"I am afraid we have all been spoiling Fanny and making her selfish," said Mrs. Brown, gravely. "She has had the new frocks because she was a big girl, and when she had outgrown them they could be done up for you, and so she has come to expect that she is always to have the best of everything, whoever may have to go without. She must learn to consider other people as well as herself, and so it will be positively unkind to encourage her in her selfishness when there is no longer any need to do it. Besides, Aunt Mary said you were to have the new frock this time, for she knows we have been obliged to let Fanny have the first turn always."
"I should like a new frock, mother, of course," said Eliza; "but if it will make Fanny unhappy, I don't mind if it is made to fit her just for this once."
But her mother shook her head. "I love you both," she said, "and it would not be really kind to let Fanny have her own way in this matter. I saw, the last holiday she had, that we had all been making a mistake about this, and that we should have to turn over a new leaf, and help Fanny to do the same; and a beginning must be made now, however cross she may be about it."
"I am afraid she will think me very unkind, as I am going to the seaside too," said Eliza, with a little tremor in her voice.
"Well, dear, I am sorry it has happened so; but, you know, true love thinks of the good of the person loved, and not whether it will please them. Now, to let Fanny have this new frock will do her harm, and not good. She will be angry, perhaps, that she cannot have her own way, as usual, and this will be like a dose of bitter medicine to her; but the medicine will do her good, I hope, and she will be all the happier for it by-and-by."
Fanny stayed out with some friends until nearly tea-time, and when she came in she was looking as though she had been deeply injured.
She looked from her mother to her sister to see whether either of them were prepared to coax and comfort her, but both were busy getting tea ready—Eliza's last tea at home before she went away—for she was going to sleep at the Vicarage that night, to be ready to start on her journey the next day.
"We are to have jam for tea, and mother has made a cake for us as well," said Eliza, as Fanny took her place at the table.
"You might put father's chair in its place for him," said Mrs. Brown, looking at Fanny.
This was not the sort of reception the girl expected, and the gloom deepened on her face; but, after a pause, she said, sullenly—