look down on fingers which possessed
any tenderness; Alex provoked at once and pained. Queen Bee's black eyes
perceived their power, and gave a flash of laughing triumph.

But Beatrice was not quite in her usual high spirits, for she was very
sorry to leave her mother; and when they went up stairs for the night,
she stood long over the fire talking to her, and listening to certain
parting cautions.

"How I wish you could have come, mamma! I am so sure that grandmamma in
her kindness will tease Aunt Mary to death. You are the only person who
can guard her without affronting grandmamma. Now I--"

"Had better let it alone," rejoined Mrs. Geoffrey Langford. "You will do
more harm than by letting things take their course. Remember, too, that
Aunt Mary was at home there long before you or I knew the place."

"Oh, if that tiresome Aunt Amelia would but have had some consideration!
To go out of town and leave Aunt Susan on our hands just when we always
go home!"

"We have lamented that often enough," said her mother smiling. "It is
unlucky, but it cannot be too often repeated, that wills and wishes must
sometimes bend."

"You say that for me, mamma," said Beatrice. "You think grandmamma and I
have too much will for each other."

"If you are conscious of that, Bee, I hope that you will bend that
wilful will of yours."

"I hope I shall," said Beatrice, "but.... Well, I must go to bed. Good
night, mamma."

And Mrs. Geoffrey Langford looked after her daughter anxiously, but she
well knew that Beatrice knew her besetting fault, and she trusted to the
many fervent resolutions she had made against it.

The next morning the party bade adieu to Mrs. Geoffrey Langford, and
set out on their journey to Knight Sutton. They filled a whole railroad
carriage, and were a very cheerful party. Alexander and Beatrice
sat opposite to each other, talking over Knight Sutton delights with
animation, Beatrice ever and anon turning to her other cousins with
explanations, or referring to her papa, who was reading the newspaper
and talking with Mrs. Frederick Langford.

The day was not long enough for all the talk of the cousins, and the
early winter twilight came on before their conversation was exhausted,
or they had reached the Allonfield station.

"Here we are!" exclaimed Beatrice, as the train stopped, and at the same
moment a loud voice called out, "All right! where are you, Alex?" upon
which Alexander tumbled across Henrietta to feel