and when Mrs. Fairchild kissed them, and put
her arms round their necks, they cried more than ever.

Story of Ambition; or, The Wish to be Great

[Illustration: They went along the great gallery]

Twice every year Sir Charles and Lady Noble used to invite Mr. and Mrs.
Fairchild and their children to spend a day with them at their house.
Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild did not much like to go, because Sir Charles and
his lady were very proud, and their children were not brought up in the
fear of God; yet, as the visit only happened twice a year, Mr.
Fairchild thought it better to go than to have a quarrel with his
neighbour. Mrs. Fairchild always had two plain muslin frocks, with
white mittens and neat black shoes, for Lucy and Emily to wear when
they went to see Lady Noble. As Mr. Fairchild's house was as much as
two miles distance from Sir Charles Noble's, Sir Charles always used to
send his carriage for them, and to bring them back again at night.

One morning, just at breakfast-time, Mr. Fairchild came into the
parlour, saying to Mrs. Fairchild:

"Here, my dear, is a note from Sir Charles Noble, inviting us to spend
the day to-morrow, and the children."

"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Fairchild, "as Sir Charles Noble has been so
kind as to ask us, we must not offend him by refusing to go."

The next morning Mr. Fairchild desired his wife and children to be
ready at twelve o'clock, which was the time fixed for the coach to be
at Mr. Fairchild's door. Accordingly, soon after eleven, Mrs. Fairchild
dressed Lucy and Emily, and made them sit quietly down till the
carriage came. As Lucy and Emily sat in the corner of the room, Lucy
looked at Emily, and said:

"Sister, how pretty you look!"

"And how nice you look, Lucy!" said Emily. "These frocks are very
pretty, and make us look very well."

"My dear little girls," said Mrs. Fairchild, who overheard what they
said to each other, "do not be conceited because you have got your best
frocks on. You now think well of yourselves, because you fancy you are
well dressed; by-and-by, when you get to Lady Noble's, you will find
Miss Augusta much finer dressed than yourselves; then you will be out
of humour with yourselves for as little reason as you now are pleased."

At this moment Henry came in his Sunday coat to tell his mother that
Sir Charles Noble's carriage was come. Mrs. Fairchild was quite ready;
and Lucy and Emily were in such a hurry that Emily had nearly tumbled