The Governess | Page 5

yet was not engaged in the battle; but on
hearing her friend Miss Nanny Spruce scream out, that she was hurt by
a sly pinch from one of the girls, she flew on this sly pincher, as she
called her, like an enraged lion on its prey; and not content only to
return the harm her friend had received, she struck with such force, as
felled her enemy to the ground. And now they could not distinguish
between friend and enemy; but fought, scratched, and tore, like so
many cats, when they extend their claws to fix them in their rival's
heart.
Miss Jenny was employed in endeavouring to part them.
In the midst of this confusion appeared Mrs. Teachum, who was
returning in hopes to see them happy with the fruit she had given them;
but she was some time there before either her voice or presence could
awaken them from their attention to the fight; when on a sudden they
all faced her, and fear of punishment began now a little to abate their
rage. Each of the misses held in her right hand, fast clenched, some
marks of victory; for they beat and were beaten by turns. One of them
held a little lock of hair torn from the head of her enemy; another
grasped a piece of a cap, which, in aiming at her rival's hair, had
deceived her hand, and was all the spoils she could gain; a third
clenched a piece of an apron; a fourth, of a frock. In short, everyone
unfortunately held in her hand a proof of having been engaged in the
battle. And the ground was spread with rags and tatters, torn from the
backs of the little inveterate combatants.
Mrs. Teachum stood for some time astonished at the sight; but at last
she enquired of Miss Jenny Peace, who was the only person disengaged,
to tell her the whole truth, and to inform her of the cause of all this
confusion.
Miss Jenny was obliged to obey the commands of her governess;
though she was so good natured that she did it in the mildest terms; and
endeavoured all she could to lessen, rather than increase, Mrs.
Teachum's anger. The guilty persons now began all to excuse

themselves as fast as tears and sobs would permit them.
One said, 'Indeed, madam, it was none of my fault; for I did not begin;
for Miss Sukey Jennett, without any cause in the world (for I did
nothing to provoke her), hit me a great slap in the face, and made my
tooth ache; the pain DID make me angry; and then, indeed, I hit her a
little tap; but it was on her back; and I am sure it was the smallest tap in
the world and could not possibly hurt her half so much as her great
blow did me.'
'Law, miss!' replied Miss Jennett, 'how can you say so? when you know
that you struck me first, and that yours was the great blow, and mine
the little tap; for I only went to defend myself from your monstrous
blows.'
Such like defences they would all have made for themselves, each
insisting on not being in fault, and throwing the blame on her
companion; but Mrs. Teachum silenced them by a positive command;
and told them, that she saw they were all equally guilty, and as such
would treat them.
Mrs. Teachum's method of punishing I never could find out. But this is
certain, the most severe punishment she had ever inflicted on any
misses, since she had kept a school, was now laid on these wicked girls,
who had been thus fighting, and pulling one another to pieces, for a
sorry apple.
The first thing she did was to take away all the apples; telling them,
that before they had any more instances of such kindness from her, they
should give her proofs of their deserving them better. And when she
had punished them as much as she thought proper, she made them all
embrace one another, and promise to be friends for the future; which, in
obedience to her commands, they were forced to comply with, though
there remained a grudge and ill-will in their bosoms; every one
thinking she was punished most, although she would have it, that she
deserved to be punished least; and they continued all the sly tricks they
could think on to vex and tease each other.

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN MISS JENNY PEACE AND MISS
SUKEY JENNETT; WHEREIN THE LATTER IS AT LAST
CONVINCED OF HER OWN FOLLY IN BEING SO
QUARRELSOME; AND, BY HER EXAMPLE, ALL HER

COMPANIONS ARE BROUGHT TO SEE AND CONFESS THEIR
FAULT.
The next morning Miss Jenny Peace used her utmost endeavours to
bring her schoolfellows to