deserves it best."

"You are not leaving one of them at home to make room for me, I hope,
Lady Augusta?"

"Not at all," answered Lady Augusta. "I never _chaperon_ two children
to a crowded meeting. People might say they took up the room of
grown-up persons."

"You will let me go--not Caroline, Miss Channing?" pleaded Fanny, when
her mother had quitted them.

"No," said Caroline, sharply; "Miss Channing will fix upon me."

"I shall obey Lady Augusta, and decide upon the one who shall best
merit it," smiled Constance. "It will be only right to do so."

"Suppose we are both good, and merit it equally?" suggested Fanny.

"Then, my dear little girl, you must not be disappointed if, in that
case, I give the privilege to Caroline, as being the elder of the two.
But I will make it up to you in some other way."

Alas for poor Caroline's resolution! For a short time, an hour or so,
she did strive to do her best; but then good resolutions were
forgotten, and idleness followed. Not only idleness, temper also. Never
had she been so troublesome to Constance as on this day; she even
forgot herself so far as to be insolent. Fanny was taken to the
meeting--you saw her in the carriage when Lady Augusta drove to Mr.
Galloway's office, and persuaded Hamish to join them--Caroline was left