n, calling from the next
room.

Lucy and Emily and Henry began immediately to put the things they had
been playing with into the cases, and Lucy was putting her dissected
map into the place from which she had taken it, when Miss Darwell said:

"Don't put it away, Miss Fairchild; it shall be tied up ready to go
with the carriage."

Lucy did not understand her.

"Did you not choose it, Miss Lucy?" said Miss Darwell; "if you please
to accept it, I will send it in the carriage to-night with the bricks
and the ark."

"Thank you, dear Miss Darwell," Lucy answered; "but we must not take
anything, unless your mamma and my mamma give leave."

At that instant Mrs. Colvin called Lucy.

"I called you, my dear, to tell you that you are quite right: you ought
never to receive a present without your mamma's leave, and ought never
to desire to receive one. But I have no doubt that Miss Darwell will
remember to ask Mrs. Fairchild this evening if you may have them."

"I will," said Miss Darwell; "I hope I shall not forget it in the
bustle."

"Shall I tell you of it?" said Henry.

Lucy and Emily got as red as scarlet when Henry said these words; but
Mrs. Colvin whispered:

"Let him alone, he is very young, and he will get wiser as he gets
older."

"I shall be obliged to you to remind me of it, Henry," said Miss
Darwell; "and I will speak the moment I see Mrs. Fairchild."

How happily did the four children and the good governess dine together
that day before the open window, where they could smell the sweet
flowers in the garden below, and see a large pool which was beyond the
trees, and still beyond that the green heights of the park.

"I see people," said Henry, whose eyes were everywhere, "going up the
park by that pretty white building which looks like a temple with a
porch--there they go--I see women and children--and there are men
carrying baskets. What are they doing, ma'am?" he added, looking at
Mrs. Colvin.

"Taking a pleasant walk this fine afternoon," she answered; "and we
will walk too by-and-by, but upon one condition, as it is so very warm,
that after dinner you will each of you take a book and sit quite still,
until I speak the word for all to move."

"Might I play with Noah's ark, ma'am, instead?" said Henry; "I will not
move."

"Very well," said Mrs. Colvin; and when they had dined, she directed
Lucy and Emily to choose their books and sit down in any place they
chose.

Miss Darwell also took a bo