What an array of long faces.

How do you do?
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, I hope I see you in health and spirits.

A happy birthday, and many of them to you, my boy; the rain does not appear to have damped you so much as some of your play-fellows--well, Miss Bessie ?" "Grandpapa, grandpapa! what shall we do?
you must find some pleasure for us," cried Bessie, clinging round her grandfather's knees, and looking up very beseechingly in the kind face so far above her.
"Ah, well--we'll see, we'll see--now let me go to breakfast; when that important business is dispatched, and grandmamma makes her appearance, we will find something to do." Fortified with this promise, an excellent breakfast was eaten by the martyrs to disappointment, and then, after some consultation, it was decided that the band should be in attendance in the hall, and a messenger should be sent forthwith to command the attendance of the school-children at a banquet in the same place, and Lady Vernon was of opinion that with charades, a magic lantern, bagatelle, tivoli, and dolls, a very merry morning might be spent.

The young people then dispersed in search of their own peculiar amusements.

Some of the young men went into the billiard-room, and a few chess parties were formed.
Some began to act charades for the edification of such among the elders as would choose to make an audience.