Mary Ann could scarcely read a word, and was so careless and inattentive that I could hardly get on with her at all.

However, by dint of great labour and patience, I managed to get something done in the course of the morning, and then accompanied my young charge out into the garden and adjacent grounds, for a little recreation before dinner.
There we got along tolerably together, except that I found they had no notion of going with me: I must go with them, wherever they chose to lead me.

I must run, walk, or stand, exactly as it suited their fancy.

This, I thought, was reversing the order of things; and I found it doubly disagreeable, as on this as well as subsequent occasions, they seemed to prefer the dirtiest places and the most dismal occupations.

But there was no remedy; either I must follow them, or keep entirely apart from them, and thus appear neglectful of my charge.