"I don't know. I don't suppose Charlotte has looked for it. I heard her tell Prance that none of her things must be forgotten." "True. When did Charlotte ever trouble herself to look for anything?" was Mary Anne Darling's response; but she spoke it more in soliloquy than as a reply. Margaret Darling--she was one year younger than her sister--drew her chair in front of the fire, and put her feet upon the fender. "Is that the newspaper? Is there any news, Mary Anne?" "Yes, there's news," was the quiet answer: but Miss Darling's manner was always quiet. "A baby is born at the Hall." "What?" exclaimed Mrs. Darling, starting up as she caught the words, and all her lethargy was gone. "Is the baby born, Mary Anne?" For answer, Miss Darling read out the words: "On the 10th inst., at Alnwick Hall, the wife of George Carleton St. John, Esquire, of a son and heir." "I am glad it's a boy!" exclaimed Mrs. Darling. "How proud they will be of it! On the 10th--that was yesterday. Then rely upon it those bells Charlotte said she heard ringing, were for this. And now, how can I manage it? I must contrive to see Mrs. St. John before we go away." "But why, mamma?" "Why?" repeated Mrs. Darling, turning rather sharply on her daughter Mary Anne, who had asked the question. "Because I should like to do so; because it's neighbourly to go to her, poor young mother; because it may be months before we are back here, and I have the opportunity of seeing her again; and because I'm curious to hear all the interesting particulars. That's why, Mary Anne: and I shall go." Mrs. Darling allowed no interference with her will--at least from _these_ daughters, and Mary Anne was dutifully silent. "I was only thinking, mamma, what an unpleasant day it would be for you to walk over," she presently said. "And I don't see how you will have time for it." "Plenty of time; and for the unpleasantness I don't care; you never yet knew me to stop indoors for weather. Pretty Mrs. St. John! Let me read the announcement for myself."