176 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



before I go to bed, that I see how foolish it is to 

 judge of people in a hurry, or to think strangers 

 must be tiresome, because they interrupt our 

 usual habits.* The strangers who arrived to-day 

 appear to be very pleasing ; Mr. Lumley, who 

 has travelled a great deal, has many entertaining 

 things to tell ; and his daughters, and their 

 mother also, are very nice people. They 

 brought some pretty kinds of work with them, 

 and I was glad to find that we might employ our- 

 selves, instead of sitting up stifly and formally. 



5th. I mentioned last night, that the Lum- 

 leys seemed to be a very agreeable family ; yet, 

 when I woke this morning, I felt that some of my 

 apprehensions were returning. Night, however, 

 has come round again, and I must tell you, dear 

 Mamma, that we have passed the day most 

 pleasantly ; partly in our usual occupations, for 

 I found that my cousins never neglect those 

 which are most important, for any guests what- 

 ever ; and partly in walking and in gardening. 



The Miss Lumleys pleased me very much, by 

 appearing interested in the progress of my gar- 

 den, and they even helped me to transplant 

 several of my flowers. Then came my uncle 

 and Mr. Lumley ; they examined every part of 

 my garden, and asked me several questions. 

 My uncle inquired about the new scheme of 

 which I had been talking, and said he would 



