Drawing my veil closely to my face to hide a few falling tears, I looked around the desolate waiting-room, to see if any fellow-creature was expecting me. As I did so a heavy, thumping footstep sounded upon the platform, and a surly voice inquired: “Are you Miss Reef?” accompanying the question by a slight pull at my shawl. Turning, I beheld a deformed little man with long arms and a high back, awaiting my answer to his question. I summoned courage to ask: “Were you sent for Miss Reef?” “Yes,” he replied, “I am Mr. Bristed’s man. He told me to drive here and fetch home a Miss Reef--if you are that person, miss!” touching his hat with an effort at politeness. “I am,” I answered, and without further ado we proceeded to the carriage, which he had left waiting at the rear platform. The evening air was chilly, for it was quite sunset. Drawing my shawl around me, I ensconced myself in a corner of the vehicle, and watched the fading landscape with stolid indifference to whatever might befall me. We drove on thus for a good hour and a half, halting at length before a dark, massy object, the form of which my dozy eyes could not discern. However, it proved to be Bristed Hall. I emerged from the carriage and passed up the steps to an open door which, at the pausing of our carriage wheels, had been set ajar. An old woman, the feminine counterpart of my sulky driver, stood in the dimly-lighted passage-way to receive me. She vouchsafed me but a grum welcome, but I felt already too desolate and weary to experience any further depression from her humor. Bidding me follow her, and ordering the man to carry my luggage, she led me directly through the hall up the stairway to a chamber evidently prepared for my use. The apartment was prettily furnished, and its tidy appearance and the cheerful fire burning on the hearth quite roused my drooping spirits. After assisting me to remove my bonnet and shawl, my conductress left me, returning ere long with a tray containing refreshments. These she set before me with silent hospitality; then bade me goodnight, saying she would call me in the morning at eight o’clock for breakfast. My sleep that night was disturbed by dreams, which though vague filled me with terror.