But for once she had the presence of mind not to show her dismay, and she helped Mrs.Gresley to change the crewel-work antimacassars, with their washed-out kittens swinging and playing leap-frog, for the best tussore-silk ones.
The afternoon was still young when all the preparations had been completed, and Mrs.Gresley went up-stairs to change her gown, while Hester took charge of the children, as Fraeulein had many days previously arranged to make music with Dr.and Miss Brown on this particular afternoon.

And very good music it was which proceeded out of the open windows of the doctor's red brick house opposite Abel's cottage.

Hester could just hear it from the bottom of the garden near the church-yard wall, and there she took the children, and under the sycamore, with a bench round it, the dolls had a tea-party.

Hester had provided herself with a lump of sugar and a biscuit, and out of these many dishes were made, and were arranged on a clean pocket-handkerchief spread on the grass.

Regie carried out his directions as butler with solemn exactitude; and though Mary, who had inherited the paternal sense of humor, thought fit to tweak the handkerchief and upset everything, she found the witticism so coldly received by "Auntie Hester," although she explained that father always did it, that she at once suited herself to her company, and helped to repair the disaster.
It was very hot.