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in keeping the smallest peculiarities of his home unaltered。 Thus
the many peaks and gables； the numerous turrets； and the mullioned
windows with their quaint lozenge panes set in lead； remained very
nearly as they had been three centuries back。 Over and above the
quaint melancholy of our dwelling； with the deep woods of its park
and the sullen waters of the mere； our neighborhood was thinly
peopled and primitive； and the people round us were ignorant； and
tenacious of ancient ideas and traditions。 Thus it was a
superstitious atmosphere that we children were reared in； and we
heard； from our infancy； countless tales of horror； some mere
fables doubtless； others legends of dark deeds of the olden time；
exaggerated by credulity and the love of the marvelous。 Our mother
had died when we were young； and our other parent being； though a
kind father； much absorbed in affairs of various kinds； as an
active magistrate and landlord； there was no one to check the
unwholesome stream of tradition with which our plastic minds were
inundated in the company of nurses and servants。 As years went on；
however； the old ghostly tales partially lost their effects； and
our undisciplined minds were turned more towards balls； dress； and
partners； and other matters airy and trivial； more welcome to our
riper age。 It was at a county assembly that Reginald and I first
metmet and loved。 Yes； I am sure that he loved me with all his
heart。 It was not as deep a heart as some； I have thought in my
grief and anger； but I never doubted its truth and honesty。
Reginald's father and mine approved of our growing attachment； and
as for myself； I know I was so happy then； that I look back upon
those fleeting moments as on some delicious dream。 I now come to
the change。 I have lingered on my childish reminiscences； my
bright and happy youth； and now I must tell the restthe blight
and the sorrow。
It was Christmas； always a joyful and a hospitable time in the
country； especially in such an old hall as our home； where quaint
customs and frolics were much clung to； as part and parcel of the
very dwelling itself。 The hall was full of guestsso full；
indeed； that there was great difficulty in providing sleeping
accommodation for all。 Several narrow and dark chambers in the
turretsmere pigeon…holes； as we irreverently called what had been
thought good enough for the stately gentlemen of Elizabeth's reign
were now allotted to bachelor visitors； after having been empty
for a century。 All the spare rooms in the body and wings of the
hall were occupied； of course； and the servants who had been
brought down were lodged at the farm and at the keeper's； so great
was the demand for space。 At last the unexpected arrival of an
elderly relative； who had been asked months before； but scarcely
expected； caused great commotion。 My aunts went about wringing
their hands distractedly。 Lady Speldhurst was a personage of some
consequence； she was a distant cousin； and had been for years on
cool terms with us all； on account of some fancied affront or
slight when she had paid her LAST visit； about the time of my
christening。 She was seventy years old； she was infirm； rich； and
testy； moreover； she was my godmother； though I had forgotten the
fact； but it seems that though I had formed no expectations of a
legacy in my favor； my aunts had done so for me。 Aunt Margaret was
especially eloquent on the subject。 〃There isn't a room left；〃 she
said； 〃was ever anything so unfortunate！ We cannot put Lady
Speldhurst into the turrets； and yet where IS she to sleep？ And
Rosa's godmother； too！ Poor； dear child； how dreadful！ After all
these years of estrangement； and with a hundred thousand in the
funds； and no comfortable； warm room at her own unlimited disposal
and Christmas； of all times in the year！〃 What WAS to be done？
My aunts could not resign their own chambers to Lady Speldhurst；
because they had already given them up to some of the married
guests。 My father was the most hospitable of men； but he was
rheumatic； gouty； and methodical。 His sisters…in…law dared not
propose to shift his quarters； and； indeed； he would have far
sooner dined on prison fare than have been translated to a strange
bed。 The matter ended in my giving up my room。 I had a strange
reluctance to making the offer； which surprised myself。 Was it a
boding of evil to come？ I cannot say。 We are strangely and
wonderfully made。 It MAY have been。 At any rate； I do not think
it was any selfish unwillingness to make an old and infirm lady
comfortable by a trifling sacrifice。 I was perfectly healthy and
strong。 The weather was not cold for the time of the year。 It was
a dark； moist Yulenot a snowy one； though snow brooded overhead
in the darkling clouds。 I DID make the offer； which became me； I
said with a laugh； as the youngest。 My sisters laughed too； and
made a jest of my evident wish to propitiate my godmother。 〃She is
a fairy godmother； Rosa；〃 said Minnie； 〃and you know she was
affronted at your christening； and went away muttering vengeance。
Here she is coming back to see you； I hope she brings golden gifts
with her。〃
I thought little of Lady Speldhurst and her possible golden gifts。
I cared nothing for the wonderful fortune in the funds that my
aunts whispered and nodded about so mysteriously。 But since then I
have wondered whether； had I then showed myself peevish or
obstinatehad I refused to give up my room for the expected
kinswomanit would not have altered the whole of my life？ But
then Lucy or Minnie would have offered in my stead； and been
sacrificedwhat do I say？better that the blow should have fallen
as it did than on those dear ones。
The chamber to which I removed was a dim little triangular room in
the western wing； and was only to be reached by traversing the
picture…gallery； or by mounting a little flight of stone stairs
which led directly upward from the low…browed arch of a door that
opened into the garden。 There was one more room on the same
landing…place； and this was a mere receptacle for broken furniture；
shattered toys； and all the lumber that WILL accumulate in a
country…house。 The room I was to inhabit for a few nights was a
tapestry…hung apartment； with faded green curtains of some costly
stuff； contrasting oddly with a new carpet and the bright； fresh
hangings of the bed； which had been hurriedly erected。 The
furniture was half old； half new； and on the dressing…table stood a
very quaint oval mirror； in a frame of black woodunpolished
ebony； I think。 I can remember the very pattern of the carpet； the
number of chairs； the situation of the bed； the figures on the
tapestry。 Nay； I can recollect not only the color of the dress I
wore on that fated evening； but the arrangement of every scrap of
lace and ribbon； of every flower； every jewel； with a memory but
too perfect。
Scarcely had my maid finished spreading out my various articles o