Mary's declaration was, "I hate sending the children to the Great

House, though their grandmamma is always wanting to see them, for she

humours and indulges them to such a degree, and gives them so much

trash and sweet things, that they are sure to come back sick and cross

for the rest of the day." And Mrs Musgrove took the first opportunity

of being alone with Anne, to say, "Oh! Miss Anne, I cannot help wishing

Mrs Charles had a little of your method with those children. They are

quite different creatures with you! But to be sure, in general they

are so spoilt! It is a pity you cannot put your sister in the way of

managing them. They are as fine healthy children as ever were seen,

poor little dears! without partiality; but Mrs Charles knows no more

how they should be treated--! Bless me! how troublesome they are

sometimes. I assure you, Miss Anne, it prevents my wishing to see them

at our house so often as I otherwise should. I believe Mrs Charles is

not quite pleased with my not inviting them oftener; but you know it is

very bad to have children with one that one is obligated to be checking

every moment; "don't do this," and "don't do that;" or that one can

only keep in tolerable order by more cake than is good for them."

She had this communication, moreover, from Mary. "Mrs Musgrove thinks

all her servants so steady, that it would be high treason to call it in

question; but I am sure, without exaggeration, that her upper

house-maid and laundry-maid, instead of being in their business, are

gadding about the village, all day long. I meet them wherever I go;

and I declare, I never go twice into my nursery without seeing

something of them. If Jemima were not the trustiest, steadiest

creature in the world, it would be enough to spoil her; for she tells

me, they are always tempting her to take a walk with them." And on Mrs

Musgrove's side, it was, "I make a rule of never interfering in any of

my daughter-in-law's concerns, for I know it would not do; but I shall

tell you, Miss Anne, because you may be able to set things to rights,

that I have no very good opinion of Mrs Charles's nursery-maid: I hear

strange stories of her; she is always upon the gad; and from my own

knowledge, I can declare, she is such a fine-dressing lady, that she is

enough to ruin any servants she comes near. Mrs Charles quite swears

by her, I know; but I just give you this hint, that you may be upon the

watch; because, if you see anything amiss, you need not be afraid of

mentioning it."




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