with us, than to lose all their effect when we are out of her presence;
and I hope you will have no cause, when we go away, to complain of the
ill behaviour of any of us.'

The good old woman declared she never saw such sweet-tempered children
in all her life; and after they had eat their strawberries and cream,
and were loaded with pinks and roses by the good woman's bounty (for
they did not gather one without her permission), they took their leave
with the utmost civility, and Miss Jenny handsomely rewarded the old
woman for her good cheer. Mrs. Nelly herself was so pleased with their
regular and inoffensive behaviour, that she could not help telling Miss
Jenny, that she, and all her companions, had, indeed, behaved as well as
if their governess had been with them: on which Miss Jenny (as they were
walking home) observed to Miss Sukey Jennett (whom she had prevented
from making any reply to Mrs. Nelly's speech) how much better it was to
gain another's good will by our own endeavours to be obliging, than to
provoke them to be more cross, by our angry answers and reproaches.

When this little company, employed in pleasing talk and lively
observations, were come within about a mile of Mrs. Teachum's house, and
within view of a nobleman's fine seat, Miss Jenny said, that the next
time their governess permitted them to walk out, she would ask her
leave, that they might go and see that fine house; for some time ago she
had told them, that they should go thither when the family were absent.
Mrs. Wilson, the housekeeper, who by chance was walking that way, and
heard what Miss Jenny said, came up to them, and told Miss Jenny that
her lord and lady were now both absent, having set out, one for London,
and the other for another fine seat, forty miles off, that very morning;
and as she knew them to be Mrs. Teachum's well-regulated family, they
should be welcome to see the house and gardens now, if they liked it.
Miss Jenny thanked her, and said, as it was near two hours sooner than
their governess expected them home, she would accept of her kind offer.
The housekeeper led them through an avenue of tall elm-trees into this
magnificent house, in which were many spacious apartments, furnished
with the utmost grandeur and elegance. Some of the rooms were adorned
with fine pictures, others were hung with tapestry almost as lively as
those paintings, and most of the apartments above stairs were furnished
with the finest sorts of needle