t; there was not a weed to be seen in the
gravel walks or among the shrubs, nor anything out of its place in the
house. My aunts themselves were nice and orderly, and went on from day
to day in the same manner, and, as far as they knew, they were good
women; but they knew very little about religion, and what people do not
understand they cannot practise.

[Illustration: "_Mrs. Grace taught me to sew, and Mrs. Penelope taught
me to read._"--Page 10.]

"I was but a very little girl when I came to live with my aunts, and
they kept me under their care till I was married. As far as they knew
what was right, they took great pains with me. Mrs. Grace taught me to
sew, and Mrs. Penelope taught me to read. I had a writing-and
music-master, who came from Reading to teach me twice a week; and I was
taught all kinds of household work by my aunts' maid. We spent one day
exactly like another. I was made to rise early, and to dress myself
very neatly, to breakfast with my aunts. At breakfast I was not allowed
to speak one word. After breakfast I worked two hours with my Aunt
Grace, and read an hour with my Aunt Penelope; we then, if it was fine
weather, took a walk, or, if not, an airing in the coach--I, and my
aunts, and little Shock, the lap-dog, together. At dinner I was not
allowed to speak, and after dinner I attended my masters, or learned my
tasks. The only time I had to play was while my aunts were dressing to
go out, for they went out every evening to play at cards. When they
went out my supper was given to me, and I was put to bed in a closet in
my aunts' room.

"Now, although my aunts took so much pains with me in their way, I was
a very naughty girl; I had no good principles."

"What do you mean by good principles?" asked Lucy.

"A person of good principles, my dear," said Mrs. Fairchild, "is one
who does not do well for fear of the people he lives with, but from the
fear of God. A child who has good principles will behave just the same
when his mamma is out of the room as when she is looking at him--at
least he will wish to do so; and if he is by his own wicked heart at
any time tempted to sin, he will be grieved, although no person knows
his sin. But when I lived with my aunts, if I could escape punishment,
I did not care what naughty things I did.

"My Aunt Grace was very fond of Shock. She used to give me skim-milk at
breakfast, but she gave Shock cream; and she often made me carry him
when I went out a-walking.