, she was even eloquent in their praises. "Her
mistress," she said, "was a pattern for ladies, so strict, and yet so
kind! but now, indeed, Miss Lucilla has taken almost all the family
cares from her mamma. The day she was sixteen, sir, that is about two
years and a half ago, she began to inspect the household affairs a
little, and as her knowledge increased, she took more and more upon her.
Miss Ph[oe]be will very soon be old enough to relieve her sister; but my
mistress won't let her daughters have any thing to do with family
affairs till they are almost women grown, both for fear it should take
them off from their learning, and also give them a low turn about eating
and caring for niceties, and lead them into vulgar gossip and
familiarity with servants. It is time enough, she says, when their
characters are a little formed, they will then gain all the good and
escape all the danger."

Seeing me listen with the most eager and delighted attention, the worthy
woman proceeded. "In summer, sir, Miss Stanley rises at six, and spends
two hours in her closet, which is stored with the best books. At eight
she consults me on the state of provisions, and other family matters,
and gives me a bill of fare, subject to the inspection of her mamma. The
cook has great pleasure in acting under her direction, because she
allows that Miss understands when things are well done, and never finds
fault in the wrong place; which, she says, is a great mortification in
serving ignorant ladies, who praise or find fault by chance, not
according to the cook's performance, but their own humor. She looks
over my accounts every week, which being kept so short, give her but
little trouble, and once a month she settles every thing with her
mother.

"'Tis a pleasure, sir, to see how skillful she is in accounts! One can't
impose upon her a farthing if one would; and yet she is so mild and so
reasonable! and so quick at distinguishing what are mistakes, and what
are willful faults! Then she is so compassionate! It will be a
heart-breaking day at the Grove, sir, whenever Miss marries. When my
master is sick, she writes his letters, reads to him, and assists her
mamma in nursing him.

"After her morning's work, sir, does she come into company, tired and
cross, as ladies do who have done nothing or are but just up? No, she
comes in to make breakfast for her parents, as fresh as a rose, and as
gay as a lark. An hour after breakfast, she and my master read