was with them
all, for the ingenuous confession of their faults in their past lives;
and she then declared Mrs. Teachum's kind permission to them to take
another walk that afternoon.

As no one had at present any story to read or relate, they employed
their time till dinner, some in walking and running about the garden;
others in looking after and tending some plant or flower, that they had
taken particularly under their care, which Mrs. Teachum both permitted
and encouraged them in, whilst Miss Jenny Peace, Miss Sukey Jennett,
and Miss Dolly Friendly, remained in the arbour, the two latter asking
a thousand questions of the former, both concerning all the instructions
she had ever learned from her mamma, and by what means they should best
be able to preserve that friendship and happiness, which had of late
subsisted amongst them; saying, how pleased their friends and relations
would be, to see such a change in their temper and behaviour, and how
much they should be beloved by every one.

When they met at dinner, Mrs. Teachum asked them, whether they had
determined upon the choice she had given them in their afternoon's walk;
and they were all desirous of going to the dairy house; for little Polly
said, she longed to see the good-humoured old woman again, and, indeed,
she would not now say anything to her of her shaking head, or her
grey hair. Mrs. Teachum was pleased, that little Polly so gratefully
remembered the old woman, who had been so kind to her; and readily
consented to their choice, and approved of their determination.

Being soon equipped for their walk, they set out, attended by two
maidservants; and as soon as they arrived, the good old woman expressed
the highest joy on seeing them, and told little Polly, that she should
have plenty of cream and strawberries, for her daughter had been that
day in the wood, and had brought home three baskets of very fine ones.
Mrs. Nelly, her daughter, said very crossly, that she supposed there
would be fine work amongst them, now their governess was not with them;
but 'twas her mother's way, to let all children be as rude as they
pleased. Miss Sukey Jennett, with some indignation in her look, was
going to answer her; but Miss Jenny Peace, fearing she would say
something less mild than she wished, gave her a nod; and, turning to the
young woman, with great modesty and temper, thus said: 'You shall see,
Mrs. Nelly, that our good governess's instructions are of more force