But this did not bring to pass Miss Jenny's design: for now they all
began again to quarrel which had the most right to it, and which ought
to have had it, with as much vehemence as they had before contended for
the possession of it; and their anger by degrees became so high, that
words could not vent half their rage; and they fell to pulling of caps,
tearing of hair, and dragging the clothes off one another's backs:
though they did not so much strike, as endeavour to scratch and pinch
their enemies.

Miss Dolly Friendly as yet was not engaged in the battle; but on hearing
her friend Miss Nanny Spruce scream out, that she was hurt by a sly
pinch from one of the girls, she flew on this sly pincher, as she called
her, like an enraged lion on its prey; and not content only to return
the harm her friend had received, she struck with such force, as felled
her enemy to the ground. And now they could not distinguish between
friend and enemy; but fought, scratched, and tore, like so many cats,
when they extend their claws to fix them in their rival's heart.

Miss Jenny was employed in endeavouring to part them.

In the midst of this confusion appeared Mrs. Teachum, who was returning
in hopes to see them happy with the fruit she had given them; but she
was some time there before either her voice or presence could awaken
them from their attention to the fight; when on a sudden they all faced
her, and fear of punishment began now a little to abate their rage.
Each of the misses held in her right hand, fast clenched, some marks
of victory; for they beat and were beaten by turns. One of them held a
little lock of hair torn from the head of her enemy; another grasped a
piece of a cap, which, in aiming at her rival's hair, had deceived her
hand, and was all the spoils she could gain; a third clenched a piece of
an apron; a fourth, of a frock. In short, everyone unfortunately held
in her hand a proof of having been engaged in the battle. And the ground
was spread with rags and tatters, torn from the backs of the little
inveterate combatants.

Mrs. Teachum stood for some time astonished at the sight; but at last
she enquired of Miss Jenny Peace, who was the only person disengaged,
to tell her the whole truth, and to inform her of the cause of all this
confusion.

Miss Jenny was obliged to obey the commands of her governess; though
she was so good natured that she did it in the mildest terms; and
endeavoured all she could to lesse