'if that will not help us out of this difficulty, and furnish
conversation for some days longer; and by that time, perhaps, the
frost will break, the snow will melt, and set us all at liberty.
But let it break when it will, I make a law, that no one shall go
from Meadow Hall till they have told their own history: so take
notice, ladies and gentlemen, take notice, everybody, what you
have to trust to. And because,' continued she, 'I will not be
unreasonable, and require more from you than you can perform, I
will give all you who may perhaps have forgotten what passed so
many years ago, at the beginning of your lives, two days to
recollect and digest your story; by which time if you do not
produce something pretty and entertaining, we will never again
admit you to dance or play among us.' All this she spoke with so
good-humoured a smile, that every one was delighted with her, and
promised to do their best to acquit themselves to her
satisfaction; whilst some (the length of whose lives had not
rendered them forgetful of the transactions which had passed)
instantly began their memoirs, as they called them: and really
some related their narratives with such spirit and ingenuity, that
it quite distressed us older ones, lest we should disgrace
ourselves when it should fall to our turns to hold forth.
However, we were all determined to produce something, as our fair
directress ordered. Accordingly, the next morning I took up my
pen, to endeavour to draw up some kind of a history, which might
satisfy my companions in confinement. I took up my pen, it is
true, and laid the paper before me; but not one word toward my
appointed task could I proceed. The various occurrences of my life
were such as, far from affording entertainment, would, I was
certain, rather afflict; or, perhaps, not interesting enough for
that, only stupefy, and render them more weary of the continuation