education he resolved for some years not to engage
a governess, as Nurse Chapman was one of those worthy creatures to
whose care he could securely trust them.

An old friend of Mr. Darnley's had recently bought a house at
Rochester, and that gentleman and his sister were invited to pass a
few days there, and as Emily grew rather too big for the nurse's
management Mrs. Collier resolved to make her of the party, leaving
Sophia, Amanda, and Eliza under that good woman's protection.

It was Mr. Darnley's wish that the young folks should rise early and
take a long walk every morning before breakfast, but they were
strictly ordered never to go beyond their own grounds unless their
aunt or father accompanied them. This order they had frequently
endeavored to persuade Nurse Chapman to disregard, but, faithful to
the trust reposed in her, she always resisted their urgent entreaties.

The morning after Mr. Darnley went to Rochester the poor woman found
herself thoroughly indisposed, and wholly incapable of rising at the
accustomed hour. The children, however, were dressed for walking, and
the nurse-maid charged not to go beyond the shrubbery, and they all
sallied out in high good humor.

"Now, Susan," said Sophia, as soon as they entered the garden, "this
is the only opportunity you may ever have of obliging us. Do let us
walk to the village, and then you know you can see your father and
mother."

"La, missy!" replied the girl, "why, you know 'tis as much as my place
is worth if Nurse Chapman should find out."

"Find it out indeed," said Amanda; "how do you think she is to find it
out? Come, do let us go, there's a dear, good creature."

"Yes, dear, dear Susan, do let us go," said Eliza, skipping on before
them, "and I'll show you the way, for I walked there last summer with
father."

Whether it was the wish of obliging the young ladies, or the desire of
seeing her parents, I cannot pretend to say, but in a luckless hour
Susan yielded, and the party soon reached the village.

Susan's mother was delighted at seeing her, and highly honored by the
young ladies' presence.

"Oh, sweet, dear creatures!" said the old woman, "I must get something
for them to eat after their long walk, and my oven's quite hot, and I
can bake them a little cake in a quarter of an hour, and I'll milk
Jenny in ten minutes."

The temptation of her hot cake and new milk was not to be withstood,
and Susan began taking down some smart china cups, w