hind.
The pillion was put aside, and the old horse put in the shafts: and
though, to be sure, he went but slowly, and not very far at a time, yet
the whole family found great pleasure in the change.

The winter was past, and the sweet spring was beginning to show itself,
when that happened which shall be related without delay.

One morning when Henry was with his father in the study, and Lucy and
Emily were busy with their needles, seated in the parlour window
together, and alone, they saw a gentleman's carriage stop at the gate,
and a lady get out. A great number of bandboxes were taken from
different parts of the carriage by a servant who was attending the
carriage; and before the little girls could make anything of all these
wonders, they saw their father first, and then their mother, run out
and shake hands with the lady, and seem to invite her to come in.
Henry, too, had gone out after his papa, and had been sent back, as
they thought, to fetch Betty; for Betty soon appeared, and began, with
the help of Henry, who seemed to be delighted at this interruption of
his lessons, to carry the boxes into the house.

Lucy and Emily soon discovered that this lady was the elder Miss
Crosbie; but they wondered how she had happened to come that day. Miss
Crosbie had come from London, where she had been for some time, and was
now so far on her way to visit a friend in the country.

She had come to Mr. Fairchild's door in another friend's carriage, and
she was come to ask Mr. Fairchild to take her in until the Monday
morning.

Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild both assured her that they were most glad to see
her; expressed a hope that she would stay longer than Monday, and
showed themselves so kind and hospitable, that Miss Crosbie was quite
at her ease, and everything was settled about her staying, before Mr.
Fairchild brought her into the parlour. But there was quite time
enough, before Miss Crosbie came in, for Lucy and Emily to say many
things, for which, I am happy to add, they were afterwards very sorry.
Lucy spoke first.

"What a quantity of boxes she has brought!" she said; "some finery, I
dare say, in all of them; how silly for such an old person to be fond
of dress!"

"It is very silly," replied Emily, "and particularly for one so ugly.
Don't you think Miss Crosbie uncommonly ugly?"

"To be sure I do," she answered; "everybody must: with her little nose,
and her gray eyes, and her wide mouth."

"And to be so fond of fi