dy Humbert fixed full upon her, whilst she
heard that her father and brother had already left, since it was
only pain and grief to them to be beneath the same roof as their
obdurate and disobedient daughter and sister.

Kate received the lecture addressed her by the mistress of the
house with all becoming humility, and without that sinking of heart
that she might otherwise have felt at the cold stern tone; and she
gladly passed her word, when desired to do so, not to go beyond the
precincts of the great walled garden without special permission. In
her walks and rides abroad she was always to be attended, and was
to promise never to slip away from her escort. If she would
faithfully promise this, she might be allowed the companionship of
Ellen Wyvern, now a guest beneath the roof of Cross Way House; and
to give this promise cost Kate no pang, for she had no feverish
desire after unfettered liberty, but was content to await the time
she knew must shortly come now, when Culverhouse would come to
claim her for his own, and would find her no longer the portionless
maiden she once had been, but dowered with some of the rich spoil
from that long-lost hoard.

Supper was served in solemn state in the dining parlour, and the
two girls sat with their aged relatives to partake of it.
Petronella was a little sad that Philip had gone without even
knowing of her presence beneath that roof: but she was certain
their meeting would not be much longer delayed, and was content to
wait. The Wyvern sisters did not keep a great establishment, as
their means were not large, though they clung to the old house
which had come down to them, and would have sacrificed much rather
than sell it. But Kate soon discovered that the largest rooms were
shut up and partially dismantled in order that comfort should reign
in those parts of the house that were habitually used; that the
staff of servants was but small; and that of these nearly all were
old men and women who had grown gray and enfeebled in the service
of the family, and were kept on by the present mistresses, who
themselves disliked any changes in their establishment, and who
could hardly see their way to finding the wages that able-bodied
servants would look to receive. So they lived in this very quiet
fashion, surrounded by retainers almost as aged as themselves, and
led on the whole a happy and a placid life. Petronella was proving
of so much use that the burden of her maintenance was not