount, had brought him into unexpected
+difficulties; but he hoped that he would be able to go on till the sums
+due to him by some western merchants should arrive.
+
+Next evening, Rosamond was permitted to go to a juvenile cotillon-party,
+held once a fortnight, at the ball-room of her dancing-master. To this
+place her mother always accompanied her; and while Mrs. Evering was
+sitting in conversation with some ladies, a boy named George Granby, who
+was frequently the partner of Rosamond at these balls, came up and
+asked her to dance. They were obliged to go to the farthest end of the
+room before they could get places in a cotillon; and while they were
+waiting for the music to begin, George, who thought Rosamond a very
+pretty girl, asked her if she would also be his partner in the
+country-dance. She replied that Henry Harford had engaged her, at the
+last ball, for this country-dance.
+
+"Oh!" replied George Granby, "Henry Harford will not be here to-night;
+his father failed yesterday."
+
+"True," said Rosamond, "I wonder I should have forgotten Mr. Harford's
+failure, when my father lost so much by him. But when the fathers fail,
+must the children stay away from balls?"
+
+"Certainly," replied George, "it would be considered very improper for
+the family to be seen in any place of amusement when its head is in so
+much trouble, and when they have lost all they possessed."
+
+"O then," exclaimed Rosamond, "I hope _my_ father will not fail till the
+cotillon-parties are over for the season. There are but two more, and I
+should be very sorry to give them up. I hope he will be able to go on,
+at least till after that time. How sorry I shall be when he _does_
+fail."
+
+"I believe you," said George; "but what makes you talk about your
+father's failing? I thought he was considered safe enough."
+
+"Ah! you know but little about it," answered Rosamond. "I heard him tell
+my mother last night, that he was in hourly dread of failing, in
+consequence of the great losses by Mr. Harford, and of his own business
+having gone on badly for a long time. However, say nothing about it, for
+such things ought not to be told."
+
+"They ought not, indeed," said the boy.
+
+As soon as George Granby went home, he repeated what he had heard from
+Rosamond, to his father, who was one of Mr. Evering's creditors. The
+consequence was, that Mr. Granby and all the principal creditors took
+immediate measures to secure themselves; and Mr. Evering (who could have
+gone on till he got through his difficulties, had he been allowed time,
+and had the state of his affairs remained unsuspected,) became a
+bankrupt through the worse than indiscretion of his daughter. Had Mrs.
+Marbury been in town, or where he could have had speedy communication
+with her, he doubted not that she would have lent him assistance to
+ward off the impending blow. But she had gone away in a fit of
+displeasure, occasioned, also, by the tattling of Rosamond.
+
+Mr. Granby, who was the chief creditor and a man of contracted feelings
+and great severity, showed no liberality on the occasion; and proceeded
+to the utmost extremity that the law would warrant. Every article of Mr.
+Evering's property was taken; and indeed, since it had come to this, his
+principles would not allow him to reserve any thing whatever from his
+creditors.
+
+The scene that ensued in the Evering family, on the day following the
+ball, can better be imagined than described. Mr. Granby had at once
+informed Mr. Evering of the source from whence he had derived his
+information with respect to the posture of his affairs; and when
+Rosamond found this new and terrible proof of the fatal effects of her
+predominant vice, she went into an hysteric fit, and was so ill all
+night, that her parents, in addition to their other troubles, had to
+fear for the life of their daughter. The sufferings of her mind brought
+on a fever; and it was more than a week before she was able to leave her
+bed.
+
+Her father and mother kindly forgave her, and avoided all reference to
+her fault. But she could not forgive herself, and on the day that they
+left their handsome residence in one of the principal streets, and
+removed to a small mean-looking house in the suburbs, her agony was more
+than words can express. All their furniture was sold at auction, even
+Rosamond's piano, and her mother's work-table. Their most expensive
+articles of clothing were put away, as in their present circumstances it
+would be improper to wear them. The house they now inhabited, contained
+only one little parlour with a kitchen back of it, and three small rooms
+upstairs. Their furniture was limited to what was barely useful, and of
+the cheapest kind. Their table was as plain as possible; and their only
+servant a very young half-grown girl.
+
+This sad change in their way of living, added to the stings of
+self-reproach, almost broke Rosamond's heart; and her pride was much
+shocked when she found that her father had applied for the situation of
+clerk in a counting-house, as a means of supporting his family till
+something better should offer.
+
+At length Mrs. Marbury returned; having hurried back to Philadelphia as
+soon as the intelligence of her nephew's failure had reached her. How
+did she blame herself for having taken such serious offence at what now
+appeared to her almost too trifling to remember. All her former regard
+for the Evering family returned. She sought them immediately in their
+humble retreat, and offered Mr. Evering her assistance to the utmost
+farthing she could command.
+
+To conclude, Mr. Evering's affairs were again put in train. He resumed
+his business; and a few years restored him to his former situation.
+
+This sad, but salutary lesson produced a lasting effect on Rosamond; and
+from that time, she kept so strict a watch over her ruling passion, that
+she succeeded in entirely eradicating it. She grew up a discreet and
+amiable girl; and no one who knew her in after years, could have
+believed that till the age of fourteen she had been an incorrigible
+tell-tale.
+
+
+
+
+THE BOARDING-SCHOOL FEAST.
+
+    "They hear a voice in every wind,
+       And snatch a fearful joy."
+                                  _Gray._
+
+
+It is a very common subject of complaint with boarding-school children
+(and there is often sufficient foundation for it) that they are too much
+restricted in their food, and that their diet is not only inferior in
+quality to what it ought to be, but frequently deficient in quantity
+also. There was certainly, however, no cause for any dissatisfaction of
+this sort at Mrs. Middleton's boarding-school, in Philadelphia. The
+table was in every respect excellent; and a basket of bread or biscuit,
+and sometimes of gingerbread, was handed round to all the pupils, every
+morning at eleven o'clock. Mrs. Middleton's young ladies were strangers
+to the common boarding-school practice of coaxing or bribing the
+servants to procure them cakes and tarts from the confectioners; for the
+table was sufficiently supplied with those articles, made in such a
+manner as to be agreeable to the taste without endangering the health;
+and they were every day allowed some sort of fruit, of the best quality
+the market could furnish.
+
+At last, a young lady named Henrietta Harwood became a member of Mrs.
+Middleton's seminary. Miss Harwood had been for several years a pupil of
+one of those too numerous establishments, where the comfort of the
+children is sacrificed to the vanity of a governess, who rests her
+claims to encouragement principally on the merits of elegantly furnished
+parlours, an expensive style of dress, frequent evening parties, and
+occasional balls. In schools where outward show is the leading
+principle, the internal economy is generally conducted on the most
+parsimonious plan, and while the masters (who attend only at certain
+hours) are such as are considered the most fashionable, the female
+teachers that live in the house, are too often vulgar girls obtained at
+a low salary, and who frequently are in league with the elder pupils in
+ridiculing and plotting against the governess.
+
+Most of the faults and follies that were likely to be acquired at a
+show-boarding-school, Henrietta Harwood brought with her to the
+excellent and well-conducted establishment of Mrs. Middleton: but she
+had some redeeming qualities that made her rather a favourite with her
+new companions, and disposed her governess to hope that all would come
+right at last.
+
+One evening, the elder young ladies were sitting very comfortably at
+their different occupations, round the table in the front school-room.
+The window-shutters were closed, a good fire was burning in the stove,
+and Mrs. Middleton had just sent them a basket of apples, according to
+her custom in the winter evenings. After finishing a very fine one,
+Henrietta Harwood exclaimed--"Well--I wonder at myself for eating these
+apples!"
+
+_Miss Brownlow._ Why, I am sure they are the very best Newtown pippins.
+
+_Henrietta._ That is true, Brownie: but at Madame Disette's we had
+something better of evenings than mere apples.
+
+_Miss Brownlow._ What had you?
+
+_Henrietta._ We had sometimes cheesecakes, and sometimes tarts; with
+very frequently pound-cake and jumbles; and sometimes we had even little
+mince-pies, and oyster-patties.
+
+_Miss Wilcox._ O, delicious! What an excellent governess! How could you
+ever consent to leave her? I thought Mrs. Middleton allowed us a great
+many good things; but she does not send us cheesecakes and tarts of an
+evening.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, do not mistake! We might have gone without them all our
+lives, before Madame Disette would have sent us any thing of the sort.
+She did not even allow us apples of an evening, or a piece of bread
+between breakfast and dinner. Why, one summer evening, she bought at the
+door some common ice-cream, of a black man that was carrying it through
+the streets in a tin pot; and when we thought that, _for once_, she had
+certainly treated us, she charged the ice-cream in our quarter-bills.
+No, no,--we got nothing from _her_, but stale bread; bad butter; sloppy
+tea; coffee without taste or colour; skinny meat, half-cooked one day,
+cold the next, and hashed or rather coddled the third. Then, for a
+dessert, we were regaled with sour knotty apples in the winter,
+worm-eaten cherries in the summer, and dry squashy pears in the autumn;
+and once a week we had boiled rice, or baked bread and milk, by way of
+pudding. Though after the scholars had eaten their allowance, and made
+their curtsies and gone up to the school-room, she always had something
+nice brought for herself, and her sister, and niece: and of which poor
+Benson, the under teacher, was never invited to partake.
+
+_Miss Wilcox._ But how did you get such nice things in the evening?
+
+_Henrietta._ We bought them, to be sure: bought them with our own money.
+That was the only way. When the little girls had all gone to bed, and
+Madame Disette, and Madame Trompeur, and Mademoiselle Mensonge were
+engaged in the parlour with their company, we all (that is, the first
+class) subscribed something; and we commissioned the chambermaid to
+bring us whatever we wanted from the confectioner's. O, what delightful
+feasts we had!
+
+_Miss Thomson._ Did Madame Disette never find you out?
+
+_Henrietta._ O, no!--we laid our plans too cunningly. And Benson, the
+teacher, was a good creature, and always joined our party; so we knew
+she would not tell.
+
+_Miss Scott._ I am sure we never could prevail on our teacher, Miss
+Loxley, to be concerned in such things. _She_ would think it so very
+improper.
+
+_Henrietta._ Well, we must take an opportunity when Miss Loxley is not
+at home. Mrs. Middleton permits her to go out whenever she requests it.
+She does not keep her so closely confined as Madame Disette did poor
+Benson.
+
+_Miss Scott._ Mrs. Middleton has so much reliance on her elder pupils,
+that she is not afraid to trust us sometimes without Miss Loxley. And
+we, certainly, have never yet abused her confidence.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, you are undoubtedly a most exemplary set! But you never
+had one like _me_ among you. I shall soon put a little spirit into you
+all, and get you out of this strict-propriety sort of way. I do not
+despair even of my friend Isabella Caldwell, the good girl of the
+school.
+
+_Isabella._ Our way is a very satisfactory one. It is impossible for
+boarding-school girls to be happier than we are. Our minds are not
+exhausted with long and difficult lessons, and with studies beyond our
+capacity. When school-hours are over, we have full time for recreation,
+and are amply provided with the means of amusing ourselves. We have a
+library of entertaining books; and we have liberty to divert ourselves
+with all sorts of juvenile plays and games. Then how much attention is
+paid to our health and our comforts, and how kindly and judiciously are
+we treated in every respect! Certainly, we ought to think ourselves
+happy.
+
+_Henrietta._ Ay! so you are made to say in the letters which you write
+home to your parents. All our French letters, at Madame Disette's were
+written first by her niece Mademoiselle Mensonge; and the English
+letters were manufactured by poor Benson; and then we copied them in our
+very best hands, with a new pen at every paragraph. They were all nearly
+the same; and told of nothing but the superabundant kindness and
+liberality of Madame Disette, our high respect and esteem for Madame
+Trompeur, her sister, and our vast affection for her amiable niece,
+Mademoiselle Mensonge: together with our perfect health, and extreme
+felicity. In every letter we grew happier and happier.
+
+_Miss Snodgrass._ And were you not so in reality?
+
+_Henrietta._ No, indeed,--all the happiness we had was of our own
+making, for we derived none from any thing our governess did for us;
+though we were obliged in our letters to call her our beloved Madame
+Disette, and to express the most fervent hopes that we might one day
+exactly resemble her; which, I am sure, was the last thing we could have
+desired; for she was one of the ugliest women that I ever saw in my
+life.
+
+_Miss Thomson._ But you might have wished to resemble her in mind and
+manners.
+
+_Henrietta._ Why, as to that, her mind was worse than her face, and her
+manners we all thought absolutely ridiculous. Benson could mimic her
+exactly.
+
+_Miss Marley._ I do not wonder that your parents took you away from such
+a school.
+
+_Henrietta._ The school was certainly bad enough. We had dirty,
+uncomfortable chambers; scanty fires; a mean table, and all such
+inconveniences. But then it was a very fashionable school; all the
+masters were foreigners, and above all things there was a great point
+made of our speaking French. We knew the common phrases perfectly well.
+We could all say, _Comment vous portez vous_,--_Je vous remerçie_,--_Il
+fait beau-temps_,--_Donnez-moi un epingle_,--_Lequel aimez-vous mieux,
+le bleu ou le vert?_ and many other things equally sensible and
+interesting. This was what was called French conversation, and we were
+all able to join in it, after taking lessons in French a very few
+quarters.
+
+But after all, we had a great deal of fun, and that made up for every
+thing. Madame Disette and her sister and niece, always hurried over the
+school-business as fast as possible, that they might have time to pay
+and receive visits; and every evening they were either out, or engaged
+at home with company; so that we had nobody to watch us but poor Benson,
+and none of us cared for _her_. And then we could make her do just as we
+pleased. She only got seventy-five dollars a year, for which she was
+obliged to perform all the drudgery of the school, even to washing and
+dressing the little girls; putting them to bed; darning their stockings
+and mending their clothes; besides doing all Madame Disette's plain
+sewing. Poor Benson could not afford to dress half so well as the
+chambermaid. So how could we have any respect for her? Even the servants
+despised her, and never would do any thing she asked them.
+
+_Miss Snodgrass._ Well, we all respect Miss Loxley. She gets a good
+salary, dresses genteelly, is treated with proper consideration by
+every one in the house, and we obey her just as we do Mrs. Middleton.
+
+_Henrietta._ Yes, and for those very reasons, we never can ask her to
+assist in any little private scheme of our own. Benson was certainly a
+much more convenient person. But to resume our first subject--I do
+really long for a feast.
+
+_Miss Roberts._ Well,--Mrs. Middleton occasionally gives us a feast as
+you call it; for instance, on the birth-day of the young lady who is
+head of her class.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, but then at these regular feasts Mrs. Middleton is
+always present herself. I like to steal a little secret pleasure,
+unsuspected by any one that would check it. Ah! you have never dealt in
+mysteries; you know not how delightful they are. One half the enjoyment
+is in planning and carrying on the plot. Come now, girls, let us get up
+a little feast to-morrow evening. You know Miss Loxley will be out
+again, as her aunt is still sick; and the French teacher always goes
+home at dusk, as she does not sleep here.
+
+_Miss Watkins._ But if Mrs. Middleton should discover us.
+
+_Henrietta._ No. Her sister and brother-in-law are coming to spend the
+evening with her, and to bring a lady and gentleman from Connecticut.
+To-morrow is the very best night we can possibly have. Leave it all to
+me, and I will engage that there shall be no discovery; and we will get
+the little girls to bed very early, that we may have the longer time to
+enjoy ourselves.
+
+_Several of the young ladies._ O, indeed we are afraid!
+
+_Henrietta._ Nonsense--I will answer for it that there shall be no cause
+for fear. Why, we did these things fifty times at Madame Disette's, and
+were never once detected. Come, I will lay down a dollar as the first
+contribution towards the feast. Brownie, how much will you give?
+
+_Miss Brownlow._ I will give half a dollar.
+
+_Miss Watkins._ And I will give a dollar and a half. I have always
+plenty of money.
+
+_Henrietta._ Well done, Watty. And you Scotty, how much?
+
+_Miss Scott._ A quarter of a dollar is all I have left.
+
+_Miss Wilcox._ And I have only ten cents.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, poor Coxey! But never mind, you shall have as large a
+share of the good things as any of us, notwithstanding you can only
+muster ten cents. And now, Snoddy?
+
+_Miss Snodgrass._ Why, I will give a quarter of a dollar and eight
+cents. I have another quarter of a dollar, but I wish to keep it to buy
+a bottle of Cologne water.
+
+_Henrietta._ Pho.--Try to live another week without the Cologne.
+
+_Miss Snodgrass._ No indeed,--I never in my life had a bottle of Cologne
+water all to myself, to use just as I pleased; and I really have set my
+mind on it.
+
+_Henrietta._ Well, we must try to do without Snoddy's other
+quarter-dollar. Well, Bob, what say you?
+
+_Miss Roberts._ I will give half a dollar.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, Bob, Bob! You have more than that, I am sure.
+
+_Miss Roberts._ Yes, I have another half dollar, but I wish to buy the
+book of Fairy Tales you told me of.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, never mind buying the Fairy Tales! I will tell you all
+of them without charging for my trouble. Come now, be good and give the
+whole dollar, and we will have an iced pound-cake.
+
+_Miss Roberts._ Well, if you will _certainly_ tell me all the Fairy
+Tales.
+
+_Henrietta._ Every one of them; twice over if you choose. And now,
+Marley.
+
+_Miss Marley._ I know all this is very improper.
+
+_Henrietta._ Just for once in your life try how it seems to be improper.
+
+_Miss Marley._ Well then for this time only--Here are three quarters of
+a dollar.
+
+_Henrietta._ Now, Tommy!
+
+_Miss Thomson._ I have not resolution to resist. There are half a dollar
+and twelve cents.
+
+_Henrietta._ And now, Isabella Caldwell,--though last not least.
+
+_Isabella._ Excuse me, Henrietta: my contribution will be far less than
+that of any other young lady. In fact, nothing at all.
+
+_Henrietta._ Nothing at all! Why Miss Caldwell, I did not expect this of
+you! I always supposed you to be very generous.
+
+_Isabella._ I wish to be generous whenever it is in my power.
+
+_Henrietta._ Well, dear Isabella, if you have no money, we will not
+press you. We shall be happy to have you at our little feast, even if
+you do not contribute a cent towards it.
+
+_All._ O, yes! We must not lose Isabella Caldwell.
+
+_Isabella._ I am much obliged to you, my dear girls. But it is not the
+want of money that prevents me from joining you. I _have_ money. But I
+wish not, on any terms, to belong to your party; and I shall retire to
+my own room. In short, I do not think it right to be planning a feast
+without the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton, who is so good and so indulgent
+that it is a shame to deceive her.
+
+_Henrietta._ Then I suppose. Miss Caldwell, you intend to betray us; to
+disclose the whole plan to Mrs. Middleton?
+
+_Isabella._ You insult me by such a suspicion. I appeal to all the young
+ladies if they ever knew me guilty of telling tales, or repeating any
+thing which might be a disadvantage to another.
+
+_All._ O, no, no! Isabella is to be trusted. She will never betray us.
+
+_Henrietta._ Then in plain terms, Miss Caldwell, I really think, if you
+have money, you might spare a little for our feast.
+
+_Isabella._ I want the whole of it for another purpose. And I shall get
+no more before next week.
+
+_Henrietta._ Well, this is very strange. I know you do not care for
+finery, and that you never lay out your pocket-money in little articles
+of dress. And as for books of amusement, it was but yesterday that your
+father sent you a whole box full. I _must_ say, that though you are
+called generous--I cannot help thinking you a little--a very little--
+
+_Isabella._ Mean, I suppose you would say.
+
+_Henrietta._ Why, I must not exactly call you _mean_--But I cannot help
+thinking you rather--_meanish_.
+
+_Isabella._ I will not be called mean. My refusal proceeds from other
+motives than you suppose.
+
+_Henrietta._ Young ladies, I will be judged by you all. Is it natural
+for a girl of fifteen, who likes cakes, and pastry, and every sort of
+sweet thing, to be so very conscientious as to refuse to join in a
+little bit of pleasure that can injure no one, that will never be
+discovered, and that all her companions have assented to with few or no
+scruples. No, no, Isabella, I believe that your only object in declining
+to be one of our party, is to save your money.
+
+_Isabella._ O, what injustice you do me!
+
+_Henrietta._ Prove it to be injustice by joining us without further
+objection.
+
+_Miss Watkins._ Henrietta, we do not care for Isabella's money. Let her
+keep it if she wishes. We can afford to entertain her as our guest. I
+am sorry so much should have been said about it.
+
+_Isabella_ (_taking her purse out of her bag._) There then; here are two
+half-dollars. I will prove to you that I am neither mean nor selfish.
+
+_All._ We will not take your money.
+
+_Isabella._ Yes, take it.--Any thing rather than suspect me of what I do
+not deserve. And now let me entreat, that in _my_ presence nothing more
+may be said of this feast. Change the subject, and talk of something
+else. Or, rather, I will retire to bed, and leave you to make your
+arrangements for to-morrow night.
+
+The real reason why Isabella Caldwell was so unwilling to be a
+contributor to the expense of the feast, was, that she had intended
+appropriating her pocket-money to a much better purpose. Her allowance
+was a dollar a week; and she knew that a coloured woman, named Diana,
+(who had formerly been a servant in her father's family before they
+removed to the country) was now struggling with severe poverty. Diana
+was the widow of a negro sailor who had perished at sea, and she was the
+mother of three children, all too small to put out, and whom she
+supported by taking in washing. But during a long illness brought on by
+overworking herself, she lost several of her customers who had given
+their washing to others. Isabella had solicited Mrs. Middleton to allow
+her to employ Diana, rather than the woman who then washed for the
+school. Mrs. Middleton readily consented.
+
+The weather had become very cold, and Isabella saw with regret that
+Diana came to fetch and carry the clothes-bag without either coat or
+cloak; nothing in fact to cover her shoulders but an old yellow cotton
+shawl. Isabella pitied her extremely, and resolved in her own mind not
+to lay out a cent of her money till she had saved enough to buy Diana a
+cloak. Her father, who was a man of large fortune, had placed, at the
+beginning of the year, a sum of money in Mrs. Middleton's hands to
+defray Isabella's expenses, exclusive of her tuition; with directions to
+give her every week a dollar to dispose of as she pleased.
+
+Isabella had now been saving her money for four weeks, and had that
+morning received her weekly allowance, which completed the sum necessary
+to buy a good plaid cloak, and she had determined to go the following
+morning and make the purchase, and to give it to Diana when she came to
+take the clothes. Isabella had now the exact money; and that was the
+reason she was so unwilling to devote any part of it to the expenses of
+the feast. Beside which, she could not, in her heart, approve of any
+species of pleasure that was to be enjoyed in secret, and kept from the
+knowledge of her excellent governess. She felt the usual repugnance of
+modest and benevolent people with regard to speaking of her own acts of
+charity. This reluctance she, however, carried too far, when rather than
+acknowledge that she was keeping her money to buy a cloak for her poor
+washerwoman, she suffered herself to be prevailed on to give up part of
+the sum, as an addition to the fund that was raising for the banquet.
+
+She went to bed sadly out of spirits, and much displeased with herself.
+She had seen at a store, just such a cloak as she wished to get for
+Diana; and she had anticipated the delight and gratitude of the poor
+woman on receiving it, and the comfort it would afford her during the
+inclement season, and for many succeeding winters. "And now," thought
+she, "poor Diana must go without a cloak, and the money will be wasted
+in cakes and tarts; which, however nice they may be, will cause us no
+further pleasure after we have once swallowed them. However, perhaps the
+weather will be less severe to-morrow; and next week I shall have
+another dollar, and I then will again be able to buy Diana the cloak. I
+am sorry that I promised it to her when she was here last. I cannot bear
+the idea of seeing her, and telling her that she must wait for the cloak
+a week longer. I hope the weather will be mild and fine to-morrow."
+
+But Isabella's hope was not realized; and when she rose in the morning,
+she found it snowing very fast. The cold was intense. The ground had
+been for several days already covered with a deep snow which had frozen
+very hard. There was a piercing north-east wind; and, altogether, it was
+the most inclement morning of the whole winter. Isabella hoped that
+Diana would not come for the clothes that day, as the weather would be a
+sufficient excuse; though the poor woman had never before been otherwise
+than punctual. But in a short time, she saw Diana coming round the
+corner, walking very fast, her arms wrapped in her shawl, and holding
+down her head to avoid, as much as possible, the snow that was driving
+in her face. "Ah!" thought Isabella, "she hopes to get the cloak this
+dreadful morning, and to wear it home. How sadly she will be
+disappointed! But I cannot see or speak to her." She then tied up her
+clothes-bag, and desired the chambermaid to take it down and give it to
+Diana, and tell her that she could not see her that morning.
+
+Isabella could not forbear going again to the window; and she saw Diana
+come up the area steps into the street, carrying the clothes-bag, and
+looking disappointed. Isabella, with a heavy heart, watched her till she
+turned the corner, shrinking from the storm, and shivering along in her
+old thin shawl. "Oh!" thought Isabella, "how very badly the
+confectionary will taste to me this evening, when I think that my
+contribution towards it, has obliged me to break my promise to this poor
+woman; and that it will cause her, for at least another week, to endure
+all the sufferings of exposure to cold without sufficient covering."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Henrietta Harwood, as leader of the conspiracy, was extremely busy every
+moment that she could snatch from the presence of Mrs. Middleton and the
+teachers, in making arrangements for the feast of the evening. There was
+a great deal of whispering and consulting, between her and the elder
+girls, as to what they should have; and a great deal of talking on the
+stairs to Mary the chambermaid; who, for the bribe of a quarter of a
+dollar, had consented to procure for them whatever they wished, without
+the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton. It was unanimously agreed that none of
+the _little_ girls were to be let into the secret, as their discretion
+was not to be depended on; and there was much lamentation that the
+bed-hour for the children was so late as eight o'clock. The little girls
+all slept in one large room, and as soon as they had gone to be prepared
+for bed, under the superintendence of Mary, Henrietta proposed that
+herself and six other young ladies should volunteer to assist in
+undressing them. "You know," said she, "there are eight of the children,
+and if we each take a child and leave one to Mary, they can be got to
+bed in an eighth part of the time that it will require for Mary to
+attend to all of them herself. Just, you know, as they have quilting
+frolics and husking frolics in the country, when a whole week's work is
+accomplished in a few hours, by assembling a great many persons to join
+in it."
+
+This proposal was immediately assented to; and a committee of half a
+dozen young ladies, with Henrietta at their head, adjourned to the
+children's apartment. "Come, little chits," said Henrietta, "as it is a
+cold night, we are going to have an undressing frolic, and to help Mary
+to put you all to bed: for the sooner you are tucked up in your nests
+the better it will be for you,--and for us too," she added in a low
+voice aside to Miss Thomson. "Here, Rosalie Sunbridge," she continued,
+"come to me, I will do the honours for _you_, as you are a sort of pet
+of mine."
+
+The elder girls then began undressing the little ones with such violence
+that strings snapped, buttons were jerked off, and stockings torn in the
+process. The children wondered why the young ladies were seized with
+such a sudden and unusual fit of kindness, and why they went so
+energetically to work in getting them undressed and put to bed.
+
+An altercation, however, ensued between Henrietta Harwood and Rosalie
+Sunbridge, who declared that it was her mother's particular desire that
+her hair behind should be curled in papers every night; a ceremony that
+Henrietta proposed omitting, telling her that there was already
+sufficient curl remaining in her hair to last all the next day, and
+reminding her that there was no such trouble with the hair of the other
+little girls. "That is because they have no hair to curl," replied
+Rosalie; "you know that they are all closely cropped. But if you will
+not roll up mine in papers, Miss Harwood, I would rather have Mary to
+put me to bed, though you _do_ call me your pet." "Well, well, hush, and
+I _will_ do it," said Henrietta; "but it shall be done in a new way
+which saves a great deal of trouble, and makes very handsome curls when
+the hair is opened out next morning." So saying, she snatched up a great
+piece of coarse brown paper, and seizing the little girl's hind hair in
+her hand, she rolled it all up in one large curl; Rosalie crying out at
+the violence with which she pulled, and the other children laughing,
+when it was done, at the huge knob, and telling Rosalie she had a
+knocker at her back.
+
+In a short time the night-gowns and night-caps were scrambled on, and
+the children all deposited in their respective beds, and all hastily
+kissed by their undressers; who hurried out of the room, anxious to
+enter upon their anticipated delights.
+
+"Now, good Mary, dear Mary," said Henrietta, "do tell me if you have
+got every thing?" "Every thing, miss," replied Mary, "except the
+calves-foot jelly; and the money fell short of that. But I have got
+the iced pound-cake, and the mince pies, and the oyster patties, and
+the little cocoa-nut puddings, and the bottle of lemon-syrup, and all
+the other things. They are snug and safe in the market-basket in the
+back-kitchen-closet; and nobody can never guess nothing about it."
+
+Just at this moment the man-servant came to tell the young ladies that
+Mrs. Middleton wished them all to go down into the front parlour to look
+at some prints. These prints were the coloured engravings of Wall's
+beautiful views on the Hudson, and which had just been purchased by Mrs.
+Middleton's brother-in-law, who was going to leave the city the
+following morning. At any other time the young ladies (at least those
+who had a taste for drawing) would have been grateful for Mrs.
+Middleton's kindness in allowing them an opportunity of looking at these
+fine landscapes; but _now_ every moment that detained them from the
+feast, seemed like an hour. Henrietta murmured almost aloud; and they
+all went down with reluctance, except Isabella Caldwell, who had made up
+her mind not to partake of the banquet.
+
+In the mean time, little Rosalie Sunbridge, who was a very cunning
+child, and had a great deal of curiosity, suspected that something more
+than usual was going on, from the alertness of the young ladies in
+hurrying the children to bed. _Her_ bed being nearest to the door, she
+had overheard the elder girls in earnest consultation with the
+chambermaid in the passage, and although she could not distinguish
+exactly what was said, she understood that something very delightful was
+to go on that evening in the front school-room. Having a great desire to
+know precisely what was in agitation, she waited a short time till all
+her companions were asleep; and then getting up softly, she opened one
+of the shutters to let in a little light, as the storm had subsided and
+there was a faint moon. She then got her merino coat, and put it on over
+her night-gown, and covering her feet with her carpet moccasins that she
+might make no noise in walking, she stole softly into the front
+school-room, determined to watch all that went on.
+
+Two lamps were burning on the table; but no person was in the room; the
+young ladies having all gone down into the parlour to look at the
+prints. Rosalie, by climbing on a chair, managed, with much difficulty,
+to get on the upper shelf of a large closet; having hastily cleared a
+space for herself to lie down in, among the books and rolls of maps.
+Then pushing away the chair, she drew the closet-door nearly close;
+leaving only a small crack, through which she could observe all that was
+done.
+
+Presently, she saw Mary come cautiously into the room with a basket, and
+taking out of it the materials for the feast, the girl arranged them all
+to great advantage on the table. When this was accomplished, she went
+down stairs; and immediately after, the young ladies, having looked
+hastily at the prints, all came up, and expressed much satisfaction at
+the inviting appearance of the banquet. Isabella lighted a small lamp,
+and said she was going to bed.
+
+"Why, Caldwell," exclaimed Henrietta, "are you absolutely in earnest?
+What, after contributing to the expense of the feast, will you really
+leave us before it begins, and go dismally to bed? See how nice every
+thing looks."
+
+"Every thing, indeed, looks nice," replied Isabella, "but still I have
+no desire to partake of them. I am out of spirits, and I have other
+reasons for not wishing to join your party." "Just take something before
+you go," said Henrietta. "No," answered Isabella, "I feel as if I could
+not taste a single article on the table."
+
+She then withdrew to her room, and her companions took their seats and
+began to regale themselves; Henrietta presiding at the head of the
+table. They would have enjoyed their feast very much, only that,
+notwithstanding their expected security, they were in continual dread of
+being discovered. They started, and listened at every little noise;
+fearing that Miss Loxley might possibly have returned, or that Mrs.
+Middleton might possibly be coming up stairs.
+
+"Really," said Henrietta, "it is a great pity that poor Isabella
+Caldwell, after she gave her dollar with so much reluctance, should
+refuse to take any share of our feast. Perhaps to-morrow she will think
+better of it. Suppose we save something for her. I dare say she will
+have no objection to eat some of these good things in the morning."
+
+"Put by one of the little cocoa-nut puddings for her," said Miss Scott.
+"And one of the mince pies," said another young lady. "And a large slice
+of pound-cake," said a third. "And a bunch of white grapes," said a
+fourth.
+
+Henrietta then selected some of the nicest articles of their banquet, to
+offer to Isabella in the morning; and after some consultation, it was
+concluded to deposit them, for the present, in the farthest corner of
+the upper shelf of the closet; which upper shelf was only used as a
+repository for old maps and old copy books, and waste paper, and with
+these the things could be very conveniently covered. "Do not take a
+light to the closet," said Miss Marley, "you may set something on fire.
+If you stand on tiptoe and raise your arm as high as you can, you may
+easily reach the upper shelf."
+
+Henrietta accordingly walked to the closet; and was in the act of
+shoving a mince-pie into a dark corner of the upper shelf, when suddenly
+she gave a start and a shriek, and let fall the cocoa-nut pudding which
+she held in her hand. "What is the matter?" exclaimed all the girls at
+once. "Oh!" cried Henrietta, "when I reached up the mince-pie to the top
+shelf, it was taken from me by a cold hand that met mine--I felt the
+fingers." "Impossible," said some of the girls. "What could it actually
+be?" cried others. Just then, Rosalie made a rustling among the loose
+papers on the top shelf. "There it is again," screamed Henrietta. "Oh!"
+cried Miss Watkins, "we have done very wrong to plot this feast in
+secret, and something dreadful is going to happen to us as a
+punishment."
+
+Another rustling set all the young ladies to screaming; and, with one
+accord, they rushed towards the door, with such force as to overset the
+table and all its contents. The lamps were broken and extinguished in
+the fall; several of the girls were thrown down by the others; and the
+shrieks were so violent that Mrs. Middleton heard them into the parlour,
+where, her friends having left her, she was sitting with Miss Loxley,
+who had just come in; and taking a light with them, the two ladies ran
+up to the front school-room.
+
+The scene which then presented itself transfixed them with astonishment.
+The floor was strewed with the remains of the feast. The oil from the
+shattered lamps was running among the cakes and pies, which were also
+drenched with water from a broken pitcher; near which the bottle of
+lemon-syrup was lying in fragments. The table was thrown down on its
+side. Some of the young ladies were still prostrate on the floor, and
+all were screaming. Rosalie (frightened at the uproar she had caused)
+was on her hands and knees, looking out from the upper shelf of the
+closet, and crying "O, take me down, take me down! somebody bring a
+chair and take me down."
+
+Isabella Caldwell, hearing the noise, had thrown on her flannel gown,
+and ran also to see what was the matter. As soon as the surprise of Mrs.
+Middleton would allow her to speak, she inquired the cause of all this
+disturbance; but she could get no other answer than that there was some
+horrible thing in the closet. "There is indeed something in the closet,"
+said Mrs. Middleton, perceiving Rosalie. "Miss Sunbridge, how came you
+up there, and in that dress? and what is the meaning of all this?"
+
+The young ladies, having recovered from their terror when they found it
+to be groundless, and Miss Loxley having taken down Rosalie, Henrietta
+made a candid confession of the whole business. Acknowledging herself to
+be the proposer and leader of the plot, she expressed her readiness to
+submit to any punishment Mrs. Middleton might think proper to inflict on
+her, but hoped that her governess would have the goodness to pardon all
+the other young ladies; none of whom would have thought of a secret
+feast, if she had not suggested it to them. "Above all," continued
+Henrietta, "I must exculpate Isabella Caldwell, who declined going to
+table with us or partaking of any thing, but retired to her bed; as may
+be known by her being now in her night-clothes."
+
+Mrs. Middleton was touched with the generosity of Henrietta Harwood, in
+taking all the blame on herself to exonerate her companions; and as her
+kind heart would not allow her to send any of her pupils to bed in the
+anticipation of being punished the next day, she said, "Miss Harwood, I
+will for this time permit your misdemeanour to go unpunished, but I
+require a promise from you that it shall never be repeated. Make that
+promise sincerely, and I feel assured that you will keep it."
+
+"O, yes, indeed, dear madam!" sobbed Henrietta, "you are too kind; and I
+cannot forgive myself for having persuaded my companions to join in a
+plot which I knew you would disapprove."
+
+"Go now to your beds," said Mrs. Middleton, "and I will send a servant
+to clear away the disorder of this room. Rosalie, I see, has already
+slipped off to hers."
+
+Next morning, before school commenced, Mrs. Middleton addressed the
+young ladies mildly but impressively, on the proceedings of the day
+before. She dwelt on the general impropriety of all secret contrivances;
+on the injury done to the integrity of the ignorant servant-girl, by
+bribing her to deceive her employer; on the danger of making themselves
+sick by eating such a variety of sweet things; and on the folly of
+expending in those dainties, money which might be much better employed.
+
+"That," said Henrietta, "was one of Isabella Caldwell's objections to
+joining our feasting party. I am now convinced that she had in view some
+more sensible manner of disposing of her money. I regret that she was
+prevailed on to contribute her dollar, as she must have had an excellent
+reason for her unwillingness; and she seemed really unhappy, and went to
+bed without touching any of our good things."
+
+"I can guess how it was," said Miss Loxley. "One very cold morning last
+week, I met Diana, Miss Caldwell's washerwoman, going up stairs with the
+clean clothes, and having nothing on her shoulders but an old cotton
+shawl. I asked her if she had no cloak, and she replied that she had
+not; but added, that Miss Isabella had been so kind as to promise her
+one, which was to be ready for her when she came again. I suspect that
+Miss Caldwell has been saving her money for the laudable purpose of
+furnishing this poor woman with a cloak."
+
+"Oh! no doubt she has," exclaimed Henrietta. "Why, dear Isabella, did
+you not say so? and bad as I am, I would not have persisted in
+persuading you out of your dollar."
+
+"The woman, however, did not get her cloak," resumed Miss Loxley, "for I
+again saw her without one, yesterday, though the weather had increased
+in severity."
+
+"It is true," said Isabella. "The cloak was to have cost four dollars,
+and after subscribing one dollar to the feast, I could not buy it; as I
+had not then sufficient money."
+
+_Mrs. Middleton._ Miss Harwood, had you often these feasts at Madame
+Disette's.
+
+_Henrietta._ Oh! very often, and as the teacher, Miss Benson, was always
+one of the party, we managed so well, that Madame Disette never
+discovered us. Or if she had any suspicion, she said nothing about it;
+for after all, she cared very little what we did out of school-hours
+provided that our proceedings _cost her nothing_.
+
+_Mrs. Middleton._ You must not speak so disrespectfully of your former
+governess. But I will explain to you that _I_ care very much what you
+do, even in your hours of recreation. It is when the business of the
+school is over, and they are no longer in the presence of their
+instructors, that girls are in the greatest danger of forming bad
+habits, and imitating bad examples. All deceit, all tricks, are highly
+unjustifiable. A little feast may seem in itself of small moment; but if
+you persist in plotting little feasts, you will eventually be led on to
+plot things of more importance, and which may lead to the worst
+consequences. Then, as I always allow you as large a portion of sweet
+things as comports with your health, it is the more reprehensible in you
+to seek to procure them for yourselves, without my knowledge. Tell me
+now, do any of you feel the better for last night's frolic?
+
+_Miss Thomson._ O, no, no! Miss Watkins and Miss Roberts were sick all
+night; and, indeed, none of us feel very well this morning.
+
+_Mrs. Middleton._ I observed that you all had very little appetite for
+your breakfast.
+
+_Miss Brownlow._ And then _I_ had my new frock spoiled when I fell down
+in the lamp-oil.
+
+_Miss Wilcox._ And I got some lamp-oil into my mouth. I tasted it all
+night. Even my nose was rubbed in it, as I lay struggling on the floor.
+
+_Miss Snodgrass._ And _I_ fell with my knees on half a dozen pieces of
+orange, and stained my black silk frock, so that it is no longer fit to
+wear.
+
+_Miss Marley._ And _I_ was thrown down with the back of my head on a
+bunch of grapes, mashing them to a jelly.
+
+_Miss Scott._ But _my_ hair was so very sticky, with falling into the
+lemon syrup, that I was obliged, this morning, to wash it all over with
+warm soap-suds.
+
+_Miss Roberts._ And _I_ put my foot into the bottom of the broken
+pitcher, and cut my heel so that it bled through the stocking.
+
+_Miss Watkins._ Still, nothing of this would have happened if Rosalie
+Sunbridge had stayed in her bed. It was her hiding in the closet and
+frightening us, that caused all the mischief.
+
+_Rosalie._ I am sure I was punished enough for my curiosity; for when I
+got on the closet-shelf I was obliged to lie so cramped that I was
+almost stiff; and I was half dead with cold, notwithstanding I had put
+on my merino coat. And then I was longing all the time for some of the
+good things I saw you eating; so that when Miss Harwood came to hide the
+mince-pie, I could not forbear taking it out of her hand. When I found
+that you were all so terrified, I thought I would make a noise among the
+loose papers to frighten you still more, supposing that you would all
+quit the room; and that then I could come down from the shelf, and
+regale myself awhile, before I stole back to-bed. I did not foresee that
+you would overset the table in your flight, and make such a violent
+noise. But I will never again attempt to pry into other people's
+secrets.
+
+_Mrs Middleton._ I hope you never will. This feast, you see, has caused
+nothing but discomfort, which is the case with all things that are in
+themselves improper. Yet I think the greatest sufferer is Isabella
+Caldwell's washerwoman, who has, in consequence, been disappointed of
+her cloak.
+
+_Isabella._ Next week, madam, when I receive my allowance, I hope to be
+able to buy it for her.
+
+_Mrs. Middleton._ You need not wait till next week. The poor woman shall
+suffer no longer for a cloak. Here is a dollar in advance; and after
+school, you can go out and purchase it, so that it may be ready for her
+to-morrow when she brings home your clothes.
+
+_Isabella._ Dear Mrs. Middleton, how much I thank you.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The young ladies having promised that they would attempt no more private
+feasts, Mrs. Middleton kissed, and forgave them. After school, Isabella,
+accompanied by Miss Loxley, went out and bought the plaid cloak, which
+was sent home directly. Next day, she longed for Diana to arrive with
+the clothes, that she might enjoy her pleasure on receiving so useful a
+gift, but, to her great disappointment they were brought home by another
+mulatto woman, who informed Isabella that she was Diana's next door
+neighbour, and that poor Diana having taken a violent cold from being
+out in the snow-storm, was now confined to her bed with the rheumatism.
+"Ah!" thought Isabella, "perhaps if she had had this good warm cloak to
+go home in, the day before yesterday, she might have escaped the
+rheumatism. I see now that whenever we allow ourselves to be persuaded
+to do a thing which we know to be wrong, evil is sure to come from it."
+
+She desired the woman to wait a few minutes; and hastening to Mrs.
+Middleton, begged that she would allow her to go and see poor Diana,
+who, she feared was in great distress. Mrs. Middleton readily consented,
+and had a basket filled with various things, which she gave to the woman
+to carry with the plaid cloak to Diana. She sent by Isabella a bottle of
+camphor, and some cotton wadding, for Diana's rheumatism, and a medicine
+for her to take internally. Miss Loxley accompanied Isabella; and they
+found Diana in bed and very ill, and every thing about her evincing
+extreme poverty. Isabella engaged the woman to stay with Diana till she
+got well, and to take care of her and her children, promising to pay her
+for her trouble. When they returned and made their report to Mrs.
+Middleton, she wrote a note to her physician, requesting him to visit
+Diana and attend her as long as was necessary.
+
+Next week, Henrietta Harwood, and the other young ladies, subscribed all
+their allowance of pocket-money for the relief of Diana; who very soon
+was well enough to resume her work. It is unnecessary to add that their
+contribution to the support of the poor woman and her family, gave them
+far more pleasure than they had derived from the unfortunate feast. They
+never, of course, attempted another. And Henrietta Harwood, at Mrs.
+Middleton's school, lost all the faults she had acquired at Madame
+Disette's.
+
+
+
+
+THE WEEK OF IDLENESS.
+
+    "Their only labour was to kill the time,
+       And labour dire it was, and weary wo."
+                                         _Thomson._
+
+
+Adelaide and Rosalind, the daughters of Mr. Edington, looked forward
+with much pleasure to the arrival of their cousin, Josephine
+Sherborough, from Maryland. She was to spend the summer with them, at
+their father's country residence on the beautiful bay of New York, a few
+miles below the city; and, though they had never seen her, they were
+disposed to regard Josephine as a very agreeable addition to their
+family society. Having had the misfortune to lose their mother, Adelaide
+and Rosalind had been for several years under the entire care of their
+governess, Mrs. Mortlake; a highly accomplished and most amiable woman,
+whom they loved and respected as if she had been their parent, and by
+whose instructions they had greatly profited.
+
+It was on a beautiful evening in June, that Josephine Sherborough was
+_certainly_ expected, after several disappointments within the last two
+or three weeks. The Miss Edingtons and their governess were seated on
+one of the settees in the portico that extended along the front of Mr.
+Edington's house. Mrs. Mortlake was sewing, Rosalind reading aloud, and
+Adelaide, with her drawing materials before her, was earnestly engaged
+in colouring a sketch of a fishing-boat at anchor, beautifully reflected
+in the calm water, and tinted with the glowing rays of the declining
+sun. As she put in the last touches, she hoped, before the summer was
+over, that she should improve so much in her drawing as to be enabled to
+attempt a view of the bay with its green shores; its island fortresses;
+and its numerous ships, some going out on a voyage to distant regions,
+others coming home with the merchandise and the news of Europe.
+
+"Now," exclaimed Adelaide, "I see the smoke of the steamboat, just
+behind Castle Williams. My father and Josephine will soon be here. I am
+glad my drawing is so nearly completed. In a few minutes it will be
+finished."
+
+"And in a few minutes," said Rosalind, "I shall conclude the story that
+I am reading."
+
+"Do you not now think," asked Mrs. Mortlake, "I was right in proposing
+that we should protract our usual afternoon occupations an hour beyond
+the usual time, as we are expecting the arrival of your father and your
+cousin? This last hour would have seemed twice its real length, if we
+had done nothing, all the while, but strain our eyes in gazing up the
+bay for the steamboat, saying every few minutes, 'Oh, I wish they were
+come!'"
+
+In a short time, Adelaide exclaimed, "Here is the steamboat. I see they
+are depositing several trunks in the little boat at the side. And now it
+is let down to the water. And now a gentleman and a young lady descend
+the steps, and take their seats in it. How fast it cuts its way through
+the foam that is raised by the tow-line. In a moment it will touch the
+wharf. Here they come. There is my father; and it _must_ be Josephine
+that is with him!"
+
+The sisters then ran down the steps of the portico, and in a moment were
+at the landing-place, where Mr. Edington, as soon as he had assisted
+her to step on shore, introduced them to Josephine Sherborough, a fat,
+fair, pale young lady, about fourteen, with a remarkably placid
+countenance which immediately won the regard of Rosalind: who determined
+in her own mind that Josephine was a very sweet girl, and that they
+should, ever hereafter, be intimate and most particular friends.
+Adelaide, who was two years older than Rosalind, and who had more
+penetration, was not so violently prepossessed in favour of her cousin,
+whose face she thought deficient in animation, and whose movements were
+more slow and heavy than those of any young girl she had ever seen.
+
+When tea was over, the sisters proposed to Josephine a walk round the
+garden, which was large and very beautiful; but she complained of being
+excessively tired, and said that she would much rather go to bed. This
+somewhat surprised her cousins, as they knew that Josephine had been
+three days in the city with the friends under whose care she had come
+from Maryland; and they thought that she must have had ample time to
+recover from the fatigue of her journey: to which her last little trip
+in the steamboat could not have added much. Rosalind, who was a year
+younger than Josephine, accompanied her to the chamber prepared for her
+accommodation, where Josephine, looking round disconsolately, inquired
+if there was no servant to undress her. Rosalind volunteered to perform
+this office; and Josephine said she would ring the bell for one of the
+maids, when she wished to get up in the morning.
+
+She kept the family waiting breakfast for her till nine o'clock, and
+then came down in a white slip or loose gown; her hair still pinned up;
+her eyes half shut; and her face evidently not washed. Mr. Edington,
+whose business in the city made it necessary for him to be there at an
+early hour, had long since breakfasted, and gone up to town in the boat;
+and after a few days, the rest of the family ceased to wait for her; and
+the housekeeper was directed to have a fresh breakfast prepared for Miss
+Sherborough whenever she came down.
+
+The first days of Josephine's visit ought, in Rosalind's opinion, to
+have been devoted entirely to the amusement of their guest, and she was
+urgent with Mrs. Mortlake, to allow Adelaide and herself a week of
+holiday. Their governess told them that she would have been willing to
+grant this indulgence if Josephine was to remain with them a week only:
+but as she was to stay all summer, it would, of course, be impossible
+for them, every day, to give up their usual occupations; and therefore
+it was better to begin as they were to go on. She reminded Rosalind that
+if they were attentive and industrious, they would get through their
+lessons the sooner, and have the more time for recreation with their
+visitor.
+
+After Josephine had breakfasted, Mrs. Mortlake offered to show her the
+children's library, that she might amuse herself with any of the books
+she chose, while her cousins were engaged in their morning employments.
