Miss _Lydia_ continued to behave quite well till she went to bed. Not being in the least troublesome, by making a noise, or worrying for books or play-things which were not at hand; but employing herself with such things as she met with, without being in any body’s way. You may be sure that she went to-bed very happy at night; and that her Papa and Mamma took a very affectionate leave of her.
The following day, at breakfast, Miss _Lydia_ had the pleasure of hearing her Mamma read this account of her very pretty behaviour, and saying, that she had been quite good all day; which of course made her extremely happy. For several days _Lydia_ went on in the same charming manner: never was idle at her tasks, impatient at her meals, nor peevish at her play; and her Mamma began to hope, that she had quite corrected all her faults. Sorry, however, am I to say, that she did not persevere in being so regularly good. After a short time she began to grow a little tired of taking pains with herself. The first time she forgot herself was when she was reading her French lesson. Having finished _La Bagatelle_, her Mamma gave her _Chambaud’s French Fables_, showed her the Dictionary at the end, and instructed her how to find out any word she wanted. This was rather difficult at first, but in a few days would have grown easy to her; however she wanted resolution to take a little pains, and began fretting and grumbling sadly. Her Mamma said, Recollect yourself, _Lydia_; this will not make a pretty story: and, taking the book, would very kindly have assisted her to look for the word _Pierre_; which was what she happened to want; but _Lydia_ turned her head on one side, and made up a sad dismal face. Her Mamma then laid the book on the table, and took no further notice, but went out of the room. She staid some little time, and when she came in again found little _Lydia_ sitting very sorrowfully in the corner of the room. She was ashamed to look at her Mamma or to speak a word; the thoughts of having disgraced herself, after having set out with so much credit, and been so good for almost a week, grieved her very much; and she would have given any thing in the world to have had the last half hour to spend over again.