n, rather than increase, Mrs.
Teachum's anger. The guilty persons now began all to excuse themselves
as fast as tears and sobs would permit them.

One said, 'Indeed, madam, it was none of my fault; for I did not begin;
for Miss Sukey Jennett, without any cause in the world (for I did
nothing to provoke her), hit me a great slap in the face, and made my
tooth ache; the pain DID make me angry; and then, indeed, I hit her a
little tap; but it was on her back; and I am sure it was the smallest
tap in the world and could not possibly hurt her half so much as her
great blow did me.'

'Law, miss!' replied Miss Jennett, 'how can you say so? when you know
that you struck me first, and that yours was the great blow, and mine
the little tap; for I only went to defend myself from your monstrous
blows.'

Such like defences they would all have made for themselves, each
insisting on not being in fault, and throwing the blame on her
companion; but Mrs. Teachum silenced them by a positive command; and
told them, that she saw they were all equally guilty, and as such would
treat them.

Mrs. Teachum's method of punishing I never could find out. But this
is certain, the most severe punishment she had ever inflicted on any
misses, since she had kept a school, was now laid on these wicked girls,
who had been thus fighting, and pulling one another to pieces, for a
sorry apple.

The first thing she did was to take away all the apples; telling them,
that before they had any more instances of such kindness from her, they
should give her proofs of their deserving them better. And when she had
punished them as much as she thought proper, she made them all embrace
one another, and promise to be friends for the future; which, in
obedience to her commands, they were forced to comply with, though there
remained a grudge and ill-will in their bosoms; every one thinking she
was punished most, although she would have it, that she deserved to be
punished least; and they continued all the sly tricks they could think
on to vex and tease each other.

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN MISS JENNY PEACE AND MISS SUKEY JENNETT;

WHEREIN THE LATTER IS AT LAST CONVINCED OF HER OWN FOLLY IN BEING SO
QUARRELSOME; AND, BY HER EXAMPLE, ALL HER COMPANIONS ARE BROUGHT TO SEE
AND CONFESS THEIR FAULT.

The next morning Miss Jenny Peace used her utmost endeavours to bring
her schoolfellows to be heartily reconciled, but in vain: for each
insisted on it, that she was not