I took the Book, curtseyed, and withdrew; thinking that this little Dialogue with the good young Curate after the Noise and Babble of Lady _Betty's_ Party, was like gazing on cool Green, after one's Eyes had been dazzled by garish Sunshine. Since he had lodged with us, to drink fresh Whey and recover his Health, I, being the elder and plainer Sister of the two, had principally waited upon him; though I seldom encroached so much on his Leisure as on this Evening, which I partly ventured on, because I felt I had neglected him during the Afternoon. Mrs. _Gatty_ passed a restless Night, and rambled a good deal, fancying herself at Home, or what I concluded such; and talking of, and to her Kinsfolk and Intimates by name. What with attending to her and reading my Play-Book, I got not much Rest; but towards Day-Break, she became Quiet; so then I had a good Nap, with my Cloathes loosened, but not off, and awoke refreshed, just in time to go and see the Milk and Bread sent out, which was my daily Duty. Our's had become a large Concern. At first, we only sold Bread and Buns to those who came to the Shop; then we got on to having two Carts, that went into Town twice a Week; then Whey was wanted, and we had a Cow; but the Cow was not in Milk all the Year round, so then we had two; and then we kept their Calves, _Prue_ and I undertaking to bring them up by Hand; and the pretty Creatures grew so fond of us, that they would run round the Meadow after us if we but held out our Finger to them. In short, our Milk and Whey became in such repute, that we got on from two Cows to six, and at length to Twelve, and had the largest Milk-walk in the neighbourhood. Our man _Andrew_, who was from _Devonshire_, looked after the _Dairy_; and _Saunders_, who was a _Scot_, was our Baker; but a Mistress's Eye is worth two Pair of Hands; and one Reason of our Success was undoubtedly that we looked closely after our Business ourselves, no matter how much Money was coming into the Till. Dr. _Elwes_ used to say, that he never knew better Samples of a genteel Industry than in our Establishment; but doubtless, the good _Doctor's_ Judgment was somewhat biassed by his Partiality for my dear _Mother_; whom, I am bold to think, if he had known her before she was married, and before he himself had risen from the Ranks, (if one may say so of a Civilian,) he would have gladly made his Wife. What a different Lot for my poor _Mother_! But then, the whole Story of our Lives would have been altered, and the Divine Purposes quite otherwise manifested; and my poor _Father_ would have gone down the Stream, with ne'er a Hand held out to draw him towards Shore.