"If I were to begin to find fault with her," said Mrs. Goodriche to Mr. Fairchild, "I could never have done: not that she is constantly committing heavy offences, but she never does anything in the right way. What shall I do with her, my good friend?"
"We will talk over the affair at home," replied Mr. Fairchild; "and you shall see me again to-morrow."
The next day accordingly brought Mr. Fairchild, and with him Mrs. Fairchild.
"Well, my good madam," said he, "we have settled it; we shall be glad to see you and Miss Bessy. We have spoken to Lucy and Emily; and they have promised to attend to all our wishes, and to inform us if anything should be said or done which they think we should not approve. So when shall I fetch you?--say to-morrow?"
"To-morrow, then," replied Mrs. Goodriche; "to-morrow evening, by which time I shall have settled things at home, and provided a person to be with Sukey."
After an early dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild went home.
The next morning Mrs. Fairchild had some conversation with her little girls.
"You have never, my dears," she said, "been in a house for any time with a young person whose character we do not know; but it seems that it is required of us now to receive such a one. Mrs. Goodriche is an old and very dear friend; she is in trouble, and she has some hopes that her niece may be benefited by being for a while in an orderly family. You and Emily may be some help to her; but if you are led by her, or are unkind to her, or show that you think yourselves better than she is, you may not only be hurt yourselves, but very much hurt her instead of doing her good."
"Oh, mamma," replied Lucy, "I hope that we shall not do that: pray tell us every day exactly what to do."
"Be assured that I will, my children," said Mrs. Fairchild; "and we will not fear. You will not dislike Bessy--she is a good-tempered, merry girl; but you must not let her be alone with Henry: her very good humour may make her a dangerous companion to him."
Mr. Fairchild went, after dinner, to fetch Mrs. Goodriche and Bessy; and just before tea Henry came in to say the carriage was coming. He ran out again as fast as he could to set the gate open.
Mrs. Fairchild and the little girls met their visitors at the door.