your conduct: But there is no reason, with foolish, giddy girls! I
will have every word correct: no varnishing, or lies."

After much hesitation, and many tears, Miss Bruce went through the whole
of her story. While she was speaking, her father seemed lost in thought.
No sooner had she finished, but he started from his chair, and with his
eyes fixed upon the floor, walked some time from one end of the study
to the other. He then stopped, and looked sternly at his daughter.
"And so you have been trying your skill at boxing! An admirable
accomplishment for a young lady! You have taken upon yourself to be
rude to your school companion; to be ungrateful to Mrs. Adair, and
ventured to ride ten miles in a stage-coach! And in what a dress! You
are indeed an enterprizing young lady! Now let me tell you, Miss Bruce,
one simple truth: you have acted in all things contrary to that which
you know is right. But pray what is the meaning of the word right?"

"To do all things that I know I should do; I do not know any thing more,
papa; indeed I do not."

"You know the right, but a perverse and wilful disposition leads you to
do wrong."

Mr. Bruce rang the bell, and ordered the housekeeper into his presence.
When she entered the room, he commanded her to close the door. "Take my
daughter," said he, "to the chamber that was occupied last night. You
are not to speak to her, nor allow any servant in the house to do so.
Give her a little bread and milk: go, child."

"Papa,"--here Miss Bruce sobbed; and would have added, "O, do forgive
me!" but her father sternly bade her leave him.

Mr. Bruce looked at his daughter when she was asleep. He heard her
murmuring and intreating; and listened to words that affected him
deeply. He sat down by her bed-side until she was tranquil: and whether
he shed tears of tenderness over her is best known to himself; but the
following morning, though his feelings were softened, his countenance
was equally stern. His carriage was at the door; and at ten o'clock he
and his daughter arrived at Mrs. Adair's. Neither at breakfast nor
during the ride had he uttered one word. "Madam," said he, the moment he
beheld the mistress of his child, "I have brought a runaway. I will not
make an apology for her conduct: it is not in my way; it rests entirely
with yourself whether she will be accepted or rejected. Providence, in
the justness of his ways, has deprived her of an excellent mother. How
far servants are capable