“Yes,” said Beatrice, “Judith has saved a sum that is wondrous in these degenerate days of maids in silk gowns, and she is wise enough to give ‘Master Geoffrey’ all the management of it. But if you are surprised now, what will you be by the end of the day? See if his advice is not asked in at least fifty matters.” “I’ll count,” said Henrietta: “what have we had already?” and she took out pencil and paper--“Number one, the tea-chest; then the poor man, and the turnpike trust--” “Vixen’s puppies and the drill,” suggested her mamma. “And Judith’s money,” added Henrietta. “Six already--” “To say nothing of all that will come by the post, and we shall not hear of,” said Beatrice; “and look here, what I am going to seal for him, one, two, three--eight letters.” “Why! when could he possibly have written them?” “Last night after we were gone to bed. It shows how much more grandmamma will let him do than any one else, that she can allow him to sit up with a candle after eleven o’clock. I really believe that there is not another living creature in the world who could do it in this house. There, you may add your own affairs to the list, Henrietta, for he is going to the Pleasance to meet some man of brick and mortar.” “O, I wish we could walk there!” “I dare say we can. I’ll manage. Aunt Mary, should you not like Henrietta to go and see the Pleasance?” “Almost as much as Henrietta would like it herself, Busy Bee,” said Aunt Mary; “but I think she should walk to Sutton Leigh to-day.” “Walk to Sutton Leigh!” echoed old Mrs. Langford, entering at the moment; “not you, surely, Mary?” “O no, no, grandmamma,” said Beatrice, laughing; “she was only talking of Henrietta’s doing it.” “Well, and so do, my dears; it will be a very nice thing, if you go this morning before the frost goes off. Your Aunt Roger will like to see you, and you may take the little pot of black currant jelly that I wanted to send over for poor Tom’s sore mouth.” Beatrice looked at Henrietta and made a face of disgust as she asked, “Have they no currant jelly themselves?” “O no, they never can keep anything in the garden. I don’t mean that the boys take the fruit; but between tarts and puddings and desserts, poor Elizabeth can never make any preserves.” “But,” objected Queen Bee, “if one of the children is ill, do you think Aunt Roger will like to have us this morning? and the post girl could take the jelly.” “O nonsense, Bee,” said Mrs. Langford, somewhat angrily; “you don’t like to do it, I see plain enough. It is very hard you can’t be as good-natured to your own little cousin as to one of the children in the village.” “Indeed, grandmamma, I did not mean that.” “O no, no, grandmamma,” joined in Henrietta, “we shall be very glad to take it. Pray let us.” “Yes,” added Beatrice, “if it is really to be of any use, no one can be more willing.” “Of any use?” repeated Mrs. Langford. “No! never mind. I’ll send someone.”