learn'd as fast as
they; and tho' the Masters were not appointed to teach me, yet I learn'd by
Imitation and Enquiry, all that they learn'd by Instruction and Direction. So
that in short, I learned to Dance and speak French as well as any of them, and
to Sing much better, for I had a better Voice than any of them; I could not so
readily come at playing the Harpsicord or Spinnet, because I had no Instrument
of my own to Practise on, and could only come at theirs in the Intervals when
they left it; but yet I learned tollerably well, and the young Ladies at length
got two Instruments, that is to say, a Harpsicord and a Spinnet too, and then
they Taught me themselves; but as to Dancing they could hardly help my learning
Country Dances, because they always wanted me to make up even Number; and on the
other Hand, they were as heartily willing to learn me everything that they had
been Taught themselves, as I could be to take the Learning.
    By this Means I had, as I have said, all the Advantages of Education that I
could have had, if I had been as much a Gentlewoman as they were, with whom I
liv'd; and in some things I had the Advantage of my Ladies, tho' they were my
Superiors, Viz. that mine were all the Gifts of Nature, and which all their
Fortunes could not furnish. First, I was apparently Handsomer than any of them.
Secondly, I was better shap'd, and Thirdly, I Sung better, by which I mean, I
had a better Voice; in all which you will, I hope, allow me to say, I do not
speak my own Conceit, but the Opinion of all that knew the Family.
    I had with all these the common Vanity of my Sex, Viz. that being really
taken for very Handsome, or if you please for a great Beauty, I very well knew
it, and had as good an Opinion of my self, as any Body else could have of me,
and particularly I loved to hear any Body speak of it, which happened often, and
was a great Satisfaction to me.
    Thus far I have had a smooth Story to tell of my self, and in all this Part
of my Life, I not only had the Reputation of living in a very good Family, and a
Family Noted and Respected every where for Vertue and Sobriety, and for every
valuable Thing; but I had the Character too of