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FRANCES BEAUMONT.
195

stone's frock." "Leave that to me," exclaimed Fanny, "you know she is my child, and as she has said her lesson, will you let me curl her hair?"

"Yes, and thank you into the bargain," replied the teacher, glad to get rid of the job.

The little West Indian's lot was very different from that of her protector. She came to school straight from her native island, ignorant, spoilt, and with even more than a usual share of the indolence belonging to a warmer climate. She had however more indulgences than the other children, her father seemed desirous of making up to her for the necessity of sending her from home. The allowance made on her account was more than liberal, it was extravagant; her pocket-money was quite unfit for a child of her age, so was her dress, and for the first year of her residence in England, she laboured under all the disadvantages of undue preference, and improper indulgence. Fortune however had a severe lesson in store. She had not been above some fifteen months at Mrs. Cameron's before the usual remittances failed.