The Governess; Or, The Little Female AcademyFielding, Sarah
General
The Governess; Or, The Little Female Academy
Fielding, Sarah
Didactic fiction; Girls' schools -- Fiction; Governesses -- Fiction; School children -- Fiction; Schools -- Fiction
Miss Jenny Peace was just turned of fourteen, and could be called
neither tall nor short of her age; but her whole person was the most
agreeable that can be imagined. She had an exceeding fine complexion,
with as much colour in her cheeks as is the natural effect of perfect
health. Her hair was light brown, and curled in so regular and yet easy
a manner, as never to want any assistance from art. Her eyebrows (which
were not of that correct turn as to look as if they were drawn with a
pencil) and her eyelashes were both darker than her hair; and the
latter being very long, gave such a shade to her eyes as made them often
mistaken for black, though they were only a dark hazel. To give any
description of her eyes beyond the colour and size, which was perfectly
the medium, would be impossible; except by saying they were expressive
of everything that is amiable and good; for through them might be read
every single thought of the mind; from whence they had such a brightness
and cheerfulness, as seemed to cast a lustre over her whole face. She
had fine teeth, and a mouth answering to the most correct rules of
beauty; and when she spoke (though you were at too great a distance to
hear what she said) there appeared so much sweetness, mildness, modesty
and good nature, that you found yourself filled more with pleasure than
admiration in beholding her. The delight which everyone took in looking
on Miss Jenny was evident in this, that though Miss Sukey Jennett and
Miss Patty Lockit were both what may be called handsomer girls (and if
you asked any persons in company their opinion, they would tell you so)
yet their eyes were a direct contradiction to their tongues, by being
continually fixed on Miss Jenny; for, while she was in the room, it
was impossible to fix them anywhere else. She had a natural ease and
gentility in her shape; and all her motions were more pleasing, though
less striking than what is commonly acquired by the instruction of
dancing masters.
Such was the agreeable person of Miss Jenny Peace, who, in her usual
obliging manner, and with an air pleasing beyond my power to express, at
the request of her companions began to relate the history of her life,
as follows:
THE LIFE OF MISS JENNY PEACE.
‘My father dying when I was but half a year old, I was left to the care
of my mamma, who was the best woman in the world, and to whose memory
I shall ever pay the most grateful honour. From the time she had any
children, she made it the whole study of her life to promote their
welfare, and form their minds in the manner she thought would best
answer her purpose of making them both good and happy; for it was her
constant maxim, that goodness and happiness dwelt in the same bosoms,
and were generally found to life so much together, that they could not
easily be separated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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