A more enlivening atmosphere prevailed, and the invalid was not discussed.

A drive was being canvassed.

There was an early moon, and Kilian proposed driving Tom and Jerry before the open wagon, which would carry four, through the valley-road, to be back by half-past nine or ten o'clock.
"But what am I to do," cried Kilian, "when there are five angels, and I have only room for three ?" "Why, two will have to stay at home, according to my arithmetic," said Charlotte, good-naturedly, "and I've no doubt I shall be remainder." "If you stay, I shall stay with you," said Henrietta, dropping the metaphor, for metaphors, even the mildest, were beyond her reach of mind.
Everybody wanted to stay, and everybody tried to be quite firm; but as no one's firmness but mine was based on inclination, the result was that Sophie and I were "remainder," and Mary Leighton, Charlotte, and Henrietta drove away with Kilian quite jauntily, at half-past seven o'clock.

But before she went, Charlotte, who was really good-natured with all her sharpness and self-will, went into the library to speak to Mr.Langenau, and to show she did not resent the noonday slight, whatever that had been.

But presently she came back looking rather anxious, and said to Sophie, ignoring me (whom she always did ignore if possible), "Do go and see what you can do for Mr.Langenau.He is really very far from well.