t, and so make the journey
pleasanter. The twins shouldered their dolls, and looked on from their
stools, while Sydney stole in, and for want of some better way of
covering his awkwardness, began rocking the cradle with his foot, till
he tilted it over.

Sophia found the first half-hour not at all difficult to surmount. She
and Margaret Ibbotson informed each other of the precise number of miles
between Deerbrook and Birmingham. She ascertained fully to her
satisfaction that her guests had dined. She assisted them in the
observation that the grass of the lawn looked very green after the
streets of Birmingham; and she had to tell them that her father was
obliged to attend the market some miles off, and would not be home for
an hour or two. Then the time came when bonnets were to be taken off,
and she could offer to show the way to the spare-room. There she took
Hester and Margaret to the window, and explained to them what they saw
thence; and, as it was necessary to talk, she poured out what was most
familiar to her mind, experiencing a sudden relief from all the unwonted
shyness which had tormented her.

"That is Mr Rowland's house--papa's partner, you know. Isn't it an
ugly place, with that ridiculous porch to it? But Mrs Rowland can
never be satisfied without altering her house once a year. She has made
Mr Rowland spend more money upon that place than would have built a new
one of twice the size.--That house opposite is Mrs Enderby's, Mrs
Rowland's mother's. So near as she lives to the Rowlands, it is
shocking how they neglect her. There could be no difficulty in being
properly attentive to her, so near as she is, could there? But when she
is ill we are obliged to go and see her sometimes, when it is very
inconvenient, because Mrs Rowland has never been near her all day. Is
not it shocking?"

"I rather wonder she should complain of her family," observed Margaret.

"Oh, she is not remarkable for keeping her feelings to herself, poor
soul! But really it is wonderful how little she says about it, except
when her heart is quite full,--just to us. She tries to excuse Mrs
Rowland all she can; and she makes out that Mrs Rowland is such an
excellent mother, and so busy with her children, and all that. But you
know that is no excuse for not taking care of her own mother."

"Those are the Verdon woods, are they not?" said Hester, leaning out of
the window to survey the whole of the sunny prospect. "I suppo