Such was the household into which our young travellers were ushered about
five o'clock on a beautiful summer day.
Mr. McDonald had been watching for their appearance for some hours, and his
hearty greetings were repeated by the rest of the family. The farmer's
daughters, Maggie and Lizzie, received Gertrude with the cordiality of an
old friend, and though at first they seemed a little shy with the strangers
from "abroad" this soon wore away, and they found their visitors quite as
amiable as if they had been born on the same soil as themselves.
As soon as they had been refreshed, outwardly and inwardly, they were taken
into the room where "the grandmother" sat in her large, comfortable chair,
and were introduced to her with much solemnity; but they only waited for
the few words of welcome to each, and then passed into the pleasant
sitting-room adjoining.
"You must go in to-morrow and see the grandmother, one at a time," said
Lizzie, as she drew a chair near the rest. "She does not see many
strangers, and more than one confuses her. It seemed necessary to introduce
you in a body, but she will be better pleased to become acquainted with you
separately.
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