Principle and Practice | Page 7

to that pretty article of furniture, bore Harriet's name; as did also a large quantity of music, which astonished her not a little, as, though she much wished it, she had not yet begun to learn, and had no prospect of such an indulgence for a long time to come. Her sisters thought it a very likely mistake for Mrs Rathbone to make: as one sister drew, she might easily imagine that another played. But Harriet could not help hoping that, some how or other, it was to come to pass, that she should learn music directly. And she was right, as we shall see. Imagination came nearer the truth than reason, for once.
By this time Alfred began to be dismayed lest there should be no present for him; but Hannah had not yet got to the bottom of the box. When she had, she took out several packages of books, two of them directed to Alfred, and the others to the Miss Forsyths. Alfred's present consisted of some beautiful editions of the classics, so valuable that the owner of them was likely to be long before he understood how rich he was in their possession. There was also a large cake directed to him, to which he was disposed to pay a more immediate attention than to his books. The girls found that their library was to be enriched by the best foreign editions of Tasso and Alfieri, and of Racine, and by a beautiful edition of Shakspeare. They were bewildered by the splendour of these presents, so far exceeding in value any thing they had before possessed. Their usual tea hour was long past before they thought of any thing but the wonderful box. At length, however, they determined to finish their meal as quickly as possible, and to go and tell their kind friends, the Barkers, of their good fortune. It was vain to think of putting their riches out of sight, so the watch was hung over the chimney-piece, the desk, drawing-box, and books, stuck up wherever room could be made for them. While they were at tea, however, Mr and Mrs Barker called, probably with some suspicion of what they were to see, for Mr Barker glanced round the room as he entered it. "Why, young ladies," said he, "you are so splendid I dare not come in, I am afraid. My dear, we have nothing like this to shew at home. What good fairy can have done all this?"
"Two good fairies from India have sent us these beautiful things, Sir," said Isabella.
"From India! I did not know you had any such acquaintance in India."
"From India, by way of London, Sir," said Jane, "now you can guess."
"Yes, yes, my dear, I know well enough. I had some idea of finding an exhibition when I came to-night, but not such a one as this, I own. Alfred, my boy, how comes your cake to be on this chair, instead of on the tea-table?"
"We are not going to cut it to-night, Sir."
"I hardly know when we shall," said Jane. "It is too large to eat it all ourselves."
"It does look very good, to be sure," said Mr Barker. "My mouth waters when I look at it."
Isabella ran for a knife to cut it directly, but Mr Barker stopped her. "Not now, my dear; but I hoped you would have asked us to tea, to taste your cake."
"And will you really come, Sir?" asked Jane. "Mrs Barker, will you come to-morrow, and drink tea with us? And the children too. We have no amusement to offer but the cake: but we shall be quite delighted if you will come."
"With all my heart, Jane. We and two of the children will come, and we will take a long walk afterwards if you please. We shall have more time to look at your presents than we have now; we cannot stay longer to-night."
Jane put Mrs Rathbone's letter into Mr Barker's hand, and he went aside to read it. He returned it to her in silence. She obtained Mr Rathbone's address, that she might, this very evening, write her thanks for his munificent kindness.
When their friends were gone, the young people found it was too late to take their usual walk; besides, their lessons were not finished, and they resolutely sat down to their business: Alfred, with the fear of the bottom of the class before his eyes; Harriet, with the mixed motive of this fear, and the wish to do right; Isabella, influenced by the wish alone. Alfred asked Jane to hear him his lesson, and the two words, "quite perfect," at length repaid his labours.
"But, Jane," said Alfred, "you have two watches now; you will not want them both."
"Certainly," said Jane. "Isabella shall have the old one; she will