re came quite opposite to the lady's-maid. He thought she looked
very fine--quite a lady herself; and he stopped short, and wished her
good-morning. Had she been the poorest person he would have done the
same, for his parents had taken great pains to make him civil to
everyone.

"Master Fairchild, I presume," cried the maid. "A charming morning,
sir. I was looking for Mr. John, to ask him if he would please to
select some flowers to arrange in my mistress's room: she always has
flowers in her dressing-room at The Grove."

"John," said Henry, "is gone to clean the pig-sty."

The lady's-maid drew up her lip, and looked disgusted.

"Faugh!" said she, "I shall not think of troubling _him_ to cull the
flowers."

"Shall I get some for grandmamma?" asked Henry.

She thanked him for his politeness, and accepted his offer.

The little boy walked before her to where there was a bit of raised
ground covered with rose-bushes.

"There, ma'am," he said, "you can gather any you like."

"Upon my word, Master Fairchild, you are uncommon polite," she said; "I
shall tell our people at home what a handsome genteel young gentleman
you are. They will be so desirous to know all about you--and not at all
high and proud neither, though you have such great prospects."

"What do you mean by great prospects, ma'am?" asked Henry; "I do not
understand you."

"That is your humility, Master Fairchild," said the maid; "to be sure,
this place is but small, and I wonder how you could have managed in it
so long, but it is neat and very genteel; yet, when you have seen The
Grove, you will think nothing of this little box here."

"What box?" asked Henry.

"This house, Master Fairchild," she answered; "you might put the whole
place into the hall at The Grove."

"What an immense hall!" said Henry in amazement.

"Poor Betty, as I tell her," said the maid, "will be quite out of her
place amongst so many servants; she can't bear to hear it talked of."

"What talked of?" answered Henry. "But please not to gather the
rose-buds; mamma does not like them to be gathered."

"To be sure, Master Fairchild," said the maid, "and that is just right.
In a small garden like this one should be particular; yet, at The
Grove, a few rose-buds would never be missed. But you are a very good
young gentleman to be so attentive to your dear mamma; I am sure I
shall delight our people by the account I shall have to give when I go
back; and I am to go back when Mrs