CHAPTER XV: MINOR MISFORTUNES
'Loving she is, and tractable though wild.'
In a day or two Lady Rotherwood and her daughter called at the New
Court. On this occasion Lilias was employed in as rational and lady-
like a manner as could be desired--in practising her music in the
drawing-room; Emily was reading, and Ada threading beads.
Lady Rotherwood greeted her nieces very affectionately, gave a double
caress to Adeline, stroked her pretty curls, admired her beadwork,
talked to her about her doll, and then proceeded to invite the whole
family to a Twelfth-Day party, given for their especial benefit. The
little Carringtons and the Weston girls were also to be asked. Emily
and Lilias were eagerly expressing their delight when suddenly a
trampling, like a charge of horse, was heard in the hall; the door
was thrown back, and in rushed Reginald and Phyllis, shouting, 'Such
fun!--the pigs are in the garden!'
At the sight of their aunt they stopped short, looking aghast, and
certainly those who beheld them partook of their consternation.
Reginald was hot and gloveless; his shoes far from clean; his brown
curls hanging in great disorder from his Scotch cap; his handkerchief
loose; his jacket dusty--but this was no great matter, since, as
Emily said, he was 'only a boy.
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