yallparties,andbeingtoomuchinthesecretofthecomplaintsofeachhouse.Knowntohavesomeinfluencewithhersister,shewascontinuallyrequested,oratleastreceivinghintstoexertit,beyondwhatwaspracticable.“IwishyoucouldpersuadeMarynottobealwaysfancyingherselfill,”wasCharles’slanguageand,inanunhappymood,thusspokeMary:“IdobelieveifCharlesweretoseemedying,hewouldnotthinktherewasanythingthematterwithme.Iamsure,Anne,ifyouwould,youmightpersuadehimthatIreallyamveryill—agreatdealworsethanIeverown.”
Mary’sdeclarationwas,“IhatesendingthechildrentotheGreatHouse,thoughtheirgrandmammaisalwayswantingtoseethem,forshehumoursandindulgesthemtosuchadegree,andgivesthemsomuchtrashandsweetthings,thattheyaresuretocomebacksickandcrossfortherestoftheday.”AndMrsMusgrovetookthefirstopportunityofbeingalonewithAnne,tosay,“Oh!MissAnne,IcannothelpwishingMrsCharleshadalittleofyourmethodwiththosechildren.Theyarequitedifferentcreatureswithyou!Buttobesure,ingeneraltheyaresospoilt!Itisapityyoucannotputyoursisterinthewayofmanagingthem.Theyareasfinehealthychildrenaseverwereseen,poorlittledears!withoutpartialitybutMrsCharlesknowsnomorehowtheyshouldbetreated—!Blessme!howtroublesometheyaresometimes.Iassureyou,MissAnne,itpreventsmywishingtoseethematourhousesooftenasIotherwiseshould.IbelieveMrsCharlesisnotquitepleasedwithmynotinvitingthemoftenerbutyouknowitisverybadtohavechildrenwithonethatoneisobligatedtobecheckingeverymoment“don’tdothis,”and“don’tdothat”orthatonecanonlykeepintolerableorderbymorecakethanisgoodforthem.”
Shehadthiscommunication,moreover,fromMary.“MrsMusgrovethinksallherservantssosteady,thatitwouldbehightreasontocallitinquestionbutIamsure,withoutexaggeration,thatherupperhouse-maidandlaundry-maid,insteadofbeingintheirbusiness,aregaddingaboutthevillage,alldaylong.ImeetthemwhereverIgoandIdeclare,Inevergotwiceintomynurserywithoutseeingsomethingofthem.IfJemimawerenotthetrustiest,steadiestcreatureintheworld,itwouldbeenoughtospoilherforshetellsm