There she was, inside; a tall, fine girl, with a handsome face: a face full of resolution and energy. Margaret Tait had her good qualities, and she had also her faults: a great one, speaking of the latter, was self-will. She opened the door herself and leaped out before any one could help her, all joy and delight. "And what about your boxes, Margaret?" questioned Mr. Halliburton, after a few words of greeting. "Have they come this time or not?" Margaret laughed. "Yes, they really have. I have not lost them on the road, as I did at Christmas. You will never forget to tell me of that, I am sure! But it was more the guard's fault than mine." A few minutes, and Mr. Halliburton, Margaret, and the boxes were lumbering along in one of the old glass coaches. "And now tell me about every one," said Margaret. "How is dear mamma?" "She is quite well. We are all well. Jane's famous." "And my precious little Willy?" "Oh," said Mr. Halliburton, quaintly, "he is a great deal too troublesome for anything to be the matter with him. I tell Jane she will have to begin the whipping system soon." "And much Jane will attend to you! Is it a pretty baby?" Mr. Halliburton raised his eyebrows. "Jane thinks so. I wonder she has not had its likeness taken." "Is it christened?" continued Margaret. "It is baptized. Jane would not have the christening until you were at home." "And its name?" "Jane." "What a shame! Jane promised me it should be Margaret. Why did she decide upon her own name?" "I decided upon it," said Mr. Halliburton. "Yours can wait until the next, Margaret." Margaret laughed. "And how are you getting on?" "Very well. I have every hour of the day occupied." "I don't think you are looking well," rejoined Margaret. "You look thin and fagged." "I am always thin, and mine is a fagging profession. Sometimes I feel terribly weary. But I am pretty well upon the whole, Margaret." "Will Francis be at home these holidays?" "No. He passes them at a gentleman's house in Norfolk--tutor to his sons. Francis is thoroughly industrious and persevering." "A contrast to poor Robert, I suppose?" "Well--yes; in that sense." "There has been some trouble about Robert, has there not?" asked Margaret, her tone becoming grave. "Did he not get discharged?" "He received notice of discharge. But I saw the principals and begged him on again. I would not talk about it to him if I were you, Margaret. He is sensitive upon the point. Robert's intentions are good, but his disposition is fickle. He has grown tired of his work and idles his time away; no house of business will put up with that."