Before Elizabeth could answer, Winifred came to tell her that her mamma wanted her, and she was forced to leave the question of King Alfred's and King Edmund's chivalry undecided; for, to her praise be it spoken, she was much too useful a person ever to be able to pursue her own peculiar diversions for many minutes together. She had to listen to some directions, and undertake some messages, so that she could not return to her own room till after Anne had gone down-stairs. She herself was not ready till just as the elders were setting off to the dinner-party at Marlowe Court, and rejoicing in the cessation of the rain and the fineness of the evening. About half an hour afterwards, the young ladies assembled in the inner drawing-room to drink tea. Helen, however, remained in the outer drawing-room, practising her music, regardless of the sounds of mirth that proceeded from the other room, until Elizabeth opened the door, calling out, '"Sweet bird, that shunnest the noise of folly, Most musical, most melancholy," come in to tea, so please your highness.' 'What can you mean?' said Helen; 'I am sure I am not melancholy.' 'I am sure you shun the noise of folly,' said Elizabeth. 'I am sorry you consider all our merriment as folly,' said Anne, hoping to save Helen. 'Indeed I do not,' said Elizabeth; 'it was no more folly than a kitten's play, and quite as much in the natural course of things.' 'Helen's occupation being out of the natural course of things,' said Anne, 'I should think she was better employed than we were.' 'In making a noise,' said Elizabeth; 'so were we, I do not see much difference.' 'O Lizzie, it was not the same thing!' said Helen, exceedingly mortified at being laughed at for what she considered as a heroic piece of self-denial, and so it was, though perhaps not so great in her as it would have been in one who was less musical, and more addicted to the noise of folly. 'How touchy Helen is this evening!' thought Elizabeth; 'I had better let her alone, both for her sake and my own.' 'How foolish I was to interfere!' thought Anne; 'it was the most awkward thing I ever did; I only roused the spirit of contradiction, and did Helen more harm than good; I never will meddle between sisters again.' Presently after, Elizabeth asked Harriet Hazleby whether she had ever been at Winchester. 'Yes,' was the answer, 'and a duller place I would not wish to see.' 'It is a handsome old town, is it not?' inquired Anne, turning to Lucy; but Harriet caught up the word, and exclaimed, 'Handsome, indeed! I do not think there is one tolerable new looking street in the whole place, except one or two houses just up by the railroad station.' Anne still looked towards Lucy, as if awaiting her answer; Lucy replied, 'The Cathedral and College and the old gateways are very beautiful, but there are not so many old looking houses as you would expect.'