Abbeychurch

ra was allowed to sit up a little longer to see her aunt, Mrs. Hazleby. It

niece, little Dora, whom she kissed, and the three elder girls, with whom she only shook hands. She was followed by her daughters-Harriet, a tall showy girl of sixteen, and Lucy, a pa

aying on the road to Abbeychurch; and Mrs. Hazleby and her eldest daughter continued for some time to expatiate upon the beauty and good qualities of Fido, as well as those of all his kith and kin. He was not, however, very cordially welcomed by anyone at the Vicarage; for Mr. Woodbourne greatly disliked little dogs in the house, his wife dreaded them much among her children, and there were symptoms of a deadly feud between him and Elizabeth's only pet, the great black cat, Meg Merrilies. But still his birth, paren

erton and Mrs. Woodbourne. The two gentlemen, happily for themselves, had a great quantity of plans and accounts of the church to look over together, which were likely to occupy them through the whole of Sir Ed

mine! I had quite forgotten it, and I must trim it now, for I shall not have time to-

ribbon as the others have theirs. It will do quite well enough plain. Now, Anne, do not you

if I had to trim my own bon

our shoe-strings upwards, in the most complete order and elegant taste.

and scarlet bonnets, f

r a lady, so that you could not look lady-like, which I maintain a lady al

r ugly things and still be lady-like, and I am sure I honour people greatly who really deny themselves for the sake of doing right, if anyone c

e, but not while she is here, for fear Mamma should fancy that I do so because Aunt Anne wished

nne; 'but will it not seem remarkabl

l to be alike down to the little ones, so I will make the best of it, and trim it like any London milliner. But, Anne, you must consi

y, Lizzie,' said Anne, 'except after

from every day in shabby old Abbeychurch. No, you must know that when I was twelve years old, I was supposed to be capable of tak

nt fairy do it

and wretched, used to sit on her lap and cry. Dear old Margery, it is a shame to abuse her in spite of the mischief her over-kindness did us all. Well, when our new maid came, on the supposition that Miss Woodbourne took care of her own clothes, she never touched them; and as Margaret's work was not endowed with the fairy power of lasting for ever, I soon grew as ragged as any ragged-robin in the hedge. Mamma used to complain of my slovenliness, but I am afraid I was naughty enough to take advantage of her gentleness, and out-argue her; so things grew worse and worse, till at last, one fatal day, Papa was aware of a great

asked Anne; 'there could be no doubt of your resolvi

However, I do not think I have been shamefully slovenly in my own person since that explosion, and I have scarcely be

,' said Anne, feeling very prudent,

ay such savage things as I do,' said Elizabeth,

tain

e in particular, I am convinced that she thinks that Mamma hates me as much as she does, for she seems to think it will delight her to hear that I am thinner than ever, and that such bright colour is a very bad sign, and then she finishes off with a

, with Fido at her feet; Lucy was unpacking her wardrobe, Katherine lighting her, and admiring each article as it was taken out, in spite of her former disapprobation of Harriet's style of dress. Helen stood lingering by the door, with her hand on the lock, still listening or talking, though not much i

care of my spotted muslin, it is caught on th

om the threatened danger, and Harriet continue

ith pink ribbons

nly fifteen-pence a yard for it; I will shew it to you when Lucy com

ashes,' said Katherine. 'Oh! w

t, 'but if I had been you, Kate, I woul

ost too much,' said Katherine, 'an

marter than her own girls, eh,

traw bonnet at Dykelands,' said Helen, 'and

of sisters being forced to dress alik

d to display it. When Harriet had sufficiently explained its excel

him last night, or in the course o

f a young fellow i

indeed,' sa

l,' said Harriet; 'those clever boys are

upid ones bette

tupid; I only meant, clever boys, as they call them, have n

t is full of fun

ite a boy, is not

at Oxford,' s

oy-don't you, Lucy?' said

y,' said

ter, then, I supp

think Anne pretty

o small and pale to s

erine, 'he has a very bright pink an

he t

lighter. He has had two of his front teeth kno

d make about those t

ool where Horace

Katherine, '

t miss Horac

was so riotous, he would pull all my things to pieces. Nobody c

my frock!' said Harriet, l

,' said Helen, 'I am sure

very sleepy,' s

aid Harriet, yawning; 'it was s

ings be put away to-morrow m

Lucy may as well do them all now she has begun. How

t is quite time for us to be gone