nery after all!" said Emily. "I am sure if I
was like Miss Crosbie, instead of dressing myself out, I would wear a
veil and hide my face."

In this way the two little girls kept on chattering; and I fear my
reader will say that they are not improved since last she heard
anything of them.

When Miss Crosbie came into the parlour, she kissed them both, and made
some remarks upon their looks, which showed that she was quite pleased
with their appearance. Mrs. Fairchild employed them a little time in
going backwards and forwards to Betty, and helping in many things; for
when people keep but one maidservant, they must occasionally assist
her.

When the room was ready for Miss Crosbie, and a fire lighted, and all
the boxes and packages carried up, Mrs. Fairchild showed the lady to
her room; and Miss Crosbie, having asked when dinner would be ready,
said:

"Well, I shall just have time to change my dress."

"Oh, pray do not trouble yourself to dress," said Mrs. Fairchild; "you
are very nice now, and we are plain people."

"You are very good," answered Miss Crosbie, "but I shall not be
comfortable in the dress in which I travelled."

Mrs. Fairchild said no more; but having told her little girls, who had
gone up with her to the visitor's room, to go and make themselves neat
in their Sunday frocks, she hastened to give some orders, and perhaps
some help, in the kitchen.

We will not repeat what Lucy and Emily said to each other whilst they
were in their little room: all that passed was of the same kind, if not
worse than what they had said in the parlour; one encouraging the
other, and carrying their ridicule of their mother's visitor farther
than either of them intended when they began. When the little girls
were dressed, they went into the best parlour, or tea-room, as their
mother called it in the old-fashioned way; and there they found a fire
burning, and everything in order. John was laying the cloth in the next
room, and Henry soon came to them in his Sunday dress, and soon
afterwards their father and mother; but Miss Crosbie did not appear
till dinner was being served up. She came dressed in a muslin gown,
with a long train, and large full sleeves, tied in several places with
crimson ribbons; she had her hair frizzed and powdered, and a turban of
crimson satin on her head. Her dress was quite out of place; but
persons who are always used to be rather over-dressed are not judges of
the times and places in which t