y seriously lamented
in the kitchen the wrong behaviour of the family. "I don't mind it," she
would say, "for my own part; I know that I do my duty, and their cross
looks and proud behaviour can do me no real harm: but I cannot help
grieving for their sakes; it distresses me to think that people who
ought to know better, should, by their ill conduct, make themselves so
many enemies, when they could so easily gain friends--I am astonished
how anybody can act so foolishly."

'In this sensible manner she would frequently talk about the sin as
well as the folly of pride. And one day, as she was talking to her
fellow-servants, rather louder than in prudence she ought to have done,
her two young ladies overheard her; and the next time she went to dress
them, they enquired what it was she had been saying to the other maids.
"Indeed, ladies," said she, "I hope you will excuse my telling you. I
think, if you give yourselves time to reflect a little, you will not
insist upon knowing, as it is beneath such rich ladies as you are, to
concern yourselves with what poor servants talk about." This answer did
not, however, satisfy them, and they positively commanded her to let
them know. Molly was by far too good a woman to attempt to deceive
anyone; she therefore replied, "If, ladies, you insist upon knowing what
I said, I hope you will not take anything amiss that I may tell you,
thus compelled as I am by your commands. You must know then, Miss Betsy
and Miss Rachael, that I was saying how sad a thing it was for people to
be proud because they are rich; or to fancy, because they happen to have
a little more money, that for that reason they are better than their
servants, when in reality the whole that makes one person better than
another is, having superior virtues, being kinder and more good natured,
and readier to assist and serve their fellow-creatures; these are the
qualifications, I was saying, that make people beloved, and not being
possessed of money. Money may, indeed, procure servants to do their
business for them, but it is not in the power of all the riches in the
world to purchase the love and esteem of anyone. What a sad thing then
it is, when gentlefolks behave so as to make themselves despised; and
that will ever be the case with all those who, like (excuse me, ladies,
you insisted upon my telling you what I said) Miss Betsy, and Miss
Rachael, and Master James, show such contempt to all their inferiors.
Nobody could wis