girl is only six
years old, and will therefore be but a trifling expense to her for some
years to come."

Matilda now wiped her eyes, but was observed for a considerable time
involved in deep thought, and silent thanksgiving to God, and no one around
thought it right to interrupt the silent aspirations of her heart; but as
soon as her countenance resumed its usual expression, and she rose from her
seat, the young ones surrounded her, and with cheerful looks congratulated
her on the change in her feelings, which they were aware a few moments must
have produced; for, as Edmund observed, though it was very right to be
resigned to every change which it pleased God to send, yet it was
undoubtedly a great pleasure to know that a dear parent enjoyed not only
the power of living in her usual style of comfort, but that she preserved
the power of bestowing a part of her fortune to feed the poor, and to
communicate knowledge, and sow the seeds of virtue in the minds of the
young and uninformed.

Matilda listened to their congratulations with gratitude and pleasure, and
looked forward with exultation, chastened by a proper diffidence of
herself, to the time when, with her beloved mother, she should be employed
in acts of beneficence and social enjoyment--"So passing through things
temporal, as not to lose the things that are eternal."

CHAPTER XI.

On the following midsummer vacation, Mrs. Harewood complied with the wishes
of her young family, by consenting to give a ball to their young friends;
and as she disapproved very much of late hours, the whole party were
invited to dinner, in order that the dance might commence early.

The day previous to this entertainment was a very busy one, as the young
people were permitted to display their taste by arranging the ball-room,
and ornamenting it in the best manner they were able with flowers, under
the inspection and with the assistance of Miss Campbell. The boys, attended
by the footman, went out into the country, and returned laden with
beautiful spoils from the hedges and copses, consisting of branches of
trees, brushwood, and maythorn, together with those green plants which at
this season of the year are found in abundance, such as clivers, coltswort,
and the various mallows. When these were brought home, the young ladies
tied gay flowers, made of various-coloured paper, upon them, at distances,
with green worsted; and when these ornaments were finished, the branches
the