ting heavy offences, but she never does anything in the right
way. What shall I do with her, my good friend?"

"We will talk over the affair at home," replied Mr. Fairchild; "and you
shall see me again to-morrow."

The next day accordingly brought Mr. Fairchild, and with him Mrs.
Fairchild.

"Well, my good madam," said he, "we have settled it; we shall be glad
to see you and Miss Bessy. We have spoken to Lucy and Emily; and they
have promised to attend to all our wishes, and to inform us if
anything should be said or done which they think we should not
approve. So when shall I fetch you?--say to-morrow?"

"To-morrow, then," replied Mrs. Goodriche; "to-morrow evening, by which
time I shall have settled things at home, and provided a person to be
with Sukey."

After an early dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild went home.

The next morning Mrs. Fairchild had some conversation with her little
girls.

"You have never, my dears," she said, "been in a house for any time
with a young person whose character we do not know; but it seems that
it is required of us now to receive such a one. Mrs. Goodriche is an
old and very dear friend; she is in trouble, and she has some hopes
that her niece may be benefited by being for a while in an orderly
family. You and Emily may be some help to her; but if you are led by
her, or are unkind to her, or show that you think yourselves better
than she is, you may not only be hurt yourselves, but very much hurt
her instead of doing her good."

"Oh, mamma," replied Lucy, "I hope that we shall not do that: pray tell
us every day exactly what to do."

"Be assured that I will, my children," said Mrs. Fairchild; "and we
will not fear. You will not dislike Bessy--she is a good-tempered,
merry girl; but you must not let her be alone with Henry: her very good
humour may make her a dangerous companion to him."

Mr. Fairchild went, after dinner, to fetch Mrs. Goodriche and Bessy;
and just before tea Henry came in to say the carriage was coming. He
ran out again as fast as he could to set the gate open.

Mrs. Fairchild and the little girls met their visitors at the door.

Bessy jumped out of the carriage, and without waiting for the names to
be spoken, gave her hands to Lucy and Emily. She kissed Lucy, and would
have kissed Emily if she had not got behind Mrs. Fairchild.

"And that was Henry," she said, "who stood at the gate: he is a nice
little fellow! I know all the names, and John's and Betty'