told her that our only room was occupied. 'Oh, I
don't care for that in the least,' said she; 'let us shut ourselves
up in your dressing-room.' Our dressing-room! I could have laughed and
cried at the same moment she said it; but Nelly said that we had none,
and invited her upstairs to her bedroom; and there she is now, papa,
sitting on the little bed, and making Nelly tell her everything about
who we are, and whence we came, and how we chanced to be living here."

"I wonder Nelly had n't more sense," said Dalton, angrily; "not as much
as a curtain on the bed, nor a bit of carpet on the floor. What 'll she
think of us all?"

"Oh, papa, you're quite mistaken; she called it a dear little snuggery;
said she envied Nelly so much that lovely view over Eberstein and the
Schloss, and said what would she not give to lead our happy and peaceful
life, away from that great world she despises so heartily. How sad
to think her duties tie her down to a servitude so distasteful and
repulsive!"

"Isn't my Lady the least taste in life of a humbug, Kitty?" whispered
Dalton, as his eyes twinkled with malicious drollery.

"Papa, papa! you cannot mean--"

"No harm if she is, darling. I'm sure the pleasantest, ay, and some of
the worthiest people ever I knew were humbugs, that is, they were always
doing their best to be agreeable to the company; and if they strained
their consciences a bit, small blame to them for that same."

"Lady Hester is far above such arts, papa; but you shall judge for
yourself. Come in now, for she is so anxious to know you."

Kate, as she spoke, had opened the door of the little bedroom, and,
drawing her arm within her father's, gently led him forward to where
Lady Hester was seated upon the humble settle.

"It's a nice place they showed you into, my Lady," said Dalton, after
the ceremony of introduction was gone through; "and there was the
drawing-room, or the library, and the breakfast-parlor, all ready to
receive you."

"We heard that you were engaged with a gentleman on business, papa."

"Well, and if I was, Nelly, transacting a small matter about my estates
in Ireland, sure it was in my own study we were."

"I must be permitted to say that I am very grateful for any accident
which has given me the privilege of an intimate with my dear young
friends," said Lady Hester, in her very sweetest of manners; "and as to
the dear little room itself, it is positively charming."

"I wish you 'd see Mount Dal