The Governess | Page 6

be heartily reconciled, but in vain: for each
insisted on it, that she was not to blame; but that the whole quarrel
arose from the faults of others. At last ensued the following dialogue
between Miss Jenny Peace and Miss Sukey Jennett, which brought
about Miss Jenny's designs; and which we recommend to the
consideration of all our young readers.
MISS JENNY. Now pray, Miss Sukey, tell me, what did you get by
your contention and quarrel about that foolish apple?
MISS SUKEY. Indeed, ma'am, I shall not answer you; I know that you
only want to prove, that you are wiser than I, because you are older.
But I don't know but some people may understand as much at eleven
years old as others at thirteen: but, because you are the oldest in the
school, you always want to be tutoring and governing. I don't like to
have more than one governess; and if I obey my mistress, I think that is
enough.
MISS JENNY. Indeed, my dear, I don't want to govern you, nor to
prove myself wiser than you; I only want that instead of quarrelling,
and making yourself miserable, you should live at peace and be happy.
Therefore, pray do answer my question, whether you get anything by
your quarrel?
MISS SUKEY. No I cannot say I got anything by it: for my mistress
was angry, and punished me; and my hair was pulled off, and my
clothes torn in the scuffle; neither did I value the apple; but yet I have
too much spirit to be imposed on. I am sure I had as good a right to it as
any of the others; and I would not give up my right to anyone.
MISS JENNY. But don't you know, Miss Sukey, it would have shown
much more spirit to have yielded the apple to another, than to have
fought about it? Then indeed you would have proved your sense; for
you would have shown, that you had too much understanding to fight
about a trifle. Then your clothes had been whole, your hair not torn
from your head, your mistress had not been angry, nor had your fruit
been taken away from you.
MISS SUKEY. And so, miss, you would fain prove, that it is wisest to
submit to everybody that would impose upon one? But I will not

believe ii, say what you will.
MISS JENNY. But is not what I say true? If you had not been in the
battle, would not your clothes have been whole, your hair not torn, your
mistress pleased with you, and the apples your own?

Here Miss Sukey paused for some time: for as Miss Jenny was in the
right and had truth on her side, it was difficult for Miss Sukey to know
what to answer. For it is impossible, without being very silly, to
contradict truth; and yet Miss Sukey was so foolish, that she did not
care to own herself in the wrong; though nothing could have been so
great a sign of her understanding.
When Miss Jenny saw her thus at a loss for an answer, she was in
hopes of making her companion happy; for, as she had as much good
nature as understanding, that was her design. She therefore pursued her
discourse in the following manner:

MISS JENNY. Pray, Miss Sukey, do answer me one question more.
Don't you lie awake at nights, and fret and vex yourself, because you
are angry with your school-fellows? Are not you restless and uneasy,
because you cannot find a safe method to be revenged on them, without
being punished yourself? Do tell me truly, is not this your case?
MISS SUKEY. Yes it is. For if I could but hurt my enemies, without
being hurt myself, it would be the greatest pleasure I could have in the
world.
MISS JENNY. Oh fie, Miss Sukey! What you have now said is wicked.
Don't you consider what you say every day in your prayers'? And this
way of thinking will make you lead a very uneasy life. If you would
hearken to me, I could put you into a method of being very happy, and
making all those misses you call your enemies, become your friends.
MISS SUKEY. You could tell me a method, miss? Do you think I don't
know as well as you what is fit to be done? I believe I am as capable of
finding the way to be happy, as you are of teaching me.

Here Miss Sukey burst into tears, that anybody should presume to tell
her the way to be happy.

MISS JENNY. Upon my word, my dear, I don't mean to vex you; but
only, instead of tormenting yourself all night in laying plots to revenge