ontinued to talk with his old acquaintance on the subject so deeply
interesting to both the speakers, and not a little so even to myself, a
stranger in the neighbourhood, and uninformed of more than the general
character of the deceased person of whom they discoursed with such
affectionate and melancholy sympathy. My friend had noticed in the looks
and tone of Hallings, and even in his wife's, during the few moments she
had remained with us, a troubled and sorrowful expression, far different
from the placid cheerfulness with which they had been wont to receive
him, since Time had mellowed their affliction for the loss of those they
had served with life-long fidelity; and even from the tender seriousness
of their manners, when reverting--as it was their delight to do--to the
revered memories of the departed, and the fond ones of days that were
gone.

On L----'s gently hinting his fear that some recent cause had arisen to
disturb the serenity of his worthy friends, the old man shook his head
in mournful affirmation of the implied suspicion; and, after a moment's
pause to subdue the tremor of his voice, answered,--"Oh, sir! I am
ashamed you should see how my poor wife and I are overcome by the work
which has been going on for this last fortnight, and to which almost the
finishing-stroke has been put this very day. And I, old fool that I am!
have hardly been able to keep away from the place, sir! though every
stroke of the masons seemed like a blow upon my heart, and every stone
that fell, like a drop of blood from it. And poor Celia! though she kept
at home, could hear the sounds even here. Grief has sharp ears, sir."

"Ah, is it even so, my good friend?" said L----, affected even to tears.
"I have been away from home almost this month, you know; I had not heard
what was going on. So then the old Hall is no more? I have looked my
last at its venerable walls. Would I had returned a few days earlier--in
time to have seen but one fragment standing."

"That you may do yet, sir! that you may do yet," sobbed out the old
servant, with a burst of now uncontrolled feeling; "_one_ fragment is
still standing, half of the south gable, and a part of the north side
wall,--just the corner of _one_ chamber, with the bit of flooring
hanging to it. My master's own chamber, sir, and the chair in which he
died stood in that very corner, on those crazy boards that will be down
to-morrow."

"Then, Hallings, I must go this very evening--this