fetch home a Miss Reef--if you are that person, miss!" touching his hat
with an effort at politeness.

"I am," I answered, and without further ado we proceeded to the carriage,
which he had left waiting at the rear platform.

The evening air was chilly, for it was quite sunset. Drawing my shawl
around me, I ensconced myself in a corner of the vehicle, and watched the
fading landscape with stolid indifference to whatever might befall me.

We drove on thus for a good hour and a half, halting at length before a
dark, massy object, the form of which my dozy eyes could not discern.
However, it proved to be Bristed Hall.

I emerged from the carriage and passed up the steps to an open door
which, at the pausing of our carriage wheels, had been set ajar. An
old woman, the feminine counterpart of my sulky driver, stood in the
dimly-lighted passage-way to receive me. She vouchsafed me but a grum
welcome, but I felt already too desolate and weary to experience any
further depression from her humor.

Bidding me follow her, and ordering the man to carry my luggage, she led
me directly through the hall up the stairway to a chamber evidently
prepared for my use. The apartment was prettily furnished, and its tidy
appearance and the cheerful fire burning on the hearth quite roused my
drooping spirits.

After assisting me to remove my bonnet and shawl, my conductress left me,
returning ere long with a tray containing refreshments. These she set
before me with silent hospitality; then bade me goodnight, saying she