"Only," replied Helen, "only that we have a note from mamma to give you."
"And why do you not give it to me?" asked Mrs. Palmer.
"Because.........' said both at once but neither finished the sentence; however, Isabella gave the note, which Mrs. Palmer, having first found her spectacles, duly read.
"There is nothing in this note about yourselves," said the kind old lady, "so, before I answer it, tell me what is the matter with you."
"Nothing but the note," replied Georgiana.
"I will conceal nothing," said Isabella, firmly; "we feared that you might not be pleased with mamma's note. It seemed that we were too ready to take advantage of your kindness."
"It would not be your doing then, my dears," answered Mrs. Palmer; "but we ought to be glad, as good christians, to help one another, if it be only in the lending a few silver spoons. I'll tell you the truth, my dears, and that may be blamed, but it can't be shamed. I don't like your mamma, and she looks down upon me; which of us is right is no business of ours just now. But I would do any thing I could to oblige her, if it were only for your sakes; so you may give her my best compliments; or stay, as she wrote me a note, I will write her one. Nothing is so rude as to send a verbal message." Mrs. Palmer then wrote her note, while the young people felt more and more
