Adelaide and theodore, for this fortnight past, have been put to hard trials; but at length they have conquered them to my satisfaction. They have both been taught for a long time, how important it was to have a command over themselves, and how contemptible it was to fail in their promises. – Adelaide being nine, and Theodore ten years old, we thought that, after having tired them with several little matters, in almost all of which they behaved very well, we might risk one which was more serious, and now begin to make experiments on their virtue. It will be necessary to tell you, that, for these two or three months, the appearance of enmity between Miss Bridget and Dainville seemed to be greatly lessened. Dainville made the first advances, and Miss Bridget received them with proper dignity, but with complaisance; and their former quarrels seemed entirely forgotten. In short, Dainville declares publickly, that Miss Bridget is a person of real merit, and Miss Bridget acknowledges that Dainville is a good young man in the main. It is from these circumstances that we formed our plan. You have not forgot Adelaide's putting the profile of Vespasian in a part of her chamber, in order to ridicule Miss Bridget; and that this had in appearance greatly diminished her affection for Adelaide, as well as her confidence in her: and you ought also to know, that Theodore on his part had given Dainville much cause of complaint. Now I begin my story:

Adelaide observed one morning, that Miss Bridget was exceedingly grave and absent. She asked her the reason of it; Miss Bridget sighed, blushed, turned pale, appeared confused, but remained silent. The questions were repeated on one side; the confusion increased on the other. Adelaide's curiosity was raised to the highest pitch. She begged, intreated, conjured. Miss Bridget hesitated, and said to her, Ah! if I could depend on your friendship, your discretion! … What then?