my usual employments.

_Rosalind._ A week of entire leisure! O, how delightful!

_Mrs. Mortlake._ But, during that time, neither you nor Josephine must
come into the school-room.

_Rosalind._ O, indeed! we shall not desire it.

_Mrs. Mortlake._ Neither must you read.

_Rosalind._ Well!--I am sure I have read enough to last my lifetime.
Where is the use of reading story-books that are all invention,
describing people that never lived; or of poring over voyages and
travels to countries I shall never visit; or of studying the histories
of dead kings.

_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not sew.

_Rosalind._ I never _did_ find it very entertaining to stick a needle
and thread into a piece of muslin, and pull it through again.

_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not draw.

_Rosalind._ I do not see the pleasure of rubbing red, and blue, and
green paint on little plates; and dabbling in tumblers of water with
camel's-hair pencils, and daubing colours on white paper.

_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not play on the piano, nor on the harp.

_Rosalind._ Well! What sense is there in pressing down your fingers
first on bits of ivory, and then on bits of ebony; and staring at
crotchets and quavers all the time? or where is the use of twanging and
jerking the strings of a harp?

_Mrs. Mortlake._ You must not work in your garden.

_Rosalind._ So much the better. Then I shall neither dirty my hands with
pulling up the weeds, nor splash my feet with the water-pot.

_Mrs. Mortlake._ You may sleep as much as you please; but you must not
rise before nine o'clock.

_Rosalind._ O, how delightful, not to be obliged to jump out of bed at
daylight! Dearest Mrs. Mortlake, if I could have a _month_ of ease and
comfort, instead of only a week---

_Mrs. Mortlake._ Well,--if at the end of the week you still desire it,
perhaps I may protract the indulgence to a longer period.

_Rosalind._ Dear Mrs. Mortlake, how kind you are. When shall my
happiness begin? As to-morrow is Saturday, when we _always_ have a half
holiday, and next day Sunday, when we go to the city to attend church, I
think, notwithstanding my impatience, I would rather commence my week of
felicity regularly on Monday morning.

_Mrs. Mortlake._ Very well, then. On Monday morning let it be.

_Adelaide._ I am sorry to hear you call your anticipated week of
idleness a week of felicity.

_Rosalind._ Oh! I am sure I shall find it so; and you will regret not
having also accepted Mrs. Mortlak