, would you do me a great
favour, and ask no questions, nor tell Henrietta? Do just lend me the
three little marabout feathers which you had in your cap yesterday
evening. Only for this one evening, and I'll take great care."

"I am sure, my dear, you are very welcome to them; I do not feel like
myself in such finery," said Mrs. Frederick Langford, smiling, as
Beatrice took possession of the elegant little white cap, which she had
the discretion to carry to Bennet, its lawful protector, to be bereft
of its plumed honours. Bennet, an old friend of nursery days, was in
the secret of her plans for the evening; her head-quarters were in the
work-room, which had often served her as a playroom in days gone by, and
Judith, gratified by a visit from "Miss Bee," dived for her sake into
boxes and drawers, amid hoards where none but Judith would have dared to
rummage.

All this might ultimately be for Henrietta's entertainment, but at
present it did not much conduce towards it, as she was left to her own
resources in the drawing-room. She practised a little, worked a little,
listened to a consultation between grandpapa and Uncle Roger, about the
new pig-sty, wrote it down in her list when they went into the study to
ask Uncle Geoffrey's advice, tried to talk over things in general with
her mamma, but found it impossible with grandmamma continually coming
in and out of the room, yawned, wondered what Busy Bee was about, felt
deserted, gave up work, and had just found an entertaining book, when
grandmamma came in, and invited her to visit the poultry yard. She
readily accepted, but for want of Queen Bee to hurry her, kept her
grandmamma waiting longer than she liked, and had more of a scolding
than was agreeable. The chickens were all gone to roost by the time they
arrived, the cock just peering down at them with his coral-bordered eye,
and the ducks waddling stealthily in one by one, the feeding was over,
the hen-wife gone, and Mrs. Langford vexed at being too late.

Henrietta was annoyed with herself and with the result of the day, but
she had some consolation, for as they were going towards the house,
they met Mr. Langford, who called out, "So you have been walking with
grandmamma! Well, if you are not tired, come and have a little turn with
grandpapa. I am going to speak to Daniels, the carpenter, and my 'merry
Christmas' will be twice as welcome to his old father, if I take you
with me."

Henrietta might be a little tired,