+Josephine thanked her; but said she could entertain herself very well
+without books, and that she believed she would take a walk in the
+garden. She accordingly put on her bonnet, and strolled up and down the
+walks, gazing listlessly at the flowers. She attempted to gather some
+strawberries, but found it too fatiguing to stoop down to the beds; and
+satisfied herself with plucking currants and gooseberries from the
+bushes. She then sat in the arbour for awhile, and looked all the time
+straight down the middle walk. When she was tired of the arbour, she
+established herself on a circular bench which ran round a large walnut
+tree; and then she counted all the windows at the back part of the
+house. When this was accomplished, she counted them all over again. And
+then, finding the sun had become very powerful, she went into the
+front-parlour, the shutters of which were bowed to exclude the heat, and
+throwing herself at full length on the sofa, she in a few minutes fell
+into a profound sleep, from which she did not awaken till her cousins
+entered the room in search of her, after their lessons were over. They
+took her up stairs into the apartment they called their play-room, and
+showed her a variety of things which would have been very amusing to a
+girl that knew how to be amused. There was a lacquered Chinese cabinet,
+containing a great number of curiosities brought by their uncle from
+Canton: and a large box with shelves, on which were various specimens of
+Indian ingenuity, presented to the children by a gentleman who had
+travelled all over the country beyond the Mississippi. Their library
+consisted of a beautiful and entertaining selection of juvenile books;
+and they had a port-folio filled with fine prints of such subjects as
+are particularly interesting to young people. They showed her a
+representation of the grand procession at the coronation of the
+sovereign of England, printed on a long narrow roll of paper pasted on
+silk; which paper was unwound like a ribbon-yard from a Tunbridge-ware
+box, and it could be screwed up again after being sufficiently seen. It
+was many yards in length, and the figures (which were almost
+innumerable) were elegantly designed, and beautifully coloured. They had
+also a little theatre, with a great number of scenes; and a variety of
+very small dolls, dressed in appropriate habits to personate the actors.
+Beside all these things, they had a closet full of amusing toys; and in
+short the play-room was amply stored with a profusion of whatever was
+necessary to the enjoyment of their leisure hours.
+
+But all was lost on Josephine. While Adelaide and Rosalind were
+assiduous in showing and explaining to her every thing, she heard them
+with listlessness and apathy, and made not the slightest remark. At
+last, she said "We will reserve some of these sights for to-morrow. I
+must go and dress myself for dinner. Oh! how I hate to dress. It is an
+odious task. I must have Mary to assist me again; for I never _can_ get
+through the fatigue of dressing myself, and fixing my hair."
+
+In the afternoon, Adelaide and Rosalind took their sewing, and seated
+themselves with Mrs. Mortlake in the porch. As Josephine appeared to
+have no work, Mrs. Mortlake gave her a volume of Miss Edgeworth's Moral
+Tales, and requested her to read one of them aloud. Josephine took the
+book and began to read "The Prussian Vase," but with so monotonous and
+inarticulate a tone, or rather drawl, that it was painful to hear her:
+and her cousins were not sorry when, at the end of three or four pages,
+she stopped, and complained that she was too much fatigued to read any
+more.
+
+Mrs. Mortlake then desired Adelaide, who read extremely well, to take
+the book and continue the story, but in a short time Josephine was
+discovered to be asleep. When Adelaide ceased reading, Josephine awoke,
+and saying that she could not live without her afternoon nap, went up
+stairs to lie down on her bed.
+
+She slept till near tea-time, and when tea was over, her cousins and
+Mrs. Mortlake prepared for a walk, and invited Josephine to join them.
+This she did; but in less than ten minutes she complained so much of
+fatigue, that Rosalind turned back and accompanied her home, and she
+reclined on the settee in the porch till the lamps were lighted in the
+front-parlour. The girls then showed Josephine a portable diorama,
+containing twelve beautiful coloured views of castles, abbeys, temples,
+and mountain scenery. Each of these exquisite little landscapes was
+fixed, in turn, as the back scene of a sort of miniature stage. The
+skies and lights of these views were all transparent, and there were
+other skies which turned on rollers, and represented sunrise, moonlight,
+sunshine, and thunder-clouds. These second skies being placed behind
+those of the picture, were slowly unrolled by turning a small handle,
+and produced the most varied and beautiful effects on the scenery, which
+could thus at pleasure be illuminated gradually with sunshine or
+moonbeams, or darkened with the clouds of a gathering storm. But
+Josephine saw this charming exhibition without a single comment; being
+evidently much inclined to yawn as she looked at it. And getting again
+very sleepy, she soon retired to her bed.
+
+Next morning, Mrs. Mortlake invited her to bring her sewing into the
+school-room, and sit there while her cousins were at their lessons. But
+Josephine replied that she hated sewing, and never did any. However, she
+took her seat in the school-room, and a kitten soon after came purring
+round her; so she put it on her lap, and stroked and patted it till the
+lessons were over, and the girls went up stairs to amuse themselves
+till dinner-time.
+
+Adelaide tried to induce Josephine to look at some of the beautiful
+prints in the port-folio; but she found it necessary to explain them
+all, as if she was showing them to a child of three years old.
+
+Rosalind proposed that they should all go on the roof of the house (it
+being flat on the top and guarded with a railing) to look at the beauty
+and wide extent of the prospect; and taking their parasols to screen
+their heads from the sun, they went up through a very convenient
+trap-door at the head of an easy little staircase. The view from the
+roof of Mr. Edington's house was certainly very fine, comprising the bay
+with its islands and fortresses; its boats and vessels of every
+description; the distant lighthouse at Sandy Hook, and the blue ocean
+rolling beyond it: and at the other end of the scene, behind a forest of
+masts, rose the city of New York with its numerous spires glittering in
+the sunlight.
+
+Fine as the prospect was, Josephine showed no symptom of admiration; but
+as they came down through the garret-passage, she spied an old
+rocking-chair standing in a corner among some lumber. (Parlour
+rocking-chairs were not yet in general use.) She turned her head, and
+looked at it with longing eyes. "Ah!" said she, "that is the very thing
+I have been suffering for ever since I left home. Do let me beg to have
+it in my room." The chair, accordingly, was carried into the apartment
+of Josephine, who immediately seated herself, and began to rock with
+great satisfaction; at which most interesting amusement she continued
+till near dinner-time. The rocking-chair was next day taken into the
+school-room, and with that and the kitten, Josephine appeared to get
+through the morning rather contentedly.
+
+The afternoon was again devoted to a long nap: and in the evening
+Josephine reclined on the front-parlour sofa, and entertained herself by
+running her finger a hundred times over the brass nails.
+
+Several days passed on in a similar manner. One morning when they were
+all in the play-room, Josephine said to her cousins, "What a very hard
+life you are obliged to endure. Neither of you have a moment of rest,
+from the time you leave your beds in the morning, till you return to
+them at night. First, there is your rising with the sun, and going to
+work in your little gardens. I am sure you might make your father's
+gardener do all that business."
+
+_Adelaide_. But we take great pleasure in it; and when we see our
+flowers growing and blooming, the interest they excite in us is much
+increased by knowing that we have raised them from the seed, or planted
+the roots ourselves; and that we have assisted their growth by watering,
+weeding, tying them, and clearing them from insects. And is it not
+pleasant to find that the fruit-stones, we planted a few years since in
+our little orchard, have produced trees that are now loaded with fruit?
+The red cherries, we had last evening after tea, were from one of my
+trees; and the large black cherries were from Rosalind's. And in August,
+we shall have our own plums and peaches.
+
+_Josephine_. I am sure it is much less trouble to buy these things, than
+to cultivate them; and as to the amusement, I can see none. Then there
+are those awful lessons that are always to come on after breakfast. The
+writing, and cyphering, and grammar, and geography, and history, one
+day: and the French, and music, and drawing, the next: and-the reading
+and sewing every afternoon; and the walk every evening. Even your
+play-time (as you call it) is a time of perpetual fatigue: your plays
+all seem to require so much skill and ingenuity. And then on Saturday
+morning, to think that you are obliged to go into the housekeeper's room
+and learn to make cakes, and pastry, and sweetmeats, and all such
+things. I am sure if I was never to eat cakes till I assisted in making
+them, I should go without all my life. It seems to me that your whole
+existence is a course of uninterrupted toil.
+
+_Rosalind_. There is much truth in what you say, my dear Josephine. But
+I own it never struck me before.
+
+_Adelaide_. We have always been perfectly happy in our occupations and
+amusements: and the longest day in summer seems too short for us.
+
+_Josephine_. Too short, perhaps, to get through such a quantity of work;
+for I consider all this as _real hard work_. I am glad that I have not
+been brought up in such a laborious manner. My parents love me too much
+to make me uncomfortable, even for a moment; or to cause me in any way
+the slightest fatigue. I have spent my whole life in ease and peace;
+doing nothing but what I pleased, and never learning but when I chose.
+I have not been troubled with either a school or a governess; my mother
+(who was herself educated at a boarding-school) having determined, as I
+was her only child, to instruct me at home.
+
+Adelaide saw that it was in vain to argue the point any farther. But the
+foolish reasoning of Josephine made a great impression on Rosalind; so
+true it is, that "evil communication corrupts good manners," and she was
+seized with an earnest desire to participate in the happiness of doing
+nothing.
+
+Next morning, Rosalind went to her lessons with great reluctance, and
+consequently did not perform them well. On the following day she was
+equally deficient; and in the afternoon when Josephine went up stairs to
+take her nap, Rosalind, looking after her, exclaimed, "Happy girl! How I
+envy her!"
+
+"Envy her!" said Adelaide, "of all the people I am acquainted with, I
+think Josephine Sherborough is the least to be envied."
+
+_Rosalind._ She is not troubled with lessons, and sewing, as we are. She
+can do whatever she pleases the whole day long. No wonder she is fat,
+when she is so perfectly comfortable. For my part, I expect, in the
+course of another year, to be worn to a skeleton with such incessant
+application.
+
+_Adelaide._ But without application how is it possible to learn?
+
+_Rosalind._ I would rather put off my learning till I am older, and have
+strength to bear such dreadful fatigue.
+
+_Adelaide._ I do not find it fatiguing. I am sure our lessons are not
+very long, and Mrs. Mortlake is so kind and gentle, that it is a
+pleasure to be instructed by her; and she explains every thing so
+sensibly and intelligibly.
+
+_Rosalind._ But where is the use of learning every thing before we grow
+up?
+
+_Adelaide._ Because, as Mrs. Mortlake says, children (if they are not
+_too young_) learn faster than grown persons; their memories are better,
+as they have not yet been overloaded, and they have nothing of
+importance to divert their attention from their lessons.
+
+_Rosalind._ I would rather grow up as ignorant as our tenant's wife,
+Dutch Katy, than be made such a slave as I am now. I am sure Katy's life
+is an easy one compared to mine.
+
+_Adelaide, smiling._ Consider it not so deeply.
+
+_Rosalind._ Yes, I will, for I am out of patience. I wish it was the
+fashion to be ignorant.
+
+_Adelaide._ Fortunately it is _not_. To say nothing of the disgrace of
+being ignorant when it is known we have had opportunities of acquiring
+knowledge, persons whose minds are vacant, have but few enjoyments. For
+instance, as Josephine knows nothing of music, it gives her no pleasure
+to hear the finest singing and playing, even such as Mrs. Mortlake's. As
+she has no idea of drawing, she takes not the least delight in looking
+at beautiful pictures. Having never been in the habit of reading, she
+wonders how it is possible to be amused with a book; and as she has no
+knowledge of history or geography, she often, when she _does_ read, is
+puzzled with allusions to those subjects; and a French word is as
+unintelligible to her, as if it were Greek. Plants and animals do not
+interest her, because she has scarcely an idea of the properties or
+attributes of any of the productions of Nature. And what is worse than
+all, she takes no pleasure in listening to the conversation of sensible
+people, because she is incapable of understanding it: her comprehension
+being only equal to the most frivolous topics.
+
+_Rosalind._ Notwithstanding all this, her life passes calmly and
+pleasantly; and I am sure she is much happier than we are.
+
+_Adelaide._ Speak for yourself, dear Rosalind. For my part, I do not
+wish to be more happy than I am.
+
+_Rosalind._ Well, I thought so too, till I knew Josephine. And she is by
+no means so dull as you suppose.
+
+_Adelaide._ Perhaps she is not naturally stupid; but indulgence and
+indolence have so benumbed her understanding, that it seems now
+incapable of the smallest effort.
+
+At this moment Mrs. Mortlake came down with a book in her hand, for the
+afternoon reading.
+
+"Rosalind," said she, "as my room is over the porch, and the windows are
+open, I could not avoid hearing all you have just been saying,
+particularly as you spoke very loudly. As I do not wish to see either of
+my pupils _unhappy_, I will gratify your desire, and both you and
+Adelaide (if it is also her wish) may pass a week entirely without
+occupation; in short, a week of idleness."
+
+_Adelaide._ O no, dear Mrs. Mortlake: I have no desire to avail myself
+of your offer. I would much rather continue my usual employments.
+
+_Rosalind._ A week of entire leisure! O, how delightful!
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ But, during that time, neither you nor Josephine must
+come into the school-room.
+
+_Rosalind._ O, indeed! we shall not desire it.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ Neither must you read.
+
+_Rosalind._ Well!--I am sure I have read enough to last my lifetime.
+Where is the use of reading story-books that are all invention,
+describing people that never lived; or of poring over voyages and
+travels to countries I shall never visit; or of studying the histories
+of dead kings.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not sew.
+
+_Rosalind._ I never _did_ find it very entertaining to stick a needle
+and thread into a piece of muslin, and pull it through again.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not draw.
+
+_Rosalind._ I do not see the pleasure of rubbing red, and blue, and
+green paint on little plates; and dabbling in tumblers of water with
+camel's-hair pencils, and daubing colours on white paper.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not play on the piano, nor on the harp.
+
+_Rosalind._ Well! What sense is there in pressing down your fingers
+first on bits of ivory, and then on bits of ebony; and staring at
+crotchets and quavers all the time? or where is the use of twanging and
+jerking the strings of a harp?
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not work in your garden.
+
+_Rosalind._ So much the better. Then I shall neither dirty my hands with
+pulling up the weeds, nor splash my feet with the water-pot.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ You may sleep as much as you please; but you must not
+rise before nine o'clock.
+
+_Rosalind._ O, how delightful, not to be obliged to jump out of bed at
+daylight! Dearest Mrs. Mortlake, if I could have a _month_ of ease and
+comfort, instead of only a week---
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ Well,--if at the end of the week you still desire it,
+perhaps I may protract the indulgence to a longer period.
+
+_Rosalind._ Dear Mrs. Mortlake, how kind you are. When shall my
+happiness begin? As to-morrow is Saturday, when we _always_ have a half
+holiday, and next day Sunday, when we go to the city to attend church, I
+think, notwithstanding my impatience, I would rather commence my week of
+felicity regularly on Monday morning.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ Very well, then. On Monday morning let it be.
+
+_Adelaide._ I am sorry to hear you call your anticipated week of
+idleness a week of felicity.
+
+_Rosalind._ Oh! I am sure I shall find it so; and you will regret not
+having also accepted Mrs. Mortlake's kind offer.
+
+_Adelaide._ I fear no regret on that subject.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ Say no more, Adelaide. Wait till we see the event of
+Rosalind's experiment.
+
+_Rosalind._ I hope Josephine's afternoon nap will not be as long as
+usual: I am so impatient to tell her. O, how we shall enjoy ourselves
+together!
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+When Josephine awoke and heard of the new arrangement, she was as much
+delighted as _she_ could be at any thing; and she begged that Rosalind
+might be allowed to share her chamber during this happy week.
+
+Monday morning came; and Rosalind (such is the power of habit) awoke, as
+usual, with the dawn; but soon recollected that she was not to get up
+till nine o'clock. She saw the light gleaming through the Venetian
+shutters, and she heard the morning song of the scarlet oriole, whose
+nest was in a locust tree close to the window; and the twittering of the
+martins as they flew about their box, which was affixed to the wall just
+below the roof of the house. She heard Adelaide, who was in the next
+room, get up to dress herself, and exclaim as she threw open the
+shutters, "O, what a beautiful sunrise!" Rosalind felt some desire to
+enjoy the loveliness of the early morning; but determined to remain in
+bed, and indulge herself with another nap. She turned and shook her
+pillow, and tumbled about for a long time before she could get to sleep;
+and at last she awoke again just as the clock was striking seven. She
+had still two hours to remain in bed, and she found the time extremely
+tedious. "Are you asleep, Josephine?" said she. "No," replied Josephine,
+"I am never asleep after this hour."
+
+_Rosalind._ Why, then, do you remain in bed?
+
+_Josephine._ O, because I hate to get up.
+
+_Rosalind._ Well then let us talk.
+
+_Josephine._ O, no! I never talk in bed. For, even when I do not sleep,
+I am not quite awake.
+
+At length it was nine; and at the first stroke of the clock, Rosalind
+started from her bed, and began to wash and dress herself. When the
+girls went down stairs, they found the family breakfast had long been
+over, and they had theirs on a little table in a corner of the room.
+Rosalind thought her breakfast did not taste very well; probably,
+because remaining so long in bed, had taken away her appetite.
+
+After breakfast, they went out and walked a little while in the most
+shady part of the garden. Then they sat down; first in the arbour of
+honeysuckles, then on the green bank behind the ice-house; then on a
+garden chair; and then on the bench at the foot of the great walnut
+tree. They picked a few currants and ate them; and they gathered some
+roses and smelled them. For some time they held their parasols over
+their heads; and then they shut them, and made marks on the gravel with
+the ends of the ivory sticks. They looked awhile at a nursery of young
+peach-trees at one side of the garden; and then they turned and looked
+towards a clover-field on the other side. Josephine pulled the strings
+of her reticule backwards and forwards; and Rosalind counted the
+palisades in the fence of the kitchen-garden. At last a bright idea
+struck her; and she gathered some dandelions that were going to seed,
+and blew off the down; recommending the same amusement to Josephine,
+who, after two or three trials, gave it up.
+
+"Suppose we go to the play-room," said Rosalind. Josephine assented, and
+they slowly walked back to the house, and ascended the stairs. "Now,"
+said Rosalind, "we can play domino _in the morning_. Generally, we never
+amuse ourselves with any of those little games in the day-time; though
+we have domino, draughts, and loto, sometimes in the evening." They
+played domino awhile in a very spiritless manner, and then they tried
+draughts and loto, which they also soon gave up; Josephine saying that
+all these games required too much attention. She then had recourse to
+the rocking-chair, and Rosalind took some white paper and cut fly-traps;
+in which amusements they tried to get rid of the time till near the
+dinner-hour, when they combed their hair, and changed their dresses.
+Adelaide did not join them in the play-room, being much engaged with a
+very amusing book.
+
+After dinner, Rosalind, accompanied Josephine to her room to take a nap
+likewise. But she found it so warm, and turned and tossed about so much,
+and had such difficulty in fixing herself in a comfortable position,
+that she thought, if it was not for the name of taking a nap, she had
+better have stayed up as usual. Josephine had less difficulty, being
+accustomed to afternoon-sleeping; and at length Rosalind shut her eyes,
+and fell into a sort of uneasy doze.
+
+When they awoke, Rosalind proposed that they should put on their frocks,
+and go down into the porch, where Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide were
+reading and sewing. But Josephine thought it would be much less trouble
+to sit in their loose gowns until near tea-time. To this Rosalind
+agreed, and they sat and gazed at the river. But it happened _this_
+afternoon that no ships came in, and only one went out; and all the
+steamboats kept far over towards the opposite shore. They were glad when
+the bell rung for tea; for when people do nothing, their meals are a
+sort of amusement, and are therefore expected with anxious interest. In
+the evening, they declined joining Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide in their
+usual long walk, and took a short stroll under the willows on the bank
+of the river; after which they returned to the parlour, where Mr.
+Edington sat reading the newspaper, and Josephine threw herself on the
+sofa; while Rosalind sat beside her on a chair, and played with the
+kitten.
+
+Next morning, their amusements in the garden were a little diversified
+by playing jack-stones and platting ribbon-grass; and when they went up
+to the play-room, Rosalind, looking among her old toys, found a doll
+long since laid aside, and a basket with its clothes. She offered the
+doll to Josephine proposing that she should dress it: but Josephine said
+"I would rather look at you, while _you_ do it." Rosalind accordingly
+dressed the doll in two different suits, one after another; but soon
+grew tired, and had recourse to an ivory cup and ball, which she failed
+to catch with as much dexterity as usual. She gave Josephine a wooden
+lemon, which on being opened in the middle, contained a number of other
+lemons one within another, and diminishing in size till the last and
+smallest was no bigger than a pea. When Josephine had got through the
+lemon, Rosalind took it, and resigned the cup and ball to her cousin,
+who soon gave it up, as she could never make the cup catch the ball; and
+she again finished the morning with her never-failing resource the
+rocking-chair.
+
+Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday having been passed in this manner, on
+Thursday Rosalind began to acknowledge to herself, what she had indeed
+suspected on the first day, that a life of entire idleness was not quite
+so agreeable as she had supposed. Having no useful or interesting
+occupation to diversify her time, she found that play had lost its
+relish; and now that she could play all day, she found all plays
+tiresome. These three days had appeared to her of never-ending length;
+and she began to think that when her week of idleness had expired she
+would not solicit Mrs. Mortlake to prolong the term.
+
+On Thursday afternoon Rosalind gave up her nap, and went and seated
+herself at the open window, that she might hear Mrs. Mortlake and
+Adelaide read aloud in the porch. And next morning, she actually stopped
+and listened at the school-room door while Adelaide was repeating her
+French lesson; and she returned again, and stood behind the door, to
+hear Mrs. Mortlake instructing her sister in a new song accompanied on
+the harp. All that day and the next, she felt as if she was actually
+sick of doing nothing; and she absolutely languished to be allowed once
+more to take a book and read, or to draw, or play on the piano. Even
+sewing, she thought, would now seem delightful to her.
+
+On Saturday morning Rosalind met Adelaide in her brown linen apron with
+long sleeves, going into the housekeeper's room to assist in making
+cakes and pastry. She longed to go in with her, and to do her part as
+formerly; and her longing increased when she heard the sound of beating
+eggs, and grinding spice. She had hitherto looked forward with great
+pleasure to her holiday on Saturday afternoon. Now, after doing nothing
+all the week, Saturday afternoon had no charms for her; and she was glad
+to find it was to be devoted to a ride in the carriage, through a
+pleasant part of the adjacent country.
+
+"Well, Rosalind," said Josephine, as they were taking off their bonnets,
+after their return from the ride, "you have now spent a week in _my_
+way. Do you not wish you could pass your whole life in the same manner?"
+
+_Rosalind._ No, indeed--nor even another week. This week of idleness has
+seemed to me like a month; and I have no desire to renew the
+experiment. I have never in my life gone to bed so tired as after those
+days of doing nothing. I find that want of occupation is to me absolute
+misery; though it may be very delightful to _you_, as you have been
+brought up in a different manner, and have never been accustomed to any
+sort of employment. Yet, still I think you would be much happier, if you
+had something to do.
+
+In the evening Mr. Edington said to his youngest daughter, "Well,
+Rosalind, how do you like your week of idleness? Are you going to
+request Mrs. Mortlake to lengthen the term of your enjoyment?"
+
+_Rosalind._ O no, dear father; it has been no enjoyment to _me_. On the
+contrary, I am glad to think that it is now over. I have found it
+absolutely a punishment.
+
+_Mr. Edington._ So I suspected.
+
+_Rosalind._ And I deserved it, for allowing myself to become
+dissatisfied with the manner in which Mrs. Mortlake chose that I should
+occupy myself. I am tired of lying in bed, tired of idleness, and tired
+of play. So, dear Mrs. Mortlake, be so kind as to let me rise at
+daylight on Monday morning, to work in my garden, and resume my lessons
+as usual. You may depend on it I shall never again wish for a single
+day of idleness.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ I am very glad to hear you say so, my dear Rosalind.
+And I do not despair of at length convincing Josephine that she would be
+more happy if she had some regular employment.
+
+That night Rosalind returned to her own chamber, and next morning she
+was up at daylight. It being Sunday, they went as usual to church in the
+city, and Rosalind was now delighted to pass the remainder of the day in
+reading a volume of Mrs. Sherwood's excellent work, the Lady of the
+Manor. A book now seemed like a novelty to her.
+
+Next day Rosalind went through her lessons with a pleasure she had never
+felt before; and when they were over, she highly enjoyed her two hours'
+recreation after dinner. She took no more afternoon naps; and after a
+short time even Josephine was persuaded to give them up, and found it
+possible, with some practice, to keep awake while her cousins or Mrs.
+Mortlake were reading aloud in the porch.
+
+Finally, Josephine became ashamed of being the only idle person in Mr.
+Edington's house, and was prevailed on by her uncle and Mrs. Mortlake to
+join her cousins in their lessons. By degrees, and by giving her only a
+very little to learn at a time, and by having constantly before her such
+good examples as Adelaide and Rosalind, she entirely conquered her love
+of idleness. She was really not deficient in natural capacity, and she
+soon began to take pleasure in trying to improve herself; so that when
+she returned to Maryland, she carried with her a newly acquired taste
+for rational pursuits, which she never afterwards lost.
+
+
+
+
+MADELINE MALCOLM.
+
+    Now here--now there--in noise and mischief ever.
+                                                 _Rogers._
+
+
+"Well, Juliet, how is your friend, Cecilia Selden?" said Edward
+Lansdowne to his sister, as they were sitting by the parlour fire, in
+the interval between daylight and darkness. It was the evening after his
+arrival from Princeton college to spend a fortnight at Christmas with
+his family in Philadelphia.
+
+_Juliet._ I believe Cecilia is very well. At least she was so when last
+I saw her, about five weeks since.
+
+_Edward._ Is it five weeks since you have seen Cecilia Selden? You were
+formerly almost inseparable. I hope there has been no quarrel between
+you.
+
+_Juliet._ None at all. But--somehow--I am tired of Cecilia Selden. She
+is certainly a very dull companion.
+
+_Edward._ Dull! You once thought her very amusing. For my part, _I_
+always found her so. She has read a great deal, is highly accomplished,
+and as she travels every summer with her parents, she has had
+opportunities of seeing a variety of interesting places and people. And
+above all, she has an excellent natural understanding.
+
+_Juliet._ But she is always so sensible and so correct, and every thing
+that she says and does is so very proper.
+
+_Edward._ So much the better. You will improve by being intimate with
+her.
+
+_Juliet._ I never shall be intimate again with Cecilia Selden. She is
+too particular, too fastidious. She does not like Madeline Malcolm.
+
+_Edward._ And who is Madeline Malcolm? I never heard of her before.
+
+_Juliet._ Her father is our next door neighbour. You know we did not
+live in this house when you were last in Philadelphia. The very day we
+moved, Madeline Malcolm came in to see us, in the midst of all our
+bustle and confusion, and stayed the whole afternoon. She said she had
+long been desirous of becoming acquainted with me, was delighted that
+we were now near neighbours, and therefore could not forbear running in
+to commence the intimacy immediately.
+
+_Edward._ But "in the midst of all your bustle and confusion," it must
+have been very in convenient to receive a visitor, and to entertain her
+the whole afternoon.
+
+_Juliet._ Why,--we were a little disconcerted at first, but she begged
+of us not to consider her a stranger. She was just as sociable as if she
+had known us for seven years; and she was so queer, and there was so
+much fun in every thing she said and did, that she kept me laughing all
+the time.
+
+_Edward._ I should like to see this prodigy of fun.
+
+_Juliet._ No doubt you will soon have that pleasure; for she runs in and
+out, the back way, ten times a-day.
+
+Juliet had scarcely spoken when they heard a voice in the entry, singing
+"I'd be a butterfly," and Madeline Malcolm, a tall, black-eyed,
+red-cheeked girl, with long ringlets of dark hair, came flying into the
+parlour, exclaiming, "What, still by fire-light--I shall have to pull
+your Peter's ears myself, if he does not mind his business and light the
+astral lamp sooner. O! here he comes. Now, Peter, proceed; and take
+yourself off as soon as you have accomplished the feat. Well,--now that
+there is no longer any danger of falling over this young gentleman, I
+must beg leave to be introduced to him in form. I surmise that he is the
+most learned Mr. Edward Lansdowne of Nassau-Hall, Princeton. Ah! I have
+torn my frock on the fender. Just like me, you know." Juliet immediately
+introduced her brother. "Well, Ned," exclaimed Miss Malcolm, "you have
+come to make us happy at last. Your sister has talked so much about you
+that I have actually been longing for your arrival. Come, tell us the
+best news at college. I have a cousin there, but he has not been in town
+since the rebellion before the last. I suppose he goes to New York to
+take his frolics. Come, tell us all the particulars of your last
+'Barring out;' I suppose it was conducted according to the newest
+fashion. Juliet, did you ever see any thing like Ned's face? A sort of
+mixed expression; trying to smile and be agreeable, but looking all the
+time as if he could bar _me_ out himself."
+
+In this manner she ran on for near half an hour, Juliet laughing
+heartily, and Edward not at all. At last she rose to go away, and when
+Juliet invited her to stay all the evening, she said she _must_ go
+home, for they were to have waffles at tea, and she would not miss them
+on any consideration. However, the tea-table in Mrs. Lansdowne's parlour
+being now set, she took a spoonful of honey which she dripped all over
+the cloth, and then giving Juliet a hearty kiss, she seized Edward's arm
+saying, "Come, Ned, escort me home. I am going in at the front-door this
+time, and there is always ice on our steps, so be sure to take care that
+I do not fall."
+
+When Edward took his leave at Madeline's door, she shook hands with him,
+saying, "Am I not a wild creature? You see how my spirits run away with
+me."
+
+Edward came back with a countenance of almost disgust. "If this is your
+new friend," said he to his sister, "I must say that I consider her
+scarcely endurable. Why, she never saw me before this evening, and yet
+she is as familiar as if she had known me all her life. To think of her
+calling me Ned."
+
+"Ah!" said Juliet with a smile, "I suspect _that_ to be the grand
+offence, after all. But depend upon it, you will like her better when
+you know her better."
+
+"I very much doubt my ever liking her at all," replied Edward.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Nothing could exceed the sociability of Madeline Malcolm. She
+breakfasted, dined, and drank tea at Mrs. Lansdowne's table nearly as
+often as at her father's; and she frequently ran in early in the
+morning, and scampered into Juliet's chamber before she had risen. Mr.
+and Mrs. Lansdowne (both whose dispositions were remarkably amiable and
+indulgent) did not approve of their daughter's intimacy with Madeline.
+They had spoken to her on the subject; but Madeline's frank and
+caressing manner, and her perpetual good-humour, had so won the heart of
+Juliet, that it was painful to her to hear a word against her friend, as
+she called her. So her parents concluded to let it pass for the present;
+trusting to Juliet's becoming eventually disgusted by some outrageous
+folly of Madeline's, who seemed to think her professed volatility an
+excuse for every thing; and that the appellation of _a wild creature_,
+which she took pride in giving herself, would screen her from any
+resentment her unwarrantable conduct might provoke.
+
+Still, as Edward observed, she had a great deal of selfishness and
+cunning; as is generally the case with wild creatures; for when females
+have so little of the delicacy of their sex as to throw aside the
+restraints of propriety, the same want of delicacy makes them totally
+regardless of the feelings or convenience of others, and renders them
+callous to every thing like real sympathy or kindness of heart.
+
+At home, Madeline was allowed to do exactly as she pleased; her father's
+thoughts were perpetually in his counting-house, and her step-mother,
+who spent all her time in the nursery, was incessantly occupied with the
+care of a large family of young children, of whom Madeline never took
+the least account. And she was so much at Mr. Lansdowne's that Juliet
+had few opportunities of returning her visits.
+
+She borrowed all Juliet's best books, and did not scruple to lend them
+again to any person that she knew. Some of the books were never
+returned; and others were brought back soiled, torn, and in a most
+deplorable condition. One of her jokes was to take up Juliet's
+muslin-work, and disfigure it with what she called gobble-stitch. She
+came in one day and found the parlour unoccupied, and Juliet's
+drawing-box on the table, with a beautiful landscape nearly finished.
+Madeline sat down and daubed at it till it was quite spoiled, and when
+Juliet discovered her at this employment, she turned it off with a
+laugh, insisting that she had greatly improved the picture. She found
+Juliet one evening engaged in copying a very scarce and beautiful song,
+which she had borrowed from her music-master, and which had never been
+published in America. On Juliet's being called up stairs for a few
+moments to her mother, Madeline took the pen, and scribbled on the
+margin of the borrowed music, some nonsensical verses of her own
+composition, in ridicule of the music-master.
+
+Edward presented his sister at Christmas with a set of a new English
+magazine, which contained biographical sketches and finely engraved
+portraits of some of the most celebrated female authors. Madeline came
+in soon after the arrival of the books; and having looked them over, she
+insisted on carrying one of the volumes home with her. Next day she
+brought it back, with a pair of spectacles drawn with a pen and ink
+round the eyes of each of the portraits that, as she said, "The learned
+ladies might look still wiser." Upon this Edward immediately left the
+room, lest his indignation should induce him to say too much, and
+Juliet could not help warmly expressing her dissatisfaction. But
+Madeline pacified her by hanging round her neck and pleading that her
+love of fun was constantly leading her to do mischievous things; and
+that she was sure her darling Juliet loved her too well not to forgive
+her.
+
+Cecilia Selden, a sensible and amiable girl, and formerly Juliet's most
+intimate friend, was an object of Madeline's particular dislike and
+ridicule; of which Cecilia perceived so many palpable symptoms, that she
+left off visiting at Mrs. Lansdowne's house; to the great regret of
+Edward.
+
+Mrs. Templeton, a lady that lived at the distance of a few squares, gave
+a juvenile ball, to which Juliet and Edward were invited, and also
+Madeline with several of her little brothers and sisters. Soon after
+Juliet had gone up to her room to commence dressing, Madeline came in
+followed by a servant with two bandboxes, and exclaiming, "Well, Juliet,
+I have brought all my trappings, and have come here to dress with _you_,
+that I may escape being put in requisition at home to assist in
+decorating the brats, who will entirely fill up _our_ carriage, so I am
+going to the ball in _yours_. There now, get away from the glass and
+let me begin."
+
+Juliet removed from the glass, and throwing a shawl over her shoulders,
+sat down by the fire, determined to wait patiently till Madeline had
+finished her toilet. But this was no expeditious matter. Madeline always
+professed to be too giddy to have her clothes in order, or to think of
+any thing before the last moment. Every article that she was to wear
+this evening required some alteration, which Juliet was called upon to
+make, till Lucy, a mulatto seamstress that lived in the family, came up
+to assist the young ladies in dressing. Madeline's white satin
+under-frock was longer than the tulle dress that she wore over it: and
+after it was put on, it was necessary to make it shorter by turning the
+hem up all round and running it along with a needle and thread. Her
+satin belt would not meet, and after a great deal of pulling and
+squeezing in vain, the only remedy was to take off the hooks and eyes
+and set them nearer to the ends. She desired Lucy to arrange her hair
+for her, which was a difficult task, as Madeline would not hold still a
+moment; and after it was at last accomplished, she declared that Lucy
+had made a fright of her, and demolished the whole structure with her
+own hands, strewing the floor with hair-pins and flowers. She then
+called Juliet to her assistance; and, in the course of time, her hair
+was finished to her satisfaction.
+
+When Madeline was dressed, she took a lamp from the mantlepiece and
+setting it on the floor, that she might see her feet to advantage with
+her embroidered silk stockings and white satin shoes, she began to caper
+and dance; and in performing one of her best steps she kicked down the
+lamp, which splashed all over her right foot, and over the lower part of
+her dress, beside deluging the carpet with oil. She screamed violently,
+and her volatility seemed to forsake her when she held up her beautiful
+tulle dress bespattered with lamp-oil. Juliet endeavoured to console
+her, and lent her another pair of silk stockings, and Lucy was sent to
+the nearest shoemaker's to bring several pair of white satin shoes that
+Madeline might choose from among them. But what was to be done with the
+disfigured frock? Madeline declared she had no other dress that was
+handsome enough to wear that evening, and said she would rather stay
+away from the ball than not look as she wished. Juliet, who was about
+the same size, offered to lend her a frock, even the clear muslin she
+was to wear that night herself; but Madeline said that Juliet's dresses
+were all too plain for her, and that she had set her mind upon the white
+silk-sprigged tulle, and nothing else.
+
+She continued to lament her misfortune, when a thought struck her that
+it was possible to conceal the spots of oil by arranging artificial
+flowers round the lower part of the dress. But Juliet had no such
+flowers, not having yet begun to wear them, and her mother had long
+since left them off. Madeline's whole stock of flowers, was already
+disposed of on her head, and she protested against taking out a single
+one; saying, that it required a multitude to cover all the oil-stains.
+
+At last she exclaimed, "I have just thought of it, Juliet,--There
+are plenty of flowers in the French vases on your front-parlour
+mantle-piece.[A] I will have _them_. They will do exactly."--"But,"
+said Juliet, "I know not that my mother will approve of the flowers
+being taken out of the vases."--"Nonsense," replied Madeline. "What
+a vastly proper person you are. Tell her that your volatile friend
+Madeline took them; and she will expect nothing better of such a
+wild creature."
+
+    [A] It was formerly the fashion to decorate the mantle-piece
+        with artificial flowers placed in china vases under glass
+        shades.
+
+So saying, she ran down stairs, and found Edward dressed for the ball,
+and waiting for them in the parlour. "Here, Ned, my boy," said she, "off
+with those glass shades, and hand me out the flowers from the vases. I
+have kicked over a lamp and splashed my frock with oil, and I must have
+all the flowers I can get, to hide the stains. Why do you look so
+dubious? I will send them safely back again to-morrow morning. What,
+won't you give them to me? Oh! then I shall make bold to help myself to
+them."--She jumped on a chair, and was going to lift one of the glass
+shades, when Edward, fearful of the consequences, stepped up and took
+out the flowers for her; and when she had obtained them all, she ran off
+with them in her lap, dropping them along the stairs as she went.
+
+When she entered the chamber, she called out to Juliet, "Come now, dear
+creature, down on your knees with a pin-cushion in your hand, and pin
+these flowers all nicely round my frock, so as to cover every one of the
+vile oil-spots." "Shall _I_ do it, miss?" said the maid, who had just
+finished wiping up the oil that had fallen on the carpet, and which,
+however, left a large splash of grease. "Miss Juliet will rumple her
+dress if she stoops down to put on the flowers."--"So much the better,"
+said Madeline, "it will be an advantage to that new muslin to have a
+little of the stiffness taken out. Come, Lucy, you may hold the candle."
+Juliet then stooped down, and in a most painful posture proceeded to pin
+the flowers round Madeline's frock, which she did so adroitly as to
+conceal all the spots of oil.
+
+Just as this business was completed a servant brought into the room a
+small red morocco case, inclosing a beautiful pearl necklace, and
+accompanied by a note from her grandfather, in which he requested her
+acceptance of it as a new-year's gift, and desired that she would wear
+it on that evening at Mrs. Templeton's ball.
+
+While Juliet was admiring the necklace, Madeline took it out of her
+hand, saying, "Let me see how this looks on _my_ neck. Beautiful--really
+beautiful. Ah, Juliet, it is so pretty I cannot bear to take it off
+again. Come _I_ shall wear it this evening."--"But indeed," said Juliet,
+"I should like very much to wear it myself; particularly as it is my
+grandfather's request."--"Nonsense," answered Madeline; "grandpa is not
+going to the ball himself, and how will he know whether you wear it or
+not? And your father and mother are both at the theatre, and are
+ignorant even of its arrival. I forgot to bring a necklace with me: so
+this comes quite _apropos_. Come, I am not going to give it up this
+evening. Possession, you know, is nine points of the law: and your white
+neck requires no pearls to set it off."
+
+"You know very well that my neck is _not_ white," said Juliet.
+
+"Well then," replied Madeline, "if it is brown, the pearls will make it
+look browner still. Positively you shall not have it to-night, if I run
+for it." Upon which she ran down stairs into the front-parlour, and
+pretended to hide behind the window-curtain, to save herself, as she
+told Edward, from the vengeance of Juliet, whose new necklace she had
+seized and carried off. Edward did not think this a very good joke;
+however, he made no comment, and his sister coming down immediately
+after, he handed her and Madeline into the carriage, and accompanied
+them to Mrs. Templeton's.
+
+At the ball the volatility of Madeline reached its climax. She talked,
+laughed, flirted, jumped, and occasionally appealed to those in the same
+cotillon to know if they had ever seen such a wild creature. Edward,
+however, could not help observing her unkindness and rudeness to the
+little children, whom she pushed about and scolded, whenever they came
+in her way. Two of her younger sisters were preparing to dance together,
+when Madeline and Edward, who were looking for a place, came up. "This
+cotillon is completed," said Edward, "and so, I believe, are all the
+others. Let us stand by, and look on. I always enjoy seeing the children
+dance." "No indeed," said Madeline, "I had rather dance myself. Here,
+Ellen and Clara, go and sit down, and give us your places." The children
+began to object; but she pushed them away and commenced the cotillon,
+saying she was determined to dance every set.
+
+The next set, however, no one asked Madeline to dance. She looked very
+much displeased at being obliged to sit still, and was yet more so, when
+Charles Templeton brought up a very handsome little midshipman, in his
+uniform, who, on being introduced to both the young ladies, immediately
+requested the pleasure of Miss Lansdowne's hand for the next set.
+
+Juliet stood up with the midshipman; but there was some delay in forming
+the cotillons, and her partner perceived that one of his shoe-strings
+was broken. He asked Charles Templeton, who was in the next cotillon, if
+he would put him in a way of repairing the accident; and Charles desired
+the midshipman to accompany him to his room for the purpose. Madeline,
+who had heard all that passed, stepped up to Juliet and said to
+her--"Juliet, as you are one of the modest people, I suppose it will
+embarrass you to stand here till your partner comes back again; so do
+you sit down, and I will stand and keep your place for you. You know I
+have brass enough for any thing."
+
+Juliet, grateful for Madeline's unexpected kindness, and feeling really
+some embarrassment at standing up in the cotillon without her partner,
+consented willingly, and took Madeline's seat. In a few minutes the
+midshipman returned, and looked much surprised when he saw another young
+lady in the place of his partner; but before he had time to consider why
+it was so, the music commenced, and Madeline began to right and left,
+and led off the cotillon; disappointing Juliet of her dance.
+
+The midshipman, however, did not speak to Madeline during the whole set;
+and when he had led her to a seat, he left her, and went up to Edward,
+and expressed his surprise that Miss Lansdowne, after being engaged to
+dance with him, had substituted another young lady in her place. Edward,
+to whom his sister had explained how it happened, repeated her account
+to the midshipman, who was much vexed, and went immediately to apologize
+to Juliet, and to ask her hand for the next set, which she was obliged
+to refuse, as she was pre-engaged both for that set and the following.
+
+"So," said Madeline, as she passed Juliet on her way to the cotillon
+with a new partner, "you see I tricked you out of the smart young
+midshipman, who is the prettiest fellow in the room, and I was
+determined not to sit still a single set."
+
+Madeline's volatility attracted the attention of the whole company, and
+the delight of finding herself an object of general notice gave her
+fresh spirits as she ran to the very top of the country-dance,
+oversetting a little boy on her way, afterwards romping down the middle,
+and throwing herself into a seat the moment she had got to the bottom.
+
+Soon after, while refreshments were handed round, she took an
+opportunity of purposely spilling a glass of lemonade on Cecilia
+Selden's pink crape frock, and she threw a piece of orange-peel in
+Edward's way that he might slip on it, which he did, and very nearly
+fell down.
+
+Juliet, who had recently recovered from a severe cold, brought with her
+into the ball-room a very handsome blue silk scarf, which her mother had
+lent her, enjoining her to put it on whenever she was not dancing, as a
+guard against being suddenly chilled when in a perspiration. Madeline,
+happening to look at Juliet, observed the scarf and thought it very
+becoming. She suddenly twitched it off Juliet's shoulders and threw it
+over her own, saying, "Now, Juliet, you have been beautified with this
+scarf long enough. It is my turn to wear it awhile." Poor Juliet knew
+not how to object, though her seat (the only one she had been able to
+obtain) was directly against a window, from which there was a draught of
+air on the back of her neck. The consequence was a renewal of her cold,
+and a sore throat which confined her for several days to the house.
+
+The above may serve as a specimen of Madeline's various exploits at the
+ball. After Juliet and her brother had got home, Edward stood for half
+an hour in the middle of the parlour-floor with his bed-candle in his
+hand, while he expostulated with his sister on her strange infatuation
+for her new friend; declaring that, with all her volatility and apparent
+frankness and good-humour, he had never known a girl more artful,
+selfish, and heartless than Madeline Malcolm.
+
+Instead of returning the flowers and the necklace on the following
+morning, as she ought to have done, Madeline wore them in the evening to
+another ball; and finally when Mrs. Lansdowne sent for the flowers, they
+came home in a most deplorable state, soiled, crushed, and broken; so
+that they were no longer fit to ornament the vases, and some of them
+were entirely lost.
+
+Madeline did not come in to see Juliet till she knew that she had quite
+recovered from her sore-throat; having, as she afterward told her, a
+perfect antipathy to a sick-room, and a mortal dislike to the dismals.
+She forgot to return the necklace till Juliet, with many blushes, and
+much confusion, at last reminded her of it. "Why," said she, "you seem
+very uneasy about that necklace. Between friends like us, every thing
+ought to be common." Madeline, however, had never offered to lend Juliet
+the smallest article belonging to herself.
+
+The next time Madeline came, she brought the necklace in her hand.
+"Here," said she "is this most important affair; I took a fancy to wear
+it round my _head_ at Mrs. Linton's, and I can assure you I had a great
+deal of pulling and stretching to get it to clasp. Why did grandpapa
+give you such a short necklace? However, soon after I began to dance,
+snap went the thread, and down came all the pearls showering about the
+floor. How I laughed; but I set all the beaux in the cotillon to picking
+them up, and I suppose they found the most of them. You see I have
+brought you a handful. And now you can amuse yourself with stringing
+them again. Come now, don't look so like Ned.--How can you expect a wild
+creature as I am, to be careful of flowers, and beads, and all such
+trumpery? I dare say, you are now thinking that your sober Cecilia
+Selden would have returned the pearls 'in good order and well
+conditioned.' But I never allow any one to get angry with me: you know I
+am a privileged person. So now look agreeable, and smile immediately.
+Smile, smile, I tell you." Juliet _did_ smile, and Madeline throwing her
+arms round her neck, kissed her, exclaiming, as she patted her cheek,
+"There's my own good baby. She always, at last, does as I bid her."
+
+The next day Juliet heard that the windows of Mr. Malcolm's house were
+all shut up; but she was not long in suspense as to the cause, for
+shortly after, Madeline came running in the back way, and said with a
+most afflicted countenance, "O, Juliet, you may pity me now if you never
+did before. We have just heard from New Orleans of the death of aunt
+Medford, my father's only sister."
+
+_Juliet._ I am very sorry you have received such bad news.
+
+_Madeline._ Oh! but the worst of it is, that it will prevent our going
+to the play to-night. We had engaged seats with the Rosemores, in a
+delightful box. We were going to see the Belle's Stratagem, with the
+masquerade, and the song, and the minuet, and the new French dancers. I
+would not have missed such an entertainment for a hundred dollars. How
+very provoking that the bad news did not arrive one day later. If it had
+not come till to-morrow I should not have cared, for then our charming
+evening at the theatre would have been over. And now, to think that
+instead of going to the play, I must stay at home and look at my father
+grieving for old aunt Medford. There now, Juliet, your face is again in
+the style of Ned's. Positively, if you are so particular, I shall cut
+your acquaintance. Those that I consider my friends must enter into all
+my "whims and oddities," and not expect me to act according to rule. I
+hate hypocrisy. Why should I pretend to grieve for aunt Medford when I
+have never seen her since I was six years old?
+
+_Juliet._ But sympathy for your father--
+
+_Madeline._ Why, where is the use of sympathy? When people are in grief,
+sympathy only makes them worse.
+
+_Juliet._ If you yourself were in affliction, Madeline, you would find
+the sympathy of your family and friends very gratifying.
+
+_Madeline._ Wait till _I am_ in affliction and then I will tell you.
+"_Toujours gai_," is my motto, and "_vive la bagatelle_" for ever.
+
+So saying, she danced out of the room, and went home; but in a short
+time she returned, looking very mysterious, and peeping in at the door
+to ascertain if Juliet was alone. "Juliet, love," said Madeline in a low
+voice, "come with me into the back parlour, lest we should be
+interrupted. I have something of great consequence to tell you."
+
+As Madeline often dealt in mysteries, Juliet thought this new secret
+nothing more than usual, and accompanied her into the back parlour,
+where Madeline cautiously bolted the folding-doors and locked the side
+door. "Now, Juliet," said she in an under voice, "I know I may depend on
+your secrecy." "Certainly you may," replied Juliet.
+
+_Madeline._ Well then, I must confide to you a plan that has just struck
+me. I cannot bear the idea of giving up the play to-night, and you know
+it is out of the question for any of the family to be _seen_ there.
+
+_Juliet._ Of course none of you can go to the theatre when your house is
+shut up for the death of a near relation, and when Mr. Malcolm is in
+such deep affliction.
+
+_Madeline._ It is certainly a great pity that aunt Medford died;
+particularly just at the time she did, as it will spoil all our gayety
+for the winter. No more plays, and balls, and parties this season.
+People ought always to die in the summer. But you know, dear Juliet, I
+have not seen my aunt Medford for ten years, and I really have forgotten
+all about her. So, how can you expect me to be inconsolable? And I
+cannot endure the thought of being disappointed in going to the theatre.
+I might as well go, as stay at home and think about it all the evening.
+
+_Juliet._ O no, indeed! Even if you have no personal regard for your
+aunt, respect for your father's feelings and a proper regard for
+decorum, ought to subdue your desire of going at this time to a place of
+public amusement.
+
+_Madeline._ That is exactly such a speech as Cecilia Selden would make
+on a similar occasion. It is a pity "the truly wise man" is not here.
+How Neddy would applaud.
+
+_Juliet._ But where is the use of talking in this manner. You know you
+_cannot_ go to the theatre.
+
+_Madeline._ I know I _can_.
+
+_Juliet._ How? In what way? I do not understand you.
+
+_Madeline._ My going to the theatre to-night depends principally on
+_you_.
+
+_Juliet._ On me!
+
+_Madeline._ Yes, for I will not venture alone, and you must go with me.
+
+_Juliet._ Go with you--_I_ go with you!
+
+_Madeline._ Yes.
+
+_Juliet._ And who else?
+
+_Madeline._ Nobody else. Now don't look as if you were ready to run
+through the wall to get away from me; but listen and understand. Our
+nursery-maid, Kitty, has permission to go this evening and stay all
+night with a sick sister. So when she is off, I can easily slip into
+her room and select a suit of her clothes, (which I believe will nearly
+fit me,) and she has a tolerably large wardrobe for a servant. Then I
+will steal in the back way, bringing a suit for you. Don't look shocked.
