She found Lady Montressor in the very same attitude in which she had two hours before left her—with her elbow resting upon the table, her head bowed upon her hand, and her dark ringlets overshadowing her face. It seemed that in two hours she had not once moved. The fire had burned so nearly out, that nothing remained but a few embers. “Dear lady, it is after ten o’clock—will you retire?” “Yes,” with a deep sigh answered Lady Montressor. “Your chamber is well-aired and warmed—shall I show you into it now?” “Yes,” with another weary sigh, replied the lady, rising. Susan opened the communicating door, and ushered her mistress into the bed-room. There was a cheerful fire burning on the broad fire-place and diffusing a ruddy glow throughout the large room. “I hope you find every thing here as comfortable as circumstances will admit of, my lady.” “Yes”—in the same exhausted manner answered the mourner—then, in her thoughtfulness of her devoted servant, she added—“I thank you, Susan?” The maid hurried away into the hall, and returned with the large traveling-basket in which she had packed her mistress’s night-dress and toilet articles. These she quickly produced and laid out. Then she assisted her lady to undress, and when she was quite ready for bed, prepared as usual to leave her alone for her evening devotions, which were the very last acts of Lady Montressor, before lying down to her nightly rest. “Do you think you will sleep well to-night, my lady?” inquired Susan, affectionately. “As well as usual, my girl,” answered Lady Montressor, evasively. “Good-night, then, my lady; may the angels guard you.” “Good-night——but stay; are your sleeping accommodations comfortable?” “Yes, I thank your ladyship; I have the room directly opposite to yours, across the hall; if you should be wakeful, or need any thing in the night, dear lady, please knock me up—I shall be sure to hear you.” “Thank you, my child, I will, if there should be any need. Now go to your rest. Good-night.” “Good-night, dear Madam—and may the Lord be with you,” said Susan, as she retired and closed the door behind her. CHAPTER XIX. THE GRAVE-YARD GHOST. “Strange things, the neighbors say, have happened there! Wild shrieks have issued from the hollow tombs, Dead maids have come again, and walked about; And a great bell has tolled unrung, untouched.”—_Blair’s Grave._