Susan’s glance followed the direction of the black finger, and lighted upon a pretty craft, anchored off the Headland. “Dar, what you say _now_! don’t she look like a white swan, dough, a sittin’ on de water! dat Miss Barbara’s vessel,” cried Amphy exultingly. “But, how do you know it is Miss Barbara’s?” asked Susan. “How I know? De Lor! how I know any thing? by the quincequonces, caze no oder wessel any call to anker here ’cept ’tis de Brande’s.” And she was right; for even while she spoke, a boat was lowered from the vessel, entered by a party, and rowed rapidly toward the beach below the Headland. “Dar, now; ole as my eyes is, I can see dat’s Miss Barbara in de starn, and dat boy’s little Marser Edwy, and dem der oarsmen is our own sonnies.—But who de debbil dat sponshous lookin’ gemman as Miss Barbara’s got long o’ her? Honey, you look, you’s got younger eyes nor me.” Susan looked, and with astonishment and affright turned away. “Why, what de mischief de matter wid you, honey?” “I’m cold,” said Susan, shortly turning into the house. She had seen Lord Montressor in the boat. Lord Montressor was approaching the shore! She went immediately to her mistress’s door and listened. All was silent in that chamber. She turned the latch and entered softly. Lady Montressor was lying—with her arms thrown up over her head, and her black hair escaped from her little lace cap, and flowing over the pillow—in that deep and heavy sleep, that in the morning often visits the mourner, who has waked and wept all night. “I will not call her, trouble will come soon enough. That emperor was a fool who directed his courtiers never to wake him unless it was to hear bad news. Bad news is always too fast in traveling—we needn’t hurry to meet it. Though why the intelligence of Lord Montressor’s arrival should be considered bad news, I do not know,” thought Susan, as she went to her own room to “smarten” herself up. After putting on her little cap and silk apron, she went out into the hall, expecting that by this time the party from the boat had landed. She was correct—the party were ascending the bluff; but, arrived at its summit they paused and talked a few moments, and then separated. Lord Montressor, attended by the boy Edwy, and followed by his groom with the guns and game-bags, took the narrow path leading into the deep woods toward Neptune’s cabin. And Barbara Brande, attended by young Nep, came up toward the house. Old Amphy, who was impatiently watching for her approach, now set off in a run to meet her. At any other time Susan might have been convulsed with laughter, at seeing this aged octogenarian trotting off, with her head thrown back, her elbows acute, and every step showing the whole broad sole of her shoeless foot. It was a pleasant sight to see Barbara’s handsome, ruddy countenance, break into a cordial smile of greeting as she put out both her hands to grasp those of her affectionate old servant.