any, which was sure to prevail
wherever Mrs. Langford reigned. She walked about, removing the covers
from chairs and ottomans, shaking out curtains, adjusting china, and
appealing to Mrs. Frederick Langford in various matters of taste, though
never allowing her to move to assist her. Henrietta, however, often
came to her help, and was certainly acting in a way to incur the severe
displeasure of the absent queen, by laying aside Midas's robes to assist
in the arrangements. "That picture is crooked, I am sure!" said Mrs.
Langford; and of course she was not satisfied till she had summoned
Geoffrey from the study to give his opinion, and had made him mount upon
a chair to settle its position. In the midst of the operation, in walked
Uncle Roger. "Hollo! Geoffrey, what are you up to now? So, ma'am, you
are making yourself smart to-day. Where is my father?"

"He has ridden over to see the South Farm," said Mrs. Langford.

"Oho! got out of the way of the beautifying,--I understand."

"Have you seen anything of Fred and Busy Bee?" asked Mrs. Frederick
Langford. "They went out directly after breakfast to walk to Sutton
Leigh, and I have not seen them since."

"O yes," said Mr. Roger Langford, "I can tell you what has become of
them; they are gone to Allonfield. I have just seen them off in the gig,
and Will with them, after some of their acting affairs."

Good, easy man; he little thought what a thunder-clap was this
intelligence. Uncle Geoffrey turned round on his elevation to look him
full in the face; every shade of colour left the countenance of Mrs.
Frederick Langford; Henrietta let her work fall, and looked up in
dismay.

"You don't mean that Fred was driving?" said her mother.

"Yes, I do! Why my boys can drive long before they are that age,--surely
he knows how!"

"O, Roger, what have you done!" said she faintly, as if the exclamation
would break from her in spite of herself.

"Indeed, mamma," said Henrietta, alarmed at her paleness, "I assure
you Fred has often told me how he has driven our own horses when he was
sitting up by Dawson."

"Ay, ay, Mary," said Uncle Roger, "never fear. Depend upon it, boys
do many and many a thing that mammas never guess at, and come out with
whole bones after all."

Henrietta, meantime, was attentively watching Uncle Geoffrey's face, in
hopes of discovering what he thought of the danger; but she could learn
nothing, for he kept his features as composed as possible.

"I do b