Cruel As The Grave

"But oh!" whispered Mrs. Blondelle, nowise tranquilized by the answer of

her hostess--"Oh! what are those white things that I see standing among

the bushes at the foot of the mountain? They look like--tombstones!" she

added, with a shudder.

"They are tombstones," replied Sybil in a low, grave voice; "that is

our family burial-ground, and all the Berners, for seven generations,

lie buried there."

"Oh, good gracious!" gasped Rosa Blondelle, dropping the curtain and

turning away.

"Don't be alarmed," smiled Sybil. "The place is much farther off than it

seems. And now, my dear Mrs. Blondelle, let me make you acquainted with

the bearings of this green bedroom, and then you will like it better.

You see it is in the right wing of the house, and that accounts for its

having windows on three sides, back, front, and end, and doors that

connect with the house and doors that lead to the grounds. This door,"

she said, opening one on the left-hand side of the fireplace--"this door

leads up this little narrow staircase directly into my chamber, which

is immediately above this, as my dressing-room is immediately above your

nursery. So, my dear, if ever you should feel nervous or alarmed, all

you have to do is to open this little door, and run up these stairs and

knock loudly at the upper door, which is near the head of my bed. I

shall hear you, and fly to your assistance."

"Yes," laughed Rosa. "But suppose some robber were to get into these

windows, and be right upon me before I could run, what should I do

then?"

"Call for assistance, and Mr. Berners and myself will run down to your

rescue. But in order to make that practicable, you must always leave

that lower stair door unfastened; and you may do it with perfect safety,

as it leads nowhere but into my bedroom."

"I will remember always to leave it unfastened," replied Rosa.

"But, my dear, I assure you there is not the least shadow of a shade of

danger. Our faithful negroes are all around us on the outside, and our

faithful dumb guardians sleep on the mats in the large hall and the

smaller passages. However, if you still feel nervous, I will have one of

the maids sleep in your room, and one of the men sleep in the passage

outside," said Sybil.

"Oh, no, not for the world would I disturb the arrangements of the

family. I am not at all nervous now," said Rosa Blondelle.

"Then, dear, get ready for supper; for it has been ready for us for an

hour past, and I am sure you must need it. I will, with your permission,

go up to my own room by these stairs; and when I have changed my dress,

I will come down the same way and take you in to supper," said Sybil,

as, with a smile and a bow, she opened the door and slipped away up to

her own room.