And here, because there was no better disposed person to speak to these poor girls upon their light and improper discourse, I would just say one word:—­My dear school boys and school girls, our Saviour says, “Love thy neighbour as thyself.”  Let me then ask you, do you in any way follow this kind command when you so treat your teachers and governors?  Think you, for an instant, of the labour, the anxiety, the perpetual self-denial, the patience required by an instructor of childhood, even when the children do their best; but when deceit, hypocrisy, and hardness of heart is also added to the giddiness and thoughtlessness of youth, what must be the teacher’s suffering?

Remember that our Lord himself was subject to his parents.  Luke ii. 57.  Though what could they, poor human creatures, have taught him?  Then follow, as a loving child should do, his holy example, and remember his precept, of “love thy neighbour as thyself,” and inquire of yourself how would I like to be treated as I treat my governess or tutor?

But perhaps you would wish to listen to another couple of girls, who soon drew a larger party round them, and what folly were they about, you would ask?  Why, one child, who was very vain about her figure, must needs get a piece of string, or tape, and begin to measure her companion’s wrist, thumb, neck, waist, and height, saying—­“Twice round the thumb, once round the wrist, twice round the wrist, once round the neck, twice round the neck, once round the waist, and twice round the waist, once the height.”  As Louisa Manners well knew of old that this measurement suited herself, she was always disposed to try any young girl by her rule, knowing well her own turn would come, and that she would be able to appear with satisfaction to herself; and here again I would say, was our Lord’s precept followed, of love thy neighbour as thyself? did Louisa desire a rival?  This couple, as I said, soon drew a party round them, and after the measurement, which lasted some time and led to a discussion of dress, most of the frocks and sashes coming in for notice, one of the three school girls, mentioned at first, named some new step in dancing, just introduced at her school the last dancing day, and then such a practising and trying of this step commenced amongst the young ladies as made a pretty sight to look on, the young ladies being all nicely dressed, and for the nonce thinking more of their occupation than of themselves.

In the meanwhile Reuben had been supplied with something that served the purpose of a plaything by Mary Roscoe, and being seated in a corner of the room away from harm or interference, the little fellow shortly became so drowsy, that before long, notwithstanding the noise and chattering about him, his head drooped on his bosom, and he was so sound asleep that he was unconscious of his uncomfortable position.  He had slept full a quarter of an hour when he was discovered by one of the elder girls, who proposed that they should