Another day she ate her breakfast with such immoderate haste, that the spur was applied to suggest the necessity of chewing her food more, and not swallowing it as if she was afraid of losing it; which in effect she did, for it was taken from her, because she cried at the pain which her monitor occasioned, without minding its admonition. When she sat cross-legged, she was surprised by the spur's touching her knee; and when she illiberally scratched her head, it attacked her fingers; when she stooped her head, she felt it in her neck; and, in short, was so continually tormented with its painful invasion, that she was obliged, as well as her brother (who was equally annoyed), to remember at all times to behave gracefully. When, therefore, they had acquired this necessary degree of attention, they were permitted to return home. They never forgot the useful admonition of the friendly spur; as on any occasion in which their memory proved defective, it was sufficient to tell them, they should return to the gentleman who kept it in his possession, and they immediately acted in a becoming manner. And do you not think, Charles, concluded Mr. Placid, that such a spur would be of infinite use to you, as you are so often apt to forget what it is of great consequence to remember? Miss Piners smiled at each other, they being both conscious, as well as Master Placid, that they had frequent occasions for its use. Indeed, from this time, whenever any of them were guilty of any omission or neglect, they were apt to laugh at each other and call out, That the spur was wanting! By which means they frequently became more cautious than they would otherwise have been. Jemima, whose natural sweetness of temper led her at all times to be obliging, very seldom afforded them an opportunity of applying the hint to her; but Miss Piners, who, as hath been before observed, were frequently very silly and ill-natured, often deserved a more severe reproof than to be told they stood in need of the spur.