Mrs. Teachum being now come into the arbour, to see in what manner
her little scholars passed their time, they all rose up and do her
reverence. Miss Jenny gave her an account how they had been
employed; and she was much pleased with their innocent and useful
entertainment; but especially with the method they had found out
of relating their past lives. She took little Polly Suckling by
the hand, and bidding the rest follow, it being now dinner time,
she walked towards the house, attended by the whole company.

Mrs. Teachum had a great inclination to hear the history of the
lives of all her little scholars: but she thought, that being
present at those relations might be a balk to the narration, as
perhaps they might be ashamed freely to confess their past faults
before her; and therefore, that she might not be any bar in this
case to the freedom of their speech, and yet might be acquainted
with their stories (though this was not merely a vain curiosity,
but a desire by this means to know their different dispositions),
she called Miss Jenny Peace to her parlour after dinner, and told
her, she would have her get the lives of her companions in
writing, and bring them to her; and Miss Jenny readily promised to
obey her commands.

In the evening our little company again met in their charming
arbour; where they were no sooner seated, with that calmness and
content which now always attended them, than the cries and sobs of
a child, at a little distance from their garden, disturbed their
tranquility.

Miss Jenny, ever ready to relieve the distressed, ran immediately
to the place whence the sound seemed to come, and was followed by