ttle cultivation at that, and instead of judging of others
by their intrinsic worth, character, or intellect, formed their estimate
only by the outward circumstances in which they found them. Had this
same Agnes Elwyn come to make a visit to her far away cousins, in her
own carriage, and surrounded by external marks of wealth, they would
have been ready to fall down and worship her; but coming as a
_governess,_ and by the _stage,_ what notice could she expect from the
Misses Fairland! These young ladies had so often been made wretched, by
intentional slights from those in whose sphere they had aspired to move,
that they did not doubt Agnes would be rendered equally uncomfortable by
their own neglect.

The tea-bell rang, and the Misses Fairland hastened to take off their
bonnets and soon re-appeared at the tea-table, where they took up the
entire conversation, telling of all they had heard and seen, in their
calls through the village. For like the ancient Athenians, these young
ladies literally "spent their time in nothing else, but to hear or to
tell of some new thing."

In the midst of the conversation there was a sudden bustle, and Tiney
rose hastily from the table. Her father immediately left his chair, and
went round to her place, and took her by the arm. There was a ghastly
and disturbed look about poor Tiney's face, and an expression of
terrible malignity about her eye, and as she passed the chairs of her
little sisters, one screamed loudly and then the other, and when she
came near Agnes, it was with great difficulty that she too could resist
the inclination to scream with the pain, caused by a terrible pinch from
the fingers of Tiney, which left its mark upon her arm for many days.

Mr. Fairland led the child from the room, and as the door closed after
them, Agnes heard a succession of the most piercing shrieks, as if all
the strength of the sufferer's lungs were expended upon each one.

"Oh, dear! Susan is out, and your father will need assistance," said
Mrs. Fairland; "but really, these scenes have such an effect upon my
nerves, that I find it necessary to avoid them altogether."

"And so do I," said Miss Calista, "indeed I always suffer with a severe
headache after them."

"And they are so utterly disagreeable to me, to to be more candid than
either of you," said Miss Evelina, "that I always keep as far out of the
way as possible."

"Can I be of any use?" asked Agnes, partly rising and looking towards