nce--for
nobody questioned of my whereabouts if I but kept out of the way--and
strange, dim family portraits on the walls to gaze upon, until I knew
each proud old face well, and had visioned a history for it in my own
mind--for I was given to dreaming and was older and wiser than my
years, having no childish companions to keep me still a child.

There were always some of my aunts at the Place to kiss and make much
of me for my father's sake--for he had been their favourite brother.
My aunts--there were eight of them--had all married well, so said
people who knew, and lived not far away, coming home often to take tea
with Mrs. Montressor, who had always gotten on well with her
step-daughters, or to help prepare for some festivity or other--for
they were notable housekeepers, every one.

They were all at Montressor Place for Christmas, and I got more
petting than I deserved, albeit they looked after me somewhat more
strictly than did Mrs. Montressor, and saw to it that I did not read
too many fairy tales or sit up later at nights than became my years.

But it was not for fairy tales and sugarplums nor yet for petting that
I rejoiced to be at the Place at that time. Though I spoke not of it
to anyone, I had a great longing to see my Uncle Hugh's wife,
concerning whom I had heard much, both good and bad.

My Uncle Hugh, albeit the oldest of the family, had never married
until now, and all the countryside rang with talk of his young wife. I
did not hear as much as I wished, for the gossips took heed to my
presence when I drew anear and turned to other matters. Yet, being
somewhat keener of comprehension than they knew, I heard and
understood not a little of their talk.

And so I came to know that neither proud Mrs. Montressor nor my good
aunts, nor even my gentle mother, looked with overmuch favour on what
my Uncle Hugh had done. And I did hear that Mrs. Montressor had chosen
a wife for her stepson, of good family and some beauty, but that my
Uncle Hugh would have none of her--a thing Mrs. Montressor found hard
to pardon, yet might so have done had not my uncle, on his last voyage
to the Indies--for he went often in his own vessels--married and
brought home a foreign bride, of whom no one knew aught save that her
beauty was a thing to dazzle the day and that she was of some strange
alien blood such as ran not in the blue veins of the Montressors.

Some had much to say of her pride and insolence, and wondered if Mrs.