the reason? It was this: that the sight of Miss Augusta's
fine clothes and playthings, and beautiful rooms in which she lived,
with the number of people she had to attend her, had made them both out
of humour with their own humble way of living, and small house and
plain clothes. Their hearts were full of the desire of being great,
like Miss Augusta, and having things like her; but they did not dare to
tell their thoughts to their mother.

When they got home, Mrs. Fairchild gave a baked apple to each of the
children, and some warm milk and water to drink; and after they had
prayed, she sent them to bed. When Emily and Lucy had got into bed, and
Betty had taken away the candle, Lucy said,

"Oh, Emily! I wish our papa and mamma were like Sir Charles and Lady
Noble. What a beautiful frock that was that Miss Augusta had on! and I
dare say that she has a great many more like it. And that sash!--I
never saw so fine a colour."

_Emily._ "And then the ladies and gentlemen said she was so pretty, and
even her governess did not dare to find fault with her!"

_Lucy._ "But Betty finds fault with us, and John, too; and papa and
mamma make us work so hard! and we have such coarse clothes! Even our
best frocks are not so good as those Miss Augusta wears every morning."

In this manner they went on talking till Mrs. Fairchild came upstairs
and into their room. As they had thick curtains round their bed, it
being very cold weather, they did not see their mamma come into the
room, and so she heard a great deal of what they were talking about
without their knowing it. She came up to the side of their bed, and sat
down in a chair which stood near it, and putting the curtains aside a
little, she said, "My dear little girls, as I came into the room I
heard some part of what you were saying without intending it; and I am
glad I heard it, because I can put you in a way of getting rid of these
foolish thoughts and desires which you are speaking of to each other.
Do not be ashamed, my dears; I am your own mamma, and love you dearly.
Do you remember, Lucy, when Emily got that beautiful doll from Lady
Noble, that you said you felt something in your heart which made you
very miserable?"

_Lucy._ "Yes, mamma, I remember it very well; you told me it was envy.
But I do not feel envy now; I do not wish to take Miss Augusta's things
from her, or to hurt her; Emily and I only wish to be like her, and to
have the same things she has."

"What you n