My system of education I find at last to be erroneous. Alicia has deceived my expectations; she has been imprudent and disingenuous; I should be very miserable if I thought her faults proceeded from the heart, as it is I am truly unhappy. I gave her a yearly allowance for clothes and pocket money, upon a solemn promise that she would never purchase anything without immediate payment. For the first quarter, she bought many expensive trifles and was in want of many necessary articles. I remarked on this folly, and hoped she had corrected it. I was myself guilty for not inspecting her accounts. For some time past, I have observed her to be greatly dejected, and discovered that she had run greatly in debt; this has been partly owing to her intimacy with some extravagant girls, who ridiculed her scruples. I wished to break this connection, and wish you, my dear sister, to take charge of her for six months. I know your affectionate heart will not refuse me this favour. CONSTANTIA. My dear mama, I hope you intend to receive my cousin; poor Alicia, how I pity her. Don’t you think Mama, she will be happy here in the summer? MRS. LEYSTER. No my dear, although she is but thirteen, she has been introduced, by a mistaken indulgence, into company; she has acquired a relish for dissipation; and lost the desire, which young people naturally have, for the charms and liberty of the country. But your cousin will be here tomorrow; we must endeavor to make the country pleasant to her. _Scene II._ (ALICIA _and her maid_ BETTY.) BETTY. Pray, Miss, I understand you are going into the country to your Aunt Leyster’s; how long may you be going to stay? ALICIA. Longer than I like, I assure you, Betty. My mama is determined I shall stay six months. BETTY. Six months, why you will be moped to death. I wonder my mistress thinks of taking you to such a place. ALICIA. I shall have a melancholy time indeed, for their is no saying any thing to Mamma. I never saw her so obstinate in my life. BETTY. To be sure, madam Leyster is a good sort of a woman. But la, Miss you will be tired to death. Why, they say, she does nothing from morning till night, but read the bible and say her prayers. ALICIA. And do you think that is true, Betty? BETTY. To be sure I do. Why, they say, Miss, that Madam Leyster has never been in London, since the death of the Colonel, but once, and that was at your christening. So you may be sure that she is an oddity. ALICIA. Then she has no card parties. BETTY.