Page:A New England Tale.djvu/63

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52
A NEW-ENGLAND TALE.

from the servant and, notwithstanding he ventured to say he believed it was not meant for her, she read it first with no very satisfied air, and then turning to one of the children, she told her to call Mary Hull to her. The servant placed the things on the table, and left the room.

"So," said she to Jane, who was looking at her for some explanation of the sudden apparition of the work-box, &c.—"So, Miss, you have seen fit to disobey the first order I took the trouble to give you. I should like to know how you dared to leave these things after my positive orders."

"I did not understand your note, Ma'am, to contain positive orders; and Mary and I did not think it was quite right to take the things."

"Right! pretty judges of right to be sure. She a hired a girl, and a Methodist into the bargain. I don't know how she dares to judge over my head; and you, Miss, I tell you once for all, I allow no child in my house to know right from wrong; children have no reason, and they ought to be very thankful, when they fall into the hands of those that are capable of judging for them. Here," said she to Mary, who now entered in obedience to her summons; "here is a proposal of a place for you, from that Quaker that buried his wife last week. I suppose you call yourself your own mistress, and you can do as you like about it; but as you are yet a young woman, Mary Hull, and this man is a Quaker widower, and nobody knows who, I should think it a great risk for you to live with him; for, if nothing worse comes of it, you may