Cruel As The Grave

Yea, she was jealous, though she did not show it,

For jealousy dislikes the world to know it.--BYRON.

Rosa was the last to wake up in the morning. The nurse had already

dressed the child and taken him from the room; so Rosa rang her bell to

bring the truants back.

Janet came alone.

"Where is little Crow?" inquired Crow's mamma.

"In the breakfast-room, me leddy, on the laird's knee," answered the

girl.

"I tell you there are no lairds in America, Janet!" said the lady,

impatiently.

"Well, on the gentleman's knee, ma'am."

"Very well, now come help me to dress."

Janet hastened to obey, and in half an hour Rosa Blondelle issued from

her chamber, looking if possible even more beautiful than she had looked

on the previous evening; for she wore an elegant morning robe of white

cashmere, embroidered down the front and around the bodice, sleeves,

and skirt with a border of blue bells, and she had her splendid hair

dressed in the simple natural ringlets that were the most becoming to

her.

Janet walked before her mistress, to show the way. Far up the great

hall, she opened a door on the left-hand side, admitting the lady to a

delightful front room, whose front windows looked out upon the lake, the

valley, and the opposite range of mountains.

It was a golden October morning, and from a cloudless deep-blue sky the

sun shone down in dazzling splendor upon the valley, kindling up into a

conflagration of living light all the variegated foliage of the trees,

upon the mountain sides and the river's banks, where the glowing crimson

of the oak and the flaming orange of the elm mingled with the royal

purple of the dogwood and the deep green of the cedar. And all this

gorgeousness of coloring was reflected in the lake, whose waters seemed

dyed with all the prismatic hues of the rainbow.

"'Black Valley,' indeed!" said Rosa Blondelle, with a smile, as she

entered the breakfast-room and glanced through the windows upon the

magnificent scene; "'Black Valley,' call you this? I should rather call

it 'Bright Valley.' Oh, what a glorious day and oh, what a glorious

scene! Good-morning, Mrs. Berners. Good-morning, Mr. Berners. Little

Crow, this kind gentleman is spoiling you," she said, as she advanced

with smiling eyes and outstretched hands to greet her host and hostess,

who had risen from their chairs to meet her.

They both received her very kindly, even affectionately, and as they had

waited only for her presence to have breakfast, Sybil now rang and

ordered it to be brought in.

Sybil's own little "high chair" had been rummaged out from its corner in

the lumber-room and dusted, and brought in for the use of the baby-boy;

who, in honor of his mother, was permitted to sit up to the table with

the grown people.