noon
Harris was charged never to use any but the most genteel language in her presence , and to treat her with the respect due to a young lady who was already in possession of a vast property , though under guardians . `` Three handsome rooms in one wing of the house on the first floor were given to the little lady and Harris ; and an inferior female servant was provided to wait upon them in private , and a footman to attend the young lady in public . It was not the custom for young children then to dine with the family ; the only meal , therefore , which Evelyn took with her aunts was the tea , when she saw all the company who ever visited them ; her breakfast and dinner were served up in her own rooms . `` She was required to come down at noon , and to go down and salute her aunts and ask their blessing ; and whenever any one of them declined the daily airing , she was invited to take the vacant place as a great treat . `` Her education was begun by Harris , who taught her to read , to use her needle , and to speak genteelly ; it was afterwards carried on by masters from Reading , for her aunts had no sort of idea of that kind of education which can only be carried on by intellectual company and teachers . Harris was told that no expense would be spared for Miss Vaughan ; that her dress must be of the first price and fashion ; that if she desired toys she was to have them , and as many gift-books as St. Paul 's Church-yard supplied . `` As to her religious duties , Harris was to see that she was always very well dressed , and in good time to go to Church with her aunts ; that she was taught her Catechism ; and that she read a portion every day of some good book ; one of the old ladies recommending the _ Whole Duty of Man _ , another Nelson 's _ Fasts and Festivals _ , a third Boston 's _ Fourfold State _ , whilst the fourth , merely , it is to be feared , in opposition to her sisters , remarked , half aside to Harris , that all the books above mentioned were very good , to be sure , but too hard for a child , and therefore that the Bible itself might , she thought , answer as well , till Miss Vaughan could manage hard words .