Cruel As The Grave

oms of luxu

ificence had r

, cabinets of

gilt and bur

ng to the front entrance of the house. The double oak doors stood

gerly from the

d, turning to her guest, "is the widow of our late land steward. She is also my foster-mother, and the mother of the two maiden ladies, Miss T

down from his perch on the coachman'

, to alight. And then he took the sleeping child

ll take charge of our fair friend," said Mr. Berners, as

t then, or even to feel a twinge of jealousy at the words and actions of her husband, she flew past him up the stairs and into the

y next took their turns

their beloved young mistress; to every one of them s

ars of joy in her eyes, "it is very, very

d the cascade sing so loud and merry as it does to-night!" said Old Abe, or Father Abraham, as he wa

oes too! And now, Miss Tabby, you got the letter I wrote from Underhill, asking you to have the spare

yourn and Mr. Berners', even to the kindling of the fires, which has been burni

er husband's arm. They had certainly lingered a little on the way; but Sybil was too happy to notice that circumst

er guest. "And now, will you walk into our sitting parlor and rest awhile before taking o

rs. Berners; for, you see, my poor lit

ile, as she led the way down the wide hall, past the great staircase, and then turned

room; "and beyond this, and connected with it, is another and a smaller apartment, which is prope

er hostess into the room, and glanced around with the na

was all green, which would have seemed rather gloomy, but for the bright

the chimney corner, and in

ut her surroundings to yield

" she said, walking about the c

istress, had found the door of the adjoining nurser

ns and was looking out-"Oh! what a wild, beautiful place! But these windows ope

the grounds, which run quite back to the foot of the mountain. These grounds are very private,

stess-"Oh! what are those white things that I see standing among the bushes at

voice; "that is our family burial-ground, and all t

Rosa Blondelle, dropping t

ows on three sides, back, front, and end, and doors that connect with the house and doors that lead to the grounds. This door," she said, opening one on the left-hand side of the fireplace-"this door leads up this little narrow staircase directly into my chamber, which is immediately above this, a

ere to get into these windows, and be right upo

n order to make that practicable, you must always leave that lower stair door unfast

ays to leave it unfa

outside, and our faithful dumb guardians sleep on the mats in the large hall and the smaller passages. However, if you still

b the arrangements of the family. I am no

ith your permission, go up to my own room by these stairs; and when I have changed my dress, I will come down the same way

the little adjoining nurs

ws, green carpet on the floor, and green covers to the rocking-chair and the child's chairs, which were the only ones in the room. There was a cot-bed for the nurse and a crib for the child. A well-supplied wash-stand

uired the young mother, approach

leeping like an angel

comfortable qu

Black Torrent, as they ca' it, gars me gre

only sounds so when very much swollen by

suld! And a very fine

Janet! There are n

ill he be t

entleman-Mr

m, and a duke to the back of that! a

e my dress, for my luggage was left behind at Blackville, and I don't suppose it has arrived here yet," said Rosa Blondelle, as she

, open that trunk and get out my black velvet, and point lace set. I must not wear anything very light and gay on this first evening, after a fatiguing journey, whe

dress ye look sae weell in as that

d for this reason, perh

at needed no ornament whatever. And when her toilet was complete, Rosa Blondelle's fair beauty

a moment in involuntary admiration. Then, with a smile, she drew the arm of her guest w

rpet and crimson curtains, a good open fire of hickory

aid to herself that these attentions were no more than any gentleman should show to the invited visitor of his wife. She could not argue away her heartache. She could not endure to see her husband touch the beauty's hand. It drove her almost out of her self-possession to see their eyes meet in that provoking mutual smile. Oh! how she repented ever having invited this fatal beauty to her house! And yet she pitied the

fatigue meant. After supper she aroused herself by an effort, and offered to attend Mrs. Blondelle back again to that lady's chamber; and when they got there, even lingered a little while, and very kindly repeated her

, notwithstanding Rosa's fears and Sybil's