n was to try the memory and attention of some of the others.'

They all remained silent, and seemed to wait for a more particular
command, before any one would offer at the undertaking; not through
any backwardness to comply with Mrs. Teachum's request, but each from a
diffidence of herself to perform it.

Miss Jenny Peace then said, that she had observed a great attention in
them all; and she did not doubt but every one was able to give a very
good account of what they had heard. 'But, as Miss Sukey Jennet is the
eldest, I believe, madam, (continued she), if you approve it, they will
all be very ready to depute her as their speaker.'

Each smiled at being so relieved by Miss Jenny; and Mrs. Teachum, taking
Miss Sukey Jennet by the hand, said, 'Come, my dear, throw off all fear
and reserve; imagine me one of your companions, and tell me the story of
the play you have been reading.'

Miss Sukey, thus encouraged by her kind governess, without any
hesitation, spoke in the following manner:

'If I understand your commands, madam, by telling the story of the play,
you would not have me tell you the acts and scenes as they followed one
another for that I am afraid I can hardly remember, as I have heard
it only once but I must describe the chief people in the play, and the
plots and contrivances that are carried on amongst them.'

Mrs. Teachum nodded her head, and Miss Sukey thus proceeded:

'There is an old Lord Brumpton, who had married a young wife, that had
lived with him some years, and by her deceitful and cunning ways had
prevailed with him to disinherit his only son Lord Hardy (who was a very
sensible good young man) and to leave him but a shilling. And this Lord
Brumpton was taken in a fit, so that all the house thought he was dead,
and his lady sent for an undertaker, one Mr. Sable, to bury him. But
coming out of his fit, when nobody but this Mr. Sable, and an old
servant, called Trusty, were by, he was prevailed upon by the good old
Trusty to feign himself still dead (and the undertaker promises secrecy)
in order to detect the wickedness of his wife, which old Trusty assures
him is very great; and then he carries his lord where he overhears
a discourse between the widow (as she thinks herself) and her maid
Tattleaid; and he bears his once beloved wife rejoicing in his supposed
death, and in the success of her own arts to deceive him. Then there are
two young ladies, Lady Charlotte and Lady Harriet Lovely, to