Grace, the eldest of the family, was twenty years of age, one year older than Maria. She bore a great resemblance to her father; and, like him, was more practical than imaginative. She was very useful, in the house, and took much care off Mrs. Hastings's hands. It happened that all the children, five of them besides Maria, were this morning at home. It was holiday that day with the boys. Isaac was next to Maria, but nearly three years younger; one had died between them; Reginald was next; Harry last; and then came a little girl, Rose. They ought to have been preparing their lessons; were supposed to be doing so by Mr. and Mrs. Hastings: in point of fact, they were gathering round Grace, who was seated on a low stool solving some amusing puzzles from a new book. They started up when Maria entered, and went dancing round her. Maria danced too; she kissed them all; she sang aloud in her joyousness of heart. What was it that made that heart so glad, her life as a very Eden? The ever-constant presence there of George Godolphin. "Have you come home to stay, Maria?" "I have come home to _go_," she answered, with a laugh. "We start for Scotland on Monday, and I want to hunt up oceans of things." "It is fine to be you, Maria," exclaimed Grace, with a sensation very like envy. "You have all the pleasure, and I have to stop at home and do all the work. It is not fair." "Gracie dear, it will be your turn next. I did not _ask_ Lady Godolphin to invite me, instead of you. I never thought of her inviting me, being the younger of the two." "But she did invite you," grumbled Grace. "I say, Maria, you are not to go to Scotland," struck in Isaac. "Who says so?" cried Maria, her heart standing still, as she halted in one corner of the room with at least half a dozen arms round her. "Mamma said yesterday she thought you were not: that papa would not have it." "Is that all?" and Maria's pulses coursed on again. "I am to go: I have just been with papa and mamma. They know that I have come to get my things for the journey." "Maria, who goes?" "Sir George and my lady, and I and Charlotte Pain." "Maria, I want to know why Charlotte Pain goes?" cried Grace. Maria laughed. "You are like Bessy Godolphin, Grace. She asked the same question, and my lady answered, 'Because she chose to invite her.' I can only repeat to you the same reason." "Does George Godolphin go?" "No," replied Maria. "Oh, doesn't he, though!" exclaimed Reginald. "Tell that to the marines, mademoiselle." "He does not go with us," said Maria. "Regy, you know you will get into hot water if you use those sea phrases." "Sea phrases! that is just like a girl," retorted Reginald. "What will you lay me that George Godolphin is not in Scotland within a week after you are all there?" "I will not lay anything," said Maria, who in her inmost heart hoped and believed that George _would_ be there.