This was the large front room on the second floor. Here was a warm fire, a cosy set of easy chairs, tables with work, a long mirror in the door of the wardrobe between the windows; a general air of comfort and household living. Antoinette's room opened into this, and the door stood thrown back, letting the fire warmth penetrate there also; and a handsome dressing table was visible standing before the window. Antoinette stirred the fire and sat down. Rotha stood at the corner of the hearth, charging herself to be cool and keep quiet. "Where did you come from?" Antoinette began cheerfully. "We might as well get acquainted." "Will that help you?" said Rotha. "Help me what?" "You said we might as well get acquainted." "Well I want to know where you come from, to be sure," said the other girl laughing. "I always want to know where people come from. It's one of the first things I want to know." "I come from Medwayville," said Rotha. "That is a place in the western part of the state." "But you don't come from there now. I know you did live in Medwayville. But where do you come from now?" There sprang up in Rotha's mind an instant and unwonted impulse of reserve; she hardly knew why. So she answered, "Mr. Digby brought me; he can tell you about the place better than I can." "Why, don't you know where you have been living?" "I know the place when I see it. I could not find my way to it." "Then you can't have the organ of locality. Do you know about organs, and bumps on the head? That's what is called phrenology. Mamma thinks a great deal of phrenology; she'll be examining your head, the first thing." "Examining my head!" "Yes, to find out what you are, you know. She has a little map, with everything marked on it? so she'll feel your head to see where the bumps are, and where she finds a bump she will look in her map to see what's there, and then she'll know you have it." "What?" said Rotha. "_That;_ whatever the map says the bump ought to be." "There are no bumps on my head," said Rotha a little proudly; "it is quite round." "O you're mistaken; everybody has bumps; when the head is round, it means something, I forget what; whether bad or good. Mamma'll know; and she'll judge you by your head. How long have you known Mr. Southwode?" "I don't know." "Don't know how long you have known him?" "I do not know just how long it is." "O I didn't mean that. Have you known him a month?" "More than that." "How came you to know him at all?" "He came to see us?" "Us? You and aunt Eunice? What made him go to see you? at first, I mean." "How can I tell?" said Rotha, more and more displeased. "Well, do you like him?" The answer did not come suddenly. "Do I like Mr. Digby?" Rotha said slowly. "I think I do." "_We_ do. What sort of a carriage was he in when he was overturned?" "A little phaeton." "One-horse?" "Yes." "Was he alone?" "No." "What became of the other person?"