was the very person to like to be asked to do such a
thing, and the Misses Burke could not be offended when they saw Miss
Darwell as busily engaged as she possibly could be.

"Now," said she to Lucy, and Emily, and Henry, "now you are to come
with me; look at that little party under that oak; there is a very old
woman and two children. There are more people near, but I don't want
you to look at them--come close to them." And they all four walked
towards them.

"Do not stir, do not speak," said Miss Darwell, to the two children and
the old woman; "let Master and the Misses Fairchild see if they
recognise you again."

The little ones under the tree entered into the joke, and sat quite
still. The boy, indeed, laughed and chuckled; but the little girl kept
her countenance. The old woman did not know Mr. Fairchild's children,
so she had no trouble to keep herself from smiling.

All these three were neatly dressed, and their clothes looked quite
new. The boy had a suit of what is called hodden-gray, with a clean
shirt as white as the snow.

"I do not know them," said Lucy.

"But I do," cried Henry.

"And so do I," said Emily; "they are Edward and Jane."

"Yes, Miss," said the two little ones, jumping up.

"And it is all through you," added Edward, "that the good little lady
has done everything for us: and the house is new thatched, and the
walls made as white as paper; and more money given to grandmother; and
me cowboy at Squire Burke's; and Jane in the school--don't Jane look
well in them clothes, sir? Oh, that was a good day when we lighted on
you, Master and Miss!" And the poor boy pulled the front lock of his
hair and bowed I know not how many times.

When every person had as much as was good for them, and a few persons,
perhaps, a little more, orders were given that what remained should be
set in order in the tents for supper; and then the music struck up. And
whilst the elder people were amusing themselves in other places, Miss
Darwell called all the little girls to follow her into a pretty green
glade among the trees, and hidden from the rest of the company.

Mrs. Colvin went with her, for she was never willing that her good
governess should lose sight of her; and Lucy and Emily were equally
anxious for her presence. Henry was the only boy allowed to come.

"Now, Lucy," said Miss Darwell, for she was getting quite fond of her,
"now there is to be some play, but I do not know many games; so you and
Emily