that often
played over his countenance, according with the slender active figure
that might have belonged to a mere boy. Uncle Roger was taller, and
much more robust and broad; his hair still untouched with grey, his face
ruddy brown, and his features full of good nature, but rather heavy. In
his plaid shooting coat and high gaiters, as he stood by the fire, he
looked the model of a country squire; but there was an indescribable
family likeness, and something of the same form about the nose and
lip, which recalled to Henrietta the face she loved so well in Uncle
Geoffrey.

The drill discussion was not concluded when Mrs. Langford gave the
signal for the ladies to leave the breakfast table. Henrietta ran up
stairs for her mother's work, and came down again laughing. "I am sure,
Queenie," said she, "that your papa chose his trade rightly. He may
well be called a great counsel. Besides all the opinions asked of him at
breakfast, I have just come across a consultation on the stairs between
him and Judith about--what was it?--some money in a savings' bank."

"Yes," said Beatrice, "Judith has saved a sum that is wondrous in these
degenerate days of maids in silk gowns, and she is wise enough to give
'Master Geoffrey' all the management of it. But if you are surprised
now, what will you be by the end of the day? See if his advice is not
asked in at least fifty matters."

"I'll count," said Henrietta: "what have we had already?" and she took
out pencil and paper--"Number one, the tea-chest; then the poor man, and
the turnpike trust--"

"Vixen's puppies and the drill," suggested her mamma.

"And Judith's money," added Henrietta. "Six already--"

"To say nothing of all that will come by the post, and we shall not hear
of," said Beatrice; "and look here, what I am going to seal for him,
one, two, three--eight letters."

"Why! when could he possibly have written them?"

"Last night after we were gone to bed. It shows how much more grandmamma
will let him do than any one else, that she can allow him to sit up
with a candle after eleven o'clock. I really believe that there is not
another living creature in the world who could do it in this house.
There, you may add your own affairs to the list, Henrietta, for he is
going to the Pleasance to meet some man of brick and mortar."

"O, I wish we could walk there!"

"I dare say we can. I'll manage. Aunt Mary, should you not like
Henrietta to go and see the Pleasance?"

"Almos