"I want some one to-day, dear sister: some quiet guest, who would tire neither of us."
"Miss Ainley?"
"An excellent person, they say; but she lives too far off. Tell Harry Scott to step up to the Rectory, with a request from you, that Caroline Helstone should come and spend the evening with you."
"Would it not be better to-morrow, dear brother?"
"I should like her to see the place as it is just now: its brilliant cleanliness and perfect neatness are so much to your credit."
"It might benefit her in the way of example."
"It might and must: she ought to come."
He went into the kitchen.
"Sarah, delay tea half an hour." He then commissioned her to despatch Harry Scott to the Rectory, giving her a twisted note hastily scribbled in pencil by himself, and addressed "Miss Helstone."
Scarcely had Sarah time to get impatient under the fear of damage to her toast already prepared, when the messenger returned; and with him the invited guest.
She entered through the kitchen, quietly tripped up Sarah's stairs to take off her bonnet and furs, and came down as quietly, with her beautiful curls nicely smoothed; her graceful merino dress and delicate collar all trim and spotless; her gay little work-bag in her hand. She lingered to exchange a few kindly words with Sarah; and to look at the new tortoise-shell kitten basking on the kitchen hearth; and to speak to the canary-bird, which a sudden blaze from
