'How glad his mother will be!' was all Mary could say, as there
rushed over her the thought of the wonderful changes this would make
in Dynevor Terrace. Her first feeling was that she must tell Louis;
her second, that two oceans were between them; and then she thought
of Aunt Catharine having lived, after all, to see her son.

She had forgotten to expect the turn when the carriage wheeled under
the arched entry of her father's house. All was gloom and stillness,
except where a little light shone in a sort of porter's lodge upon
the eager negro features of two blacks, with much gesticulation,
playing at dice. They came out hastily at the sound of the carriage;
and as Mr. Ward handed out Mary, and inquired for Mr. Ponsonby, she
recognised and addressed the white-woolled old Xavier, the mayor
domo. Poor old Xavier! Often had she hunted and teased him, and
tried to make him understand 'cosas de Inglalerra,' and to make him
cease from his beloved dice; but no sooner did he see her face than,
with a cry of joy, 'La Senorita Maria! la Seniorita Maria!' down he
went upon his knees, and began kissing the hem of her dress.

All the rest of the negro establishment came round, capering and
chattering Spanish; and, in the confusion, Mary could not get her
question heard--Where was her father? and Xavier's vehement threats
and commands to the others to be silent, did not produce a calm. At
last, bearing a light, there came forward a faded, sallow dame, with
a candle in her hand, who might have sat for the picture of the Duena
Rodriguez, and at her appearance the negroes subsided. She was an
addition to the establishment since Mary's departure; but in her
might be easily recognised the Tia, the individual who in Limenian
households holds a position between companion and housekeeper. She