feed the cows with turnips, and guarding them from going behind
their heels. Henrietta was extremely happy, for grandpapa himself was
doing the honours for her, and instructing her in the difference between
a Guernsey cow and a short-horn; and so was Alexander, for he had Queen
Bee all to himself in a remote corner of the cow-house, rubbing old
spotted Nancy's curly brow, catching at her polished black-tipped horn,
and listening to his hopes and fears for the next half year. Not so
Frederick, as he stood at the door with Jessie Carey, who, having no
love for the cow-house, especially when in her best silk, thought always
ready to take care of the children there, was very glad to secure a
companion outside, especially one so handsome, so much more polished
than any of her cousins, and so well able to reply to her small talk.
Little did she guess how far off he wished her, or how he longed to be
listening to his uncles, talking to Beatrice, sticking holly into the
cows' halters with John and Richard, scrambling into the hay-loft with
Carey and William--anywhere, rather than be liable to the imputation of
being too fine a gentleman to enter a cow-house.

This accusation never entered the head of any one but himself; but still
an attack was in store for him. After a few words to Martin the cowman,
and paying their respects to the pigs, the party left the farm-yard, and
the inhabitants of Sutton Leigh took the path to their own abode, while
Beatrice turned round to her cousin, saying, "Well, Fred, I congratulate
you on your politeness! How well you endured being victimised!"

"I victimised! How do you know I was not enchanted?"

"Nay, you can't deceive me while you have a transparent face. Trust me
for finding out whether you are bored or not. Besides, I would not pay
so bad a compliment to your taste as to think otherwise."

"How do you know I was not exercising the taste of Rubens himself? I
was actually admiring you all, and thinking how like it all was to that
great print from one of his pictures; the building with its dark gloomy
roof, and open sides, the twilight, the solitary dispersed snow-flakes,
the haze of dust, the sleek cattle, and their long white horns."

"Quite poetical," said Queen Bee, in a short, dry, satirical manner.
"How charmed Jessie must have been!"

"Why?" said Fred, rather provoked.

"Such masterly eyes are not common among our gentlemen. You will be
quite her phoenix; and how much 'Thomson's