Henrietta will look! I must make
them take to the charades, it will be so very delightful, and keep Fred
quite out of mischief, which will set Aunt Mary at ease. And how amused
grandpapa will be! What shall it be to-night? What Alex can manage to
act tolerably. Ce n'est que le premier pas qui conte, and the premier
pas must be with our best foot foremost. I give myself credit for the
thought; it will make all smooth."

These meditations occupied her during a hasty toilette and a still more
rapid descent, and were abruptly concluded by her alighting from her
swinging jump down the last four steps close to Fred himself, who was
standing by the hall fire with a gloomy expression of countenance,
which with inconsiderate good nature she hastened to remove. "Don't look
dismal, Freddy; I have told papa all about it, and he does not mind it.
Cheer up, you adventurous knight, I have some glorious fun for you this
evening."

Not mind it! The impression thus conveyed to one but too willing to
receive it, was that Uncle Geoffrey, that external conscience, thought
him excused from attending to unreasonable prohibitions. Away went all
the wholesome self-reproach which he had begun to feel, away went all
fear of Uncle Geoffrey's eye, all compunction in meeting his mother,
and he entered the dining-room in such lively spirits that his uncle
was vexed to see him so unconcerned, and his mother felt sure that her
entreaty had not been disregarded. She never heard to the contrary, for
she liked better to trust than to ask questions, and he, like far too
many boys, did not think concealment blameable where there was no actual
falsehood.

All the time they were at table, Queen Bee was in one of her states of
wild restlessness, and the instant she was at liberty she flew away,
and was seen no more that afternoon, except in certain flittings into
different apartments, where she appeared for a moment or two with some
extraordinary and mysterious request. First she popped upon grandpapa,
and with the expense of a little coaxing and teasing, obtained from him
the loan of his Deputy-Lieutenant's uniform; then she darted into the
drawing-room, on hearing Uncle Roger's voice, and conjured him not to
forget to give a little note to Alex, containing these words, "Willy
must wear his cap without a peak. Bring Roger's dirk, and above all,
beg, borrow, or steal, Uncle Roger's fishing boots." Her next descent
was upon Aunt Mary, in her own room: "Aunt