"DEAR MR. MURRAY,--You know how true is all the foregoing. And yet, though I cannot suppose I should be gladder to see you than everybody else, it does seem to me that I _want_ to see you more than any of the rest can--because I have so many questions to ask, and feel that I need so much advice. I hope you may find that you can comply with our joint earnest desire. "MEREDITH FRANKLIN." After all were done, Maggie begged for the paper, to add a word that nobody else must see. This was what she said-- "DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--I want to say a _private_ word to you. I feel somehow as if it was not just exactly respectful to Meredith and Flora that they should be here with nobody but just us. Don't you think so? But if you could come, it would be all right. We are going in the woods to dinner to-day--Oh, I wish you were here! "MAGGIE." This joint epistle finished and sealed, and some other despatches for Leeds got ready, it was time to see about making preparations for the woods. Where should they go? Question the first. "To the old Fort." "To the Happy Valley." "No, to the Lookout rock." "Not to-day, Esther. Let's keep that for Uncle Eden. Suppose--suppose"---- "The Plateau." "It seems to be an _embarras de richesses_," said Meredith laughing, "and I do not wonder. Let me help you. Suppose we go up on this height just east of us; isn't the view pretty from there?" "The South Pitch! Oh, it's _lovely_ up there!" cried Maggie. "You look down on the house, and you look down the river, and it's shady and nice. It's just lovely! That is best for to-day. Then, other days, we'll take the other places. Now, we must get ready." "What?" said Flora. "Oh, you must get your work, or books if you like; whatever you like; and Meredith must find a book, too, I suppose; we always take books and work, and then we talk; but once when we took nothing, then we didn't do anything. Esther and I must prepare the waggon; cart, I mean." "What is to go in the cart? Cannot we help you?" said Meredith. "And, where is the cart, in the first place?" "Oh, it's up in the wood-house loft; we haven't had it out this year yet, you know. Ditto, maybe you'll tell Fairbairn to get it down, will you?" "Who is Mr. Fairbairn?" "Oh, the gardener. He's out there somewhere. Esther and I must go to Betsey for things." "I suppose I shall know Fairbairn when I see him," said Meredith smiling, as he put on his hat. In a quarter of an hour the cart stood at the door, and Esther and Maggie and Flora were busily packing "things" in baskets. Meredith came to put his hand to the work. "It is so hard to remember everything," said Esther. "We always forget something or other, and then somebody has to go back for it. Now, here is all the china, I think. Oh, stop! have we put the teapot in?" "Who wants tea?" said Meredith.