She advanced with a courtesy, at the same time affectionately taking the thin white hand stretched out to her.  “I hope you are better, ma’am.  It is something like old times to have you here again.”

“Indeed I am very glad to be here, Judith,” was the answer, “and very glad to see you looking like your own dear self.”

“Ah!  Miss Mary; I beg your pardon, ma’am; I wish I could see you looking better.”

“I shall, I hope, to-morrow, thank you, Judith.  But you have not been introduced to Henrietta, there.”

“But I have often heard of you, Judith,” said Henrietta, cordially holding out her hand.  Judith took it, and looked at her with affectionate earnestness.  “Sure enough, miss,” said she, “as Missus says, you are the very picture of your mamma when she went away; but I think I see a look of poor Master Frederick too.”

“Have you seen my brother, Judith?” asked Henrietta, fearing a second discussion on likenesses.

“Yes, Miss Henrietta; I was coming down from Missus’s room, when Mr. Geoffrey stopped me to ask how I did, and he said ’Here’s a new acquaintance for you, Judith,’ and there was Master Frederick.  I should have known him anywhere, and he spoke so cheerful and pleasant.  A fine young gentleman he is, to be sure.”

“Why, we must be like your grandchildren!” said Henrietta; “but O! here comes Fred.”

And Judith discreetly retreated as Fred entered bearing a summons to his sister to come down to tea, saying that he could scarcely prevail on grandmamma to let him take the message instead of coming herself.

They found Queen Bee perched upon the arm of her grandpapa’s chair, with one hand holding by his collar.  She had been coaxing him to say Henrietta was the prettiest girl he ever saw, and he was teasing her by declaring he should never see anything like Aunt Mary in her girlish days.  Then he called up Henrietta and Fred, and asked them about their home doings, showing so distinct a knowledge of them, that they laughed and stood amazed.  “Ah,” said grandpapa, “you forgot that I had a Queen Bee to enlighten me.  We have plenty to tell each other, when we go buzzing over the ploughed fields together on a sunny morning, haven’t we, Busy, Busy Bee?”

Here grandmamma summoned them all to tea.  She liked every one to sit round the table, and put away work and book, as for a regular meal, and it was rather a long one.  Then, when all was over, grandpapa called out, “Come, young ladies, I’ve been wearying for a tune these three months.  I hope you are not too tired to give us one.”

“O no, no, grandpapa!” cried Beatrice, “but you must hear Henrietta.  It is a great shame of her to play so much better than I do, with all my London masters too.”

And in music the greater part of the evening was passed away.  Beatrice came to her aunt’s room to wish her good-night, and to hear Henrietta’s opinions, which were of great delight, and still greater wonder—­ grandmamma so excessively kind, and grandpapa, O, he was a grandpapa to be proud of!