+I shall tell my father and mother that being very low-spirited, I am
+coming in here to spend a quiet evening with you. I heard Mrs.
+Lansdowne, when I was here yesterday, propose to your father to leave
+her at her sister, Mrs. Wilmar's, on his way to the Wistar party
+to-night, and call for her as he comes back; which of course will not be
+before ten o'clock at the very earliest. Therefore the coast will be
+clear, as I suppose Ned will go to his beloved Athenĉum. So you see
+every thing seems to conspire fortunately to forward our plot.
+
+_Juliet._ _Our_ plot. O! do not call it _ours_. I never will have any
+thing to do with a plot.
+
+_Madeline._ Yes, but you _must_ though. Why this is nothing. I have
+plotted a hundred things in the course of my life, and so I shall again.
+Well, now hear the whole. I will slip in the back-way, and you must be
+alone in your room ready to receive me. After we have put on our
+disguises, we will go down stairs very softly and steal out at the alley
+gate. Then we will make the best of our way to the theatre, and go in
+at the gallery-door, passing, of course as two servant-girls. When we
+have reached the gallery we will mix with the crowd, and sit at our ease
+and enjoy the play; at least the masquerade-scene, which I would not
+miss for the world. I am absolutely dying to see the French dancers.
+Nobody can possibly discover us under our disguises. We will not go till
+the first act is over, and the audience settled; and we will come away
+before the last scene of the comedy. Then after we get home we will
+resume our proper dresses, and present ourselves to our parents, looking
+as demure as if we had been sitting by the fire, and talking sensibly,
+all the evening. No one will ever know what we have really been doing.
+It will be a most charming frolic, and something for you and I to laugh
+about, ten years hence. I always enjoy these queer exploits that no one
+else has courage to undertake.
+
+_Juliet_ (_firmly._) Madeline, I will _not_ disguise myself like a
+servant-girl; and I will _never_ accompany you secretly to the theatre,
+nor to any other place.
+
+Juliet spoke in so firm a tone, that Madeline was at first abashed, and
+remained for a few moments silent. But, not easily repelled, she soon
+recovered from her confusion, and exerted all her eloquence to prevail
+on her dear friend, as she called her, to join in the scheme. By turns
+she flattered, caressed, and ridiculed her, and then tried to win her
+consent by representing the delights of the masquerade-scene, as she had
+heard it described by a lady who had recently seen the comedy of the
+Belle's Stratagem. Juliet held out steadily for a long time. But at
+length her firmness gave way, and she finally yielded; as Madeline had
+foreseen. Her reluctance was so great, that her consent was, after all,
+rather extorted than given, and Madeline, having kissed her rather
+oftener than usual, ran gayly to her own home, singing "I won't be a
+nun."
+
+After Madeline had gone, Juliet felt so uneasy at having suffered
+herself to be persuaded against her conscience, that she was on the
+point of calling her back and retracting her promise. When she went to
+dinner, the consciousness of her intended deceit destroyed her appetite,
+and made her feel as if she could not raise her eyes towards her
+parents, or answer them when they spoke to her.
+
+Edward bent on her a scrutinizing glance, and saw that all was not
+right; but supposing that she had committed some fault in the course of
+the morning for which her mother had seriously reprimanded her, he was
+unwilling to notice her apparent mortification, and tried to divert the
+attention of his parents by talking to them of Cooper's last novel,
+which had been published that morning, and of which he had already gone
+through the first volume.
+
+Mrs. Lansdowne, however, remarking that her daughter did not eat,
+inquired if she felt unwell, and Juliet replied that she had a violent
+headache: which was literally true. After dinner, her mother recommended
+that she should retire to her room and lie down, which she gladly did:
+her mind being too much agitated to take interest in any occupation.
+Once in the afternoon, she heard Edward come up stairs and tap at her
+door; but fearing that he had observed her confusion at dinner, and that
+he might ask her some question concerning it, she lay still, and did not
+answer to his knock, so that, supposing her to be asleep, he softly
+withdrew.
+
+Towards evening, her mother came to inquire after her: and Juliet,
+unwilling to meet the family at table in her present state of
+discomposure, requested to have her tea sent up. "My dear," said Mrs.
+Lansdowne, "as you are not well, I will not go to my sister Wilmar's
+this evening, but I will stay at home and sit with you."
+
+"O, no, dear mother!" replied Juliet, "I know you wish to see aunt
+Wilmar: I am sure my tea will relieve my headache, and I have no doubt,
+when I have drunk it, I shall feel well enough to rise, and sit up all
+the evening." Accordingly, after Juliet had taken her tea, she rose and
+adjusted her dress, and when Mrs. Lansdowne came up again, she found her
+daughter sitting by the fire with a book, and apparently so much
+recovered, that she felt no scruples about leaving her, as she was
+really desirous of passing the evening with Mrs. Wilmar, who was
+confined to the house with the influenza.
+
+At last Juliet heard her father and mother depart, and Edward went out
+soon after. In a few minutes, Madeline came cautiously up stairs, and
+glided into the chamber, carrying a large bundle. "All's safe," said
+she, "the coast is _quite_ clear, and we have not a moment to lose. It
+is a fine moonlight night."
+
+Juliet's courage now failed entirely; and she vehemently besought
+Madeline to give up a scheme fraught with so much risk and impropriety.
+But Madeline was immovable, declaring that she had set her heart on it,
+and that she enjoyed nothing so much as what she called an
+out-of-the-way frolic. "Since you are so cowardly, Juliet," said she, "I
+wish I could venture to go alone; but wild as I am, I confess I am not
+quite equal to that--Come, now, off with your frock, and get yourself
+dressed in these delectable habiliments."
+
+She then began to unfasten Juliet's dress, who pale, trembling, and with
+tears in her eyes, arrayed herself in the clothes that Madeline had
+brought for her. The gown was a very dirty one of dark blue domestic
+gingham, and she put on with it a yellowish chequered handkerchief, and
+a check apron. Over this she pinned an old red woollen shawl, and she
+covered her head with a coarse and broken black Leghorn bonnet. The
+clothes that Madeline had allotted to herself were a little better,
+consisting of a dark calico frock, a coarse tamboured muslin collar, an
+old straw bonnet very yellow and faded, and a plaid cloak which belonged
+to the cook, and which she had taken out of a closet in the garret.
+
+The two young ladies did not know, or did not recollect, that when
+_real_ servant-girls go to the theatre, they generally dress as well as
+they can, and take pains to appear to the best advantage. The clothes
+that Madeline had selected were quite too dirty and shabby for the
+occasion. To complete their costume, she gave Juliet a pair of coarse
+calf-skin shoes, which were so large that as she walked her feet seemed
+to rise up out of them. Madeline, for her part, put on a pair of
+carpet-moccasins over her slippers.
+
+After they were dressed and ready to depart for the theatre, Juliet's
+tremor increased, and she was again on the point of relinquishing her
+share in the business; but she again yielded to the solicitations of
+Madeline, who led her softly down stairs by the light of the moon that
+shone in at the staircase windows. They stole, undiscovered, across the
+yard and out at the alley-gate; and finding themselves in the street,
+began to walk very fast, as people generally do when they are going to
+the play.
+
+When they came in view of the theatre, they saw no persons there, except
+two or three gentlemen who went in at the pit-door. Juliet's heart
+failed entirely; and she shrank back as Madeline, taking her hand,
+attempted to pull her towards the door that admitted the gallery-people.
+"We have now gone too far to recede," whispered Madeline,--"You must
+stand by me now. I _will not_ go back, and _you must_ come forward.
+Here, take my money and put it down with yours--I forgot my gloves, and
+my hands will betray me, so I must keep them wrapped up in my cloak."
+
+Juliet laid the money on the ledge before the doorkeeper, who looked at
+them with some surprise. They pulled their bonnets more closely over
+their faces, and passed up the stairs; Madeline running as fast as
+possible, and Juliet entreating her in a low voice to stop a little, as
+she could not keep pace with her. They soon found themselves in the
+gallery, and being assisted over the benches by a very polite black man,
+they took their seats among some coloured people about the centre of the
+middle row.
+
+The crowd and heat were intolerable. Juliet kept her eyes cast down;
+afraid to look round the house, or even to steal a glance towards the
+stage. Madeline, however, looked round boldly, and in a few minutes, to
+her great consternation, she perceived Edward Lansdowne standing up in
+the back part of one of the stage-boxes. Having finished his novel, and
+feeling no inclination to read any more that night, he had concluded to
+go to the theatre, reminded of it by seeing the bill in the evening
+paper. "Juliet," whispered Madeline, "there is my evil genius." "Where,
+where?" exclaimed Juliet, thrown almost off her guard. "If we can
+distinguish _him_ at so great a distance, he can also discover
+_us_."--"You forget," replied Madeline, "that we are in disguise." These
+words, though uttered in a whisper, were evidently heard by the people
+round, who all turned to look at them; and some tried to peep under
+their bonnets, which made Juliet draw hers down over her face till her
+sight was entirely obscured by it.
+
+The play went on; but Madeline and Juliet could not enjoy it, all their
+attention being engaged by the continual fear of discovery. Juliet,
+however heard enough to convince her that her parents would never have
+taken her to see the Belle's Stratagem; as when they did indulge her
+with a visit to the theatre, they always selected a night when the play
+was unexceptionable, and the whole entertainment such as a young lady
+could witness with propriety.
+
+At length came the masquerade-scene, and in a short time the French
+dancers appeared. Just then, a short, fat, red-faced and very vulgar
+Englishwoman who sat behind Madeline and Juliet, gave each of them a
+twitch on the shoulder, saying, in a broad Yorkshire dialect, "I'll
+thank you gals or ladies or whatsomdever you be, to take off your
+bunnets and let a body have some chance of seeing the show; for I've
+been popping my ead back and furrads atween you ever sence you comed
+hin, and thof I've as good a right to see as any body else, I've ardly
+got a squint at the hactors yet."
+
+The girls were now in a most critical dilemma. To take off their bonnets
+seemed out of the question, as the exposure of their heads would no
+doubt betray them, and their fear and perplexity were so great that they
+had not presence of mind either to speak or move.
+
+"Don't pertend that you don't ear me," said the Englishwoman, giving
+them both a hard push forward with her huge hands. "I bees a true King
+Georgeswoman, and won't be put upon by none of the Yankees, not I, thof
+I _am_ come to their country. I pays my money as well as you, and I've
+jist as good a right to see the show; and if you won't take off them big
+bunnets, I'll be bound I'll make you, if there's even a row about it.
+I've raised a row afore this time when I've been put upon."
+
+"Oh! let us go, let us go," said Juliet, gasping with terror, and
+seizing Madeline's arm.
+
+"Honly wait," continued the Englishwoman, "till I tells my usband, who
+sets ahind here, to call 'turn 'em out.' You _may_ be ladies. But I bees
+an onest oman, and if I've come to a land of liberty, the more reason
+that I should make free to speak my mind; and if we're all hequal, why
+then nobody han't no right to put upon me."
+
+By this time the two girls, in an agony of trepidation, had scrambled
+over the benches and got to the door, expecting every instant to hear
+the dreaded words, "turn them out," and to see Edward's eyes directed
+towards them, with those of the whole audience. Scarcely conscious of
+what they were doing, they ran down the gallery-stairs, and flew out of
+the door into the street. As is usual toward the latter part of the
+play, a number of boys had collected about the fruit-stalls waiting for
+checks, that they might gain admittance to see the farce; and as
+Madeline ran past them, her cloak flew open, and the moonbeams shone
+brightly on a brilliant ring which she always wore on her fore-finger.
+This with something in their appearance that would cause even
+unpractised eyes to suspect that they were young ladies, attracted the
+attention of the boys, who stared at them with surprise and curiosity.
+
+Madeline and Juliet ran down the street in breathless terror. They had
+gone about a square from the theatre before they recollected that their
+way home lay in a contrary direction, and that they ought to go _up_ the
+street instead of _down_. "Oh! we are going _from_ home instead of
+_towards_ it," exclaimed Juliet; and they immediately turned about and
+ran up Chestnut street. They again passed the theatre, terrified,
+bewildered, their bonnets falling back and discovering their frightened
+faces in full view; Madeline's cloak half untied and flying out behind
+her, and Juliet still grasping one corner of her shawl (which had fallen
+entirely off her shoulders) and dragging it after her along the
+pavement. On seeing them running back in this forlorn condition, the
+boys set up a loud shout, and calling out "Hurrah for the ladies,"
+pursued them up Chestnut street.
+
+A young gentleman who had left the theatre a few minutes before, and was
+walking leisurely up the street, turned round to discover the meaning of
+all the noise that was coming after him, and caught Juliet, breathless
+and almost dead, by her two hands. "Juliet," he exclaimed, "my sister
+Juliet!" "Oh, Edward!" she shrieked, and fell into his arms drowned in
+tears.
+
+"Save me, save me," cried Madeline, catching him by the coat. "Madeline
+too!" said Edward. "What does all this mean?"
+
+Another gentleman now came up, and ordered off the boys, reprimanding
+them severely for chasing two unprotected females; and Edward taking one
+of the girls under each arm, walked on in silence, much affected by the
+sobbing of Juliet.
+
+Madeline soon recovered herself, and attempted an explanation of the
+strange predicament in which he had found them; passing it off as a very
+good joke, and a further proof of her ungovernable volatility.
+
+Edward remained silent. He would not reproach her, but he determined in
+his mind what course to pursue. He took leave of Madeline at her own
+door, and on entering his father's house, he told Juliet that she had
+better, as soon as possible, divest herself of her disguise. Juliet
+could not speak, but she wept on her brother's shoulder; and Edward
+kissed her cheek, and bade her good night.
+
+She retired to bed, but she could not sleep; and in the morning she rose
+earlier than usual, and went into the parlour, where she knew she would
+find Edward. She looked very pale, and her eyes were swimming in tears.
+"Oh! Edward," said she, "what did my father and mother say, when they
+came home last night, and you told them all that happened?"
+
+"I told them nothing," replied Edward, "I love you too well to betray
+you. I have kept your secret, and I shall never disclose it. But I must
+have a recompense."
+
+_Juliet._ Any, any recompense, dearest Edward. What can you ask that I
+could possibly refuse.
+
+_Edward._ I require you, from this day, to give up all acquaintance with
+Madeline Malcolm. Your infatuation for a girl who, under the name of
+wildness and volatility, sets all propriety at defiance, is to me
+astonishing. Henceforward let there be no more intimacy between you. It
+must be checked before it leads to consequences still worse than the
+adventures of last night.
+
+_Juliet._ I acknowledge that Madeline is too regardless of decorum, and
+that she says and does many strange and improper things: but then she
+has so good a heart.
+
+_Edward._ Tell me one proof of it. You have fallen into the common
+error of supposing that all persons who profess to be giddy, wild, and
+reckless, have kind feelings and good hearts. On the contrary, they may
+too often be classed with the most selfish, cold, and heartless people
+in the world; for they have seldom either sense or sensibility, and
+while resolutely bent on the gratification of their own whims, are
+generally regardless of the peace and convenience of those about them.
+When I first went to college I thought as you do. I supposed that the
+most careless, noisy, and desperate boys must necessarily have kind and
+generous feelings. But I found the contrary to my cost; and I am now
+convinced, that, with some few exceptions, the best hearts are generally
+united with the best heads and the best manners.
+
+_Juliet._ But even if I never visit Madeline myself, how shall I prevent
+her running in to me as she does, two or three times a day?
+
+_Edward._ Very easily. Write her a concise note, intimating that you do
+not consider it proper to continue your acquaintance with her.
+
+_Juliet._ Oh! Edward, I never can do that.
+
+_Edward._ Is not this the recompense I am entitled to, for keeping your
+secret?
+
+_Juliet._ Indeed, Edward, you are too cruel.
+
+_Edward._ Severe, perhaps, but not cruel. The exigency of the case
+requires decisive measures. "I am cruel only to be kind," and you will
+thank me for it hereafter.
+
+_Juliet._ Well then, I _will_ write the note. And if it _must be done_ I
+will do it immediately; for if I allow myself to think about it long, it
+will grieve me so much that I shall never have resolution to go through
+with it. (_She goes to the desk and writes._) There now, Edward, read
+this note.
+
+_Edward_, (_reading_.) "Though convinced that it is better our intimacy
+should cease, it is not without regret that I decline all further
+intercourse with Madeline Malcolm. For her health and happiness I offer
+my best wishes; but in future we can only meet as strangers.
+
+                                         "JULIET LANSDOWNE."
+
+Now seal and send it.
+
+_Juliet._ Oh, Edward! it is hard to give up Madeline. But I believe you
+are right, and I ought not to regret it.
+
+_Edward._ I _know_ I am right.
+
+Juliet then rang the bell for a servant, to whom with a quivering lip
+and hesitating hand she gave the note, desiring him to leave it next
+door for Miss Malcolm.
+
+After breakfast, when Juliet was again alone with her brother, she said
+to him, "Edward, I have never yet concealed any thing from my parents. I
+think if I were to disclose to them the whole truth, I should feel less
+miserable."
+
+Edward approved of this determination, and they went together to their
+mother, to whom Juliet candidly related the whole history of their going
+to the theatre in disguise. She kindly endeavoured to throw as little
+blame on Madeline as possible; and Edward tried to apologize for
+Juliet's partiality for this dangerous girl, and for the yielding
+gentleness of disposition with which his sister had allowed herself to
+be influenced by her; and for her want of judgment in not perceiving the
+faults of Madeline in as strong a light as they appeared to every one
+else.
+
+Mrs. Lansdowne's pleasure, on finding that her daughter had consented to
+give up this very improper intimacy, counterbalanced her regret at
+Juliet's having been persuaded by Madeline to join in the folly and
+indecorum of the preceding evening. For this, however, she thought the
+girls had been sufficiently punished by all they had suffered at the
+theatre, and during their ignominious flight from it.
+
+Madeline's parents had no suspicion of her having been at the play in
+disguise, and the idea of confessing it to them never for a moment
+entered her head. She was highly indignant at Juliet's note; and
+fortunately her resentment was too great to allow her to make any
+attempt at renewing their intimacy. She took care, however, to let no
+one suppose that the acquaintance had ceased by Juliet's desire; telling
+every body that Juliet Lansdowne was a little fool, and that she had
+grown quite tired of her.
+
+In the spring, Mr. Malcolm removed with his family to New York, and
+their house next door to Mr. Lansdowne's was immediately taken by the
+father of Cecilia Selden who had again become the intimate friend of
+Juliet.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note:
+
+Punctuation has been standardised. Hyphenation and spelling have been
+retained as appear in the original publication except as follows:
+
+    Page 6
+    Mrs. Evering had a very excellant cook, a _changed to_
+    Mrs. Evering had a very excellent cook, a
+
+    Page 35
+    vous remerçie_,--_Il fait beau-tems_ _changed to_
+    vous remerçie_,--_Il fait beau-temps_
+
+    Page 72
+    and then she counted all the window sat _changed to_
+    and then she counted all the windows at
+
+    Page 109
+    I will have _them_. They will de _changed to_
+    I will have _them_. They will do
+
+    Page 114
+    kindness, and feeling really some embarrasment _changed to_
+    kindness, and feeling really some embarrassment
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories for Helen, by Eliza Leslie
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories for Helen, by Eliza Leslie
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Stories for Helen
+
+Author: Eliza Leslie
+
+Release Date: August 23, 2010 [EBook #33510]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FOR HELEN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<h1>STORIES FOR HELEN</h1>
+
+<hr class="hr3" />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="600" height="413" alt="Frontispiece" title="" />
+<span class="caption">THE TELL TALE.</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<div class="tp">
+<p class="center"><span class="title">STORIES FOR HELEN</span><br />
+<br /><br /><br />
+BY<br />
+<br /><br /><br />
+<span class="author">MISS ELIZA LESLIE,</span><br />
+<br />
+<span class="books">AUTHOR OF STORIES FOR EMMA, STORIES FOR ADELAIDE, ETC.</span><br />
+<br /><br /><br />
+"Our most important are our earliest years."&mdash;<i>Cowper.</i></p>
+
+<hr class="hr5" />
+
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pub">PHILADELPHIA:</span><br />
+<span class="pub2">HENRY F. ANNERS.</span><br />
+<span class="pub">CHESNUT STREET.</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+<p class="center">
+Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845,<br />
+<br />
+<span class="author">BY ELIZA LESLIE,</span><br />
+<br />
+In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern
+District of Pennsylvania.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="center">Printed by King &amp; Baird.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="hra" />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>
+ADVERTISEMENT.</h2>
+
+<hr class="hr4" />
+
+<p>The following stories have been selected by the author, from a small
+volume originally published with the title of Atlantic Tales. They have
+been carefully revised; and she indulges the hope that her juvenile
+readers may derive from them a little instruction blended with a little
+amusement.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Philadelphia, October 1, 1845.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="contents" id="contents"></a>CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+<table summary="Contents">
+<tr>
+<th colspan="2">Page.</th>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The Tell-Tale,</td>
+<td class="tdr2"><a href="#tell">5</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The Boarding School Feast,</td>
+<td class="tdr2"><a href="#boarding">28</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The Week of Idleness,</td>
+<td class="tdr2"><a href="#week">67</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Madeline Malcolm,</td>
+<td class="tdr2"><a href="#Madeline">98</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>
+<a name="tell" id="tell"></a>THE TELL-TALE.</h2>
+
+<div class="block">
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"<i>How all occasions do inform against me!</i>"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+<div class="right">
+<span class="right"><i>Shakspeare.</i></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 180px;">
+<img src="images/r.jpg" width="180" height="149" alt="Drop capital R" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+<p class="noi"><span class="hidden">R</span>OSAMOND EVERING was one of those indiscreet mischievous girls who are
+in the daily practice of repeating every thing they see and hear;
+particularly all the unpleasant remarks, and unfavourable opinions that
+happen to be unguardedly expressed in their presence. She did not
+content herself with relating only as much as she actually saw and
+heard; but (as is always the case with tell-tales) she dealt greatly in
+exaggeration, and her stories never failed to exceed the reality in all
+their worst points.</p>
+
+<p>This unamiable and dangerous propensity of their daughter, gave great
+pain to Mr. and Mrs. Evering, who tried in vain to correct it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> They
+represented to her that as parents cannot be <i>constantly</i> on their guard
+in presence of their own family, and that as grown persons do not
+<i>always</i> remember or observe when children are in the room, many things
+are inadvertently said, which, though of little consequence as long as
+they remain unknown, may be of great and unfortunate importance if
+disclosed and exaggerated. And as children are incapable of forming an
+accurate judgment as to what may be told with safety, or what ought to
+be kept secret, their wisest and most proper course is to repeat no
+remarks and to relate no conversations whatever; but more particularly
+those which they may chance to hear from persons older than themselves.</p>
+
+<p>But neither reproof nor punishment seemed to make any lasting impression
+on Rosamond Evering; and scarce a day passed that she did not exhibit
+some vexatious specimen of her besetting sin. A few instances will
+suffice.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Evering had a very
+<a name="excellent" id="excellent"></a><ins title="Original has excellant">excellent</ins> cook, a black woman,
+that had lived with her more than six years, and whom she considered an
+invaluable servant. One morning, when Venus (for that was her name) had
+just left the parlour, after receiving her orders for dinner, Mr.
+Evering remarked, in a low voice, to his lady,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> "Certainly, the name of
+Venus was never so unsuitably bestowed as on this poor woman. I have
+rarely seen a negro whose face had a greater resemblance to that of a
+baboon." In this remark Mrs. Evering acquiesced.</p>
+
+<p>Rosamond was at this time sitting in a corner, looking over her lessons.
+Just before she went to school, her mother thought of a change in the
+preparations for dinner, and not wishing to give the old cook the
+trouble of coming up from the kitchen a second time, she desired
+Rosamond to go down and tell Venus she would have the turkey boiled
+rather than roasted. Rosamond went down and delivered the message; but
+fixing her eyes on the cook's face, she thought she had never seen Venus
+look so ugly, and she said to her, "Venus, my father thinks you are the
+ugliest negro he ever saw (<i>even for a negro</i>) and he says your face is
+just like a monkey's, only worse." Having made this agreeable
+communication, Rosamond went out of the kitchen and departed for school,
+leaving Venus speechless with anger and astonishment; for though in
+other respects a very good woman, she was extremely vain, and had always
+considered herself among the handsomest of her race.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Venus found herself able to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> speak, she went into the parlour
+with her eyes flashing fire, and told Mrs. Evering that she must provide
+herself with another cook, as she was determined to leave her that very
+day. Mrs. Evering with much surprise inquired the reason, and Venus
+replied, that "she would not live in any house where she was called an
+ugly neger, the ugliest even of all negers, and likened to a brute
+beast."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Evering, who had forgotten her husband's remark, asked the cook
+what she meant; and Venus explained by repeating all that Rosamond had
+told her. Mrs. Evering endeavoured to pacify her, but in vain. Ignorant
+people when once offended are very difficult to appease, and Venus had
+been hurt on the tenderest point. She would listen to nothing that Mrs.
+Evering could urge to induce her to stay; but exclaimed in a high
+passion, "I never was called a neger before. I am not a neger but a
+coloured woman. I was born and raised on a great plantation in Virginny
+where there was hundreds of slaves, all among the Randolphs and sich
+like quality, and nobody never called me a neger. And now when I'm free,
+and come here to Philadelphy where nobody has no servants without they
+hires them, lo! and behold, I'm called a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> neger, and an ugly neger too,
+and a neger-monkey besides. No, no, I'll not stay; and Nancy the
+chambermaid may do the cooking till you get somebody else. And a pretty
+way she'll do it in. I'm glad I shan't be here to eat Nancy's cooking. I
+never know'd any <i>white trash</i> that could cook; much less Irish."</p>
+
+<p>Finally, Mrs. Evering was obliged to give Venus her wages and let here
+go at once, as she protested "she would never eat another meal's
+victuals in the house."</p>
+
+<p>When Rosamond came from school, her mother reprimanded her severely; and
+when her father heard of the mischief she had caused, he would not
+permit her to accompany the family to a concert that evening, as she had
+been promised the day before.</p>
+
+<p>After the departure of Venus, it was a long time before Mrs. Evering
+could suit herself with a cook. Several were tried in succession but
+none were good; and to Rosamond's great regret, they were never able to
+get a woman whose skill in making pies, and puddings, and cakes, bore
+any comparison to that of Venus.</p>
+
+<p>Still this lesson did not cure her fault; she still told tales, and
+still suffered in consequence.</p>
+
+<p>One day, Mrs. Renwick, a lady who lived next door, sent a message to
+Mrs. Evering, requesting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> that she would lend her a pot of red currant
+jelly, as she was quite out of that article, of which she shortly
+intended making a supply; and as Mr. Renwick had invited some company to
+dinner, some jelly would be wanted to eat with the canvass-back ducks.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Evering lent her a pot, and as soon as currants were in the market,
+Mrs. Renwick sent her in return some jelly of her own making. It was not
+nice, and Mrs. Evering observed to her sister, Mrs. Norwood, who
+happened to be present: "I do not think Mrs. Renwick has been very
+successful with her jelly. It is so thin it is almost liquid, and so
+dark that it looks as if made of black currants. I suspect she has
+boiled it too long, and has not put in sugar enough."</p>
+
+<p>Next day as they were coming from school together, Mrs. Renwick's little
+daughter, Marianne, said to Rosamond, "My mother made some currant jelly
+on Tuesday, and yesterday when it was cold, she gave me a whole
+saucer-full to eat with my slice of bread, at twelve o'clock."</p>
+
+<p>"She might well give you a whole saucer-full," replied Rosamond, "for I
+do not think it was worth saving for any better purpose. She sent in a
+pot to my mother, in return for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> some she had borrowed of her. Now <i>my</i>
+mother's jelly is always so firm that you might cut it with a knife, and
+so bright and sparkling that it dazzles your eyes. I heard her tell my
+aunt Norwood, that Mrs. Renwick's jelly was the worst she had ever seen,
+that it was as thin and sour as plain currant juice, and dark and
+dirty-looking beside."</p>
+
+<p>Marianne Renwick was much displeased at the disrespectful manner in
+which her mother's jelly had been spoken of. She let go Rosamond's arm,
+and turning up another street, walked home by herself, swelling with
+resentment, and told her mother all that had passed.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Renwick was a lady very easily offended; and she always signified
+her anger as soon as she felt it. She immediately sent to a
+confectioner's for a pot of the very best red currant jelly, and had it
+carried into Mrs. Evering; accompanied by a note implying "that she
+regretted to hear that her jelly had not been so fortunate as to meet
+the approbation of so competent a judge of sweetmeats; but that, as she
+would be sorry if Mrs. Evering should lose any thing by it, she had sent
+her a pot made by one of the very first confectioners in the city; and
+she hoped it would be found an ample<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> equivalent for that she had most
+unhappily borrowed."</p>
+
+<p>Rosamond was in the parlour when the note and the pot of jelly arrived,
+and she coloured and looked so confused, that her mother immediately
+guessed she had been the cause of Mrs. Renwick's having taken offence.
+Reproof had no effect on Rosamond except for a moment; but that she
+might frequently be reminded of her fault, she was not allowed to taste
+currant jelly till the next summer. Mrs. Renwick, however, remained
+implacable; and could never be prevailed on to visit Mrs. Evering again.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Evering had an aunt, the widow of a western merchant who had made a
+large fortune in business. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Marbury
+had removed to Philadelphia, which was her native place; and, being very
+plain in her habits and ideas, she had bought a small neat house in a
+retired street, where she kept but two servants, and expended more money
+in presents to her relations, than in any superfluities for herself. She
+generally went to a place of worship in her own neighbourhood; but
+hearing that a very celebrated minister from Boston was to preach one
+Sunday in the church to which her nephew's family<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> belonged, she sent a
+message to Mr. Evering requesting that he would call for her with his
+carriage and give her a seat in his pew, that she might have an
+opportunity of hearing this distinguished stranger. Mr. and Mrs. Evering
+were both out when the message arrived, so that no answer could be sent
+till their return; which was not till evening.</p>
+
+<p>It was dusk, and the lamps not being yet lighted, they did not perceive
+that Rosamond was lying on an ottoman in one of the recesses, or they
+would not have spoken as they did while she was present.</p>
+
+<p>"I am very sorry," said Mrs. Evering, "that Mrs. Marbury has fixed on
+to-morrow for going to church with us, for I intended asking Miss
+Leeson, who will be delighted to have an opportunity of hearing this
+celebrated preacher; and his discourse, however excellent, will be lost
+on aunt Marbury, who always falls asleep soon after she has heard the
+text, that being all she ever remembers of a sermon. So that in reality,
+one preacher is the same to her as another; though she goes regularly to
+church twice a-day, and never could be convinced that she sleeps half
+the time. And then she is unfortunately so fat, and takes up so much
+room in the pew."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>
+"My dear," said Mr. Evering, "we must show Mrs. Marbury as much kindness
+and civility as we possibly can, for she is a most excellent woman, is
+very liberal to us now, and at her death will undoubtedly leave us the
+greatest part of her large property. Even if we had no personal regard
+for the good old lady, it would be very impolitic in us to offend her."</p>
+
+<p>When the room was lighted, Mr. and Mrs. Evering saw Rosamond on the
+ottoman, and felt so much uneasiness at her having heard their
+conversation, that they thought it best to caution her against repeating
+it. "Oh!" exclaimed Rosamond, "do you think I would be so wicked as to
+tell aunt Marbury what you have just been saying about her?"</p>
+
+<p>"You have often," said Mrs. Evering, "told things almost as improper to
+be repeated."</p>
+
+<p>"But never with any bad intention," replied Rosamond, "I am sure my
+feelings are always good."</p>
+
+<p>"I know not," said her father, "how it is possible that people with good
+feelings and good intentions can take pleasure in repeating whatever
+they hear to a person's disadvantage, and above all to the very object
+of the unfavourable remarks. Beside the cruelty of causing them poignant
+and unnecessary pain, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> wounding their self-love, there is the
+wickedness of embroiling them with their friends; or at least destroying
+their confidence, and imbittering their hearts. And all these
+consequences have frequently ensued from the tattling of a tell-tale
+child."</p>
+
+<p>The next morning was Saturday; and the servants being all very busy,
+Mrs. Evering desired Rosamond to stop, as she returned from taking her
+music-lesson, and inform her aunt Marbury that they would be happy to
+accommodate her with a seat in their pew on Sunday morning; and that
+they would call for her in the carriage, as she had requested.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Rosamond," said Mrs. Evering, "can I trust you? Will you, for
+once, be discreet, and refrain from repeating to your aunt Marbury, what
+you unluckily overheard last evening?"</p>
+
+<p>"O! indeed, dear mother," replied Rosamond, "bad as you think me, I am
+not quite wicked enough for that."</p>
+
+<p>"But I fear the force of habit," said Mrs. Evering. "I believe I had
+better send Peter with the message."</p>
+
+<p>"No," answered Rosamond, "I am anxious to retrieve my character. Rely on
+me this once; and you will see how prudent and honourable I can be."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>
+On her way home from her music-lesson, Rosamond stopped at her aunt's,
+and delivered the message, exactly as it had been given to her.</p>
+
+<p>While Rosamond was eating a piece of the nice plum-cake that her aunt
+always kept in the house for the gratification of her young visitors,
+Mrs. Marbury said to her, "This weather is quite too warm for the
+season; should it continue, it will be very oppressive in church
+to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"No doubt," answered Rosamond, "and most probably <i>our</i> church will be
+crowded in every part. I wonder, aunt, that you are anxious to go, as
+you certainly <i>must</i> be, when you sent so long beforehand to engage a
+seat in our pew."</p>
+
+<p>"In truth," returned Mrs. Marbury, "I am willing to suffer some
+inconvenience from the heat, for the sake of hearing this great
+preacher."</p>
+
+<p>"But, aunt," said Rosamond, "if you get sleepy, you will not hear him
+after all."</p>
+
+<p>"O!" replied Mrs. Marbury, "I am never sleepy in church. I am always so
+attentive that I never feel in the least drowsy."</p>
+
+<p>"O! indeed, aunt, I have often seen you asleep in church," exclaimed
+Rosamond.</p>
+
+<p>"Impossible, Rosamond, impossible," cried Mrs. Marbury. "You are
+entirely mistaken. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> must have been merely your own imagination."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, dear aunt," said Rosamond, "my father and mother, as well as
+myself, have all seen you asleep in church. If it was not true, the
+whole family could not imagine it. It was but last evening, I heard my
+mother say, that she wished you had not taken a notion to go to church
+with us on Sunday, as it would prevent her from inviting Miss Leeson,
+whom she likes far better than you. She said, beside, that fat people
+take up so much room, that they are always encumbrances every where; and
+that there was no use at all in your going to church, as you slept
+soundly all the time you were there, and even breathed so hard as to
+disturb the congregation."</p>
+
+<p>"And what did your father say to all this?" asked Mrs. Marbury, turning
+very pale, and looking much shocked and mortified.</p>
+
+<p>"My father," answered Rosamond, "said that, on account of your money, we
+must endure you, and all the inconveniences belonging to you; for if you
+were kept in good humour, he had no doubt of your leaving him all your
+property when you die."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Marbury looked aghast. She burst into tears, and Rosamond, finding
+that she had gone quite too far, vainly attempted to pacify her.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>
+"You may go home, child," exclaimed Mrs. Marbury, sobbing with anger,
+"you may go home, and tell your father and mother that I shall not
+trouble them with my company at church or any where else; and when I
+die, I shall leave my money to the hospital or to some other
+institution. How have I been deceived! But I shall take care in future
+not to bestow my affection on those that have any expectations from me."</p>
+
+<p>Rosamond, now very much frightened, declared that she could not take
+such a message to her parents; and begged her aunt to screen her from
+their displeasure, by not informing them of the communication she had so
+indiscreetly made.</p>
+
+<p>Her alarm and agitation were so great, that Mrs. Marbury consented, out
+of pity, not to betray her to her father and mother; and to excuse
+herself from going to church with them (which she declared she could
+never do again) by alleging the heat of the weather, and the probable
+crowd.</p>
+
+<p>"And now, Rosamond," said her aunt Marbury, "do not think that I feel at
+all obliged to you for having opened my eyes as to the manner in which
+your parents really regard me. Their behaviour to me, as far as I could
+judge for myself, has always been exactly what I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> wished it; and if
+their kindness was not sincere, I still thought it so, and was happy in
+being deceived. And now, after what you have told me, how can I again
+think of them as I have hitherto done? You have acted basely towards
+them in repeating their private conversation, and cruelly to your kind
+aunt, in giving her unnecessary pain and mortification. You have caused
+much mischief; and who has been the gainer? Not yourself certainly. You
+have lost my good opinion, for I can never like a tell-tale. I had heard
+something of your being addicted to this vice; but till now I could not
+believe it. I shall not betray you to your parents, though you have so
+shamefully betrayed <i>them</i> to <i>me</i>. But you may rely on it, that sooner
+or later the discovery will be made, to your utter shame and confusion.
+Now you may go home, with the assurance that you can no longer be a
+welcome visitor at my house."</p>
+
+<p>Rosamond departed, overwhelmed with compunction; and in the resolution
+(which she had so often made and so often broken) never again to be
+guilty of a similar fault. She gave her aunt's message to her parents,
+and Miss Leeson was invited to accompany them next day to church.</p>
+
+<p>Two days after, Mrs. Evering went to visit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> Mrs. Marbury, and to her
+great surprise heard from the servants that she had left town with some
+western friends who were returning home; and that she purposed being
+absent from Philadelphia five or six months; dividing her time among
+various places on the other side of the Alleghanies, and probably
+extending her tour to Louisiana, where she owned some land.</p>
+
+<p>Her going away so suddenly without apprising them of her intention, was
+totally inexplicable to Mr. and Mrs. Evering; and they justly concluded
+that she must have taken some offence. Rosamond well knew the cause, and
+rightly supposed that her aunt finding herself unable to meet the family
+with her former feelings towards them, had thought it best to avoid
+seeing them for a very long time.</p>
+
+<p>The confusion visible in Rosamond's face and manner when Mrs. Marbury
+was spoken of, aroused the suspicions of her father and mother: and on
+their questioning her closely, she confessed, with many tears, that she
+had really informed her aunt of what had passed on the subject of her
+accompanying them to church. But as tell-tales have very little candour
+where themselves are concerned, and as tale-telling always leads to
+lying, she steadily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> denied that she had been guilty of the slightest
+exaggeration in her report to Mrs. Marbury; protesting that she had told
+her nothing but the simple truth.</p>
+
+<p>From that time, Rosamond was not allowed to visit or call at any house
+unaccompanied by her mother, who was almost afraid to trust her out of
+her sight. Her parents avoided discussing any thing of the least
+consequence in <i>her</i> presence; always remembering to send her out of the
+room. This mode of treatment very much mortified her; but she could not
+help acknowledging that she deserved it.</p>
+
+<p>Her father received no intelligence from Mrs. Marbury. He and Mrs.
+Evering both wrote to her at different times, endeavouring to mollify
+her displeasure; but not knowing exactly where she was, the letters were
+not directed to the right places, and did not reach her.</p>
+
+<p>For a long time Rosamond was so unusually discreet, that her parents
+began to hope that her odious fault was entirely cured.</p>
+
+<p>One day, her chamber having been washed in the afternoon, it was found
+too damp for her to sleep in with safety to her health; and her mother
+told her that she must, that night, occupy the room adjoining hers. This
+room, which was but seldom used, was separated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> from Mrs. Evering's
+apartment by a very thin partition; and communicated with it by a door
+which was almost always kept closed; the bed in each of these chambers
+being placed against it.</p>
+
+<p>Rosamond, having been awakened in the night by the fighting of some cats
+in the yard, heard her father and mother in earnest conversation. They
+had totally forgotten her vicinity to them; and as tell-tales are never
+wanting in curiosity, she sat up in her bed and applying her ear to the
+key-hole of the door, she distinctly heard every word they said, though
+they were speaking in a low voice.</p>
+
+<p>She was soon able to comprehend the subject of their conversation. Mr.
+Evering was lamenting that the failure of a friend for whom he had
+endorsed to a large amount, had brought him into unexpected
+difficulties; but he hoped that he would be able to go on till the sums
+due to him by some western merchants should arrive.</p>
+
+<p>Next evening, Rosamond was permitted to go to a juvenile cotillon-party,
+held once a fortnight, at the ball-room of her dancing-master. To this
+place her mother always accompanied her; and while Mrs. Evering was
+sitting in conversation with some ladies, a boy named George Granby, who
+was frequently the partner of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> Rosamond at these balls, came up and
+asked her to dance. They were obliged to go to the farthest end of the
+room before they could get places in a cotillon; and while they were
+waiting for the music to begin, George, who thought Rosamond a very
+pretty girl, asked her if she would also be his partner in the
+country-dance. She replied that Henry Harford had engaged her, at the
+last ball, for this country-dance.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" replied George Granby, "Henry Harford will not be here to-night;
+his father failed yesterday."</p>
+
+<p>"True," said Rosamond, "I wonder I should have forgotten Mr. Harford's
+failure, when my father lost so much by him. But when the fathers fail,
+must the children stay away from balls?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly," replied George, "it would be considered very improper for
+the family to be seen in any place of amusement when its head is in so
+much trouble, and when they have lost all they possessed."</p>
+
+<p>"O then," exclaimed Rosamond, "I hope <i>my</i> father will not fail till the
+cotillon-parties are over for the season. There are but two more, and I
+should be very sorry to give them up. I hope he will be able to go on,
+at least<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> till after that time. How sorry I shall be when he <i>does</i>
+fail."</p>
+
+<p>"I believe you," said George; "but what makes you talk about your
+father's failing? I thought he was considered safe enough."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! you know but little about it," answered Rosamond. "I heard him tell
+my mother last night, that he was in hourly dread of failing, in
+consequence of the great losses by Mr. Harford, and of his own business
+having gone on badly for a long time. However, say nothing about it, for
+such things ought not to be told."</p>
+
+<p>"They ought not, indeed," said the boy.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as George Granby went home, he repeated what he had heard from
+Rosamond, to his father, who was one of Mr. Evering's creditors. The
+consequence was, that Mr. Granby and all the principal creditors took
+immediate measures to secure themselves; and Mr. Evering (who could have
+gone on till he got through his difficulties, had he been allowed time,
+and had the state of his affairs remained unsuspected,) became a
+bankrupt through the worse than indiscretion of his daughter. Had Mrs.
+Marbury been in town, or where he could have had speedy communication
+with her, he doubted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> not that she would have lent him assistance to
+ward off the impending blow. But she had gone away in a fit of
+displeasure, occasioned, also, by the tattling of Rosamond.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Granby, who was the chief creditor and a man of contracted feelings
+and great severity, showed no liberality on the occasion; and proceeded
+to the utmost extremity that the law would warrant. Every article of Mr.
+Evering's property was taken; and indeed, since it had come to this, his
+principles would not allow him to reserve any thing whatever from his
+creditors.</p>
+
+<p>The scene that ensued in the Evering family, on the day following the
+ball, can better be imagined than described. Mr. Granby had at once
+informed Mr. Evering of the source from whence he had derived his
+information with respect to the posture of his affairs; and when
+Rosamond found this new and terrible proof of the fatal effects of her
+predominant vice, she went into an hysteric fit, and was so ill all
+night, that her parents, in addition to their other troubles, had to
+fear for the life of their daughter. The sufferings of her mind brought
+on a fever; and it was more than a week before she was able to leave her
+bed.</p>
+
+<p>Her father and mother kindly forgave her, and avoided all reference to
+her fault. But she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> could not forgive herself, and on the day that they
+left their handsome residence in one of the principal streets, and
+removed to a small mean-looking house in the suburbs, her agony was more
+than words can express. All their furniture was sold at auction, even
+Rosamond's piano, and her mother's work-table. Their most expensive
+articles of clothing were put away, as in their present circumstances it
+would be improper to wear them. The house they now inhabited, contained
+only one little parlour with a kitchen back of it, and three small rooms
+upstairs. Their furniture was limited to what was barely useful, and of
+the cheapest kind. Their table was as plain as possible; and their only
+servant a very young half-grown girl.</p>
+
+<p>This sad change in their way of living, added to the stings of
+self-reproach, almost broke Rosamond's heart; and her pride was much
+shocked when she found that her father had applied for the situation of
+clerk in a counting-house, as a means of supporting his family till
+something better should offer.</p>
+
+<p>At length Mrs. Marbury returned; having hurried back to Philadelphia as
+soon as the intelligence of her nephew's failure had reached her. How
+did she blame herself for having taken such serious offence at what now
+appeared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> to her almost too trifling to remember. All her former regard
+for the Evering family returned. She sought them immediately in their
+humble retreat, and offered Mr. Evering her assistance to the utmost
+farthing she could command.</p>
+
+<p>To conclude, Mr. Evering's affairs were again put in train. He resumed
+his business; and a few years restored him to his former situation.</p>
+
+<p>This sad, but salutary lesson produced a lasting effect on Rosamond; and
+from that time, she kept so strict a watch over her ruling passion, that
+she succeeded in entirely eradicating it. She grew up a discreet and
+amiable girl; and no one who knew her in after years, could have
+believed that till the age of fourteen she had been an incorrigible
+tell-tale.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>
+<a name="boarding" id="boarding"></a>THE BOARDING-SCHOOL FEAST.</h2>
+
+<div class="block2">
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="io">"They hear a voice in every wind,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And snatch a fearful joy."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<div class="right">
+<span class="right"><i>Gray.</i></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 121px;">
+<img src="images/i.jpg" width="121" height="149" alt="Drop capital I" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+<p class="noi"><span class="hidden">I</span>T is a very common subject of complaint with boarding-school children
+(and there is often sufficient foundation for it) that they are too much
+restricted in their food, and that their diet is not only inferior in
+quality to what it ought to be, but frequently deficient in quantity
+also. There was certainly, however, no cause for any dissatisfaction of
+this sort at Mrs. Middleton's boarding-school, in Philadelphia. The
+table was in every respect excellent; and a basket of bread or biscuit,
+and sometimes of gingerbread, was handed round to all the pupils, every
+morning at eleven o'clock. Mrs. Middleton's young ladies were strangers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>
+to the common boarding-school practice of coaxing or bribing the
+servants to procure them cakes and tarts from the confectioners; for the
+table was sufficiently supplied with those articles, made in such a
+manner as to be agreeable to the taste without endangering the health;
+and they were every day allowed some sort of fruit, of the best quality
+the market could furnish.</p>
+
+<p>At last, a young lady named Henrietta Harwood became a member of Mrs.
+Middleton's seminary. Miss Harwood had been for several years a pupil of
+one of those too numerous establishments, where the comfort of the
+children is sacrificed to the vanity of a governess, who rests her
+claims to encouragement principally on the merits of elegantly furnished
+parlours, an expensive style of dress, frequent evening parties, and
+occasional balls. In schools where outward show is the leading
+principle, the internal economy is generally conducted on the most
+parsimonious plan, and while the masters (who attend only at certain
+hours) are such as are considered the most fashionable, the female
+teachers that live in the house, are too often vulgar girls obtained at
+a low salary, and who frequently are in league<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> with the elder pupils in
+ridiculing and plotting against the governess.</p>
+
+<p>Most of the faults and follies that were likely to be acquired at a
+show-boarding-school, Henrietta Harwood brought with her to the
+excellent and well-conducted establishment of Mrs. Middleton: but she
+had some redeeming qualities that made her rather a favourite with her
+new companions, and disposed her governess to hope that all would come
+right at last.</p>
+
+<p>One evening, the elder young ladies were sitting very comfortably at
+their different occupations, round the table in the front school-room.
+The window-shutters were closed, a good fire was burning in the stove,
+and Mrs. Middleton had just sent them a basket of apples, according to
+her custom in the winter evenings. After finishing a very fine one,
+Henrietta Harwood exclaimed&mdash;"Well&mdash;I wonder at myself for eating these
+apples!"</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Brownlow.</i> Why, I am sure they are the very best Newtown pippins.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> That is true, Brownie: but at Madame Disette's we had
+something better of evenings than mere apples.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Brownlow.</i> What had you?</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>
+<i>Henrietta.</i> We had sometimes cheesecakes, and sometimes tarts; with
+very frequently pound-cake and jumbles; and sometimes we had even little
+mince-pies, and oyster-patties.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Wilcox.</i> O, delicious! What an excellent governess! How could you
+ever consent to leave her? I thought Mrs. Middleton allowed us a great
+many good things; but she does not send us cheesecakes and tarts of an
+evening.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, do not mistake! We might have gone without them all our
+lives, before Madame Disette would have sent us any thing of the sort.
+She did not even allow us apples of an evening, or a piece of bread
+between breakfast and dinner. Why, one summer evening, she bought at the
+door some common ice-cream, of a black man that was carrying it through
+the streets in a tin pot; and when we thought that, <i>for once</i>, she had
+certainly treated us, she charged the ice-cream in our quarter-bills.
+No, no,&mdash;we got nothing from <i>her</i>, but stale bread; bad butter; sloppy
+tea; coffee without taste or colour; skinny meat, half-cooked one day,
+cold the next, and hashed or rather coddled the third. Then, for a
+dessert, we were regaled with sour knotty apples in the winter,
+worm-eaten cherries in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> summer, and dry squashy pears in the autumn;
+and once a week we had boiled rice, or baked bread and milk, by way of
+pudding. Though after the scholars had eaten their allowance, and made
+their curtsies and gone up to the school-room, she always had something
+nice brought for herself, and her sister, and niece: and of which poor
+Benson, the under teacher, was never invited to partake.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Wilcox.</i> But how did you get such nice things in the evening?</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> We bought them, to be sure: bought them with our own money.
+That was the only way. When the little girls had all gone to bed, and
+Madame Disette, and Madame Trompeur, and Mademoiselle Mensonge were
+engaged in the parlour with their company, we all (that is, the first
+class) subscribed something; and we commissioned the chambermaid to
+bring us whatever we wanted from the confectioner's. O, what delightful
+feasts we had!</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Thomson.</i> Did Madame Disette never find you out?</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, no!&mdash;we laid our plans too cunningly. And Benson, the
+teacher, was a good creature, and always joined our party; so we knew
+she would not tell.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>
+<i>Miss Scott.</i> I am sure we never could prevail on our teacher, Miss
+Loxley, to be concerned in such things. <i>She</i> would think it so very
+improper.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Well, we must take an opportunity when Miss Loxley is not
+at home. Mrs. Middleton permits her to go out whenever she requests it.
