e for a plant, but will either come back without it, or bring
me a wrong one, though they have all been sent to school, and might have
learned to read if they would. There are Davis's two daughters: Mr.
Freeman paid for their schooling for two years, yet neither of them can
read the names of the plants. But you are envied because I employ you in
doing what they cannot do. Well, never mind, Rose, you shall not go to
town any more with them, but stay here with me, and attend to the ladies
and gentlemen.'

I was glad to hear Mr. Joseph say this, for I was in hopes I should be
free from any further trouble, and be as happy as I had been; but sorrow
had again burst upon me like a storm, and I was not yet to be rescued
from its fury.

When we went home at night, Susan took an opportunity when her father
was out of the house to tell her mother the adventures of the morning,
with some alterations of her own; and I was astonished to hear her
mother defend the conduct of Richard and the others, and blame me for
not joining the robbery; and, when I would not say that the next time we
went to town (for I did not dare to tell them that I was not to go any
more) I would take my share in the plunder, she was completely in a
rage, and kept repeating that there was no harm in taking the money. At
last I ventured to say:

'Would you think it right of me, ma'am, if I was to rob _you_?'

'To rob _me_, child! No. But that is quite a different thing. To rob
_me_! No. You would be the most ungrateful creature that ever lived if
you did. I took you in, and sheltered you when you had not a hole to put
your head in, nor a morsel of victuals to eat.'

'You did, ma'am,' I replied; 'and I would do anything I could to serve
you. I would not rob nor injure you upon any account. And I cannot rob
Mr. Freeman, for he gave me employment when I had none, and he pays me
six shillings a week. How ungrateful I should be if I could rob him. I
cannot do it; indeed, I cannot.'

'Take your supper and go to bed,' said Mrs. Davis. 'I cannot argue with
you, but I know that you are a very foolish child.'

I did as I was ordered, and retired to my loft, and happy should I have
been if this disagreeable business ended there, but a few evenings
after, just before we left the gardens, I went to put a knife into a
basket that belonged to Susan, and, to my surprise and grief, found that
it concealed five fine peaches in it. I trembled so when I saw them that
I cou