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She led -room, where the family luncheon had been laid out Some beefsteaks and half-cold potatoes were set beforelike a conversation--consisting chiefly of a succession of coid forht be more my fault than hers, for I really could NOT converse In fact, my attention was almost wholly absorbed in my dinner: not frohness of the beefsteaks, and the numbness of my hands, almost palsied by their five-hours' exposure to the bitter wind I would gladly have eaten the potatoes and let the e piece of the latter on to my plate, I could not be so impolite as to leave it; so, after many aard and unsuccessful attempts to cut it with the knife, or tear it with the fork, or pull it asunder between them, sensible that the awful lady was a spectator to the whole transaction, I at last desperately grasped the knife and fork in my fists, like a child of two years old, and fell to ith all the little strength I possessed But this needed soh, I said, 'My hands are so benumbed with the cold that I can scarcely handle my knife and fork'

'I daresay you would find it cold,' replied she with a cool, iravity that did not serve to reassure me

When the cereain, where she rang and sent for the children

'You will find them not very far advanced in their attainments,' said she, 'for I have had so little tiht theoverness till now; but I think they are clever children, and very apt to learn, especially the little boy; he is, I think, the flower of the flock--a generous, noble-spirited boy, one to be led, but not driven, and re the truth He seeood news) 'His sister Mary Ann will require watching,' continued she, 'but she is a very good girl upon the whole; though I wish her to be kept out of the nursery as ht acquire bad habits from the nurses I have ordered her crib to be placed in your roo and dressing, and take charge of her clothes, she need have nothing further to do with the nursery maid'