+She does not keep her so closely confined as Madame Disette did poor
+Benson.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Scott.</i> Mrs. Middleton has so much reliance on her elder pupils,
+that she is not afraid to trust us sometimes without Miss Loxley. And
+we, certainly, have never yet abused her confidence.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, you are undoubtedly a most exemplary set! But you never
+had one like <i>me</i> among you. I shall soon put a little spirit into you
+all, and get you out of this strict-propriety sort of way. I do not
+despair even of my friend Isabella Caldwell, the good girl of the
+school.</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella.</i> Our way is a very satisfactory one. It is impossible for
+boarding-school girls to be happier than we are. Our minds are not
+exhausted with long and difficult lessons, and with studies beyond our
+capacity. When school-hours are over, we have full time for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> recreation,
+and are amply provided with the means of amusing ourselves. We have a
+library of entertaining books; and we have liberty to divert ourselves
+with all sorts of juvenile plays and games. Then how much attention is
+paid to our health and our comforts, and how kindly and judiciously are
+we treated in every respect! Certainly, we ought to think ourselves
+happy.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Ay! so you are made to say in the letters which you write
+home to your parents. All our French letters, at Madame Disette's were
+written first by her niece Mademoiselle Mensonge; and the English
+letters were manufactured by poor Benson; and then we copied them in our
+very best hands, with a new pen at every paragraph. They were all nearly
+the same; and told of nothing but the superabundant kindness and
+liberality of Madame Disette, our high respect and esteem for Madame
+Trompeur, her sister, and our vast affection for her amiable niece,
+Mademoiselle Mensonge: together with our perfect health, and extreme
+felicity. In every letter we grew happier and happier.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Snodgrass.</i> And were you not so in reality?</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> No, indeed,&mdash;all the happiness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> we had was of our own
+making, for we derived none from any thing our governess did for us;
+though we were obliged in our letters to call her our beloved Madame
+Disette, and to express the most fervent hopes that we might one day
+exactly resemble her; which, I am sure, was the last thing we could have
+desired; for she was one of the ugliest women that I ever saw in my
+life.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Thomson.</i> But you might have wished to resemble her in mind and
+manners.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Why, as to that, her mind was worse than her face, and her
+manners we all thought absolutely ridiculous. Benson could mimic her
+exactly.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Marley.</i> I do not wonder that your parents took you away from such
+a school.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> The school was certainly bad enough. We had dirty,
+uncomfortable chambers; scanty fires; a mean table, and all such
+inconveniences. But then it was a very fashionable school; all the
+masters were foreigners, and above all things there was a great point
+made of our speaking French. We knew the common phrases perfectly well.
+We could all say, <i>Comment vous portez vous</i>,&mdash;<i>Je vous remerçie</i>,&mdash;<i>Il
+fait
+<a name="temps" id="temps"></a><ins title="Original has beau-tems">beau-temps</ins></i>,&mdash;<i>Donnez-moi un epingle</i>,&mdash;<i>Lequel
+aimez-vous mieux,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> le bleu ou le vert?</i> and many other things equally
+sensible and interesting. This was what was called French conversation,
+and we were all able to join in it, after taking lessons in French a
+very few quarters.</p>
+
+<p>But after all, we had a great deal of fun, and that made up for every
+thing. Madame Disette and her sister and niece, always hurried over the
+school-business as fast as possible, that they might have time to pay
+and receive visits; and every evening they were either out, or engaged
+at home with company; so that we had nobody to watch us but poor Benson,
+and none of us cared for <i>her</i>. And then we could make her do just as we
+pleased. She only got seventy-five dollars a year, for which she was
+obliged to perform all the drudgery of the school, even to washing and
+dressing the little girls; putting them to bed; darning their stockings
+and mending their clothes; besides doing all Madame Disette's plain
+sewing. Poor Benson could not afford to dress half so well as the
+chambermaid. So how could we have any respect for her? Even the servants
+despised her, and never would do any thing she asked them.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Snodgrass.</i> Well, we all respect Miss Loxley. She gets a good
+salary, dresses genteelly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> is treated with proper consideration by
+every one in the house, and we obey her just as we do Mrs. Middleton.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Yes, and for those very reasons, we never can ask her to
+assist in any little private scheme of our own. Benson was certainly a
+much more convenient person. But to resume our first subject&mdash;I do
+really long for a feast.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Roberts.</i> Well,&mdash;Mrs. Middleton occasionally gives us a feast as
+you call it; for instance, on the birth-day of the young lady who is
+head of her class.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, but then at these regular feasts Mrs. Middleton is
+always present herself. I like to steal a little secret pleasure,
+unsuspected by any one that would check it. Ah! you have never dealt in
+mysteries; you know not how delightful they are. One half the enjoyment
+is in planning and carrying on the plot. Come now, girls, let us get up
+a little feast to-morrow evening. You know Miss Loxley will be out
+again, as her aunt is still sick; and the French teacher always goes
+home at dusk, as she does not sleep here.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Watkins.</i> But if Mrs. Middleton should discover us.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>
+<i>Henrietta.</i> No. Her sister and brother-in-law are coming to spend the
+evening with her, and to bring a lady and gentleman from Connecticut.
+To-morrow is the very best night we can possibly have. Leave it all to
+me, and I will engage that there shall be no discovery; and we will get
+the little girls to bed very early, that we may have the longer time to
+enjoy ourselves.</p>
+
+<p><i>Several of the young ladies.</i> O, indeed we are afraid!</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Nonsense&mdash;I will answer for it that there shall be no cause
+for fear. Why, we did these things fifty times at Madame Disette's, and
+were never once detected. Come, I will lay down a dollar as the first
+contribution towards the feast. Brownie, how much will you give?</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Brownlow.</i> I will give half a dollar.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Watkins.</i> And I will give a dollar and a half. I have always
+plenty of money.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Well done, Watty. And you Scotty, how much?</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Scott.</i> A quarter of a dollar is all I have left.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Wilcox.</i> And I have only ten cents.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, poor Coxey! But never mind, you shall have as large a
+share of the good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> things as any of us, notwithstanding you can only
+muster ten cents. And now, Snoddy?</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Snodgrass.</i> Why, I will give a quarter of a dollar and eight
+cents. I have another quarter of a dollar, but I wish to keep it to buy
+a bottle of Cologne water.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Pho.&mdash;Try to live another week without the Cologne.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Snodgrass.</i> No indeed,&mdash;I never in my life had a bottle of Cologne
+water all to myself, to use just as I pleased; and I really have set my
+mind on it.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Well, we must try to do without Snoddy's other
+quarter-dollar. Well, Bob, what say you?</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Roberts.</i> I will give half a dollar.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, Bob, Bob! You have more than that, I am sure.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Roberts.</i> Yes, I have another half dollar, but I wish to buy the
+book of Fairy Tales you told me of.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> O, never mind buying the Fairy Tales! I will tell you all
+of them without charging for my trouble. Come now, be good and give the
+whole dollar, and we will have an iced pound-cake.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Roberts.</i> Well, if you will <i>certainly</i> tell me all the Fairy
+Tales.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>
+<i>Henrietta.</i> Every one of them; twice over if you choose. And now,
+Marley.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Marley.</i> I know all this is very improper.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Just for once in your life try how it seems to be improper.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Marley.</i> Well then for this time only&mdash;Here are three quarters of
+a dollar.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Now, Tommy!</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Thomson.</i> I have not resolution to resist. There are half a dollar
+and twelve cents.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> And now, Isabella Caldwell,&mdash;though last not least.</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella.</i> Excuse me, Henrietta: my contribution will be far less than
+that of any other young lady. In fact, nothing at all.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Nothing at all! Why Miss Caldwell, I did not expect this of
+you! I always supposed you to be very generous.</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella.</i> I wish to be generous whenever it is in my power.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Well, dear Isabella, if you have no money, we will not
+press you. We shall be happy to have you at our little feast, even if
+you do not contribute a cent towards it.</p>
+
+<p><i>All.</i> O, yes! We must not lose Isabella Caldwell.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>
+<i>Isabella.</i> I am much obliged to you, my dear girls. But it is not the
+want of money that prevents me from joining you. I <i>have</i> money. But I
+wish not, on any terms, to belong to your party; and I shall retire to
+my own room. In short, I do not think it right to be planning a feast
+without the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton, who is so good and so indulgent
+that it is a shame to deceive her.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Then I suppose. Miss Caldwell, you intend to betray us; to
+disclose the whole plan to Mrs. Middleton?</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella.</i> You insult me by such a suspicion. I appeal to all the young
+ladies if they ever knew me guilty of telling tales, or repeating any
+thing which might be a disadvantage to another.</p>
+
+<p><i>All.</i> O, no, no! Isabella is to be trusted. She will never betray us.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Then in plain terms, Miss Caldwell, I really think, if you
+have money, you might spare a little for our feast.</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella.</i> I want the whole of it for another purpose. And I shall get
+no more before next week.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Well, this is very strange. I know you do not care for
+finery, and that you never lay out your pocket-money in little articles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>
+of dress. And as for books of amusement, it was but yesterday that your
+father sent you a whole box full. I <i>must</i> say, that though you are
+called generous&mdash;I cannot help thinking you a little&mdash;a very little&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella.</i> Mean, I suppose you would say.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Why, I must not exactly call you <i>mean</i>&mdash;But I cannot help
+thinking you rather&mdash;<i>meanish</i>.</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella.</i> I will not be called mean. My refusal proceeds from other
+motives than you suppose.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Young ladies, I will be judged by you all. Is it natural
+for a girl of fifteen, who likes cakes, and pastry, and every sort of
+sweet thing, to be so very conscientious as to refuse to join in a
+little bit of pleasure that can injure no one, that will never be
+discovered, and that all her companions have assented to with few or no
+scruples. No, no, Isabella, I believe that your only object in declining
+to be one of our party, is to save your money.</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella.</i> O, what injustice you do me!</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Prove it to be injustice by joining us without further
+objection.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Watkins.</i> Henrietta, we do not care for Isabella's money. Let her
+keep it if she wishes. We can afford to entertain her as our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> guest. I
+am sorry so much should have been said about it.</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella</i> (<i>taking her purse out of her bag.</i>) There then; here are two
+half-dollars. I will prove to you that I am neither mean nor selfish.</p>
+
+<p><i>All.</i> We will not take your money.</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella.</i> Yes, take it.&mdash;Any thing rather than suspect me of what I do
+not deserve. And now let me entreat, that in <i>my</i> presence nothing more
+may be said of this feast. Change the subject, and talk of something
+else. Or, rather, I will retire to bed, and leave you to make your
+arrangements for to-morrow night.</p>
+
+<p>The real reason why Isabella Caldwell was so unwilling to be a
+contributor to the expense of the feast, was, that she had intended
+appropriating her pocket-money to a much better purpose. Her allowance
+was a dollar a week; and she knew that a coloured woman, named Diana,
+(who had formerly been a servant in her father's family before they
+removed to the country) was now struggling with severe poverty. Diana
+was the widow of a negro sailor who had perished at sea, and she was the
+mother of three children, all too small to put out, and whom she
+supported by taking in washing. But during a long illness brought on by
+overworking herself, she lost several of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> her customers who had given
+their washing to others. Isabella had solicited Mrs. Middleton to allow
+her to employ Diana, rather than the woman who then washed for the
+school. Mrs. Middleton readily consented.</p>
+
+<p>The weather had become very cold, and Isabella saw with regret that
+Diana came to fetch and carry the clothes-bag without either coat or
+cloak; nothing in fact to cover her shoulders but an old yellow cotton
+shawl. Isabella pitied her extremely, and resolved in her own mind not
+to lay out a cent of her money till she had saved enough to buy Diana a
+cloak. Her father, who was a man of large fortune, had placed, at the
+beginning of the year, a sum of money in Mrs. Middleton's hands to
+defray Isabella's expenses, exclusive of her tuition; with directions to
+give her every week a dollar to dispose of as she pleased.</p>
+
+<p>Isabella had now been saving her money for four weeks, and had that
+morning received her weekly allowance, which completed the sum necessary
+to buy a good plaid cloak, and she had determined to go the following
+morning and make the purchase, and to give it to Diana when she came to
+take the clothes. Isabella had now the exact money; and that was the
+reason she was so unwilling to devote any part<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> of it to the expenses of
+the feast. Beside which, she could not, in her heart, approve of any
+species of pleasure that was to be enjoyed in secret, and kept from the
+knowledge of her excellent governess. She felt the usual repugnance of
+modest and benevolent people with regard to speaking of her own acts of
+charity. This reluctance she, however, carried too far, when rather than
+acknowledge that she was keeping her money to buy a cloak for her poor
+washerwoman, she suffered herself to be prevailed on to give up part of
+the sum, as an addition to the fund that was raising for the banquet.</p>
+
+<p>She went to bed sadly out of spirits, and much displeased with herself.
+She had seen at a store, just such a cloak as she wished to get for
+Diana; and she had anticipated the delight and gratitude of the poor
+woman on receiving it, and the comfort it would afford her during the
+inclement season, and for many succeeding winters. "And now," thought
+she, "poor Diana must go without a cloak, and the money will be wasted
+in cakes and tarts; which, however nice they may be, will cause us no
+further pleasure after we have once swallowed them. However, perhaps the
+weather will be less severe to-morrow; and next week I shall have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>
+another dollar, and I then will again be able to buy Diana the cloak. I
+am sorry that I promised it to her when she was here last. I cannot bear
+the idea of seeing her, and telling her that she must wait for the cloak
+a week longer. I hope the weather will be mild and fine to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>But Isabella's hope was not realized; and when she rose in the morning,
+she found it snowing very fast. The cold was intense. The ground had
+been for several days already covered with a deep snow which had frozen
+very hard. There was a piercing north-east wind; and, altogether, it was
+the most inclement morning of the whole winter. Isabella hoped that
+Diana would not come for the clothes that day, as the weather would be a
+sufficient excuse; though the poor woman had never before been otherwise
+than punctual. But in a short time, she saw Diana coming round the
+corner, walking very fast, her arms wrapped in her shawl, and holding
+down her head to avoid, as much as possible, the snow that was driving
+in her face. "Ah!" thought Isabella, "she hopes to get the cloak this
+dreadful morning, and to wear it home. How sadly she will be
+disappointed! But I cannot see or speak to her." She then tied up her
+clothes-bag, and desired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> the chambermaid to take it down and give it to
+Diana, and tell her that she could not see her that morning.</p>
+
+<p>Isabella could not forbear going again to the window; and she saw Diana
+come up the area steps into the street, carrying the clothes-bag, and
+looking disappointed. Isabella, with a heavy heart, watched her till she
+turned the corner, shrinking from the storm, and shivering along in her
+old thin shawl. "Oh!" thought Isabella, "how very badly the
+confectionary will taste to me this evening, when I think that my
+contribution towards it, has obliged me to break my promise to this poor
+woman; and that it will cause her, for at least another week, to endure
+all the sufferings of exposure to cold without sufficient covering."</p>
+
+<hr class="hr4" />
+
+<p>Henrietta Harwood, as leader of the conspiracy, was extremely busy every
+moment that she could snatch from the presence of Mrs. Middleton and the
+teachers, in making arrangements for the feast of the evening. There was
+a great deal of whispering and consulting, between her and the elder
+girls, as to what they should have; and a great deal of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> talking on the
+stairs to Mary the chambermaid; who, for the bribe of a quarter of a
+dollar, had consented to procure for them whatever they wished, without
+the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton. It was unanimously agreed that none of
+the <i>little</i> girls were to be let into the secret, as their discretion
+was not to be depended on; and there was much lamentation that the
+bed-hour for the children was so late as eight o'clock. The little girls
+all slept in one large room, and as soon as they had gone to be prepared
+for bed, under the superintendence of Mary, Henrietta proposed that
+herself and six other young ladies should volunteer to assist in
+undressing them. "You know," said she, "there are eight of the children,
+and if we each take a child and leave one to Mary, they can be got to
+bed in an eighth part of the time that it will require for Mary to
+attend to all of them herself. Just, you know, as they have quilting
+frolics and husking frolics in the country, when a whole week's work is
+accomplished in a few hours, by assembling a great many persons to join
+in it."</p>
+
+<p>This proposal was immediately assented to; and a committee of half a
+dozen young ladies, with Henrietta at their head, adjourned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> to the
+children's apartment. "Come, little chits," said Henrietta, "as it is a
+cold night, we are going to have an undressing frolic, and to help Mary
+to put you all to bed: for the sooner you are tucked up in your nests
+the better it will be for you,&mdash;and for us too," she added in a low
+voice aside to Miss Thomson. "Here, Rosalie Sunbridge," she continued,
+"come to me, I will do the honours for <i>you</i>, as you are a sort of pet
+of mine."</p>
+
+<p>The elder girls then began undressing the little ones with such violence
+that strings snapped, buttons were jerked off, and stockings torn in the
+process. The children wondered why the young ladies were seized with
+such a sudden and unusual fit of kindness, and why they went so
+energetically to work in getting them undressed and put to bed.</p>
+
+<p>An altercation, however, ensued between Henrietta Harwood and Rosalie
+Sunbridge, who declared that it was her mother's particular desire that
+her hair behind should be curled in papers every night; a ceremony that
+Henrietta proposed omitting, telling her that there was already
+sufficient curl remaining in her hair to last all the next day, and
+reminding her that there was no such trouble with the hair of the other
+little girls. "That is because<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> they have no hair to curl," replied
+Rosalie; "you know that they are all closely cropped. But if you will
+not roll up mine in papers, Miss Harwood, I would rather have Mary to
+put me to bed, though you <i>do</i> call me your pet." "Well, well, hush, and
+I <i>will</i> do it," said Henrietta; "but it shall be done in a new way
+which saves a great deal of trouble, and makes very handsome curls when
+the hair is opened out next morning." So saying, she snatched up a great
+piece of coarse brown paper, and seizing the little girl's hind hair in
+her hand, she rolled it all up in one large curl; Rosalie crying out at
+the violence with which she pulled, and the other children laughing,
+when it was done, at the huge knob, and telling Rosalie she had a
+knocker at her back.</p>
+
+<p>In a short time the night-gowns and night-caps were scrambled on, and
+the children all deposited in their respective beds, and all hastily
+kissed by their undressers; who hurried out of the room, anxious to
+enter upon their anticipated delights.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, good Mary, dear Mary," said Henrietta, "do tell me if you have got
+every thing?" "Every thing, miss," replied Mary, "except the calves-foot
+jelly; and the money fell short of that. But I have got the iced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span>
+pound-cake, and the mince pies, and the oyster patties, and the little
+cocoa-nut puddings, and the bottle of lemon-syrup, and all the other
+things. They are snug and safe in the market-basket in the
+back-kitchen-closet; and nobody can never guess nothing about it."</p>
+
+<p>Just at this moment the man-servant came to tell the young ladies that
+Mrs. Middleton wished them all to go down into the front parlour to look
+at some prints. These prints were the coloured engravings of Wall's
+beautiful views on the Hudson, and which had just been purchased by Mrs.
+Middleton's brother-in-law, who was going to leave the city the
+following morning. At any other time the young ladies (at least those
+who had a taste for drawing) would have been grateful for Mrs.
+Middleton's kindness in allowing them an opportunity of looking at these
+fine landscapes; but <i>now</i> every moment that detained them from the
+feast, seemed like an hour. Henrietta murmured almost aloud; and they
+all went down with reluctance, except Isabella Caldwell, who had made up
+her mind not to partake of the banquet.</p>
+
+<p>In the mean time, little Rosalie Sunbridge, who was a very cunning
+child, and had a great deal of curiosity, suspected that something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> more
+than usual was going on, from the alertness of the young ladies in
+hurrying the children to bed. <i>Her</i> bed being nearest to the door, she
+had overheard the elder girls in earnest consultation with the
+chambermaid in the passage, and although she could not distinguish
+exactly what was said, she understood that something very delightful was
+to go on that evening in the front school-room. Having a great desire to
+know precisely what was in agitation, she waited a short time till all
+her companions were asleep; and then getting up softly, she opened one
+of the shutters to let in a little light, as the storm had subsided and
+there was a faint moon. She then got her merino coat, and put it on over
+her night-gown, and covering her feet with her carpet moccasins that she
+might make no noise in walking, she stole softly into the front
+school-room, determined to watch all that went on.</p>
+
+<p>Two lamps were burning on the table; but no person was in the room; the
+young ladies having all gone down into the parlour to look at the
+prints. Rosalie, by climbing on a chair, managed, with much difficulty,
+to get on the upper shelf of a large closet; having hastily cleared a
+space for herself to lie down in, among the books and rolls of maps.
+Then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> pushing away the chair, she drew the closet-door nearly close;
+leaving only a small crack, through which she could observe all that was
+done.</p>
+
+<p>Presently, she saw Mary come cautiously into the room with a basket, and
+taking out of it the materials for the feast, the girl arranged them all
+to great advantage on the table. When this was accomplished, she went
+down stairs; and immediately after, the young ladies, having looked
+hastily at the prints, all came up, and expressed much satisfaction at
+the inviting appearance of the banquet. Isabella lighted a small lamp,
+and said she was going to bed.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Caldwell," exclaimed Henrietta, "are you absolutely in earnest?
+What, after contributing to the expense of the feast, will you really
+leave us before it begins, and go dismally to bed? See how nice every
+thing looks."</p>
+
+<p>"Every thing, indeed, looks nice," replied Isabella, "but still I have
+no desire to partake of them. I am out of spirits, and I have other
+reasons for not wishing to join your party." "Just take something before
+you go," said Henrietta. "No," answered Isabella, "I feel as if I could
+not taste a single article on the table."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>
+She then withdrew to her room, and her companions took their seats and
+began to regale themselves; Henrietta presiding at the head of the
+table. They would have enjoyed their feast very much, only that,
+notwithstanding their expected security, they were in continual dread of
+being discovered. They started, and listened at every little noise;
+fearing that Miss Loxley might possibly have returned, or that Mrs.
+Middleton might possibly be coming up stairs.</p>
+
+<p>"Really," said Henrietta, "it is a great pity that poor Isabella
+Caldwell, after she gave her dollar with so much reluctance, should
+refuse to take any share of our feast. Perhaps to-morrow she will think
+better of it. Suppose we save something for her. I dare say she will
+have no objection to eat some of these good things in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Put by one of the little cocoa-nut puddings for her," said Miss Scott.
+"And one of the mince pies," said another young lady. "And a large slice
+of pound-cake," said a third. "And a bunch of white grapes," said a
+fourth.</p>
+
+<p>Henrietta then selected some of the nicest articles of their banquet, to
+offer to Isabella in the morning; and after some consultation, it was
+concluded to deposit them, for the present,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> in the farthest corner of
+the upper shelf of the closet; which upper shelf was only used as a
+repository for old maps and old copy books, and waste paper, and with
+these the things could be very conveniently covered. "Do not take a
+light to the closet," said Miss Marley, "you may set something on fire.
+If you stand on tiptoe and raise your arm as high as you can, you may
+easily reach the upper shelf."</p>
+
+<p>Henrietta accordingly walked to the closet; and was in the act of
+shoving a mince-pie into a dark corner of the upper shelf, when suddenly
+she gave a start and a shriek, and let fall the cocoa-nut pudding which
+she held in her hand. "What is the matter?" exclaimed all the girls at
+once. "Oh!" cried Henrietta, "when I reached up the mince-pie to the top
+shelf, it was taken from me by a cold hand that met mine&mdash;I felt the
+fingers." "Impossible," said some of the girls. "What could it actually
+be?" cried others. Just then, Rosalie made a rustling among the loose
+papers on the top shelf. "There it is again," screamed Henrietta. "Oh!"
+cried Miss Watkins, "we have done very wrong to plot this feast in
+secret, and something dreadful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> is going to happen to us as a
+punishment."</p>
+
+<p>Another rustling set all the young ladies to screaming; and, with one
+accord, they rushed towards the door, with such force as to overset the
+table and all its contents. The lamps were broken and extinguished in
+the fall; several of the girls were thrown down by the others; and the
+shrieks were so violent that Mrs. Middleton heard them into the parlour,
+where, her friends having left her, she was sitting with Miss Loxley,
+who had just come in; and taking a light with them, the two ladies ran
+up to the front school-room.</p>
+
+<p>The scene which then presented itself transfixed them with astonishment.
+The floor was strewed with the remains of the feast. The oil from the
+shattered lamps was running among the cakes and pies, which were also
+drenched with water from a broken pitcher; near which the bottle of
+lemon-syrup was lying in fragments. The table was thrown down on its
+side. Some of the young ladies were still prostrate on the floor, and
+all were screaming. Rosalie (frightened at the uproar she had caused)
+was on her hands and knees, looking out from the upper shelf of the
+closet, and crying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> "O, take me down, take me down! somebody bring a
+chair and take me down."</p>
+
+<p>Isabella Caldwell, hearing the noise, had thrown on her flannel gown,
+and ran also to see what was the matter. As soon as the surprise of Mrs.
+Middleton would allow her to speak, she inquired the cause of all this
+disturbance; but she could get no other answer than that there was some
+horrible thing in the closet. "There is indeed something in the closet,"
+said Mrs. Middleton, perceiving Rosalie. "Miss Sunbridge, how came you
+up there, and in that dress? and what is the meaning of all this?"</p>
+
+<p>The young ladies, having recovered from their terror when they found it
+to be groundless, and Miss Loxley having taken down Rosalie, Henrietta
+made a candid confession of the whole business. Acknowledging herself to
+be the proposer and leader of the plot, she expressed her readiness to
+submit to any punishment Mrs. Middleton might think proper to inflict on
+her, but hoped that her governess would have the goodness to pardon all
+the other young ladies; none of whom would have thought of a secret
+feast, if she had not suggested it to them. "Above all," continued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>
+Henrietta, "I must exculpate Isabella Caldwell, who declined going to
+table with us or partaking of any thing, but retired to her bed; as may
+be known by her being now in her night-clothes."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Middleton was touched with the generosity of Henrietta Harwood, in
+taking all the blame on herself to exonerate her companions; and as her
+kind heart would not allow her to send any of her pupils to bed in the
+anticipation of being punished the next day, she said, "Miss Harwood, I
+will for this time permit your misdemeanour to go unpunished, but I
+require a promise from you that it shall never be repeated. Make that
+promise sincerely, and I feel assured that you will keep it."</p>
+
+<p>"O, yes, indeed, dear madam!" sobbed Henrietta, "you are too kind; and I
+cannot forgive myself for having persuaded my companions to join in a
+plot which I knew you would disapprove."</p>
+
+<p>"Go now to your beds," said Mrs. Middleton, "and I will send a servant
+to clear away the disorder of this room. Rosalie, I see, has already
+slipped off to hers."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>
+Next morning, before school commenced, Mrs. Middleton addressed the
+young ladies mildly but impressively, on the proceedings of the day
+before. She dwelt on the general impropriety of all secret contrivances;
+on the injury done to the integrity of the ignorant servant-girl, by
+bribing her to deceive her employer; on the danger of making themselves
+sick by eating such a variety of sweet things; and on the folly of
+expending in those dainties, money which might be much better employed.</p>
+
+<p>"That," said Henrietta, "was one of Isabella Caldwell's objections to
+joining our feasting party. I am now convinced that she had in view some
+more sensible manner of disposing of her money. I regret that she was
+prevailed on to contribute her dollar, as she must have had an excellent
+reason for her unwillingness; and she seemed really unhappy, and went to
+bed without touching any of our good things."</p>
+
+<p>"I can guess how it was," said Miss Loxley. "One very cold morning last
+week, I met Diana, Miss Caldwell's washerwoman, going up stairs with the
+clean clothes, and having nothing on her shoulders but an old cotton
+shawl. I asked her if she had no cloak, and she replied that she had
+not; but added,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> that Miss Isabella had been so kind as to promise her
+one, which was to be ready for her when she came again. I suspect that
+Miss Caldwell has been saving her money for the laudable purpose of
+furnishing this poor woman with a cloak."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! no doubt she has," exclaimed Henrietta. "Why, dear Isabella, did
+you not say so? and bad as I am, I would not have persisted in
+persuading you out of your dollar."</p>
+
+<p>"The woman, however, did not get her cloak," resumed Miss Loxley, "for I
+again saw her without one, yesterday, though the weather had increased
+in severity."</p>
+
+<p>"It is true," said Isabella. "The cloak was to have cost four dollars,
+and after subscribing one dollar to the feast, I could not buy it; as I
+had not then sufficient money."</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Middleton.</i> Miss Harwood, had you often these feasts at Madame
+Disette's.</p>
+
+<p><i>Henrietta.</i> Oh! very often, and as the teacher, Miss Benson, was always
+one of the party, we managed so well, that Madame Disette never
+discovered us. Or if she had any suspicion, she said nothing about it;
+for after all, she cared very little what we did out of school-hours
+provided that our proceedings <i>cost her nothing</i>.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>
+<i>Mrs. Middleton.</i> You must not speak so disrespectfully of your former
+governess. But I will explain to you that <i>I</i> care very much what you
+do, even in your hours of recreation. It is when the business of the
+school is over, and they are no longer in the presence of their
+instructors, that girls are in the greatest danger of forming bad
+habits, and imitating bad examples. All deceit, all tricks, are highly
+unjustifiable. A little feast may seem in itself of small moment; but if
+you persist in plotting little feasts, you will eventually be led on to
+plot things of more importance, and which may lead to the worst
+consequences. Then, as I always allow you as large a portion of sweet
+things as comports with your health, it is the more reprehensible in you
+to seek to procure them for yourselves, without my knowledge. Tell me
+now, do any of you feel the better for last night's frolic?</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Thomson.</i> O, no, no! Miss Watkins and Miss Roberts were sick all
+night; and, indeed, none of us feel very well this morning.</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Middleton.</i> I observed that you all had very little appetite for
+your breakfast.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Brownlow.</i> And then <i>I</i> had my new frock spoiled when I fell down
+in the lamp-oil.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>
+<i>Miss Wilcox.</i> And I got some lamp-oil into my mouth. I tasted it all
+night. Even my nose was rubbed in it, as I lay struggling on the floor.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Snodgrass.</i> And <i>I</i> fell with my knees on half a dozen pieces of
+orange, and stained my black silk frock, so that it is no longer fit to
+wear.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Marley.</i> And <i>I</i> was thrown down with the back of my head on a
+bunch of grapes, mashing them to a jelly.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Scott.</i> But <i>my</i> hair was so very sticky, with falling into the
+lemon syrup, that I was obliged, this morning, to wash it all over with
+warm soap-suds.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Roberts.</i> And <i>I</i> put my foot into the bottom of the broken
+pitcher, and cut my heel so that it bled through the stocking.</p>
+
+<p><i>Miss Watkins.</i> Still, nothing of this would have happened if Rosalie
+Sunbridge had stayed in her bed. It was her hiding in the closet and
+frightening us, that caused all the mischief.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalie.</i> I am sure I was punished enough for my curiosity; for when I
+got on the closet-shelf I was obliged to lie so cramped that I was
+almost stiff; and I was half dead with cold, notwithstanding I had put
+on my merino<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> coat. And then I was longing all the time for some of the
+good things I saw you eating; so that when Miss Harwood came to hide the
+mince-pie, I could not forbear taking it out of her hand. When I found
+that you were all so terrified, I thought I would make a noise among the
+loose papers to frighten you still more, supposing that you would all
+quit the room; and that then I could come down from the shelf, and
+regale myself awhile, before I stole back to-bed. I did not foresee that
+you would overset the table in your flight, and make such a violent
+noise. But I will never again attempt to pry into other people's
+secrets.</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs Middleton.</i> I hope you never will. This feast, you see, has caused
+nothing but discomfort, which is the case with all things that are in
+themselves improper. Yet I think the greatest sufferer is Isabella
+Caldwell's washerwoman, who has, in consequence, been disappointed of
+her cloak.</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella.</i> Next week, madam, when I receive my allowance, I hope to be
+able to buy it for her.</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Middleton.</i> You need not wait till next week. The poor woman shall
+suffer no longer for a cloak. Here is a dollar in advance;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> and after
+school, you can go out and purchase it, so that it may be ready for her
+to-morrow when she brings home your clothes.</p>
+
+<p><i>Isabella.</i> Dear Mrs. Middleton, how much I thank you.</p>
+
+<hr class="hr4" />
+
+<p>The young ladies having promised that they would attempt no more private
+feasts, Mrs. Middleton kissed, and forgave them. After school, Isabella,
+accompanied by Miss Loxley, went out and bought the plaid cloak, which
+was sent home directly. Next day, she longed for Diana to arrive with
+the clothes, that she might enjoy her pleasure on receiving so useful a
+gift, but, to her great disappointment they were brought home by another
+mulatto woman, who informed Isabella that she was Diana's next door
+neighbour, and that poor Diana having taken a violent cold from being
+out in the snow-storm, was now confined to her bed with the rheumatism.
+"Ah!" thought Isabella, "perhaps if she had had this good warm cloak to
+go home in, the day before yesterday, she might have escaped the
+rheumatism. I see now that whenever we allow ourselves to be persuaded
+to do a thing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> which we know to be wrong, evil is sure to come from it."</p>
+
+<p>She desired the woman to wait a few minutes; and hastening to Mrs.
+Middleton, begged that she would allow her to go and see poor Diana,
+who, she feared was in great distress. Mrs. Middleton readily consented,
+and had a basket filled with various things, which she gave to the woman
+to carry with the plaid cloak to Diana. She sent by Isabella a bottle of
+camphor, and some cotton wadding, for Diana's rheumatism, and a medicine
+for her to take internally. Miss Loxley accompanied Isabella; and they
+found Diana in bed and very ill, and every thing about her evincing
+extreme poverty. Isabella engaged the woman to stay with Diana till she
+got well, and to take care of her and her children, promising to pay her
+for her trouble. When they returned and made their report to Mrs.
+Middleton, she wrote a note to her physician, requesting him to visit
+Diana and attend her as long as was necessary.</p>
+
+<p>Next week, Henrietta Harwood, and the other young ladies, subscribed all
+their allowance of pocket-money for the relief of Diana; who very soon
+was well enough to resume her work. It is unnecessary to add that their
+contribution to the support of the poor woman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> and her family, gave them
+far more pleasure than they had derived from the unfortunate feast. They
+never, of course, attempted another. And Henrietta Harwood, at Mrs.
+Middleton's school, lost all the faults she had acquired at Madame
+Disette's.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>
+<a name="week" id="week"></a>THE WEEK OF IDLENESS.</h2>
+
+<div class="block3">
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="io">"Their only labour was to kill the time,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And labour dire it was, and weary wo."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<div class="right">
+<span class="right"><i>Thomson.</i></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 180px;">
+<img src="images/a.jpg" width="180" height="169" alt="Drop capital A" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+<p class="noi"><span class="hidden">A</span>delaide and Rosalind, the daughters of Mr. Edington, looked forward
+with much pleasure to the arrival of their cousin, Josephine
+Sherborough, from Maryland. She was to spend the summer with them, at
+their father's country residence on the beautiful bay of New York, a few
+miles below the city; and, though they had never seen her, they were
+disposed to regard Josephine as a very agreeable addition to their
+family society. Having had the misfortune to lose their mother, Adelaide
+and Rosalind had been for several years under the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> entire care of their
+governess, Mrs. Mortlake; a highly accomplished and most amiable woman,
+whom they loved and respected as if she had been their parent, and by
+whose instructions they had greatly profited.</p>
+
+<p>It was on a beautiful evening in June, that Josephine Sherborough was
+<i>certainly</i> expected, after several disappointments within the last two
+or three weeks. The Miss Edingtons and their governess were seated on
+one of the settees in the portico that extended along the front of Mr.
+Edington's house. Mrs. Mortlake was sewing, Rosalind reading aloud, and
+Adelaide, with her drawing materials before her, was earnestly engaged
+in colouring a sketch of a fishing-boat at anchor, beautifully reflected
+in the calm water, and tinted with the glowing rays of the declining
+sun. As she put in the last touches, she hoped, before the summer was
+over, that she should improve so much in her drawing as to be enabled to
+attempt a view of the bay with its green shores; its island fortresses;
+and its numerous ships, some going out on a voyage to distant regions,
+others coming home with the merchandise and the news of Europe.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," exclaimed Adelaide, "I see the smoke of the steamboat, just
+behind Castle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> Williams. My father and Josephine will soon be here. I am
+glad my drawing is so nearly completed. In a few minutes it will be
+finished."</p>
+
+<p>"And in a few minutes," said Rosalind, "I shall conclude the story that
+I am reading."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you not now think," asked Mrs. Mortlake, "I was right in proposing
+that we should protract our usual afternoon occupations an hour beyond
+the usual time, as we are expecting the arrival of your father and your
+cousin? This last hour would have seemed twice its real length, if we
+had done nothing, all the while, but strain our eyes in gazing up the
+bay for the steamboat, saying every few minutes, 'Oh, I wish they were
+come!'"</p>
+
+<p>In a short time, Adelaide exclaimed, "Here is the steamboat. I see they
+are depositing several trunks in the little boat at the side. And now it
+is let down to the water. And now a gentleman and a young lady descend
+the steps, and take their seats in it. How fast it cuts its way through
+the foam that is raised by the tow-line. In a moment it will touch the
+wharf. Here they come. There is my father; and it <i>must</i> be Josephine
+that is with him!"</p>
+
+<p>The sisters then ran down the steps of the portico, and in a moment were
+at the landing-place, where Mr. Edington, as soon as he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> assisted
+her to step on shore, introduced them to Josephine Sherborough, a fat,
+fair, pale young lady, about fourteen, with a remarkably placid
+countenance which immediately won the regard of Rosalind: who determined
+in her own mind that Josephine was a very sweet girl, and that they
+should, ever hereafter, be intimate and most particular friends.
+Adelaide, who was two years older than Rosalind, and who had more
+penetration, was not so violently prepossessed in favour of her cousin,
+whose face she thought deficient in animation, and whose movements were
+more slow and heavy than those of any young girl she had ever seen.</p>
+
+<p>When tea was over, the sisters proposed to Josephine a walk round the
+garden, which was large and very beautiful; but she complained of being
+excessively tired, and said that she would much rather go to bed. This
+somewhat surprised her cousins, as they knew that Josephine had been
+three days in the city with the friends under whose care she had come
+from Maryland; and they thought that she must have had ample time to
+recover from the fatigue of her journey: to which her last little trip
+in the steamboat could not have added much. Rosalind, who was a year
+younger than Josephine, accompanied her to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> the chamber prepared for her
+accommodation, where Josephine, looking round disconsolately, inquired
+if there was no servant to undress her. Rosalind volunteered to perform
+this office; and Josephine said she would ring the bell for one of the
+maids, when she wished to get up in the morning.</p>
+
+<p>She kept the family waiting breakfast for her till nine o'clock, and
+then came down in a white slip or loose gown; her hair still pinned up;
+her eyes half shut; and her face evidently not washed. Mr. Edington,
+whose business in the city made it necessary for him to be there at an
+early hour, had long since breakfasted, and gone up to town in the boat;
+and after a few days, the rest of the family ceased to wait for her; and
+the housekeeper was directed to have a fresh breakfast prepared for Miss
+Sherborough whenever she came down.</p>
+
+<p>The first days of Josephine's visit ought, in Rosalind's opinion, to
+have been devoted entirely to the amusement of their guest, and she was
+urgent with Mrs. Mortlake, to allow Adelaide and herself a week of
+holiday. Their governess told them that she would have been willing to
+grant this indulgence if Josephine was to remain with them a week only:
+but as she was to stay all summer, it would, of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> course, be impossible
+for them, every day, to give up their usual occupations; and therefore
+it was better to begin as they were to go on. She reminded Rosalind that
+if they were attentive and industrious, they would get through their
+lessons the sooner, and have the more time for recreation with their
+visitor.</p>
+
+<p>After Josephine had breakfasted, Mrs. Mortlake offered to show her the
+children's library, that she might amuse herself with any of the books
+she chose, while her cousins were engaged in their morning employments.
+Josephine thanked her; but said she could entertain herself very well
+without books, and that she believed she would take a walk in the
+garden. She accordingly put on her bonnet, and strolled up and down the
+walks, gazing listlessly at the flowers. She attempted to gather some
+strawberries, but found it too fatiguing to stoop down to the beds; and
+satisfied herself with plucking currants and gooseberries from the
+bushes. She then sat in the arbour for awhile, and looked all the time
+straight down the middle walk. When she was tired of the arbour, she
+established herself on a circular bench which ran round a large walnut
+tree; and then she counted all the
+<a name="windows" id="windows"></a><ins title="Original has window sat">windows at</ins> sat the back
+part of the house. When this was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> accomplished, she counted them all
+over again. And then, finding the sun had become very powerful, she went
+into the front-parlour, the shutters of which were bowed to exclude the
+heat, and throwing herself at full length on the sofa, she in a few
+minutes fell into a profound sleep, from which she did not awaken till
+her cousins entered the room in search of her, after their lessons were
+over. They took her up stairs into the apartment they called their
+play-room, and showed her a variety of things which would have been very
+amusing to a girl that knew how to be amused. There was a lacquered
+Chinese cabinet, containing a great number of curiosities brought by
+their uncle from Canton: and a large box with shelves, on which were
+various specimens of Indian ingenuity, presented to the children by a
+gentleman who had travelled all over the country beyond the Mississippi.
+Their library consisted of a beautiful and entertaining selection of
+juvenile books; and they had a port-folio filled with fine prints of
+such subjects as are particularly interesting to young people. They
+showed her a representation of the grand procession at the coronation of
+the sovereign of England, printed on a long narrow roll of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> paper pasted
+on silk; which paper was unwound like a ribbon-yard from a
+Tunbridge-ware box, and it could be screwed up again after being
+sufficiently seen. It was many yards in length, and the figures (which
+were almost innumerable) were elegantly designed, and beautifully
+coloured. They had also a little theatre, with a great number of scenes;
+and a variety of very small dolls, dressed in appropriate habits to
+personate the actors. Beside all these things, they had a closet full of
+amusing toys; and in short the play-room was amply stored with a
+profusion of whatever was necessary to the enjoyment of their leisure
+hours.</p>
+
+<p>But all was lost on Josephine. While Adelaide and Rosalind were
+assiduous in showing and explaining to her every thing, she heard them
+with listlessness and apathy, and made not the slightest remark. At
+last, she said "We will reserve some of these sights for to-morrow. I
+must go and dress myself for dinner. Oh! how I hate to dress. It is an
+odious task. I must have Mary to assist me again; for I never <i>can</i> get
+through the fatigue of dressing myself, and fixing my hair."</p>
+
+<p>In the afternoon, Adelaide and Rosalind took their sewing, and seated
+themselves with Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> Mortlake in the porch. As Josephine appeared to
+have no work, Mrs. Mortlake gave her a volume of Miss Edgeworth's Moral
+Tales, and requested her to read one of them aloud. Josephine took the
+book and began to read "The Prussian Vase," but with so monotonous and
+inarticulate a tone, or rather drawl, that it was painful to hear her:
+and her cousins were not sorry when, at the end of three or four pages,
+she stopped, and complained that she was too much fatigued to read any
+more.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Mortlake then desired Adelaide, who read extremely well, to take
+the book and continue the story, but in a short time Josephine was
+discovered to be asleep. When Adelaide ceased reading, Josephine awoke,
+and saying that she could not live without her afternoon nap, went up
+stairs to lie down on her bed.</p>
+
+<p>She slept till near tea-time, and when tea was over, her cousins and
+Mrs. Mortlake prepared for a walk, and invited Josephine to join them.
+This she did; but in less than ten minutes she complained so much of
+fatigue, that Rosalind turned back and accompanied her home, and she
+reclined on the settee in the porch till the lamps were lighted in the
+front-parlour. The girls then showed Josephine a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> portable diorama,
+containing twelve beautiful coloured views of castles, abbeys, temples,
+and mountain scenery. Each of these exquisite little landscapes was
+fixed, in turn, as the back scene of a sort of miniature stage. The
+skies and lights of these views were all transparent, and there were
+other skies which turned on rollers, and represented sunrise, moonlight,
+sunshine, and thunder-clouds. These second skies being placed behind
+those of the picture, were slowly unrolled by turning a small handle,
+and produced the most varied and beautiful effects on the scenery, which
+could thus at pleasure be illuminated gradually with sunshine or
+moonbeams, or darkened with the clouds of a gathering storm. But
+Josephine saw this charming exhibition without a single comment; being
+evidently much inclined to yawn as she looked at it. And getting again
+very sleepy, she soon retired to her bed.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning, Mrs. Mortlake invited her to bring her sewing into the
+school-room, and sit there while her cousins were at their lessons. But
+Josephine replied that she hated sewing, and never did any. However, she
+took her seat in the school-room, and a kitten soon after came purring
+round her; so she put it on her lap, and stroked and patted it till the
+lessons<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> were over, and the girls went up stairs to amuse themselves
+till dinner-time.</p>
+
+<p>Adelaide tried to induce Josephine to look at some of the beautiful
+prints in the port-folio; but she found it necessary to explain them
+all, as if she was showing them to a child of three years old.</p>
+
+<p>Rosalind proposed that they should all go on the roof of the house (it
+being flat on the top and guarded with a railing) to look at the beauty
+and wide extent of the prospect; and taking their parasols to screen
+their heads from the sun, they went up through a very convenient
+trap-door at the head of an easy little staircase. The view from the
+roof of Mr. Edington's house was certainly very fine, comprising the bay
+with its islands and fortresses; its boats and vessels of every
+description; the distant lighthouse at Sandy Hook, and the blue ocean
+rolling beyond it: and at the other end of the scene, behind a forest of
+masts, rose the city of New York with its numerous spires glittering in
+the sunlight.</p>
+
+<p>Fine as the prospect was, Josephine showed no symptom of admiration; but
+as they came down through the garret-passage, she spied an old
+rocking-chair standing in a corner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> among some lumber. (Parlour
+rocking-chairs were not yet in general use.) She turned her head, and
+looked at it with longing eyes. "Ah!" said she, "that is the very thing
+I have been suffering for ever since I left home. Do let me beg to have
+it in my room." The chair, accordingly, was carried into the apartment
+of Josephine, who immediately seated herself, and began to rock with
+great satisfaction; at which most interesting amusement she continued
+till near dinner-time. The rocking-chair was next day taken into the
+school-room, and with that and the kitten, Josephine appeared to get
+through the morning rather contentedly.</p>
+
+<p>The afternoon was again devoted to a long nap: and in the evening
+Josephine reclined on the front-parlour sofa, and entertained herself by
+running her finger a hundred times over the brass nails.</p>
+
+<p>Several days passed on in a similar manner. One morning when they were
+all in the play-room, Josephine said to her cousins, "What a very hard
+life you are obliged to endure. Neither of you have a moment of rest,
+from the time you leave your beds in the morning, till you return to
+them at night. First, there is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> your rising with the sun, and going to
+work in your little gardens. I am sure you might make your father's
+gardener do all that business."</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide</i>. But we take great pleasure in it; and when we see our
+flowers growing and blooming, the interest they excite in us is much
+increased by knowing that we have raised them from the seed, or planted
+the roots ourselves; and that we have assisted their growth by watering,
+weeding, tying them, and clearing them from insects. And is it not
+pleasant to find that the fruit-stones, we planted a few years since in
+our little orchard, have produced trees that are now loaded with fruit?
+The red cherries, we had last evening after tea, were from one of my
+trees; and the large black cherries were from Rosalind's. And in August,
+we shall have our own plums and peaches.</p>
+
+<p><i>Josephine</i>. I am sure it is much less trouble to buy these things, than
+to cultivate them; and as to the amusement, I can see none. Then there
+are those awful lessons that are always to come on after breakfast. The
+writing, and cyphering, and grammar, and geography, and history, one
+day: and the French, and music, and drawing, the next: and-the reading
+and sewing every afternoon; and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> walk every evening. Even your
+play-time (as you call it) is a time of perpetual fatigue: your plays
+all seem to require so much skill and ingenuity. And then on Saturday
+morning, to think that you are obliged to go into the housekeeper's room
+and learn to make cakes, and pastry, and sweetmeats, and all such
+things. I am sure if I was never to eat cakes till I assisted in making
+them, I should go without all my life. It seems to me that your whole
+existence is a course of uninterrupted toil.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind</i>. There is much truth in what you say, my dear Josephine. But
+I own it never struck me before.</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide</i>. We have always been perfectly happy in our occupations and
+amusements: and the longest day in summer seems too short for us.</p>
+
+<p><i>Josephine</i>. Too short, perhaps, to get through such a quantity of work;
+for I consider all this as <i>real hard work</i>. I am glad that I have not
+been brought up in such a laborious manner. My parents love me too much
+to make me uncomfortable, even for a moment; or to cause me in any way
+the slightest fatigue. I have spent my whole life in ease and peace;
+doing nothing but what I pleased, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> never learning but when I chose.
