"Miss Goodriche," he said, "let me lead you to your aunt, she is asking for you. My dear young lady," he added, drawing her a little aside, "let me venture to point out to you, as a father, that it is not becoming in a girl of your years to be romping with a servant man." "I was after Henry, sir!" she replied: "it was after him I was going, sir, I assure you." "I dare say you set off to run after Henry, my dear young lady," he replied; "but when I first saw you, you were pushing John about, first on one side and then on the other, in a way I should call romping; and am I not right when I say that I think, even now, you have not spoken one word to him, and that you only guess he is my servant John? What would you think, Miss Goodriche, if you were to see my daughter Lucy suddenly run and do the same by yonder labourer in that meadow?--and yet she may know him quite as well, if not better, than you do John." "La! Mr. Fairchild," cried Miss Bessy, laughing, "how you do put things! I never thought what I was doing. It must have looked uncommon strange, but I hope I shan't do it again." "Then you had better go in with me to your aunt, and if she approves, you shall help Lucy and Emily in their little gardens." [Illustration: "_Cutting off faded flowers, and picking up the dead leaves._"--Page 299.] Mrs. Fairchild and Mrs. Goodriche were only waiting for Miss Bessy to follow the little girls into the garden; and there, whilst they worked and chatted together, Lucy and Emily and Miss Goodriche were employed in cutting off faded flowers, and picking up the dead leaves from the ground. [Illustration: "_Off she ran after him._"--Page 295.] More about Bessy [Illustration: She saw Bessy amongst some gooseberry bushes] It may be supposed that Mrs. Goodriche gave some good advice to her niece whilst they were in their room, for Miss Bessy came down looking rather sulky, and said very little at breakfast; only that she attempted several times to hold discourse with Lucy in whispers, for which they were quietly called to order by Lucy's father. Mr. Fairchild said: "You must not whisper at table, my dears, for we are met to make ourselves agreeable either by talking or attentive listening." After breakfast Mrs. Fairchild said: "As we hope your visit, Mrs. Goodriche, will be a long one, we will, if you please, go on with our plans. I shall go into my school-room with my little girls, and leave you and Bessy to yourselves; you will see us again about twelve o'clock." "Very right," replied Mrs. Goodriche, with a smile; "and I trust that Bessy and I shall be as busy as you will be." So Mrs. Goodriche went to her room, and when she came back with two large bags and several books, there was no Miss Bessy to be found.