, to be sure," said Mr Barker. "My mouth waters
when I look at it."

Isabella ran for a knife to cut it directly, but Mr Barker stopped her.
"Not now, my dear; but I hoped you would have asked us to tea, to taste
your cake."

"And will you really come, Sir?" asked Jane. "Mrs Barker, will you
come to-morrow, and drink tea with us? And the children too. We have
no amusement to offer but the cake: but we shall be quite delighted if
you will come."

"With all my heart, Jane. We and two of the children will come, and we
will take a long walk afterwards if you please. We shall have more time
to look at your presents than we have now; we cannot stay longer
to-night."

Jane put Mrs Rathbone's letter into Mr Barker's hand, and he went
aside to read it. He returned it to her in silence. She obtained Mr
Rathbone's address, that she might, this very evening, write her thanks
for his munificent kindness.

When their friends were gone, the young people found it was too late to
take their usual walk; besides, their lessons were not finished, and
they resolutely sat down to their business: Alfred, with the fear of the
bottom of the class before his eyes; Harriet, with the mixed motive of
this fear, and the wish to do right; Isabella, influenced by the wish
alone. Alfred asked Jane to hear him his lesson, and the two words,
"quite perfect," at length repaid his labours.

"But, Jane," said Alfred, "you have two watches now; you will not want
them both."

"Certainly," said Jane. "Isabella shall have the old one; she will
value it as having been my mother's; though it is not a very serviceable
one."

"O! thank you, Jane," said Isabella. "I had not thought of such a
thing, I am sure. I had no idea of having a watch for many years to
come."

"If you will undertake to get Harriet and Alfred off to bed, Isabella, I
will. And a watch-pocket for you. Or you can make one in an hour. Sit
up with me for this one evening, and we will consult what to do with our
books; and I will write my letter before breakfast to-morrow: my head
will be clearer then."

No sooner said than done. The girls found room in a closet for their
shabbiest books, and in the morning the new ones were installed in their
places on the shelves, much to the satisfaction of their owners. Jane's
letter was written and dispatched, and she was more comfortable when she
had attempted to express her gratitude to her father's faithful friends,
though she