A brief silence succeeded the young man's reply to his father; it was broken by Vibert's inquiry, "What sort of a town is S----?" "Like any other county town," replied Bruce shortly. The question seemed to him to be trifling, and irrelevant to the subject of conversation. "S---- seemed to me to be a pleasant, cheerful place," said the more indulgent father. "And I suppose that fishing and shooting are to be had at Myst Court?" inquired the youth. "A stream runs through part of the property, and there is likely to be plenty of game in the copse," replied Mr. Trevor. "Then I vote that we go to Myst Court!" cried Vibert. "The only thing which makes me hesitate in coming to a decision," observed Mr. Trevor, "is the doubt as to whether my dear girl would like being taken from her present bright home. Emmie has here so many sources of innocent amusement, so many young friends and pleasant companions, that it might be trying for her to be transplanted to a place which I cannot now represent as a cheerful abode, though I hope that it in time may become such." Mr. Trevor, as he spoke, looked tenderly on his daughter, and pressed the hand which he held in his own. "Oh, papa, do not think about me; I shall have you and my brothers," said Emmie. It did not escape the notice of Arrows that his niece spoke with a little effort, and that her lip quivered as she uttered the words. "You shall have a pony-chaise, too," said her father; "it will be needed to carry you to church on Sundays, and on week-days you shall drive about the country, explore the neighbourhood, or indulge a lady's taste by shopping in S----." "And carry us back from our tutor's," interrupted Vibert; "for I suppose that a hansom is not to be got for love or money; and I've no fancy for trudging six miles every day, like a horse in a mill." By the time that the dressing-bell rang before dinner, the question of removing to Wiltshire was virtually settled. Emmie was too unselfish and high-principled to oppose a decision which approved itself both to her common sense and her conscience. She tried to hide from her father her strong repugnance to leaving Summer Villa, its pleasant associations and friendly society, in order to bury herself alive in a grand, gloomy house, quite out of repair, and with the name of being haunted besides. CHAPTER III. GOSSIP DOWNSTAIRS. The topic which excited such interest in the drawing-room was certain to be eagerly discussed in the kitchen also. At the servants' supper-table that night nothing was talked about but Myst Hall, and the probability of the Trevor family leaving Summer Villa to settle in Wiltshire. "I'm certain that there will be a grand move soon, from what I heard while I was waiting at table," said John the footman. "I mean to give warning to-morrow," he added, shrugging his shoulders.