d several times that he was not particular about what he ate
or drank; Mrs. Crosbie said that there was not a person in the world
who thought her ill-tempered but her husband; Miss Crosbie said that
nobody in the world cared less for finery than she did; and Miss Betsy
was quite offended when she was told she was not respectful in her
manners to her elders."

"Oh, yes!" said Emily; "she said, 'I am not saucy; of all faults,
sauciness is not one of my faults, I am sure;' and I thought all the
time she looked as saucy and impertinent as possible."

"And how Mr. Crosbie did eat!" said Lucy; "he ate half the haunch of
venison! And then he was helped twice to pigeon-pie; and then he ate
apple-tart and custard; and then----"

"Well, well! you have said enough, Lucy," said Mrs. Fairchild,
interrupting her. "I do not speak of our poor friends' faults out of
malice, or for the sake of making a mockery of them; but to show you
how people may live in the constant practice of one particular sin
without being at all conscious of it, and perhaps thinking themselves
very good all the time. We are all quick enough, my dear Emily and
Lucy, in finding out other people's faults; but, as I said before, we
are often very blind to our own."

"Mamma," said Lucy, "do you know any prayer about besetting sins?"

"Yes, my dear," answered Mrs. Fairchild; "I have one in my own book of
prayers; and I will copy it out for you to-morrow morning."

So Mrs. Fairchild broke off her conversation with her little girls, and
bade them go and play a little before bedtime.

[Illustration: "_Miss Betsy._"--Page 137.]

A Visit to Mary Bush

[Illustration: The children looked at the kittens]

Not very long after the death of poor Miss Augusta Noble, a note came
from Sir Charles and Lady Noble, inviting Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild to
dinner the next day; but not mentioning the children, as they used to
do when they sent their invitations.

"Poor Lady Noble!" said Mr. Fairchild; "I wish we could give her any
comfort! but we will certainly go."

The next day, when Sir Charles's carriage came for Mr. and Mrs.
Fairchild, they kissed the children, and told them when they had dined,
they might, if they pleased, go with Betty to see old Mary Bush. Mary
Bush was one of the old women who lived at the end of the coppice; and,
being a good woman, Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild were not afraid of trusting
their children with her. The children were very much pleased,