Overcome, Uncle Geoffrey would have said, but he thought the other
accusation would answer the same purpose and attract less attention,
and it succeeded, for Mrs. Langford proposed to take her up stairs.
Henrietta thought that Beatrice would have offered to save her the
trouble, but this would not have been at all according to the habits of
grandmamma or granddaughter, and Mrs. Langford briskly led the way to a
large cheerful-looking room, talking all the time and saying she
supposed Henrietta would like to be with her mamma. She nodded to
their maid, who was waiting there, and gave her a kindly greeting,
stirred the already bright fire into a blaze, and returning to her
daughter-in-law who was standing like one in a dream, she gave her a
fond kiss, saying, "There, Mary, I thought you would like to be here."

"Thank you, thank you, you are always kind."

"There now, Mary, don't let yourself be overcome. You would not bring
him back again, I know. Come, lie down and rest. There--that is
right--and don't think of coming down stairs. You think your mamma had
better not, don't you?"

"Much better not, thank you, grandmamma," said Henrietta, as she
assisted in settling her mother on the sofa. "She is tired and
overcome now, but she will be herself after a rest."

"And ask for anything you like, my dear. A glass of wine or a cup of
coffee; Judith will get you one in a moment. Won't you have a cup of
coffee, Mary, my dear?"

"Thank you, no thank you," said Mrs. Frederick Langford, raising
herself. "Indeed I am sorry--it is very foolish." Here the choking