ABSTRACT
The children were allowed to help themselves to fruit,1[when it made a part of their meal;] and Caroline always took care to pick out the best, or swallow 2[what she took] in a hurry, 3[lest she should not get as much as she wished for]. Indeed she generally eat more than her share. She had several times eaten 4[more than a person ought to eat at one time], without feeling any ill effects; but one afternoon she complained of a pain in her stomach in consequence of it, and her pale face and languid eyes plainly shewed her indisposition. Mrs Mason gave her an emetic, and after the operation she was obliged to go to bed, though she had promised herself a pleasant walk that evening. She was left alone, 5[for] Mary was not permitted to stay 6[at home with her, as she offered to do]. Had her sickness been accidental, we would both / have tried to amuse her, said Mrs Mason; but her greediness now receiving its natural and just punishment, 7[] she must endure it without the alleviation which pity affords; only tell her from me, that the pleasure was but momentary, while the 8[pain and confinement it produced] has already lasted some hours.
