They certainly ! for Morlands took glance at them, they thought they had never seen youthful faces that were less gay, and indeed less prepossessing

not good feature or pleasant expression among them all Edward Morland recollected his having often read "that childhood is always lovely " But juvenile Watkinsons were an exception rule

"The first duty of mother is to her children," repeated Mrs Watkinson "Till nine o'clock, my daughter Jane and myself are occupied every evening in hearing the lessons that learned for to-morrow's school hour receive no visitors, and we never have company to tea, as interfere duties We had just finished hearing these lessons arrived Afterwards the children are permitted to indulge themselves in rational play, for I permit no amusement also instructive My children are trained, that even when alone their sports are always serious "

Two boys glanced slyly at , with what Edward Morland comprehended as an expression of pitch-penny and marbles

" now engaged at their game of astronomy," continued Mrs Watkinson " also sort of geography cards, and set of mathematical cards blessed discovery, the invention educationary games; even the play-time of children turned to account And no idea, ma'am, how they enjoy them "

Just then the boy Joseph rose table, and stalking Mrs Watkinson, said to her, "Mamma, please to whip me "

unusual request the visitors looked much amazed, and Mrs Watkinson replied to him, "Whip you, my best Joseph--for what cause ? seen anything wrong this evening, and my anxiety induces me to watch my children all the time "

"You me," answered Joseph, "for done_ anything very wrong But bad thought, and Mr Ironrule says that fault imagined is just as wicked as fault committed "

" , ma'am, what good memory he has," said Mrs Watkinson aside to Mrs Morland "But my best Joseph, you make your mother tremble What fault imagined ? your bad thought ? "

"Ay," said another boy, "what's your thought like ? "

"My thought," said Joseph, "was 'Confound all astronomy, and I the man hanged that made this game '"

"Oh ! my child," exclaimed the mother, stopping her ears, " indeed shocked you repented so immediately "

"Yes," returned Joseph, "but afraid my repentance won't last If not whipped, these bad thoughts whenever I play at astronomy, and worse still geography game Whip me, ma, and punish me as I deserve There's the rattan corner: I'll bring it myself "

"Excellent boy ! " said his mother " I always pardon my children are so candid confess their faults "

"So ," said Joseph, "but whipping will cure me better "

" resolve to punish so conscientious child," said Mrs Watkinson

"Shall I trouble off your hands ? " inquired Edward, losing all patience disgust sanctimonious hypocrisy young Blifil " such rarity for boy to request whipping, that so remarkable desire ought by all means gratified "

Joseph turned round and made face at him

" the rattan," said Edward, half laughing, and offering it out hand "I'll use it to your full satisfaction "

The boy thought it most prudent to stride off and return table, and ensconce himself among his brothers and sisters; some of whom were staring with stupid surprise; others were whispering and giggling hope of seeing Joseph get real flogging

Mrs Watkinson having bestowed bitter look on Edward, hastened the attention mother to something else " Mrs Morland," said she, "allow me to introduce you to my youngest hope " She pointed to sleepy boy about five years old, who with head thrown back and mouth wide open, was slumbering chair

Mrs Watkinson's children were uncomfortable species who never go to bed; never without all manner of resistance All her boasted authority was inadequate to compel them; they never would confess themselves sleepy; always wanted to "sit up," and nightly scene of scolding, coaxing, threatening and manoeuvring them off

"I declare," said Mrs Watkinson, "dear Benny is almost asleep Shake him up, Christopher him speech His school-mistress takes great pains in teaching her little pupils , and stands up herself and shows them how "

The child having been shaken up hard ( others helping Christopher), rubbed his eyes and began to whine His mother went to him, took him on her lap, hushed him up, and began to coax him This done, she stood him feet before Mrs Morland, and desired him speech company The child put his thumb into his mouth, and remained silent

"Ma," said Jane Watkinson, "you had better tell him what speech "

"Speak Cato or Plato," said his mother "Which call it ? Come now, Benny--how does it begin ? ' quite right and reasonable, Plato ' That's it "

"Speak Lucius," said his sister Jane "Come now, Benny--say 'your thoughts are turned on peace '"

The little boy looked as were not_, and meditating an outbreak

"No, no ! " exclaimed Christopher, "let him say Hamlet Come now, Benny--' or not '"

"It ain't at all," cried Benny, "and I won't speak the least bit of it for any of you I hate that speech ! "

"Only see his obstinacy," said the solemn Joseph " he given ? "

"Speak anything, Benny," said Mrs Watkinson, "anything so only speech "

All the Watkinson voices now began to clamor violently obstinate child--"Speak speech ! speak speech ! speak speech ! " But they had no more effect reiterated exhortations nurses confuse the poor heads of babies, require them to "shake day-day--shake day-day ! "

Mrs Morland now interfered, and begged sleepy little boy excused; he screamed out that "he wasn't sleepy at all, and go to bed ever "

"I never knew any children behave so before," said Mrs Watkinson " always models of obedience, ma'am look is sufficient And say that in every way profited education giving them our way, ma'am, to waste our money in parties and fooleries, and fine furniture and fine clothes, and rich food, and all such abominations Our first duty is to our children, and them learn everything taught schools go wrong, for want of education Hester, my dear, come and talk to Miss Morland in French "

Hester (unlike her little brother not speak speech) stepped boldly forward, and addressed Caroline Morland with: "_Parlez-vous Francais, mademoiselle ? Comment se va madame votre mere ? Aimez-vous la musique ? Aimez-vous la danse ? Bon jour--bon soir--bon repos Comprenez-vous ? "

tirade, uttered with great volubility, Miss Morland made no other reply than, "_Oui--je comprens "

" , Hester-- indeed," said Mrs Watkinson " , ma'am," turning to Mrs Morland, "how very fluent in French; and she has only been learning eleven quarters "

After considerable whispering between Jane and her mother, the former withdrew, and sent in Irish girl waiter with basket of soda biscuit, pitcher of water, and some glasses Mrs Watkinson invited her guests to consider themselves at home and help themselves freely, saying: "We never let cakes, sweetmeats, confectionery, or any such things enter the house, as very unwholesome children, and it sinful temptation in their way , ma'am, agree with me plainest food best for everybody People that want nice things may go to parties ; but never get any with me "

collation was over, and every child provided with biscuit, Mrs Watkinson said to Mrs Morland: "Now, ma'am, some music from my daughter Jane, one of Mr Bangwhanger's best scholars "

Jane Watkinson sat down piano and commenced powerful piece of six mortal pages, which she played out and out of tune; but with tremendous force of hands; notwithstanding which, it had, however, the good effect of putting most children to sleep

Morlands the evening had seemed already five hours long Still only half past ten when Jane was midst of her piece The guests had all tacitly determined best not to let Mrs Watkinson know their intention directly from her house to Mrs St Leonard's party; arrival carriage the signal of departure, even if Jane's piece reached its termination They stole glances clock mantel It wanted but quarter of eleven, when Jane rose piano, and was congratulated by her mother excellence of her music Still no carriage was heard to stop; no doorbell was heard to ring Mrs Morland expressed her fears coachman had forgotten

"Has he been paid for bringing you here ? " asked Mrs Watkinson

"I paid him when we came door," said Edward " perhaps he might want the money for some purpose before "

"That was very kind in you, sir," said Mrs Watkinson, "but not very wise There's no dependence on any coachman; and perhaps as of business enough this rainy night never come at all--being already paid for bringing you here "