A Family Party
MAGGIE left her good aunt Gritty at the end of the week, ao Garum Firs to pay her visit to aunt Pullet acc to agreement. In the mean time, very ued things had happened, and there was to be a family party at Garum to discuss and celebrate a ge in the fortunes of the Tullivers, which was likely finally to carry away the shadow of their demerits like the last limb of an eclipse, and cause their hitherto obscured virtues to shine forth in full-rounded splendour. It is pleasant to know that a new ministry just e into office are not the only fellow-men who enjoy a period of high appreciation and full-blown eulogy: in many respectable families throughout this realm relatives being creditable meet with a similar cordiality nition, whi its fine freedom from the coer of any as, suggests the hopeful possibility that we may some day without any notice find ourselves in full millennium, with cockatrices who have ceased to bite and wolves that no longer show their teeth with any but the bla iions. Lucy came so early as to have the start even of aunt Glegg; for the loo have some undisturbed talk with Maggie about the wonderful news. It seemed - did it not? said Lucy, with her prettiest air of wisdom - as if everything, even other peoples misfortunes (poor creatures!) were spiring now to make poor dear aunt Tulliver, and cousin Tom, and haughty Maggie too, if she were not obstinately bent on the trary, as happy as they deserved to be after all their troubles. To think that the very day - the very day - after Tom had e back from Newcastle, that unfortunate yousome, whom Mr Wakem had placed at the Mill, had been pitched off his horse in a drunken fit, and was lying at St Oggs in a dangerous state, so that Wakem had signified his wish that the new purchasers should enter on the premises at o was very dreadful for that unhappy young man, but it did seem as if the misfortune had happehen, rather than at any other time, in order that cousin Tom might all the sooner have the fit reward of his exemplary duct - papa thought so very highly of him. Aunt Tulliver must certainly go to the Mill now and keep house for Tom: that was rather a loss to Lu the matter of household fort; but then, to think of poor aunty being in her old place again and gradually getting forts about her there!
On this last point Lucy had her ing projects, and when she and Maggie had made their dangerous way down the bright stairs into the handsome parlour where the very sunbeams seemed er than elsewhere, she directed her manoeuvres as any reat tacti would have done, against the weaker side of the enemy.
`Aunt Pullet, she said, seating herself on the sofa, and caressingly adjusting that ladys floating cap-string, `I want you to make up your mind what linen and things you will give Tom towards housekeeping; because youre always so generous, you give suice things, you know; and if you set the example, aunt Glegg will follow.
`That she never , my dear, said Mrs Pullet, with unusual vigour, `for she hasnt got the lio follow suit wi mine, I tell you. Shed he taste, not if shed spend the money. Big checks and live things, like stags and foxes, all her table-linen is - not a spot nor a diamont among em. But its poor work, dividing ones linen before one dies - I hought to ha dohat, Bessy, Mrs Pullet tinued, shaking her head and looking at her sister Tulliver, `when you and me chose the double diamont, the first flax iver wed spun - and the Lord knows where