'Yes, Mamma, the fire of temptation,' said Anne; 'and I have heard Lucy tried by her mother's violence, and she never concealed any part of the truth as far as only regarded herself, even to avoid those terrible unjust reproofs, and put herself forward to bear her sister's share of blame; and she was firm in turning back from the Mechanics' Institute when her sister scolded her.'
'Firmness, which, in so timid a person, proved that she had more self-control than any of you,' said Sir Edward.
'Then let us wind up the history of our visit in a moral style,' said Anne, 'and call it a lesson on Self-control and Self-conceit.'
'Nonsense,' said Rupert; 'do you think that if anyone read its history, they would learn any such lesson unless you told them beforehand?'
'Perhaps not,' said Sir Edward, 'as you have not learnt it from your whole life.'
'No,' said Lady Merton; 'that lesson is not to be learnt by anyone who is not on the watch for it.'
'So we conclude with Mamma's wisdom,' said Rupert.
'And Rupert's folly,' said Anne.
THE END
