Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/75

 the Bible forsooth! first to destroy my lace through carelessness, and then to lay the blame upon the poor child! the heir of the family! one whom such a creature as you ought to have thought yourself honoured in being permitted to wipe the dirt from his shoes? And yet you dare to lay your faults to his door; to complain of him, and to complain of him to me? What assurance! But I am happy to have detected you; you are a vile hypocrite, and shall no longer be harboured in this house. I give you warning to provide yourself in another place."

"I am sorry to have offended your ladyship," said I, very humbly; "but indeed I have told the truth, and I am sure Jenny cannot be so wicked as not to confirm every word I have said."

"Pardon me for interfering," said Miss Osburne, "but I have such good reason for having a high opinion of Betty's principles, that I am convinced she is incapable of being guilty of what you attribute to