SUSAN GRAY. 55

Almighty will not suffer such behaviour as
this to go unpunished.”

So saying, I pushed hastily by him, and, by
means of running as fast as I could, was soon
out of sight.

When I got home, I found the door locked,
and no one within. I soon opened the door
with a key which I had of my own; and, as
my mistress did not return, I ate my dinner,
and prepared to go to our little village church.

I had not been returned from church above
an hour, before my mistress came in with Char-
lotte Owen, and two or three more young wo-
men, and as many young men, with whom she
had been taking a walk to a village some miles
distant, where they had dined together at a
public-house,

«‘Susan,” said she, as soon as she entered,
“make the fire burn, and set on the tea-
kettle, for we must have some tea as soon
as possible, and set us a table and chairs at
the door.”

I did as I was ordered; but while I was get-
ting tea ready within doors, I was shocked at
the loud laughing and jesting of my mistress
and her company.

The young men, who I found had drank a
few glasses of ale more thau they were used to,
were extremely free and bold in their manner,
and I was very sorry to see, that not only Char-
lotte and the other young women, but, also, my
mistress, encouraged them, by their foolish tit-
tering, and still more foolish jokes, to behave
in a manner which must be highly offensive to