Page:Advice to young ladies on their duties and conduct in life - Arthur - 1849.djvu/96

88 that she was herself a sufferer on account of Emily’s tattling propensities.”

“She did?”

“Yes. My first impression of Emily’s character was good; but when I learned this, I thought it as well to have nothing to do with her, for I think a tattler a very despicable person.”

“I believe I understand it all, now,” said the friend, after musing a while. “Ellen is herself a little given to the very thing she charges upon an innocent person. On one occasion, she repeated something she had heard alleged against a young girl, and considerably embellished her narrative. Emily was present. The impression made was very unfavorable to the individual alluded to. Of all who heard these unfavorable remarks, made to the great disparagement of an absent companion, Emily was the only one who was honest enough to go to her and apprize her of what had been said to her real injury, in order that, if innocent, she might vindicate her character. The allegations were at once pronounced false, and the author of them demanded. Ellen B was named by Emily, who volunteered to go to her in company with the aggrieved person, in order to ascertain from her the source of the injurious charge. Ellen was very angry with Emily for what she had done, and refused at first