Julia talked with her mother some time about the tale she had just read. When she had finished her observations on Emma’s conduct, she put the book on the proper shelf in Mary’s room. She returned to her mother, and as she passed the window she saw a carriage drive to the door of the house. “They are come! they are come!” cried the happy Julia, jumping and clapping her hands, in ecstacy: “how fortunate, mamma, I have finished all my business!”—As soon as the joy and bustle of the meeting were a little over, Mrs. Vincent smiled and said, “Now, Julia, you may show your sister the different apartments of the house. Your aunt and I will follow. Lead the way.”
Julia took her sister by the hand, and led her, in silence, through the passage.
“Mary, this is to be your sitting-room,” cried the little girl, as she threw open the door of the important room.
“My room!” exclaimed Mary: “how beautiful!—it is full of flowers! Dear mamma, how good of you to ornament my room with these lovely flowers.—A rose-tree too, in full bloom.—These are hot-house flowers. Have you a hot-house, mamma.” “No, my dear, I have not,” replied Mrs. Vincent; “nor are you indebted to me for these rare and lovely flowers: they were all given, this morning, to Julia.”—“They are yours now, my dear Mary,” interrupted Julia; “I give them to you.”—Mary kissed her sister, and added, “I thank you very much, my love, for so beautiful a present. But I am curious to learn whence you had them.” Julia coloured, threw her arms round Mary’s neck, and whispered, “Lady Beauchamp gave them to me.” Mrs. Vincent smiled and said, “I permitted Julia the pleasure of introducing you to your apartment—she merited that gratification; but I shall not allow any one to rob me of the happiness of relating to you the story attached to these flowers. You, my dear Mary, who have assisted me in instructing our little Julia, have a right to share the delight her behaviour has afforded me.”—Mary’s curiosity was strongly excited, and her mother immediately related to her the whole transaction about the lamb.
THE END.
Printed by Darton, Harvey, and Co.
Gracechurch Street, London.
Transcriber’s Note