"I'll not see her; I'm not going to Myst Court; I could not abide being so far from London," observed the cook. "I shall give miss warning to-morrow!" cried Ann. "And what will you do?" inquired John of Susan. "Stay by the family, to be sure," was the answer. "Would I leave my young lady now, just when her heart is heavy? for heavy it is, I am certain of that. While she was dressing for dinner, Miss Emmie could hardly keep in her tears. It is no pleasure to her to leave a home like Summer Villa, where she has nothing to cross her, and everything to please. There's not a day but Miss Alice, or some other friend, comes dropping in to see her; nor a week that passes without some sight or amusement in London. At the age of nineteen, a young lady like Miss Trevor does not willingly leave such a pleasant place as this for a dreary, deserted old country-house." "Poor miss! I pity her from my soul!" cried Ann. "With a pity that would leave her to see none but new faces in her household!" said the indignant Susan. "No; I'll stick by my young lady through thick and thin, were she to go to the middle of Africa. I've been with her these ten years, ever since she lost her poor mother, and I will not desert her now." "You don't believe in ghosts," observed John. "I believe my Bible," replied Susan gravely; "I read there that I have a Maker far too wise and good to allow His servants to be troubled by visitors from another world. This ghost-fearing is all of a piece with fortune-telling, and spirit-rapping, and all such follies, after which weak-brained people run. Simple faith in God turns out faith in such nonsense, as daylight puts an end to darkness." Susan was not laughed at for her little lecture as ten years before she might have been. Her long period of service and her tried character had given her influence, and won for her that respect which a consistent life secures even from the worldly. Her fellow-servants felt somewhat ashamed of their own credulous folly. "I'm not a bit afraid of ghosts," said Ann; "but I don't choose to mope in the country." "I don't care a rap for a house being haunted; but I mean to better myself," said the cook. "Do you think, John, that the young gentlemen will like Myst Court?" inquired Susan. "I think Master Bruce has a purpose and a plan in his head; and when he has a purpose and a plan, it's his way to go right on, steady and straight, and none can say whether he likes or don't like what he's a-doing," answered the footman. "When he looked over the house, it wasn't to say how bad things were, but to see how things could be bettered. He has a lot o' common sense, has Master Bruce; I believe that he'll make himself happy after his fashion, and that ghosts, if there be any, will take care to keep out of his way." "He'd see through them," said Susan, laughing.