atching hold of his hand, "I want just
to speak to you. Don't you think we might have a little charade-acting
on Monday to enliven the evening a little?"

"Eh? what? More charades? Well, they are very pretty sport, only I think
they would astonish the natives here a little. Are we to have the end of
Shylock?"

"No," said Beatrice, "we never condescend to repeat ourselves. We have a
new word and a beauty, and don't you think it will do very well?"

"I am afraid grandmamma will think you are going to take to private
theatricals."

"Well, it won't be nearly such regular acting as the last," said
Beatrice, "I do not think it would do to take another half-play for so
many spectators, but a scene or two mostly in dumb show would make a
very nice diversion. Only say that you consent, grandpapa."

"Well, I don't see any harm in it," said grandpapa, "so long as
grandmamma does not mind it. I suppose your mamma does not, Henrietta?"

"O no," said Henrietta, with a certain mental reservation that she would
make her not mind it, or at any rate not gainsay it. Fred's calling her
affected was enough to make her consent, and bring her mamma to consent
to anything; for so little is it really the nature of woman to exercise
power, that if she domineers, it is sure to be compensated by some
subjection in some other manner: and if Henrietta ruled her mother, she
was completely under the dominion of Fred and Beatrice. Themistocles'
wife might rule Athens, but she was governed by her son.

After this conversation they went in, and found Aunt Roger very busy,
recommending servants to Aunt Mary, and grandmamma enforcing all she
said. The visit soon came to an end, and they went on to the Pleasance,
where the inspection did not prove quite as agreeable as on the
first occasion; for grandmamma and Beatrice had very different views
respecting the appropriation of the rooms, and poor Mrs. Frederick
Langford was harassed and wearied by her vain attempts to accede to the
wishes of both, and vex neither. Grandmamma was determined too to look
over every corner, and discuss every room, and Henrietta, in despair
at the fatigue her mother was obliged to go through, kept on seeking in
vain for a seat for her, and having at last discovered a broken-backed
kitchen chair in some of the regions below, kept diligently carrying
it after her in all her peregrinations. She was constantly wishing that
Uncle Geoffrey would come, but in vain; and between the