athed
and nursed her baby, to set the room to rights.

"Shan't I unpack your box for you now, ma'm?" And, without waiting for a
reply, she took out Cassandra's clothing, pausing now and then to
admire and pet the lovely boy. Her simple friendliness pleased
Cassandra, who was minded to ask some of the questions which were
burdening her.

"When do people make visits here, in the morning or afternoon?"

"That depends, ma'm."

"How do you mean? I'm a stranger in England, you know."

"Yes, ma'm. If they make polite visits, they go about tea time, ma'm.
But if it's parish visits, or on business, or on people they know very
well, they may go in the morning, ma'm."

"And when is tea time here?"

"Why, ma'm, everybody has their tea in the afternoon along four or
thereabouts, and sees their friends."

"Can I get a carriage here, do you know?"

"I can get a pony carriage, ma'm. We hires it when we need it, only we
must speak for it early, or it may be taken."

"Oh! Then will you please speak for it soon? I would like to have it."

"Yes, ma'm. Will you drive yourself, ma'm, or shall I ask for a boy?"

"Oh! I don't know. I can drive--but--"

"They are gentle ponies, ma'm. Any one can drive them."

"Yes, but I don't know the way."

"Yes, ma'm. Where would you like to go, ma'm?"

"To Daneshead Castle."

The bright-cheeked maid opened her round eyes wider and looked at
Cassandra with new interest. "But, ma'm,--that is quite far, though the
ponies are smart, too."

"How far is it?"

"It's quite a bit away from here, ma'm; you'd have to start at two or
thereabouts. I could take you myself if mother would let me, and tell
you all the interesting places, but"--the girl looked at her shrewdly, a
quickly withdrawn glance--"that depends on how well acquainted you are
there, ma'm. Maybe you'd like better to have a man drive, and just let
me go along to mind the baby for you."

"Yes, I would," said Cassandra, gladly.

"Thank you. I'll run for the ponies now, ma'm."

Cassandra heard her boots clatter rapidly down the wooden stairs at the
back of the house, and presently saw her dashing across the inn yard,
bareheaded and with her bare arms rolled in her apron.

The girl's manner of receiving the statement that she wished to drive to
the castle was not lost on Cassandra's sensitive spirit. She sat a
moment, thoughtful and sad, then rose and set herself to prepare
carefully for the visit. In the afternoon! Then she mi