nd the desire of hurting and being revenged on those
who she thought did not by their behaviour show the same regard for her,
that her own good opinion of herself made her think she deserved. Miss
Jenny then asked her, if she was willing to lead the way to the rest of
her companions, by telling her past life? She answered, she would do it
with all her heart; and, by having so many and great faults to confess,
she hoped she should, by her true confessions, set them an example of
honesty and ingenuity.
THE DESCRIPTION OF MISS SUKEY JENNETT.
Miss Sukey Jennett, who was next in years to Miss Jenny Peace, was not
quite twelve years old; but so very tall of her age, that she was within
a trifle as tall as Miss Jenny Peace; and, by growing so fast, was
much thinner: and though she was not really so well made, yet, from an
assured air in her manner of carrying herself, she was called much the
genteelest girl. There was, on first view, a great resemblance in their
persons. Her face was very handsome, and her complexion extremely good;
but a little more inclined to pale than Miss Jenny's. Her eyes were a
degree darker, and had a life and fire in them which was very beautiful:
but yet her impatience on the least contradiction often brought a
fierceness into her eyes, and gave such a discomposure to her whole
countenance, as immediately took off your admiration. But her eyes had
now, since her hearty reconciliation with her companions, lost a great
part of their fierceness; and with great mildness, and an obliging
manner, she told her story as follows:
THE LIFE OF MISS SUKEY JENNETT.
'My mamma died when I was so young that I cannot remember her; and my
papa marrying again within half a year after her death, I was chiefly
left to the care of an old servant, that had lived many years in the
family. I was a great favourite of hers, and in everything had my own
way. When I was but four years old, if ever anything crossed me, I was
taught to beat it, and be revenged of it, even though it could not
feel. If I fell down and hurt myself, the very ground was to be beat for
hurting the sweet child: so that, instead of fearing to fall, I did not
dislike it; for I was pleased to find, that I was of such consequence,
that everything was to take care that I came by no harm.
'I had a little playfellow, in a child of one of my papa's servants, who
was to be entirely under my command. This girl I used to abuse and beat,
whenev
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