John Palmer, followed by Em., entered the hall, which was of the type of nearly all the halls in all the large old houses in the country, running through the house, with a front door and back, a great staircase in the midst and room doors on either side. John and Em. sat down on a heavy oaken settee, while the man went off to announce their arrival to his mistress. “Em, this is a cold, hard, sterile place, and my heart sinks like lead, my girl!” sighed honest John, looking about him. “Why should it, father dear? Mine doesn’t. Don’t get blue, dear father. Remember, Sunday is the Lord’s day, and every Saturday night you are to send Tom for me or come yourself, and I will go home and stay till Monday morning—two nights and a day with you, dear father,” said Em. cheerfully. “Yes, there is some comfort in that, and if it wasn’t for that I should not have let you leave home to come here at all,” replied John, just as the old servant reappeared and said: “You is to come inter de back parlor and wait until de madam is ready to see you. She will come down presently.” Once more John and his daughter arose and followed their guide. He conducted them down the hall, opened a door on the right hand and showed them into a moderate-sized and plainly-furnished room with oak-paneled walls and polished oak floor, and with a broad fireplace, on which burned a fire of huge hickory logs. This fireplace was flanked by two deep recesses, in one of which stood a carved oaken beaufet, full of old china, and in the other stood a cabinet with glass doors, behind which might be seen a collection of small curiosities from all quarters of the world, brought by Commodore Bruce from his various voyages. Two large easy chairs, covered with flowered chintz, were drawn up to the fireplace, before which lay a rich Turkey rug. John placed himself in one of these and Em. in the other. She was busily employed in gazing at the old, old china in the beaufet on her right and curiosities in the cabinet on her left when the door opened and Mrs. Bruce sailed in. “Sailed” is the only term to use in regard to the carriage of this lady, so smooth and majestic was her motion. “Ah, my dear, you are very punctual. I am glad to see you,” she said, taking the hand of Em. and then nodding graciously to John, who arose and bowed and remained standing while he said: “Well, madam, I have brought my girl to you according to her promise. If she should not happen to suit, just drop me a word by one of your grooms and I’ll come and fetch her home with more pleasure than I have brought her here.” “Oh, I have no doubt in the world that she will suit me excellently well,” said the lady, smiling at the bluntness of John and looking kindly upon Em. “I will try my best to please you, madam,” said the girl. “I am not very hard to please, little one,” replied the lady.