Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/80

 time to soften her in my behalf. She began by telling her how sorry I was to leave the castle, and then ventured to say many things in my praise; taking care at the same time to contrast all she said in my favour, with the idleness and self-conceit of Jenny, whose word, she said, would never be taken before mine by any one who knew us both, as she did. Poor Jackson had reason to repent her zeal; for she found my lady so prepossessed in favour of my adversary, that all she said against her was attributed to spite. And she now saw, that by having accustomed her Lady to flattery, she had exposed her to the arts of a more cunning flatterer than herself. In fact, Jenny looked to Jackson's place, and would have succeeded in her designs, had it not been for a very extraordinary accident, which brought all her character to light.

On the morning that I was to leave the castle. Miss Osburne told Lord Longlands, that his mother was that day to