‘I had one brother,’ said Miss Henny, ‘as well as Miss Jenny Peace; but
my manner of living with him was quite the reverse to that in which
she lived with her brother. All my praise or blame was to arise from my
being better or worse than my brother. If I was guilty of any fault,
it was immediately said, “Oh! fie, miss! Master George (that was my
brother’s name) would not be guilty of such a thing for the world.” If
he was carried abroad, and I stayed at home, then I was bemoaned over,
that poor Miss Henny was left at home, and her brother carried abroad.
And then I was told, that I should go abroad one of these days, and my
brother be left at home so that whenever I went abroad, my greatest joy
was, that he was left at home; and I was pleased to see him come out
to the coach-door with a melancholy air that he could not go too. If
my brother happened to have any fruit given him, and was in a peevish
humour, and would not give me as much as I desired, the servant that
attended me was sure to bid me take care, when I had anything he waited,
not to give him any. So that I thought, if I did not endeavour to be
revenged of him, I should show a want of spirit, which was of all things
what I dreaded most. I had a better memory than my brother, and whenever
I learnt anything, my comfort was to laugh at him because he could not
learn so fast; by which means I got a good deal of learning, but never
minded what I learnt, nor took any pains to keep it; so that what I was
eager to learn one day, to show George how much I knew more than he, I
forgot the next. And so I went on learning, and forgetting as fast as I
learnt; and all the pains I took served only to show that I COULD learn.
‘I was so great a favourite, that I was never denied any thing I
asked for; but I was very unhappy for the same reason that Miss Dolly
Friendly’s sister was so; and I have often sat down and cried, because I
did not know what I would have, till at last I own I grew so peevish and
humoursome, that I was always on the fret, and harboured in my mind a
kind of malice that made me fancy whatever my brother got, I lost; and
in this unhappy condition I lived, till I came to school, and here I
found that other misses wanted to have their humours as well as myself.
This I could not bear, because I had been used to have my own will, and
never to trouble myself about what others felt. For whenever I beat or
abused my brother, his pain did not make me cry; but I believe it was
thinking wrong made me guilty of these faults; for I don’t find I am
ill-natured; for now I have been taught to consider that my companions
can feel as well as myself, I am sorry for their pain, and glad when
they are pleased, and would be glad to do anything to oblige them.’
Here Miss Henny ceased, and Miss Jenny Peace then told her how glad she
was to hear that she had subdued all malice in her mind, adding, ‘These
weeds, my dear, unless early plucked up, are (as I have heard our good
governess observe upon a like occasion) very apt to take such deep root,
as to choke every good seed around them; and then who can tell whether,
with the same opportunities, they might not become Lady Brumptons before
the end of their lives?’
Little Polly Suckling remembered that all the company had told the story
of their past lives, except herself; and she thought she would not be
left out; but yet she had a mind to be asked to tell it, hoping that her
companions thought her of consequence enough not to leave her out of
any scheme; therefore, addressing herself to Miss Jenny, she said she
thought it was very pleasant to hear anybody tell the history of their
own lives. Miss Jenny saw her meaning, and answered, ‘So it is, my
little dear; and now, if you please, you shall oblige us with relating
the history of yours.’ Polly smiled at this request, and said she was
ready to comply.