soon as she came in, she knew it would take some time for the walk from
the Parsonage House.

Such good use did Bessy make of her time that she had clean linen and
her everyday gown on before Mrs. Goodriche came in.

The first inquiry which Mrs. Fairchild and Mrs. Goodriche made was
whether the young people and Betty had escaped the shower. Lucy, who
knew no more than that they had all come in soon after each other,
answered:

"Oh yes, but we had a run for it."

Betty was not there to tell her story, and Bessy thought it was quite
as well to let the affair pass.

Thoughtful people often wonder how giddy ones can be so thoughtless as
they are, and giddy ones wonder how their thoughtful friends can attend
to so many things as they do. Many persons are naturally thoughtless,
but this fault may be repaired by management in childhood. Poor Bessy
had had no such careful management; and her carelessness had come to
such a pass, that from the time in which she had hung up her wet and
spoiled clothes in the closet, she troubled herself about them no more
till the time came when she wanted to put them on.

Still, she learned much, as it proved, from the misfortunes of that
Sunday. After dinner it began to pour again, and Mrs. Fairchild took
Bessy with her own children into a quiet room, and there she read the
Bible and talked to them. Having been well used to talk to children and
young people, she made all she said so pleasant, that Bessy was quite
surprised when Betty knocked at the door and said tea was ready.

The rest of the Sunday evening passed off so very pleasantly that even
Bessy yawned only three times, and that was just before supper--and yet
it rained--rained--rained.

The next morning rose in great brightness, promising a charming day.
The forenoon was spent as usual; and after the lessons and work, Mrs.
Goodriche furnished the pin-cushions and the housewife, and gave out
the two pieces of chintz for the dolls' frocks; and so busy were the
old lady and the little girls, that it was time to lay the cloth for
dinner before the things were quite put away.

Whilst all this business was going on, Bessy was somewhere about in the
garden.

Now it was not a very common thing for a loud knock to be heard at Mr.
Fairchild's door. But it was Mr. Somers who knocked, and he came in all
in a hurry. He came to say that a lady, who lived about two miles
distant in another parish, had called. He told the lady's name to Mr