Whilst at breakfast, Julia expressed her fears that Mary might arrive before she returned from her walk. “At what o’clock, mamma, will my aunt and Mary be here?” said she. “I cannot tell exactly,” replied Mrs Vincent. “Not so early, however, as you seem to expect. London is more than twenty miles from this village. Your aunt will, I believe, set off soon after her breakfast; but we can walk to the church-lane, and back again, in a shorter time than she can travel twenty miles. I expect you will be able to do a great deal of business before they arrive. I think you will have time to ornament Mary’s room, say your lessons, and work, all before they come. I do not suppose they will be here till nearly three o’clock.” “Not till three o’clock!” exclaimed the little girl: “that is a long time.”—“It will not appear long, if you employ yourself.”
When breakfast was finished, Mrs. Vincent put on her hat and cloak, to walk with her little daughter. Julia fetched her clogs, and just as she was tying them on her mother’s feet, she heard some one knock at the hall-door. “Oh, mamma, I do believe they are come! I am so glad!“ She was so delighted at the thoughts of seeing her sister, that she did not, even at that moment, recollect the bow-pot. ”May I open the door to let them in, mamma?“ said Julia.
Mrs. V. You may open the door, Julia, though I do not imagine it will be to let Mary in: it is much too early.
Julia opened the door, but instead of Mary, she saw Miss Beauchamp, holding a large bow-pot, and a servant, who was with her, carrying a beautiful rose-tree, in full bloom, in her arms. Julia exclaimed, in raptures, “What lovely flowers!”
Miss B. I am glad you admire them. They are yours. Mamma sends them to you, with her love. All these hot-house flowers mamma sends you; but these primroses, violets, cowslips, and blue-bells, I give you. Mamma gave me permission to get up very early this morning, to gather them for you. I did not know the gardener had been desired to bring in a nosegay, so I arose very, very early, and gathered all these. I do not mean I picked them every one myself: no, Charlotte, who went with me, helped me. Do you know, whilst I was at breakfast, this bow-pot was brought into the room. Mamma put it into my hands, and said, “Emily, you may carry these flowers, with my love, to your little friend, who kindly took care of Bello last night.”
The Bow-pot & Rose Tree.
Julia was lost in admiration: she nearly forgot to thank Miss Beauchamp. She took the flowers to her mother, and asked if she had ever before seen any so extremely beautiful: “Pray smell them; they are very fragrant.” Then she turned to Miss Beauchamp, and said, “I thank you, very much: pray tell your mamma, I am very much obliged to her. I am sure Mary will be surprised: she will never expect to see such beauties? Is the lamb well, to-day? How is its poor leg? Does it bleed still?
Miss B. No, it does not bleed now. Papa dressed it last night, and he thinks it will soon heal: it is getting well; but it is still sore. Poor Bello cannot skip about the lawn, as he used to do. I nurse him, and bring him fresh grass and flowers to eat, as he cannot go in search of them himself. I hope he will soon be strong again. Will you come and see him? Mamma told me she should be happy to see you, whenever it is convenient to Mrs. Vincent to spare you. Bello will soon know you, if you play with him. He will eat out of your hand. I dare say he will be fond of you:—he ought to be so, you were so kind to him last night.
Julia. I shall like, very much, to feed him and play with him.