“No, papa, I have no idea. Are we to begin our lessons again? Oh, no! I see you have a plan--I see it in your face. Do tell me: I am sure you have something pleasant to tell.” “Yes,” Mr. Howard answered, “I think you will like the arrangement for this forenoon. I have just been proposing to your aunt that we should visit Woodlands, that you should see your future home, my child; and we have settled that you young folks are to walk there with Nurse and Amy, and I have ordered the open carriage to drive your uncle and aunt; we shall probably be there first to receive you.” “Papa, how delightful! May I run and tell Selina and Matilda the good news? and Alfred, may he go too?” “Certainly, my love.” “Well then, I am off--how delightful to have so much to tell; and I may speak about our governess also, papa, may I not?” “Yes, my love, you may; but your aunt has probably by this time mentioned the subject to your cousins; I know she intended doing so this morning.” CHAPTER IV. When Leila entered the school-room Selina was reading, but Matilda stood gazing out at the window with rather a disturbed expression of countenance. “Well, Cousin Leila,” she said, “we have news for you, and not very good news either. Now all the day long it will be,--‘Hold up your head, Miss Leila,’ ‘Why do you walk in that awkward way, Miss Matilda?’ ‘How troublesome you are; I wish you would take example by your elder sister--one awkward trick after another--I really must complain of you to Mrs. Stanley.’ Yes, Selina, you need not shake your head at me and look so grave; Leila will look grave also when she knows the truth. Yes, Leila, I was quite right, it is all settled, we are to have a governess; so no more pleasant days for us. Botheration, botheration.” Leila had not been able to resist laughing at first; but she checked herself, and remained silent. Selina spoke. “Oh, Matilda! how can you speak in this way, and after all mamma has been just saying? and you seemed to feel it so.” “Yes, I know I am wrong; and when mamma was speaking to me I felt very sorry, and I resolved I would try to please this Mrs. Roberts, or rather mamma, for I would rather please mamma than any one in the whole world; but, Leila, you looked when you came in as if you had something joyful to say; if you have, please to say it, for we need good news very much to-day.” But no sooner had Leila communicated the pleasant intelligence of the proposed visit to Woodlands, than all traces of sorrow were banished from Matilda’s face; she was in ecstasies, and, flying across the room, she dashed the book from Selina’s hands, and throwing her arms round her neck, she exclaimed,--“Now no more reading to-day, if you please, _Mrs. Demure_; this is what I call the right kind of a holiday--how merry we shall be! Well, I do think Uncle Howard makes most delightful plans; how do you manage, Leila, to get him to do so many nice things?”