Ask them; ask them, child, with a twirl of her finger.--I have delivered
my message. Your father will be obeyed. He is willing to hope you to be
all obedience, and would prevent all incitements to refractoriness.
I know my duty, said I; and hope I shall not find impossible condition
annexed to it.
A pert young creature, vain and conceited, she called me. I was the only
judge, in my own wise opinion, of what was right and fit. She, for her
part, had long seen into my specious ways: and now I should shew every
body what I was at bottom.
Dear Bella! said I, hands and eyes lifted up--why all this?--Dear, dear
Bella, why--
None of your dear, dear Bella's to me.--I tell you, I see through your
witchcrafts [that was her strange word]. And away she flung; adding, as
she went, and so will every body else very quickly, I dare say.
Bless me, said I to myself, what a sister have I!--How have I deserved
this?
Then I again regretted my grandfather's too distinguishing goodness to
me.