, Isabella, let one of your card-racks have a sketch of the
Bubbling Spring on it, and another the cottage at the foot of Elston
Hill. Do not scruple, my dear girls, on account of the risk, the very
little risk to be incurred. If our scheme answers, I promise you that
you shall repay me; if not, I can spare the small sum needed. Let me
know exactly how your accounts stand this Christmas, and be easy and
hopeful, whatever may happen. I wanted to say a great deal about Mr
and Mrs Rathbone, but it is just time for church, and I must close my
letter. I can write again by the parcel, if you authorise me to send
it.--Farewell, my very dear sisters and brother.

"I am your most affectionate,--

"Charles Forsyth."

"What a comfortable letter!" exclaimed Jane, as she finished it. "Dear
Charles is as happy as we are!"

"And just as kind as ever," said Isabella: "he will never be spoiled by
living in London. He will never forget, or be ashamed of us. How ready
he is to set his head and hands to work in our service! But we are to
write by this day's post our answer to this proposal: what shall we do,
Jane?"

"Try, by all means, I think," said Jane. "What do you say, Isabella?"

"Try, by all means, I say too, and I have very little doubt of success.
The sooner we begin the better, so we will write immediately. I think
Mr Barker will not disapprove of it."

"Certainly not," said Jane. "But, if you please, we will tell no one
about it till we see whether the plan answers or not. I am not fond of
a hasty communication of plans; and besides, I wish that our friends,
instead of considering us as schemers, should see, that, while we form
plans, we have patience and industry to carry them through, or that they
should know nothing of the matter. When we can go with earned money in
our hands to Mr Barker, we will tell him how we got it: in the mean
while, we will not trouble him, or run the risk of interruption
ourselves."

"Very right," said Isabella. "What shall we do about Harriet and
Alfred? May we tell them?"

"I think they must know," replied Jane. "You must make use of the
day-light for your drawing, and they must see what you are doing. We
must trust them. It will be a good lesson in keeping a secret."

The whole plan was soon settled. The letter was dispatched to Charles,
and, by the earliest possible hour, the parcel with its pretty contents
arrived. Charles had most completely