“O nonsense, Bee,” said Mrs. Langford, somewhat angrily; “you don’t like to do it, I see plain enough. It is very hard you can’t be as good-natured to your own little cousin as to one of the children in the village.”
“Indeed, grandmamma, I did not mean that.”
“O no, no, grandmamma,” joined in Henrietta, “we shall be very glad to take it. Pray let us.”
“Yes,” added Beatrice, “if it is really to be of any use, no one can be more willing.”
“Of any use?” repeated Mrs. Langford. “No! never mind. I’ll send someone.”
“No, pray do not, dear grandmamma,” eagerly exclaimed Henrietta; “I do beg you will let us take it. It will be making me at home directly to let me be useful.”
Grandmamma was pacified. “When will you set out?” she asked; “you had better not lose this bright morning.”
“We will go directly,” said Queen Bee; “we will go by the west turning, so that Henrietta may see the Pleasance.”
“My dear! the west turning will be a swamp, and I won’t have you getting wet in your feet and catching cold.”
“O, we have clogs; and besides, the road does not get so dirty since it has been mended. I asked Johnny this morning.”