

UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 167 



dexterity ; and the tenderest plants and flowers 

 were laid on my table as fresh as when they were 

 pulled ; so that Mr. P. and I were able to 

 examine, at our leisure, all the natural produc- 

 tions of the island. In short, during more than 

 a year and a half, this blameless and innocent 

 girl, Nanina, continued high in my favour, and 

 was treated more like a daughter than a slave. 

 She really loved me, and her efforts to please 

 me were most assiduous. But I had a temper 

 which had never been controlled in youth, and 

 which was still unmanageable. Caprice alone 

 governed it, and I began to grow tired of poor 

 Nanina. Perhaps she might have been some- 

 times rather too familiar in her manner, but if so, 

 it was my own fault. Always in extremes, I now 

 became dissatisfied with everything she said or 

 did. If she appeared hurt at this unaccountable 

 change of conduct, I was still more angry ; and 

 one day, that she threw herself at my feet, and 

 with tears in her eyes remonstrated against some 

 unjust accusation, I barbarously spurned her 

 from my chair, and ordered her never more 

 to enter my room. Alas ! how quickly does 

 the spirit of injustice grow ; the next day I 

 missed a favourite ring, and I accused her of 

 stealing it ! Yes, I suspected poor Nanina, who 

 had been invariably faithful, and whose principles 

 I well knew had been proof against many far 

 greater temptations. 



