s productive as his brother's. "Never, for the future,"
said Rufus, "despise the instruction and assistance of any one, since
you will find by experience, that _two heads are better than one_."

[Illustration]

MADAM D'ALLONE AND HER FOUR

PUPILS.

[Illustration]

Madam D'Allone was the governess of four young ladies, Emilia, Harriot,
Lucy, and Sophia, whom she loved with the tenderness of a mother. Her
principal wish was, that her pupils might be virtuous and happy, and
that they might enjoy all the comforts of life with tranquillity. They
each experienced an equal share of her indulgence, and each received the
same treatment, either as to pardon for errors, or rewards, or
punishments.

Her endeavours were crowned with the happiest success, and her four
little girls became the sweetest children upon earth. They told each
other of their faults, and as readily forgave offences; they shared in
each other's joys, nor were they ever happy when separated.

An unforeseen event, however, disturbed this happy tranquillity, just at
the very moment they began to taste its charms, which served to convince
them how necessary it was to be guided by their prudent governess.

Madam D'Allone was obliged to leave her pupils for a little time, a
family affair having made it necessary for her to visit France. She left
them with much reluctance, even sacrificed her interest, in some
measure, to the desire of speedily settling her affairs, and, in the
course of a month, returned in safety to her little flock, who received
her with the warmest expressions of joy; but the alteration she
perceived in her children very much surprised and alarmed her.

She saw it frequently happen, that if one asked the slightest favour of
another, it was ill-naturedly refused, and from thence arose tumults and
quarrels. That gaiety and cheerfulness, which had used to accompany all
their sports and pastimes, were now changed to a gloomy perverseness;
and instead of those tender expressions of love and friendship, which
had constantly dwelt in all their conversations, nothing was now heard
but perpetual jarrings and wranglings. If one proposed a walk in the
garden, another would give some reason why she wished to remain in her
chamber; and, in short, their only study seemed to be to thwart each
other.

It happened one day that, not contented with showing each other how much
they delighted in perverseness, they mutually distressed themselves wi