+I have not been troubled with either a school or a governess; my mother
+(who was herself educated at a boarding-school) having determined, as I
+was her only child, to instruct me at home.</p>
+
+<p>Adelaide saw that it was in vain to argue the point any farther. But the
+foolish reasoning of Josephine made a great impression on Rosalind; so
+true it is, that "evil communication corrupts good manners," and she was
+seized with an earnest desire to participate in the happiness of doing
+nothing.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning, Rosalind went to her lessons with great reluctance, and
+consequently did not perform them well. On the following day she was
+equally deficient; and in the afternoon when Josephine went up stairs to
+take her nap, Rosalind, looking after her, exclaimed, "Happy girl! How I
+envy her!"</p>
+
+<p>"Envy her!" said Adelaide, "of all the people I am acquainted with, I
+think Josephine Sherborough is the least to be envied."</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> She is not troubled with lessons, and sewing, as we are. She
+can do whatever she pleases the whole day long. No wonder she is fat,
+when she is so perfectly comfortable. For my part, I expect, in the
+course of another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> year, to be worn to a skeleton with such incessant
+application.</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide.</i> But without application how is it possible to learn?</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> I would rather put off my learning till I am older, and have
+strength to bear such dreadful fatigue.</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide.</i> I do not find it fatiguing. I am sure our lessons are not
+very long, and Mrs. Mortlake is so kind and gentle, that it is a
+pleasure to be instructed by her; and she explains every thing so
+sensibly and intelligibly.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> But where is the use of learning every thing before we grow
+up?</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide.</i> Because, as Mrs. Mortlake says, children (if they are not
+<i>too young</i>) learn faster than grown persons; their memories are better,
+as they have not yet been overloaded, and they have nothing of
+importance to divert their attention from their lessons.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> I would rather grow up as ignorant as our tenant's wife,
+Dutch Katy, than be made such a slave as I am now. I am sure Katy's life
+is an easy one compared to mine.</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide, smiling.</i> Consider it not so deeply.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Yes, I will, for I am out of patience.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> I wish it was the
+fashion to be ignorant.</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide.</i> Fortunately it is <i>not</i>. To say nothing of the disgrace of
+being ignorant when it is known we have had opportunities of acquiring
+knowledge, persons whose minds are vacant, have but few enjoyments. For
+instance, as Josephine knows nothing of music, it gives her no pleasure
+to hear the finest singing and playing, even such as Mrs. Mortlake's. As
+she has no idea of drawing, she takes not the least delight in looking
+at beautiful pictures. Having never been in the habit of reading, she
+wonders how it is possible to be amused with a book; and as she has no
+knowledge of history or geography, she often, when she <i>does</i> read, is
+puzzled with allusions to those subjects; and a French word is as
+unintelligible to her, as if it were Greek. Plants and animals do not
+interest her, because she has scarcely an idea of the properties or
+attributes of any of the productions of Nature. And what is worse than
+all, she takes no pleasure in listening to the conversation of sensible
+people, because she is incapable of understanding it: her comprehension
+being only equal to the most frivolous topics.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>
+<i>Rosalind.</i> Notwithstanding all this, her life passes calmly and
+pleasantly; and I am sure she is much happier than we are.</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide.</i> Speak for yourself, dear Rosalind. For my part, I do not
+wish to be more happy than I am.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Well, I thought so too, till I knew Josephine. And she is by
+no means so dull as you suppose.</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide.</i> Perhaps she is not naturally stupid; but indulgence and
+indolence have so benumbed her understanding, that it seems now
+incapable of the smallest effort.</p>
+
+<p>At this moment Mrs. Mortlake came down with a book in her hand, for the
+afternoon reading.</p>
+
+<p>"Rosalind," said she, "as my room is over the porch, and the windows are
+open, I could not avoid hearing all you have just been saying,
+particularly as you spoke very loudly. As I do not wish to see either of
+my pupils <i>unhappy</i>, I will gratify your desire, and both you and
+Adelaide (if it is also her wish) may pass a week entirely without
+occupation; in short, a week of idleness."</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide.</i> O no, dear Mrs. Mortlake: I have no desire to avail myself
+of your offer. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> would much rather continue my usual employments.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> A week of entire leisure! O, how delightful!</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> But, during that time, neither you nor Josephine must
+come into the school-room.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> O, indeed! we shall not desire it.</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> Neither must you read.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Well!&mdash;I am sure I have read enough to last my lifetime.
+Where is the use of reading story-books that are all invention,
+describing people that never lived; or of poring over voyages and
+travels to countries I shall never visit; or of studying the histories
+of dead kings.</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> You must not sew.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> I never <i>did</i> find it very entertaining to stick a needle
+and thread into a piece of muslin, and pull it through again.</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> You must not draw.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> I do not see the pleasure of rubbing red, and blue, and
+green paint on little plates; and dabbling in tumblers of water with
+camel's-hair pencils, and daubing colours on white paper.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>
+<i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> You must not play on the piano, nor on the harp.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Well! What sense is there in pressing down your fingers
+first on bits of ivory, and then on bits of ebony; and staring at
+crotchets and quavers all the time? or where is the use of twanging and
+jerking the strings of a harp?</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> You must not work in your garden.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> So much the better. Then I shall neither dirty my hands with
+pulling up the weeds, nor splash my feet with the water-pot.</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> You may sleep as much as you please; but you must not
+rise before nine o'clock.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> O, how delightful, not to be obliged to jump out of bed at
+daylight! Dearest Mrs. Mortlake, if I could have a <i>month</i> of ease and
+comfort, instead of only a week&mdash;-</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> Well,&mdash;if at the end of the week you still desire it,
+perhaps I may protract the indulgence to a longer period.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Dear Mrs. Mortlake, how kind you are. When shall my
+happiness begin? As to-morrow is Saturday, when we <i>always</i> have a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> half
+holiday, and next day Sunday, when we go to the city to attend church, I
+think, notwithstanding my impatience, I would rather commence my week of
+felicity regularly on Monday morning.</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> Very well, then. On Monday morning let it be.</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide.</i> I am sorry to hear you call your anticipated week of
+idleness a week of felicity.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Oh! I am sure I shall find it so; and you will regret not
+having also accepted Mrs. Mortlake's kind offer.</p>
+
+<p><i>Adelaide.</i> I fear no regret on that subject.</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> Say no more, Adelaide. Wait till we see the event of
+Rosalind's experiment.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> I hope Josephine's afternoon nap will not be as long as
+usual: I am so impatient to tell her. O, how we shall enjoy ourselves
+together!</p>
+
+<hr class="hr4" />
+
+<p>When Josephine awoke and heard of the new arrangement, she was as much
+delighted as <i>she</i> could be at any thing; and she begged that Rosalind
+might be allowed to share her chamber during this happy week.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>
+Monday morning came; and Rosalind (such is the power of habit) awoke, as
+usual, with the dawn; but soon recollected that she was not to get up
+till nine o'clock. She saw the light gleaming through the Venetian
+shutters, and she heard the morning song of the scarlet oriole, whose
+nest was in a locust tree close to the window; and the twittering of the
+martins as they flew about their box, which was affixed to the wall just
+below the roof of the house. She heard Adelaide, who was in the next
+room, get up to dress herself, and exclaim as she threw open the
+shutters, "O, what a beautiful sunrise!" Rosalind felt some desire to
+enjoy the loveliness of the early morning; but determined to remain in
+bed, and indulge herself with another nap. She turned and shook her
+pillow, and tumbled about for a long time before she could get to sleep;
+and at last she awoke again just as the clock was striking seven. She
+had still two hours to remain in bed, and she found the time extremely
+tedious. "Are you asleep, Josephine?" said she. "No," replied Josephine,
+"I am never asleep after this hour."</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> Why, then, do you remain in bed?</p>
+
+<p><i>Josephine.</i> O, because I hate to get up.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>
+<i>Rosalind.</i> Well then let us talk.</p>
+
+<p><i>Josephine.</i> O, no! I never talk in bed. For, even when I do not sleep,
+I am not quite awake.</p>
+
+<p>At length it was nine; and at the first stroke of the clock, Rosalind
+started from her bed, and began to wash and dress herself. When the
+girls went down stairs, they found the family breakfast had long been
+over, and they had theirs on a little table in a corner of the room.
+Rosalind thought her breakfast did not taste very well; probably,
+because remaining so long in bed, had taken away her appetite.</p>
+
+<p>After breakfast, they went out and walked a little while in the most
+shady part of the garden. Then they sat down; first in the arbour of
+honeysuckles, then on the green bank behind the ice-house; then on a
+garden chair; and then on the bench at the foot of the great walnut
+tree. They picked a few currants and ate them; and they gathered some
+roses and smelled them. For some time they held their parasols over
+their heads; and then they shut them, and made marks on the gravel with
+the ends of the ivory sticks. They looked awhile at a nursery of young
+peach-trees at one side of the garden; and then they turned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> and looked
+towards a clover-field on the other side. Josephine pulled the strings
+of her reticule backwards and forwards; and Rosalind counted the
+palisades in the fence of the kitchen-garden. At last a bright idea
+struck her; and she gathered some dandelions that were going to seed,
+and blew off the down; recommending the same amusement to Josephine,
+who, after two or three trials, gave it up.</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose we go to the play-room," said Rosalind. Josephine assented, and
+they slowly walked back to the house, and ascended the stairs. "Now,"
+said Rosalind, "we can play domino <i>in the morning</i>. Generally, we never
+amuse ourselves with any of those little games in the day-time; though
+we have domino, draughts, and loto, sometimes in the evening." They
+played domino awhile in a very spiritless manner, and then they tried
+draughts and loto, which they also soon gave up; Josephine saying that
+all these games required too much attention. She then had recourse to
+the rocking-chair, and Rosalind took some white paper and cut fly-traps;
+in which amusements they tried to get rid of the time till near the
+dinner-hour, when they combed their hair, and changed their dresses.
+Adelaide did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> join them in the play-room, being much engaged with a
+very amusing book.</p>
+
+<p>After dinner, Rosalind, accompanied Josephine to her room to take a nap
+likewise. But she found it so warm, and turned and tossed about so much,
+and had such difficulty in fixing herself in a comfortable position,
+that she thought, if it was not for the name of taking a nap, she had
+better have stayed up as usual. Josephine had less difficulty, being
+accustomed to afternoon-sleeping; and at length Rosalind shut her eyes,
+and fell into a sort of uneasy doze.</p>
+
+<p>When they awoke, Rosalind proposed that they should put on their frocks,
+and go down into the porch, where Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide were
+reading and sewing. But Josephine thought it would be much less trouble
+to sit in their loose gowns until near tea-time. To this Rosalind
+agreed, and they sat and gazed at the river. But it happened <i>this</i>
+afternoon that no ships came in, and only one went out; and all the
+steamboats kept far over towards the opposite shore. They were glad when
+the bell rung for tea; for when people do nothing, their meals are a
+sort of amusement, and are therefore expected with anxious interest. In
+the evening, they declined joining<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide in their
+usual long walk, and took a short stroll under the willows on the bank
+of the river; after which they returned to the parlour, where Mr.
+Edington sat reading the newspaper, and Josephine threw herself on the
+sofa; while Rosalind sat beside her on a chair, and played with the
+kitten.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning, their amusements in the garden were a little diversified
+by playing jack-stones and platting ribbon-grass; and when they went up
+to the play-room, Rosalind, looking among her old toys, found a doll
+long since laid aside, and a basket with its clothes. She offered the
+doll to Josephine proposing that she should dress it: but Josephine said
+"I would rather look at you, while <i>you</i> do it." Rosalind accordingly
+dressed the doll in two different suits, one after another; but soon
+grew tired, and had recourse to an ivory cup and ball, which she failed
+to catch with as much dexterity as usual. She gave Josephine a wooden
+lemon, which on being opened in the middle, contained a number of other
+lemons one within another, and diminishing in size till the last and
+smallest was no bigger than a pea. When Josephine had got through the
+lemon, Rosalind took it, and resigned the cup<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> and ball to her cousin,
+who soon gave it up, as she could never make the cup catch the ball; and
+she again finished the morning with her never-failing resource the
+rocking-chair.</p>
+
+<p>Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday having been passed in this manner, on
+Thursday Rosalind began to acknowledge to herself, what she had indeed
+suspected on the first day, that a life of entire idleness was not quite
+so agreeable as she had supposed. Having no useful or interesting
+occupation to diversify her time, she found that play had lost its
+relish; and now that she could play all day, she found all plays
+tiresome. These three days had appeared to her of never-ending length;
+and she began to think that when her week of idleness had expired she
+would not solicit Mrs. Mortlake to prolong the term.</p>
+
+<p>On Thursday afternoon Rosalind gave up her nap, and went and seated
+herself at the open window, that she might hear Mrs. Mortlake and
+Adelaide read aloud in the porch. And next morning, she actually stopped
+and listened at the school-room door while Adelaide was repeating her
+French lesson; and she returned again, and stood behind the door, to
+hear Mrs. Mortlake instructing her sister in a new song accompanied on
+the harp. All that day and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> the next, she felt as if she was actually
+sick of doing nothing; and she absolutely languished to be allowed once
+more to take a book and read, or to draw, or play on the piano. Even
+sewing, she thought, would now seem delightful to her.</p>
+
+<p>On Saturday morning Rosalind met Adelaide in her brown linen apron with
+long sleeves, going into the housekeeper's room to assist in making
+cakes and pastry. She longed to go in with her, and to do her part as
+formerly; and her longing increased when she heard the sound of beating
+eggs, and grinding spice. She had hitherto looked forward with great
+pleasure to her holiday on Saturday afternoon. Now, after doing nothing
+all the week, Saturday afternoon had no charms for her; and she was glad
+to find it was to be devoted to a ride in the carriage, through a
+pleasant part of the adjacent country.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Rosalind," said Josephine, as they were taking off their bonnets,
+after their return from the ride, "you have now spent a week in <i>my</i>
+way. Do you not wish you could pass your whole life in the same manner?"</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> No, indeed&mdash;nor even another week. This week of idleness has
+seemed to me like a month; and I have no desire to renew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> the
+experiment. I have never in my life gone to bed so tired as after those
+days of doing nothing. I find that want of occupation is to me absolute
+misery; though it may be very delightful to <i>you</i>, as you have been
+brought up in a different manner, and have never been accustomed to any
+sort of employment. Yet, still I think you would be much happier, if you
+had something to do.</p>
+
+<p>In the evening Mr. Edington said to his youngest daughter, "Well,
+Rosalind, how do you like your week of idleness? Are you going to
+request Mrs. Mortlake to lengthen the term of your enjoyment?"</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> O no, dear father; it has been no enjoyment to <i>me</i>. On the
+contrary, I am glad to think that it is now over. I have found it
+absolutely a punishment.</p>
+
+<p><i>Mr. Edington.</i> So I suspected.</p>
+
+<p><i>Rosalind.</i> And I deserved it, for allowing myself to become
+dissatisfied with the manner in which Mrs. Mortlake chose that I should
+occupy myself. I am tired of lying in bed, tired of idleness, and tired
+of play. So, dear Mrs. Mortlake, be so kind as to let me rise at
+daylight on Monday morning, to work in my garden, and resume my lessons
+as usual. You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> may depend on it I shall never again wish for a single
+day of idleness.</p>
+
+<p><i>Mrs. Mortlake.</i> I am very glad to hear you say so, my dear Rosalind.
+And I do not despair of at length convincing Josephine that she would be
+more happy if she had some regular employment.</p>
+
+<p>That night Rosalind returned to her own chamber, and next morning she
+was up at daylight. It being Sunday, they went as usual to church in the
+city, and Rosalind was now delighted to pass the remainder of the day in
+reading a volume of Mrs. Sherwood's excellent work, the Lady of the
+Manor. A book now seemed like a novelty to her.</p>
+
+<p>Next day Rosalind went through her lessons with a pleasure she had never
+felt before; and when they were over, she highly enjoyed her two hours'
+recreation after dinner. She took no more afternoon naps; and after a
+short time even Josephine was persuaded to give them up, and found it
+possible, with some practice, to keep awake while her cousins or Mrs.
+Mortlake were reading aloud in the porch.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, Josephine became ashamed of being the only idle person in Mr.
+Edington's house, and was prevailed on by her uncle and Mrs. Mortlake to
+join her cousins in their lessons.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> By degrees, and by giving her only a
+very little to learn at a time, and by having constantly before her such
+good examples as Adelaide and Rosalind, she entirely conquered her love
+of idleness. She was really not deficient in natural capacity, and she
+soon began to take pleasure in trying to improve herself; so that when
+she returned to Maryland, she carried with her a newly acquired taste
+for rational pursuits, which she never afterwards lost.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>
+<a name="Madeline" id="Madeline"></a>MADELINE MALCOLM.</h2>
+
+<div class="block4">
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Now here&mdash;now there&mdash;in noise and mischief ever.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<div class="right">
+<span class="right"><i>Rogers.</i></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 180px;">
+<img src="images/w.jpg" width="180" height="153" alt="Drop capital W" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+<p class="noi"><span class="hidden">"W</span>ell, Juliet, how is your friend, Cecilia Selden?" said Edward
+Lansdowne to his sister, as they were sitting by the parlour fire, in
+the interval between daylight and darkness. It was the evening after his
+arrival from Princeton college to spend a fortnight at Christmas with
+his family in Philadelphia.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> I believe Cecilia is very well. At least she was so when last
+I saw her, about five weeks since.</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward.</i> Is it five weeks since you have seen Cecilia Selden? You were
+formerly almost inseparable. I hope there has been no quarrel between
+you.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>
+<b>Juliet.</b> None at all. But&mdash;somehow&mdash;I am tired of Cecilia Selden. She is
+certainly a very dull companion.</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward.</i> Dull! You once thought her very amusing. For my part, <i>I</i>
+always found her so. She has read a great deal, is highly accomplished,
+and as she travels every summer with her parents, she has had
+opportunities of seeing a variety of interesting places and people. And
+above all, she has an excellent natural understanding.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> But she is always so sensible and so correct, and every thing
+that she says and does is so very proper.</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward.</i> So much the better. You will improve by being intimate with
+her.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> I never shall be intimate again with Cecilia Selden. She is
+too particular, too fastidious. She does not like Madeline Malcolm.</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward.</i> And who is Madeline Malcolm? I never heard of her before.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> Her father is our next door neighbour. You know we did not
+live in this house when you were last in Philadelphia. The very day we
+moved, Madeline Malcolm came in to see us, in the midst of all our
+bustle and confusion, and stayed the whole afternoon. She said she had
+long been desirous of becoming acquainted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> with me, was delighted that
+we were now near neighbours, and therefore could not forbear running in
+to commence the intimacy immediately.</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward.</i> But "in the midst of all your bustle and confusion," it must
+have been very in convenient to receive a visitor, and to entertain her
+the whole afternoon.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> Why,&mdash;we were a little disconcerted at first, but she begged
+of us not to consider her a stranger. She was just as sociable as if she
+had known us for seven years; and she was so queer, and there was so
+much fun in every thing she said and did, that she kept me laughing all
+the time.</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward.</i> I should like to see this prodigy of fun.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> No doubt you will soon have that pleasure; for she runs in and
+out, the back way, ten times a-day.</p>
+
+<p>Juliet had scarcely spoken when they heard a voice in the entry, singing
+"I'd be a butterfly," and Madeline Malcolm, a tall, black-eyed,
+red-cheeked girl, with long ringlets of dark hair, came flying into the
+parlour, exclaiming, "What, still by fire-light&mdash;I shall have to pull
+your Peter's ears myself, if he does not mind his business and light the
+astral lamp sooner.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> O! here he comes. Now, Peter, proceed; and take
+yourself off as soon as you have accomplished the feat. Well,&mdash;now that
+there is no longer any danger of falling over this young gentleman, I
+must beg leave to be introduced to him in form. I surmise that he is the
+most learned Mr. Edward Lansdowne of Nassau-Hall, Princeton. Ah! I have
+torn my frock on the fender. Just like me, you know." Juliet immediately
+introduced her brother. "Well, Ned," exclaimed Miss Malcolm, "you have
+come to make us happy at last. Your sister has talked so much about you
+that I have actually been longing for your arrival. Come, tell us the
+best news at college. I have a cousin there, but he has not been in town
+since the rebellion before the last. I suppose he goes to New York to
+take his frolics. Come, tell us all the particulars of your last
+'Barring out;' I suppose it was conducted according to the newest
+fashion. Juliet, did you ever see any thing like Ned's face? A sort of
+mixed expression; trying to smile and be agreeable, but looking all the
+time as if he could bar <i>me</i> out himself."</p>
+
+<p>In this manner she ran on for near half an hour, Juliet laughing
+heartily, and Edward not at all. At last she rose to go away, and when
+Juliet invited her to stay all the evening,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> she said she <i>must</i> go
+home, for they were to have waffles at tea, and she would not miss them
+on any consideration. However, the tea-table in Mrs. Lansdowne's parlour
+being now set, she took a spoonful of honey which she dripped all over
+the cloth, and then giving Juliet a hearty kiss, she seized Edward's arm
+saying, "Come, Ned, escort me home. I am going in at the front-door this
+time, and there is always ice on our steps, so be sure to take care that
+I do not fall."</p>
+
+<p>When Edward took his leave at Madeline's door, she shook hands with him,
+saying, "Am I not a wild creature? You see how my spirits run away with
+me."</p>
+
+<p>Edward came back with a countenance of almost disgust. "If this is your
+new friend," said he to his sister, "I must say that I consider her
+scarcely endurable. Why, she never saw me before this evening, and yet
+she is as familiar as if she had known me all her life. To think of her
+calling me Ned."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah!" said Juliet with a smile, "I suspect <i>that</i> to be the grand
+offence, after all. But depend upon it, you will like her better when
+you know her better."</p>
+
+<p>"I very much doubt my ever liking her at all," replied Edward.</p>
+
+<hr class="hr4" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>
+Nothing could exceed the sociability of Madeline Malcolm. She
+breakfasted, dined, and drank tea at Mrs. Lansdowne's table nearly as
+often as at her father's; and she frequently ran in early in the
+morning, and scampered into Juliet's chamber before she had risen. Mr.
+and Mrs. Lansdowne (both whose dispositions were remarkably amiable and
+indulgent) did not approve of their daughter's intimacy with Madeline.
+They had spoken to her on the subject; but Madeline's frank and
+caressing manner, and her perpetual good-humour, had so won the heart of
+Juliet, that it was painful to her to hear a word against her friend, as
+she called her. So her parents concluded to let it pass for the present;
+trusting to Juliet's becoming eventually disgusted by some outrageous
+folly of Madeline's, who seemed to think her professed volatility an
+excuse for every thing; and that the appellation of <i>a wild creature</i>,
+which she took pride in giving herself, would screen her from any
+resentment her unwarrantable conduct might provoke.</p>
+
+<p>Still, as Edward observed, she had a great deal of selfishness and
+cunning; as is generally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> the case with wild creatures; for when females
+have so little of the delicacy of their sex as to throw aside the
+restraints of propriety, the same want of delicacy makes them totally
+regardless of the feelings or convenience of others, and renders them
+callous to every thing like real sympathy or kindness of heart.</p>
+
+<p>At home, Madeline was allowed to do exactly as she pleased; her father's
+thoughts were perpetually in his counting-house, and her step-mother,
+who spent all her time in the nursery, was incessantly occupied with the
+care of a large family of young children, of whom Madeline never took
+the least account. And she was so much at Mr. Lansdowne's that Juliet
+had few opportunities of returning her visits.</p>
+
+<p>She borrowed all Juliet's best books, and did not scruple to lend them
+again to any person that she knew. Some of the books were never
+returned; and others were brought back soiled, torn, and in a most
+deplorable condition. One of her jokes was to take up Juliet's
+muslin-work, and disfigure it with what she called gobble-stitch. She
+came in one day and found the parlour unoccupied, and Juliet's
+drawing-box on the table, with a beautiful landscape nearly finished.
+Madeline sat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> down and daubed at it till it was quite spoiled, and when
+Juliet discovered her at this employment, she turned it off with a
+laugh, insisting that she had greatly improved the picture. She found
+Juliet one evening engaged in copying a very scarce and beautiful song,
+which she had borrowed from her music-master, and which had never been
+published in America. On Juliet's being called up stairs for a few
+moments to her mother, Madeline took the pen, and scribbled on the
+margin of the borrowed music, some nonsensical verses of her own
+composition, in ridicule of the music-master.</p>
+
+<p>Edward presented his sister at Christmas with a set of a new English
+magazine, which contained biographical sketches and finely engraved
+portraits of some of the most celebrated female authors. Madeline came
+in soon after the arrival of the books; and having looked them over, she
+insisted on carrying one of the volumes home with her. Next day she
+brought it back, with a pair of spectacles drawn with a pen and ink
+round the eyes of each of the portraits that, as she said, "The learned
+ladies might look still wiser." Upon this Edward immediately left the
+room, lest his indignation should induce him to say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> too much, and
+Juliet could not help warmly expressing her dissatisfaction. But
+Madeline pacified her by hanging round her neck and pleading that her
+love of fun was constantly leading her to do mischievous things; and
+that she was sure her darling Juliet loved her too well not to forgive
+her.</p>
+
+<p>Cecilia Selden, a sensible and amiable girl, and formerly Juliet's most
+intimate friend, was an object of Madeline's particular dislike and
+ridicule; of which Cecilia perceived so many palpable symptoms, that she
+left off visiting at Mrs. Lansdowne's house; to the great regret of
+Edward.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Templeton, a lady that lived at the distance of a few squares, gave
+a juvenile ball, to which Juliet and Edward were invited, and also
+Madeline with several of her little brothers and sisters. Soon after
+Juliet had gone up to her room to commence dressing, Madeline came in
+followed by a servant with two bandboxes, and exclaiming, "Well, Juliet,
+I have brought all my trappings, and have come here to dress with <i>you</i>,
+that I may escape being put in requisition at home to assist in
+decorating the brats, who will entirely fill up <i>our</i> carriage, so I am
+going to the ball in <i>yours</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> There now, get away from the glass and
+let me begin."</p>
+
+<p>Juliet removed from the glass, and throwing a shawl over her shoulders,
+sat down by the fire, determined to wait patiently till Madeline had
+finished her toilet. But this was no expeditious matter. Madeline always
+professed to be too giddy to have her clothes in order, or to think of
+any thing before the last moment. Every article that she was to wear
+this evening required some alteration, which Juliet was called upon to
+make, till Lucy, a mulatto seamstress that lived in the family, came up
+to assist the young ladies in dressing. Madeline's white satin
+under-frock was longer than the tulle dress that she wore over it: and
+after it was put on, it was necessary to make it shorter by turning the
+hem up all round and running it along with a needle and thread. Her
+satin belt would not meet, and after a great deal of pulling and
+squeezing in vain, the only remedy was to take off the hooks and eyes
+and set them nearer to the ends. She desired Lucy to arrange her hair
+for her, which was a difficult task, as Madeline would not hold still a
+moment; and after it was at last accomplished, she declared that Lucy
+had made a fright of her, and demolished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> the whole structure with her
+own hands, strewing the floor with hair-pins and flowers. She then
+called Juliet to her assistance; and, in the course of time, her hair
+was finished to her satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>When Madeline was dressed, she took a lamp from the mantlepiece and
+setting it on the floor, that she might see her feet to advantage with
+her embroidered silk stockings and white satin shoes, she began to caper
+and dance; and in performing one of her best steps she kicked down the
+lamp, which splashed all over her right foot, and over the lower part of
+her dress, beside deluging the carpet with oil. She screamed violently,
+and her volatility seemed to forsake her when she held up her beautiful
+tulle dress bespattered with lamp-oil. Juliet endeavoured to console
+her, and lent her another pair of silk stockings, and Lucy was sent to
+the nearest shoemaker's to bring several pair of white satin shoes that
+Madeline might choose from among them. But what was to be done with the
+disfigured frock? Madeline declared she had no other dress that was
+handsome enough to wear that evening, and said she would rather stay
+away from the ball than not look as she wished. Juliet, who was about
+the same size, offered to lend her a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> frock, even the clear muslin she
+was to wear that night herself; but Madeline said that Juliet's dresses
+were all too plain for her, and that she had set her mind upon the white
+silk-sprigged tulle, and nothing else.</p>
+
+<p>She continued to lament her misfortune, when a thought struck her that
+it was possible to conceal the spots of oil by arranging artificial
+flowers round the lower part of the dress. But Juliet had no such
+flowers, not having yet begun to wear them, and her mother had long
+since left them off. Madeline's whole stock of flowers, was already
+disposed of on her head, and she protested against taking out a single
+one; saying, that it required a multitude to cover all the oil-stains.</p>
+
+<p>At last she exclaimed, "I have just thought of it, Juliet,&mdash;There are
+plenty of flowers in the French vases on your front-parlour
+mantle-piece.<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> I will have <i>them</i>. They will
+<a name="do" id="do"></a><ins title="Original has de">do</ins>
+exactly."&mdash;"But," said Juliet, "I know not that my mother will approve
+of the flowers being taken out of the vases."&mdash;"Nonsense," replied
+Madeline. "What a vastly proper person you are. Tell her that your
+volatile <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>friend Madeline took them; and she will expect nothing better
+of such a wild creature."</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> It was formerly the fashion to decorate the mantle-piece
+with artificial flowers placed in china vases under glass shades.</p></div>
+
+<p>So saying, she ran down stairs, and found Edward dressed for the ball,
+and waiting for them in the parlour. "Here, Ned, my boy," said she, "off
+with those glass shades, and hand me out the flowers from the vases. I
+have kicked over a lamp and splashed my frock with oil, and I must have
+all the flowers I can get, to hide the stains. Why do you look so
+dubious? I will send them safely back again to-morrow morning. What,
+won't you give them to me? Oh! then I shall make bold to help myself to
+them."&mdash;She jumped on a chair, and was going to lift one of the glass
+shades, when Edward, fearful of the consequences, stepped up and took
+out the flowers for her; and when she had obtained them all, she ran off
+with them in her lap, dropping them along the stairs as she went.</p>
+
+<p>When she entered the chamber, she called out to Juliet, "Come now, dear
+creature, down on your knees with a pin-cushion in your hand, and pin
+these flowers all nicely round my frock, so as to cover every one of the
+vile oil-spots." "Shall <i>I</i> do it, miss?" said the maid, who had just
+finished wiping up the oil that had fallen on the carpet, and which,
+however, left a large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> splash of grease. "Miss Juliet will rumple her
+dress if she stoops down to put on the flowers."&mdash;"So much the better,"
+said Madeline, "it will be an advantage to that new muslin to have a
+little of the stiffness taken out. Come, Lucy, you may hold the candle."
+Juliet then stooped down, and in a most painful posture proceeded to pin
+the flowers round Madeline's frock, which she did so adroitly as to
+conceal all the spots of oil.</p>
+
+<p>Just as this business was completed a servant brought into the room a
+small red morocco case, inclosing a beautiful pearl necklace, and
+accompanied by a note from her grandfather, in which he requested her
+acceptance of it as a new-year's gift, and desired that she would wear
+it on that evening at Mrs. Templeton's ball.</p>
+
+<p>While Juliet was admiring the necklace, Madeline took it out of her
+hand, saying, "Let me see how this looks on <i>my</i> neck. Beautiful&mdash;really
+beautiful. Ah, Juliet, it is so pretty I cannot bear to take it off
+again. Come <i>I</i> shall wear it this evening."&mdash;"But indeed," said Juliet,
+"I should like very much to wear it myself; particularly as it is my
+grandfather's request."&mdash;"Nonsense," answered Madeline; "grandpa is not
+going to the ball himself, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> how will he know whether you wear it or
+not? And your father and mother are both at the theatre, and are
+ignorant even of its arrival. I forgot to bring a necklace with me: so
+this comes quite <i>apropos</i>. Come, I am not going to give it up this
+evening. Possession, you know, is nine points of the law: and your white
+neck requires no pearls to set it off."</p>
+
+<p>"You know very well that my neck is <i>not</i> white," said Juliet.</p>
+
+<p>"Well then," replied Madeline, "if it is brown, the pearls will make it
+look browner still. Positively you shall not have it to-night, if I run
+for it." Upon which she ran down stairs into the front-parlour, and
+pretended to hide behind the window-curtain, to save herself, as she
+told Edward, from the vengeance of Juliet, whose new necklace she had
+seized and carried off. Edward did not think this a very good joke;
+however, he made no comment, and his sister coming down immediately
+after, he handed her and Madeline into the carriage, and accompanied
+them to Mrs. Templeton's.</p>
+
+<p>At the ball the volatility of Madeline reached its climax. She talked,
+laughed, flirted, jumped, and occasionally appealed to those in the same
+cotillon to know if they had ever seen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> such a wild creature. Edward,
+however, could not help observing her unkindness and rudeness to the
+little children, whom she pushed about and scolded, whenever they came
+in her way. Two of her younger sisters were preparing to dance together,
+when Madeline and Edward, who were looking for a place, came up. "This
+cotillon is completed," said Edward, "and so, I believe, are all the
+others. Let us stand by, and look on. I always enjoy seeing the children
+dance." "No indeed," said Madeline, "I had rather dance myself. Here,
+Ellen and Clara, go and sit down, and give us your places." The children
+began to object; but she pushed them away and commenced the cotillon,
+saying she was determined to dance every set.</p>
+
+<p>The next set, however, no one asked Madeline to dance. She looked very
+much displeased at being obliged to sit still, and was yet more so, when
+Charles Templeton brought up a very handsome little midshipman, in his
+uniform, who, on being introduced to both the young ladies, immediately
+requested the pleasure of Miss Lansdowne's hand for the next set.</p>
+
+<p>Juliet stood up with the midshipman; but there was some delay in forming
+the cotillons, and her partner perceived that one of his shoe-strings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>
+was broken. He asked Charles Templeton, who was in the next cotillon, if
+he would put him in a way of repairing the accident; and Charles desired
+the midshipman to accompany him to his room for the purpose. Madeline,
+who had heard all that passed, stepped up to Juliet and said to
+her&mdash;"Juliet, as you are one of the modest people, I suppose it will
+embarrass you to stand here till your partner comes back again; so do
+you sit down, and I will stand and keep your place for you. You know I
+have brass enough for any thing."</p>
+
+<p>Juliet, grateful for Madeline's unexpected kindness, and feeling really
+some
+<a name="embarrassment" id="embarrassment"></a><ins title="Original has embarrasment">embarrassment</ins> at standing up in the cotillon
+without her partner, consented willingly, and took Madeline's seat. In a
+few minutes the midshipman returned, and looked much surprised when he
+saw another young lady in the place of his partner; but before he had
+time to consider why it was so, the music commenced, and Madeline began
+to right and left, and led off the cotillon; disappointing Juliet of her
+dance.</p>
+
+<p>The midshipman, however, did not speak to Madeline during the whole set;
+and when he had led her to a seat, he left her, and went up to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> Edward,
+and expressed his surprise that Miss Lansdowne, after being engaged to
+dance with him, had substituted another young lady in her place. Edward,
+to whom his sister had explained how it happened, repeated her account
+to the midshipman, who was much vexed, and went immediately to apologize
+to Juliet, and to ask her hand for the next set, which she was obliged
+to refuse, as she was pre-engaged both for that set and the following.</p>
+
+<p>"So," said Madeline, as she passed Juliet on her way to the cotillon
+with a new partner, "you see I tricked you out of the smart young
+midshipman, who is the prettiest fellow in the room, and I was
+determined not to sit still a single set."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline's volatility attracted the attention of the whole company, and
+the delight of finding herself an object of general notice gave her
+fresh spirits as she ran to the very top of the country-dance,
+oversetting a little boy on her way, afterwards romping down the middle,
+and throwing herself into a seat the moment she had got to the bottom.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after, while refreshments were handed round, she took an
+opportunity of purposely spilling a glass of lemonade on Cecilia
+Selden's pink crape frock, and she threw a piece<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> of orange-peel in
+Edward's way that he might slip on it, which he did, and very nearly
+fell down.</p>
+
+<p>Juliet, who had recently recovered from a severe cold, brought with her
+into the ball-room a very handsome blue silk scarf, which her mother had
+lent her, enjoining her to put it on whenever she was not dancing, as a
+guard against being suddenly chilled when in a perspiration. Madeline,
+happening to look at Juliet, observed the scarf and thought it very
+becoming. She suddenly twitched it off Juliet's shoulders and threw it
+over her own, saying, "Now, Juliet, you have been beautified with this
+scarf long enough. It is my turn to wear it awhile." Poor Juliet knew
+not how to object, though her seat (the only one she had been able to
+obtain) was directly against a window, from which there was a draught of
+air on the back of her neck. The consequence was a renewal of her cold,
+and a sore throat which confined her for several days to the house.</p>
+
+<p>The above may serve as a specimen of Madeline's various exploits at the
+ball. After Juliet and her brother had got home, Edward stood for half
+an hour in the middle of the parlour-floor with his bed-candle in his
+hand,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> while he expostulated with his sister on her strange infatuation
+for her new friend; declaring that, with all her volatility and apparent
+frankness and good-humour, he had never known a girl more artful,
+selfish, and heartless than Madeline Malcolm.</p>
+
+<p>Instead of returning the flowers and the necklace on the following
+morning, as she ought to have done, Madeline wore them in the evening to
+another ball; and finally when Mrs. Lansdowne sent for the flowers, they
+came home in a most deplorable state, soiled, crushed, and broken; so
+that they were no longer fit to ornament the vases, and some of them
+were entirely lost.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline did not come in to see Juliet till she knew that she had quite
+recovered from her sore-throat; having, as she afterward told her, a
+perfect antipathy to a sick-room, and a mortal dislike to the dismals.
+She forgot to return the necklace till Juliet, with many blushes, and
+much confusion, at last reminded her of it. "Why," said she, "you seem
+very uneasy about that necklace. Between friends like us, every thing
+ought to be common." Madeline, however, had never offered to lend Juliet
+the smallest article belonging to herself.</p>
+
+<p>The next time Madeline came, she brought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> the necklace in her hand.
+"Here," said she "is this most important affair; I took a fancy to wear
+it round my <i>head</i> at Mrs. Linton's, and I can assure you I had a great
+deal of pulling and stretching to get it to clasp. Why did grandpapa
+give you such a short necklace? However, soon after I began to dance,
+snap went the thread, and down came all the pearls showering about the
+floor. How I laughed; but I set all the beaux in the cotillon to picking
+them up, and I suppose they found the most of them. You see I have
+brought you a handful. And now you can amuse yourself with stringing
+them again. Come now, don't look so like Ned.&mdash;How can you expect a wild
+creature as I am, to be careful of flowers, and beads, and all such
+trumpery? I dare say, you are now thinking that your sober Cecilia
+Selden would have returned the pearls 'in good order and well
+conditioned.' But I never allow any one to get angry with me: you know I
+am a privileged person. So now look agreeable, and smile immediately.
+Smile, smile, I tell you." Juliet <i>did</i> smile, and Madeline throwing her
+arms round her neck, kissed her, exclaiming, as she patted her cheek,
+"There's my own good baby. She always, at last, does as I bid her."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>
+The next day Juliet heard that the windows of Mr. Malcolm's house were
+all shut up; but she was not long in suspense as to the cause, for
+shortly after, Madeline came running in the back way, and said with a
+most afflicted countenance, "O, Juliet, you may pity me now if you never
+did before. We have just heard from New Orleans of the death of aunt
+Medford, my father's only sister."</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> I am very sorry you have received such bad news.</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> Oh! but the worst of it is, that it will prevent our going
+to the play to-night. We had engaged seats with the Rosemores, in a
+delightful box. We were going to see the Belle's Stratagem, with the
+masquerade, and the song, and the minuet, and the new French dancers. I
+would not have missed such an entertainment for a hundred dollars. How
+very provoking that the bad news did not arrive one day later. If it had
+not come till to-morrow I should not have cared, for then our charming
+evening at the theatre would have been over. And now, to think that
+instead of going to the play, I must stay at home and look at my father
+grieving for old aunt Medford. There now, Juliet, your face is again in
+the style of Ned's. Positively, if you are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> so particular, I shall cut
+your acquaintance. Those that I consider my friends must enter into all
+my "whims and oddities," and not expect me to act according to rule. I
+hate hypocrisy. Why should I pretend to grieve for aunt Medford when I
+have never seen her since I was six years old?</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> But sympathy for your father&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> Why, where is the use of sympathy? When people are in grief,
+sympathy only makes them worse.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> If you yourself were in affliction, Madeline, you would find
+the sympathy of your family and friends very gratifying.</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> Wait till <i>I am</i> in affliction and then I will tell you.
+"<i>Toujours gai</i>," is my motto, and "<i>vive la bagatelle</i>" for ever.</p>
+
+<p>So saying, she danced out of the room, and went home; but in a short
+time she returned, looking very mysterious, and peeping in at the door
+to ascertain if Juliet was alone. "Juliet, love," said Madeline in a low
+voice, "come with me into the back parlour, lest we should be
+interrupted. I have something of great consequence to tell you."</p>
+
+<p>As Madeline often dealt in mysteries, Juliet thought this new secret
+nothing more than usual, and accompanied her into the back parlour,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span>
+where Madeline cautiously bolted the folding-doors and locked the side
+door. "Now, Juliet," said she in an under voice, "I know I may depend on
+your secrecy." "Certainly you may," replied Juliet.</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> Well then, I must confide to you a plan that has just struck
+me. I cannot bear the idea of giving up the play to-night, and you know
+it is out of the question for any of the family to be <i>seen</i> there.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> Of course none of you can go to the theatre when your house is
+shut up for the death of a near relation, and when Mr. Malcolm is in
+such deep affliction.</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> It is certainly a great pity that aunt Medford died;
+particularly just at the time she did, as it will spoil all our gayety
+for the winter. No more plays, and balls, and parties this season.
+People ought always to die in the summer. But you know, dear Juliet, I
+have not seen my aunt Medford for ten years, and I really have forgotten
+all about her. So, how can you expect me to be inconsolable? And I
+cannot endure the thought of being disappointed in going to the theatre.
+I might as well go, as stay at home and think about it all the evening.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> O no, indeed! Even if you have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> no personal regard for your
+aunt, respect for your father's feelings and a proper regard for
+decorum, ought to subdue your desire of going at this time to a place of
+public amusement.</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> That is exactly such a speech as Cecilia Selden would make
+on a similar occasion. It is a pity "the truly wise man" is not here.
+How Neddy would applaud.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> But where is the use of talking in this manner. You know you
+<i>cannot</i> go to the theatre.</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> I know I <i>can</i>.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> How? In what way? I do not understand you.</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> My going to the theatre to-night depends principally on
+<i>you</i>.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> On me!</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> Yes, for I will not venture alone, and you must go with me.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> Go with you&mdash;<i>I</i> go with you!</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> Yes.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> And who else?</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> Nobody else. Now don't look as if you were ready to run
+through the wall to get away from me; but listen and understand. Our
+nursery-maid, Kitty, has permission to go this evening and stay all
+night with a sick sister. So when she is off, I can easily slip<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> into
+her room and select a suit of her clothes, (which I believe will nearly
+fit me,) and she has a tolerably large wardrobe for a servant. Then I
+will steal in the back way, bringing a suit for you. Don't look shocked.
+I shall tell my father and mother that being very low-spirited, I am
+coming in here to spend a quiet evening with you. I heard Mrs.
+Lansdowne, when I was here yesterday, propose to your father to leave
+her at her sister, Mrs. Wilmar's, on his way to the Wistar party
+to-night, and call for her as he comes back; which of course will not be
+before ten o'clock at the very earliest. Therefore the coast will be
+clear, as I suppose Ned will go to his beloved Athenĉum. So you see
+every thing seems to conspire fortunately to forward our plot.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> <i>Our</i> plot. O! do not call it <i>ours</i>. I never will have any
+thing to do with a plot.</p>
+
+<p><i>Madeline.</i> Yes, but you <i>must</i> though. Why this is nothing. I have
+plotted a hundred things in the course of my life, and so I shall again.
+Well, now hear the whole. I will slip in the back-way, and you must be
+alone in your room ready to receive me. After we have put on our
+disguises, we will go down stairs very softly and steal out at the alley
+gate. Then we will make the best of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> our way to the theatre, and go in
+at the gallery-door, passing, of course as two servant-girls. When we
+have reached the gallery we will mix with the crowd, and sit at our ease
+and enjoy the play; at least the masquerade-scene, which I would not
+miss for the world. I am absolutely dying to see the French dancers.
+Nobody can possibly discover us under our disguises. We will not go till
+the first act is over, and the audience settled; and we will come away
+before the last scene of the comedy. Then after we get home we will
+resume our proper dresses, and present ourselves to our parents, looking
+as demure as if we had been sitting by the fire, and talking sensibly,
+all the evening. No one will ever know what we have really been doing.
+It will be a most charming frolic, and something for you and I to laugh
+about, ten years hence. I always enjoy these queer exploits that no one
+else has courage to undertake.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet</i> (<i>firmly.</i>) Madeline, I will <i>not</i> disguise myself like a
+servant-girl; and I will <i>never</i> accompany you secretly to the theatre,
+nor to any other place.</p>
+
+<p>Juliet spoke in so firm a tone, that Madeline was at first abashed, and
+remained for a few moments silent. But, not easily repelled, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> soon
+recovered from her confusion, and exerted all her eloquence to prevail
+on her dear friend, as she called her, to join in the scheme. By turns
+she flattered, caressed, and ridiculed her, and then tried to win her
+consent by representing the delights of the masquerade-scene, as she had
+heard it described by a lady who had recently seen the comedy of the
+Belle's Stratagem. Juliet held out steadily for a long time. But at
+length her firmness gave way, and she finally yielded; as Madeline had
+foreseen. Her reluctance was so great, that her consent was, after all,
+rather extorted than given, and Madeline, having kissed her rather
+oftener than usual, ran gayly to her own home, singing "I won't be a
+nun."</p>
+
+<p>After Madeline had gone, Juliet felt so uneasy at having suffered
+herself to be persuaded against her conscience, that she was on the
+point of calling her back and retracting her promise. When she went to
+dinner, the consciousness of her intended deceit destroyed her appetite,
+and made her feel as if she could not raise her eyes towards her
+parents, or answer them when they spoke to her.</p>
+
+<p>Edward bent on her a scrutinizing glance, and saw that all was not
+right; but supposing that she had committed some fault in the course<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> of
+the morning for which her mother had seriously reprimanded her, he was
+unwilling to notice her apparent mortification, and tried to divert the
+attention of his parents by talking to them of Cooper's last novel,
+which had been published that morning, and of which he had already gone
+through the first volume.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Lansdowne, however, remarking that her daughter did not eat,
+inquired if she felt unwell, and Juliet replied that she had a violent
+headache: which was literally true. After dinner, her mother recommended
+that she should retire to her room and lie down, which she gladly did:
+her mind being too much agitated to take interest in any occupation.
+Once in the afternoon, she heard Edward come up stairs and tap at her
+door; but fearing that he had observed her confusion at dinner, and that
+he might ask her some question concerning it, she lay still, and did not
+answer to his knock, so that, supposing her to be asleep, he softly
+withdrew.</p>
+
+<p>Towards evening, her mother came to inquire after her: and Juliet,
+unwilling to meet the family at table in her present state of
+discomposure, requested to have her tea sent up. "My dear," said Mrs.
+Lansdowne, "as you are not well, I will not go to my sister Wilmar's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>
+this evening, but I will stay at home and sit with you."</p>
+
+<p>"O, no, dear mother!" replied Juliet, "I know you wish to see aunt
+Wilmar: I am sure my tea will relieve my headache, and I have no doubt,
+when I have drunk it, I shall feel well enough to rise, and sit up all
+the evening." Accordingly, after Juliet had taken her tea, she rose and
+adjusted her dress, and when Mrs. Lansdowne came up again, she found her
+daughter sitting by the fire with a book, and apparently so much
+recovered, that she felt no scruples about leaving her, as she was
+really desirous of passing the evening with Mrs. Wilmar, who was
+confined to the house with the influenza.</p>
+
+<p>At last Juliet heard her father and mother depart, and Edward went out
+soon after. In a few minutes, Madeline came cautiously up stairs, and
+glided into the chamber, carrying a large bundle. "All's safe," said
+she, "the coast is <i>quite</i> clear, and we have not a moment to lose. It
+is a fine moonlight night."</p>
+
+<p>Juliet's courage now failed entirely; and she vehemently besought
+Madeline to give up a scheme fraught with so much risk and impropriety.
+But Madeline was immovable, declaring that she had set her heart on it,
+and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> that she enjoyed nothing so much as what she called an
+out-of-the-way frolic. "Since you are so cowardly, Juliet," said she, "I
+wish I could venture to go alone; but wild as I am, I confess I am not
+quite equal to that&mdash;Come, now, off with your frock, and get yourself
+dressed in these delectable habiliments."</p>
+
+<p>She then began to unfasten Juliet's dress, who pale, trembling, and with
+tears in her eyes, arrayed herself in the clothes that Madeline had
+brought for her. The gown was a very dirty one of dark blue domestic
+gingham, and she put on with it a yellowish chequered handkerchief, and
+a check apron. Over this she pinned an old red woollen shawl, and she
+covered her head with a coarse and broken black Leghorn bonnet. The
+clothes that Madeline had allotted to herself were a little better,
+consisting of a dark calico frock, a coarse tamboured muslin collar, an
+old straw bonnet very yellow and faded, and a plaid cloak which belonged
+to the cook, and which she had taken out of a closet in the garret.</p>
+
+<p>The two young ladies did not know, or did not recollect, that when
+<i>real</i> servant-girls go to the theatre, they generally dress as well as
+they can, and take pains to appear to the best advantage. The clothes
+that Madeline had selected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> were quite too dirty and shabby for the
+occasion. To complete their costume, she gave Juliet a pair of coarse
+calf-skin shoes, which were so large that as she walked her feet seemed
+to rise up out of them. Madeline, for her part, put on a pair of
+carpet-moccasins over her slippers.</p>
+
+<p>After they were dressed and ready to depart for the theatre, Juliet's
+tremor increased, and she was again on the point of relinquishing her
+share in the business; but she again yielded to the solicitations of
+Madeline, who led her softly down stairs by the light of the moon that
+shone in at the staircase windows. They stole, undiscovered, across the
+yard and out at the alley-gate; and finding themselves in the street,
+began to walk very fast, as people generally do when they are going to
+the play.</p>
+
+<p>When they came in view of the theatre, they saw no persons there, except
+two or three gentlemen who went in at the pit-door. Juliet's heart
+failed entirely; and she shrank back as Madeline, taking her hand,
+attempted to pull her towards the door that admitted the gallery-people.
+"We have now gone too far to recede," whispered Madeline,&mdash;"You must
+stand by me now. I <i>will not</i> go back, and <i>you must</i> come forward.
