lly and
even wickedness of her sensations.

They had to pass round the lower end of the island, where the village
lay, in order to reach Mr. Strafford's house; but the lights were all
extinguished, and the inhabitants already asleep. They coasted along,
passing a little wooden pier, and some fishing-boats and canoes lying
moored beside the beach, and at last came to a boarded landing-place
with a small boat-house at one end. Here they stopped, and Mr. Strafford
bidding his boy run up to the door and knock, assisted the strangers to
land. They were scarcely out of the boat when a bright gleam of
lamplight flashing from the open door showed them a sloping path, up
which they went, and found themselves in a bright warm room, all glowing
with lamplight and firelight. A very neat little old woman in a
Quaker-like cap and dress was ready to welcome them, and in front of
the great blazing fire a table stood ready for supper. The old woman Mr.
Strafford introduced as his housekeeper, Mrs. Hall, and Mrs. Costello
recognized her as her own successor in the charge of that school for
Indian women and girls of which she had told Lucia.

The room in which supper was laid, and into which the outer door opened,
was large and square. At each end two smaller ones opened off it--on one
side Mr. Strafford's study and bedroom, at the other Mrs. Hall's room
and the one which had been prepared for the guests. Here also a fire
burned brightly on the hearth, shining on the white walls and on the bed
where, years ago, Mrs. Costello had watched her baby through its first
illness. She sat down for a moment to recall that time, and to recognize
bit by bit the familiar aspect of the place; then she made haste to lay
aside her wrappings and get ready for supper.

It was quite ready by this time--the most luxurious meal Mrs. Hall's
resources could provide. There was coffee--not to be praised in itself,
but hot, and accompanied by an abundance of cream. There were venison
steaks, and a great pile of buckwheat cakes that moment taken from the
fire, with a glass dish of clear golden maple syrup placed beside them,
and expressly intended for Lucia's benefit. Altogether not a meal to be
despised.

When supper was over, and Mrs. Hall had left them, Mr. Strafford began
to ask Mrs. Costello for particulars of the arrangements made for the
removal of Christian's remains, and when they would probably arrive at
the island.

Mr. Bellairs had had some diffic