when Saturday came I commenced
operations; but, after removing the bed and mattress I discovered, to my
great concern, that, although the bedstead would stand as I wished, yet I
could not turn it thither without first taking it apart; and for this a
bed-key was necessary. "Well," thought I, "it is worth the trouble;" so I
procured a bed-key; and at length--at length--two of the screws yielded to
my efforts. The others, however, _would not_ yield. I tried and tried, but
without avail; and, wearied and disappointed, I stood wondering what I
should do. Just then, the door opened; and "Aunty," an old lady whose
kindness and sound sense had already won my regard, stepped in. "What is
the matter?" she exclaimed--"why, what has the child been about?" "I was
trying to turn my bedstead so," said I, ruefully pointing towards the
table; and I went on to explain why I had done so. "I dare say thou wouldst
find it more convenient so," answered Aunty; "but it is quite beyond thy
strength." "I see it is," sighed I. "I would have it turned for thee" she
said; "but that is the most troublesome bedstead in the house: no one can
do anything with it except John Lawton, and he won't be home till Monday."
"What shall I do?" asked I. "I'll get Mary to come up and help thee fix it
as it was before," answered Aunty. I drew a long breath. "Oh, never mind,"
said she, soothingly; "it is not quite so convenient this way, to be sure,
but--" "I'm not thinking of the inconvenience now," interrupted I, "but of
the time I've wasted. Why, I've spent nearly four hours over that foolish
old bedstead. I was to have taken tea with Miss Mansell this afternoon, and
I had expected to learn a good French lesson besides: but now the morning
is gone, and a profitable time I've made of it!" "I should not wonder if it
prove one of the most profitable mornings of thy life." rejoined the old
lady, "and teach thee a lesson more valuable than thy French or thy music
either." "What is that?" inquired I. "To let well enough alone." answered
Aunty--and she smiled and nodded slowly as she spoke. "I'll let well enough
alone after this, I promise you," said I. "People of thy ardent temperament
seldom learn to do it in one lesson," replied she; "but the sooner thou
dost learn it, the better it will be for thy happiness. However, I'll go
now and send Mary to help thee." Mary came: but it was nearly two hours
before my room resumed its usual neat appearance.

Some three months af