Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/101

 stirred up the envy of Mrs Dickens, who, during the time they had been in Scotland, had insinuated herself 'into my lady's favour in an extraordinary manner, and, conscious of her influence, she took every occasion of shewing that she would not be directed by me.

The girl who kept Master Edward had been in a manner brought up to the business under my immediate eye; she was a staid and sober person, of good principles, and very diligent in the discharge of her duty: but she soon became the object of dislike to Mrs Dickens, who, as I afterwards found, told my lady in secret a thousand lies of the poor girl. All now went wrong. Contention followed contention. I gave up many things, for the sake of peace: every thing indeed, except where the interests of the children were at stake; but there I thought it my duty to be firm.

I shall not trouble you with an account of all the arts, which this wicked woman