er on the upper floor, where was hardly room for
anything but two beds.

Flora, I saw, seemed to feel strange and uncomfortable, as if she were
somewhere where she had no business to be; but Annas behaved like one to
the manner born, and handed her gloves to Perkins with the air of a
princess--I do not mean proudly, but easily, as if she knew just what to
do, and did it, without any feeling of awkwardness.

We had to wait till the trunks were carried up, and Perkins had unpacked
our tea-gowns; then we shifted ourselves, and had our hair dressed, and
went back to the withdrawing room. Perkins is a stranger to me, and I
was sorry not to see Willet, Grandmamma's old maid: but Grandmamma never
keeps servants long, so I was not surprised. I don't believe Willet had
been with her above six years, when I left Carlisle.

Annas sat down on an empty chair in the circle, and began to talk with
the lady nearest to her. Flora, apparently in much hesitation, took a
chair, but did not venture to talk. I knew what I had to do, and I felt
as if my old ways would come back if I called them. I sat down near my
Aunt Dorothea.

"That friend of yours, Cary, is quite a distinguished-looking girl,"
said my Aunt Dorothea, in a low voice. "Really presentable, for the
country, you know."

I said Annas came of a high Scots family, and was related to Sir James
De Lannoy, of the Isle of Wight. I saw that Annas went up directly in
my Aunt Dorothea's thermometer.

"De Lannoy!" said she. "A fine old Norman line. Very well connected,
then? I am glad to hear it."

Flora, I saw, was getting over her shyness--indeed, I never knew her
seem shy before--and beginning to talk a little with her next neighbour.
I looked round, but could not see any one I knew. I took refuge in an
inquiry after my Uncle Charles.

"He is very well," said my Aunt Dorothea. "He is away somewhere--men
always are. At the Court, I dare say."

How strange it did sound! I felt as if I had come into a new world.

"I hope that is not your best gown, child?" said my Aunt Dorothea.

"But it is, Aunt--my best tea-gown," I answered.

"Then you must have a better," replied she. "It is easy to see that was
made in the country."

"Certainly it was, Aunt. Fanny and I made it."

My Aunt Dorothea shrugged her shoulders, gave me a glance which said
plainly, "Don't tell tales out of school!" and turned to another lady in
the group.

At Brocklebank we never thought of