18 THE JUVENILE PARTY. 



I trust/' added slie^ they were not trou- 

 blesome with their questions: the inquisitive- 

 ness of youths even in matters of proper and 

 needful information^ is^ I know^, sometimes an- 

 noying/' 



I rose^ and begged her and the young 

 ladies to take my seat ; replying^ that I never 

 felt it troublesome to answer inquiries dictated 

 by that laudable curiosity^ which gives young 

 persons a constant appetite for knowledge. 

 " Your juvenile party^ Madam/' said I, ^^have 

 much to learn, and, the youngest of them 

 has only a few years to learn it in : I shall be 

 most happy to assist them, whilst I remain in 

 the country, by affording hints respecting sub- 

 jects connected with The Forest ^ as occasional 

 opportunities here may present themselves." 



Looking at the young ladies with, I suppose, 

 rather a fatherly smile, she was pleased to say 



