rebuke in Nelly's tone. There was no
possibility of refusing to be thus included in the family joy, even in
the presence of overdone fowls and ruined vegetables. Besides, she had
the greatest respect for the oldest friend of the family, and a great
desire to see her. She looked upon her as a wonderful person, and
aspired in a humble way to imitate her virtues, so she set the
gravy-dish on the table to hear more.

"And when will she be coming?" she asked.

"Some time in June. And, Nelly, such preparations as we shall have!
But it is a shame, we kept dinner waiting. We could not help it,
indeed."

"You dinna need to tell me that. I heard who came with you. Carry you
up the plates, and the dinner will be up directly."

"And so your old nurse is coming?" said Mrs Grove, after they had been
some time at the table. "How delightful! You look quite excited, Rose.
She is a very nice person, I believe, Miss Elliott." Graeme smiled.
Mrs Grove's generally descriptive term hardly indicated the manifold
virtues of their friend; but, before she could say so, Mrs Grove
continued.

"We must think of some way of doing her honour. We must get up a little
_fete_--a pic-nic or something. Will she stay here or at Mr Birnie's.
She is a friend of his, I suppose, as Rose stopped him in the street to
tell him she is coming. It is rather awkward having such people staying
in the house. They are apt to fancy, you know; and really, one cannot
devote all one's time--"

Rose sent her a glance of indignation; Graeme only smiled. Arthur had
not heard her last remark, so he answered the first.

"I doubt such things would hardly be in Mrs Snow's way. Mrs Grove
could hardly make a lion of our Janet, I fancy, Graeme."

"I fancy not," said Graeme, quietly.

"Oh! I assure you, I shall be willing to take any trouble. I truly
appreciate humble worth. We so seldom find among the lower classes
anything like the faithfulness, and the gratitude manifested by this
person to your family. You must tell me all about her some day, Rose."

Rose was regarding her with eyes out of which all indignation had
passed, to make room for astonishment. Mrs Grove went on.

"Didn't she leave her husband, or something, to come with you?
Certainly a lifetime of such devotion should be rewarded--"

"By a pic-nic," said Rose, as Mrs Grove hesitated.

"Rose, don't be satirical," said Arthur, trying not to laugh.

"I am sure you must be delighted, F