partly,
I think, at the thought of her dear master having to eat plain or ill-
dressed dinners, partly, I really believe, at her sorrow for leaving us.
However, I coaxed her into teaching me how to make a great many things
dear papa likes; besides, I have bought a cookery-book."

To mark the difference of character, it is worth noticing that Harriet,
before leaving the great house, had "coaxed" the lady's maid to give her
a few hints about the cutting-out of dresses--and since her preparations
for her visit began, she had bought a book of the new fashions.

As it was likely the sisters would henceforth have to make their own
dresses, it was a wise precaution to gain as much information as they
could on the subject; but in their inquiries, the one sister thought only
of her afflicted father's comfort.

"I will help you after dinner," resumed Mary, "that is to say, if papa
does not want me to read to him." And as, during dinner, Harriet
contrived to make her wishes very evident, Mr. Mannering dispensed with
the reading, and, accepting the arm of a neighbour, a new and homely
acquaintance, took a second stroll in the green lanes.

"What am I to do about a bonnet?" said Harriet, as they sat at work, and
after a pause, as if she had been summoning courage to commence a rather
disagreeable subject.

"About a bonnet?" said Mary, repeating the question.

"Yes, I _must_ have a new one; the old straw is so burnt by the sun, that
it is far too shabby to wear at Mrs. Somerton's; and it looks even worse
by the side of this bright new silk dress, than with a common one."

"I know that," replied Mary, with a sigh, "but you cannot afford a new
one. If you remember, we both agreed to have new ribbons to the old
bonnets, and thus make them serve."

"Yes, and so you may do, Mary, very well; even if you were to go on
wearing your bonnet as it is, old ribbon and all, I do not see that it
would much signify; but it will be different with me at Mrs. Somerton's,
you know."

"Yet, though no one sees me here," replied the younger sister, musing, as
if to consider if it were possible to save the price of her own ribbon,
as something towards procuring the new bonnet which Harriet said she
"must" have, "though nobody sees me, it is right at least to be _neat_
and _clean_, and really my bonnet strings are very dirty."

"Could you not wash them?" said Harriet, really blushing at the meanness
and selfishness of her own suggestion.

"I d