; but
before they took them from the table, Mrs. Goodriche told them that
they were only to have them on these conditions--that they were not to
consult each other about the use they were to make of them; nor to get
anybody to help in cutting them out, and not to tell what they were
doing till they brought what they had made to her.

"Then, Lucy, you must not ask me," said Emily; "I will not ask you."

"I shall make no inquiries," said Mrs. Fairchild; "you may work at your
things in any of your play hours excepting the walking time. Emily may
work in my room, and Lucy in her own, because you must not be together;
and if I come into my room, I shall not look at what you are doing,
Emily."

Lucy and Emily took up their bits, all joy and delight, and full of
thought; but Bessy was not so well pleased; she hated work as much as
reading, and perhaps from the same reason, that she had neither got
over the drudgery of work nor of reading. The beginning of all learning
is dry, and stupid, and painful; but many things are delightful, when
we can do them easily, which are most disagreeable when we first begin
them.

After this day, things passed on till the end of the week much as we
have said. Lucy and Emily were always very busy in their different
places, from dinner to tea-time. Henry was often, at those times, with
John; and where Miss Bessy was Mrs. Goodriche did not know, because she
had proposed to go and work in Henry's arbour. Her aunt could not
follow her everywhere, so she only made herself sure that she did not
go beyond the garden, and she did not ask whether she spent half her
time in the kitchen, for she was not afraid that Betty would hurt her.

"When am I to see the pieces of work?" said Mrs. Goodriche on the
Saturday morning.

"Before tea, ma'am," replied Lucy; "Emily and I are ready, but we don't
know whether Bessy is--we can wait if she is not."

"Oh, I am ready," answered Bessy; "my silk is done."

The tea-things were on the table when Emily came in first with an open
basket--whatever was in it was hidden by a piece of white paper. Lucy
followed with a neat little parcel, carefully rolled up; and Bessy
followed, with a hand in one of her pockets, and a smile on her face,
though she looked red and rather confused.

"I shall look at the little market-woman with her basket first," said
Mrs. Goodriche; and Emily went up to her with a sweet pleasant smile,
as if she felt sure that she had some very pret