"Agatha, my child, you look tired," said Mr. Bayden anxiously. The Baydens were always in a tremor over their children's health.
"I am tired," remarked Agatha fretfully.
There was a diversion while various restoratives were pressed upon Agatha by her parents, and then Mr. Bayden, who was kind-hearted, turned to Helen and asked her how she liked Longford.
"I think it is a lovely place," said Helen enthusiastically.
Agatha and Grace sniggered, while their elders smiled a little contemptuously.
"You don't call this flat country lovely, do you?" asked Mrs. Bayden.
"Is it flat?" returned Helen, colouring. "I never thought about that."
"Perhaps, mother, Helen will think Dane's End lovely, and will call the open ditch a stream," suggested Agatha.
"I only meant," began Helen, "that after London—"
"Yes, yes," interposed Mr. Bayden, "of course the country is refreshing after London, and the Grange is pretty. The church, too, is picturesque. You admire our fine old church, don't you?"