th.

Brighteyes, who had not before partaken of the bird-seed, was overjoyed
at the sight. He almost forgot the pain of his foot, and soon buried
himself withinside the cake; whilst I, who had pretty well satisfied
my hunger before, only ate a few of the crumbs, and then went to take a
survey of the adjoining apartment. I crept softly under the door of the
closet into a room, as large as that which I had before been in, though
not so elegantly furnished; for, instead of being covered with a carpet,
there was only a small one round the bed; and near the fire was a
cradle, with a cleanly-looking woman sitting by it, rocking it with her
foot, whilst at the same time she was combing the head of a little boy
about four years old. In the middle of the room stood a table, covered
with a great deal of litter; and in one corner was the little girl whom
I had before seen with her mamma, crying and sobbing as if her heart
would break. As I made not the least noise at my entrance, no one
observed me for some time; so creeping under one of the beds, I heard
the following discourse:--

'It does not signify, miss,' said the woman, who I found was the
children's nurse, 'I never will put up with such behaviour: you know
that I always do everything for you when you speak prettily; but to be
ordered to dress you in such a manner, is what I never will submit to:
and you shall go undressed all day before I will dress you, unless you
ask me as you ought to do.' Nancy made no reply, but only continued
crying. 'Aye! you may cry and sob as much as you please,' said the
nurse; 'I do not care for that: I shall not dress you for crying and
roaring, but for being good and speaking with civility.' Just as she
said these words, the door opened, and in came the lady whom I before
saw, and whose name I afterwards found was Artless. As soon as she
entered, the nurse addressed her, saying, 'Pray, madam, is it by
your desire that Miss Nancy behaves so rudely, and bids me dress her
directly, and change the buckles in her shoes, or else she will slap my
face? Indeed she did give me a slap upon my hand; so I told her, that I
would not dress her at all; for really, madam, I thought you would
not wish me to do it, whilst she behaved so; and I took the liberty
of putting her to stand in the corner.' 'I do not think,' replied Mrs.
Artless, 'that she deserves to stand in the room at all, or in the house
either, if she behaves in that manner: if she does not spea