"Oh! then I must not appear in this gown! and my hair, too, is all rough," said Miss Crosbie; "I must put on another gown; I am quite frightful to look at!" "Indeed," said Mrs. Fairchild, "your dress is very nice; there is no need to trouble yourself to alter it." "Oh, sister," said Mrs. Crosbie, "don't think of changing your dress; Mrs. Fairchild's dinner is ready, I dare say." Miss Crosbie would not be persuaded, but, calling the maid to attend her, ran upstairs to change her dress: and Mrs. Fairchild sent Lucy after her. The rest of the company then went into the tea-room, where they sat round the window, and Mr. Crosbie said: "What a pretty place you have here, Mr. Fairchild; and a good wife, as I well know--and these pretty children! You ought to be a happy man." "And so I am, thank God," said Mr. Fairchild, "as happy as any man in the world." "I should have been with you an hour ago," said Mr. Crosbie, "that I might have walked over your garden before dinner, but for my wife there." "What of your wife there?" said Mrs. Crosbie, turning sharply towards him. "Now mind, Mr. Crosbie, if the venison is over-roasted, don't say it is my fault." Mr. Crosbie took out his watch. "It is now twenty-five minutes past two," said he; "the venison has been down at the fire twenty-five minutes longer than it should have been. And did you not keep us an hour waiting this morning, at the inn where we slept, whilst you quarrelled with the innkeeper and his wife?" Mrs. Crosbie answered: "You are always giving people to understand that I am ill-tempered, Mr. Crosbie; which I think is very unhandsome of you, Mr. Crosbie. There is not another person in the world who thinks me ill-tempered but you. Ask Thomas, or my maid, what they know of my temper, and ask your sister, who has lived with me long enough." "Why don't you ask _me_ what I think of it, mamma?" said Miss Betsy, pertly. "Hold your tongue, miss!" said Mrs. Crosbie. "Must I not speak?" said Miss Betsy in a low voice, but loud enough for her mamma to hear her. When Miss Betsy first came in, Emily admired her very much; for, besides the sky-blue hat and feather, she had blue satin shoes, and a very large pair of gold earrings; but when she heard her speak so boldly to her mother she did not like her so much. By this time John came to tell the company that dinner was on the table; and Mr. Crosbie got up, saying: "The venison smells well--exceedingly well." "But where is Miss Crosbie?" asked Mr. Fairchild. "Oh, my aunt thought herself not smart enough to show herself before Mr. Somers," said Miss Betsy pertly. "Be silent, miss," said Mrs. Crosbie. "Don't wait for her, then," said Mr. Crosbie; "let us go in to dinner. My sister loves a little finery; she would rather lose her dinner than not be dressed smart; I never wait for her at any meal. Come, come! Ladies lead the way; I am very hungry."