had a Queen
Bee to enlighten me. We have plenty to tell each other, when we go
buzzing over the ploughed fields together on a sunny morning, haven't
we, Busy, Busy Bee?"

Here grandmamma summoned them all to tea. She liked every one to sit
round the table, and put away work and book, as for a regular meal, and
it was rather a long one. Then, when all was over, grandpapa called out,
"Come, young ladies, I've been wearying for a tune these three months. I
hope you are not too tired to give us one."

"O no, no, grandpapa!" cried Beatrice, "but you must hear Henrietta. It
is a great shame of her to play so much better than I do, with all my
London masters too."

And in music the greater part of the evening was passed away. Beatrice
came to her aunt's room to wish her good-night, and to hear
Henrietta's opinions, which were of great delight, and still greater
wonder--grandmamma so excessively kind, and grandpapa, O, he was a
grandpapa to be proud of!

CHAPTER V.

It was an agreeable surprise to Henrietta that her mother waked free
from headache, very cheerful, and feeling quite able to get up to
breakfast. The room looked very bright and pleasant by the first morning
light that shone upon the intricate frost-work on the window; and
Henrietta, as usual, was too much lost in gazing at the branches of the
elms and the last year's rooks' nests, to make the most of her time;
so that the bell for prayers rang long before she was ready. Her mamma
would not leave her, and remained to help her. Just as they were going
down at last, they met Mrs. Langford on her way up with inquiries for
poor Mary. She would have almost been better pleased with a slight
indisposition than with dawdling; but she kindly accepted Henrietta's
apologies, and there was one exclamation of joy from all the assembled
party at Mrs. Frederick Langford's unhoped-for entrance.

"Geoffrey, my dear," began Mrs. Langford, as soon as the greetings and
congratulations were over, "will you see what is the matter with the
lock of this tea-chest?--it has been out of order these three weeks, and
I thought you could set it to rights."

While Uncle Geoffrey was pronouncing on its complaints, Atkins, the old
servant, put in his head.

"If you please, sir, Thomas Parker would be glad to speak to Mr.
Geoffrey about his son on the railway."

Away went Mr. Geoffrey to the lower regions, where Thomas Parker awaited
him, and as soon as he returned was address