ht. "And
is Louisa," said she to herself, "the only one who would stop to pity
me? Mrs. Villars told me that this day should be mine; she little
thought how it would end!" Saying these words, Cecilia threw herself
down upon the ground; her arm leaned upon a heap of turf which she had
raised in the morning, and which in the pride and gayety of her heart,
she had called her throne.

At this instant, Mrs. Villars came out to enjoy the serenity of the
evening, and passing by the arbour where Cecilia lay, she started;
Cecilia rose hastily.

"Who is there?" said Mrs. Villars. "It is I, madam." "And who is I?"
"Cecilia." "Why, what keeps you here, my dear--where are your
companions? this is, perhaps, one of the happiest days of your life."

"O no, madam!" said Cecilia, hardly able to repress her tears.

"Why, my dear, what is the matter?"

Cecilia hesitated.

"Speak, my dear. You know that when I ask you to tell me any thing as
your friend, I never punish you as your governess; therefore you need
not be afraid to tell me what is the matter."

"No, madam, I am not afraid, but ashamed. You asked me why I was not
with my companions. Why, madam, because they have all left me, and----"
"And what, my dear?" "And I see that they all dislike me. And yet I
don't know why they should, for I take as much pains to please as any of
them. All my masters seem satisfied with me; and you yourself, ma'am,
were pleased this very morning to give me this bracelet; and I am sure
you would not have given it to any one who did not deserve it."
"Certainly not. You did deserve it for your application--for your
successful application. The prize was for the most assiduous, not for
the most amiable." "Then if it had been for the most amiable it would
not have been for me?"

Mrs. Villars, smiling--"Why, what do you think yourself, Cecilia? You
are better able to judge than I am. I can determine whether or no you
apply to what I give you to learn; whether you attend to what I desire
you to do, and avoid what I desire you not to do. I know that I like you
as a pupil, but I cannot know that I should like you as a companion,
unless I were your companion; therefore I must judge of what I should do
by seeing what others do in the same circumstances."

"O, pray don't, ma'am; for then you would not love me neither. And yet I
think you would love me; for I hope that I am as ready to oblige, and as
good-natured, as----" "Yes, Cecilia, I don't doubt but th