Bee's summons, but
he could do nothing for her, for he had that morning been taken to
task for not having made a visit to Mrs. Carey, since he came home, and
especially ordered off to call upon her, before meeting her at the party
that evening.

"How abominably provoking!" cried Beatrice; "just as if it signified. If
I had but a fairy!"

"Carey!" called Alex, "here! Bee wants to send over to Allonfield: won't
you take Dumple and go?"

"Not I," responded Carey; "I want to walk with Roger. But there's
Dumple, let her go herself."

"What, ride him?" asked Beatrice, "thank you, Carey."

"Fred might drive you," said Carey; "O no, poor fellow, I suppose he
does not know how."

Fred coloured with anger. "I do," said he; "I have often driven our own
horses."

"Ay," said Beatrice, "with the coachman sitting by you, and Aunt Mary
little guessing what you were doing."

"I assure you, Queen," said Fred, very earnestly, "I do really know how
to drive, and if we may have the gig, and you will trust yourself with
me, I will bring you home quite safe."

"I know you can have the gig," said Carey, "for papa offered it to Roger
and Alex this morning; only we chose all to walk together. To think of
doubting whether to drive old Dumple!"

"I don't question," said Fred; "I only want to know if Busy Bee will go.
I won't break your neck, I promise you."

Beatrice was slightly mistrustful, and had some doubts about Aunt
Mary, but poor Alex did much to decide her, though intending quite the
reverse.

"I don't advise you, Bee," said he.

"O, as to that," said she, pleased to see that he disliked the plan, "I
have great faith in Dumple's experience, and I can sit tight in a chay,
as the boy said to grandpapa when he asked him if he could ride. My
chief doubt is about Aunt Mary."

Fred's successful disobedience in the matter of skating had decidedly
made him less scrupulous about showing open disregard of his mother's
desires, and he answered in a certain superior patronizing manner, "O,
you know I only give way sometimes, because she does make herself so
intensely miserable about me; but as she will be spared all that now, by
knowing nothing about it, I don't think it need be considered."

Beatrice recollected what her father had said, but eluded it the next
moment, by replying to herself, that no commands had been given in this
case.

Alex stood fumbling with the button of his great coat, looking much
annoyed, and saying n