oats, and resolving
that she would not go to church twice on Sundays unless she liked it,
when the carriage drove up to the door. They were all in the hall, all
except the Marchioness. "We wouldn't go in," said Lady Amelia, "because
we didn't like to fill the carriage."

"And George wanted us to send it early," said Lady Sarah, "before we
had done our work." They all kissed her affectionately, and then she
was again in her husband's arms. Mrs. Toff curtseyed to her most
respectfully. Mary observed the curtsey and reminded herself at the
moment that Mrs. Toff had never curtseyed to her before. Even the tall
footman in knee-breeches stood back with a demeanour which had hitherto
been vouchsafed only to the real ladies of the family. Who could tell
how soon that wicked Marquis would die; and then,--then how great would
not be the glory of the Dean's daughter! "Perhaps you won't mind coming
up to mamma as soon as you have got your hat off," said Lady Susanna.
"Mamma is so anxious to see you." Mary's hat was immediately off, and
she declared herself ready to go to the Marchioness. "Mamma has had a
great deal to trouble her since you were here," said Lady Susanna, as
she led the way upstairs. "She has aged very much. You'll be kind to
her, I know."

"Of course I'll be kind," said Mary; "I hope I never was unkind."

"She thinks so much of things now, and then she cries so often. We do
all we can to prevent her from crying, because it does make her so
weak. Beef-tea is best, we think; and then we try to get her to sleep
a good deal. Mary has come, mamma. Here she is. The carriage has only
just arrived." Mary followed Lady Susanna into the room, and the
Marchioness was immediately immersed in a flood of tears.

"My darling!" she exclaimed; "my dearest, if anything can ever make me
happy again it is that you should have come back to me." Mary kissed
her mother-in-law and submitted to be kissed with a pretty grace, as
though she and the old lady had always been the warmest, most
affectionate friends. "Sit down, my love. I have had the easy chair
brought there on purpose for you. Susanna, get her that footstool."
Susanna, without moving a muscle of her face, brought the footstool.
"Now sit down, and let me look at you. I don't think she's much
changed." This was very distressing to poor Mary, who, with all her
desire to oblige the Marchioness could not bring herself to sit down in
the easy chair. "So that poor little boy has go