UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 147 



mined to lay aside the common amusements of 

 children, and to become a singular and distin- 

 guished character. My ambition was the more 

 easily fostered, as in our retired situation we had 

 but few neighbours ; and, therefore, an occa- 

 sional interview with their children, or a chance 

 visit from my cousins, supplied me but scantily 

 with opportunities of giving way to the natural 

 activity of youth, or of having my pedantry 

 successfully ridiculed by companions of my own 

 age. 



The pleasure which I had formerly taken in 

 learning whatever was difficult, in order to asto- 

 nish my mother, now became a real wish for know- 

 ledge ; and as my ardour increased every year, I 

 studied many subjects which are not in the usual 

 course of female education. Though my mother 

 would by no means have approved of such 

 pursuits for other young ladies, yet so great was 

 my influence, that I was not only uncontrolled 

 by her, but even assisted by my father as far as 

 his own powers permitted. 



The attainments of either were very limited : 

 they had amiable but narrow views of life; they 

 were devoted to each other, and to their chil- 

 dren ; arid to the poor around them, they were 

 actively useful and benevolent. But their in- 

 come was moderate, and my mother was obliged 

 to practise the most indefatigable economy in 

 order to ensure to her family those comforts 



o 2 



