but such an invitation was not to be
refused, and she was at her grandpapa's side in an instant, thanking him
so much that he laughed and said the favour was to him. "I wish we had
Fred here too," said he, as they walked on, "the old man will be very
glad to see you."

"Was he one of mamma's many admirers in the village?"

"All the village admired Miss Mary, but it was your father who was
old Daniels' chief friend. The boys used to have a great taste for
carpentry, especially your father, who was always at his elbow when he
was at work at the Hall. Poor old man, I thought he would never have
held up his head again when our great trouble came on us. He used to
touch his hat, and turn away without looking me in the face. And there
you may see stuck up over the chimney-piece in his cottage the new
chisel that your father gave him when he had broken his old one."

"Dear old man!" said Henrietta, warmly, "I am so very glad that we have
come here, where people really care for us, and are interested in us,
and not for our own sake. How delightful it is! I feel as if we were
come out of banishment."

"Well, it is all the better for you," said Mr. Langford; "if we had
had you here, depend upon it, we should have spoilt you. We have so few
granddaughters that we cannot help making too much of them. There is
that little Busy Bee--by the by, what is her plan this evening, or are
not you in her secret?"

"O no, I believe she is to surprise us all. I met her just before I came
out dragging a huge bag after her: I wanted to help her, but she would
not let me."

"She turns us all round her finger," said grandpapa. "I never found the
person who could resist Queen Bee, except grandmamma. But I am glad you
do not take after her, Henrietta, for one such grandchild is enough, and
it is better for woman-kind to have leadable spirits than leading."

"O, grandpapa!"

"That is a dissentient O. What does it mean? Out with it."

"Only that I was thinking about weakness; I beg your pardon, grandpapa."

"Look here!" and Mr. Langford bent the slender cane in his hand (he
disdained a stronger walking-stick) to its full extent of suppleness.
"Is this weak?"

"No, it is strong in energy," said Henrietta, laughing, as the elastic
cane sprang back to its former shape.

"Yet to a certain point you can bend it as far as you please. Well, that
should be the way with you: be turned any way but the wrong, and let
your own determination be only