. Johnson comes, and that will be in
a few days. I shall tell them there that you are not only very good,
but vastly genteel, and so like pretty Miss Ellen--and she was quite a
beauty--dear young lady! You will see her picture as large as life in
the drawing-room at The Grove, Master Fairchild."

Henry did not understand one-half of what the maid said to him, and was
very glad when he heard the step of someone coming round the little
mound of rose-bushes. It was Emily's step; she came to call him to
breakfast; she was dressed with a clean white pinafore, and her hair
hung about her face in soft ringlets; she looked grave, but, in her
usual way, mild and gentle.

When she saw the maid, she, too, said, "Good-morning."

"That young lady is your sister, no doubt, Master Fairchild," said the
maid.

"It is Emily," said Henry.

"I should have known the sweet young lady anywhere," she answered; "so
like the family, so pretty and so genteel. Miss Emily, I wish you
health to enjoy your new place."

Emily was as much puzzled as Henry had been with Miss Tilney's
speeches. She said, "Thank you, ma'am," however, and walked away with
Henry.

Their grandmother had slept later than usual; she had not rested well
in the early part of the night, and had fallen asleep after the rest of
the family were gone down.

She was not, therefore, present in the parlour; and when Henry came in,
and had gotten his breath--for he and Emily had run to the house--he
began to repeat some of the things which the maid had said to him, and
to ask what they meant. Emily also repeated her speech to herself; and
Lucy looked to her mother to explain these strange things.

"Cannot you guess, my children?" said Mrs. Fairchild, rather changing
countenance; "but I had hoped that for a few days this business might
not be explained to you. Our servants would not have told you, but I
see that others will, so perhaps it is best that you should hear it
now."

"What is it, mamma?" said all three at once; "nothing bad, we hope."

"Not bad," replied Mrs. Fairchild, "though it is what I and your dear
papa had never wished for."

"Oh, do tell us!" said Lucy, trembling.

Mrs. Fairchild then told them that, by the death of their poor cousin,
their father had come into the possession of the house and estate at
The Grove, and, in fact, the whole of his late brother's fortune.

The children could not at first understand this, but when they did,
they were much ex