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but； alas！ I am not so much the object of your pity； as your contempt； for all my misery is of my own seeking； and owing to the wickedness of my own mind。 I had two sisters； with whom I was bred up； and I have all my lifetime been unhappy； for no other cause but for their success in the world。 When we were young； I could neither eat nor sleep in peace； when they had either praise or pleasure。 When we grew up to be women； they were both soon married much to their advantage and satisfaction。 This galled me to the heart； and； though I had several good offers； yet as I did not think them in all respects equal to my sisters； I would not accept them； and yet was inwardly vexed to refuse them； for fear I would get no better。 I generally deliberated so long that I lost my lovers； and then I pined for that loss。 I never wanted for anything； and was in a situation in which I might have been happy； if I pleased。 My sisters loved me very well； for I concealed as much as possible from them my odious envy； and yet never did any poor wretch lead so miserable a life as I have done； for every blessing they enjoyed was as so many daggers to my heart。 'Tis this envy that has caused all my ill health； has preyed upon my very vitals； and will now bring me to my Grave。〃
'In a few days after this confession she died； and her words and death made such a strong impression on my mind； that I could not help sending you this relation； and begging you； my dear Sukey； to remember how careful we ought to be to curb in our minds the very first risings of a passion so detestable； and so fatal； as this proved to poor Mrs。 Dison。 I know I have no particular reason for giving you this caution； for I never saw anything in you； but what deserved the love and esteem of
'Your very affectionate cousin； 'M。 SMITH。'
As soon as Miss Sukey had finished her letter； Miss Patty Lockit rose up； and； flying to Miss Jenny Peace； embraced her； and said； 'What thanks can I give you； my dear friend； for having put me into a way of examining my heart； and reflecting on my own actions； by which you have saved me； perhaps； from a life as miserable as that of the poor woman in Miss Sukey's letter！' Miss Jenny did not thoroughly understand her meaning； but imagining it might be something relating to her past life； desired her to explain herself； which she said she would do； telling now； in her turn； all that had hitherto happened to her。
THE DESCRIPTION OF MISS PATTY LOCKIT。
Miss Patty Lockit was but ten years old； tall； inclined to fat。 Her neck was short； and she was not in the least genteel。 Her face was very handsome； for all her features were extremely good。 She had large blue eyes； was exceeding fair； and had a great bloom on her cheeks。 Her hair was the very first degree of light brown； was bright and shining； and hung in ringlets half way down her back。 Her mouth was rather too large； but she had such fine teeth； and looked so agreeably when she smiled； that you was not sensible of any fault in it。
This was the person of Miss Patty Lockit； who was slow to relate her past life； which she did； in the following manner：
THE LIFE OF MISS PATTY LOCKIT。
I lived； till I was six years old； in a very large family； for I had four sisters； all older than myself； and three brothers。 We played together； and passed our time much in the common way： sometimes we quarrelled； and sometimes agreed； just as accident would have it。 Our parents had no partiality to any of us； so we had no cause to envy one another on that account； and we lived tolerably well together。
'When I was six years old； my grandmother by my father's side （and who was also my godmother） offering to take me to live with her； and promising to look upon me as her own child； and entirely to provide for me； my father and mother； as they had a large family； very readily accepted her offer； and sent me directly to her house。
'About half a year before this； she had taken another goddaughter； the only child of my Aunt Bradly； who was lately dead； and whose husband was gone to the West Indies。 My cousin； Molly Bradly； was four years older than I； and her mother had taken such pains in her education； that the understood more than most girls of her age； and had so much liveliness； good humour； and ingenuity； that everybody was fond of her； and wherever we went together； all the notice was taken of my cousin； and I was very little regarded。
'Though I had all my life before lived in a family where every one in it was older； and knew more than myself； yet I was very easy； for we were generally together in the nursery； and nobody took much notice of us； whether we knew anything； or whether we did not。 But now； as I lived in the house with only one companion； who was so much more admired than myself； the comparison began to vex me； and I found a strong hatred and aversion for my cousin arising in my mind； and yet； I verily believe I should have got the better of it； and been willing to have learnt of my cousin； and should have loved her for teaching me； if any one had told me it was right； and if it had not been that Betty； the maid who took care of us； used to be for ever teasing me about the preference that was shown to my cousin； and the neglect I always met with。 She used to tell me； that she wondered how I could bear to see Miss Molly so caressed； and that it was want of spirit not to think myself as good as she was； and； if she was in my place； she would not submit to be taught by a child； for my Cousin Molly frequently offered to instruct me in anything she knew； but I used to say （as Betty had taught me） that I would not learn of her； for she was but a child； though she was a little older； and that I was not put under her care； but that of my grandmamma。 But she； poor woman； was so old and unhealthy； that she never troubled her head much about us； but only to take care that we wanted for nothing。 I lived in this manner three years； fretting and vexing myself that I did not know so much； nor was not so much liked； as my Cousin Molly； and yet resolving not to learn anything she could teach me； when my grandmamma was advised to send me to school； but； as soon as I came here； the case was much worse； for； instead of one person to envy； I found many； for all my schoolfellows had learned more than I； and； instead of endeavouring to get knowledge； I began to hate all those who knew more than myself； and this； I am now convinced； was owing to that odious envy； which； if not cured； would always have made me as miserable as Mrs。 Dison was and which constantly tormented me； till we came to live in that general peace and good…humour we have lately enjoyed： and as I hope this wicked spirit was not natural to me； but only blown up by that vile Betty's instigations； I don't doubt but I shall now grow very happy； and learn something every day； and be pleased with being instructed； and that I shall always love those who are so good as to instruct me。'
Here Miss Patty Lockit ceased； and the dinner…bell called them from their arbour。
Mrs。 Teachum； as soon as they had dined； told them； that she thought it proper they would use some bodily exercise； that they might not； by sitting constantly still； impair their health。 Not but that she was greatly pleased with their innocent and instructive manner of employing their leisure hours； but this wise woman knew that the faculties of the mind grow languid and useless； when the health of the body is lost。
As soon as they understood their governess's pleasure； they readily resolved to obey her commands； and desired that； after school； they might take a walk as far as the dairy house； to eat some curds and cream。 Mrs。 Teachum not only granted their request； but said she would dispense with their school…attendance that afternoon； in order to give them more time for their walk； which was between two and three miles； and she likewise added； that she herself would go with them。 They all flew like lightning to get their hats； and to equip themselves for their walk； and； with cheerful countenances； attended Mrs。 Teachum in the schoolroom。 This good gentlewoman； so far from laying them under a restraint by her presence； encouraged them to run in the