n
one word to him, and that you only guess he is my servant John? What
would you think, Miss Goodriche, if you were to see my daughter Lucy
suddenly run and do the same by yonder labourer in that meadow?--and
yet she may know him quite as well, if not better, than you do John."

"La! Mr. Fairchild," cried Miss Bessy, laughing, "how you do put
things! I never thought what I was doing. It must have looked uncommon
strange, but I hope I shan't do it again."

"Then you had better go in with me to your aunt, and if she approves,
you shall help Lucy and Emily in their little gardens."

[Illustration: "_Cutting off faded flowers, and picking up the dead
leaves._"--Page 299.]

Mrs. Fairchild and Mrs. Goodriche were only waiting for Miss Bessy to
follow the little girls into the garden; and there, whilst they worked
and chatted together, Lucy and Emily and Miss Goodriche were employed
in cutting off faded flowers, and picking up the dead leaves from the
ground.

[Illustration: "_Off she ran after him._"--Page 295.]

More about Bessy

[Illustration: She saw Bessy amongst some gooseberry bushes]

It may be supposed that Mrs. Goodriche gave some good advice to her
niece whilst they were in their room, for Miss Bessy came down looking
rather sulky, and said very little at breakfast; only that she
attempted several times to hold discourse with Lucy in whispers, for
which they were quietly called to order by Lucy's father.

Mr. Fairchild said:

"You must not whisper at table, my dears, for we are met to make
ourselves agreeable either by talking or attentive listening."

After breakfast Mrs. Fairchild said:

"As we hope your visit, Mrs. Goodriche, will be a long one, we will, if
you please, go on with our plans. I shall go into my school-room with
my little girls, and leave you and Bessy to yourselves; you will see us
again about twelve o'clock."

"Very right," replied Mrs. Goodriche, with a smile; "and I trust that
Bessy and I shall be as busy as you will be."

So Mrs. Goodriche went to her room, and when she came back with two
large bags and several books, there was no Miss Bessy to be found.

She, however, was, for an old person, very active, with all her senses
about her, and off she trotted after her niece, finding her, after some
trouble, chattering to Mag, who was hung in a cage before the kitchen
window. She brought her into the parlour, saying:

"Come, niece, let us follow a good example, and make