34 THE HISTORY OF

rise, and was going to answer sharply, but was
providentially hindered from committing this
sin, by Charlotte's suddenly turning away, and
speaking upon other matters.

At length, Charlotte Owen took her leave,
and Mrs. Bennet put me in mind that it was
time to go to bed, as I must rise early the next
morning to my work. She then led me to a
small reom up stairs, which was within her
own; this she told me was to be mine. It had
one window, which opened towards the hill
behind the house; and from hence I could
hear the song of the birds among the trees,
and see the flowers which grew beneath in the
garden. This room was so small, that it would
scarcely contain more than my little flock bed
and the box which held my clothes: yet, ne-
vertheless, it was a great comfort to me to
have a place which I could call my own, and
to which I could retire, when I had a leisure
hour, to read my Bible, and commune with
my God.

But not to make my story too long, I must
say, in a few words, that, for the two first
years, my life with Mrs. Bennet was by no
means so uncomfortable as I at first thought
it would have been, for my mistress was sel-
dom at home. As I could soon do most of
the work she had to do within doors, she used
often to go out to iron and work in the genteel
families in and about the town; for there was
scarcely any thing which she could not put
her hand to. So that I-had very little of her
company, and of that light discourse which