As for religion, morality, or knowledge of right and wrong, Mrs. Nurse thought too little about such things herself to impart them to others. I suppose she taught the children to say their prayers; but I am sure I know no more than the mother did, whether it was so or no. Sometimes the children were taken to stare about them in church; but not often, for Mrs. Winstanley was in the habit of fulfilling the commandment very literally, and making Sunday a day of rest. Commonly she spent the forenoon in bed; only getting up in time to dress for a dinner party which Mr. Winstanley made an especial point of having on that day. He, as yet, paid this trifling respect to it; he abstained from going on Sunday evening to a certain club which he frequented, to play cards, or roulette, for unknown sums. The elder of these children grew up, suffering, and spiritless; the younger was proud, insolent, overbearing, and tyrannical--as much so as such a little creature could be. They were fast growing up into all this, and would have been confirmed in it, had not an accident arrested the fearful progress. Spoiled, flattered, allowed to indulge every evil temper with impunity, Ella's faults were numberless; more especially to her helpless sister, whose languid health and feeble spirits excited little sympathy, and whose complaints seemed to irritate her. "I declare you _are_ the most tiresome, tormenting thing, sitting there looking as miserable as ever you can, and with that whining voice of yours, enough to drive one mad. Why _can't_ you brighten up a little, and come and play? You really _shall_ come and play, I want to play! Nurse! O! she's not there! Do _make_ Clementina come and play." "Don't, Ella! don't tease me so; pray don't! My hip hurts me; I can't. Do let me alone, pray." "Nonsense. You make such a fuss about your hip! I don't believe any thing's the matter with it; only you're so ill-natured, you _never_ will do any thing I ask. Nurse, I say," as the door opened, "do make her.--O, it's only Matty! Matty, where's Nurse?" "She's just stepped out, Miss, and told me to come, and stay in the day-room with you till she was back." And Matty, the new maid, hired but a day or two before, came in with her sewing in her hand, and sat down quietly to her work at the window. "Matty!" cried Ella, imperiously, "don't sit there, looking so stupid; but come and make this tiresome girl play with me. There she sits, mooning over the fire. If Nurse were here, she'd soon have her up." "Don't, pray, Matty," as Matty was rising from her chair. "Pray, don't. I'll go and play; but indeed, indeed, it hurts me very much to move to-day." "Nonsense! Make her get up, Matty, You must mind me, Matty; you came here to mind me; so do as you are bid, you ugly thing."