+Here, take my money and put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> it down with yours&mdash;I forgot my gloves, and
+my hands will betray me, so I must keep them wrapped up in my cloak."</p>
+
+<p>Juliet laid the money on the ledge before the doorkeeper, who looked at
+them with some surprise. They pulled their bonnets more closely over
+their faces, and passed up the stairs; Madeline running as fast as
+possible, and Juliet entreating her in a low voice to stop a little, as
+she could not keep pace with her. They soon found themselves in the
+gallery, and being assisted over the benches by a very polite black man,
+they took their seats among some coloured people about the centre of the
+middle row.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd and heat were intolerable. Juliet kept her eyes cast down;
+afraid to look round the house, or even to steal a glance towards the
+stage. Madeline, however, looked round boldly, and in a few minutes, to
+her great consternation, she perceived Edward Lansdowne standing up in
+the back part of one of the stage-boxes. Having finished his novel, and
+feeling no inclination to read any more that night, he had concluded to
+go to the theatre, reminded of it by seeing the bill in the evening
+paper. "Juliet," whispered Madeline, "there is my evil genius." "Where,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>
+where?" exclaimed Juliet, thrown almost off her guard. "If we can
+distinguish <i>him</i> at so great a distance, he can also discover
+<i>us</i>."&mdash;"You forget," replied Madeline, "that we are in disguise." These
+words, though uttered in a whisper, were evidently heard by the people
+round, who all turned to look at them; and some tried to peep under
+their bonnets, which made Juliet draw hers down over her face till her
+sight was entirely obscured by it.</p>
+
+<p>The play went on; but Madeline and Juliet could not enjoy it, all their
+attention being engaged by the continual fear of discovery. Juliet,
+however heard enough to convince her that her parents would never have
+taken her to see the Belle's Stratagem; as when they did indulge her
+with a visit to the theatre, they always selected a night when the play
+was unexceptionable, and the whole entertainment such as a young lady
+could witness with propriety.</p>
+
+<p>At length came the masquerade-scene, and in a short time the French
+dancers appeared. Just then, a short, fat, red-faced and very vulgar
+Englishwoman who sat behind Madeline and Juliet, gave each of them a
+twitch on the shoulder, saying, in a broad Yorkshire dialect, "I'll
+thank you gals or ladies or whatsomdever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> you be, to take off your
+bunnets and let a body have some chance of seeing the show; for I've
+been popping my ead back and furrads atween you ever sence you comed
+hin, and thof I've as good a right to see as any body else, I've ardly
+got a squint at the hactors yet."</p>
+
+<p>The girls were now in a most critical dilemma. To take off their bonnets
+seemed out of the question, as the exposure of their heads would no
+doubt betray them, and their fear and perplexity were so great that they
+had not presence of mind either to speak or move.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't pertend that you don't ear me," said the Englishwoman, giving
+them both a hard push forward with her huge hands. "I bees a true King
+Georgeswoman, and won't be put upon by none of the Yankees, not I, thof
+I <i>am</i> come to their country. I pays my money as well as you, and I've
+jist as good a right to see the show; and if you won't take off them big
+bunnets, I'll be bound I'll make you, if there's even a row about it.
+I've raised a row afore this time when I've been put upon."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! let us go, let us go," said Juliet, gasping with terror, and
+seizing Madeline's arm.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span>
+"Honly wait," continued the Englishwoman, "till I tells my usband, who
+sets ahind here, to call 'turn 'em out.' You <i>may</i> be ladies. But I bees
+an onest oman, and if I've come to a land of liberty, the more reason
+that I should make free to speak my mind; and if we're all hequal, why
+then nobody han't no right to put upon me."</p>
+
+<p>By this time the two girls, in an agony of trepidation, had scrambled
+over the benches and got to the door, expecting every instant to hear
+the dreaded words, "turn them out," and to see Edward's eyes directed
+towards them, with those of the whole audience. Scarcely conscious of
+what they were doing, they ran down the gallery-stairs, and flew out of
+the door into the street. As is usual toward the latter part of the
+play, a number of boys had collected about the fruit-stalls waiting for
+checks, that they might gain admittance to see the farce; and as
+Madeline ran past them, her cloak flew open, and the moonbeams shone
+brightly on a brilliant ring which she always wore on her fore-finger.
+This with something in their appearance that would cause even
+unpractised eyes to suspect that they were young ladies, attracted the
+attention<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> of the boys, who stared at them with surprise and curiosity.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline and Juliet ran down the street in breathless terror. They had
+gone about a square from the theatre before they recollected that their
+way home lay in a contrary direction, and that they ought to go <i>up</i> the
+street instead of <i>down</i>. "Oh! we are going <i>from</i> home instead of
+<i>towards</i> it," exclaimed Juliet; and they immediately turned about and
+ran up Chestnut street. They again passed the theatre, terrified,
+bewildered, their bonnets falling back and discovering their frightened
+faces in full view; Madeline's cloak half untied and flying out behind
+her, and Juliet still grasping one corner of her shawl (which had fallen
+entirely off her shoulders) and dragging it after her along the
+pavement. On seeing them running back in this forlorn condition, the
+boys set up a loud shout, and calling out "Hurrah for the ladies,"
+pursued them up Chestnut street.</p>
+
+<p>A young gentleman who had left the theatre a few minutes before, and was
+walking leisurely up the street, turned round to discover the meaning of
+all the noise that was coming after him, and caught Juliet, breathless
+and almost dead, by her two hands. "Juliet," he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> exclaimed, "my sister
+Juliet!" "Oh, Edward!" she shrieked, and fell into his arms drowned in
+tears.</p>
+
+<p>"Save me, save me," cried Madeline, catching him by the coat. "Madeline
+too!" said Edward. "What does all this mean?"</p>
+
+<p>Another gentleman now came up, and ordered off the boys, reprimanding
+them severely for chasing two unprotected females; and Edward taking one
+of the girls under each arm, walked on in silence, much affected by the
+sobbing of Juliet.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline soon recovered herself, and attempted an explanation of the
+strange predicament in which he had found them; passing it off as a very
+good joke, and a further proof of her ungovernable volatility.</p>
+
+<p>Edward remained silent. He would not reproach her, but he determined in
+his mind what course to pursue. He took leave of Madeline at her own
+door, and on entering his father's house, he told Juliet that she had
+better, as soon as possible, divest herself of her disguise. Juliet
+could not speak, but she wept on her brother's shoulder; and Edward
+kissed her cheek, and bade her good night.</p>
+
+<p>She retired to bed, but she could not sleep; and in the morning she rose
+earlier than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> usual, and went into the parlour, where she knew she would
+find Edward. She looked very pale, and her eyes were swimming in tears.
+"Oh! Edward," said she, "what did my father and mother say, when they
+came home last night, and you told them all that happened?"</p>
+
+<p>"I told them nothing," replied Edward, "I love you too well to betray
+you. I have kept your secret, and I shall never disclose it. But I must
+have a recompense."</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> Any, any recompense, dearest Edward. What can you ask that I
+could possibly refuse.</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward.</i> I require you, from this day, to give up all acquaintance with
+Madeline Malcolm. Your infatuation for a girl who, under the name of
+wildness and volatility, sets all propriety at defiance, is to me
+astonishing. Henceforward let there be no more intimacy between you. It
+must be checked before it leads to consequences still worse than the
+adventures of last night.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> I acknowledge that Madeline is too regardless of decorum, and
+that she says and does many strange and improper things: but then she
+has so good a heart.</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward.</i> Tell me one proof of it. You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> have fallen into the common
+error of supposing that all persons who profess to be giddy, wild, and
+reckless, have kind feelings and good hearts. On the contrary, they may
+too often be classed with the most selfish, cold, and heartless people
+in the world; for they have seldom either sense or sensibility, and
+while resolutely bent on the gratification of their own whims, are
+generally regardless of the peace and convenience of those about them.
+When I first went to college I thought as you do. I supposed that the
+most careless, noisy, and desperate boys must necessarily have kind and
+generous feelings. But I found the contrary to my cost; and I am now
+convinced, that, with some few exceptions, the best hearts are generally
+united with the best heads and the best manners.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> But even if I never visit Madeline myself, how shall I prevent
+her running in to me as she does, two or three times a day?</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward.</i> Very easily. Write her a concise note, intimating that you do
+not consider it proper to continue your acquaintance with her.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> Oh! Edward, I never can do that.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>
+<i>Edward.</i> Is not this the recompense I am entitled to, for keeping your
+secret?</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> Indeed, Edward, you are too cruel.</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward.</i> Severe, perhaps, but not cruel. The exigency of the case
+requires decisive measures. "I am cruel only to be kind," and you will
+thank me for it hereafter.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> Well then, I <i>will</i> write the note. And if it <i>must be done</i> I
+will do it immediately; for if I allow myself to think about it long, it
+will grieve me so much that I shall never have resolution to go through
+with it. (<i>She goes to the desk and writes.</i>) There now, Edward, read
+this note.</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward</i>, (<i>reading</i>.) "Though convinced that it is better our intimacy
+should cease, it is not without regret that I decline all further
+intercourse with Madeline Malcolm. For her health and happiness I offer
+my best wishes; but in future we can only meet as strangers.</p>
+
+<pre>
+"<span class="smcap">Juliet Lansdowne.</span>"
+</pre>
+
+<p>Now seal and send it.</p>
+
+<p><i>Juliet.</i> Oh, Edward! it is hard to give up Madeline. But I believe you
+are right, and I ought not to regret it.</p>
+
+<p><i>Edward.</i> I <i>know</i> I am right.</p>
+
+<p>Juliet then rang the bell for a servant, to whom with a quivering lip
+and hesitating hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> she gave the note, desiring him to leave it next
+door for Miss Malcolm.</p>
+
+<p>After breakfast, when Juliet was again alone with her brother, she said
+to him, "Edward, I have never yet concealed any thing from my parents. I
+think if I were to disclose to them the whole truth, I should feel less
+miserable."</p>
+
+<p>Edward approved of this determination, and they went together to their
+mother, to whom Juliet candidly related the whole history of their going
+to the theatre in disguise. She kindly endeavoured to throw as little
+blame on Madeline as possible; and Edward tried to apologize for
+Juliet's partiality for this dangerous girl, and for the yielding
+gentleness of disposition with which his sister had allowed herself to
+be influenced by her; and for her want of judgment in not perceiving the
+faults of Madeline in as strong a light as they appeared to every one
+else.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Lansdowne's pleasure, on finding that her daughter had consented to
+give up this very improper intimacy, counterbalanced her regret at
+Juliet's having been persuaded by Madeline to join in the folly and
+indecorum of the preceding evening. For this, however, she thought the
+girls had been sufficiently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> punished by all they had suffered at the
+theatre, and during their ignominious flight from it.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline's parents had no suspicion of her having been at the play in
+disguise, and the idea of confessing it to them never for a moment
+entered her head. She was highly indignant at Juliet's note; and
+fortunately her resentment was too great to allow her to make any
+attempt at renewing their intimacy. She took care, however, to let no
+one suppose that the acquaintance had ceased by Juliet's desire; telling
+every body that Juliet Lansdowne was a little fool, and that she had
+grown quite tired of her.</p>
+
+<p>In the spring, Mr. Malcolm removed with his family to New York, and
+their house next door to Mr. Lansdowne's was immediately taken by the
+father of Cecilia Selden who had again become the intimate friend of
+Juliet.</p>
+
+
+<h4>THE END.</h4>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<div id="boxtn">
+<p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p>
+
+<p class="noi">Punctuation has been standardised. Hyphenation and spelling have been
+retained as appear in the original publication except as follows:</p>
+
+<p class="noi">Page 6<br />
+Mrs. Evering had a very excellant cook, a <i>changed to</i><br />
+Mrs. Evering had a very <a href="#excellent">excellent</a> cook, a</p>
+
+<p class="noi">Page 35<br />
+<i>vous remerçie</i>,&mdash;<i>Il fait beau-tems</i> <i>changed to</i><br />
+<i>vous remerçie</i>,&mdash;<i>Il fait <a href="#temps">beau-temps</a></i></p>
+
+<p class="noi">Page 72<br />
+and then she counted all the window sat <i>changed to</i><br />
+and then she counted all the <a href="#windows">windows at</a></p>
+
+<p class="noi">Page 109<br />
+I will have <i>them</i>. They will de <i>changed to</i><br />
+I will have <i>them</i>. They will <a href="#do">do</a></p>
+
+<p class="noi">Page 114<br />
+kindness, and feeling really some embarrasment <i>changed to</i><br />
+kindness, and feeling really some <a href="#embarrassment">embarrassment</a></p>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories for Helen, by Eliza Leslie
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories for Helen, by Eliza Leslie
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Stories for Helen
+
+Author: Eliza Leslie
+
+Release Date: August 23, 2010 [EBook #33510]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FOR HELEN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE TELL TALE.]
+
+
+
+
+    STORIES FOR HELEN
+
+    BY
+
+    MISS ELIZA LESLIE,
+
+    AUTHOR OF STORIES FOR EMMA, STORIES FOR ADELAIDE, ETC.
+
+    "Our most important are our earliest years."--_Cowper._
+
+
+    PHILADELPHIA:
+    HENRY F. ANNERS.
+    CHESNUT STREET.
+
+
+
+
+    Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845,
+
+    BY ELIZA LESLIE,
+
+    In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern
+    District of Pennsylvania.
+
+    Printed by King & Baird.
+
+
+
+
+ADVERTISEMENT.
+
+
+The following stories have been selected by the author, from a small
+volume originally published with the title of Atlantic Tales. They have
+been carefully revised; and she indulges the hope that her juvenile
+readers may derive from them a little instruction blended with a little
+amusement.
+
+PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER 1, 1845.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                   Page.
+
+    The Tell-Tale,                   5
+
+    The Boarding School Feast,      28
+
+    The Week of Idleness,           67
+
+    Madeline Malcolm,               98
+
+
+
+
+THE TELL-TALE.
+
+    "_How all occasions do inform against me!_"
+                                          _Shakspeare._
+
+
+Rosamond Evering was one of those indiscreet mischievous girls who are
+in the daily practice of repeating every thing they see and hear;
+particularly all the unpleasant remarks, and unfavourable opinions that
+happen to be unguardedly expressed in their presence. She did not
+content herself with relating only as much as she actually saw and
+heard; but (as is always the case with tell-tales) she dealt greatly in
+exaggeration, and her stories never failed to exceed the reality in all
+their worst points.
+
+This unamiable and dangerous propensity of their daughter, gave great
+pain to Mr. and Mrs. Evering, who tried in vain to correct it. They
+represented to her that as parents cannot be _constantly_ on their guard
+in presence of their own family, and that as grown persons do not
+_always_ remember or observe when children are in the room, many things
+are inadvertently said, which, though of little consequence as long as
+they remain unknown, may be of great and unfortunate importance if
+disclosed and exaggerated. And as children are incapable of forming an
+accurate judgment as to what may be told with safety, or what ought to
+be kept secret, their wisest and most proper course is to repeat no
+remarks and to relate no conversations whatever; but more particularly
+those which they may chance to hear from persons older than themselves.
+
+But neither reproof nor punishment seemed to make any lasting impression
+on Rosamond Evering; and scarce a day passed that she did not exhibit
+some vexatious specimen of her besetting sin. A few instances will
+suffice.
+
+Mrs. Evering had a very excellent cook, a black woman, that had lived
+with her more than six years, and whom she considered an invaluable
+servant. One morning, when Venus (for that was her name) had just left
+the parlour, after receiving her orders for dinner, Mr. Evering
+remarked, in a low voice, to his lady, "Certainly, the name of Venus
+was never so unsuitably bestowed as on this poor woman. I have rarely
+seen a negro whose face had a greater resemblance to that of a baboon."
+In this remark Mrs. Evering acquiesced.
+
+Rosamond was at this time sitting in a corner, looking over her lessons.
+Just before she went to school, her mother thought of a change in the
+preparations for dinner, and not wishing to give the old cook the
+trouble of coming up from the kitchen a second time, she desired
+Rosamond to go down and tell Venus she would have the turkey boiled
+rather than roasted. Rosamond went down and delivered the message; but
+fixing her eyes on the cook's face, she thought she had never seen Venus
+look so ugly, and she said to her, "Venus, my father thinks you are the
+ugliest negro he ever saw (_even for a negro_) and he says your face is
+just like a monkey's, only worse." Having made this agreeable
+communication, Rosamond went out of the kitchen and departed for school,
+leaving Venus speechless with anger and astonishment; for though in
+other respects a very good woman, she was extremely vain, and had always
+considered herself among the handsomest of her race.
+
+As soon as Venus found herself able to speak, she went into the parlour
+with her eyes flashing fire, and told Mrs. Evering that she must provide
+herself with another cook, as she was determined to leave her that very
+day. Mrs. Evering with much surprise inquired the reason, and Venus
+replied, that "she would not live in any house where she was called an
+ugly neger, the ugliest even of all negers, and likened to a brute
+beast."
+
+Mrs. Evering, who had forgotten her husband's remark, asked the cook
+what she meant; and Venus explained by repeating all that Rosamond had
+told her. Mrs. Evering endeavoured to pacify her, but in vain. Ignorant
+people when once offended are very difficult to appease, and Venus had
+been hurt on the tenderest point. She would listen to nothing that Mrs.
+Evering could urge to induce her to stay; but exclaimed in a high
+passion, "I never was called a neger before. I am not a neger but a
+coloured woman. I was born and raised on a great plantation in Virginny
+where there was hundreds of slaves, all among the Randolphs and sich
+like quality, and nobody never called me a neger. And now when I'm free,
+and come here to Philadelphy where nobody has no servants without they
+hires them, lo! and behold, I'm called a neger, and an ugly neger too,
+and a neger-monkey besides. No, no, I'll not stay; and Nancy the
+chambermaid may do the cooking till you get somebody else. And a pretty
+way she'll do it in. I'm glad I shan't be here to eat Nancy's cooking. I
+never know'd any _white trash_ that could cook; much less Irish."
+
+Finally, Mrs. Evering was obliged to give Venus her wages and let here
+go at once, as she protested "she would never eat another meal's
+victuals in the house."
+
+When Rosamond came from school, her mother reprimanded her severely; and
+when her father heard of the mischief she had caused, he would not
+permit her to accompany the family to a concert that evening, as she had
+been promised the day before.
+
+After the departure of Venus, it was a long time before Mrs. Evering
+could suit herself with a cook. Several were tried in succession but
+none were good; and to Rosamond's great regret, they were never able to
+get a woman whose skill in making pies, and puddings, and cakes, bore
+any comparison to that of Venus.
+
+Still this lesson did not cure her fault; she still told tales, and
+still suffered in consequence.
+
+One day, Mrs. Renwick, a lady who lived next door, sent a message to
+Mrs. Evering, requesting that she would lend her a pot of red currant
+jelly, as she was quite out of that article, of which she shortly
+intended making a supply; and as Mr. Renwick had invited some company to
+dinner, some jelly would be wanted to eat with the canvass-back ducks.
+
+Mrs. Evering lent her a pot, and as soon as currants were in the market,
+Mrs. Renwick sent her in return some jelly of her own making. It was not
+nice, and Mrs. Evering observed to her sister, Mrs. Norwood, who
+happened to be present: "I do not think Mrs. Renwick has been very
+successful with her jelly. It is so thin it is almost liquid, and so
+dark that it looks as if made of black currants. I suspect she has
+boiled it too long, and has not put in sugar enough."
+
+Next day as they were coming from school together, Mrs. Renwick's little
+daughter, Marianne, said to Rosamond, "My mother made some currant jelly
+on Tuesday, and yesterday when it was cold, she gave me a whole
+saucer-full to eat with my slice of bread, at twelve o'clock."
+
+"She might well give you a whole saucer-full," replied Rosamond, "for I
+do not think it was worth saving for any better purpose. She sent in a
+pot to my mother, in return for some she had borrowed of her. Now _my_
+mother's jelly is always so firm that you might cut it with a knife, and
+so bright and sparkling that it dazzles your eyes. I heard her tell my
+aunt Norwood, that Mrs. Renwick's jelly was the worst she had ever seen,
+that it was as thin and sour as plain currant juice, and dark and
+dirty-looking beside."
+
+Marianne Renwick was much displeased at the disrespectful manner in
+which her mother's jelly had been spoken of. She let go Rosamond's arm,
+and turning up another street, walked home by herself, swelling with
+resentment, and told her mother all that had passed.
+
+Mrs. Renwick was a lady very easily offended; and she always signified
+her anger as soon as she felt it. She immediately sent to a
+confectioner's for a pot of the very best red currant jelly, and had it
+carried into Mrs. Evering; accompanied by a note implying "that she
+regretted to hear that her jelly had not been so fortunate as to meet
+the approbation of so competent a judge of sweetmeats; but that, as she
+would be sorry if Mrs. Evering should lose any thing by it, she had sent
+her a pot made by one of the very first confectioners in the city; and
+she hoped it would be found an ample equivalent for that she had most
+unhappily borrowed."
+
+Rosamond was in the parlour when the note and the pot of jelly arrived,
+and she coloured and looked so confused, that her mother immediately
+guessed she had been the cause of Mrs. Renwick's having taken offence.
+Reproof had no effect on Rosamond except for a moment; but that she
+might frequently be reminded of her fault, she was not allowed to taste
+currant jelly till the next summer. Mrs. Renwick, however, remained
+implacable; and could never be prevailed on to visit Mrs. Evering again.
+
+Mr. Evering had an aunt, the widow of a western merchant who had made a
+large fortune in business. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Marbury
+had removed to Philadelphia, which was her native place; and, being very
+plain in her habits and ideas, she had bought a small neat house in a
+retired street, where she kept but two servants, and expended more money
+in presents to her relations, than in any superfluities for herself. She
+generally went to a place of worship in her own neighbourhood; but
+hearing that a very celebrated minister from Boston was to preach one
+Sunday in the church to which her nephew's family belonged, she sent a
+message to Mr. Evering requesting that he would call for her with his
+carriage and give her a seat in his pew, that she might have an
+opportunity of hearing this distinguished stranger. Mr. and Mrs. Evering
+were both out when the message arrived, so that no answer could be sent
+till their return; which was not till evening.
+
+It was dusk, and the lamps not being yet lighted, they did not perceive
+that Rosamond was lying on an ottoman in one of the recesses, or they
+would not have spoken as they did while she was present.
+
+"I am very sorry," said Mrs. Evering, "that Mrs. Marbury has fixed on
+to-morrow for going to church with us, for I intended asking Miss
+Leeson, who will be delighted to have an opportunity of hearing this
+celebrated preacher; and his discourse, however excellent, will be lost
+on aunt Marbury, who always falls asleep soon after she has heard the
+text, that being all she ever remembers of a sermon. So that in reality,
+one preacher is the same to her as another; though she goes regularly to
+church twice a-day, and never could be convinced that she sleeps half
+the time. And then she is unfortunately so fat, and takes up so much
+room in the pew."
+
+"My dear," said Mr. Evering, "we must show Mrs. Marbury as much kindness
+and civility as we possibly can, for she is a most excellent woman, is
+very liberal to us now, and at her death will undoubtedly leave us the
+greatest part of her large property. Even if we had no personal regard
+for the good old lady, it would be very impolitic in us to offend her."
+
+When the room was lighted, Mr. and Mrs. Evering saw Rosamond on the
+ottoman, and felt so much uneasiness at her having heard their
+conversation, that they thought it best to caution her against repeating
+it. "Oh!" exclaimed Rosamond, "do you think I would be so wicked as to
+tell aunt Marbury what you have just been saying about her?"
+
+"You have often," said Mrs. Evering, "told things almost as improper to
+be repeated."
+
+"But never with any bad intention," replied Rosamond, "I am sure my
+feelings are always good."
+
+"I know not," said her father, "how it is possible that people with good
+feelings and good intentions can take pleasure in repeating whatever
+they hear to a person's disadvantage, and above all to the very object
+of the unfavourable remarks. Beside the cruelty of causing them poignant
+and unnecessary pain, and wounding their self-love, there is the
+wickedness of embroiling them with their friends; or at least destroying
+their confidence, and imbittering their hearts. And all these
+consequences have frequently ensued from the tattling of a tell-tale
+child."
+
+The next morning was Saturday; and the servants being all very busy,
+Mrs. Evering desired Rosamond to stop, as she returned from taking her
+music-lesson, and inform her aunt Marbury that they would be happy to
+accommodate her with a seat in their pew on Sunday morning; and that
+they would call for her in the carriage, as she had requested.
+
+"Now, Rosamond," said Mrs. Evering, "can I trust you? Will you, for
+once, be discreet, and refrain from repeating to your aunt Marbury, what
+you unluckily overheard last evening?"
+
+"O! indeed, dear mother," replied Rosamond, "bad as you think me, I am
+not quite wicked enough for that."
+
+"But I fear the force of habit," said Mrs. Evering. "I believe I had
+better send Peter with the message."
+
+"No," answered Rosamond, "I am anxious to retrieve my character. Rely on
+me this once; and you will see how prudent and honourable I can be."
+
+On her way home from her music-lesson, Rosamond stopped at her aunt's,
+and delivered the message, exactly as it had been given to her.
+
+While Rosamond was eating a piece of the nice plum-cake that her aunt
+always kept in the house for the gratification of her young visitors,
+Mrs. Marbury said to her, "This weather is quite too warm for the
+season; should it continue, it will be very oppressive in church
+to-morrow."
+
+"No doubt," answered Rosamond, "and most probably _our_ church will be
+crowded in every part. I wonder, aunt, that you are anxious to go, as
+you certainly _must_ be, when you sent so long beforehand to engage a
+seat in our pew."
+
+"In truth," returned Mrs. Marbury, "I am willing to suffer some
+inconvenience from the heat, for the sake of hearing this great
+preacher."
+
+"But, aunt," said Rosamond, "if you get sleepy, you will not hear him
+after all."
+
+"O!" replied Mrs. Marbury, "I am never sleepy in church. I am always so
+attentive that I never feel in the least drowsy."
+
+"O! indeed, aunt, I have often seen you asleep in church," exclaimed
+Rosamond.
+
+"Impossible, Rosamond, impossible," cried Mrs. Marbury. "You are
+entirely mistaken. It must have been merely your own imagination."
+
+"Why, dear aunt," said Rosamond, "my father and mother, as well as
+myself, have all seen you asleep in church. If it was not true, the
+whole family could not imagine it. It was but last evening, I heard my
+mother say, that she wished you had not taken a notion to go to church
+with us on Sunday, as it would prevent her from inviting Miss Leeson,
+whom she likes far better than you. She said, beside, that fat people
+take up so much room, that they are always encumbrances every where; and
+that there was no use at all in your going to church, as you slept
+soundly all the time you were there, and even breathed so hard as to
+disturb the congregation."
+
+"And what did your father say to all this?" asked Mrs. Marbury, turning
+very pale, and looking much shocked and mortified.
+
+"My father," answered Rosamond, "said that, on account of your money, we
+must endure you, and all the inconveniences belonging to you; for if you
+were kept in good humour, he had no doubt of your leaving him all your
+property when you die."
+
+Mrs. Marbury looked aghast. She burst into tears, and Rosamond, finding
+that she had gone quite too far, vainly attempted to pacify her.
+
+"You may go home, child," exclaimed Mrs. Marbury, sobbing with anger,
+"you may go home, and tell your father and mother that I shall not
+trouble them with my company at church or any where else; and when I
+die, I shall leave my money to the hospital or to some other
+institution. How have I been deceived! But I shall take care in future
+not to bestow my affection on those that have any expectations from me."
+
+Rosamond, now very much frightened, declared that she could not take
+such a message to her parents; and begged her aunt to screen her from
+their displeasure, by not informing them of the communication she had so
+indiscreetly made.
+
+Her alarm and agitation were so great, that Mrs. Marbury consented, out
+of pity, not to betray her to her father and mother; and to excuse
+herself from going to church with them (which she declared she could
+never do again) by alleging the heat of the weather, and the probable
+crowd.
+
+"And now, Rosamond," said her aunt Marbury, "do not think that I feel at
+all obliged to you for having opened my eyes as to the manner in which
+your parents really regard me. Their behaviour to me, as far as I could
+judge for myself, has always been exactly what I wished it; and if
+their kindness was not sincere, I still thought it so, and was happy in
+being deceived. And now, after what you have told me, how can I again
+think of them as I have hitherto done? You have acted basely towards
+them in repeating their private conversation, and cruelly to your kind
+aunt, in giving her unnecessary pain and mortification. You have caused
+much mischief; and who has been the gainer? Not yourself certainly. You
+have lost my good opinion, for I can never like a tell-tale. I had heard
+something of your being addicted to this vice; but till now I could not
+believe it. I shall not betray you to your parents, though you have so
+shamefully betrayed _them_ to _me_. But you may rely on it, that sooner
+or later the discovery will be made, to your utter shame and confusion.
+Now you may go home, with the assurance that you can no longer be a
+welcome visitor at my house."
+
+Rosamond departed, overwhelmed with compunction; and in the resolution
+(which she had so often made and so often broken) never again to be
+guilty of a similar fault. She gave her aunt's message to her parents,
+and Miss Leeson was invited to accompany them next day to church.
+
+Two days after, Mrs. Evering went to visit Mrs. Marbury, and to her
+great surprise heard from the servants that she had left town with some
+western friends who were returning home; and that she purposed being
+absent from Philadelphia five or six months; dividing her time among
+various places on the other side of the Alleghanies, and probably
+extending her tour to Louisiana, where she owned some land.
+
+Her going away so suddenly without apprising them of her intention, was
+totally inexplicable to Mr. and Mrs. Evering; and they justly concluded
+that she must have taken some offence. Rosamond well knew the cause, and
+rightly supposed that her aunt finding herself unable to meet the family
+with her former feelings towards them, had thought it best to avoid
+seeing them for a very long time.
+
+The confusion visible in Rosamond's face and manner when Mrs. Marbury
+was spoken of, aroused the suspicions of her father and mother: and on
+their questioning her closely, she confessed, with many tears, that she
+had really informed her aunt of what had passed on the subject of her
+accompanying them to church. But as tell-tales have very little candour
+where themselves are concerned, and as tale-telling always leads to
+lying, she steadily denied that she had been guilty of the slightest
+exaggeration in her report to Mrs. Marbury; protesting that she had told
+her nothing but the simple truth.
+
+From that time, Rosamond was not allowed to visit or call at any house
+unaccompanied by her mother, who was almost afraid to trust her out of
+her sight. Her parents avoided discussing any thing of the least
+consequence in _her_ presence; always remembering to send her out of the
+room. This mode of treatment very much mortified her; but she could not
+help acknowledging that she deserved it.
+
+Her father received no intelligence from Mrs. Marbury. He and Mrs.
+Evering both wrote to her at different times, endeavouring to mollify
+her displeasure; but not knowing exactly where she was, the letters were
+not directed to the right places, and did not reach her.
+
+For a long time Rosamond was so unusually discreet, that her parents
+began to hope that her odious fault was entirely cured.
+
+One day, her chamber having been washed in the afternoon, it was found
+too damp for her to sleep in with safety to her health; and her mother
+told her that she must, that night, occupy the room adjoining hers. This
+room, which was but seldom used, was separated from Mrs. Evering's
+apartment by a very thin partition; and communicated with it by a door
+which was almost always kept closed; the bed in each of these chambers
+being placed against it.
+
+Rosamond, having been awakened in the night by the fighting of some cats
+in the yard, heard her father and mother in earnest conversation. They
+had totally forgotten her vicinity to them; and as tell-tales are never
+wanting in curiosity, she sat up in her bed and applying her ear to the
+key-hole of the door, she distinctly heard every word they said, though
+they were speaking in a low voice.
+
+She was soon able to comprehend the subject of their conversation. Mr.
+Evering was lamenting that the failure of a friend for whom he had
+endorsed to a large amount, had brought him into unexpected
+difficulties; but he hoped that he would be able to go on till the sums
+due to him by some western merchants should arrive.
+
+Next evening, Rosamond was permitted to go to a juvenile cotillon-party,
+held once a fortnight, at the ball-room of her dancing-master. To this
+place her mother always accompanied her; and while Mrs. Evering was
+sitting in conversation with some ladies, a boy named George Granby, who
+was frequently the partner of Rosamond at these balls, came up and
+asked her to dance. They were obliged to go to the farthest end of the
+room before they could get places in a cotillon; and while they were
+waiting for the music to begin, George, who thought Rosamond a very
+pretty girl, asked her if she would also be his partner in the
+country-dance. She replied that Henry Harford had engaged her, at the
+last ball, for this country-dance.
+
+"Oh!" replied George Granby, "Henry Harford will not be here to-night;
+his father failed yesterday."
+
+"True," said Rosamond, "I wonder I should have forgotten Mr. Harford's
+failure, when my father lost so much by him. But when the fathers fail,
+must the children stay away from balls?"
+
+"Certainly," replied George, "it would be considered very improper for
+the family to be seen in any place of amusement when its head is in so
+much trouble, and when they have lost all they possessed."
+
+"O then," exclaimed Rosamond, "I hope _my_ father will not fail till the
+cotillon-parties are over for the season. There are but two more, and I
+should be very sorry to give them up. I hope he will be able to go on,
+at least till after that time. How sorry I shall be when he _does_
+fail."
+
+"I believe you," said George; "but what makes you talk about your
+father's failing? I thought he was considered safe enough."
+
+"Ah! you know but little about it," answered Rosamond. "I heard him tell
+my mother last night, that he was in hourly dread of failing, in
+consequence of the great losses by Mr. Harford, and of his own business
+having gone on badly for a long time. However, say nothing about it, for
+such things ought not to be told."
+
+"They ought not, indeed," said the boy.
+
+As soon as George Granby went home, he repeated what he had heard from
+Rosamond, to his father, who was one of Mr. Evering's creditors. The
+consequence was, that Mr. Granby and all the principal creditors took
+immediate measures to secure themselves; and Mr. Evering (who could have
+gone on till he got through his difficulties, had he been allowed time,
+and had the state of his affairs remained unsuspected,) became a
+bankrupt through the worse than indiscretion of his daughter. Had Mrs.
+Marbury been in town, or where he could have had speedy communication
+with her, he doubted not that she would have lent him assistance to
+ward off the impending blow. But she had gone away in a fit of
+displeasure, occasioned, also, by the tattling of Rosamond.
+
+Mr. Granby, who was the chief creditor and a man of contracted feelings
+and great severity, showed no liberality on the occasion; and proceeded
+to the utmost extremity that the law would warrant. Every article of Mr.
+Evering's property was taken; and indeed, since it had come to this, his
+principles would not allow him to reserve any thing whatever from his
+creditors.
+
+The scene that ensued in the Evering family, on the day following the
+ball, can better be imagined than described. Mr. Granby had at once
+informed Mr. Evering of the source from whence he had derived his
+information with respect to the posture of his affairs; and when
+Rosamond found this new and terrible proof of the fatal effects of her
+predominant vice, she went into an hysteric fit, and was so ill all
+night, that her parents, in addition to their other troubles, had to
+fear for the life of their daughter. The sufferings of her mind brought
+on a fever; and it was more than a week before she was able to leave her
+bed.
+
+Her father and mother kindly forgave her, and avoided all reference to
+her fault. But she could not forgive herself, and on the day that they
+left their handsome residence in one of the principal streets, and
+removed to a small mean-looking house in the suburbs, her agony was more
+than words can express. All their furniture was sold at auction, even
+Rosamond's piano, and her mother's work-table. Their most expensive
+articles of clothing were put away, as in their present circumstances it
+would be improper to wear them. The house they now inhabited, contained
+only one little parlour with a kitchen back of it, and three small rooms
+upstairs. Their furniture was limited to what was barely useful, and of
+the cheapest kind. Their table was as plain as possible; and their only
+servant a very young half-grown girl.
+
+This sad change in their way of living, added to the stings of
+self-reproach, almost broke Rosamond's heart; and her pride was much
+shocked when she found that her father had applied for the situation of
+clerk in a counting-house, as a means of supporting his family till
+something better should offer.
+
+At length Mrs. Marbury returned; having hurried back to Philadelphia as
+soon as the intelligence of her nephew's failure had reached her. How
+did she blame herself for having taken such serious offence at what now
+appeared to her almost too trifling to remember. All her former regard
+for the Evering family returned. She sought them immediately in their
+humble retreat, and offered Mr. Evering her assistance to the utmost
+farthing she could command.
+
+To conclude, Mr. Evering's affairs were again put in train. He resumed
+his business; and a few years restored him to his former situation.
+
+This sad, but salutary lesson produced a lasting effect on Rosamond; and
+from that time, she kept so strict a watch over her ruling passion, that
+she succeeded in entirely eradicating it. She grew up a discreet and
+amiable girl; and no one who knew her in after years, could have
+believed that till the age of fourteen she had been an incorrigible
+tell-tale.
+
+
+
+
+THE BOARDING-SCHOOL FEAST.
+
+    "They hear a voice in every wind,
+       And snatch a fearful joy."
+                                  _Gray._
+
+
+It is a very common subject of complaint with boarding-school children
+(and there is often sufficient foundation for it) that they are too much
+restricted in their food, and that their diet is not only inferior in
+quality to what it ought to be, but frequently deficient in quantity
+also. There was certainly, however, no cause for any dissatisfaction of
+this sort at Mrs. Middleton's boarding-school, in Philadelphia. The
+table was in every respect excellent; and a basket of bread or biscuit,
+and sometimes of gingerbread, was handed round to all the pupils, every
+morning at eleven o'clock. Mrs. Middleton's young ladies were strangers
+to the common boarding-school practice of coaxing or bribing the
+servants to procure them cakes and tarts from the confectioners; for the
+table was sufficiently supplied with those articles, made in such a
+manner as to be agreeable to the taste without endangering the health;
+and they were every day allowed some sort of fruit, of the best quality
+the market could furnish.
+
+At last, a young lady named Henrietta Harwood became a member of Mrs.
+Middleton's seminary. Miss Harwood had been for several years a pupil of
+one of those too numerous establishments, where the comfort of the
+children is sacrificed to the vanity of a governess, who rests her
+claims to encouragement principally on the merits of elegantly furnished
+parlours, an expensive style of dress, frequent evening parties, and
+occasional balls. In schools where outward show is the leading
+principle, the internal economy is generally conducted on the most
+parsimonious plan, and while the masters (who attend only at certain
+hours) are such as are considered the most fashionable, the female
+teachers that live in the house, are too often vulgar girls obtained at
+a low salary, and who frequently are in league with the elder pupils in
+ridiculing and plotting against the governess.
+
+Most of the faults and follies that were likely to be acquired at a
+show-boarding-school, Henrietta Harwood brought with her to the
+excellent and well-conducted establishment of Mrs. Middleton: but she
+had some redeeming qualities that made her rather a favourite with her
+new companions, and disposed her governess to hope that all would come
+right at last.
+
+One evening, the elder young ladies were sitting very comfortably at
+their different occupations, round the table in the front school-room.
+The window-shutters were closed, a good fire was burning in the stove,
+and Mrs. Middleton had just sent them a basket of apples, according to
+her custom in the winter evenings. After finishing a very fine one,
+Henrietta Harwood exclaimed--"Well--I wonder at myself for eating these
+apples!"
+
+_Miss Brownlow._ Why, I am sure they are the very best Newtown pippins.
+
+_Henrietta._ That is true, Brownie: but at Madame Disette's we had
+something better of evenings than mere apples.
+
+_Miss Brownlow._ What had you?
+
+_Henrietta._ We had sometimes cheesecakes, and sometimes tarts; with
+very frequently pound-cake and jumbles; and sometimes we had even little
+mince-pies, and oyster-patties.
+
+_Miss Wilcox._ O, delicious! What an excellent governess! How could you
+ever consent to leave her? I thought Mrs. Middleton allowed us a great
+many good things; but she does not send us cheesecakes and tarts of an
+evening.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, do not mistake! We might have gone without them all our
+lives, before Madame Disette would have sent us any thing of the sort.
+She did not even allow us apples of an evening, or a piece of bread
+between breakfast and dinner. Why, one summer evening, she bought at the
+door some common ice-cream, of a black man that was carrying it through
+the streets in a tin pot; and when we thought that, _for once_, she had
+certainly treated us, she charged the ice-cream in our quarter-bills.
+No, no,--we got nothing from _her_, but stale bread; bad butter; sloppy
+tea; coffee without taste or colour; skinny meat, half-cooked one day,
+cold the next, and hashed or rather coddled the third. Then, for a
+dessert, we were regaled with sour knotty apples in the winter,
+worm-eaten cherries in the summer, and dry squashy pears in the autumn;
+and once a week we had boiled rice, or baked bread and milk, by way of
+pudding. Though after the scholars had eaten their allowance, and made
+their curtsies and gone up to the school-room, she always had something
+nice brought for herself, and her sister, and niece: and of which poor
+Benson, the under teacher, was never invited to partake.
+
+_Miss Wilcox._ But how did you get such nice things in the evening?
+
+_Henrietta._ We bought them, to be sure: bought them with our own money.
+That was the only way. When the little girls had all gone to bed, and
+Madame Disette, and Madame Trompeur, and Mademoiselle Mensonge were
+engaged in the parlour with their company, we all (that is, the first
+class) subscribed something; and we commissioned the chambermaid to
+bring us whatever we wanted from the confectioner's. O, what delightful
+feasts we had!
+
+_Miss Thomson._ Did Madame Disette never find you out?
+
+_Henrietta._ O, no!--we laid our plans too cunningly. And Benson, the
+teacher, was a good creature, and always joined our party; so we knew
+she would not tell.
+
+_Miss Scott._ I am sure we never could prevail on our teacher, Miss
+Loxley, to be concerned in such things. _She_ would think it so very
+improper.
+
+_Henrietta._ Well, we must take an opportunity when Miss Loxley is not
+at home. Mrs. Middleton permits her to go out whenever she requests it.
+She does not keep her so closely confined as Madame Disette did poor
+Benson.
+
+_Miss Scott._ Mrs. Middleton has so much reliance on her elder pupils,
+that she is not afraid to trust us sometimes without Miss Loxley. And
+we, certainly, have never yet abused her confidence.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, you are undoubtedly a most exemplary set! But you never
+had one like _me_ among you. I shall soon put a little spirit into you
+all, and get you out of this strict-propriety sort of way. I do not
+despair even of my friend Isabella Caldwell, the good girl of the
+school.
+
+_Isabella._ Our way is a very satisfactory one. It is impossible for
+boarding-school girls to be happier than we are. Our minds are not
+exhausted with long and difficult lessons, and with studies beyond our
+capacity. When school-hours are over, we have full time for recreation,
+and are amply provided with the means of amusing ourselves. We have a
+library of entertaining books; and we have liberty to divert ourselves
+with all sorts of juvenile plays and games. Then how much attention is
+paid to our health and our comforts, and how kindly and judiciously are
+we treated in every respect! Certainly, we ought to think ourselves
+happy.
+
+_Henrietta._ Ay! so you are made to say in the letters which you write
+home to your parents. All our French letters, at Madame Disette's were
+written first by her niece Mademoiselle Mensonge; and the English
+letters were manufactured by poor Benson; and then we copied them in our
+very best hands, with a new pen at every paragraph. They were all nearly
+the same; and told of nothing but the superabundant kindness and
+liberality of Madame Disette, our high respect and esteem for Madame
+Trompeur, her sister, and our vast affection for her amiable niece,
+Mademoiselle Mensonge: together with our perfect health, and extreme
+felicity. In every letter we grew happier and happier.
+
+_Miss Snodgrass._ And were you not so in reality?
+
+_Henrietta._ No, indeed,--all the happiness we had was of our own
+making, for we derived none from any thing our governess did for us;
+though we were obliged in our letters to call her our beloved Madame
+Disette, and to express the most fervent hopes that we might one day
+exactly resemble her; which, I am sure, was the last thing we could have
+desired; for she was one of the ugliest women that I ever saw in my
+life.
+
+_Miss Thomson._ But you might have wished to resemble her in mind and
+manners.
+
+_Henrietta._ Why, as to that, her mind was worse than her face, and her
+manners we all thought absolutely ridiculous. Benson could mimic her
+exactly.
+
+_Miss Marley._ I do not wonder that your parents took you away from such
+a school.
+
+_Henrietta._ The school was certainly bad enough. We had dirty,
+uncomfortable chambers; scanty fires; a mean table, and all such
+inconveniences. But then it was a very fashionable school; all the
+masters were foreigners, and above all things there was a great point
+made of our speaking French. We knew the common phrases perfectly well.
+We could all say, _Comment vous portez vous_,--_Je vous remercie_,--_Il
+fait beau-temps_,--_Donnez-moi un epingle_,--_Lequel aimez-vous mieux,
+le bleu ou le vert?_ and many other things equally sensible and
+interesting. This was what was called French conversation, and we were
+all able to join in it, after taking lessons in French a very few
+quarters.
+
+But after all, we had a great deal of fun, and that made up for every
+thing. Madame Disette and her sister and niece, always hurried over the
+school-business as fast as possible, that they might have time to pay
+and receive visits; and every evening they were either out, or engaged
+at home with company; so that we had nobody to watch us but poor Benson,
+and none of us cared for _her_. And then we could make her do just as we
+pleased. She only got seventy-five dollars a year, for which she was
+obliged to perform all the drudgery of the school, even to washing and
+dressing the little girls; putting them to bed; darning their stockings
+and mending their clothes; besides doing all Madame Disette's plain
+sewing. Poor Benson could not afford to dress half so well as the
+chambermaid. So how could we have any respect for her? Even the servants
+despised her, and never would do any thing she asked them.
+
+_Miss Snodgrass._ Well, we all respect Miss Loxley. She gets a good
+salary, dresses genteelly, is treated with proper consideration by
+every one in the house, and we obey her just as we do Mrs. Middleton.
+
+_Henrietta._ Yes, and for those very reasons, we never can ask her to
+assist in any little private scheme of our own. Benson was certainly a
+much more convenient person. But to resume our first subject--I do
+really long for a feast.
+
+_Miss Roberts._ Well,--Mrs. Middleton occasionally gives us a feast as
+you call it; for instance, on the birth-day of the young lady who is
+head of her class.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, but then at these regular feasts Mrs. Middleton is
+always present herself. I like to steal a little secret pleasure,
+unsuspected by any one that would check it. Ah! you have never dealt in
+mysteries; you know not how delightful they are. One half the enjoyment
+is in planning and carrying on the plot. Come now, girls, let us get up
+a little feast to-morrow evening. You know Miss Loxley will be out
+again, as her aunt is still sick; and the French teacher always goes
+home at dusk, as she does not sleep here.
+
+_Miss Watkins._ But if Mrs. Middleton should discover us.
+
+_Henrietta._ No. Her sister and brother-in-law are coming to spend the
+evening with her, and to bring a lady and gentleman from Connecticut.
+To-morrow is the very best night we can possibly have. Leave it all to
+me, and I will engage that there shall be no discovery; and we will get
+the little girls to bed very early, that we may have the longer time to
+enjoy ourselves.
+
+_Several of the young ladies._ O, indeed we are afraid!
+
+_Henrietta._ Nonsense--I will answer for it that there shall be no cause
+for fear. Why, we did these things fifty times at Madame Disette's, and
+were never once detected. Come, I will lay down a dollar as the first
+contribution towards the feast. Brownie, how much will you give?
+
+_Miss Brownlow._ I will give half a dollar.
+
+_Miss Watkins._ And I will give a dollar and a half. I have always
+plenty of money.
+
+_Henrietta._ Well done, Watty. And you Scotty, how much?
+
+_Miss Scott._ A quarter of a dollar is all I have left.
+
+_Miss Wilcox._ And I have only ten cents.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, poor Coxey! But never mind, you shall have as large a
+share of the good things as any of us, notwithstanding you can only
+muster ten cents. And now, Snoddy?
+
+_Miss Snodgrass._ Why, I will give a quarter of a dollar and eight
+cents. I have another quarter of a dollar, but I wish to keep it to buy
+a bottle of Cologne water.
+
+_Henrietta._ Pho.--Try to live another week without the Cologne.
+
+_Miss Snodgrass._ No indeed,--I never in my life had a bottle of Cologne
+water all to myself, to use just as I pleased; and I really have set my
+mind on it.
+
+_Henrietta._ Well, we must try to do without Snoddy's other
+quarter-dollar. Well, Bob, what say you?
+
+_Miss Roberts._ I will give half a dollar.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, Bob, Bob! You have more than that, I am sure.
+
+_Miss Roberts._ Yes, I have another half dollar, but I wish to buy the
+book of Fairy Tales you told me of.
+
+_Henrietta._ O, never mind buying the Fairy Tales! I will tell you all
+of them without charging for my trouble. Come now, be good and give the
+whole dollar, and we will have an iced pound-cake.
+
+_Miss Roberts._ Well, if you will _certainly_ tell me all the Fairy
+Tales.
+
+_Henrietta._ Every one of them; twice over if you choose. And now,
+Marley.
+
+_Miss Marley._ I know all this is very improper.
+
+_Henrietta._ Just for once in your life try how it seems to be improper.
+
+_Miss Marley._ Well then for this time only--Here are three quarters of
+a dollar.
+
+_Henrietta._ Now, Tommy!
+
+_Miss Thomson._ I have not resolution to resist. There are half a dollar
+and twelve cents.
+
+_Henrietta._ And now, Isabella Caldwell,--though last not least.
+
+_Isabella._ Excuse me, Henrietta: my contribution will be far less than
+that of any other young lady. In fact, nothing at all.
+
+_Henrietta._ Nothing at all! Why Miss Caldwell, I did not expect this of
+you! I always supposed you to be very generous.
+
+_Isabella._ I wish to be generous whenever it is in my power.
+
+_Henrietta._ Well, dear Isabella, if you have no money, we will not
+press you. We shall be happy to have you at our little feast, even if
+you do not contribute a cent towards it.
+
+_All._ O, yes! We must not lose Isabella Caldwell.
+
+_Isabella._ I am much obliged to you, my dear girls. But it is not the
+want of money that prevents me from joining you. I _have_ money. But I
+wish not, on any terms, to belong to your party; and I shall retire to
+my own room. In short, I do not think it right to be planning a feast
+without the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton, who is so good and so indulgent
+that it is a shame to deceive her.
+
+_Henrietta._ Then I suppose. Miss Caldwell, you intend to betray us; to
+disclose the whole plan to Mrs. Middleton?
+
+_Isabella._ You insult me by such a suspicion. I appeal to all the young
+ladies if they ever knew me guilty of telling tales, or repeating any
+thing which might be a disadvantage to another.
+
+_All._ O, no, no! Isabella is to be trusted. She will never betray us.
+
+_Henrietta._ Then in plain terms, Miss Caldwell, I really think, if you
+have money, you might spare a little for our feast.
+
+_Isabella._ I want the whole of it for another purpose. And I shall get
+no more before next week.
