Sometime after the loss of the work-bag, the family received an invitation to dine at Mrs. Grant’s. On the day they were to go, Miss Lydia took an opportunity of seeing her Mamma alone, and asking her advice. I do not like, Mamma, said she, to take my work-bag with me, because I think it will mortify poor Fanny so, and look as if I wanted to show I was more careful than she; and yet I am afraid of appearing uncivil to Mrs. Grant, who desired me to bring it.

Lydia received her Mamma’s tenderest caresses, and commendations, for her sentiment and generosity; you judge with great propriety and delicacy, my dear, as to not taking the work-bag; and Mrs. Grant, who must know the history of poor Fanny’s, will easily guess your reason for leaving yours at home, and will honour you for it; and Fanny, when she knows how kind and considerate you are, must love you dearly. The coach was soon after at the door, and Miss Lydia, her Mamma, one of her sisters, and Fanny got in.

Poor Fanny was that day an instance how one giddy or thoughtless thing may entirely destroy a person’s pleasure. She had been expecting the day they were to go to Mrs. Grant’s with great impatience and delight; but her unfortunate carelessness had so altered her feelings, that she dreaded the thought of going, and would very gladly have been left behind. She was very grave all the way, though Lydia tried all she could to amuse her, by pointing out to her the flowers in the hedges, the birds in the trees, and the carriages as they passed, Mrs. Grant was very happy to see them all, and especially the two young ones. She observed them, however, a little, to see if they had brought their work-bags.

The young ladies, as they were seating themselves, observed upon a table, at the farther end of the room, two very little cradles with dolls in them; they thought it probable they were intended as a present for them; and this thought increased poor Miss Fanny’s distress and confusion: to receive another present when she had been so careless of the former, hurt every generous principle within her; after some little time, Mrs. Grant asked Miss Lydia if she had done her tucker? Lydia answered very modestly and prettily, Yes, Madam.

And why did you not then bring it to show me? I dare say it is very nicely done; and I had pleased myself much with the thoughts of seeing both your works: is yours finished too, Miss Fanny? Poor Fanny could hold out no longer, but burst into tears. Her aunt was so good as to explain to Mrs. Grant the cause of her grief, and tell how very sorry she had been: she likewise informed her of Lydia’s delicacy in not chusing to make a parade of her work-bag, which was, however, very safe at home.

You are a sweet girl, said Mrs. Grant, and will, I dare say, make an excellent nurse; she then fetched the two cradles; they are both of white sattin, the one had fine worked muslin curtains tied with blue, and a muslin dimity quilt fringe; and in it lay a little doll dressed like a little boy in a muslin robe, with a laced rose to his cap, and a blue sash. The other cradle had pink Persian curtains tied with white ribbon, and a white sattin quilt bound with pink ribbon; this contained a little girl in a muslin robe likewise, with a pink ribbon round her cap, and a pink sash round her waist. The goodness of your behaviour, said Mrs. Grant, I think entitles you to the privilege of chusing first; take which you like: Miss Fanny will accept the other; and I dare say she will not let the puppy come into her nursery.

Miss Lydia begged leave to let Miss Fanny chuse first, and pressed her much to say which she liked best; but she constantly refused; till after this friendly contest had lasted some little time, Miss Lydia’s Mamma told her, it would be better for her to make a choice, as Miss Fanny could not be persuaded to determine.

The dear girl had pitied Fanny, and wished that she should be pleased about the doll; and as she knew that she very much preferred the little boy herself, she naturally thought that Fanny would do so too, and, therefore, left it for her, and took the little girl. Fanny then took the boy, and promised to guard it from puppies, and all other mischances.

I thought, said the elder Miss Lively, you were wishing but the other day for a little boy doll. I expected you would have chosen that?

Lydia said nothing. But Mrs. Grant, who guessed her reason, asked Fanny which she really thought the prettiest? Fanny thus called upon, said, they were both pretty; but she thought the little girl the prettiest. Then pray take it, said Lydia; for Indeed I left the boy because I thought you would like it best. And I, said Fanny, did not like to say any thing, because I thought my cousin liked the little girl best.

You are both charming girls, said Mrs. Grant, but I suppose, if you change, each will have exactly what she wishes. The exchange was made, and afterward the young ladies spent their time till dinner in nursing their children, and putting them into and taking them out of the cradle.

Miss Lydia had now quite left off whining and frowning, and was grown a very agreeable play-fellow and companion; and as she and Fanny amused themselves, without any noise or bustle, it was a pleasure to see them in the room. During the whole time they staid, they behaved in the most pleasing manner; and Mrs. Grant did every thing in her power to make the visit agreeable to them. After passing a very cheerful day, they returned home, and Miss Lydia had the pleasure of seeing her little friend in much better spirits than when she set out.