more uncomfortable than during this
altercation; and but for reluctance to appear more obliging than her
cousin, she would have begged to give up the scheme. Her mother would
have interfered in another moment, but the entrance of Uncle Geoffrey
gave a sudden turn to affairs.

"Who likes to go to the Pleasance?" said he, as he entered. "All whose
curiosity lies that way may prepare their seven-leagued boots."

"Here are the girls dying to go," said Mrs. Langford, as well pleased as
if she had not been objecting the minute before.

"Very well. We go by Sutton Leigh: so make haste, maidens." Then,
turning to his mother, "Didn't I hear you say you had something to send
to Elizabeth, ma'am?"

"Only some currant jelly for little Tom; but if--"

"O grandmamma, that is my charge; pray don't cheat me," exclaimed
Henrietta. "If you will lend me a basket, it will travel much better
with me than in Uncle Geoffrey's pocket."

"Ay, that will be the proper division of labour," said Uncle Geoffrey,
looking well pleased with his niece; "but I thought you were off to get
ready."

"Don't keep your uncle waiting, my dear," added her mamma; and Henrietta
departed, Beatrice following her to her room, and there exclaiming, "If
there is a thing I can't endure, it is going to Sutton Leigh when one of
the children is poorly! It is always bad enough--"

"Bad enough! O, Busy Bee!" cried Henrietta, quite unprepared to hear of
any flaw in her paradise.

"You will soon see what I mean. The host of boys in the way; the wooden
bricks and black horses spotted with white wafers that you break your
shins over, the marbles that roll away under your feet, the whips that
crack in your ears, the universal air of nursery that pervades the
house. It is worse in the morning, too; for one is always whining over
sum, es, est, and another over his spelling. O, if I had eleven brothers
in a small house, I should soon turn misanthrope. But you are laughing
instead of getting ready."

"So are you."

"My things will be on in a quarter of the time you take. I'll tell you
what, Henrietta, the Queen Bee allows no drones, and I shall teach you
to 'improve each shining hour;' for nothing will get you into such dire
disgrace here as to be always behind time. Besides, it is a great shame
to waste papa's time. Now, here is your shawl ready folded, and now I
will trust you to put on your boots and bonnet by yourself."

In five minutes the Queen Bee flew back aga