not be heard: they had all set their hearts on that fine apple,
looking upon those she had given them as nothing. She told them
they had better be contented with what they had, than be thus
seeking what it was impossible for her to give to them all. She
offered to divide it into eight parts, or to do anything to
satisfy them; but she might as well have been silent; for they
were all talking and had no time to hear. At last as a means to
quiet the disturbance, she threw this apple, the cause of their
contention, with her utmost force over a hedge into another
garden, where they could not come at it.

At first they were all silent, as if they were struck dumb with
astonishment with the loss of this one poor apple, though at the
same time they had plenty before them.

But this did not bring to pass Miss Jenny's design: for now they
all began again to quarrel which had the most right to it, and
which ought to have had it, with as much vehemence as they had
before contended for the possession of it; and their anger by
degrees became so high, that words could not vent half their rage;
and they fell to pulling of caps, tearing of hair, and dragging
the clothes off one another's backs: though they did not so much
strike, as endeavour to scratch and pinch their enemies.

Miss Dolly Friendly as yet was not engaged in the battle; but on
hearing her friend Miss Nanny Spruce scream out, that she was hurt
by a sly pinch from one of the girls, she flew on this sly
pincher, as she called her, like an enraged lion on its prey; and
not content only to return the harm her friend had received, she
struck with such force, as felled her enemy to the ground. And