"Is this for me?" she could not help asking.

"Yes," replied Mrs. Dexter, "unless you wish to change it. There are

plenty of rooms vacant, unfortunately."

"Does no one live here?" asked Celia, with astonishment.

"Only myself and the other servants," replied Mrs. Dexter. "The Marquess

is enormously rich, probably one of the richest noblemen in England. Of

course, some of the rooms, the state-rooms, are kept shrouded; but they

could be prepared almost at an hour's notice--though we might not get

that," she added, with a smile. "I hope you will not feel dull and

lonely. You have come from London, where everything is so bright and

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gay."

Celia thought of the Jail and smiled.

"We are rather isolated here," continued Mrs. Dexter. "There is the

village, of course; but we have very few neighbours. The nearest house

of any consequence, Lensmore Grange, is nearly two miles away. Didn't

you know that you would be alone here? Oh, I hope you won't mind, for I

had so looked forward to having someone in the house."

"No, no," said Celia, quickly, and she smiled again, reassuringly. "I

think I rather like it; and if I didn't, I should remain, for I am quite

poor, and this situation means so much to me."

This little speech completed Celia's conquest of the good-natured

housekeeper.

"We must try to make it as cheerful as we can for you, my dear--I mean,

Miss Grant," she corrected herself.

Celia shook her head.

"No, no," she said. "I think it is very kind of you to speak to me so

nicely, to be so good to me, before you know I'm worth it. I am sure

that we shall--like each other, and that I shall be very happy here."

"I hope so. I'll do all I can," said Mrs. Dexter, evidently moved by

Celia's warm response. "Now I'll send you up some tea, and if you're not

tired I will show you the house when you have rested."

In a very short time a maid, neatly dressed in black alpaca, with cap

with white strings, brought up the tea. Celia noticed that the salver

and the service were of silver. It was a very luxurious tea; the maid

was respectful, but pleasantly sympathetic. Said she: "Shall I put away your things after tea, miss, or now at once? I am to

wait on you."

"Oh, that's very nice," said Celia. "You will not have much trouble, at

any rate, with my things," she added, with a laugh. "For I have very

few."




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