Mamma's in the house." By this time they had reached the door, and Mrs.Bayne appeared, having been attracted by their voices.

She was a little woman, thin and worn, so worn indeed, by many children and many cares, that she looked fifty instead of thirty-five.

She had on a faded dress, and her collar and cuffs had been soiled and crumpled by the attacks of her younger boys and girls, especially the fat baby she held in her arms; but she had long ago ceased to be embarrassed by the shabbiness of her toilette, or the inevitable disorder of her sitting-room.

She found seats for her guests, and to do so pushed into the background the baby's cradle and an old easy-chair, in which the luckless Nina was sitting bundled up in shawls.
Mrs.Bellairs took the baby, which instantly became absorbed in trying to pull out the long feather of her hat, drew her chair close to the little invalid, and began to inquire into the accident.

Mr.Percy, determined to make the best of his circumstances, endeavoured to make friends with the heir of the house, a sturdy boy of nine or ten, but as the young gentleman declined to do anything, except put his finger in his mouth and stare, he found himself without other occupation than that of listening to the conversation of the two ladies.
"It was the night before last," Mrs.Bayne was saying; "they were playing on the bank, and Miss Nina chose to climb into a tree that overhangs the river.