lashing upon her the smile which always won
those on whom it fell, and drawing her inside the door which he shut
cautiously, "My good woman, I do not wish to be particular or
troublesome, but really I should like a room without a fire, the colder
the better. One to the north will suit me, if there is such a one. No
matter for the furniture; a bed and wash-stand are all I require. You
see, I have so much health and superfluous heat that I like to be cool;
and then I have the--" he stopped short here, for he could not quite
deviate from the truth so far as to say he actually had the asthma, so
he added, in an undertone, "If I had the asthma I could not breathe, you
know, in this small room, pretty as it is, and upon my word it is
lovely. Have you no larger chamber which I can take?"

"Ye-es," Dorothy said, slowly, with a throb of joy, as she reflected
that her young mistress might not be deprived of her comfortable
quarters after all. "There is a big chamber to the north, cold enough
for anybody, but Miss Bessie got this ready for you. She will not like
you to change. Do you have the _tisick_ very bad?"

Grey did not answer this question, but began to gather up his brushes
and his combs, and putting them into his valise, he said, "I want that
north room; take me there, please, and say nothing to your mistress."

Dorothy knew this last was impossible; she should be obliged to tell
Bessie; but she did not oppose the young man whose manner was so
masterful, and whom she led to the great, cheerless room with its smoky
chimney down which the winter wind was roaring with a dismal sound,
while across the hearth a huge rat ran as they entered it.

"'Tis a sorry place, and you'll be very cold, but I'll warm your bed
and give you plenty of blankets and hot water in the morning," Dorothy
said, as she hastily gathered up the few articles belonging to Bessie,
who had transferred them from her own room to this.

"I shall sleep like a top," Grey replied. "Much better than by the fire.
This suits me perfectly, and the cold is nothing to what America can
do."

He was very reassuring; and wholly deceived by his manner, Dorothy
departed and left him to himself.

"Whew!" he said, as a gust of wind stronger than usual struck the
windows and puffed down the chimney, almost knocking over the
fire-board. "This is a clipper and no mistake. And what an old stable of
a room it is, and what a place for that dainty little Bessie to be in.
She