The Parent's Assistant

resa Tattle's servant, recalled Ma

nt no answer all this time. It's nec

ents, to let the young ladies and Mr. Frede

we must go,"

must follow her brother: so they went downstairs together, while Sophy gave

m. Marianne coloured a little; for though she had precipitately followed her brother, and though he had quieted her conscience for a moment by saying "You know papa and mamma told us to do what we thought be

, "you promised to make me laugh; and nob

Mrs. Theresa Dr. Carbuncle eating hi

y dear, what sha

never calls him my dear, y

doctor, what wil

ng! nothing! I don't see any

lp you to some eel-stewed eel;-y

eels. You would tire one of anything. Am I to se

ast mutton; if you'll b

ruly! quite a cinder. I'll have none of it. Here, take it away; take it downstairs to the cook. It's a very hard case, Mrs. Carbuncle, that I can never have a bit of anything that I can eat at my own table, Mrs.

s, sir; oys

ve glass covers, that one may see one's dinner before one, before it grows cold with asking questions, Mr

help you to a bit of chicken

"My dear," ag

ar" to him when she's frightened, and looks so pale from side to side; and sometimes she crie

exclaimed Mrs. Theresa, with rapture. "Mr. Frederick, yo

of fowl; a leg and wing, the liver wing, and a bit of the breas

down to his plate, and, dropping the sauce, h

e and fork, bit o' bread,

claimed Mrs. Tattle

fter dinner," said Marianne; "and s

ring; nodded from time to time, crossed and uncrossed his legs, tried to awake himself by twi

Ridgeway before she was married. Such a wife as she makes," continued Mrs. Theresa, lifting up her hands and eyes to heaven, "and so much as she has gone through, the brute ought to be ashamed of himself if he does not leave her something extraordinary in his will; for turn it which way she will, she can never keep a carriage, or live like an

d to Frederick, who was at that instant studying Mrs. Theresa as a future character to mimic. "Brother," said Marianne, "now sing an Italian song for us like Mi

I am," said

am so hoarse, it distresses me so to be pressed to sing; besides, upon my word, I have qui

is a very particular person.

ou, but I absolutely have forgotten all my English songs. Nobody hears anything but Italian now, and I have been so gi

, Miss Croke

ngs, after mu

e in th

of a mut

e gnaw

e claw

found her

she's a girl that's very much taken notice of, and I don't doubt will go off vastly well. She's a particular favourite of mine, you must know; and I mean to do her a piece of service the first opportunit

read the newspaper

all things! You are quite yourself to-night. Here's a newsp

eads in a po

nobility and gentry of Great Britain in general, and their friends in particular, that they have now ready for sale, as usual, at the Hippocrates' Head, a fresh assortment of new-invented, m

attersby; you'd absolutely make her die with laughing; and she'd quite adore you," said Mrs. Theresa, who was well aware that every

dy Diana Periwinkle, and admired her work, saying, "Done by no hands, as you may guess, but those of Fairly Fair." Whilst Lady Diana, he observ

at Marianne's particular desire, cam

to your ear; but you are not quite wooden enough, and you should walk as if your hip were out of joint. There n

with all that, you must know he's a mighty pleasant, fashionable young man when you come to know him, and has a great deal of sense under all that, and is of a very good family-the Slangs, y

her," said

red, and I will do no more," said Frederick,

flattery yet sounded in his ear, Frederick felt sad, di

what can make you sigh so bitterly? You, who make

erick, "do you remembe

in the mas

ather told us of, who used to cry behind

ngst that race of people, actors by profession, you know; for they are brought up from the egg to make their fortune, or at least their brea

you, ma'am," s

ust have another macaroon. I insist upon it," said Mrs. Theresa, ringing the bell.

mma, you know, will come hom

mma, they won't be home to-night, I'm pretty sure; for a gentleman, who had it from their own authority, told me where they were going, which is further of

ding at the fire, with her back to the door, when it opened, "Christopher! pray bring-Do you hear?" but no Christopher answered; and, upon turning round, Mrs. Tat

and what may you be? Speak,

ers, ma'am, an' pl

ted Frederick and Mariann

r late solemn address to them. "Chimney-sweepers! and could not you say so a

a'am,", answered

for Christopher. The

yet spoken, and who now began in a very blunt manner; "ma'am, y

no brother, dunce,

den, m

flattered to be taken in the dark by a chimney-sweeper for a young and handsome lady, Mrs. Theresa laughed, and

nked her ladyship for this information, said, "Good nig

ith chimney-sweepers at this time o' night, I wonder? Christopher, did you hear a

rd here and there, for I was hunting for the snuff-dish, as I knew it must be for candles when I heard the bell ring, ma'am; so I thought to find the snuff-di

bring up the cowslip-wine, and some m

as somewhat surprised at the familiarity with which this lady talked to her footman. She had n

Christopher, who was now r

est of the two boys, got wedged in the chimney. The other little fellow was up at the top at the time, and he heard the cry; but in his fright, and all, he did not know what to do, ma'am; for he looked about from the top of the chimney, and not a soul could he s

eresa, "friend Ephraim is

d Marianne,

he turns and sees the sweep; and

Mrs. Tattle, "for he's the slowest creature breathing, and the deaf

tleman went in and pulled the boy out

"but did old Eden go up the chimne

he wouldn't take it laughing like at all; but would only make answer to us like a bear, 'He saved my life, that's all I know'; and this over again, ma'am, to all the kitchen round, that cross-questioned him. But I finds him stupid and ill-mannered like, for I offered him a shilling, ma'am, myself, to tell about the wig; but he put it back in a way that did not become s

en!" exclaim

and the chimney-sweep himself was so

it's part of their trade, and it's a happy thing when they come off with a few bruises. [236] To be sure," added she, observing that

aid Marianne; "and I'm sure I

the boy may thank his kind stars, I'm sure, to the end of his days, for such an escape-But pray, Christopher," said she, persisting in her conversation w

Lady Batters

dmirable story for my Lady Battersby the next time I see her. These Quakers are so sly! Old Eden, I know, has long wanted to obtai