would not suffer from
it. But though neither of them was indifferent or unfeeling, there was
not much likelihood of sympathy from them just at present. Beatrice had
always been sure that Aunt Mary would behave like an angel; and when
Fred saw that his mother looked tranquil, and showed no symptoms of
agitation, he dismissed anxiety from his mind, and never even guessed at
his sister's alarms.

Nor in reality had he many thoughts for his sister of any kind; for he
was, as usual, engrossed with Queen Bee, criticising the decorations
which had been completed in his absence, and, together with Alex,
replying to the scolding with which she visited their desertion.

Nothing could have been more eminently successful than the decorations,
which looked to still greater advantage in the brightness of the morning
sun than in the dimness of the evening twilight; and many were the
compliments which the two young ladies received upon their handiwork.
The old women had "never seen nothing like it,"--the school children
whispered to each other, "How pretty!" Uncle Geoffrey and Mr. Franklin
admired even more than before; grandpapa and Aunt Mary were delighted;
grandmamma herself allowed it was much better than she had expected; and
Jessie Carey, by way of climax, said it "was like magic."

It was a very different Sunday from those to which Henrietta had been
accustomed, in the complete quiet and retirement of Rocksand. The Hall
was so far from the church, that there was but just time to get back in
time for evening service. After which, according to a practice of which
she had often heard her mamma speak with many agreeable reminiscences,
the Langford family almost always went in a body on a progress to the
farmyard, to visit the fatting oxen and see the cows milked.

Mrs. Roger Langford was at home with little Tom, and Mrs. Frederick
Langford was glad to seek the tranquillity and repose of her own
apartment; but all the rest went in procession, greatly to the amusement
of Fred and Henrietta, to the large barn-like building, where a narrow
path led them along the front of the stalls of the gentle-looking
sweet-breathed cows, and the huge white-horned oxen.

Uncle Roger, as always happened, monopolised his brother, and kept
him estimating the weight of the great Devon ox, which was next for
execution. Grandmamma was escorting Charlie and Arthur (whom their
grandfather was wont to call penultimus and antepenultimus), helping
them to