ctly. On coming down, she could not help
waiting a moment before advancing to the table, to hear what was passing
between her mother and uncle.

"Do you like for me to drive you down to the Church to-day?" he asked.

"Thank you," she answered, raising her mild blue eyes, "I think not."

"Remember, it will be perfectly convenient, and do just what suits you,"
said he in a voice of kind solicitude.

"Thank you very much, Geoffrey," she replied, in an earnest tone, "but
indeed I had better go for the first time to the service, especially on
such a day as to-morrow, when thoughts must be in better order."

"I understand," said Uncle Geoffrey: and Henrietta, putting down the
writing-case, retreated with downcast eyes, with a moment's perception
of the higher tone of mind to which he had tried to raise her.

In the hall she found Mrs. Langford engaged in moving her precious
family of plants from their night quarters near the fire to the
bright sunshine near the window. Henrietta seeing her lifting heavy
flower-pots, instantly sprang forward with, "O grandmamma, let me help."

Little as Mrs. Langford was wont to allow herself to be assisted, she
was gratified with the obliging offer, and Henrietta had carried
the myrtle, the old-fashioned oak-leaved geranium, with its fragrant
deeply-indented leaves, a grim-looking cactus, and two or three more,
and was deep in the story of the orange-tree, the pip of which had been
planted by Uncle Geoffrey at five years old, but which never seemed
likely to grow beyond the size of a tolerable currant-bush, when
Beatrice came down and beheld her with consternation--"Henrietta!
Henrietta! what are you about?" cried she, breaking full into the story.
"Do make haste."

"I will come in a minute," said Henrietta, who was assisting in
adjusting the prop to which the old daphne was tied.

"Don't stop for me, my dear," said Mrs. Langford: "there, don't let me
be in your way."

"O, grandmamma, I like to do this very much."

"But, Henrietta," persisted the despotic Queen Bee, "we really ought to
be there."

"What is all this about?" said grandmamma, not particularly well
pleased. "There, go, go, my dear; I don't want any more, thank you: what
are you in such a fuss for now, going out all day again?"

"Yes, grandmamma," said Beatrice, "did you not hear that Mr. Franklin
asked us to dress the church for to-morrow? and we must not waste time
in these short days."

"Dress the church! Well,