22 THE MANSE AND ITS INMATES. 



she respectfully tendered her services, and ushered her to her apart- 

 ments. With the opening- of the first door Ruth's feelings changed; 

 she was no longer strange and uncomfortable. A spacious bed- 

 chamber, handsomely and commodiously furnished, with a large fire 

 burning in the ample grate, opened into a neat dressing closet, which 

 the housekeeper informed her communicated with the school-room, 

 and that again with the young ladies' sleeping-apartment. Before 

 Ruth could have thought it possible, her trunks were, brought in, freed 

 from the soil of travel, uncorded, and the cords neatly coiled up 

 and laid beside them; nor was it long before a gentle tap at the 

 door and soft voice requesting admission, introduced Lady Maitland 

 herself, in her dressing-gown, anxious to see that her new inmate 

 had been provided with every necessary accommodation, and to ex- 

 plain that any little deficiency was to be imputed to the absence of 

 Christy, the girl who attended the governess and young ladies, she 

 having obtained permission to be present at the wedding of a friend. 

 Having ascertained that there was a good fire, plenty of water, &c., 

 Lady Maitland departed to complete her own toilette, and when 

 lluth had nearly finished hers other gentle taps were heard at the 

 door, which was immediately opened, and, blushino and smiling, 

 Lady Maitland's very pretty daughters asked if they could fasten 

 Miss Watson'a dress, as Christy was not at home, and show her the 

 way to the drawing-room, as she did not know it herself. Ruth 

 availed herself of their kind attentions, and had a short conversation 

 with Lady Maitland before the gentlemen assembled for dinner. 

 From Sir Kenneth she received the frank, cordial, hospitable, welcome 

 of his country ; and who that has experienced the genial hospitality 

 of a Scottish gentleman's mansion in the country could wish for more 

 or imagine more possible ? 



There were no lady-visitors at that time staying at Larch Hills, 

 and those who were there were merely friends or relations passing a 

 few days in their way to or from London. But when, in addition to 

 Sir Kenneth and Lady Maitland, Ruth found herself seated at the 

 dinner-table with a duke, a marquis, two earls and an admiral, she 

 was very thankful that her residence at Mr. Hurst's had rendered her 

 familiar with the routine of the table. 



Ruth was modest, in her character even timid, but, as I have before 

 observed, not destitute of self-possession. She was rather pretty than 

 otherwise, with a neat figure and pleasing manners ; and, notwith- 

 standing the fatigue of her journey, gratified her hearers by some 

 excellent music, played a capital Scotch reel for Sir Kenneth, his 

 daughters, and the duke to dance to, and went to bed happier than 

 she had ever done in her life, excepting during the happiest period 

 of her residence at Erlsburgh House. 



It is not to be supposed that on this night sleep exercised its empire 

 very early, or that Ruth desired that it should be so: novelty has al- 

 ways its excitement, and excitement is always agreeable to young and 

 ardent rninds. Her character, quiet and gentle as it was, had nothing 

 of lameness, and its latent enthusiasm was not the less glowing be- 

 t-ausc its heat never burst forth into any flaming; exhibition. 1 



She had much in the last few hours to look back upon with pleasure 



