lying in it, and tops, and carts, and
coaches, and whips, and trumpets in abundance.

"Here are Mrs. Fairchild's children come to dine with me, ma'am," said
Miss Augusta, as she opened the door; "this is Lucy, and this is Emily,
and that is Henry."

The governess did not take much notice of Mrs. Fairchild's children,
but said, "Miss Augusta, I wish you would shut the door after you, for
it is very cold."

I do not know whether Miss Augusta heard her governess, but she never
offered to go back to shut the door.

The governess, whose name was Beaumont, then called to Master Edward,
who was just coming in, to shut the door after him.

"You may shut it yourself, if you want it shut," answered the rude boy.

When Lucy heard this she immediately ran and shut the door, upon which
Miss Beaumont looked more civilly at her than she had done before, and
thanked her for her attention.

Whilst Lucy was shutting the door, Miss Augusta began to stir the fire.

"Miss Augusta," said the lady, "has not your mamma often forbidden you
to touch the fire? Some day you will set your frock on fire."

Miss Augusta did not heed what her governess said this time any more
than the last, but went on raking the fire; till at length Miss
Beaumont, fearing some mischief, forced the poker out of her hand. Miss
Augusta looked very much displeased, and was going to make a pert
answer, when her mother and the other ladies came into the room to see
the children dine. The young ones immediately seated themselves quietly
at the table to eat their dinner.

"Are my children well behaved?" said Lady Noble, speaking to the
governess. "I thought I heard you finding fault with Augusta when I
came in."

"Oh, no, ma'am," said the governess; "Miss Augusta is a good young
lady; I seldom have reason to find fault with her."

Lucy and Emily looked at Miss Beaumont, and wondered to hear her say
that Miss Augusta was good, but they were silent.

"I am happy to say," said Lady Noble, speaking to Mrs. Fairchild, "that
mine are promising children. Augusta has a good heart."

Just at that moment a servant came in, and set a plate of apples on the
table.

"Miss Beaumont," said Lady Noble, "take care that Augusta does not eat
above one apple; you know that she was unwell yesterday from eating too
many."

Miss Beaumont assured Lady Noble that she would attend to her wishes,
and the ladies left the room. When they were gone the governess gave
two apples to ea