"How I wish I could go to Winchester with you both," I said the evening before they were to leave. "I really do think, Jocelyn," for it was to him I was talking, "it was a great mistake that I was not a boy after all, though I have been trying my best lately to make myself into a `young lady'! Has mamma told you so? For every one of us, from oldest to youngest, confided in Jocelyn. I put the question with some little anxiety, for my brother's approval was very dear to me." He smiled as he replied-- "Of course mother has told me of the new leaves you've been turning over--ever so many of them, though all in the same direction, and I intended to compliment you on the great improvement in your style of hairdressing and the general smartness of your appearance! Don't be discouraged, my dear child. `Rome wasn't built in a day!'" "And it will take a great many days, if ever, I suppose you mean," I said rather ruefully, "to turn a tomboy into a oh! whatever she should be." "But by what I hear," said Jocelyn, "you have got a first-rate model before you in the person of Miss Wynyard. I am very glad you are going to stay with them so soon." I opened my eyes at this. "So soon?" I repeated. "I have not been told anything about it." "Well, don't let out that I told you, then," said Jocelyn. "I suspect mother must have been keeping it for a surprise to cheer you up after the boy and I leave to-morrow. I believe they are arranging for you to go very shortly. You will enjoy it, won't you?" "_I_ hope so," I replied. "As far as Isabel is concerned, I am sure I shall. But I have found out that I am very shy. I think I am rather afraid of Mr Wynyard. He has brought up his own daughters to be such pinks of perfection! I am sure that he won't approve of frivolous conversation. I remember Isabel saying how he disliked gossip. And oh! by-the-bye," I broke off, "that reminds me, Jocelyn! There is such a queer story, a regular mystery where the Wynyards live." "Do you mean that the house is haunted?" said Jocelyn, laughingly. "Oh, no; it is not about their own house, but a house near, in the neighbourhood. `Grimsthorpe,' I think, is its proper name. I wonder if I might tell you about it? It isn't exactly a secret, but I have never mentioned it to mamma. Mr Wynyard might blame Isabel for gossipping if he found that mother had heard of it." "As I am not likely to see Mr Wynyard, I think you may safely tell me the story, whatever it is," said Jocelyn. I was delighted to do so. "To begin with," I said, "the very name of the place--I don't mean its proper name, but the corruption of it, for the whole neighbourhood calls it the `Grim House'--is enough to rouse one's curiosity!" And then I went on to relate the strange circumstances I had been told of. My brother listened attentively, and with evident interest.