So when Mary came up the hill at half-past ten
the next morning, she was the less surprised to find these two only
just beginning breakfast, while their mother was sitting at the end
of the table knitting, and hearing Janet repeat German poetry. The
boys had long been in school.
Caroline jumped up and threw her arms round Mary's neck, declaring
that now they would enjoy themselves. "We are very late," she added,
"but these late walks make the little people sleep, and I think it is
better for them than tossing about, hot and cross."
Mary was rather entertained at this new code, but said nothing, as
Carey pointed out to the children how they were to occupy themselves
under Janet's charge, and the work they had to do showed that for
their age they had lost no time.
The drawing-room showed indeed a contrast to the chaotic state in
which it had been left. It was wonderfully pleasant-looking. The
windows of the deep bay were all open to the lawn, shaded with blinds
projecting out into the garden, where the parrot sat perched on her
pole; pleasant nooks were arranged in the two sides of the bay
window, with light chairs and small writing-tables, each with its
glass of flowers; the piano stood across the arc, shutting off these
windows into almost a separate room; low book-cases, with chiffonier
cupboards and marble tops, ran round the walls, surmounted with many
artistic ornaments.
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