nch governess in Miss Edgworth's book?"

"Jessie smiled and nodded as if she was perfectly enchanted with the
mistake," said Henrietta.

"And I do not wonder at it," said Beatrice, "the mistake, I mean. Fred's
white hands there have just the look of a doctor's; of course Roger
thought the only use of them could be to feel pulses, and Philip, for
want of something better to do, is always trying for a genteel look."

"You insulting creature!" said Fred. "Just as if I tried to look
genteel."

"You do, then, whether you try or not. You can't help it, you know, and
I am very sorry for you; but you do stand and walk and hold out your
hand just as Philip is always trying to do, and it is no wonder Roger
thought he had succeeded in attaining his object."

"But what a goose the man must be to make such absurdity his object,"
said Henrietta.

"He could not be a Carey and be otherwise," said Busy Bee. "And besides,
what would you have him do? As to getting any practice, unless his kith
and kin choose to victimise themselves philanthropically according to
Roger's proposal, I do not see what chance he has, where everyone knows
the extent of a Carey's intellects; and what is left for the poor man to
do but to study the cut of his boots?"

"If you say much more about it, Queenie," said Henrietta, "you will make
Fred dance in Bottom's hob-nailed shoes."

"Ah! it is a melancholy business," said Beatrice; "but it cannot be
helped. Fred cannot turn into a clodhopper. But what earthquake is
this?" exclaimed she, as the front door was dashed open with such
violence as to shake the house, and the next moment Alexander rushed in,
heated and almost breathless. "Rats! rats!" was his cry; "Fred, that's
right. But where is Uncle Geoffrey?"

"Gone to Allonfield."

"More's the pity. There are a whole host of rats in the great barn at
home. Pincher caught me one just now, and they are going to turn the
place regularly out, only I got them to wait while I came up here for
you and Uncle Geoffrey. Come, make haste, fly--like smoke--while I go
and tell grandpapa."

Off flew Fred to make his preparation, and off to the drawing room
hurried Alex to call grandpapa. He was greeted by a reproof from Mrs.
Langford for shaking the house enough to bring it down, and grandpapa
laughed, thanked him, and said he hoped to be at Sutton Leigh in time
for the rat hunt, as he was engaged to drive grandmamma and Aunt Mary
thither and to the Pleasance that