+
+_Henrietta._ Well, this is very strange. I know you do not care for
+finery, and that you never lay out your pocket-money in little articles
+of dress. And as for books of amusement, it was but yesterday that your
+father sent you a whole box full. I _must_ say, that though you are
+called generous--I cannot help thinking you a little--a very little--
+
+_Isabella._ Mean, I suppose you would say.
+
+_Henrietta._ Why, I must not exactly call you _mean_--But I cannot help
+thinking you rather--_meanish_.
+
+_Isabella._ I will not be called mean. My refusal proceeds from other
+motives than you suppose.
+
+_Henrietta._ Young ladies, I will be judged by you all. Is it natural
+for a girl of fifteen, who likes cakes, and pastry, and every sort of
+sweet thing, to be so very conscientious as to refuse to join in a
+little bit of pleasure that can injure no one, that will never be
+discovered, and that all her companions have assented to with few or no
+scruples. No, no, Isabella, I believe that your only object in declining
+to be one of our party, is to save your money.
+
+_Isabella._ O, what injustice you do me!
+
+_Henrietta._ Prove it to be injustice by joining us without further
+objection.
+
+_Miss Watkins._ Henrietta, we do not care for Isabella's money. Let her
+keep it if she wishes. We can afford to entertain her as our guest. I
+am sorry so much should have been said about it.
+
+_Isabella_ (_taking her purse out of her bag._) There then; here are two
+half-dollars. I will prove to you that I am neither mean nor selfish.
+
+_All._ We will not take your money.
+
+_Isabella._ Yes, take it.--Any thing rather than suspect me of what I do
+not deserve. And now let me entreat, that in _my_ presence nothing more
+may be said of this feast. Change the subject, and talk of something
+else. Or, rather, I will retire to bed, and leave you to make your
+arrangements for to-morrow night.
+
+The real reason why Isabella Caldwell was so unwilling to be a
+contributor to the expense of the feast, was, that she had intended
+appropriating her pocket-money to a much better purpose. Her allowance
+was a dollar a week; and she knew that a coloured woman, named Diana,
+(who had formerly been a servant in her father's family before they
+removed to the country) was now struggling with severe poverty. Diana
+was the widow of a negro sailor who had perished at sea, and she was the
+mother of three children, all too small to put out, and whom she
+supported by taking in washing. But during a long illness brought on by
+overworking herself, she lost several of her customers who had given
+their washing to others. Isabella had solicited Mrs. Middleton to allow
+her to employ Diana, rather than the woman who then washed for the
+school. Mrs. Middleton readily consented.
+
+The weather had become very cold, and Isabella saw with regret that
+Diana came to fetch and carry the clothes-bag without either coat or
+cloak; nothing in fact to cover her shoulders but an old yellow cotton
+shawl. Isabella pitied her extremely, and resolved in her own mind not
+to lay out a cent of her money till she had saved enough to buy Diana a
+cloak. Her father, who was a man of large fortune, had placed, at the
+beginning of the year, a sum of money in Mrs. Middleton's hands to
+defray Isabella's expenses, exclusive of her tuition; with directions to
+give her every week a dollar to dispose of as she pleased.
+
+Isabella had now been saving her money for four weeks, and had that
+morning received her weekly allowance, which completed the sum necessary
+to buy a good plaid cloak, and she had determined to go the following
+morning and make the purchase, and to give it to Diana when she came to
+take the clothes. Isabella had now the exact money; and that was the
+reason she was so unwilling to devote any part of it to the expenses of
+the feast. Beside which, she could not, in her heart, approve of any
+species of pleasure that was to be enjoyed in secret, and kept from the
+knowledge of her excellent governess. She felt the usual repugnance of
+modest and benevolent people with regard to speaking of her own acts of
+charity. This reluctance she, however, carried too far, when rather than
+acknowledge that she was keeping her money to buy a cloak for her poor
+washerwoman, she suffered herself to be prevailed on to give up part of
+the sum, as an addition to the fund that was raising for the banquet.
+
+She went to bed sadly out of spirits, and much displeased with herself.
+She had seen at a store, just such a cloak as she wished to get for
+Diana; and she had anticipated the delight and gratitude of the poor
+woman on receiving it, and the comfort it would afford her during the
+inclement season, and for many succeeding winters. "And now," thought
+she, "poor Diana must go without a cloak, and the money will be wasted
+in cakes and tarts; which, however nice they may be, will cause us no
+further pleasure after we have once swallowed them. However, perhaps the
+weather will be less severe to-morrow; and next week I shall have
+another dollar, and I then will again be able to buy Diana the cloak. I
+am sorry that I promised it to her when she was here last. I cannot bear
+the idea of seeing her, and telling her that she must wait for the cloak
+a week longer. I hope the weather will be mild and fine to-morrow."
+
+But Isabella's hope was not realized; and when she rose in the morning,
+she found it snowing very fast. The cold was intense. The ground had
+been for several days already covered with a deep snow which had frozen
+very hard. There was a piercing north-east wind; and, altogether, it was
+the most inclement morning of the whole winter. Isabella hoped that
+Diana would not come for the clothes that day, as the weather would be a
+sufficient excuse; though the poor woman had never before been otherwise
+than punctual. But in a short time, she saw Diana coming round the
+corner, walking very fast, her arms wrapped in her shawl, and holding
+down her head to avoid, as much as possible, the snow that was driving
+in her face. "Ah!" thought Isabella, "she hopes to get the cloak this
+dreadful morning, and to wear it home. How sadly she will be
+disappointed! But I cannot see or speak to her." She then tied up her
+clothes-bag, and desired the chambermaid to take it down and give it to
+Diana, and tell her that she could not see her that morning.
+
+Isabella could not forbear going again to the window; and she saw Diana
+come up the area steps into the street, carrying the clothes-bag, and
+looking disappointed. Isabella, with a heavy heart, watched her till she
+turned the corner, shrinking from the storm, and shivering along in her
+old thin shawl. "Oh!" thought Isabella, "how very badly the
+confectionary will taste to me this evening, when I think that my
+contribution towards it, has obliged me to break my promise to this poor
+woman; and that it will cause her, for at least another week, to endure
+all the sufferings of exposure to cold without sufficient covering."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Henrietta Harwood, as leader of the conspiracy, was extremely busy every
+moment that she could snatch from the presence of Mrs. Middleton and the
+teachers, in making arrangements for the feast of the evening. There was
+a great deal of whispering and consulting, between her and the elder
+girls, as to what they should have; and a great deal of talking on the
+stairs to Mary the chambermaid; who, for the bribe of a quarter of a
+dollar, had consented to procure for them whatever they wished, without
+the knowledge of Mrs. Middleton. It was unanimously agreed that none of
+the _little_ girls were to be let into the secret, as their discretion
+was not to be depended on; and there was much lamentation that the
+bed-hour for the children was so late as eight o'clock. The little girls
+all slept in one large room, and as soon as they had gone to be prepared
+for bed, under the superintendence of Mary, Henrietta proposed that
+herself and six other young ladies should volunteer to assist in
+undressing them. "You know," said she, "there are eight of the children,
+and if we each take a child and leave one to Mary, they can be got to
+bed in an eighth part of the time that it will require for Mary to
+attend to all of them herself. Just, you know, as they have quilting
+frolics and husking frolics in the country, when a whole week's work is
+accomplished in a few hours, by assembling a great many persons to join
+in it."
+
+This proposal was immediately assented to; and a committee of half a
+dozen young ladies, with Henrietta at their head, adjourned to the
+children's apartment. "Come, little chits," said Henrietta, "as it is a
+cold night, we are going to have an undressing frolic, and to help Mary
+to put you all to bed: for the sooner you are tucked up in your nests
+the better it will be for you,--and for us too," she added in a low
+voice aside to Miss Thomson. "Here, Rosalie Sunbridge," she continued,
+"come to me, I will do the honours for _you_, as you are a sort of pet
+of mine."
+
+The elder girls then began undressing the little ones with such violence
+that strings snapped, buttons were jerked off, and stockings torn in the
+process. The children wondered why the young ladies were seized with
+such a sudden and unusual fit of kindness, and why they went so
+energetically to work in getting them undressed and put to bed.
+
+An altercation, however, ensued between Henrietta Harwood and Rosalie
+Sunbridge, who declared that it was her mother's particular desire that
+her hair behind should be curled in papers every night; a ceremony that
+Henrietta proposed omitting, telling her that there was already
+sufficient curl remaining in her hair to last all the next day, and
+reminding her that there was no such trouble with the hair of the other
+little girls. "That is because they have no hair to curl," replied
+Rosalie; "you know that they are all closely cropped. But if you will
+not roll up mine in papers, Miss Harwood, I would rather have Mary to
+put me to bed, though you _do_ call me your pet." "Well, well, hush, and
+I _will_ do it," said Henrietta; "but it shall be done in a new way
+which saves a great deal of trouble, and makes very handsome curls when
+the hair is opened out next morning." So saying, she snatched up a great
+piece of coarse brown paper, and seizing the little girl's hind hair in
+her hand, she rolled it all up in one large curl; Rosalie crying out at
+the violence with which she pulled, and the other children laughing,
+when it was done, at the huge knob, and telling Rosalie she had a
+knocker at her back.
+
+In a short time the night-gowns and night-caps were scrambled on, and
+the children all deposited in their respective beds, and all hastily
+kissed by their undressers; who hurried out of the room, anxious to
+enter upon their anticipated delights.
+
+"Now, good Mary, dear Mary," said Henrietta, "do tell me if you have
+got every thing?" "Every thing, miss," replied Mary, "except the
+calves-foot jelly; and the money fell short of that. But I have got
+the iced pound-cake, and the mince pies, and the oyster patties, and
+the little cocoa-nut puddings, and the bottle of lemon-syrup, and all
+the other things. They are snug and safe in the market-basket in the
+back-kitchen-closet; and nobody can never guess nothing about it."
+
+Just at this moment the man-servant came to tell the young ladies that
+Mrs. Middleton wished them all to go down into the front parlour to look
+at some prints. These prints were the coloured engravings of Wall's
+beautiful views on the Hudson, and which had just been purchased by Mrs.
+Middleton's brother-in-law, who was going to leave the city the
+following morning. At any other time the young ladies (at least those
+who had a taste for drawing) would have been grateful for Mrs.
+Middleton's kindness in allowing them an opportunity of looking at these
+fine landscapes; but _now_ every moment that detained them from the
+feast, seemed like an hour. Henrietta murmured almost aloud; and they
+all went down with reluctance, except Isabella Caldwell, who had made up
+her mind not to partake of the banquet.
+
+In the mean time, little Rosalie Sunbridge, who was a very cunning
+child, and had a great deal of curiosity, suspected that something more
+than usual was going on, from the alertness of the young ladies in
+hurrying the children to bed. _Her_ bed being nearest to the door, she
+had overheard the elder girls in earnest consultation with the
+chambermaid in the passage, and although she could not distinguish
+exactly what was said, she understood that something very delightful was
+to go on that evening in the front school-room. Having a great desire to
+know precisely what was in agitation, she waited a short time till all
+her companions were asleep; and then getting up softly, she opened one
+of the shutters to let in a little light, as the storm had subsided and
+there was a faint moon. She then got her merino coat, and put it on over
+her night-gown, and covering her feet with her carpet moccasins that she
+might make no noise in walking, she stole softly into the front
+school-room, determined to watch all that went on.
+
+Two lamps were burning on the table; but no person was in the room; the
+young ladies having all gone down into the parlour to look at the
+prints. Rosalie, by climbing on a chair, managed, with much difficulty,
+to get on the upper shelf of a large closet; having hastily cleared a
+space for herself to lie down in, among the books and rolls of maps.
+Then pushing away the chair, she drew the closet-door nearly close;
+leaving only a small crack, through which she could observe all that was
+done.
+
+Presently, she saw Mary come cautiously into the room with a basket, and
+taking out of it the materials for the feast, the girl arranged them all
+to great advantage on the table. When this was accomplished, she went
+down stairs; and immediately after, the young ladies, having looked
+hastily at the prints, all came up, and expressed much satisfaction at
+the inviting appearance of the banquet. Isabella lighted a small lamp,
+and said she was going to bed.
+
+"Why, Caldwell," exclaimed Henrietta, "are you absolutely in earnest?
+What, after contributing to the expense of the feast, will you really
+leave us before it begins, and go dismally to bed? See how nice every
+thing looks."
+
+"Every thing, indeed, looks nice," replied Isabella, "but still I have
+no desire to partake of them. I am out of spirits, and I have other
+reasons for not wishing to join your party." "Just take something before
+you go," said Henrietta. "No," answered Isabella, "I feel as if I could
+not taste a single article on the table."
+
+She then withdrew to her room, and her companions took their seats and
+began to regale themselves; Henrietta presiding at the head of the
+table. They would have enjoyed their feast very much, only that,
+notwithstanding their expected security, they were in continual dread of
+being discovered. They started, and listened at every little noise;
+fearing that Miss Loxley might possibly have returned, or that Mrs.
+Middleton might possibly be coming up stairs.
+
+"Really," said Henrietta, "it is a great pity that poor Isabella
+Caldwell, after she gave her dollar with so much reluctance, should
+refuse to take any share of our feast. Perhaps to-morrow she will think
+better of it. Suppose we save something for her. I dare say she will
+have no objection to eat some of these good things in the morning."
+
+"Put by one of the little cocoa-nut puddings for her," said Miss Scott.
+"And one of the mince pies," said another young lady. "And a large slice
+of pound-cake," said a third. "And a bunch of white grapes," said a
+fourth.
+
+Henrietta then selected some of the nicest articles of their banquet, to
+offer to Isabella in the morning; and after some consultation, it was
+concluded to deposit them, for the present, in the farthest corner of
+the upper shelf of the closet; which upper shelf was only used as a
+repository for old maps and old copy books, and waste paper, and with
+these the things could be very conveniently covered. "Do not take a
+light to the closet," said Miss Marley, "you may set something on fire.
+If you stand on tiptoe and raise your arm as high as you can, you may
+easily reach the upper shelf."
+
+Henrietta accordingly walked to the closet; and was in the act of
+shoving a mince-pie into a dark corner of the upper shelf, when suddenly
+she gave a start and a shriek, and let fall the cocoa-nut pudding which
+she held in her hand. "What is the matter?" exclaimed all the girls at
+once. "Oh!" cried Henrietta, "when I reached up the mince-pie to the top
+shelf, it was taken from me by a cold hand that met mine--I felt the
+fingers." "Impossible," said some of the girls. "What could it actually
+be?" cried others. Just then, Rosalie made a rustling among the loose
+papers on the top shelf. "There it is again," screamed Henrietta. "Oh!"
+cried Miss Watkins, "we have done very wrong to plot this feast in
+secret, and something dreadful is going to happen to us as a
+punishment."
+
+Another rustling set all the young ladies to screaming; and, with one
+accord, they rushed towards the door, with such force as to overset the
+table and all its contents. The lamps were broken and extinguished in
+the fall; several of the girls were thrown down by the others; and the
+shrieks were so violent that Mrs. Middleton heard them into the parlour,
+where, her friends having left her, she was sitting with Miss Loxley,
+who had just come in; and taking a light with them, the two ladies ran
+up to the front school-room.
+
+The scene which then presented itself transfixed them with astonishment.
+The floor was strewed with the remains of the feast. The oil from the
+shattered lamps was running among the cakes and pies, which were also
+drenched with water from a broken pitcher; near which the bottle of
+lemon-syrup was lying in fragments. The table was thrown down on its
+side. Some of the young ladies were still prostrate on the floor, and
+all were screaming. Rosalie (frightened at the uproar she had caused)
+was on her hands and knees, looking out from the upper shelf of the
+closet, and crying "O, take me down, take me down! somebody bring a
+chair and take me down."
+
+Isabella Caldwell, hearing the noise, had thrown on her flannel gown,
+and ran also to see what was the matter. As soon as the surprise of Mrs.
+Middleton would allow her to speak, she inquired the cause of all this
+disturbance; but she could get no other answer than that there was some
+horrible thing in the closet. "There is indeed something in the closet,"
+said Mrs. Middleton, perceiving Rosalie. "Miss Sunbridge, how came you
+up there, and in that dress? and what is the meaning of all this?"
+
+The young ladies, having recovered from their terror when they found it
+to be groundless, and Miss Loxley having taken down Rosalie, Henrietta
+made a candid confession of the whole business. Acknowledging herself to
+be the proposer and leader of the plot, she expressed her readiness to
+submit to any punishment Mrs. Middleton might think proper to inflict on
+her, but hoped that her governess would have the goodness to pardon all
+the other young ladies; none of whom would have thought of a secret
+feast, if she had not suggested it to them. "Above all," continued
+Henrietta, "I must exculpate Isabella Caldwell, who declined going to
+table with us or partaking of any thing, but retired to her bed; as may
+be known by her being now in her night-clothes."
+
+Mrs. Middleton was touched with the generosity of Henrietta Harwood, in
+taking all the blame on herself to exonerate her companions; and as her
+kind heart would not allow her to send any of her pupils to bed in the
+anticipation of being punished the next day, she said, "Miss Harwood, I
+will for this time permit your misdemeanour to go unpunished, but I
+require a promise from you that it shall never be repeated. Make that
+promise sincerely, and I feel assured that you will keep it."
+
+"O, yes, indeed, dear madam!" sobbed Henrietta, "you are too kind; and I
+cannot forgive myself for having persuaded my companions to join in a
+plot which I knew you would disapprove."
+
+"Go now to your beds," said Mrs. Middleton, "and I will send a servant
+to clear away the disorder of this room. Rosalie, I see, has already
+slipped off to hers."
+
+Next morning, before school commenced, Mrs. Middleton addressed the
+young ladies mildly but impressively, on the proceedings of the day
+before. She dwelt on the general impropriety of all secret contrivances;
+on the injury done to the integrity of the ignorant servant-girl, by
+bribing her to deceive her employer; on the danger of making themselves
+sick by eating such a variety of sweet things; and on the folly of
+expending in those dainties, money which might be much better employed.
+
+"That," said Henrietta, "was one of Isabella Caldwell's objections to
+joining our feasting party. I am now convinced that she had in view some
+more sensible manner of disposing of her money. I regret that she was
+prevailed on to contribute her dollar, as she must have had an excellent
+reason for her unwillingness; and she seemed really unhappy, and went to
+bed without touching any of our good things."
+
+"I can guess how it was," said Miss Loxley. "One very cold morning last
+week, I met Diana, Miss Caldwell's washerwoman, going up stairs with the
+clean clothes, and having nothing on her shoulders but an old cotton
+shawl. I asked her if she had no cloak, and she replied that she had
+not; but added, that Miss Isabella had been so kind as to promise her
+one, which was to be ready for her when she came again. I suspect that
+Miss Caldwell has been saving her money for the laudable purpose of
+furnishing this poor woman with a cloak."
+
+"Oh! no doubt she has," exclaimed Henrietta. "Why, dear Isabella, did
+you not say so? and bad as I am, I would not have persisted in
+persuading you out of your dollar."
+
+"The woman, however, did not get her cloak," resumed Miss Loxley, "for I
+again saw her without one, yesterday, though the weather had increased
+in severity."
+
+"It is true," said Isabella. "The cloak was to have cost four dollars,
+and after subscribing one dollar to the feast, I could not buy it; as I
+had not then sufficient money."
+
+_Mrs. Middleton._ Miss Harwood, had you often these feasts at Madame
+Disette's.
+
+_Henrietta._ Oh! very often, and as the teacher, Miss Benson, was always
+one of the party, we managed so well, that Madame Disette never
+discovered us. Or if she had any suspicion, she said nothing about it;
+for after all, she cared very little what we did out of school-hours
+provided that our proceedings _cost her nothing_.
+
+_Mrs. Middleton._ You must not speak so disrespectfully of your former
+governess. But I will explain to you that _I_ care very much what you
+do, even in your hours of recreation. It is when the business of the
+school is over, and they are no longer in the presence of their
+instructors, that girls are in the greatest danger of forming bad
+habits, and imitating bad examples. All deceit, all tricks, are highly
+unjustifiable. A little feast may seem in itself of small moment; but if
+you persist in plotting little feasts, you will eventually be led on to
+plot things of more importance, and which may lead to the worst
+consequences. Then, as I always allow you as large a portion of sweet
+things as comports with your health, it is the more reprehensible in you
+to seek to procure them for yourselves, without my knowledge. Tell me
+now, do any of you feel the better for last night's frolic?
+
+_Miss Thomson._ O, no, no! Miss Watkins and Miss Roberts were sick all
+night; and, indeed, none of us feel very well this morning.
+
+_Mrs. Middleton._ I observed that you all had very little appetite for
+your breakfast.
+
+_Miss Brownlow._ And then _I_ had my new frock spoiled when I fell down
+in the lamp-oil.
+
+_Miss Wilcox._ And I got some lamp-oil into my mouth. I tasted it all
+night. Even my nose was rubbed in it, as I lay struggling on the floor.
+
+_Miss Snodgrass._ And _I_ fell with my knees on half a dozen pieces of
+orange, and stained my black silk frock, so that it is no longer fit to
+wear.
+
+_Miss Marley._ And _I_ was thrown down with the back of my head on a
+bunch of grapes, mashing them to a jelly.
+
+_Miss Scott._ But _my_ hair was so very sticky, with falling into the
+lemon syrup, that I was obliged, this morning, to wash it all over with
+warm soap-suds.
+
+_Miss Roberts._ And _I_ put my foot into the bottom of the broken
+pitcher, and cut my heel so that it bled through the stocking.
+
+_Miss Watkins._ Still, nothing of this would have happened if Rosalie
+Sunbridge had stayed in her bed. It was her hiding in the closet and
+frightening us, that caused all the mischief.
+
+_Rosalie._ I am sure I was punished enough for my curiosity; for when I
+got on the closet-shelf I was obliged to lie so cramped that I was
+almost stiff; and I was half dead with cold, notwithstanding I had put
+on my merino coat. And then I was longing all the time for some of the
+good things I saw you eating; so that when Miss Harwood came to hide the
+mince-pie, I could not forbear taking it out of her hand. When I found
+that you were all so terrified, I thought I would make a noise among the
+loose papers to frighten you still more, supposing that you would all
+quit the room; and that then I could come down from the shelf, and
+regale myself awhile, before I stole back to-bed. I did not foresee that
+you would overset the table in your flight, and make such a violent
+noise. But I will never again attempt to pry into other people's
+secrets.
+
+_Mrs Middleton._ I hope you never will. This feast, you see, has caused
+nothing but discomfort, which is the case with all things that are in
+themselves improper. Yet I think the greatest sufferer is Isabella
+Caldwell's washerwoman, who has, in consequence, been disappointed of
+her cloak.
+
+_Isabella._ Next week, madam, when I receive my allowance, I hope to be
+able to buy it for her.
+
+_Mrs. Middleton._ You need not wait till next week. The poor woman shall
+suffer no longer for a cloak. Here is a dollar in advance; and after
+school, you can go out and purchase it, so that it may be ready for her
+to-morrow when she brings home your clothes.
+
+_Isabella._ Dear Mrs. Middleton, how much I thank you.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The young ladies having promised that they would attempt no more private
+feasts, Mrs. Middleton kissed, and forgave them. After school, Isabella,
+accompanied by Miss Loxley, went out and bought the plaid cloak, which
+was sent home directly. Next day, she longed for Diana to arrive with
+the clothes, that she might enjoy her pleasure on receiving so useful a
+gift, but, to her great disappointment they were brought home by another
+mulatto woman, who informed Isabella that she was Diana's next door
+neighbour, and that poor Diana having taken a violent cold from being
+out in the snow-storm, was now confined to her bed with the rheumatism.
+"Ah!" thought Isabella, "perhaps if she had had this good warm cloak to
+go home in, the day before yesterday, she might have escaped the
+rheumatism. I see now that whenever we allow ourselves to be persuaded
+to do a thing which we know to be wrong, evil is sure to come from it."
+
+She desired the woman to wait a few minutes; and hastening to Mrs.
+Middleton, begged that she would allow her to go and see poor Diana,
+who, she feared was in great distress. Mrs. Middleton readily consented,
+and had a basket filled with various things, which she gave to the woman
+to carry with the plaid cloak to Diana. She sent by Isabella a bottle of
+camphor, and some cotton wadding, for Diana's rheumatism, and a medicine
+for her to take internally. Miss Loxley accompanied Isabella; and they
+found Diana in bed and very ill, and every thing about her evincing
+extreme poverty. Isabella engaged the woman to stay with Diana till she
+got well, and to take care of her and her children, promising to pay her
+for her trouble. When they returned and made their report to Mrs.
+Middleton, she wrote a note to her physician, requesting him to visit
+Diana and attend her as long as was necessary.
+
+Next week, Henrietta Harwood, and the other young ladies, subscribed all
+their allowance of pocket-money for the relief of Diana; who very soon
+was well enough to resume her work. It is unnecessary to add that their
+contribution to the support of the poor woman and her family, gave them
+far more pleasure than they had derived from the unfortunate feast. They
+never, of course, attempted another. And Henrietta Harwood, at Mrs.
+Middleton's school, lost all the faults she had acquired at Madame
+Disette's.
+
+
+
+
+THE WEEK OF IDLENESS.
+
+    "Their only labour was to kill the time,
+       And labour dire it was, and weary wo."
+                                         _Thomson._
+
+
+Adelaide and Rosalind, the daughters of Mr. Edington, looked forward
+with much pleasure to the arrival of their cousin, Josephine
+Sherborough, from Maryland. She was to spend the summer with them, at
+their father's country residence on the beautiful bay of New York, a few
+miles below the city; and, though they had never seen her, they were
+disposed to regard Josephine as a very agreeable addition to their
+family society. Having had the misfortune to lose their mother, Adelaide
+and Rosalind had been for several years under the entire care of their
+governess, Mrs. Mortlake; a highly accomplished and most amiable woman,
+whom they loved and respected as if she had been their parent, and by
+whose instructions they had greatly profited.
+
+It was on a beautiful evening in June, that Josephine Sherborough was
+_certainly_ expected, after several disappointments within the last two
+or three weeks. The Miss Edingtons and their governess were seated on
+one of the settees in the portico that extended along the front of Mr.
+Edington's house. Mrs. Mortlake was sewing, Rosalind reading aloud, and
+Adelaide, with her drawing materials before her, was earnestly engaged
+in colouring a sketch of a fishing-boat at anchor, beautifully reflected
+in the calm water, and tinted with the glowing rays of the declining
+sun. As she put in the last touches, she hoped, before the summer was
+over, that she should improve so much in her drawing as to be enabled to
+attempt a view of the bay with its green shores; its island fortresses;
+and its numerous ships, some going out on a voyage to distant regions,
+others coming home with the merchandise and the news of Europe.
+
+"Now," exclaimed Adelaide, "I see the smoke of the steamboat, just
+behind Castle Williams. My father and Josephine will soon be here. I am
+glad my drawing is so nearly completed. In a few minutes it will be
+finished."
+
+"And in a few minutes," said Rosalind, "I shall conclude the story that
+I am reading."
+
+"Do you not now think," asked Mrs. Mortlake, "I was right in proposing
+that we should protract our usual afternoon occupations an hour beyond
+the usual time, as we are expecting the arrival of your father and your
+cousin? This last hour would have seemed twice its real length, if we
+had done nothing, all the while, but strain our eyes in gazing up the
+bay for the steamboat, saying every few minutes, 'Oh, I wish they were
+come!'"
+
+In a short time, Adelaide exclaimed, "Here is the steamboat. I see they
+are depositing several trunks in the little boat at the side. And now it
+is let down to the water. And now a gentleman and a young lady descend
+the steps, and take their seats in it. How fast it cuts its way through
+the foam that is raised by the tow-line. In a moment it will touch the
+wharf. Here they come. There is my father; and it _must_ be Josephine
+that is with him!"
+
+The sisters then ran down the steps of the portico, and in a moment were
+at the landing-place, where Mr. Edington, as soon as he had assisted
+her to step on shore, introduced them to Josephine Sherborough, a fat,
+fair, pale young lady, about fourteen, with a remarkably placid
+countenance which immediately won the regard of Rosalind: who determined
+in her own mind that Josephine was a very sweet girl, and that they
+should, ever hereafter, be intimate and most particular friends.
+Adelaide, who was two years older than Rosalind, and who had more
+penetration, was not so violently prepossessed in favour of her cousin,
+whose face she thought deficient in animation, and whose movements were
+more slow and heavy than those of any young girl she had ever seen.
+
+When tea was over, the sisters proposed to Josephine a walk round the
+garden, which was large and very beautiful; but she complained of being
+excessively tired, and said that she would much rather go to bed. This
+somewhat surprised her cousins, as they knew that Josephine had been
+three days in the city with the friends under whose care she had come
+from Maryland; and they thought that she must have had ample time to
+recover from the fatigue of her journey: to which her last little trip
+in the steamboat could not have added much. Rosalind, who was a year
+younger than Josephine, accompanied her to the chamber prepared for her
+accommodation, where Josephine, looking round disconsolately, inquired
+if there was no servant to undress her. Rosalind volunteered to perform
+this office; and Josephine said she would ring the bell for one of the
+maids, when she wished to get up in the morning.
+
+She kept the family waiting breakfast for her till nine o'clock, and
+then came down in a white slip or loose gown; her hair still pinned up;
+her eyes half shut; and her face evidently not washed. Mr. Edington,
+whose business in the city made it necessary for him to be there at an
+early hour, had long since breakfasted, and gone up to town in the boat;
+and after a few days, the rest of the family ceased to wait for her; and
+the housekeeper was directed to have a fresh breakfast prepared for Miss
+Sherborough whenever she came down.
+
+The first days of Josephine's visit ought, in Rosalind's opinion, to
+have been devoted entirely to the amusement of their guest, and she was
+urgent with Mrs. Mortlake, to allow Adelaide and herself a week of
+holiday. Their governess told them that she would have been willing to
+grant this indulgence if Josephine was to remain with them a week only:
+but as she was to stay all summer, it would, of course, be impossible
+for them, every day, to give up their usual occupations; and therefore
+it was better to begin as they were to go on. She reminded Rosalind that
+if they were attentive and industrious, they would get through their
+lessons the sooner, and have the more time for recreation with their
+visitor.
+
+After Josephine had breakfasted, Mrs. Mortlake offered to show her the
+children's library, that she might amuse herself with any of the books
+she chose, while her cousins were engaged in their morning employments.
+Josephine thanked her; but said she could entertain herself very well
+without books, and that she believed she would take a walk in the
+garden. She accordingly put on her bonnet, and strolled up and down the
+walks, gazing listlessly at the flowers. She attempted to gather some
+strawberries, but found it too fatiguing to stoop down to the beds; and
+satisfied herself with plucking currants and gooseberries from the
+bushes. She then sat in the arbour for awhile, and looked all the time
+straight down the middle walk. When she was tired of the arbour, she
+established herself on a circular bench which ran round a large walnut
+tree; and then she counted all the windows at the back part of the
+house. When this was accomplished, she counted them all over again. And
+then, finding the sun had become very powerful, she went into the
+front-parlour, the shutters of which were bowed to exclude the heat, and
+throwing herself at full length on the sofa, she in a few minutes fell
+into a profound sleep, from which she did not awaken till her cousins
+entered the room in search of her, after their lessons were over. They
+took her up stairs into the apartment they called their play-room, and
+showed her a variety of things which would have been very amusing to a
+girl that knew how to be amused. There was a lacquered Chinese cabinet,
+containing a great number of curiosities brought by their uncle from
+Canton: and a large box with shelves, on which were various specimens of
+Indian ingenuity, presented to the children by a gentleman who had
+travelled all over the country beyond the Mississippi. Their library
+consisted of a beautiful and entertaining selection of juvenile books;
+and they had a port-folio filled with fine prints of such subjects as
+are particularly interesting to young people. They showed her a
+representation of the grand procession at the coronation of the
+sovereign of England, printed on a long narrow roll of paper pasted on
+silk; which paper was unwound like a ribbon-yard from a Tunbridge-ware
+box, and it could be screwed up again after being sufficiently seen. It
+was many yards in length, and the figures (which were almost
+innumerable) were elegantly designed, and beautifully coloured. They had
+also a little theatre, with a great number of scenes; and a variety of
+very small dolls, dressed in appropriate habits to personate the actors.
+Beside all these things, they had a closet full of amusing toys; and in
+short the play-room was amply stored with a profusion of whatever was
+necessary to the enjoyment of their leisure hours.
+
+But all was lost on Josephine. While Adelaide and Rosalind were
+assiduous in showing and explaining to her every thing, she heard them
+with listlessness and apathy, and made not the slightest remark. At
+last, she said "We will reserve some of these sights for to-morrow. I
+must go and dress myself for dinner. Oh! how I hate to dress. It is an
+odious task. I must have Mary to assist me again; for I never _can_ get
+through the fatigue of dressing myself, and fixing my hair."
+
+In the afternoon, Adelaide and Rosalind took their sewing, and seated
+themselves with Mrs. Mortlake in the porch. As Josephine appeared to
+have no work, Mrs. Mortlake gave her a volume of Miss Edgeworth's Moral
+Tales, and requested her to read one of them aloud. Josephine took the
+book and began to read "The Prussian Vase," but with so monotonous and
+inarticulate a tone, or rather drawl, that it was painful to hear her:
+and her cousins were not sorry when, at the end of three or four pages,
+she stopped, and complained that she was too much fatigued to read any
+more.
+
+Mrs. Mortlake then desired Adelaide, who read extremely well, to take
+the book and continue the story, but in a short time Josephine was
+discovered to be asleep. When Adelaide ceased reading, Josephine awoke,
+and saying that she could not live without her afternoon nap, went up
+stairs to lie down on her bed.
+
+She slept till near tea-time, and when tea was over, her cousins and
+Mrs. Mortlake prepared for a walk, and invited Josephine to join them.
+This she did; but in less than ten minutes she complained so much of
+fatigue, that Rosalind turned back and accompanied her home, and she
+reclined on the settee in the porch till the lamps were lighted in the
+front-parlour. The girls then showed Josephine a portable diorama,
+containing twelve beautiful coloured views of castles, abbeys, temples,
+and mountain scenery. Each of these exquisite little landscapes was
+fixed, in turn, as the back scene of a sort of miniature stage. The
+skies and lights of these views were all transparent, and there were
+other skies which turned on rollers, and represented sunrise, moonlight,
+sunshine, and thunder-clouds. These second skies being placed behind
+those of the picture, were slowly unrolled by turning a small handle,
+and produced the most varied and beautiful effects on the scenery, which
+could thus at pleasure be illuminated gradually with sunshine or
+moonbeams, or darkened with the clouds of a gathering storm. But
+Josephine saw this charming exhibition without a single comment; being
+evidently much inclined to yawn as she looked at it. And getting again
+very sleepy, she soon retired to her bed.
+
+Next morning, Mrs. Mortlake invited her to bring her sewing into the
+school-room, and sit there while her cousins were at their lessons. But
+Josephine replied that she hated sewing, and never did any. However, she
+took her seat in the school-room, and a kitten soon after came purring
+round her; so she put it on her lap, and stroked and patted it till the
+lessons were over, and the girls went up stairs to amuse themselves
+till dinner-time.
+
+Adelaide tried to induce Josephine to look at some of the beautiful
+prints in the port-folio; but she found it necessary to explain them
+all, as if she was showing them to a child of three years old.
+
+Rosalind proposed that they should all go on the roof of the house (it
+being flat on the top and guarded with a railing) to look at the beauty
+and wide extent of the prospect; and taking their parasols to screen
+their heads from the sun, they went up through a very convenient
+trap-door at the head of an easy little staircase. The view from the
+roof of Mr. Edington's house was certainly very fine, comprising the bay
+with its islands and fortresses; its boats and vessels of every
+description; the distant lighthouse at Sandy Hook, and the blue ocean
+rolling beyond it: and at the other end of the scene, behind a forest of
+masts, rose the city of New York with its numerous spires glittering in
+the sunlight.
+
+Fine as the prospect was, Josephine showed no symptom of admiration; but
+as they came down through the garret-passage, she spied an old
+rocking-chair standing in a corner among some lumber. (Parlour
+rocking-chairs were not yet in general use.) She turned her head, and
+looked at it with longing eyes. "Ah!" said she, "that is the very thing
+I have been suffering for ever since I left home. Do let me beg to have
+it in my room." The chair, accordingly, was carried into the apartment
+of Josephine, who immediately seated herself, and began to rock with
+great satisfaction; at which most interesting amusement she continued
+till near dinner-time. The rocking-chair was next day taken into the
+school-room, and with that and the kitten, Josephine appeared to get
+through the morning rather contentedly.
+
+The afternoon was again devoted to a long nap: and in the evening
+Josephine reclined on the front-parlour sofa, and entertained herself by
+running her finger a hundred times over the brass nails.
+
+Several days passed on in a similar manner. One morning when they were
+all in the play-room, Josephine said to her cousins, "What a very hard
+life you are obliged to endure. Neither of you have a moment of rest,
+from the time you leave your beds in the morning, till you return to
+them at night. First, there is your rising with the sun, and going to
+work in your little gardens. I am sure you might make your father's
+gardener do all that business."
+
+_Adelaide_. But we take great pleasure in it; and when we see our
+flowers growing and blooming, the interest they excite in us is much
+increased by knowing that we have raised them from the seed, or planted
+the roots ourselves; and that we have assisted their growth by watering,
+weeding, tying them, and clearing them from insects. And is it not
+pleasant to find that the fruit-stones, we planted a few years since in
+our little orchard, have produced trees that are now loaded with fruit?
+The red cherries, we had last evening after tea, were from one of my
+trees; and the large black cherries were from Rosalind's. And in August,
+we shall have our own plums and peaches.
+
+_Josephine_. I am sure it is much less trouble to buy these things, than
+to cultivate them; and as to the amusement, I can see none. Then there
+are those awful lessons that are always to come on after breakfast. The
+writing, and cyphering, and grammar, and geography, and history, one
+day: and the French, and music, and drawing, the next: and-the reading
+and sewing every afternoon; and the walk every evening. Even your
+play-time (as you call it) is a time of perpetual fatigue: your plays
+all seem to require so much skill and ingenuity. And then on Saturday
+morning, to think that you are obliged to go into the housekeeper's room
+and learn to make cakes, and pastry, and sweetmeats, and all such
+things. I am sure if I was never to eat cakes till I assisted in making
+them, I should go without all my life. It seems to me that your whole
+existence is a course of uninterrupted toil.
+
+_Rosalind_. There is much truth in what you say, my dear Josephine. But
+I own it never struck me before.
+
+_Adelaide_. We have always been perfectly happy in our occupations and
+amusements: and the longest day in summer seems too short for us.
+
+_Josephine_. Too short, perhaps, to get through such a quantity of work;
+for I consider all this as _real hard work_. I am glad that I have not
+been brought up in such a laborious manner. My parents love me too much
+to make me uncomfortable, even for a moment; or to cause me in any way
+the slightest fatigue. I have spent my whole life in ease and peace;
+doing nothing but what I pleased, and never learning but when I chose.
+I have not been troubled with either a school or a governess; my mother
+(who was herself educated at a boarding-school) having determined, as I
+was her only child, to instruct me at home.
+
+Adelaide saw that it was in vain to argue the point any farther. But the
+foolish reasoning of Josephine made a great impression on Rosalind; so
+true it is, that "evil communication corrupts good manners," and she was
+seized with an earnest desire to participate in the happiness of doing
+nothing.
+
+Next morning, Rosalind went to her lessons with great reluctance, and
+consequently did not perform them well. On the following day she was
+equally deficient; and in the afternoon when Josephine went up stairs to
+take her nap, Rosalind, looking after her, exclaimed, "Happy girl! How I
+envy her!"
+
+"Envy her!" said Adelaide, "of all the people I am acquainted with, I
+think Josephine Sherborough is the least to be envied."
+
+_Rosalind._ She is not troubled with lessons, and sewing, as we are. She
+can do whatever she pleases the whole day long. No wonder she is fat,
+when she is so perfectly comfortable. For my part, I expect, in the
+course of another year, to be worn to a skeleton with such incessant
+application.
+
+_Adelaide._ But without application how is it possible to learn?
+
+_Rosalind._ I would rather put off my learning till I am older, and have
+strength to bear such dreadful fatigue.
+
+_Adelaide._ I do not find it fatiguing. I am sure our lessons are not
+very long, and Mrs. Mortlake is so kind and gentle, that it is a
+pleasure to be instructed by her; and she explains every thing so
+sensibly and intelligibly.
+
+_Rosalind._ But where is the use of learning every thing before we grow
+up?
+
+_Adelaide._ Because, as Mrs. Mortlake says, children (if they are not
+_too young_) learn faster than grown persons; their memories are better,
+as they have not yet been overloaded, and they have nothing of
+importance to divert their attention from their lessons.
+
+_Rosalind._ I would rather grow up as ignorant as our tenant's wife,
+Dutch Katy, than be made such a slave as I am now. I am sure Katy's life
+is an easy one compared to mine.
+
+_Adelaide, smiling._ Consider it not so deeply.
+
+_Rosalind._ Yes, I will, for I am out of patience. I wish it was the
+fashion to be ignorant.
+
+_Adelaide._ Fortunately it is _not_. To say nothing of the disgrace of
+being ignorant when it is known we have had opportunities of acquiring
+knowledge, persons whose minds are vacant, have but few enjoyments. For
+instance, as Josephine knows nothing of music, it gives her no pleasure
+to hear the finest singing and playing, even such as Mrs. Mortlake's. As
+she has no idea of drawing, she takes not the least delight in looking
+at beautiful pictures. Having never been in the habit of reading, she
+wonders how it is possible to be amused with a book; and as she has no
+knowledge of history or geography, she often, when she _does_ read, is
+puzzled with allusions to those subjects; and a French word is as
+unintelligible to her, as if it were Greek. Plants and animals do not
+interest her, because she has scarcely an idea of the properties or
+attributes of any of the productions of Nature. And what is worse than
+all, she takes no pleasure in listening to the conversation of sensible
+people, because she is incapable of understanding it: her comprehension
+being only equal to the most frivolous topics.
+
+_Rosalind._ Notwithstanding all this, her life passes calmly and
+pleasantly; and I am sure she is much happier than we are.
+
+_Adelaide._ Speak for yourself, dear Rosalind. For my part, I do not
+wish to be more happy than I am.
+
+_Rosalind._ Well, I thought so too, till I knew Josephine. And she is by
+no means so dull as you suppose.
+
+_Adelaide._ Perhaps she is not naturally stupid; but indulgence and
+indolence have so benumbed her understanding, that it seems now
+incapable of the smallest effort.
+
+At this moment Mrs. Mortlake came down with a book in her hand, for the
+afternoon reading.
+
+"Rosalind," said she, "as my room is over the porch, and the windows are
+open, I could not avoid hearing all you have just been saying,
+particularly as you spoke very loudly. As I do not wish to see either of
+my pupils _unhappy_, I will gratify your desire, and both you and
+Adelaide (if it is also her wish) may pass a week entirely without
+occupation; in short, a week of idleness."
+
+_Adelaide._ O no, dear Mrs. Mortlake: I have no desire to avail myself
+of your offer. I would much rather continue my usual employments.
+
+_Rosalind._ A week of entire leisure! O, how delightful!
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ But, during that time, neither you nor Josephine must
+come into the school-room.
+
+_Rosalind._ O, indeed! we shall not desire it.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ Neither must you read.
+
+_Rosalind._ Well!--I am sure I have read enough to last my lifetime.
+Where is the use of reading story-books that are all invention,
+describing people that never lived; or of poring over voyages and
+travels to countries I shall never visit; or of studying the histories
+of dead kings.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not sew.
+
+_Rosalind._ I never _did_ find it very entertaining to stick a needle
+and thread into a piece of muslin, and pull it through again.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not draw.
+
+_Rosalind._ I do not see the pleasure of rubbing red, and blue, and
+green paint on little plates; and dabbling in tumblers of water with
+camel's-hair pencils, and daubing colours on white paper.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not play on the piano, nor on the harp.
+
+_Rosalind._ Well! What sense is there in pressing down your fingers
+first on bits of ivory, and then on bits of ebony; and staring at
+crotchets and quavers all the time? or where is the use of twanging and
+jerking the strings of a harp?
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not work in your garden.
+
+_Rosalind._ So much the better. Then I shall neither dirty my hands with
+pulling up the weeds, nor splash my feet with the water-pot.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ You may sleep as much as you please; but you must not
+rise before nine o'clock.
+
+_Rosalind._ O, how delightful, not to be obliged to jump out of bed at
+daylight! Dearest Mrs. Mortlake, if I could have a _month_ of ease and
+comfort, instead of only a week---
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ Well,--if at the end of the week you still desire it,
+perhaps I may protract the indulgence to a longer period.
+
+_Rosalind._ Dear Mrs. Mortlake, how kind you are. When shall my
+happiness begin? As to-morrow is Saturday, when we _always_ have a half
+holiday, and next day Sunday, when we go to the city to attend church, I
+think, notwithstanding my impatience, I would rather commence my week of
+felicity regularly on Monday morning.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ Very well, then. On Monday morning let it be.
+
+_Adelaide._ I am sorry to hear you call your anticipated week of
+idleness a week of felicity.
+
+_Rosalind._ Oh! I am sure I shall find it so; and you will regret not
+having also accepted Mrs. Mortlake's kind offer.
+
+_Adelaide._ I fear no regret on that subject.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ Say no more, Adelaide. Wait till we see the event of
+Rosalind's experiment.
+
+_Rosalind._ I hope Josephine's afternoon nap will not be as long as
+usual: I am so impatient to tell her. O, how we shall enjoy ourselves
+together!
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+When Josephine awoke and heard of the new arrangement, she was as much
+delighted as _she_ could be at any thing; and she begged that Rosalind
+might be allowed to share her chamber during this happy week.
+
+Monday morning came; and Rosalind (such is the power of habit) awoke, as
+usual, with the dawn; but soon recollected that she was not to get up
+till nine o'clock. She saw the light gleaming through the Venetian
+shutters, and she heard the morning song of the scarlet oriole, whose
+nest was in a locust tree close to the window; and the twittering of the
+martins as they flew about their box, which was affixed to the wall just
+below the roof of the house. She heard Adelaide, who was in the next
+room, get up to dress herself, and exclaim as she threw open the
+shutters, "O, what a beautiful sunrise!" Rosalind felt some desire to
+enjoy the loveliness of the early morning; but determined to remain in
+bed, and indulge herself with another nap. She turned and shook her
+pillow, and tumbled about for a long time before she could get to sleep;
+and at last she awoke again just as the clock was striking seven. She
+had still two hours to remain in bed, and she found the time extremely
+tedious. "Are you asleep, Josephine?" said she. "No," replied Josephine,
+"I am never asleep after this hour."
+
+_Rosalind._ Why, then, do you remain in bed?
+
+_Josephine._ O, because I hate to get up.
+
+_Rosalind._ Well then let us talk.
+
+_Josephine._ O, no! I never talk in bed. For, even when I do not sleep,
+I am not quite awake.
+
+At length it was nine; and at the first stroke of the clock, Rosalind
+started from her bed, and began to wash and dress herself. When the
+girls went down stairs, they found the family breakfast had long been
+over, and they had theirs on a little table in a corner of the room.
+Rosalind thought her breakfast did not taste very well; probably,
+because remaining so long in bed, had taken away her appetite.
+
+After breakfast, they went out and walked a little while in the most
+shady part of the garden. Then they sat down; first in the arbour of
+honeysuckles, then on the green bank behind the ice-house; then on a
+garden chair; and then on the bench at the foot of the great walnut
+tree. They picked a few currants and ate them; and they gathered some
+roses and smelled them. For some time they held their parasols over
+their heads; and then they shut them, and made marks on the gravel with
+the ends of the ivory sticks. They looked awhile at a nursery of young
+peach-trees at one side of the garden; and then they turned and looked
+towards a clover-field on the other side. Josephine pulled the strings
+of her reticule backwards and forwards; and Rosalind counted the
+palisades in the fence of the kitchen-garden. At last a bright idea
+struck her; and she gathered some dandelions that were going to seed,
+and blew off the down; recommending the same amusement to Josephine,
+who, after two or three trials, gave it up.
+
+"Suppose we go to the play-room," said Rosalind. Josephine assented, and
+they slowly walked back to the house, and ascended the stairs. "Now,"
+said Rosalind, "we can play domino _in the morning_. Generally, we never
+amuse ourselves with any of those little games in the day-time; though
+we have domino, draughts, and loto, sometimes in the evening." They
+played domino awhile in a very spiritless manner, and then they tried
+draughts and loto, which they also soon gave up; Josephine saying that
+all these games required too much attention. She then had recourse to
+the rocking-chair, and Rosalind took some white paper and cut fly-traps;
+in which amusements they tried to get rid of the time till near the
+dinner-hour, when they combed their hair, and changed their dresses.
+Adelaide did not join them in the play-room, being much engaged with a
+very amusing book.
+
+After dinner, Rosalind, accompanied Josephine to her room to take a nap
+likewise. But she found it so warm, and turned and tossed about so much,
+and had such difficulty in fixing herself in a comfortable position,
+that she thought, if it was not for the name of taking a nap, she had
+better have stayed up as usual. Josephine had less difficulty, being
+accustomed to afternoon-sleeping; and at length Rosalind shut her eyes,
+and fell into a sort of uneasy doze.
+
+When they awoke, Rosalind proposed that they should put on their frocks,
+and go down into the porch, where Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide were
+reading and sewing. But Josephine thought it would be much less trouble
+to sit in their loose gowns until near tea-time. To this Rosalind
+agreed, and they sat and gazed at the river. But it happened _this_
+afternoon that no ships came in, and only one went out; and all the
+steamboats kept far over towards the opposite shore. They were glad when
+the bell rung for tea; for when people do nothing, their meals are a
+sort of amusement, and are therefore expected with anxious interest. In
+the evening, they declined joining Mrs. Mortlake and Adelaide in their
+usual long walk, and took a short stroll under the willows on the bank
+of the river; after which they returned to the parlour, where Mr.
+Edington sat reading the newspaper, and Josephine threw herself on the
+sofa; while Rosalind sat beside her on a chair, and played with the
+kitten.
