drive; we shall not be home till midnight."

"But I am very glad we came. After all, they are connexions
through poor Robert, and he seems anxious that they should start
well in the county. Why, he has actually written twice, you know,
about our coming up to-day. We must try to show them some
civility."

"It is impossible to come so far often," Mrs. Brown persisted.

"It is too far for ordinary visiting. What do you say to asking
them to come and spend a day or two with us?"

"Certainly, my dear, if you wish it," answered Mrs. Brown, but
without much cordiality in her voice.

"Yes, I should like it; and it will please Robert so much. We
might have him and Katie over to meet them, don't you think?"

"Let me see," said Mrs. Brown, with much more alacrity, "Mr. and
Mrs. Porter will have the best bed-room and dressing-room; Robert
must have the south room, and Katie the chintz. Yes, that will
do; I can manage it very well."

"And their daughter; you have forgotten her."

"Well, you see, dear, there is no more room."

"Why; there is the dressing-room, next to the south room, with a
bed in it. I'm sure nobody can want a better room."

"You know, John, that Robert cannot sleep if there is the least
noise. I could never put any-one into his dressing-room; there is
only a single door between the rooms, and even if they made no
noise, the fancy that some one was sleeping there would keep him
awake all night."

"Plague take his fancies! Robert has given way to them till he is
fit for nothing. But you can put him in the chintz room, and give
the two girls the south bed room and dressing-room."

"What, put Robert in a room which looks north? My dear John; what
can you be thinking about?"

Mr. Brown uttered an impatient grunt, and, as a vent to his
feelings more decorous on the whole than abusing his
brother-in-law, drew his whip more smartly than usual across the
backs of his horses. The exertion of muscle necessary to reduce
those astonished animals to their accustomed steady trot restored
his temper, and he returned to the charge--

"I suppose we must manage it on the second floor, then, unless
you could get a bed run up in the school-room."

"No, dear; I really should not like to do that--it would be so
very inconvenient. We are always wanting the room for workwomen
or servants; besides, I keep my account books and other things
there."

"Then I'm afraid it must be on the second floor. Some of the
children