"honoured the Chief Juftice, and dif"carded all his loofe companions."

"As the Prince, Sir, frequented this. "place, I fuppofe it was very much re"forted to by others, as well as his com"panions.".

"Your fuppofition is right, Charles," returned Mr. Richardfon; 66 for this "street was famous in old times for its "convivial doings; an ancient writer fpeaks "of it thus: The cooks cried hot ribs of

beef roafted; pies, well baked; and other "victuals: then there was clattering of

pewter, pots, harps, pipe, and fawirie ;. "which was a ftringed inftrument that ❝ was played upon with flicks."”

A church clock at that moment ftriking three, Mr.. Richardfon haftened his children, who had far exceeded their ufual hour; but the walk had created: them an appetite, and having eaten their dinner heartily, while their father fuperintended his mercantile concerns, they retired to their apartment, revolving on. the information they had received, and

Charles feeking out the more correct accounts in the History of England, and reading them to his fifter.

They were fo much employed in these purfuits, that Mr. Richardfon had dined, and fent for them to take tea with him, before they thought it near fo late; so true it is that time properly employed never hangs heavy on our hands.

CHAP..

CHAP. IX.

Idleness punished.

THE morning following, the weather proving rainy, Mary appeared highly dif fatisfied; and addreffing Charles, whom The observed employed in preparing for his mafters, fhe faid, "You have no occafion. 16 to hurry, for the weather is so bad that we cannot go out.

"I am forry for it," anfwered Charles, "but shall learn my exercises notwith

ftanding; for when my leffons are con"cluded, I can amufe myself with reading "the History of England."

"You may if you please," replied Mary; "but, for my part, I am only interested "in those accounts refpecting perfons

whom papa has pointed out to our no"tice."

"I dare fay," returned Charles, " if "we read it regularly, that it will all "equally

equally amuse and intereft us; and "therefore, for my part, am refolved to begin and continue regularly without "miffing a line."

"I shall not take all that trouble," said fhe, and as it is a rainy morning, my "leffons will be done before dinner, which "will be quite time enough."

They were here interrupted by Mr.. Richardfon, who had for fome time been in the adjoining chamber, and heard the whole dialogue; though that circumstance was unfufpected by the children.

He faluted them in his ufual affectionate manner, and foon after left them, without the leaft notice of what had paffed..

Breakfast being over, and Charles ready with his leffons, he had finished the whole before Mary had thought of a fingle line, and her governefs was remonstrating when Mr. Richardfon entered to inform them, bis bufinefs for the morning was concluded, and if they had likewife done ibeirs, he should be glad of their company,

as

as he had obtained permiffion for them to fee Lambeth-palace.

Mary now felt the confequences of her idlenefs, and began bustling about her different tasks, but neither the French leffon, writing, nor accounts were to be done in a moment; therefore, after a paufe, fhe faid, with fome hefitation, "I "have not quite done, papa; but if you "will have the goodness to wait for me, I "will make great hafte; or, rather, if

66

you will permit me, 1 will take double "leffons to-morrow.

"To your first requeft, Mary," replied Mr. Richardfon with firmnefs but much good-humour, "I can only answer, that,

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as I have done my business, and Charles "his duty, it would be unjust that we "fhould be kept at home in compliance "to your idleness, when you have had

equal time to perform what was required

" of you. To your fecond request I "can only fay, that bufinefs, with me, "muft ever precede pleasure; and that