o put on their finery. At the sight of
her, Lucy and Emily gave each other a look, which seemed to say, "How
very silly!"

The dinner-time passed off very well. Miss Crosbie had a great deal to
tell about London and her journey down into the country; and soon after
dinner the children had leave to go to their play-room. They were not
in the humour to do much good there: they began with talking nonsense,
and finished off with getting pettish with each other. Henry said that
he did not want to hear any more of Miss Crosbie and her finery. Lucy
called him cross; and Emily said that he was not to hinder them talking
of what they pleased. They were called to tea about six o'clock, and
when the tea-things were removed, Miss Crosbie said:

"Now, Mrs. Fairchild, you shall see some of the things which I have
brought from London; will you come to my room, or shall I send for the
bandbox down here?"

"Oh, pray," said Mr. Fairchild, "let us have the box down here, that
Henry and I may see the fine sights also."

"You don't mean to say," answered Miss Crosbie, laughing, "that a
sensible man like you, Mr. Fairchild, can be amused by the sight of
specimens of the fashions?"

"I am amused with anything," said Mr. Fairchild, "which entertains my
family. I make a point of enjoying everything which they do, as far as
I can."

"Well, then," said Miss Crosbie, "if I had my bandbox here----"

The children all at once offered to fetch it--she explained which they
were to bring out of the many which had come with her, and in a very
few minutes they had brought it down and set it on the table. Miss
Crosbie sent them up again to look in her workbag for her keys, and to
bring down a small parcel wrapped in brown paper, which was to be found
in the same bag.

The parcel and the keys soon appeared. Miss Crosbie opened the parcel
and presented Henry with a neat pocket-book, inside of which were a
pencil, a leaf of ass's-skin, a penknife, and a pair of scissors.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, ma'am," said Henry, "how good you are!"

And his father and mother joined in the boy's thanks. There was nothing
on Henry's mind particularly to render that gift bitter to him; he had
not joined in the ridicule of Miss Crosbie.

She next opened the bandbox, and took out of it two bonnets and two
tippets of grass-green silk, lined with pale pink satin. There were
also two neatly plaited lace caps to wear under the bonnets, and waist
ribbons to suit.