Page 44 (1/1)

At sixteen, Miss Murray was so of a roirl of that age, but at seventeen, that propensity, like all other things, began to give way to the ruling passion, and soon ed up in the all- absorbing ah of her: now let us turn to her sister

Miss Matilda Murray was a veritable hoyden, of whom little need be said She was about two years and a half younger than her sister; her features were larger, her coht possibly -boned and aard ever to be called a pretty girl, and at present she cared little about it Rosalie knew all her charreater than they were, and valued theht to have done, had they been three tih, but cared little about the matter; still less did she care about the cultivation of her mind, and the acquisition of ornamental accomplishments The manner in which she learnt her lessons and practised her overness to despair Short and easy as her tasks were, if done at all, they were slurred over, at any tienerally at the least convenient times, and in the way least beneficial to herself, and least satisfactory towas horribly struher with corrections, or for not rectifying herequally unreasonable Once or twice, I ventured to remonstrate with her seriously for such irrational conduct; but on each of those occasions, I received such reprehensive expostulations from her mother, as convinced me that, if I wished to keep the situation, I o on in her oay

When her lessons were over, however, her ill-hu her spirited pony, or ros or her brothers and sister, but especially with her dear brother John, she was as happy as a lark As an aniour, and activity; as an intelligent being, she was barbarously ignorant, indocile, careless and irrational; and, consequently, very distressing to one who had the task of cultivating her understanding, refor her to acquire those ornamental attainments which, unlike her sister, she despised as much as the rest Her ave me many a lecture as to how I should try to form her tastes, and endeavour to rouse and cherish her dor, skilful flattery, to win her attention to the desired objects--which I would not do; and how I should prepare and s it without the least exertion to herself: which I could not, for nothing can be taught to any purpose without some little exertion on the part of the learner