n now she had
great playfulness of manner, and threw herself into the occupation of
the moment with a life and animation that gave an uncommon charm to
her manners, so that how completely sorrow had depressed and broken her
spirit would scarcely have been guessed by one who had not known her in
earlier days.

Frederick's account of his journey and of his school news was heard and
commented on, a work of time extending far into the dinner; the next
matter in the regular course of conversation on the day of arrival
was to talk over Uncle and Aunt Geoffrey's proceedings, and the Knight
Sutton affairs.

"So, Uncle Geoffrey has been in the North?" said Fred.

"Yes, on a special retainer," said Mrs. Langford, "and very much he
seems to have enjoyed his chance of seeing York Cathedral."

"He wrote to me in court," said Fred, "to tell me what books I had
better get up for this examination, and on a bit of paper scribbled
all over one side with notes of the evidence. He said the Cathedral was
beautiful beyond all he ever imagined."

"Had he never seen it before?" said Henrietta. "Lawyers seem made to
travel in their vacations."

"Uncle Geoffrey could not be spared," said her mamma; "I do not know
what Grandmamma Langford would do if he cheated her of any more of his
holidays than he bestows upon us. He is far too valuable to be allowed
to take his own pleasure."

"Besides, his own pleasure is at Knight Sutton," said Henrietta.

"He goes home just as he used from school," said Mrs. Langford. "Indeed,
except a few grey hairs and crows feet, he is not in the least altered
from those days; his work and play come in just the same way."

"And, as his daughter says, he is just as much the home pet," added
Henrietta, "only rivalled by Busy Bee herself."

"No," said Fred, "according to Aunt Geoffrey, there are two suns in one
sphere: Queen Bee is grandpapa's pet, Uncle Geoffrey grandmamma's. It
must be great fun to see them."

"Happy people!" said Mrs. Langford.

"Henrietta says," proceeded Fred, "that there is a house to be let at
Knight Sutton."

"The Pleasance; yes, I know it well," said his mother: "it is not
actually in the parish, but close to the borders, and a very pretty
place."

"With a pretty little stream in the garden, Fred, "said Henrietta, "and
looking into that beautiful Sussex coom, that there is a drawing of in
mamma's room."

"What size is it?" added Fred.

"The comparative degree," said Mrs. Lang