'Why is it so, my dear sir ?' said Emily, in a voice of timid curiosity.

He made no reply, but sunk again into a reverie; and in a few moments, when he seemed to have recovered himself, asked who had succeeded to the estates.

'I have forgot his title, monsieur,' said La Voisin; 'but my lord resides at Paris chiefly; I hear no talk of his coming hither.' 'The chateau is shut up then, still ?' 'Why, little better, sir; the old housekeeper, and her husband the steward, have the care of it, but they live generally in a cottage hard by.' 'The chateau is spacious, I suppose,' said Emily, 'and must be desolate for the residence of only two persons.' 'Desolate enough, mademoiselle,' replied La Voisin, 'I would not pass one night in the chateau, for the value of the whole domain.' 'What is that ?' said St.Aubert, roused again from thoughtfulness.

As his host repeated his last sentence, a groan escaped from St.Aubert, and then, as if anxious to prevent it from being noticed, he hastily asked La Voisin how long he had lived in this neighbourhood.

'Almost from my childhood, sir,' replied his host.
'You remember the late marchioness, then ?' said St.Aubert in an altered voice.
'Ah, monsieur!--that I do well.