+
+Next morning, their amusements in the garden were a little diversified
+by playing jack-stones and platting ribbon-grass; and when they went up
+to the play-room, Rosalind, looking among her old toys, found a doll
+long since laid aside, and a basket with its clothes. She offered the
+doll to Josephine proposing that she should dress it: but Josephine said
+"I would rather look at you, while _you_ do it." Rosalind accordingly
+dressed the doll in two different suits, one after another; but soon
+grew tired, and had recourse to an ivory cup and ball, which she failed
+to catch with as much dexterity as usual. She gave Josephine a wooden
+lemon, which on being opened in the middle, contained a number of other
+lemons one within another, and diminishing in size till the last and
+smallest was no bigger than a pea. When Josephine had got through the
+lemon, Rosalind took it, and resigned the cup and ball to her cousin,
+who soon gave it up, as she could never make the cup catch the ball; and
+she again finished the morning with her never-failing resource the
+rocking-chair.
+
+Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday having been passed in this manner, on
+Thursday Rosalind began to acknowledge to herself, what she had indeed
+suspected on the first day, that a life of entire idleness was not quite
+so agreeable as she had supposed. Having no useful or interesting
+occupation to diversify her time, she found that play had lost its
+relish; and now that she could play all day, she found all plays
+tiresome. These three days had appeared to her of never-ending length;
+and she began to think that when her week of idleness had expired she
+would not solicit Mrs. Mortlake to prolong the term.
+
+On Thursday afternoon Rosalind gave up her nap, and went and seated
+herself at the open window, that she might hear Mrs. Mortlake and
+Adelaide read aloud in the porch. And next morning, she actually stopped
+and listened at the school-room door while Adelaide was repeating her
+French lesson; and she returned again, and stood behind the door, to
+hear Mrs. Mortlake instructing her sister in a new song accompanied on
+the harp. All that day and the next, she felt as if she was actually
+sick of doing nothing; and she absolutely languished to be allowed once
+more to take a book and read, or to draw, or play on the piano. Even
+sewing, she thought, would now seem delightful to her.
+
+On Saturday morning Rosalind met Adelaide in her brown linen apron with
+long sleeves, going into the housekeeper's room to assist in making
+cakes and pastry. She longed to go in with her, and to do her part as
+formerly; and her longing increased when she heard the sound of beating
+eggs, and grinding spice. She had hitherto looked forward with great
+pleasure to her holiday on Saturday afternoon. Now, after doing nothing
+all the week, Saturday afternoon had no charms for her; and she was glad
+to find it was to be devoted to a ride in the carriage, through a
+pleasant part of the adjacent country.
+
+"Well, Rosalind," said Josephine, as they were taking off their bonnets,
+after their return from the ride, "you have now spent a week in _my_
+way. Do you not wish you could pass your whole life in the same manner?"
+
+_Rosalind._ No, indeed--nor even another week. This week of idleness has
+seemed to me like a month; and I have no desire to renew the
+experiment. I have never in my life gone to bed so tired as after those
+days of doing nothing. I find that want of occupation is to me absolute
+misery; though it may be very delightful to _you_, as you have been
+brought up in a different manner, and have never been accustomed to any
+sort of employment. Yet, still I think you would be much happier, if you
+had something to do.
+
+In the evening Mr. Edington said to his youngest daughter, "Well,
+Rosalind, how do you like your week of idleness? Are you going to
+request Mrs. Mortlake to lengthen the term of your enjoyment?"
+
+_Rosalind._ O no, dear father; it has been no enjoyment to _me_. On the
+contrary, I am glad to think that it is now over. I have found it
+absolutely a punishment.
+
+_Mr. Edington._ So I suspected.
+
+_Rosalind._ And I deserved it, for allowing myself to become
+dissatisfied with the manner in which Mrs. Mortlake chose that I should
+occupy myself. I am tired of lying in bed, tired of idleness, and tired
+of play. So, dear Mrs. Mortlake, be so kind as to let me rise at
+daylight on Monday morning, to work in my garden, and resume my lessons
+as usual. You may depend on it I shall never again wish for a single
+day of idleness.
+
+_Mrs. Mortlake._ I am very glad to hear you say so, my dear Rosalind.
+And I do not despair of at length convincing Josephine that she would be
+more happy if she had some regular employment.
+
+That night Rosalind returned to her own chamber, and next morning she
+was up at daylight. It being Sunday, they went as usual to church in the
+city, and Rosalind was now delighted to pass the remainder of the day in
+reading a volume of Mrs. Sherwood's excellent work, the Lady of the
+Manor. A book now seemed like a novelty to her.
+
+Next day Rosalind went through her lessons with a pleasure she had never
+felt before; and when they were over, she highly enjoyed her two hours'
+recreation after dinner. She took no more afternoon naps; and after a
+short time even Josephine was persuaded to give them up, and found it
+possible, with some practice, to keep awake while her cousins or Mrs.
+Mortlake were reading aloud in the porch.
+
+Finally, Josephine became ashamed of being the only idle person in Mr.
+Edington's house, and was prevailed on by her uncle and Mrs. Mortlake to
+join her cousins in their lessons. By degrees, and by giving her only a
+very little to learn at a time, and by having constantly before her such
+good examples as Adelaide and Rosalind, she entirely conquered her love
+of idleness. She was really not deficient in natural capacity, and she
+soon began to take pleasure in trying to improve herself; so that when
+she returned to Maryland, she carried with her a newly acquired taste
+for rational pursuits, which she never afterwards lost.
+
+
+
+
+MADELINE MALCOLM.
+
+    Now here--now there--in noise and mischief ever.
+                                                 _Rogers._
+
+
+"Well, Juliet, how is your friend, Cecilia Selden?" said Edward
+Lansdowne to his sister, as they were sitting by the parlour fire, in
+the interval between daylight and darkness. It was the evening after his
+arrival from Princeton college to spend a fortnight at Christmas with
+his family in Philadelphia.
+
+_Juliet._ I believe Cecilia is very well. At least she was so when last
+I saw her, about five weeks since.
+
+_Edward._ Is it five weeks since you have seen Cecilia Selden? You were
+formerly almost inseparable. I hope there has been no quarrel between
+you.
+
+_Juliet._ None at all. But--somehow--I am tired of Cecilia Selden. She
+is certainly a very dull companion.
+
+_Edward._ Dull! You once thought her very amusing. For my part, _I_
+always found her so. She has read a great deal, is highly accomplished,
+and as she travels every summer with her parents, she has had
+opportunities of seeing a variety of interesting places and people. And
+above all, she has an excellent natural understanding.
+
+_Juliet._ But she is always so sensible and so correct, and every thing
+that she says and does is so very proper.
+
+_Edward._ So much the better. You will improve by being intimate with
+her.
+
+_Juliet._ I never shall be intimate again with Cecilia Selden. She is
+too particular, too fastidious. She does not like Madeline Malcolm.
+
+_Edward._ And who is Madeline Malcolm? I never heard of her before.
+
+_Juliet._ Her father is our next door neighbour. You know we did not
+live in this house when you were last in Philadelphia. The very day we
+moved, Madeline Malcolm came in to see us, in the midst of all our
+bustle and confusion, and stayed the whole afternoon. She said she had
+long been desirous of becoming acquainted with me, was delighted that
+we were now near neighbours, and therefore could not forbear running in
+to commence the intimacy immediately.
+
+_Edward._ But "in the midst of all your bustle and confusion," it must
+have been very in convenient to receive a visitor, and to entertain her
+the whole afternoon.
+
+_Juliet._ Why,--we were a little disconcerted at first, but she begged
+of us not to consider her a stranger. She was just as sociable as if she
+had known us for seven years; and she was so queer, and there was so
+much fun in every thing she said and did, that she kept me laughing all
+the time.
+
+_Edward._ I should like to see this prodigy of fun.
+
+_Juliet._ No doubt you will soon have that pleasure; for she runs in and
+out, the back way, ten times a-day.
+
+Juliet had scarcely spoken when they heard a voice in the entry, singing
+"I'd be a butterfly," and Madeline Malcolm, a tall, black-eyed,
+red-cheeked girl, with long ringlets of dark hair, came flying into the
+parlour, exclaiming, "What, still by fire-light--I shall have to pull
+your Peter's ears myself, if he does not mind his business and light the
+astral lamp sooner. O! here he comes. Now, Peter, proceed; and take
+yourself off as soon as you have accomplished the feat. Well,--now that
+there is no longer any danger of falling over this young gentleman, I
+must beg leave to be introduced to him in form. I surmise that he is the
+most learned Mr. Edward Lansdowne of Nassau-Hall, Princeton. Ah! I have
+torn my frock on the fender. Just like me, you know." Juliet immediately
+introduced her brother. "Well, Ned," exclaimed Miss Malcolm, "you have
+come to make us happy at last. Your sister has talked so much about you
+that I have actually been longing for your arrival. Come, tell us the
+best news at college. I have a cousin there, but he has not been in town
+since the rebellion before the last. I suppose he goes to New York to
+take his frolics. Come, tell us all the particulars of your last
+'Barring out;' I suppose it was conducted according to the newest
+fashion. Juliet, did you ever see any thing like Ned's face? A sort of
+mixed expression; trying to smile and be agreeable, but looking all the
+time as if he could bar _me_ out himself."
+
+In this manner she ran on for near half an hour, Juliet laughing
+heartily, and Edward not at all. At last she rose to go away, and when
+Juliet invited her to stay all the evening, she said she _must_ go
+home, for they were to have waffles at tea, and she would not miss them
+on any consideration. However, the tea-table in Mrs. Lansdowne's parlour
+being now set, she took a spoonful of honey which she dripped all over
+the cloth, and then giving Juliet a hearty kiss, she seized Edward's arm
+saying, "Come, Ned, escort me home. I am going in at the front-door this
+time, and there is always ice on our steps, so be sure to take care that
+I do not fall."
+
+When Edward took his leave at Madeline's door, she shook hands with him,
+saying, "Am I not a wild creature? You see how my spirits run away with
+me."
+
+Edward came back with a countenance of almost disgust. "If this is your
+new friend," said he to his sister, "I must say that I consider her
+scarcely endurable. Why, she never saw me before this evening, and yet
+she is as familiar as if she had known me all her life. To think of her
+calling me Ned."
+
+"Ah!" said Juliet with a smile, "I suspect _that_ to be the grand
+offence, after all. But depend upon it, you will like her better when
+you know her better."
+
+"I very much doubt my ever liking her at all," replied Edward.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Nothing could exceed the sociability of Madeline Malcolm. She
+breakfasted, dined, and drank tea at Mrs. Lansdowne's table nearly as
+often as at her father's; and she frequently ran in early in the
+morning, and scampered into Juliet's chamber before she had risen. Mr.
+and Mrs. Lansdowne (both whose dispositions were remarkably amiable and
+indulgent) did not approve of their daughter's intimacy with Madeline.
+They had spoken to her on the subject; but Madeline's frank and
+caressing manner, and her perpetual good-humour, had so won the heart of
+Juliet, that it was painful to her to hear a word against her friend, as
+she called her. So her parents concluded to let it pass for the present;
+trusting to Juliet's becoming eventually disgusted by some outrageous
+folly of Madeline's, who seemed to think her professed volatility an
+excuse for every thing; and that the appellation of _a wild creature_,
+which she took pride in giving herself, would screen her from any
+resentment her unwarrantable conduct might provoke.
+
+Still, as Edward observed, she had a great deal of selfishness and
+cunning; as is generally the case with wild creatures; for when females
+have so little of the delicacy of their sex as to throw aside the
+restraints of propriety, the same want of delicacy makes them totally
+regardless of the feelings or convenience of others, and renders them
+callous to every thing like real sympathy or kindness of heart.
+
+At home, Madeline was allowed to do exactly as she pleased; her father's
+thoughts were perpetually in his counting-house, and her step-mother,
+who spent all her time in the nursery, was incessantly occupied with the
+care of a large family of young children, of whom Madeline never took
+the least account. And she was so much at Mr. Lansdowne's that Juliet
+had few opportunities of returning her visits.
+
+She borrowed all Juliet's best books, and did not scruple to lend them
+again to any person that she knew. Some of the books were never
+returned; and others were brought back soiled, torn, and in a most
+deplorable condition. One of her jokes was to take up Juliet's
+muslin-work, and disfigure it with what she called gobble-stitch. She
+came in one day and found the parlour unoccupied, and Juliet's
+drawing-box on the table, with a beautiful landscape nearly finished.
+Madeline sat down and daubed at it till it was quite spoiled, and when
+Juliet discovered her at this employment, she turned it off with a
+laugh, insisting that she had greatly improved the picture. She found
+Juliet one evening engaged in copying a very scarce and beautiful song,
+which she had borrowed from her music-master, and which had never been
+published in America. On Juliet's being called up stairs for a few
+moments to her mother, Madeline took the pen, and scribbled on the
+margin of the borrowed music, some nonsensical verses of her own
+composition, in ridicule of the music-master.
+
+Edward presented his sister at Christmas with a set of a new English
+magazine, which contained biographical sketches and finely engraved
+portraits of some of the most celebrated female authors. Madeline came
+in soon after the arrival of the books; and having looked them over, she
+insisted on carrying one of the volumes home with her. Next day she
+brought it back, with a pair of spectacles drawn with a pen and ink
+round the eyes of each of the portraits that, as she said, "The learned
+ladies might look still wiser." Upon this Edward immediately left the
+room, lest his indignation should induce him to say too much, and
+Juliet could not help warmly expressing her dissatisfaction. But
+Madeline pacified her by hanging round her neck and pleading that her
+love of fun was constantly leading her to do mischievous things; and
+that she was sure her darling Juliet loved her too well not to forgive
+her.
+
+Cecilia Selden, a sensible and amiable girl, and formerly Juliet's most
+intimate friend, was an object of Madeline's particular dislike and
+ridicule; of which Cecilia perceived so many palpable symptoms, that she
+left off visiting at Mrs. Lansdowne's house; to the great regret of
+Edward.
+
+Mrs. Templeton, a lady that lived at the distance of a few squares, gave
+a juvenile ball, to which Juliet and Edward were invited, and also
+Madeline with several of her little brothers and sisters. Soon after
+Juliet had gone up to her room to commence dressing, Madeline came in
+followed by a servant with two bandboxes, and exclaiming, "Well, Juliet,
+I have brought all my trappings, and have come here to dress with _you_,
+that I may escape being put in requisition at home to assist in
+decorating the brats, who will entirely fill up _our_ carriage, so I am
+going to the ball in _yours_. There now, get away from the glass and
+let me begin."
+
+Juliet removed from the glass, and throwing a shawl over her shoulders,
+sat down by the fire, determined to wait patiently till Madeline had
+finished her toilet. But this was no expeditious matter. Madeline always
+professed to be too giddy to have her clothes in order, or to think of
+any thing before the last moment. Every article that she was to wear
+this evening required some alteration, which Juliet was called upon to
+make, till Lucy, a mulatto seamstress that lived in the family, came up
+to assist the young ladies in dressing. Madeline's white satin
+under-frock was longer than the tulle dress that she wore over it: and
+after it was put on, it was necessary to make it shorter by turning the
+hem up all round and running it along with a needle and thread. Her
+satin belt would not meet, and after a great deal of pulling and
+squeezing in vain, the only remedy was to take off the hooks and eyes
+and set them nearer to the ends. She desired Lucy to arrange her hair
+for her, which was a difficult task, as Madeline would not hold still a
+moment; and after it was at last accomplished, she declared that Lucy
+had made a fright of her, and demolished the whole structure with her
+own hands, strewing the floor with hair-pins and flowers. She then
+called Juliet to her assistance; and, in the course of time, her hair
+was finished to her satisfaction.
+
+When Madeline was dressed, she took a lamp from the mantlepiece and
+setting it on the floor, that she might see her feet to advantage with
+her embroidered silk stockings and white satin shoes, she began to caper
+and dance; and in performing one of her best steps she kicked down the
+lamp, which splashed all over her right foot, and over the lower part of
+her dress, beside deluging the carpet with oil. She screamed violently,
+and her volatility seemed to forsake her when she held up her beautiful
+tulle dress bespattered with lamp-oil. Juliet endeavoured to console
+her, and lent her another pair of silk stockings, and Lucy was sent to
+the nearest shoemaker's to bring several pair of white satin shoes that
+Madeline might choose from among them. But what was to be done with the
+disfigured frock? Madeline declared she had no other dress that was
+handsome enough to wear that evening, and said she would rather stay
+away from the ball than not look as she wished. Juliet, who was about
+the same size, offered to lend her a frock, even the clear muslin she
+was to wear that night herself; but Madeline said that Juliet's dresses
+were all too plain for her, and that she had set her mind upon the white
+silk-sprigged tulle, and nothing else.
+
+She continued to lament her misfortune, when a thought struck her that
+it was possible to conceal the spots of oil by arranging artificial
+flowers round the lower part of the dress. But Juliet had no such
+flowers, not having yet begun to wear them, and her mother had long
+since left them off. Madeline's whole stock of flowers, was already
+disposed of on her head, and she protested against taking out a single
+one; saying, that it required a multitude to cover all the oil-stains.
+
+At last she exclaimed, "I have just thought of it, Juliet,--There
+are plenty of flowers in the French vases on your front-parlour
+mantle-piece.[A] I will have _them_. They will do exactly."--"But,"
+said Juliet, "I know not that my mother will approve of the flowers
+being taken out of the vases."--"Nonsense," replied Madeline. "What
+a vastly proper person you are. Tell her that your volatile friend
+Madeline took them; and she will expect nothing better of such a
+wild creature."
+
+    [A] It was formerly the fashion to decorate the mantle-piece
+        with artificial flowers placed in china vases under glass
+        shades.
+
+So saying, she ran down stairs, and found Edward dressed for the ball,
+and waiting for them in the parlour. "Here, Ned, my boy," said she, "off
+with those glass shades, and hand me out the flowers from the vases. I
+have kicked over a lamp and splashed my frock with oil, and I must have
+all the flowers I can get, to hide the stains. Why do you look so
+dubious? I will send them safely back again to-morrow morning. What,
+won't you give them to me? Oh! then I shall make bold to help myself to
+them."--She jumped on a chair, and was going to lift one of the glass
+shades, when Edward, fearful of the consequences, stepped up and took
+out the flowers for her; and when she had obtained them all, she ran off
+with them in her lap, dropping them along the stairs as she went.
+
+When she entered the chamber, she called out to Juliet, "Come now, dear
+creature, down on your knees with a pin-cushion in your hand, and pin
+these flowers all nicely round my frock, so as to cover every one of the
+vile oil-spots." "Shall _I_ do it, miss?" said the maid, who had just
+finished wiping up the oil that had fallen on the carpet, and which,
+however, left a large splash of grease. "Miss Juliet will rumple her
+dress if she stoops down to put on the flowers."--"So much the better,"
+said Madeline, "it will be an advantage to that new muslin to have a
+little of the stiffness taken out. Come, Lucy, you may hold the candle."
+Juliet then stooped down, and in a most painful posture proceeded to pin
+the flowers round Madeline's frock, which she did so adroitly as to
+conceal all the spots of oil.
+
+Just as this business was completed a servant brought into the room a
+small red morocco case, inclosing a beautiful pearl necklace, and
+accompanied by a note from her grandfather, in which he requested her
+acceptance of it as a new-year's gift, and desired that she would wear
+it on that evening at Mrs. Templeton's ball.
+
+While Juliet was admiring the necklace, Madeline took it out of her
+hand, saying, "Let me see how this looks on _my_ neck. Beautiful--really
+beautiful. Ah, Juliet, it is so pretty I cannot bear to take it off
+again. Come _I_ shall wear it this evening."--"But indeed," said Juliet,
+"I should like very much to wear it myself; particularly as it is my
+grandfather's request."--"Nonsense," answered Madeline; "grandpa is not
+going to the ball himself, and how will he know whether you wear it or
+not? And your father and mother are both at the theatre, and are
+ignorant even of its arrival. I forgot to bring a necklace with me: so
+this comes quite _apropos_. Come, I am not going to give it up this
+evening. Possession, you know, is nine points of the law: and your white
+neck requires no pearls to set it off."
+
+"You know very well that my neck is _not_ white," said Juliet.
+
+"Well then," replied Madeline, "if it is brown, the pearls will make it
+look browner still. Positively you shall not have it to-night, if I run
+for it." Upon which she ran down stairs into the front-parlour, and
+pretended to hide behind the window-curtain, to save herself, as she
+told Edward, from the vengeance of Juliet, whose new necklace she had
+seized and carried off. Edward did not think this a very good joke;
+however, he made no comment, and his sister coming down immediately
+after, he handed her and Madeline into the carriage, and accompanied
+them to Mrs. Templeton's.
+
+At the ball the volatility of Madeline reached its climax. She talked,
+laughed, flirted, jumped, and occasionally appealed to those in the same
+cotillon to know if they had ever seen such a wild creature. Edward,
+however, could not help observing her unkindness and rudeness to the
+little children, whom she pushed about and scolded, whenever they came
+in her way. Two of her younger sisters were preparing to dance together,
+when Madeline and Edward, who were looking for a place, came up. "This
+cotillon is completed," said Edward, "and so, I believe, are all the
+others. Let us stand by, and look on. I always enjoy seeing the children
+dance." "No indeed," said Madeline, "I had rather dance myself. Here,
+Ellen and Clara, go and sit down, and give us your places." The children
+began to object; but she pushed them away and commenced the cotillon,
+saying she was determined to dance every set.
+
+The next set, however, no one asked Madeline to dance. She looked very
+much displeased at being obliged to sit still, and was yet more so, when
+Charles Templeton brought up a very handsome little midshipman, in his
+uniform, who, on being introduced to both the young ladies, immediately
+requested the pleasure of Miss Lansdowne's hand for the next set.
+
+Juliet stood up with the midshipman; but there was some delay in forming
+the cotillons, and her partner perceived that one of his shoe-strings
+was broken. He asked Charles Templeton, who was in the next cotillon, if
+he would put him in a way of repairing the accident; and Charles desired
+the midshipman to accompany him to his room for the purpose. Madeline,
+who had heard all that passed, stepped up to Juliet and said to
+her--"Juliet, as you are one of the modest people, I suppose it will
+embarrass you to stand here till your partner comes back again; so do
+you sit down, and I will stand and keep your place for you. You know I
+have brass enough for any thing."
+
+Juliet, grateful for Madeline's unexpected kindness, and feeling really
+some embarrassment at standing up in the cotillon without her partner,
+consented willingly, and took Madeline's seat. In a few minutes the
+midshipman returned, and looked much surprised when he saw another young
+lady in the place of his partner; but before he had time to consider why
+it was so, the music commenced, and Madeline began to right and left,
+and led off the cotillon; disappointing Juliet of her dance.
+
+The midshipman, however, did not speak to Madeline during the whole set;
+and when he had led her to a seat, he left her, and went up to Edward,
+and expressed his surprise that Miss Lansdowne, after being engaged to
+dance with him, had substituted another young lady in her place. Edward,
+to whom his sister had explained how it happened, repeated her account
+to the midshipman, who was much vexed, and went immediately to apologize
+to Juliet, and to ask her hand for the next set, which she was obliged
+to refuse, as she was pre-engaged both for that set and the following.
+
+"So," said Madeline, as she passed Juliet on her way to the cotillon
+with a new partner, "you see I tricked you out of the smart young
+midshipman, who is the prettiest fellow in the room, and I was
+determined not to sit still a single set."
+
+Madeline's volatility attracted the attention of the whole company, and
+the delight of finding herself an object of general notice gave her
+fresh spirits as she ran to the very top of the country-dance,
+oversetting a little boy on her way, afterwards romping down the middle,
+and throwing herself into a seat the moment she had got to the bottom.
+
+Soon after, while refreshments were handed round, she took an
+opportunity of purposely spilling a glass of lemonade on Cecilia
+Selden's pink crape frock, and she threw a piece of orange-peel in
+Edward's way that he might slip on it, which he did, and very nearly
+fell down.
+
+Juliet, who had recently recovered from a severe cold, brought with her
+into the ball-room a very handsome blue silk scarf, which her mother had
+lent her, enjoining her to put it on whenever she was not dancing, as a
+guard against being suddenly chilled when in a perspiration. Madeline,
+happening to look at Juliet, observed the scarf and thought it very
+becoming. She suddenly twitched it off Juliet's shoulders and threw it
+over her own, saying, "Now, Juliet, you have been beautified with this
+scarf long enough. It is my turn to wear it awhile." Poor Juliet knew
+not how to object, though her seat (the only one she had been able to
+obtain) was directly against a window, from which there was a draught of
+air on the back of her neck. The consequence was a renewal of her cold,
+and a sore throat which confined her for several days to the house.
+
+The above may serve as a specimen of Madeline's various exploits at the
+ball. After Juliet and her brother had got home, Edward stood for half
+an hour in the middle of the parlour-floor with his bed-candle in his
+hand, while he expostulated with his sister on her strange infatuation
+for her new friend; declaring that, with all her volatility and apparent
+frankness and good-humour, he had never known a girl more artful,
+selfish, and heartless than Madeline Malcolm.
+
+Instead of returning the flowers and the necklace on the following
+morning, as she ought to have done, Madeline wore them in the evening to
+another ball; and finally when Mrs. Lansdowne sent for the flowers, they
+came home in a most deplorable state, soiled, crushed, and broken; so
+that they were no longer fit to ornament the vases, and some of them
+were entirely lost.
+
+Madeline did not come in to see Juliet till she knew that she had quite
+recovered from her sore-throat; having, as she afterward told her, a
+perfect antipathy to a sick-room, and a mortal dislike to the dismals.
+She forgot to return the necklace till Juliet, with many blushes, and
+much confusion, at last reminded her of it. "Why," said she, "you seem
+very uneasy about that necklace. Between friends like us, every thing
+ought to be common." Madeline, however, had never offered to lend Juliet
+the smallest article belonging to herself.
+
+The next time Madeline came, she brought the necklace in her hand.
+"Here," said she "is this most important affair; I took a fancy to wear
+it round my _head_ at Mrs. Linton's, and I can assure you I had a great
+deal of pulling and stretching to get it to clasp. Why did grandpapa
+give you such a short necklace? However, soon after I began to dance,
+snap went the thread, and down came all the pearls showering about the
+floor. How I laughed; but I set all the beaux in the cotillon to picking
+them up, and I suppose they found the most of them. You see I have
+brought you a handful. And now you can amuse yourself with stringing
+them again. Come now, don't look so like Ned.--How can you expect a wild
+creature as I am, to be careful of flowers, and beads, and all such
+trumpery? I dare say, you are now thinking that your sober Cecilia
+Selden would have returned the pearls 'in good order and well
+conditioned.' But I never allow any one to get angry with me: you know I
+am a privileged person. So now look agreeable, and smile immediately.
+Smile, smile, I tell you." Juliet _did_ smile, and Madeline throwing her
+arms round her neck, kissed her, exclaiming, as she patted her cheek,
+"There's my own good baby. She always, at last, does as I bid her."
+
+The next day Juliet heard that the windows of Mr. Malcolm's house were
+all shut up; but she was not long in suspense as to the cause, for
+shortly after, Madeline came running in the back way, and said with a
+most afflicted countenance, "O, Juliet, you may pity me now if you never
+did before. We have just heard from New Orleans of the death of aunt
+Medford, my father's only sister."
+
+_Juliet._ I am very sorry you have received such bad news.
+
+_Madeline._ Oh! but the worst of it is, that it will prevent our going
+to the play to-night. We had engaged seats with the Rosemores, in a
+delightful box. We were going to see the Belle's Stratagem, with the
+masquerade, and the song, and the minuet, and the new French dancers. I
+would not have missed such an entertainment for a hundred dollars. How
+very provoking that the bad news did not arrive one day later. If it had
+not come till to-morrow I should not have cared, for then our charming
+evening at the theatre would have been over. And now, to think that
+instead of going to the play, I must stay at home and look at my father
+grieving for old aunt Medford. There now, Juliet, your face is again in
+the style of Ned's. Positively, if you are so particular, I shall cut
+your acquaintance. Those that I consider my friends must enter into all
+my "whims and oddities," and not expect me to act according to rule. I
+hate hypocrisy. Why should I pretend to grieve for aunt Medford when I
+have never seen her since I was six years old?
+
+_Juliet._ But sympathy for your father--
+
+_Madeline._ Why, where is the use of sympathy? When people are in grief,
+sympathy only makes them worse.
+
+_Juliet._ If you yourself were in affliction, Madeline, you would find
+the sympathy of your family and friends very gratifying.
+
+_Madeline._ Wait till _I am_ in affliction and then I will tell you.
+"_Toujours gai_," is my motto, and "_vive la bagatelle_" for ever.
+
+So saying, she danced out of the room, and went home; but in a short
+time she returned, looking very mysterious, and peeping in at the door
+to ascertain if Juliet was alone. "Juliet, love," said Madeline in a low
+voice, "come with me into the back parlour, lest we should be
+interrupted. I have something of great consequence to tell you."
+
+As Madeline often dealt in mysteries, Juliet thought this new secret
+nothing more than usual, and accompanied her into the back parlour,
+where Madeline cautiously bolted the folding-doors and locked the side
+door. "Now, Juliet," said she in an under voice, "I know I may depend on
+your secrecy." "Certainly you may," replied Juliet.
+
+_Madeline._ Well then, I must confide to you a plan that has just struck
+me. I cannot bear the idea of giving up the play to-night, and you know
+it is out of the question for any of the family to be _seen_ there.
+
+_Juliet._ Of course none of you can go to the theatre when your house is
+shut up for the death of a near relation, and when Mr. Malcolm is in
+such deep affliction.
+
+_Madeline._ It is certainly a great pity that aunt Medford died;
+particularly just at the time she did, as it will spoil all our gayety
+for the winter. No more plays, and balls, and parties this season.
+People ought always to die in the summer. But you know, dear Juliet, I
+have not seen my aunt Medford for ten years, and I really have forgotten
+all about her. So, how can you expect me to be inconsolable? And I
+cannot endure the thought of being disappointed in going to the theatre.
+I might as well go, as stay at home and think about it all the evening.
+
+_Juliet._ O no, indeed! Even if you have no personal regard for your
+aunt, respect for your father's feelings and a proper regard for
+decorum, ought to subdue your desire of going at this time to a place of
+public amusement.
+
+_Madeline._ That is exactly such a speech as Cecilia Selden would make
+on a similar occasion. It is a pity "the truly wise man" is not here.
+How Neddy would applaud.
+
+_Juliet._ But where is the use of talking in this manner. You know you
+_cannot_ go to the theatre.
+
+_Madeline._ I know I _can_.
+
+_Juliet._ How? In what way? I do not understand you.
+
+_Madeline._ My going to the theatre to-night depends principally on
+_you_.
+
+_Juliet._ On me!
+
+_Madeline._ Yes, for I will not venture alone, and you must go with me.
+
+_Juliet._ Go with you--_I_ go with you!
+
+_Madeline._ Yes.
+
+_Juliet._ And who else?
+
+_Madeline._ Nobody else. Now don't look as if you were ready to run
+through the wall to get away from me; but listen and understand. Our
+nursery-maid, Kitty, has permission to go this evening and stay all
+night with a sick sister. So when she is off, I can easily slip into
+her room and select a suit of her clothes, (which I believe will nearly
+fit me,) and she has a tolerably large wardrobe for a servant. Then I
+will steal in the back way, bringing a suit for you. Don't look shocked.
+I shall tell my father and mother that being very low-spirited, I am
+coming in here to spend a quiet evening with you. I heard Mrs.
+Lansdowne, when I was here yesterday, propose to your father to leave
+her at her sister, Mrs. Wilmar's, on his way to the Wistar party
+to-night, and call for her as he comes back; which of course will not be
+before ten o'clock at the very earliest. Therefore the coast will be
+clear, as I suppose Ned will go to his beloved Athenaeum. So you see
+every thing seems to conspire fortunately to forward our plot.
+
+_Juliet._ _Our_ plot. O! do not call it _ours_. I never will have any
+thing to do with a plot.
+
+_Madeline._ Yes, but you _must_ though. Why this is nothing. I have
+plotted a hundred things in the course of my life, and so I shall again.
+Well, now hear the whole. I will slip in the back-way, and you must be
+alone in your room ready to receive me. After we have put on our
+disguises, we will go down stairs very softly and steal out at the alley
+gate. Then we will make the best of our way to the theatre, and go in
+at the gallery-door, passing, of course as two servant-girls. When we
+have reached the gallery we will mix with the crowd, and sit at our ease
+and enjoy the play; at least the masquerade-scene, which I would not
+miss for the world. I am absolutely dying to see the French dancers.
+Nobody can possibly discover us under our disguises. We will not go till
+the first act is over, and the audience settled; and we will come away
+before the last scene of the comedy. Then after we get home we will
+resume our proper dresses, and present ourselves to our parents, looking
+as demure as if we had been sitting by the fire, and talking sensibly,
+all the evening. No one will ever know what we have really been doing.
+It will be a most charming frolic, and something for you and I to laugh
+about, ten years hence. I always enjoy these queer exploits that no one
+else has courage to undertake.
+
+_Juliet_ (_firmly._) Madeline, I will _not_ disguise myself like a
+servant-girl; and I will _never_ accompany you secretly to the theatre,
+nor to any other place.
+
+Juliet spoke in so firm a tone, that Madeline was at first abashed, and
+remained for a few moments silent. But, not easily repelled, she soon
+recovered from her confusion, and exerted all her eloquence to prevail
+on her dear friend, as she called her, to join in the scheme. By turns
+she flattered, caressed, and ridiculed her, and then tried to win her
+consent by representing the delights of the masquerade-scene, as she had
+heard it described by a lady who had recently seen the comedy of the
+Belle's Stratagem. Juliet held out steadily for a long time. But at
+length her firmness gave way, and she finally yielded; as Madeline had
+foreseen. Her reluctance was so great, that her consent was, after all,
+rather extorted than given, and Madeline, having kissed her rather
+oftener than usual, ran gayly to her own home, singing "I won't be a
+nun."
+
+After Madeline had gone, Juliet felt so uneasy at having suffered
+herself to be persuaded against her conscience, that she was on the
+point of calling her back and retracting her promise. When she went to
+dinner, the consciousness of her intended deceit destroyed her appetite,
+and made her feel as if she could not raise her eyes towards her
+parents, or answer them when they spoke to her.
+
+Edward bent on her a scrutinizing glance, and saw that all was not
+right; but supposing that she had committed some fault in the course of
+the morning for which her mother had seriously reprimanded her, he was
+unwilling to notice her apparent mortification, and tried to divert the
+attention of his parents by talking to them of Cooper's last novel,
+which had been published that morning, and of which he had already gone
+through the first volume.
+
+Mrs. Lansdowne, however, remarking that her daughter did not eat,
+inquired if she felt unwell, and Juliet replied that she had a violent
+headache: which was literally true. After dinner, her mother recommended
+that she should retire to her room and lie down, which she gladly did:
+her mind being too much agitated to take interest in any occupation.
+Once in the afternoon, she heard Edward come up stairs and tap at her
+door; but fearing that he had observed her confusion at dinner, and that
+he might ask her some question concerning it, she lay still, and did not
+answer to his knock, so that, supposing her to be asleep, he softly
+withdrew.
+
+Towards evening, her mother came to inquire after her: and Juliet,
+unwilling to meet the family at table in her present state of
+discomposure, requested to have her tea sent up. "My dear," said Mrs.
+Lansdowne, "as you are not well, I will not go to my sister Wilmar's
+this evening, but I will stay at home and sit with you."
+
+"O, no, dear mother!" replied Juliet, "I know you wish to see aunt
+Wilmar: I am sure my tea will relieve my headache, and I have no doubt,
+when I have drunk it, I shall feel well enough to rise, and sit up all
+the evening." Accordingly, after Juliet had taken her tea, she rose and
+adjusted her dress, and when Mrs. Lansdowne came up again, she found her
+daughter sitting by the fire with a book, and apparently so much
+recovered, that she felt no scruples about leaving her, as she was
+really desirous of passing the evening with Mrs. Wilmar, who was
+confined to the house with the influenza.
+
+At last Juliet heard her father and mother depart, and Edward went out
+soon after. In a few minutes, Madeline came cautiously up stairs, and
+glided into the chamber, carrying a large bundle. "All's safe," said
+she, "the coast is _quite_ clear, and we have not a moment to lose. It
+is a fine moonlight night."
+
+Juliet's courage now failed entirely; and she vehemently besought
+Madeline to give up a scheme fraught with so much risk and impropriety.
+But Madeline was immovable, declaring that she had set her heart on it,
+and that she enjoyed nothing so much as what she called an
+out-of-the-way frolic. "Since you are so cowardly, Juliet," said she, "I
+wish I could venture to go alone; but wild as I am, I confess I am not
+quite equal to that--Come, now, off with your frock, and get yourself
+dressed in these delectable habiliments."
+
+She then began to unfasten Juliet's dress, who pale, trembling, and with
+tears in her eyes, arrayed herself in the clothes that Madeline had
+brought for her. The gown was a very dirty one of dark blue domestic
+gingham, and she put on with it a yellowish chequered handkerchief, and
+a check apron. Over this she pinned an old red woollen shawl, and she
+covered her head with a coarse and broken black Leghorn bonnet. The
+clothes that Madeline had allotted to herself were a little better,
+consisting of a dark calico frock, a coarse tamboured muslin collar, an
+old straw bonnet very yellow and faded, and a plaid cloak which belonged
+to the cook, and which she had taken out of a closet in the garret.
+
+The two young ladies did not know, or did not recollect, that when
+_real_ servant-girls go to the theatre, they generally dress as well as
+they can, and take pains to appear to the best advantage. The clothes
+that Madeline had selected were quite too dirty and shabby for the
+occasion. To complete their costume, she gave Juliet a pair of coarse
+calf-skin shoes, which were so large that as she walked her feet seemed
+to rise up out of them. Madeline, for her part, put on a pair of
+carpet-moccasins over her slippers.
+
+After they were dressed and ready to depart for the theatre, Juliet's
+tremor increased, and she was again on the point of relinquishing her
+share in the business; but she again yielded to the solicitations of
+Madeline, who led her softly down stairs by the light of the moon that
+shone in at the staircase windows. They stole, undiscovered, across the
+yard and out at the alley-gate; and finding themselves in the street,
+began to walk very fast, as people generally do when they are going to
+the play.
+
+When they came in view of the theatre, they saw no persons there, except
+two or three gentlemen who went in at the pit-door. Juliet's heart
+failed entirely; and she shrank back as Madeline, taking her hand,
+attempted to pull her towards the door that admitted the gallery-people.
+"We have now gone too far to recede," whispered Madeline,--"You must
+stand by me now. I _will not_ go back, and _you must_ come forward.
+Here, take my money and put it down with yours--I forgot my gloves, and
+my hands will betray me, so I must keep them wrapped up in my cloak."
+
+Juliet laid the money on the ledge before the doorkeeper, who looked at
+them with some surprise. They pulled their bonnets more closely over
+their faces, and passed up the stairs; Madeline running as fast as
+possible, and Juliet entreating her in a low voice to stop a little, as
+she could not keep pace with her. They soon found themselves in the
+gallery, and being assisted over the benches by a very polite black man,
+they took their seats among some coloured people about the centre of the
+middle row.
+
+The crowd and heat were intolerable. Juliet kept her eyes cast down;
+afraid to look round the house, or even to steal a glance towards the
+stage. Madeline, however, looked round boldly, and in a few minutes, to
+her great consternation, she perceived Edward Lansdowne standing up in
+the back part of one of the stage-boxes. Having finished his novel, and
+feeling no inclination to read any more that night, he had concluded to
+go to the theatre, reminded of it by seeing the bill in the evening
+paper. "Juliet," whispered Madeline, "there is my evil genius." "Where,
+where?" exclaimed Juliet, thrown almost off her guard. "If we can
+distinguish _him_ at so great a distance, he can also discover
+_us_."--"You forget," replied Madeline, "that we are in disguise." These
+words, though uttered in a whisper, were evidently heard by the people
+round, who all turned to look at them; and some tried to peep under
+their bonnets, which made Juliet draw hers down over her face till her
+sight was entirely obscured by it.
+
+The play went on; but Madeline and Juliet could not enjoy it, all their
+attention being engaged by the continual fear of discovery. Juliet,
+however heard enough to convince her that her parents would never have
+taken her to see the Belle's Stratagem; as when they did indulge her
+with a visit to the theatre, they always selected a night when the play
+was unexceptionable, and the whole entertainment such as a young lady
+could witness with propriety.
+
+At length came the masquerade-scene, and in a short time the French
+dancers appeared. Just then, a short, fat, red-faced and very vulgar
+Englishwoman who sat behind Madeline and Juliet, gave each of them a
+twitch on the shoulder, saying, in a broad Yorkshire dialect, "I'll
+thank you gals or ladies or whatsomdever you be, to take off your
+bunnets and let a body have some chance of seeing the show; for I've
+been popping my ead back and furrads atween you ever sence you comed
+hin, and thof I've as good a right to see as any body else, I've ardly
+got a squint at the hactors yet."
+
+The girls were now in a most critical dilemma. To take off their bonnets
+seemed out of the question, as the exposure of their heads would no
+doubt betray them, and their fear and perplexity were so great that they
+had not presence of mind either to speak or move.
+
+"Don't pertend that you don't ear me," said the Englishwoman, giving
+them both a hard push forward with her huge hands. "I bees a true King
+Georgeswoman, and won't be put upon by none of the Yankees, not I, thof
+I _am_ come to their country. I pays my money as well as you, and I've
+jist as good a right to see the show; and if you won't take off them big
+bunnets, I'll be bound I'll make you, if there's even a row about it.
+I've raised a row afore this time when I've been put upon."
+
+"Oh! let us go, let us go," said Juliet, gasping with terror, and
+seizing Madeline's arm.
+
+"Honly wait," continued the Englishwoman, "till I tells my usband, who
+sets ahind here, to call 'turn 'em out.' You _may_ be ladies. But I bees
+an onest oman, and if I've come to a land of liberty, the more reason
+that I should make free to speak my mind; and if we're all hequal, why
+then nobody han't no right to put upon me."
+
+By this time the two girls, in an agony of trepidation, had scrambled
+over the benches and got to the door, expecting every instant to hear
+the dreaded words, "turn them out," and to see Edward's eyes directed
+towards them, with those of the whole audience. Scarcely conscious of
+what they were doing, they ran down the gallery-stairs, and flew out of
+the door into the street. As is usual toward the latter part of the
+play, a number of boys had collected about the fruit-stalls waiting for
+checks, that they might gain admittance to see the farce; and as
+Madeline ran past them, her cloak flew open, and the moonbeams shone
+brightly on a brilliant ring which she always wore on her fore-finger.
+This with something in their appearance that would cause even
+unpractised eyes to suspect that they were young ladies, attracted the
+attention of the boys, who stared at them with surprise and curiosity.
+
+Madeline and Juliet ran down the street in breathless terror. They had
+gone about a square from the theatre before they recollected that their
+way home lay in a contrary direction, and that they ought to go _up_ the
+street instead of _down_. "Oh! we are going _from_ home instead of
+_towards_ it," exclaimed Juliet; and they immediately turned about and
+ran up Chestnut street. They again passed the theatre, terrified,
+bewildered, their bonnets falling back and discovering their frightened
+faces in full view; Madeline's cloak half untied and flying out behind
+her, and Juliet still grasping one corner of her shawl (which had fallen
+entirely off her shoulders) and dragging it after her along the
+pavement. On seeing them running back in this forlorn condition, the
+boys set up a loud shout, and calling out "Hurrah for the ladies,"
+pursued them up Chestnut street.
+
+A young gentleman who had left the theatre a few minutes before, and was
+walking leisurely up the street, turned round to discover the meaning of
+all the noise that was coming after him, and caught Juliet, breathless
+and almost dead, by her two hands. "Juliet," he exclaimed, "my sister
+Juliet!" "Oh, Edward!" she shrieked, and fell into his arms drowned in
+tears.
+
+"Save me, save me," cried Madeline, catching him by the coat. "Madeline
+too!" said Edward. "What does all this mean?"
+
+Another gentleman now came up, and ordered off the boys, reprimanding
+them severely for chasing two unprotected females; and Edward taking one
+of the girls under each arm, walked on in silence, much affected by the
+sobbing of Juliet.
+
+Madeline soon recovered herself, and attempted an explanation of the
+strange predicament in which he had found them; passing it off as a very
+good joke, and a further proof of her ungovernable volatility.
+
+Edward remained silent. He would not reproach her, but he determined in
+his mind what course to pursue. He took leave of Madeline at her own
+door, and on entering his father's house, he told Juliet that she had
+better, as soon as possible, divest herself of her disguise. Juliet
+could not speak, but she wept on her brother's shoulder; and Edward
+kissed her cheek, and bade her good night.
+
+She retired to bed, but she could not sleep; and in the morning she rose
+earlier than usual, and went into the parlour, where she knew she would
+find Edward. She looked very pale, and her eyes were swimming in tears.
+"Oh! Edward," said she, "what did my father and mother say, when they
+came home last night, and you told them all that happened?"
+
+"I told them nothing," replied Edward, "I love you too well to betray
+you. I have kept your secret, and I shall never disclose it. But I must
+have a recompense."
+
+_Juliet._ Any, any recompense, dearest Edward. What can you ask that I
+could possibly refuse.
+
+_Edward._ I require you, from this day, to give up all acquaintance with
+Madeline Malcolm. Your infatuation for a girl who, under the name of
+wildness and volatility, sets all propriety at defiance, is to me
+astonishing. Henceforward let there be no more intimacy between you. It
+must be checked before it leads to consequences still worse than the
+adventures of last night.
+
+_Juliet._ I acknowledge that Madeline is too regardless of decorum, and
+that she says and does many strange and improper things: but then she
+has so good a heart.
+
+_Edward._ Tell me one proof of it. You have fallen into the common
+error of supposing that all persons who profess to be giddy, wild, and
+reckless, have kind feelings and good hearts. On the contrary, they may
+too often be classed with the most selfish, cold, and heartless people
+in the world; for they have seldom either sense or sensibility, and
+while resolutely bent on the gratification of their own whims, are
+generally regardless of the peace and convenience of those about them.
+When I first went to college I thought as you do. I supposed that the
+most careless, noisy, and desperate boys must necessarily have kind and
+generous feelings. But I found the contrary to my cost; and I am now
+convinced, that, with some few exceptions, the best hearts are generally
+united with the best heads and the best manners.
+
+_Juliet._ But even if I never visit Madeline myself, how shall I prevent
+her running in to me as she does, two or three times a day?
+
+_Edward._ Very easily. Write her a concise note, intimating that you do
+not consider it proper to continue your acquaintance with her.
+
+_Juliet._ Oh! Edward, I never can do that.
+
+_Edward._ Is not this the recompense I am entitled to, for keeping your
+secret?
+
+_Juliet._ Indeed, Edward, you are too cruel.
+
+_Edward._ Severe, perhaps, but not cruel. The exigency of the case
+requires decisive measures. "I am cruel only to be kind," and you will
+thank me for it hereafter.
+
+_Juliet._ Well then, I _will_ write the note. And if it _must be done_ I
+will do it immediately; for if I allow myself to think about it long, it
+will grieve me so much that I shall never have resolution to go through
+with it. (_She goes to the desk and writes._) There now, Edward, read
+this note.
+
+_Edward_, (_reading_.) "Though convinced that it is better our intimacy
+should cease, it is not without regret that I decline all further
+intercourse with Madeline Malcolm. For her health and happiness I offer
+my best wishes; but in future we can only meet as strangers.
+
+                                         "JULIET LANSDOWNE."
+
+Now seal and send it.
+
+_Juliet._ Oh, Edward! it is hard to give up Madeline. But I believe you
+are right, and I ought not to regret it.
+
+_Edward._ I _know_ I am right.
+
+Juliet then rang the bell for a servant, to whom with a quivering lip
+and hesitating hand she gave the note, desiring him to leave it next
+door for Miss Malcolm.
+
+After breakfast, when Juliet was again alone with her brother, she said
+to him, "Edward, I have never yet concealed any thing from my parents. I
+think if I were to disclose to them the whole truth, I should feel less
+miserable."
+
+Edward approved of this determination, and they went together to their
+mother, to whom Juliet candidly related the whole history of their going
+to the theatre in disguise. She kindly endeavoured to throw as little
+blame on Madeline as possible; and Edward tried to apologize for
+Juliet's partiality for this dangerous girl, and for the yielding
+gentleness of disposition with which his sister had allowed herself to
+be influenced by her; and for her want of judgment in not perceiving the
+faults of Madeline in as strong a light as they appeared to every one
+else.
+
+Mrs. Lansdowne's pleasure, on finding that her daughter had consented to
+give up this very improper intimacy, counterbalanced her regret at
+Juliet's having been persuaded by Madeline to join in the folly and
+indecorum of the preceding evening. For this, however, she thought the
+girls had been sufficiently punished by all they had suffered at the
+theatre, and during their ignominious flight from it.
+
+Madeline's parents had no suspicion of her having been at the play in
+disguise, and the idea of confessing it to them never for a moment
+entered her head. She was highly indignant at Juliet's note; and
+fortunately her resentment was too great to allow her to make any
+attempt at renewing their intimacy. She took care, however, to let no
+one suppose that the acquaintance had ceased by Juliet's desire; telling
+every body that Juliet Lansdowne was a little fool, and that she had
+grown quite tired of her.
+
+In the spring, Mr. Malcolm removed with his family to New York, and
+their house next door to Mr. Lansdowne's was immediately taken by the
+father of Cecilia Selden who had again become the intimate friend of
+Juliet.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note:
+
+Punctuation has been standardised. Hyphenation and spelling have been
+retained as appear in the original publication except as follows:
+
+    Page 6
+    Mrs. Evering had a very excellant cook, a _changed to_
+    Mrs. Evering had a very excellent cook, a
+
+    Page 35
+    vous remercie_,--_Il fait beau-tems_ _changed to_
+    vous remercie_,--_Il fait beau-temps_
+
+    Page 72
+    and then she counted all the window sat _changed to_
+    and then she counted all the windows at
+
+    Page 109
+    I will have _them_. They will de _changed to_
+    I will have _them_. They will do
+
+    Page 114
+    kindness, and feeling really some embarrasment _changed to_
+    kindness, and feeling really some embarrassment
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories for Helen, by Eliza Leslie
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