Do not cry, I dare say your mother will not be very angry: my Mamma would not, I am sure.
Girl (still sobbing.)
Yes, Miss; but my mother will, and beat me severely too. I was to have sold them for a shilling, and carried back some butter and a loaf.
Lydia.
I dare say you did not break them on purpose: how did it happen?
Girl.
My mother put two dozen of eggs into this little basket, and wrapped them nicely up in straw, and bade me go directly to town with them, and not stop at all. She told me I must sell them for a shilling, and bring back a loaf and some butter. I walked straight on till I came to this field, and then the blackberries looked so nice in the hedge, that I longed to get some; and I thought there could be no harm in stepping to the hedge and gathering a few. I set my basket down because I wanted to reach a very fine bough that grew in the back part of the hedge; but while I was plucking the fruit, a great over-grown dog came and ran his nose into my basket, overturned all the eggs, and broke a dozen of them; and now I cannot buy the bread and the butter. My mother wants them for her tea, and I do not know what she will do to me.
Mrs. Lively and Lydia’s elder sisters had now walked up to them, and Mrs. Lively having overheard the girl’s discourse, said, I am sorry to see you in such trouble; but you now find the consequence of not minding your mother. Little girls are apt to think they know as well as their parents; but they generally find themselves mistaken, and sometimes get into a great deal of distress by fancying so; as you have done. Your mother bade you go directly to town and stop nowhere, because she knew if you got to play, or gave your attention to any thing but your eggs, a great many accidents might happen to break them; and if you had done as she bade you, it is probable your eggs would have been safe. Your mother, therefore, will have great reason to be angry, when she knows how the accident happened.
Girl.
Yes, Madam, that is what will make her so angry; she would have forgiven me a great deal sooner if it had happened any other way. A boy, who came by just now, advised me to say, as I was getting over a stile the bar gave way, and I tumbled down, and that so my eggs got broken; but I never did tell her a lie in my life, and I should be very unwilling to begin now.