CHAP. X.
The Danger of Delay—Deſcription of a Manſion-houſe in Ruins—The Hiſtory of Charles Townley.
MRS. Maſon who always regulated her own time, and never loitered her hours irreſolutely away, had very frequently to wait for the children, when ſhe wiſhed to walk, though ſhe had deſired them to be ready at a preciſe time. Mary in particular had a trick of putting everything off till the laſt moment, and then ſhe did but half do it, or left it undone. This indolent way of delaying made her miſs many opportunities of obliging and doing good; and whole hours were loſt in thoughtleſs idleneſs, which ſhe afterwards wiſhed had been better employed.
This was the caſe one day, when ſhe had a letter to write to her father; and though it was mentioned to her early in the morning, the fineſt part of the evening ſlipped
