FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   >>  
your conduct: But there is no reason, with foolish, giddy girls! I will have every word correct: no varnishing, or lies." After much hesitation, and many tears, Miss Bruce went through the whole of her story. While she was speaking, her father seemed lost in thought. No sooner had she finished, but he started from his chair, and with his eyes fixed upon the floor, walked some time from one end of the study to the other. He then stopped, and looked sternly at his daughter. "And so you have been trying your skill at boxing! An admirable accomplishment for a young lady! You have taken upon yourself to be rude to your school companion; to be ungrateful to Mrs. Adair, and ventured to ride ten miles in a stage-coach! And in what a dress! You are indeed an enterprizing young lady! Now let me tell you, Miss Bruce, one simple truth: you have acted in all things contrary to that which you know is right. But pray what is the meaning of the word right?" "To do all things that I know I should do; I do not know any thing more, papa; indeed I do not." "You know the right, but a perverse and wilful disposition leads you to do wrong." Mr. Bruce rang the bell, and ordered the housekeeper into his presence. When she entered the room, he commanded her to close the door. "Take my daughter," said he, "to the chamber that was occupied last night. You are not to speak to her, nor allow any servant in the house to do so. Give her a little bread and milk: go, child." "Papa,"--here Miss Bruce sobbed; and would have added, "O, do forgive me!" but her father sternly bade her leave him. Mr. Bruce looked at his daughter when she was asleep. He heard her murmuring and intreating; and listened to words that affected him deeply. He sat down by her bed-side until she was tranquil: and whether he shed tears of tenderness over her is best known to himself; but the following morning, though his feelings were softened, his countenance was equally stern. His carriage was at the door; and at ten o'clock he and his daughter arrived at Mrs. Adair's. Neither at breakfast nor during the ride had he uttered one word. "Madam," said he, the moment he beheld the mistress of his child, "I have brought a runaway. I will not make an apology for her conduct: it is not in my way; it rests entirely with yourself whether she will be accepted or rejected. Providence, in the justness of his ways, has deprived her of an excellent mother. How far servants are capable
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   >>  



Top keywords:

daughter

 

looked

 

conduct

 

sternly

 

things

 
father
 

servant

 

asleep

 

forgive

 

sobbed


affected
 

listened

 

murmuring

 

intreating

 

deeply

 

apology

 

runaway

 
brought
 

moment

 

beheld


mistress

 

accepted

 

rejected

 

mother

 

servants

 

capable

 
excellent
 
deprived
 

Providence

 
justness

uttered

 

morning

 

feelings

 
tranquil
 

tenderness

 

softened

 

arrived

 

Neither

 
breakfast
 

carriage


countenance

 

equally

 

wilful

 

walked

 

stopped

 

foolish

 
admirable
 
accomplishment
 

boxing

 

reason