I informed my uncle of my good fortune. He received the news with a gruff
approval, adding that he hoped I would do well, as I could expect no
further pecuniary aid from him than would be sufficient to carry me
there.

My emotions, as I packed my little trunk on that memorable Saturday, were
of a mixed character; but pleasure predominated. Hope beckoned me on; and
the sadness attendant on breaking loose from the unfriendly home in which
I had lived so long was but transitory.

Monday morning saw me seated composedly in the rail-coach on the way to
"Bristed Hall," my destination. Towards nightfall we stopped at a station
in a desolate, sparsely-inhabited district. My road diverging here, I
hurried out, and the long train which connected me with my past life sped
out of sight.

Drawing my veil closely to my face to hide a few falling tears, I looked
around the desolate waiting-room, to see if any fellow-creature was
expecting me. As I did so a heavy, thumping footstep sounded upon the
platform, and a surly voice inquired:

"Are you Miss Reef?" accompanying the question by a slight pull at my
shawl.

Turning, I beheld a deformed little man with long arms and a high back,
awaiting my answer to his question. I summoned courage to ask:

"Were you sent for Miss Reef?"

"Yes," he replied, "I am Mr. Bristed's man. He told me to drive here and