her brow; then he hastily greeted the other occupants of the carriage,
while she received the kiss of Mrs. Langford.

They were now in the hall, and turning again to his daughter-in-law, he
gave her his arm, and led her into the drawing-room, where he once more
embraced her, saying, "Bless you, my own dear Mary!" She clung to him
for a moment as if she longed to weep with him, but recovering herself
in an instant, she gave her attention to Mrs. Langford, who was trying
to administer to her comfort with a degree of bustle and activity which
suited well with the alertness of her small figure and the vivacity of
the black eyes which still preserved their brightness, though her hair
was perfectly white. "Well, Mary, my dear, I hope you are not tired.
You had better sit down and take off your furs, or will you go to your
room? But where is Geoffrey?"

"He went with Alex and Carey, round by Sutton Leigh," said Beatrice.

"Ha! ha! my little Queen, are you there?" said grandpapa, holding out
his arms to her. "And," added he, "is not this your first introduction
to the twins, grandmamma? Why you are grown as fine a pair as I would
wish to see on a summer's day. Last time I saw you I could hardly tell
you apart, when you both wore straw hats and white trousers. No
mistake now though. Well, I am right glad to have you here."

"Won't you take off some of your wraps, Mary?" proceeded Mrs. Langford,
and her daughter-in-law, with a soft "Thank you," passively obeyed.
"And you too, my dear," she added to Henrietta.

"Off with that bonnet, Miss Henrietta," proceeded grandpapa. "Let me
see whether you are as like your brother as ever. He has your own