e tea-room, the window of which opened upon a small grass
plot, surrounded by rose-bushes and other flowering shrubs. Mr. Somers
came in a little before two, and sat with Mrs. Fairchild.

When the clock struck two, Mr. Crosbie's family were not come, and Mr.
Fairchild sent Henry to the garden gate to look if he could see the
carriage at a distance. When Henry returned he said that he could see
the carriage, but it was still a good way off.

"I am afraid the venison will be over-roasted," said Mrs. Fairchild,
smiling.

Henry soon after went to the gate, and got there just in time to open
it wide for Mr. Crosbie's carriage. Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild ran out to
receive their friends.

"I am glad to see you once again," said Mr. Crosbie, as he stepped out
of the coach, followed by Mrs. Crosbie, Miss Crosbie, Miss Betsy, and
Mrs. Crosbie's maid.

Mr. Crosbie was a very fat man, with a red face, yet he looked
good-humoured, and had, in his younger days, been handsome. Mrs.
Crosbie was a little thin woman, and there was nothing in her
appearance which pleased Emily and Lucy, though she spoke civilly to
them. Miss Crosbie was as old as her brother, but she did not look so,
for her face was painted red and white; and she and Miss Betsy had
sky-blue hats and tippets, with white feathers, which Lucy and Emily
thought very beautiful.

"Have you any company, Mrs. Fairchild?" said Miss Crosbie, as Mrs.
Fairchild was leading them into the parlour.

"Only one gentleman, Mr. Somers, our rector," said Mrs. Fairchild.

"Oh! then I must not appear in this gown! and my hair, too, is all
rough," said Miss Crosbie; "I must put on another gown; I am quite
frightful to look at!"

"Indeed," said Mrs. Fairchild, "your dress is very nice; there is no
need to trouble yourself to alter it."

"Oh, sister," said Mrs. Crosbie, "don't think of changing your dress;
Mrs. Fairchild's dinner is ready, I dare say."

Miss Crosbie would not be persuaded, but, calling the maid to attend
her, ran upstairs to change her dress: and Mrs. Fairchild sent Lucy
after her. The rest of the company then went into the tea-room, where
they sat round the window, and Mr. Crosbie said:

"What a pretty place you have here, Mr. Fairchild; and a good wife, as
I well know--and these pretty children! You ought to be a happy man."

"And so I am, thank God," said Mr. Fairchild, "as happy as any man in
the world."

"I should have been with you an hour ago," said Mr. Cro