school;Iamoutofitanddisposedforfullholiday.”

    Helookedgrave.“Whatnow?Whatsuddeneagernessisthisyouevince?Whatareyougoingtodo?”

    “Tobeactive:asactiveasI.AndfirstImustbegyoutosetHannahatliberty,asomebodyelsetowaitonyou.”

    “Doyouwanther?”

    “Yes,togowithmetoMoorHouse.DianaandMarywillbeathomeinaweek,andIwanttohaveeverythinginainsttheirarrival.”

    “Iuand.Ithoughtyouwereforflyingoffonsomeexcursion.Itisbetterso:Hannahshallgowithyou.”

    “Tellhertobereadybyto-morrowthen;andhereistheschoolroomkey:Iwillgiveyouthekeyofmycottageinthem.”

    Hetookit.“Yougiveitupverygleefully,”saidhe;“Idon’tquiteuandyht-heartedness,becauseIottellloymentyouproposetoyourselfasasubstitutefortheoneyouarerelinquishing.Whataim,urpose,whatambitioninlifehaveyounow?”

    “Myfirstaimwillbetodown(doyouprehendthefullforceoftheexpression?)—todownMoorHousefromchambertocellar;myorubitupwithbees-wax,oil,andanindefinitenumberofcloths,tillitglittersagain;mythird,teeverychair,table,bed,carpet,withmathematicalprecision;afterwardsIshallgooruinyouincoalsaokeepupgoodfiresineveryroom;andlastly,thetregthatonwhichyoursistersareexpectedwillbedevotedbyHannahaosuchabeatingofeggs,sofcurrants,gratingofspices,poundingofChristmascakes,choppingupofmaterialsformince-pies,andsolemnisingofotheraryrites,aswordsveybutanienotionoftotheuninitiatedlikeyou.Mypurpose,inshort,istohaveallthingsinanabsolutelyperfectstateofreadinessforDianaandMarybeforehursday;andmyambitionistogivethemabeau-idealofawelewhentheye.”