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��THE OLD MANSION.
��where you came from?" said Esther, ad- dressing the eldest, whom Susie had called Bessie. A flush passed over the girl's face.
" Papa says it is rude in me to ask questions, and 1 think it rude in you, also," said Bessie warmly.
" You are right," said Esther, "it was rude in me. I will go now — goodbye," and turning she hastened down the path. She had nearly reached the gate when she heard a step near her, and turning quickly she encountered a gentleman who was rapidly approaching the pathway. He carried a gun over one shoulder, while in one hand were two partridges, which he had evidently just shot. He seemed somewhat surprised at the sight of a young lady there, but bowed polite- ly and passed on towards the house. Esther passed through the gate, which she closed and bolted after her, and then hurried on to her destination.
" Well, this is really quite an adven- ture," she said to herself. " Who can they be, and why have they selected that lonely old house for a home? Bessie is a remarkable child, to be sure. She thought I was rude, and I suppose I was. Who would have thought of any one liv- ing there? I hope we shall learn more of them."
All day long Esther's thoughts were more upon the old house and its strange occupants than upon her work, and when five o'clock came she hurried eagerly homeward in the hope that she might learn more of them, but all was silent, and everything looked as it had done month after month and year after year before. She was almost tempted to be- lieve that she had fallen asleep and dreamed it all.
" You are early to-night, Esther," said her mother, as she entered the little sit- ting-room, where a tempting supper was in readiness.
" Yes, I hurried home to tell you the news," she replied, as she seated herself at the table. " Such a surprise as I had this morning, Frank, after I left you," and she proceeded to relate her adven- ture, not forgetting to repeat Bessie's sage remark. Mrs. Arlington, a slender, " worn-out " looking woman, listened
��quietly to the story, making no remarks until Esther had concluded, then she said :
"And the gentleman, what was he like, my dear?"
But Esther had only noticed that he was tall and dark, and that was all she could tell concerning him.
" Well, it will be pleasant for us, if they prove to be good neighbors," said her mother.
The days passed on. Whoever and whatever the new comers at the mansion were, they kept entirely aloof from every one. Excursion parties called, but saw no one except the servant, an elderly woman, who appeared to be exceedingly deaf.
To Esther's highly romantic nature the old house now seemed doubly at- tractive, and she never passed the gate without pausing and looking up the path- way, in the vain hope of again seeing the two children. At length, one cold morn- ing in December, she saw standing near the gate, upon the inner side, little Susie, with Nero close by her side. There had been a light fall of snow the day before, and the only tracks down the walk were those made by the child and dog. Esther turned and approached the child, bidding her good morning.
"Irunaway,Idid," said Susie, looking up with a bright smile.
"Why did you run away, Susie? Where is Bessie?"
" Bessie with papa ; papa sick. Come, Nero, we go back now. Goodbye, lady," and turning, the child ran swiftly up the walk, the dog bounding joyfully by her side.
Esther paused for a moment, and then she opened the gate, though not without some difficulty, and hastened after the child. Susie, not knowing that Esther was following her, sped onward until she reached the house. She pushed open the ponderous outside door and hurried up the long stairway, her foot-falls echoing through the empty rooms. She was met at the top of the stairs by the servant, who led her into a room opening at the right. Upon the bed at the farther ex- tremity of the room reclined Mr. Lane. By his side sat Bessie, bathing his head.
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