ncle Geoffrey, "that you were to take a turn or two
round the garden first. There is Queen Bee, she will go out with you,
and you will bring Fred in a fresher face."

"I will fetch your bonnet," said Queen Bee, who was standing at the top
of the stairs, wisely refraining from expressing her astonishment at
seeing her cousin in the hall.

And before Henrietta had time to object, the bonnet was on her head, a
shawl thrown round her, Beatrice had drawn her arm within hers, and had
opened the sashed door into the garden.

It was a regular April day, with all the brilliancy and clearness of the
sunshine that comes between showers, the white clouds hung in huge soft
masses on the blue sky, the leaves of the evergreens were glistening
with drops of rain, the birds sang sweetly in the shrubs around.
Henrietta's burning eyes felt refreshed, and though she sighed heavily,
she could not help admiring, but Beatrice was surprised that the first
thing she began to say was an earnest inquiry after Aunt Geoffrey, and a
warm expression of gratitude towards her.

Then the conversation died away again, and they completed their two
turns in silence; but Henrietta's heart began to fail her when she
thought of going in without having her to greet. She lingered and could
hardly resolve to go, but at length she entered, walked up the stairs,
gave her shawl and bonnet to Beatrice, and tapped at Fred's door.

"Is that you?" was his eager answer, and as she entered he came forward
to meet her. "Poor Henrietta!" was all he said, as she put her arm round
his neck and kissed him, and then leaning on her he returned to his
sofa, made her sit by him, and showed all sorts of kind solicitude for
her comfort. She had cried so much that she felt as if she could cry no
longer, but she reproached herself excessively for having left him to
himself so long, when all he wanted was to comfort her; and she tried to
make some apology.

"I am sorry I did not come sooner, Fred."

"O, it is of no use to talk about it," said Fred, playing with her long
curls as she sat on a footstool close to him, just as she used to do in
times long gone by. "You are come now, and that is all I want. Have you
been out? I thought I heard the garden door just before you came in."

"Yes, I took two turns with Queen Bee. How bright and sunny it is. And
how are you this morning, Freddy?"

"O, pretty well I think," said he, sighing, as if he cared little about
the matter. "I wan