ry and I are much better
children than we used to be; we have not been punished for a very long
time."

"My dear," said Mrs. Fairchild, "do not boast or think well of
yourself; it is always a bad sign when people boast of themselves. If
you have not done any very naughty thing lately, it is not because
there is any goodness or wisdom in you, but because your papa and I
have been always with you, carefully watching and guiding you from
morning till night."

That same evening a letter came for Mr. Fairchild, from an old lady who
lived about four miles off, begging that he and Mrs. Fairchild would
come over, if it was convenient, to see her the next day to settle some
business of consequence. This old lady's name was Mrs. Goodriche, and
she lived in a very neat little house just under a hill, with Sukey her
maid. It was the very house in which Mrs. Howard lived about fifty
years ago, as we shall hear later on.

When Mr. Fairchild got the letter he ordered John to get the horse
ready by daybreak next morning, and to put the pillion on it for Mrs.
Fairchild; so Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild got up very early, and when they
had kissed their children, who were still asleep, they set off.

Now it happened, very unluckily, that Mrs. Fairchild, at this time, had
given Betty leave to go for two or three days to see her father, and
she was not yet returned; so there was nobody left in the house to take
care of the children but John. And now I will tell you how these
children spent the day whilst their father and mother were out.

When Lucy and Emily awoke, they began playing in their beds. Emily made
babies of the pillows, and Lucy pulled off the sheets and tied them
round her, in imitation of Lady Noble's long-trained gown; and thus
they spent their time till Henry came to the door to tell them that
breakfast was ready.

"And I have persuaded John," said Henry, "to make us toast and butter;
and it looks so nice! Make haste and come down; do, sisters, do!" And
he continued to drum upon the door with a stick until his sisters were
dressed.

Emily and Lucy put on their clothes as quickly as they could and went
downstairs with their brother, without praying, washing themselves,
combing their hair, making their bed, or doing any one thing they ought
to have done.

John had, indeed, made a large quantity of toast and butter; but the
children were not satisfied with what John had made, for when they had
eaten all that he had provided