wo or three
neighbours gazed from their doors, and that some children stood blowing
upon their fingers, and stamping with their feet, enduring the cold, for
the sake of seeing the gentleman clearing his own steps.

"What would the Greys say?" asked Margaret, laughing; as, duster in
hand, she looked from the open window, and spoke to her brother outside.

"I am sure they ought to say I have done my work well."

"That is just what Hester is observing within here. You are almost
ready for breakfast, are you not? She is setting the table."

"Quite ready. What warm work this is! Really I do not believe there is
such a bit of pavement in all Deerbrook as this of ours."

"Come--come in to breakfast. You have admired your work quite enough
for this morning."

The three who sat down to breakfast were as reasonable and philosophical
as most people; but even they were taken by surprise with the sweetness
of comforts provided by their own immediate toil. There was something
in the novelty, perhaps; but Hope threw on the fire with remarkable
energy the coals he had himself brought in from the coal-house, and ate
with great relish the toast toasted by his wife's own hands. Margaret,
too, looked round the room more than once, with a new sort of pride in
there being not a particle of dust on table, chair, or book. It was
scarcely possible to persuade Edward that there was nothing more for him
to do about the house till the next morning; that the errand-boy would
come in an hour, and clean the shoes; and that the only assistance the
master of the house could render, would be to take charge of the baby
for a quarter of an hour, while Hester helped her sister to make the
beds.

After breakfast, when Hester was dressing her infant, and Margaret
washing up the tea-cups and saucers, the postman's knock was heard.
Margaret went to the door, and paid for the letter from the "emergency
purse," as they called the little sum of money they had put aside for
unforeseen expenses. The letter was for Edward, and so brief that it
must be on business.

It was on business. It was from the lawyer of Mr Hope's aged
grandfather; and it told that the old gentleman had at last sunk rather
suddenly under his many infirmities. Mr Hope was invited to go--not to
the funeral, for it must be over before he could arrive, but to see the
will, in which he had a large beneficial interest, the property being
divided between himself and his brother, s