All this might ultimately be for Henrietta’s entertainment, but at present it did not much conduce towards it, as she was left to her own resources in the drawing-room.  She practised a little, worked a little, listened to a consultation between grandpapa and Uncle Roger, about the new pig-sty, wrote it down in her list when they went into the study to ask Uncle Geoffrey’s advice, tried to talk over things in general with her mamma, but found it impossible with grandmamma continually coming in and out of the room, yawned, wondered what Busy Bee was about, felt deserted, gave up work, and had just found an entertaining book, when grandmamma came in, and invited her to visit the poultry yard.  She readily accepted, but for want of Queen Bee to hurry her, kept her grandmamma waiting longer than she liked, and had more of a scolding than was agreeable.  The chickens were all gone to roost by the time they arrived, the cock just peering down at them with his coral-bordered eye, and the ducks waddling stealthily in one by one, the feeding was over, the hen-wife gone, and Mrs. Langford vexed at being too late.

Henrietta was annoyed with herself and with the result of the day, but she had some consolation, for as they were going towards the house, they met Mr. Langford, who called out, “So you have been walking with grandmamma!  Well, if you are not tired, come and have a little turn with grandpapa.  I am going to speak to Daniels, the carpenter, and my ‘merry Christmas’ will be twice as welcome to his old father, if I take you with me.”

Henrietta might be a little tired, but such an invitation was not to be refused, and she was at her grandpapa’s side in an instant, thanking him so much that he laughed and said the favour was to him.  “I wish we had Fred here too,” said he, as they walked on, “the old man will be very glad to see you.”

“Was he one of mamma’s many admirers in the village?”

“All the village admired Miss Mary, but it was your father who was old Daniels’ chief friend.  The boys used to have a great taste for carpentry, especially your father, who was always at his elbow when he was at work at the Hall.  Poor old man, I thought he would never have held up his head again when our great trouble came on us.  He used to touch his hat, and turn away without looking me in the face.  And there you may see stuck up over the chimney-piece in his cottage the new chisel that your father gave him when he had broken his old one.”

“Dear old man!” said Henrietta, warmly, “I am so very glad that we have come here, where people really care for us, and are interested in us, and not for our own sake.  How delightful it is!  I feel as if we were come out of banishment.”

“Well, it is all the better for you,” said Mr. Langford; “if we had had you here, depend upon it, we should have spoilt you.  We have so few granddaughters that we cannot help making too much of them.  There is that little Busy Bee—­by the by, what is her plan this evening, or are not you in her secret?”