uarrels,
jars, and galling speeches. Instead of sweet music, the apartments were
filled with screams and howling; for every one giving way to the most
outrageous passions, they were always doing each other some malicious
turn, and only universal horror and confusion reigned.

The princess was hated by all, and was often asked, with insulting
sneers, why she did not return to her peaceful grove, and condescending
mother? But her mind having been thus turned aside from what was right,
could not bear the thoughts of returning; and though by her daily tears,
she showed her repentance, shame prevented her return: but this again
was not the right sort of shame; for then she would humbly have taken
the punishment due to her crime; and it was rather a stubborn pride,
which, as she knew herself so highly to blame, would not give her leave
to suffer the confusion of again confessing her fault; and till she
could bring herself to such a state of mind, there was no remedy for her
misery.

Just as Miss Jenny had read these words, Mrs. Teachum remembering some
orders necessary to give in her family, left them, but bid them go on,
saying she would return again in a quarter of an hour. But she was no
sooner gone from them, than our little company, hearing the sound of
trumpets and kettle-drums, which seemed to be playing at some little
distance from Mrs. Teachum's house, suddenly started from their seats,
running directly to the terrace; and, looking over the garden wall,
they saw a troop of soldiers riding by, with these instruments of music
playing before them.

They were highly delighted with the gallant and splendid appearance of
these soldiers, and watched them till they were out of sight, and were
then returning to their arbour, where Miss Jenny had been reading; but
Miss Nanny Spruce espied another such troop coming out of the lane from
whence the first had issued, and cried out, 'O! here is another fine
sight; let us stay, and see these go by too.' 'Indeed (said Miss Dolly
Friendly) I am in such pain for the poor princess Hebe, while she is in
that sad castle, that I had rather hear how she escaped (for that I hope
she will) than see all the soldiers in the world; and besides, it is but
seeing the same thing we have just looked at before.' Here some were for
staying, and others for going back; but as Miss Dolly's party was the
strongest, the few were ashamed to avow their inclinations; and they
were returning to the arbour