tric, I believe, but highly respected in town. My Aunt Lucy
is very fond of her. Did you ever see her?" and he turned to Bessie, who
replied:

"I saw her once at Aberystwyth, when I was a child; and she afterwards
sent me this turquois ring, the only bit of jewelry I own," and Bessie
held to the light her hand on which shone the ring Daisy had unwillingly
given up to her on the occasion of her last visit to Stoneleigh.

For a long time they sat before the fire talking of America and the
places Grey had visited in Europe, and it was rather late when the party
finally retired for the night, Neil going to his warm, comfortable room
facing the south, and Grey to his cheerless one facing the north, with
only the cold and the damp, and the rats for his companions, if we
except the bag of hot water he found in his bed, on which Dorothy had
put woolen sheets and which she had warmed thoroughly with her big
warming-pan.

"This is not very jolly, but I am glad I am here instead of Bessie,"
Grey thought, and undressing himself more quickly than he had ever
undressed before, he plunged into the bed which was really warm and
comfortable, and was soon wrapped in the deep sleep which comes to
perfect health and a good conscience.

CHAPTER XI.

CHRISTMAS DAY.

When Grey awoke the next morning there was a little pile of snow on the
foot of his bed, which stood near a window, and more on the hearth,
which had sifted down the chimney, while the wind was, if possible,
blowing harder than on the previous night.

"Whew!" Grey said, as he rubbed his cold nose, "I believe this beats
Allington! How shall I ever get myself together?"

Just then Anthony came in with jugs of hot water and a huge soapstone on
which he said the young man was to stand while he dressed himself.

"Sharp weather this, even for Wales!" he began, as he lingered a little
and put back the curtains to admit more light.

"Sorry, sir, I cannot make you a fire. Hope the cold did not keep you
awake?"

"Never slept better in my life, I did not mind the cold at all," Grey
said, and Anthony continued:

"Yes, you like air, _Tisicky_ my old woman says, and she sent me out
last night for a pipe and some cubebs which you are to smoke three times
a day. Nothing like cubebs for your disorder. Had it long?"

"Thank you, no, sir; you are very kind," Grey said, with a little groan,
as he wondered if the confounded things would make him sick, inasmuch as
he had never