the governess-第9节
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It was not long after the messenger that Benefico； and those his joyful friends； arrived： but the faithful Fidus alone； of all this happy company； was tortured with the inward pangs of a sad grief he could not conquer； and his fond heart remained still captivated to a melting sorrow： nor could even the tender friendship of the gentle Mignon quite remove； though it alleviated； his sadness； but the thoughts of his loved lost amata embittered every joy； and overwhelmed his generous soul with sorrow。
When the company from the castle joined Benefico； he declared to them in what manner their deliverance was effected； and； as a general shout of joy resounded through the neighbouring mountains； Fidus； lifting up his eyes； beheld in the midst of the multitude； standing in a pensive posture； the fair disconsolate。 Her tender heart was at the instant overflowing in soft tears； caused by a kind participation of their present transport； yet mixed with the deep sad impression of a grief her bosom was full fraught with。 Her face； at first； was almost hid by her white handkerchief； with which she wiped away the trickling drops； which falling； had bedewed her beauteous cheeks： but as she turned her lovely face to view the joyful conquerors； and to speak a welcome to her kind protector； what words can speak the raptures； the astonishment； that swelled the bosom of the faithful youth； when in this fair disconsolate he saw his loved； his constant； his long…lost Amata！ Their delighted eyes in the same instant beheld each other； and； breaking on each side from their astonished friends； they flew like lightning into each other's arms。
After they had given a short account of what had passed in their separation； Fidus presented to his loved Amata the kind； the gentle Mignon； with lavish praises of his generous friendship； and steady resolution； in hazarding his life by disobeying the injunctions of the cruel tyrant。 No sooner had Amata heard the name of Mignon； but she cried out； 'Surely my happiness is now complete； and all my sorrows； by this joyful moment； are more than fully recompensed； for； in the kind preserver of my Fidus； I have found my brother。 My mother lost her little Mignon when he was five years old； and pining grief； after some years vain search； ended her wretched life。'
The generous hearts of all who were present shared the raptures of the faithful Fidus； the lovely Amata； and gentle Mignon； on this happy discovery； and in the warmest congratulations they expressed their joy。
Benefico now led all the delighted company into his castle； where freedom was publicly proclaimed； and every one was left a liberty either to remain there with Benefico； or； loaded with wealth sufficient for their use； to go where their attachments or inclinations might invite them。
Fidus； Amata； and the little Mignon； hesitated not one moment to declare their choice of staying with the generous Benefico。
The nuptials of the faithful Fidus； and his loved Amata； were solemnized in the presence of all their friends。
Benefico passed the remainder of his days in pleasing reflections on his well…spent life。
The treasures of the dead tyrant were turned into blessings by the use they were now made of： little Mignon was loved and cherished by all his companions。 Peace； harmony and love reigned in every bosom； dissension； discord； and hatred were banished from this friendly dwelling； and that happiness； which is the natural consequence of goodness； appeared in every cheerful countenance throughout the castle of the good Benefico； and as heretofore affright and terror spread itself from the monster's hateful cave； so now from this peaceful castle was diffused tranquility and joy through all the happy country round。
Thus ended the story of the two giants： and Miss Jenny being tired with reading； they left the arbour for that night； and agreed to meet there again the next day。
As soon as they had supped； Mrs。 Teachum sent for Miss Jenny Peace into her closet； and desired an exact account from her of this their first day's amusement； that she might judge from thence how far they might be trusted with the liberty she had given them。
Miss Jenny showed her governess the story she had read；and said； 'I hope； madam； you will not think it an improper one； for it was given me by my mamma； and she told me； that she thought it contained a very excellent moral。'
Mrs。 Teachum； having looked it over； thus spoke： 'I have no objection； Miss Jenny； to your reading any stories to amuse you； provided you read them with the proper disposition of mind not to be hurt by them。 A very good moral may indeed be drawn from the whole； and likewise from almost every part of it； and as you had this story from your mamma； I doubt not but you are very well qualified to make the proper remarks yourself upon the moral of it to your companions。 But here let me observe to you （which I would have you communicate to your little friends） that giants； magic； fairies； and all sorts of supernatural assistances in a story； are only introduced to amuse and divert： for a giant is called so only to express a man of great power； and the magic fillet round the statue was intended only to show you； that by patience you will overcome all difficulties。 Therefore； by no means let the notion of giants or magic dwell upon your minds。 And you may farther observe； that there is a different style adapted to every sort of writing； and the various sounding epithets given to Barbarico are proper to express the raging cruelty of his wicked mind。 But neither this high…sounding language； nor the supernatural contrivances in this story； do I so thoroughly approve； as to recommend them much to your reading； except； as I said before； great care is taken to prevent your being carried away； by these high…flown things； from that simplicity of taste and manners which it is my chief study to inculcate。'
Here Miss Jenny looked a little confounded； and； by her down…cast eye； showed a fear that she had incurred the disapprobation； if not the displeasure； of her governess： upon which Mrs。 Teachum thus proceeded：
'I do not intend by this； my dear； to blame you for what you have done； but only to instruct you how to make the best use of even the most trifling things： and if you have any more stories of this kind； with an equal good moral； when you are not better employed； I shall not be against your reading them； always remembering the cautions I have this evening been giving you。'
Miss Jenny thanked her governess for her instructions； and kind indulgence to her； and promised to give her an exact account of their daily amusements； and； taking leave； retired to her rest。
TUESDAY。 THE SECOND DAY。
That Miss Jenny's meeting with her companions in the morning； after school； she asked them how they liked the history of the giants？ They all declared they thought it a very pretty diverting story。 Miss Jenny replied； though she was glad they were pleased； yet she would have them look farther than the present amusement： 'for；' continued she； 'my mamma always taught me to understand what I read； otherwise； she said； it was to no manner of purpose to read ever so many books； which would only stuff my brain； without being any improvement to my mind。'
The misses all agreed； that certainly it was of no use to read； without understanding what they read； and began to talk of the story of the giants； to prove they could make just remarks on it。
Miss Sukey Jennett said； 'I am most pleased with that part of the story where the good Benefico cuts off the monster's head； and puts an end to his cruelty； especially as he was so sullen he would not confess his wickedness； because； you know； Miss Jenny； if he had had sense enough to have owned his error； and have followed the example of the good giant； he might have been happy。'
Miss Lucy Sly delivered the following opinion： 'My greatest joy was whilst Mignon was tying the magic fillet round the monster's neck； and conquering him。'
'Now I （said Miss Dolly Friendly） am most pleased with that part of the story； were Fidus and Amata meet the reward of their constancy and love； when they find each other after all their sufferings。'
Miss Polly Suckling said； with some eagerness； 'My greatest joy was in the description of Mignon； and to think that it should be in the power of that little creature to conquer such a great monster。'
Miss Patty Lockit； Miss Nanny Spruce； Miss Betty Ford； and Miss Henny Fret； advanced no new opinions； but agreed some to one； and some to another； of those that were already advanced。 And as every one was eager to maintain her own opinion； an argument followed； the particulars of which I could never learn： only thus much I know； that it was concluded by Miss Lucy Sly； saying； with an air and tone of voice that implied more anger than had been heard since the reconciliation； that she was sure Miss Polly Suckling only liked that part about Mignon； because she was the least in the school； and Mignon being such a little creature； put her in mind of herself。
Miss Jenny Peace now began to be frighted； lest this contention should raise another quarrel； and therefore begged to be heard before they went any farther。 T
