“Dar! Dat Miss Barbara’s own sleepin’ room, and it’s de bes’ in de house.” It was as bare and as clean as the other apartments. An open fire-place, filled with fragrant pine boughs, and flanked on either side by a linen and clothes press; a four-posted bedstead with a comfortable bed, well made up and covered with a white counterpane; a tall, three-legged toilet table laid with a coarse white cloth, and furnished with a small looking-glass; a pine washstand, with a plain delf-ware basin and ewer, and two wicker chairs, completed the appointments for comfort. “This is all very clean and neat to say the least and _most_ of it,” remarked Susan, looking around. “But—has the room, and especially the bed, been aired lately?” “De Lor, child! It bin aired _all de time_! De trouble _we_ has is jes to keep de air _out’n_ dis ole house,” said Amphy. “I believe you! But it is necessary to make up a fire and take the bed to pieces to change the sheets, for they may be damp.” “Damp! he-he-he! De Lors, honey! _ole_ as de house is, dere ain’t not the least bit o’ damp, or must, or moulder, anywhere about it. It are so high up here, dat eberytime it rain, ebery singley bit’n de water run right off’n it! an’ it so dry we kin hardly git a bit o’ wegables to grow here. Damp! Lors, honey!” “Well, I’m glad to hear it is not so; but at all events it is cold. So you take that pine out of the fire-place and kindle a fire, while I take the clothes off the bed. Where is the linen closet?” “Dis a-one,” replied Amphy, pointing out the right hand press, and then lifting the mass of pine boughs to carry them from the room. In a short time the chamber was made comfortable. And Susan closed it up, and, accompanied by Amphy, left the room. “Now, child, dere’s anoder bed-room correspondin’ to dis, as open out’n de kitchen on de other side o’ de hall, you know, as used to be the Captin’s room, Heaven rest his soul! and which I reckon would suit you. It’s clean as a penny, too, only full of sailor’s truck.” “Thank you, Mother Amphy, I shall do very well,” said Susan, as they entered the parlor. Susan went immediately to the side of Lady Montressor, whom she found with her elbow resting on the edge of the table, her head bowed upon her hand, and her face in the deep shadow of her drooping ringlets. She was sunk in profound thought, and the little refection stood almost untouched beside her. Susan heaved a deep sigh.